The Writer's Desk: rework!

SPOILERS AHEAD! BE WARNED!

Murder your darlings. Editing will cost you Manuscript Pages, but may improve the Potential of the work. You can use Romantic Notions, Tale of Terror!! and other items for research and inspiration: experiment and see what works!

Unlocked with a redirect from Rework and Finish!

Storylet appears in Veilgarden

Options:

Finish your Short Story

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 10 x Manuscript Page, Potential 1
   

  Success

  How ambitious are you feeling?

  Redirects to: The Writer's Desk: finish a Short Story

  ^

A Cautious Edit

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 1 x Potential, 2 x Manuscript Page
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 25
  || 18 - very chancy (41%) || 22 - chancy (51%) || 26 - modest (61%) || 30 - very modest (71%) || 34 - low-risk (81%) || 38 - straightforward (91%) || 42 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Omit needless words

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page
  • You've gained 1 x Potential

  Rare Success

  The fortunate fall of a phrase

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page
  • You've gained 4 x Potential

  Failure

  Little improvement

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page

  ^

A Daring Edit

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 1 x Potential, 2 x Manuscript Page
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 50
  || 35 - very chancy (41%) || 43 - chancy (51%) || 51 - modest (61%) || 60 - very modest (71%) || 68 - low-risk (81%) || 76 - straightforward (91%) || 84 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A raid on the fortress!

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page
  • You've gained 2 x Potential (if 60 or less)

  Failure

  Shorter, but not better

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page

  ^

Incorporate romance

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Romantic Notion, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 60
  || 41 - very chancy (41%) || 51 - chancy (51%) || 61 - modest (61%) || 71 - very modest (71%) || 81 - low-risk (81%) || 91 - straightforward (91%) || 100 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Hearts may flutter

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've gained 2 x Potential
  • You've lost 1 x Romantic Notion

  Failure

  A little sickly

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Romantic Notion

  ^

Spice it with gossip

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Scrap of Incendiary Gossip, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 60
  || 41 - very chancy (41%) || 51 - chancy (51%) || 61 - modest (61%) || 71 - very modest (71%) || 81 - low-risk (81%) || 91 - straightforward (91%) || 100 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A significant titillation

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Scrap of Incendiary Gossip
  • You've gained 2 x Potential

  Failure

  Hollow nonsense

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Scrap of Incendiary Gossip

  ^

Compromising Document

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Compromising Document, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 70
  || 48 - very chancy (41%) || 60 - chancy (51%) || 72 - modest (61%) || 83 - very modest (71%) || 95 - low-risk (81%) || 107 - straightforward (91%) || 117 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A thrill of recognition

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Compromising Document
  • You've gained 2 x Potential

  Failure

  Dispose of it quickly

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Compromising Document
  • Scandal is increasing… (+1 CP)

  ^

Add a touch of darkness

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Tale of Terror!!, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 70
  || 48 - very chancy (41%) || 60 - chancy (51%) || 72 - modest (61%) || 83 - very modest (71%) || 95 - low-risk (81%) || 107 - straightforward (91%) || 117 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A thrill and a chill

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've gained 2 x Potential
  • You've lost 1 x Tale of Terror!!

  Failure

  A story for which the world is not yet prepared

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Tale of Terror!!

  ^

Incorporate life-lessons

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 5 x Hard-Earned Lesson, Potential 1
   

  Success

  Another fight scene?

  • You've gained 3 x Potential
  • You've lost 5 x Hard-Earned Lesson

  ^

Include something exotic

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Memory of Distant Shores, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 80
  || 55 - very chancy (41%) || 68 - chancy (51%) || 82 - modest (61%) || 95 - very modest (71%) || 108 - low-risk (81%) || 122 - straightforward (91%) || 134 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Throngs and dominions

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Memory of Distant Shores
  • You've gained 2 x Potential

  Failure

  Implausibility upon implausibility

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Memory of Distant Shores

  ^

Add a dash of zee-adventure!

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 4 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Zee-Ztory, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 90
  || 62 - very chancy (41%) || 77 - chancy (51%) || 92 - modest (61%) || 107 - very modest (71%) || 122 - low-risk (81%) || 137 - straightforward (91%) || 150 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Blood, salt and iron

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Zee-Ztory
  • You've gained 2 x Potential

  Failure

  All rather nautical

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Zee-Ztory

  ^

Weave in esoteric elements

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 3 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Extraordinary Implication, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 100
  || 69 - very chancy (41%) || 85 - chancy (51%) || 102 - modest (61%) || 119 - very modest (71%) || 135 - low-risk (81%) || 152 - straightforward (91%) || 167 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  The seventh labyrinth

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Nightmares is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've gained 5 x Potential
  • You've lost 1 x Extraordinary Implication

  Failure

  A sudden awakening

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Nightmares is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x Extraordinary Implication
  • Suspicion is increasing… (+1 CP)

  ^

Add a dash of heartbreak

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 3 x Manuscript Page, 1 x Touching Love Story, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 110
  || 76 - very chancy (41%) || 94 - chancy (51%) || 112 - modest (61%) || 131 - very modest (71%) || 149 - low-risk (81%) || 167 - straightforward (91%) || 184 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Lost content

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've gained 5 x Potential
  • You've lost 1 x Touching Love Story

  Failure

  Not on the page

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Touching Love Story

  ^

Not an entirely fictional character...

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 3 x Manuscript Page, 1 x An Identity Uncovered!, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 110
  || 76 - very chancy (41%) || 94 - chancy (51%) || 112 - modest (61%) || 131 - very modest (71%) || 149 - low-risk (81%) || 167 - straightforward (91%) || 184 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A suitable guise

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Scandal is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x An Identity Uncovered!
  • You've gained 5 x Potential

  Failure

  Mme F-------

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x An Identity Uncovered!
  • Scandal is increasing… (+2 CP)

  ^

Ask your most exalted contacts for inside information

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 1 x Favour in High Places, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 140
  || 96 - very chancy (41%) || 119 - chancy (51%) || 143 - modest (61%) || 166 - very modest (71%) || 189 - low-risk (81%) || 213 - straightforward (91%) || 234 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A crimson-skied revel

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Favour in High Places
  • You've gained 12 x Potential

  Failure

  Not all that is secret is interesting

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Scandal is increasing… (+3 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x Favour in High Places

  ^

Publish... and be damned.

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 1 x Blackmail Material, Potential 1
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 150
  || 103 - very chancy (41%) || 128 - chancy (51%) || 153 - modest (61%) || 178 - very modest (71%) || 203 - low-risk (81%) || 228 - straightforward (91%) || 250 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  A dangerous strategy

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Scandal is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x Blackmail Material
  • You've gained 12 x Potential

  Alternative Success

  A dangerous strategy

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • Scandal is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • Suspicion is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x Blackmail Material
  • You've gained 12 x Potential

  Failure

  A visit from the Ministry

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Blackmail Material
  • Scandal is increasing… (+2 CP)
  • Suspicion is increasing… (+1 CP)
  • You've lost 1 x Manuscript Page

  ^

Use your Case Notes

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with Potential 1, 1 x Compilation of Case-Notes
   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Persuasive 60
  || 41 - very chancy (41%) || 51 - chancy (51%) || 61 - modest (61%) || 71 - very modest (71%) || 81 - low-risk (81%) || 91 - straightforward (91%) || 100 - straightforward (100%)
  

  
  

  Success

  Names, dates, places

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Compilation of Case-Notes
  • You've gained 2 x Potential

  Failure

  Too good to be true

  • Persuasive is increasing…
  • You've lost 1 x Compilation of Case-Notes

  ^

A rare lesson

•  Spoiler 

  

  Unlocked with 1 x Trade Secret
   

  Success

  True facts

  • You've gained 25 x Potential
  • You've lost 1 x Trade Secret

  ^

Back to writing...

•  Spoiler 

  

  Action Cost: 0
   

  Success

  More pages!

  Redirects to: The Writer's Desk: work on your story!

  ^

Seek Assistance from another writer

•  Spoiler 

  

   

  When Sent

  Awaiting a visit Let's see how this turns out. [This is one Persuasive contest it's better to lose.] Your friend will receive: [Friend] would like you to give your thoughts on something they're writing. Helpful thoughts! They'll provide advice in return.

  Once Accepted

  The winner will receive: [Friend] struggles to keep up with you - but they have some good ideas

  • You've gained 3 x Potential
  • Persuasive is increasing… (+? CP)

  The loser will receive: [Friend] is quite a talent. They've made some very useful suggestions.

  • You've gained 12 x Potential
  • Persuasive is increasing… (+? CP)

  ^

Summary

At an early stage of the reworking process you can either use your raw material or some specific items to increase Potential. Higher quality Short Stories require more valuable items (or a daring use of Laudanum!. Except for Touching Love Story, Favour in High Places and Trade Secret all items worth 2.50 echoes or more will also give 1-2 points of menace - even on a success.

The Writer's Desk: rework!

Option	Item	Cost	Gain[1]	Limit[2]
A Cautious Edit	1 x Manuscript Page		1 (4)	25 (45)
A Daring Edit	1 x Manuscript Page		2	60
Incorporate romance	Romantic Notion	0.10	2	60
Spice it with gossip	Scrap of Incendiary Gossip	0.50	2	60
Use your Case Notes	Compilation of Case-Notes		2
Add a touch of darkness	Tale of Terror!!	0.50	2	70
Compromising Document 2	Compromising Document	0.50	2	70
Include something exotic	Memory of Distant Shores	0.50	2	80
Incorporate life-lessons	5  Hard-Earned Lesson		3	80
Add a dash of zee-adventure!	Zee-Ztory	0.50	2	90
Weave in esoteric elements	Extraordinary Implication	2.50	5	100
Add a dash of heartbreak	Touching Love Story	2.50	5	110
Not an entirely fictional character...	An Identity Uncovered!	2.50	5	110
Ask your most exalted contacts for inside information	Favour in High Places	12.50	12	140
Publish... and be damned.	Blackmail Material	12.50	12	150
A rare lesson	Trade Secret	60	25

1. ↑ Rare occasions in brackets.
2. ↑ This is not only the potential cap, but also the difficulty level for this Persuasive challenge, which means a 60% success rate if it equals your quality.

You may go Back to writing... or finally Finish your Short Story.