Meet Avery?!
Claire here. I’m writing a speculative fiction series. Meet my narrator, Avery. He’s a reckless and jaded millennial… high on the excitement of becoming an occult informant for a mysterious organization known only as Redoubt. So, how is Avery telling us about his life as a magical spy? Is he writing a memoir? Some sort of dialogue with another character?
…well, no… it’s a website right here on neocities. From Avery’s perspective. It’ll probably read a bit like this at one point…
Call me Avery! This website focuses on my unusual career. I will be posting documents from it, and maybe more (if I can get away with it). Magic - and it's weirder than the kind from fantasy novels - is real. My employers, for whatever reason, want to keep track of those who use it. It’s absolutely nothing like you’re imagining… whatever, keep reading, you’ll see…
Avery Gates of Langford, Kentucky... maybe. Well, not really. But who cares.
Granted, the site will also have disclaimers in the sidebar and a page about how it’s all fiction, but the lore sticks to Avery’s perspective. The series will follow Avery’s work in a seemingly-insignificant small town in northern Kentucky. He begins his new career with zeal, excited to pick up “cool powers” and potentially even pay off his exorbitant student loans. Ultimately, though, Avery’s goals are larger. Is he motivated by curiosity, power, or both?
I’m seeking advice and critique on any of the following, with any level of commitment, ranging from a casual chat now and again to helping me as much as you want - it’s all up to you.
- Worldbuilding. This series is speculative fiction, and does blend science fiction and fantasy (hopefully in a unique way). To say more would spoil things. It does start with the general “there’s magic in the modern world” setting, but I want to subvert many of those tropes. I’ve been working on the lore behind this story since 2015, but there is always room for improvement. I would love someone who might be able to vet ideas.
- The usual subjects of fiction critique in an ongoing series. I, of course, am interested in what one thinks of Avery, his enemies and friends and his mysterious employers. I’m interested in your perspective on plot elements, etc. I can tell you about things quite long before they’re public, and you would have plenty of opportunities to give constructive criticism.
- The website itself and anything to do with how the story is presented to the readers. Unfiction (or kayfabe, or whatever you want to call it) is a tricky thing to do well, so I’m not taking it very far. I am, though, looking for advice on site aesthetics and interactivity. I speak fairly good CSS, am almost fluent in HTML, and am making progress with Javascript, but I want advice on how it should look and feel, not really programming.
Oh, and one last thing, before I post this elsewhere… if phrases like “speculative fiction” and “occult informant” have you thinking of something like The Dresden Files, perhaps you as a beta reader can help me avoid that vibe? The background material (my worldbuilding) differs a lot from standard urban fantasy (verging almost into science fiction) and I’d really like help distinguishing my writing from that kind of thing. I think that has been a major weakness of mine in the past, and want to improve.
Beta Request Application
If you’re interested reading or chatting about worldbuilding, vetting the site a bit for usability, or anything related to this endeavor, really, please do get in touch! You can do so via the form below. Only noted fields are required. Alternatively, you can talk to me on Discord directly by sending a friend request to @clarityanne. With regards to links and such, it does not matter your level of commitment, contribution, or anything like that - if you are all part of this, you will be credited in the manner of your choosing.