My Website Is Finally Moving… (A Little) – And I’m Discovering the Writer’s Life Is One Huge Stress‑Fest

Hey there, fellow page‑turners and caffeine connoisseurs!

If you’ve ever hovered over the “publish” button like it might suddenly judge you… welcome. You’re exactly where you need to be.

Right now, my website is inching forward at the speed of an ancient magical mechanism that hasn’t been touched in centuries—creaking, slightly unpredictable, and probably powered by a combination of hope, caffeine, and questionable decisions.

And while I’ve been working on it, I’ve realised something:

Building a world like the Seven Realms isn’t just about writing.

It’s about learning how to hold together a hundred moving pieces… without accidentally breaking the illusion in the process.

So this isn’t a “look how polished everything is” post.

This is a where I am right now post.

Somewhere in the middle. Somewhere a bit messy. But definitely moving forward.

1. Mapping the Realms (And Occasionally Losing the Map)

When I first imagined the Seven Realms, I thought I’d need structure.

Clear rules. Defined paths. A neat sense of order.

What I actually have is… notes.

Lots of notes.

Fragments like:

• “Time behaves differently here… figure out how”

• “Important moment—don’t forget why”

• “Did I already explain this or just think about explaining it?”

Some days it feels like I’m carefully building a world.

Other days it feels like I’ve walked into it halfway through and I’m just trying not to look suspicious.

And yes… there are still the occasional “llama moments”—ideas that seemed brilliant at the time and now sit quietly in the corner, waiting for me to either justify them or pretend they never existed.

But slowly, patterns start to form.

And every now and then, something clicks—and suddenly the chaos makes sense.

2. Characters of the Realms (Who Are Definitely Not Always Cooperative)

One thing I didn’t expect?

How little control I’d actually have once the characters started settling into the Realms.

At first, I tried to define everything: This is who they are. This is how they behave. This is their role.

Simple.

Except… it didn’t stay simple.

Because once they’re placed into a Realm—into its rules, its pressures, its strange logic—they start reacting in ways I didn’t fully plan for.

Which means I now spend a lot of time asking:

• “Would they really do that?”

• “Or is this me forcing it because it’s convenient?”

(Answer: occasionally… yes.)

I’ve started keeping small notes—anchors to hold onto who they are—but I’ve also learned to step back and let them be influenced by the world, not just move through it.

It’s slightly chaotic.

But it’s also where things start to feel real.

3. Learning to Refine the Realms (Before Anyone Else Gets Lost in Them)

I’m not working with editors or publishers (yet), but I have reached the stage where I can no longer pretend everything works perfectly just because I like the idea.

Which, frankly, was a nice phase while it lasted.

Now I find myself going back over things and asking:

• “Does this actually make sense?”

• “Is this adding depth—or just sounding clever?”

• “Is this moment clear… or only clear to me because I live in this world full-time?”

Some answers are encouraging.

Others lead to rewrites.

And some lead to that quiet realisation that an idea I loved… might need to go.

(I usually try to negotiate with it first. However that rarely works.)

But this is where the Realms start to strengthen—when the ideas are tested, not just imagined.

4. Preparing to Open the Door (Without Letting Everything Spill Out at Once)

At some point, the Realms will need to be shared properly.

That part still feels slightly surreal. (And a little daunting)

Because building a world is one thing—but explaining it clearly enough for someone else to step into it?

That’s a completely different challenge.

So I’ve started experimenting:

• small descriptions of each Realm

• simple ways to explain the bigger picture

• figuring out what needs to be said… and what’s better left mysterious

Some attempts work.

Others end up sounding like I’ve tried to summarise an entire universe in one slightly overenthusiastic paragraph.

But I’m learning.

Slowly.

And hopefully by the time I need it—I won’t panic and try to explain everything all at once in one heroic but confusing sentence.

5. Building the Codex (And Trying Not to Break It)

Then there’s the website—where all of this is starting to come together.

What began as “just a place to put things” has evolved into something much more… interactive.

The Codex—has become a central idea: A place where memories, fragments, and experiences can be uncovered.

Which sounds great.

Until you actually try to build it.

Then it becomes:

• “Why isn’t this clickable?”

• “Why won’t this layer properly?”

• “Why does this image refuse to behave?”

It’s been a lot of trial and error.

Mostly error, followed by eventual success.

But slowly, it’s shifting from “a collection of pages” into something that actually feels like part of the Realms.

And that’s been one of the most satisfying parts so far.

6. Creating Immersion (Without Overcomplicating Everything)

At the core of all of this is one goal:

Make it feel real enough that someone wants to stay.

Not just read—but explore.

That’s harder than it sounds.

Because there’s a fine line between immersive and overwhelming

So I keep checking:

• Does this feel like part of the Realms?

• Is this engaging—or just a lot of information?

• Would someone new feel curious… or confused?

Sometimes I get it right.

Sometimes I realise I’ve accidentally written something that assumes the reader has lived in my notes for the past six months.

(Which, unfortunately, they have not.)

But it’s improving—with each adjustment, it starts to feel more like a place you can step into.

7. Where Things Stand Right Now

So where am I in all of this?

Still building.

Still refining.

Still occasionally staring at something and thinking: “That made perfect sense yesterday.”

But the important thing is—it’s moving.

The website is beginning to take shape. The Codex is starting to feel real. The Realms are slowly revealing themselves in a way that connects.

And me?

I’m learning how to bring it all together—one step at a time.

Because this stage isn’t about perfection.

It’s about:

• building something piece by piece

• improving with each pass

• and continuing—even when it feels a little chaotic

  
  

I take solace from the fact that I have made it this far, that I’ve already stepped off the ledge.

But I have no doubt that there’s lots more to come. The writing process constantly needs

more structure, more clarity and revison before it's fragments can be brought into the light, whole and beautiful. Don't be swayed my friends

Stay curious. Stay caffeinated. And if something doesn’t quite make sense yet… don’t worry.

Some parts of writing take time to reveal themselves.

(And most of them I’m still figuring out myself. I 'll let you know when they come together!)