IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE REWRITES:
I respect your time, so I've organized this update into clear, numbered sections.
- NEW READERS (started after March 4, 2025): This entire update is irrelevant to you UNLESS you can't see the # REWRITE NOTICE # disclaimer at the top of chapters 1-6. Continue reading if so. If this isn't the case, feel free to continue with the story as normal.
- RETURNING READERS: Please read this update to understand the changes to chapters 1-6 and how to access them.
- QUESTIONS? Please reach out through Discord (link in my profile) rather than the comment section. I can respond much more quickly there. Go to the Discord website and add "/invite/v2ydGSh6pk" after the URL to join. As a bonus, you get access to release updates and exclusive Railroaded artwork.
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1. WHAT'S HAPPENED (QUICK VERSION)
The first 6 chapters of Railroaded (including the prologue) have been completely rewritten and are now available. They total roughly 60,000 words with extensive additions and improvements.
For background on why I made these changes, see Section 5.
2. WHERE TO FIND THE REWRITES
The rewrites are NOT posted as new chapters! I've updated the original chapters 1-6 in place (Prologue through Head in Sand). Go back to the beginning of the story to read them.
3. HOW TO KNOW YOU'RE READING THE NEW VERSION
Each rewritten chapter starts with this disclaimer: # REWRITE NOTICE #
If you don't see this disclaimer, you're still seeing the old version.
4. TROUBLESHOOTING
If you can't see the updated chapters on FFnet (the site's cache can be stubborn):
Find the fully updated version on these other platforms:
# - Archive of Our Own
# - SpaceBattles
# - Scribble Hub
# - Webnovel
Search for "Railroaded" on those sites or check my profile for direct links.
5. WHY I REWROTE THESE CHAPTERS
This update chapter was first posted 2 months ago explaining my reasons:
Hey everyone! Quick heads up - I made important updates to strengthen the story's foundation. I wanted to fix characterization inconsistencies (particularly with Xander) and align better with the world's lore.
While my initial focus was on maintaining writing momentum (which got us to ~300k words!), some elements weren't as refined as they could be. Characters sometimes shifted jarringly, and certain story elements didn't trigger the logical consequences they should have within the established lore.
For the full detailed explanation I posted earlier, see the appendix at the end of this update.
6. WHAT'S IMPROVED
The rewritten chapters now:
# - Flow much better with the rest of the story
# - Have fewer plot holes
# - Make more logical sense within the world of Honkai Star Rail
# - Set things up properly for future events
7. ONGOING CONSISTENCY UPDATES
In addition to the major rewrites of chapters 1-6, you may notice minor edits appearing in later chapters in the following days. These smaller changes are just for consistency's sake, ensuring dialogue and plot points align with the new framework established in the rewrites.
These minor edits will either:
# - Be noted in a changelog at the bottom of affected chapters
# - Or implemented without specific notification (for very small changes)
Either way, the core story remains the same - I'm just smoothing out connections between the rewritten early chapters and the rest of the narrative.
8. WHAT'S NEXT
New content is coming. Now that this rewrite is complete, I can finally move forward again with the story.
Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and occasional "hey, you still alive?" messages during this process.
deep exhale
Fucking finally.
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APPENDIX: ORIGINAL DETAILED EXPLANATION
Author's Update from January 2025:
Hey there :)
I wanted to share some important changes coming to Railroaded. While I work professionally with writing, fiction writing is a different beast in some ways because I hadn't developed a consistent habit of writing and publishing the type. Last year in 2024, I decided to test the waters by writing a short story that would let me explore some themes and ideas I'd been pondering based on a game my best friend suggested I download at the time. That exploration turned into Railroaded. My initial focus was on building a consistent writing and posting rhythm - getting chapters out regularly to maintain momentum. To give myself some props, it worked. I wrote, and wrote, and now we're at roughly 300k words as of this update.
However, While this helped establish a steady pace, it meant some elements weren't as refined as they could have been.
Let's talk about Xander. From the start, I had a clear vision in my head: I wanted to write a character with real demons and struggles from his prior life, not your typical "normal person gets transported" story. This was crucial because I wanted to explore meaningful themes - the journey of becoming a better person, wrestling with faith in extraordinary circumstances, and more. But here's where I stumbled: while I knew who Xander was at his core, I hadn't fully mapped out all the details of how that character would manifest in the early chapters. This led to some inconsistencies in his portrayal, particularly at the beginning.
This focus on momentum over details created another challenge: I didn't pay enough attention to how certain story elements would logically play out within the established lore. To be clear - I don't have an issue with Xander being abrasive in the early chapters. What bothers me is how his characterization shifts somewhat jarringly in later chapters, and more importantly, how some of his actions didn't trigger the consequences they realistically should have in this world.
For example, with patch 3.0's release, we learned much more about how The Herta and her dolls actually function in this world. Looking back, I realize the scene where Xander talks his way into her "favor" doesn't work, at all. Instead of trying to bluff someone who's essentially unbluffable, it would make more sense for Xander to catch her attention by presenting something genuinely valuable - perhaps knowledge that, by all rights, he absolutely shouldn't possess.
Or perhaps he just has an additional way of having Herta entertain the notion of working with him. Who knows. There's different possibilities to make this work. Point is, I know I can write the earlier sections of the story better (and have a plan set).
Why am I doing this? To tell the truth, this story is deeply personal to me - it's actually a celebration of brotherhood, written as a tribute to my best friend who not only reads the story but has been an incredible source of support. The themes of faith and personal growth we've explored together in our friendship are woven throughout the narrative. Thus, I feel I need to make it justice before closing off the Belobog arc.
I've already completed the rewrite of Chapter 1 (not including the prologue), but I'm holding off on posting it until I've finished revising the following chapters. This way, everything will flow smoothly when the updates are complete. The revision is looking to add between 30,000 and 60,000 words of new content - which explains why I'm taking until February 20th, 2025. I know that seems like a while, but I want to make sure every addition serves the story and characters well, rather than rushing through such a substantial expansion.
I'll post updates to let you know exactly which chapters have been revised once they're completed. And yes, I realize I'm basically asking you to re-read the beginning of the story - I promise it's worth it! Think of it like watching your favorite show again and catching all those little details you missed the first time around. (Except this time, those details actually didn't exist before... because I'm adding them now. But you get what I mean!)
Your support and feedback have been incredible throughout this journey, and I genuinely believe these changes will make Railroaded an even better story for all of us to enjoy.