Rubble and Rust is a coming-of-age visual novel set in rural South Australia.
With nothing but barren stretches of grass around, the River Murray isn’t the most exciting place to spend the summer holidays. Despite forming a deep friendship with the older boy living two holiday homes down, Bel is unaware her friend is concealing more than he lets on.
To keep things simple…
Australian country boonies. A time before WIFI. Sharp scrap metal. Too much free time and a secret under the burn pile out back.
Photos were taken in the early 2000s around my family holiday home by the River Murray, South Australia.
Based around my lived experience with psychosis and the stigmas associated with mental health, I hope you enjoy these lingering memories of childhood from my dry and dusty corner of the world!
3+ hours of reading/playing content. Separated into three parts as seen below.
Content warning: Mature themes and violence.
Here are some of my thoughts on my project, Rubble and Rust. This project started out to be very thrilling. I was enraptured by the process of narrative writing and churned through piles of text for parts one and two.
But I went through some stuff, and was rushing to finish the story, without giving it the attention and time it deserved. I don't want to spoil things, but I know I could have wracked-my-brain to produce a better ending.
I was enjoying the process of making visual novels so much, up until one point when I was feeling quite sick of working in a void, without community or any supporters.
That I think, made me hurry it along and finish it too quickly.
It's clunky, awkward, much like me, but it is what it is. At the end of the day, I made a thing while others haven't. I've tried to communicate a story where other dare not to, and I'm proud. It's very easy to put down an amateurish writer, but harder to actually make something. That's how I've distilled this project down.