Hello GalacticGal. I've not logged in here to reply to messages in quite a while, but I do check in regularly for stories, patch updates, and some general threads as well. I feel your frustration, which is why I thought I'd actually log in to reply to your question. So, here goes.
First, I love your passion and dedication to your Cantrell Chronicles. I also quite enjoy the sci-fi element you've worked into it. I would encourage you to keep writing out of the joy of telling the stories you want to tell. The readers will come.
Second, the readers. And this "fall off" you've noted. So, have you noticed such a fall off before? Could it just be less people frequenting the site? Maybe the time of year for various activities? Maybe it's just a natural dip and things will bounce back?
The only other thing I would add for your consideration is my own experience with your story. I have been with the sims since TS2 and have gobbled up many stories throughout the decade plus I've been simming, so it isn't crazy that I discovered your story quite a while ago. What first drew me in to your Cantrell Chronicles was the newness of following your sims through the story you told. And as mentioned above, I've very much enjoyed the crossover Star Trek elements and thought that it added some originality to your story. In fact, I recall reading quite a few favorable comments to this sci-fi/Star Trek crossover aspect, with some wanting even more of it.... So you definitely can get the readers' interest!
Now, getting back to your question...you've done a "reset" a while ago, and the story's been set back a bit. Then there was a pause (all for good reason mind you).... After having been around these forums and the stories here, I've gotten the impression that your Cantrell Chronicles is a story you want to tell a very particular way. Even to the point of starting over if things don't play out the way you want them in the game. And that's no different to some of the other stories I've read. But, I have thought it'd be easier on you if you simply took the screen shots and continued his story without having to play through every detail in the game itself. Does that make sense? I mean, don't get me wrong, I have one family I typically sim with and I do play every detail out the way I want it to play out! 100%! But, if I were telling their story, I would find it easier to have two saved games for my sim family -- one save for my own play-through (where I can be as exacting as possible in playing out their storylines), and a second save for the story I share with others (this save isn't about playing things through -- that's what your first/personal save is for, this save is for setting up scenes and taking the pictures for your story so you can focus on the story itself and keep that momentum going).
In marrying both styles in one save, I just sometimes think it complicates things. You know, to have to have certain things played out that we, as readers, never see, but you, as the simmer, are unable to unsee.
Granted, if you are simply chronicling a sim family as you play, without the need to force game outcomes along a pre-determined course (marrying one certain woman, becoming a musician and one that sweeps the awards, etc.), then you could just take screen shots as you play the game and write up the story later. But, when you need to direct the game to effect an outcome you desire, you may need to exit out of the game (fires anyone? emotional deaths?) or restart, etc. etc. because the game may always throw a curve ball at your sims.
Many stories do just that -- they embrace all the curve balls even if it takes the characters where the author would never willingly choose to go. So, those curve balls can really lend to some deeper and surprising storylines!
BUT if you as the writer don't want those curve balls messing with your story, then maybe the two save files would work for you and for us (as the readers)? Because what we would see here would be Eric's story told the way you want it to be told and the gameplay itself wouldn't matter in that case (though you can enjoy every bit of it in your personal play-through).
I hope my shared thoughts here only serve to encourage you to continue writing and sharing your chronicles of one of your favorite sims. I can't speak for anyone else, but I would enjoy seeing how the rest of Eric's story goes.
