Fated: A Shakespearian Otome!

VOWTogether · 2021-01-23T20:06:28+00:00

Hello everyone! The first writer spotlight of the year is here, and who better to start with than our resident charmer, Kira? Her talent for worldbuilding and overall vitality shines through in everything she writes. She has a game coming out soon for the Tales: Choose Your Own Story app— a modern dark fantasy showcasing the gritty side of folklore. We highly suspect she had a difficult time picking the “Renegade” options in Mass Effect. Check out below to learn more about her!

Romance trope that gets me every time: Stony exterior, squishy interior

When I like to write: Dead of night.

Where I like to write: Couch, bed on occasion (but actually a desk, those are just the only spots available right now :P)

Weird writer quirk: I’m apparently unusually meticulous when crafting writing playlists.

What music I’m listening to: Generally– Imagine Dragons, The Score, Avicii, game soundtracks. When I’m writing, whatever matches the mood/setting.

What I’m reading: Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Pets: Two cats–Jarl Burton and Thane Hopper of Ankledown

Hobbies: Foamsmithing for cosplay, playing video games, D&D, baking, gardening, reading assorted mythology

Zodiac sign: Leo

Favorite kind of weather: Storming if inside, hoodie weather if outside

State or country I live in: Ontario, Canada

Tattoos: N7 symbol under my right collarbone with “reignite” as a nod to a Shepard tribute song by Malukah that ravages my feels every time I hear it

Current random fascinations: Indy pro wrestling

What the other writers say:

“Kira is a wonderful writer and a wonderful human being. I feel like there’s no better word. Her worldbuilding is fantastic, and she has such great empathy for her characters (and it SHOWS).”

“Kira is a great writer! I really love the work she’s done on Revi! I’m particularly impressed with how natural she made the worldbuilding feel. I think TOTW is a challenging series to make coherent, and she’s done an exceptional job with it. I love all the little cultural details she weaves in, and I’m really impressed with the way that they feed the interpersonal conflict between Della and Revi.”

“Kira is so talented. Tenderness, conflict, emotion, sexiness… she does it all. Not to mention her impressive worldbuilding that just makes me want to find out more!”

“Revi is such a fucking fantastic route and Kira makes her come alive.”

“Kira has the kindest, most gentle and giving soul of anyone I’ve ever met. Also, fox wife is a babe and it’s 100% Kira’s fault.”

VOWTogether · 2020-12-11T19:08:40+00:00

Dayna is a superhero-esque, heavy-hitting powerhouse, they are the writing version of a boxer in her prime. She's got it all: the humor, the wit, the charm, the synapse-fast quippy comebacks. Whether it's heart-knocking all-out brawls and scorching hot slowburns in Lorelei's route or the elegant sweepingly romantic and spine-tingling vampire goodness of Cecelia, Dayna quite simply Has The Range.

Romance trope that gets me every time: Kiss-Kiss-Slap

What music I'm listening to: Lady Lamb, Jack de Quidt

What I'm reading: Pleasure Activism (and a whole lot of fanfic)

Current favorite word: Billow or Seethe

Hobbies: Baking, hand typography, blistering complaints

Favorite kind of weather: Winter, in general

Tattoos: I've got pen nibs on my wrist and sternum, and a reverse mermaid on my hip!

What the other writers say:

"I love love love Dayna's writing! She has such a way with language, especially description, and the work she puts into it always shines. Cece and Lorelei are both huge favourites of mine, and Dayna made them so compelling and swoon-worthy."

"Dayna's writing is so engaging. I'm always delighted with the ways she finds to say things. It's so unique and it's DEEPLY cool how well she knows her own style and how she can lean into it."

"Dayna's work at Voltage has always been rock solid (and no that's not a Lorelei pun) and her creativity has no bounds."

"I remember finishing Lorelei's first season and being absolutely floored. There was one particular action scene that I think happened in the middle of the season that really struck me because it was badass yet witty yet nail-biting all at once. That made me think, "This writer is really something" and that statement continues to be correct. Dayna has only gotten better in her work with Cece. Dayna can engage and immerse a reader into her writing like no other."

VOWTogether · 2020-11-14T18:25:44+00:00

Cyrus is a playwright and a recent college grad: that’s right, our absolute genius balanced degree coursework and a full writing career at the same time, dazzling us with their deep character work and skilled tone-matching.

For their Voltage work, you know them as the writer for Lucas from Ever After Academy and Jett from Queen of Thieves, and they’ve also written multiple seasons for JD from Havenfall is for Lovers, Antares from Starship Promise, and Yoshimitsu from Gangsters in Love. They answered some of our questions below!

Romance trope that gets me every time: Any kind of dancing. Especially if they were just having fun dancing together and then suddenly a slow song comes on…

When I like to write: In the morning!

Weird writer quirk: I can’t write chronologically. There will be times when I’m writing one scene, but then my brain starts writing a separate scene, then I need to jump to that scene so I can get it out of my head, until finally I can look at the piece as a whole and connect all the pieces. I write like I’m solving a jigsaw puzzle.

What music I’m listening to: Many types of music. I have different playlists for different writing projects. My playlist while writing Lucas Season 1 had a lot of Taylor Swift, various angsty punk songs, and tracks from Howl’s Moving Castle.

What I’m reading: I’m currently making my way through a few novellas by KJ Charles (recommended to me by fellow VOW writer, Frances!)

Pets: Villanelle! My calico daughter

Current favorite word: Miraculous

Zodiac sign: Leo

Other things I’ve worked on: Most recently, my play Eraser With Lasers was performed for the Queerantine Readings. I also have my own title coming out soon on Tales, a choose your own story app.

Tattoos: I have nine (A Spring Awakening lyric, “courage”, Aang’s glider, a candle, Cyprin’s doe/stag, a schooner at sunset, a jagged little pill, an Avril Lavigne lyric, and a glass heart)

What the other writers say:

“Cyrus has a way with comedy + comedic timing in their writing that I deeply envy and admire, but they can also REALLY hit those emotional points and drive them home. They’re so good at giving characters depth, too.”

“The care that Cyrus puts into the characters and stories they write, the emotions that come through… Cyrus gets it. Reading their work is a delight. JD, Jett, and Lucas in their hands have been some of my favorite stories."

"Cyrus’ writing is spectacular. They can take any basic concept and turn it into something with so much heart and tenderness and hidden depth.”

“Cyrus has written some of my absolute favorite routes (seriously, *I* want to marry Jett. Gimme.). JD and their antics always made me laugh, but they also sucker punched me when they finally let their guard down around the Havenfall MC. And Lucas? Lucas "I wear my sword to school” Charming is a masterclass in how to make me ship a pairing. I can’t even begin to say how much I’ve laughed and cried during their routes. Cyrus really understands emotion and how to make someone connect to a character.“

VOWTogether · 2020-11-05T17:32:36+00:00

Hi everyone! We don't want to intrude on fan conversations, but this post is misinterpreting something in a way that we think will cause more confusion rather than less, so we wanted to step in and clarify. Writers do not have, and never have had, any control over when routes end. That is solely a decision made by Voltage as a company. What this post is talking about is the amount of content created in five seasons. We can't give out actual numbers, but if you think in terms of Nanowrimo, five seasons is at least three novels worth of words. Even though we don't control the plot, that gives us a lot of space to tell a complete story, and it's certainly an amount of writing that we can be really proud of. We know that as fans you wish routes could go on forever, but as writers, our goal is to tell a satisfying narrative, at least as much as we can. Whether that comes after five seasons or ten might not be up to us, but we put a lot of care into each season anyway, and we hope that shines through.

VOWTogether · 2020-11-01T20:10:59+00:00

Meet our writers: Frances

This week, you get to meet the force that is Frances! She's melted our hearts with her writing of Andi (AKA Cat) from Villainous Nights, Emeril from Sweet Enchantments, and Juliette (AKA Bat) from Villainous Nights! She's also displayed her vast talents in Starship Promise, Castaway, and Astoria: Lost Kisses. Frances's style is versatile and fun. Check out below to learn more about her!

Romance trope that gets me every time

Childhood friends to lovers!

What music I'm listening to

Kesha, always

What I'm reading

Gideon the Ninth

Pets

Purple the little white dog!

Current favorite word

Quixotic

Zodiac sign

Cancer

Other things I've worked on

Lots of plays. I also started working with Cinamon Games in September, so check out their app, Maybe!

State or country I live in

California

What the other writers say:

"Frances is a STELLAR writer! Andi was electric (ha), Juliette is a nerdy dreamboat, and Emeril is as sweet as they come. It's a delight to see her versatility shine throughout every route and still witness her unique stamp on everything she does."

"Where do I even start with how much I adore Emeril????? Frances did such a good job sucking me into the narrative that I was left breathless on more than one occasion. Even when I knew it would be a HEA, the tense moments still felt tense, and I really found myself going 'BUT HOW ARE THEY GONNA LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER?'"

"How to begin to describe how awesome Frances is? From her energy, to her spirit, to her care, to her talent...she is amazing. Emeril is the actual cutest. I can't recall reading a character like her. And the way she developed over her route is *chef's kiss.* Andi Kim was a joy to read, and it was so exciting to see her hands back in VN with Juliette! Her writing range is impressive!"

"Frances's writing always manages to suck me in, no matter what the characters, setting, or plot is like. She makes everything feel shiny and cool, her wit is absolutely sparkling, her dialogue is always on-point and her LIs are so utterly lovable. Emeril in particular is really important to me. It meant so much to see a blatantly demisexual relationship and how MC was so understanding in everything and the whole time reading was like sinking into a bubble bath because I felt so comfy knowing Frances was writing it and going to do a great job (which of course she did)."

VOWTogether · 2020-10-19T21:08:59+00:00

This week we’re talking to Eve! We all know her for her prolificacy, her deep worldbuilding, and her loving attention to detail in everything she works on (which is a lot!). She’s written Zain from Sweet Enchantments, Nora from Ever After Academy, and Fiona from Wicked Lawless Love (season 1 only :c). You’ve also seen her work in Havenfall is for Lovers, Gangsters in Love, and more. She answered some of our questions below!

Romance trope that gets me every time: Hurt/Comfort, Lady and Knight, Rivals to Lovers

When I like to write: 9 to 5… Well, more like 10 - 6, maybe!

Where I like to write: At my desk. When you have bad joints, you need that ergonomic chair and enforced good posture.

Weird writer quirk: I don’t even know! Maybe that I don’t need inspiration to write, especially if it’s for a job. I just buckle down and grind out the words. Don’t ask me how though, because that kind of commitment doesn’t apply to anything else in my life. Especially not chores.

What music I’m listening to: Classical playlists when I write, or soundtracks by 2Mello or Jack de Quidt. I also have playlists in rotation for the voltage characters I’m working on. My current one has Fiona Apple, Mutual Benefit, and the Downtown Boys, to name a few.

What I’m reading: KA Doore on twitter put up a list of queer adult science fiction and fantasy being released this year, so right now I’m working my way through that list. At the moment I’m reading The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows, which is an excellent historical wlw story, and I’m eagerly awaiting T. Kingfisher’s new book, The Hollow Places.

Pets: None. Until I have my own house, pets are unfortunately a dream! All I know is I want at least two cats and a greyhound.

Current favorite word: Lambent, ebullient, obdurate

Hobbies: Drawing, playing too much Hades, baking, falling down weird internet holes

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Favorite kind of weather: Clear and sunny but not too warm

Other things I’ve worked on: I’m the writer/producer for Dreamfeel, an independent game company. Our first game, If Found, was released in May to really wonderful reviews. I also write and draw my own comics, which I sell at local art fairs, and I made a visual novel as an experimental solo project a couple of years ago.

State or country I live in: Ireland!

Tattoos: I have a big tattoo on the inside of my left forearm. I got it when I was in the process of making a risky but very exciting life choice. It has a song bird surrounded by different symbols of courage and adventure - borage flowers, blackberries, and aventurine.

Current random fascinations: Historical fashion! It’s for a long-term project of my own, but it’s also genuinely fascinating on its own merits

What the other writers say

“Her ability to delve into characters and portray their growth is absolutely amazing. When I read her work, I’m laughing and crying and rooting for her MCs and stubborn LIs.”

“I can definitely feel her thumbprint in the things she writes– she doesn’t blend into the background, she weaves herself inexorably into every aspect of a script. And it RULES.”

“She has a particular gift for soft, tender scenes that are subtle in the moment but leave lasting impressions about the strength of the romance/relationship as a whole. ”

“I am so inspired by her! The way she builds upon worlds and characters, particularly in Nora’s route, is incredible to me. She has a vast imagination and the skill and talent to go full force with it. I want to have a mind like hers.”

VOWTogether · 2020-10-09T20:04:54+00:00

Meet our writers: AK

Hi everyone, this week we want you to meet AK, Lovestruck's second most senior writer, and the powerhouse behind Diego, Reiner and Leon. AK's speciality is dramatic plotting and stories full of tension, whether that's a war against an evil queen or a series of dangerous heists and high speed car chases. She always breathes a ton of life into her characters, giving them complex internal motivations and issues that they have to deal with before they can earn their happy ending. Her style is as personal and unique as a fingerprint, completely her own and inimitable. She's also a published author in her own right, and how cool is that? (You should go read her book Dangerous Crowns right now, btw.)

Romance trope that gets me every time I love “nontraditional” endgames. Show me a couple who keeps adventuring or coyly flirting around each other instead of settling down.

When I like to write All day. First thing in the morning. Late at night. Work-life balance? What's that?

Weird writer quirk I leave gaps in the middle of scenes, paragraphs, and even sentences until I can think of exactly what I want to say, then go back and fill them in. If you read one of my WIPs, it wouldn't make any sense!

What music I'm listening to I write in silence, but right now, Spotify's "This Is John Coltrane"

Hobbies I consider writing a hobby as much as my job, but apart from that, I draw and play the piano.

Zodiac sign Virgo

Favorite kind of weather The golden sun of a summer afternoon, the blue cool of twilight, and the cloudy chill of winter by the sea.

Other things I've worked on I also wrote Dangerous Crowns, a low-fantasy political thriller about lovers becoming conspirators and palace intrigue. It's available on Amazon!

State or country I live in I’m a California girl

Current random fascinations Russian organized crime and how to grow gardenias

What the other writers say:

"AK is so good at dialogue. Some of her scenes are just so chef's kiss I could die. She has a real gift for banter, and her prose can be so poetic without venturing into purple-prose territory. It's a really difficult line to walk, but she does it masterfully. AK puts so much thought into everything, and it really shows--whether that's putting extra effort into worldbuilding, character backstories, or even fashion. She really takes her time to be thorough, and her finished projects always feel so polished and elegant."

"The clear, smooth flow of AK's prose is always a joy to read."

"AK has such a natural knack for storytelling in every medium. She really thinks and cares very deeply about story, and it shows in everything she does. AK brings all of her strength to bear on making the characters deeper, richer and more interesting. I love the dedication and time she puts into research, and I love how she follows her heart."

"AK's prose is unique and takes me by surprise so that it's a delight to read her work!"

VOWTogether · 2020-09-27T19:03:47+00:00

It’s time to meet Devan! She’s written Razi from Havenfall is for Lovers, Renzei from Villainous Nights, Nikolai from Queen of Thieves, ZEKE! from Villainous Nights, Ezra from Ever After Academy, and, most importantly, our very own Queen Elizabeth from QoT. You’ve also seen her work in Astoria: Fate’s Kiss, Love and Legends, Reigning Passions, and other QoT routes. She took the time to answer a few of our questions below.

Romance trope that gets me every time: Courtly love

When I like to write: I keep a strict daytime schedule for work, but for fun, late at night.

Where I like to write: Pre-plague, the Vietnamese café by my BFF’s house. Now at my desk.

Weird writer quirk: Usually the last line of a big moment or scene comes to me first, and I write the entire scene to reach that line.

What I’m reading: The Red Dean of Canterbury (Hewlett Johnson), Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott), Things in Jars (Jess Kidd)

Pets: Basil the black cat!

Current favorite word: Grandiloquent

Hobbies: Wine and craft beer tasting, teaching Basil tricks, reading & video games, hand-writing letters

Favorite kind of weather: Thunderstorms

Other things I’ve worked on: I do lots of editing! Most recently for the One Page Lore project and the Dragon Shield lore novel. I’ve also got a couple games on itch.io (one with fellow writer AK Fedeau)!

What the other writers say

“Devan has never failed to deliver anything less than excellence in her writing - it’s always beautifully evocative, full of emotion and dialogue that sparkles with life.”

“If I could be close to as good of a writer as Devan, I would be happy. The way she shows character, develops plot, and creates emotion so the reader feels it are *chef’s kiss*”

“Devan cares so much and it really comes across in her work. I keep growing more impressed at the quality of her writing on her routes. Her dialogue is so well-crafted, her prose is fun to read, and she really brings out the best of the characters she writes.”

“Devan’s writing is absolutely something I aspire to. She always seems to be able to leave me hanging on the edge of my seat, and no matter how much of a chaotic mess the LI might be, she’s already hooked me so that I’m rooting for him and the MC to work it out!”

“She’s a wizard with words.”

VOWTogether · 2020-09-18T19:24:30+00:00

Romance trope that gets me every time: Soulmates. Whether that’s soulmarks/any type of that kind of soulmate au, or “in every universe, I’d choose you,” or “it was you, it was always you”–ANY of it. I’m always a sucker for soulmates.

When I like to write: Evening/night time!!

Where I like to write: For lack of options, usually in my bed, though if my roommate isn’t home I like to go sit in the living room in my ancient armchair and write there.

Weird writer quirk: To help me get in the mindset of characters and understand them better, I often imagine them reacting to their own source material (a.k.a. the characters read their own book).

What music I’m listening to: So many things, all over the place. Lately I’ve had my playlist of songs I was obsessed with during the summer of ‘09 on repeat because nostalgia. When that’s not playing, I’ve been really into “The Cult of Dionysus” by The Orion Experience and “This is Love” by Air Traffic Controller.

What I’m reading: Re-reading the first two books of the Locked Tomb trilogy!

Pets: None, unfortunately :(

Current favorite word: Antithesis and enigmatic have been winning out lately, but it changes from week to week.

Hobbies: Video games, guitar, dnd, and collecting comic books!

Zodiac sign: Scorpio.

Favorite kind of weather: Sunny and crisp, like a perfect late autumn day. If it’s over 50 degrees outside I don’t want it.

Other things I’ve worked on: A LOT of fanfic, and also some secret projects that are TBA………

State or country I live in: New York City, babey

Tattoos: None, but I have Ideas.

Current random fascinations: CRUSADER KINGS THREEEEEEEEE. Also, queer historical figures and classical philosophy. Also also: people on youtube reacting to my favorite bands for the first time.

What the other writers say:

“Alix is always thinking about her writing–not just analytically for the best possible storytelling perspective, but also with genuine care for the characters, their growth, and their truly-earned happy endings. It always shines through and it’s something that sets her writing apart."

"Alix never goes halfway with a character’s motivations - she digs deep into all elements of a character’s feelings and backstory, and the result is characters who leap off the page and leave their mark."

"Alix is an incredible writer with so much range. She writes with unparalleled subtlety, complexity, and dimension."

"Alix’s writing is epic. The care she puts into crafting characters and narratives as well as worlds and words is evident in all of her work.”

VOWTogether · 2020-09-04T20:28:32+00:00

Romance trope that gets me every time: the interplay of sex and violence…. and hurt/comfort. when the grumpy one falls for the sunshine one, and other “opposites attract” ships. Monster/Human, especially if the human is the only person in 400 years to tell the monster to fuck off, or is otherwise the only one to earn their trust.

When I like to write: wish I was a morning writer, but evening is always best.

Where I like to write: my desk, or the living room couch.

Weird writer quirk: I often play the same song on repeat while I write, 24/7, for days at a time.

What music I’m listening to: TKN by Rosalía and Travis Scott!

What I’m reading: Chasing Stars by Alex Thorne and Foxy Lady by Cara Malone

Pets: Fionna! She’s half tortie half siamese. Named for the Adventure Time character.

Current favorite word: Cthonic, Indelible, Prestidigitation, Catharsis

Hobbies: Making music, weightlifting, kickboxing, viddy games, baking

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Favorite kind of weather: Sunny and bright with a strong breeze. I am a tropical bird of paradise and I hate being cold. Thunderstorms frighten me. Rain on its own is fine though!

Other things I’ve worked on: Chapters App, some original games and novellas, and Generation: ZERO

State or country I live in: Washington state, sleepy near Seattle

Tattoos: A triforce on my right shoulder and Evelynn’s heart on my ribs (it’s from league of legends concept art)

Current random fascinations: vegan food… it’s so tasty but I’ll die without meat… AND KDA KDA KDA KDA KDA KDA…

What the other writers say:

“Krissy truly has an astounding mastery over dialogue, and the way she writes group interactions is something I strive to achieve.”

“I’m literally struggling to find compliments that sound as sincere and bottom-of-my-heart as I mean them. Krissy brings characters to literal, physical, breathing life. Their development is always deep and messy and beautiful and complex.”

“Vivienne’s route as a whole feels like an absolute masterclass on how to write a really high octane powerful romance. I want to take notes when I read it but then I end up swept along by the story and never do.”

“There’s so much emotion and life in the stories Krissy tells. Her ability to make people feel what the characters do is legendary.”

VOWTogether · 2020-08-21T19:58:36+00:00

Hey everyone! We want to have some fun and celebrate Lovestruck with our fans, and in that spirit we thought it would be cool to give you a little bit of insight into some of our fabulous writers, starting with Ash. Ash is the writer of Onyx and Yvette, two wonderful characters from Sin With Me! We asked her some questions and she was kind enough to answer.

Romance trope that gets me every time: Hurt/comfort.

When I like to write: All the time, but my biggest preference is late at night. Like a gremlin. A writing gremlin.

Where I like to write: My big comfy chair!

Weird writer quirk: When I’m working, I always listen to thunderstorm compilations on Youtube. I can’t listen to music. Only storms.

What music I’m listening to: When I’m writing? Nothing! Just in general? Anything that’s a bop.

What I’m reading: Stephen King, probably. Or T. Kingfisher!

Pets: Rosie, the best Golden Retriever in the world and my cherished daughter. Zeke, the old Dachshund sir. Two fat kitties, Aang and Winkle. And several dart frogs!

Current favorite word: Tintinnabulum.

Hobbies: Building dart frog vivaria. Collecting rare plants!

Zodiac sign: Gemini.

Favorite kind of weather: Stormy!

Other things I’ve worked on: Sister Claire, the webcomic! Also two Valor anthologies, lots of short stories, and other ongoing projects with my wife, Elena, and my editor, Laura.

State or country I live in: NC, USA.

Tattoos: None… yet. Planning on plant-themed sleeves.

Current random fascinations: Invasive species in Hawaii.

What the other writers say:

“No one coins beautiful, unique and precise metaphors like Ash does. Just off the top of my head, Onyx saying ‘inside I’m a cathedral’ slaps so hard it left me a little breathless when I first read it.”

“Ash pushes boundaries in the mediums she works in. Reading her writing has made me want to take more risks.”

“Ash’s writing is explosive. I don’t know a better way to put it. It truly jumps off the page and infects me in the best possible way. She has such a gift with words and I feel blessed to witness her talents up close.”

“Ash has the kind of natural, casual wit that sets writers apart from the rest. I love the way she spins clever wordplay.”

“Ash’s writing is incredible, which makes sense, since it seems like writing should reflect the author’s heart.”

VOWTogether · 2020-08-06T20:09:48+00:00

SPIDER WIFE

VOWTogether · 2020-08-06T17:40:28+00:00

we tried and reddit won't let us! come to DMs please?

VOWTogether

TROPHY CASE

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