Images courtesy of http://ohtori.nu/
Anthy as charity case and Kouga having the hots for Utena. That pretty much sums up this episode. Although darker themes still exist (Anthy gets bullied by other girls for supposedly humiliating Saionji since he won't leave his kendo room) the atmosphere is more fun. The central focus is a ball to which Anthy is invited, supposedly because she's been nominated as a possible dance queen by admiring boys. In her bid to make Anthy more friends, Utena tells Anthy that they will go and, despite Anthy stating that she doesn't like large crowds, she gives in to Utena. Since Utena thinks she has the other woman's best interests at heart this doesn't feel like a bad thing but it's a clear example of others forcing their beliefs onto the Rose Bride. Kouga is interested in the aloof Utena and quickly figures out that playing up the potential that he might be the prince from her childhood is the way to entice her towards him. Kouga's playboy nature conflicts with the ideals embodied by her prince so Utena is not blindly accepting of his advances. The man buys her a dress for the dance and this is the first time we see Utena in stereotypical girl clothing. She is obviously uncomfortable with the outfit which negatively affects her ability to keep Kouga at a distance, almost as if the dress compels her to be more submissive. She rediscovers the role she's most comfortable with when Anthy is once more the focus of humiliating pranks. Nanami, a character who initially appeared to be befriending Anthy, reveals that she's intent on hurting the woman she thinks Touga (her brother) fancies since she wants to be the only woman in his life (kind of creepy, can't lie). She ensures that the dress the Rose Bride is wearing will disintegrate when touched by champagne which she then has one of the servants spill on the victim. While Anthy is paralysed with fear at being surrounded by people and embarrassed at her state of undress, Utena assumes her boy's uniform and fashions a tablecloth into a dress for Anthy. The two then enjoy a romantic dance on the ballroom floor. Nothing really grand happens in this installment but it does further add to the characters. I have to admit that it provides me with great amusement, mostly because I have a side-narrative running simultaneously in my mind thanks to Naji Minkin. Their spoof video of this episode is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! Unfortunately it no longer appears to be available on the internet.
Images courtesy of http://ohtori.nu/
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In this era we spend a lot of our time online. There's now an electronic component in most occupations and the inter-connectivity of our society dictates access to nearly all goods, services and supports. Socialising is no exception. Humans desire interaction, the amount varies from person to person, but everyone likes to feel part of something, whether it's a hobby group, role-playing team or support forum.
One of the perks to writing fanfiction that is shared online is the near instant gratification for an author. Responses can vary widely yet a good storyteller will generally find an enthusiastic and supportive audience. This has certainly been my experience. Until recently, my romance pairing Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast' with Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid' was the fanfiction that had received the most positive reception ('Land and Sea: A Belle and Ariel Fanfiction'). I corresponded with some excellent people while posting that story yet those interactions ended once the story was complete. In March I began posting a story based in the 'Horizon Zero Dawn' universe. Since the fandom is still very young (the game came out in February 2017) there's a lot of interest in stories with not too many to choose from. I decided to write from the first person perspective of an original character, a decision which does not usually result in a lot of fandom interest (this story is called 'Looking into the Sun'.). People tend to prefer stories that focus on canon characters. Despite this fact, the response I've received from readers has been enormously positive. When I was about halfway through my own story, a new tale featuring an original character debuted and I began reading it. The promising premise expanded into an intriguing, well-written and deep story. I was so impressed that I gave enthusiastic, lengthy comments for each added chapter. The author, Kitewalker, responded to each comment and we exchanged engaging points about the story as well as writing in general. As I was reading other people's comments on her story, 'Out of Cryo', I discovered I wasn't the only one leaving detailed comments. leogrl19, an author whose work features stream of consciousness storytelling with poetic language, was also conducting discussions with Kitewalker through comments. I recommend leogrl19's 'Sunrise', 'Nightfall' and 'Aurora'. Soon those conversations were nearly as interesting as the chapters themselves. Soon the three of us were commenting on each other's work and regularly corresponding. Our mutual interests in writing and 'Horizon Zero Dawn' spurred us to set-up a space where we could chat more comfortably (and less publicly). I'm pleased to say that this enhanced interaction has worked out beautifully. Both are amazingly talented and kind people who I'm lucky to have met. I wanted to reflect on this encounter since I have never had this experience before and it's made me appreciate the connections that can be fostered through mutual interest. While it's true that relationships forged between people who've never met can fade, I'm grateful to have the opportunity to get to know people I would otherwise never encounter. Safety must always be a consideration when meeting strangers, yet fear is too often the primary response in our society. Had I not been willing to take a chance with these two authors I would have been denied the chance to expand my awareness and robbed myself of many laughs. We begin with more fangirling of Utena by the high school girls. Utena is not bothered by the reactions she receives. In fact, she seems to enjoy the attention she gets from her unorthodox behaviour and physical capabilities. Wakaba is working through her unhappiness from the previous episode by taking comfort in stories (stating that she now likes a book about a girl who finds love again after initial dismissal). Utena, meanwhile, has been placed in a new dorm (well, it's really rather old) and her only other housemate is Anthy. At first Utena brushes it off as a coincidence but Anthy promptly states that the arrangement is due to the fact that she won the duel. After some questioning which results in few answers, we are introduced to the marketable animal for the series: Cho-Cho, a purple-yellow monkey that can fit in your hand. We don't learn much about Anthy except that she is submissive to the tenth degree, performing wifely tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and attending to whoever she's engaged to. She remarks that her only friend is Cho-Cho. This line highlights the tightrope this show is walking: on one side is a light-hearted playful, craziness and on the other is a serious-bordering on disturbing acknowledgment of dark themes (abuse being the first example). We also get the impression that Anthy has secrets. More about the Student Council is revealed, namely that, although they are each seeking the End of the World for personal reasons, they are all governed by rules. These rules have been established by a higher player. A sense that each is seeking something beyond themselves in this apocalypse, rather than to remake the world in their preferred image, is given. When Saionji challenges Utena for Anthy we get another scene of him abusing the Rose Bride but also a hint of vulnerability suggesting that it's his need for control that leads him to pursue her. We also get a hint that part of that control involved sexual dominance of Anthy. Despite the violence this man shows to Anthy, Utena determines that she will purposely lose the duel to him to get out of this 'Rose Bride' situation. She decides to do so because of threats that 'those who do not obey the rules of the Student Council disappear from the campus'. Utena's apparent cluelessness in the callous way she mentions purposefully losing to Anthy makes her less sympathetic. Despite her decision to step out of the competition, when faced with Saionji on the battle field Utena (and a mysterious force summoned by her ring from the castle above) beat him. How much of her winning is conscious choice and how much is subconscious is difficult to say but it seems that, in the arena, Utena more clearly sees the true nature of others. The episode concludes with Utena stating that the reason she won the battle was for Cho-Cho, rather than Anthy, since Saionji would be mean to him. This is an ambiguous ending in my mind since it shows Utena's compassion yet also her naivety about the deeper emotional forces at play. This second installment weaves Utena more deeply into the plot, providing more time to each side character while revealing weaknesses in the main lead. We also get our first glimpse of Anthy as both a tool and manipulator. She is used by others yet also capable of wielding great power over them. Images courtesy of http://ohtori.nu/
Triggers for our imagination often occur when we're least expecting them: walking the dog, sitting in class, awaking from a dream. Our brains process millions of thoughts everyday but which ones blossom into characters, plot threads and settings is spontaneous. A couple of examples from my own life include The Rules trilogy and Call of the Black Panther.
The former grew from a short dream where I had a crush on Aladdin – yes, from the Disney movie of the same name – yet knew he had to be with Jasmine for the sake of the narrative. That tiny snippet became a three book journey set in an epic fantasy reality where questions of freewill and the greater good are tackled. The fact that it did figuratively blows my mind. Call of the Black Panther was born from even less concrete roots. It's a story incorporating my deep love for nature and animals, fascination with coming of age stories as well as the tension between individuals and established hierarchy. Both stories are mine, the writing style is recognisable, yet they handle different matters with very different characters. Part of this stems from the time of my life when they were written. Call of the Black Panther was written during my teenage years when issues of romantic partners, identity and generational divide were particularly influential forces. The Rules trilogy was written during my post-secondary experience and is a more complex story which addresses concepts without concrete labels. The characters in The Rules trilogy are a prime example. While some more easily fit into the definition of 'evil' or 'good', each is multifaceted and it's possible to understand why they made their choices even though you may not believe those choices are right. The best example I can give without spoiling plot is when the protagonist witnesses a cult bringing back someone from the dead. Everything about the process is perverted and wrong, yet those who participate are motivated primarily out of love – love tainted by grief. Every person who loses someone they care about hopes their loved one is in a better place. Would you take the opportunity to know for sure, even if it involved shady practices? My previous blog posts have noted that you should understand your own influences and style. Performing activities such as this is one way to do so. Investigating why I was inspired to write certain narratives at certain times gives me the power to improve and shape my development. If you were to sit down and write something as soon as you've finished reading this, what would it be? No matter what its contents, fiction, nonfiction, journal or shopping list, every thought has the potential to grow into its own entity. Ideas give meaning to our lives and stories are one of the most accessible ways to communicate them. The series' intro features Anthy and Utena almost exclusively, drawing attention to the relationship between them as the focus of the story. Given this attention it's understandable that some would automatically see it as a lesbian series, although that aspect is definitely up to interpretation. I have no doubt that this is part of the reason I began watching it years ago since I had just discovered Fingersmith, a made for TV movie based on the book by Sarah Waters. Fingersmith is an expertly crafted story whose central focus is the complex relationship and eventual romance between the two lead female characters and I was inspired to find more tales like it during my first year of University. Utena and Anthy on horseback in front of an upside down castle. .Anthy and Utena being pulled apart Back to the first installment of season 1. Besides the lesbian under (or over) tones, Fairytale tropes like castles, roses, horses and dueling feature throughout the intro, promising fantastical adventures. Given this opening discovering that the story takes place in a high school is rather disorienting. A narrator explains that the main character,Utena, was raised out of grief by a prince, vowing to uphold the hope he gave her by making herself in his image. In other words, by becoming a prince. Hence the reason Utena attends what appears to be an extremely prestigious school in a boy's uniform (I love how short-shorts are apparently mandatory attire for the male students). Utena brushing off the guidance counselor in her boy's uniform. Utena is athletic and the girls fawn over her yet she doesn't see herself as boyish. She has flawlessly integrated this aspect into who she is despite what the larger society thinks (be it negative, in the case of the teacher, or positive, in the case of the fangirls). The school itself is part university campus part cathedral, rose-symbols prevalent throughout its structure. A rose-garden backdrop is how Utena first sees Anthy who is tending flowers in the greenhouse. Our heroine then witnesses Anthy being physically abused by someone she assumes to be the woman's boyfriend (which is disturbing) but the attack is interrupted and we learn that all three figures (Anthy, Touga and Saionji) are members of the Student Council. Anthy is completely submissive in every scene and apparently no one likes her. Touga stops Saionji from further abusing Anthy. The show moves away from Utena's perspective and we learn that the Student Council is vying for 'ownership' of Anthy who is called 'The Rose Bride'. Whoever possesses her gains the power to bring world revolution, although what that means is a mystery. The Council does not condone Saionji's abuse of Anthy but cannot stop him from treating her how he wishes while they're 'engaged'. Only a figure named 'End of the World', who oversees the rules of the game, can interfere. Tying into the cruelty of this strange game is the emotional reality of high school. Utena's apparently sole close friend, Wakaba, has written a love letter to Saionji who has posted it on the bulletin board where spectators are jeering at its sincerity. To avenge her friend Utena challenges Saionji to a duel. Little does she know that by challenging the current owner of the Rose Bride she enters herself into the game. One crucial point I've thus far neglected to mention is that participants in this game where rings with a rose crest. The prince that raises Utena out of grief gives her a ring identical to that of the duelists. This is how she is able to enter the forbidden arena at the back of the school to fight Saionji. The arena is located on the top of a dais raised high in the air and gotten to via a winding staircase. Above the arena floats an upside-down castle. Utena gazes up at the castle above the arena. Understandably awed by her surroundings, Utena is also surprised to see that Anthy is part of the duel, Saionji pulling a real sword from her chest for the fight. A winner is determined by whoever cuts the rose (which is placed in the shirt pocket of each duelist) off first. Despite her lack of a proper weapon (Utena fights with a broken kendo sword) she manages to beat Saionji and becomes engaged to Anthy. Touga, the Student Council president, who watched the battle from afar, is interested in the new duelist. Utena does not know what to think - and it's only the beginning of that state for her and the viewers. Anthy meets Utena outside the arena as her 'Bride' All in all it's less cheesy than I recall, although there's no doubt that it's style is unique and takes some getting used to. The visuals are stunning and heavy with symbolism we can only begin to guess at. Although it seems simple and light there's something at the edges of my awareness suggesting that there's more to this little drama (and it's not just from what I remember from the initial viewing).
Future entries should not be as long since this episode establishes the setting. Nonetheless, I hope any who come across this entry enjoy it! Images courtesy of http://ohtori.nu/ Despite now being an old anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena is touted as the Neon Genesis Evangelion of shoujo anime. Its incredibly complex story balances multiple characters, themes and symbols, weaving them into a fascinating and sometimes utterly unfathomable tapestry. The series' director thought it would be his last project so he threw everything in: the challenges of self-expression in adolescence, tropes in fairytales, gender role analysis etc.. Many great essays and reviews have been written about Revolutionary Girl Utena. I am not currently in a position to effectively comment on the series since I discovered and watched it several years ago but recall being enormously inspired and struck by it.
I, therefore, wanted it to be the first installment in my Inspiration Series - a series of entries where I comment on books, movies, TV, and other media that has inspired me. Since I've been meaning to re-watch this series for a while now I thought that including brief written comments about it as I do so would provide both insight and perhaps even amusement for those reading this blog. Here is the opening video for the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWuP4aLDU8M Also, here's a review. Nihon Review: http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/revolutionary-girl-utena/ Below is an image of Anthy hiding her face, Utena being open and expressive and the princely ideal between them. Most of the time these posts deal with the less concrete aspects of reality: self-discovery through quests, fantastical scenarios, the tension between preservation of oneself and loved ones versus sacrifice for the greater good. Writing is a field where large concepts and dilemmas are tackled so this should not be surprising. Today, however, I will be addressing something far less grand. If you're fortunate enough to live in an affluent part of the world you will likely encounter the issue of transportation. If you're really fortunate you will live in a place where public transportation is reliable and feasible for your needs. If it's not, and you are financially stable, you will probably consider vehicle ownership.
Why people decide on certain vehicles over others depends on numerous factors, including company, model, fuel type, driver autonomy, condition etc. This is not the topic I wish to address here. What I do want to consider is the balance struck between personal engagement and psychological manipulation in the selling process. This give and take is present every time we enter a store but it becomes more pronounced the larger the purchase. People who sell vehicles know how personal a decision it is and how much money is riding on a sale. I recently had the opportunity to be part of this dynamic. The sales people I met were all courteous, helpful and enjoyable to speak to. There was always a sense of being sold to but some individuals were better at concealing it with niceties than others. Once the agreement to buy a vehicle was made with a dealer the pressure subtly increased. I was taken into a small room to sign the papers and was presented with additional options, such as rust protection and extended warranties. I was encouraged to agree to these options 'for the good of your investment'. Whether these options are good or bad is up to the individual, although I always recommend doing some research before deciding. What I found interesting is how naturally the whole process guided me from one price increasing scenario to another. I know that there is sincerity behind the sales spiels but where it ends and the tactics begin is difficult to decipher. This is the power of charisma and modern sales psychology. I'm old fashioned in many ways, preferring to go with less features in the interest of having fewer things go wrong with the vehicle, and this extends to taking as few extras as possible, but when you're spending so much money the attraction of protecting what you've bought is very persuasive. The vehicle purchasing situation highlights the importance of selfishness in capitalist culture. Personability is used to increase the chances of purchase so, to protect oneself from getting taken advantage of, the buyer has to be skeptical and mistrusting, at least to a degree. This is one of the things I particularly dislike about the consumer reality. Because there is so much pressure put on us to buy-buy-buy we become mistrusting and cynical, believing that everyone wants to milk us for everything we've got. These mentalities do not equal healthy societies where everyone feels a stake in the whole's well-being. Such situations remind me how important it is for us to see our similarities rather than differences. Few people want to be considered solely for their economic value yet that value carries so much weight in capitalist culture. Being too conservative (aka, looking out for oneself) ultimately leads to a lowering of everyone's standard of living since those not fortunate enough to start in positions of privilege, and those unfortunate enough to fall from them, will negatively impact everyone else. I also understand the need to ensure people work to improve themselves so they do not become reliant on charity. From my own perspective, a strong social support network needs to be in place to help those in need achieve autonomy. They can then support themselves and give back to help others. There are so many layers to the world we inhabit it's difficult to decide what's the best way forward. We're faced with competing demands for our time, resources and ideas. Maintaining a moral society while also protecting ourselves from those who would exploit us requires a mind that's fully present in the moment with minimal distractions and a healthy foundation. How difficult do you find it to achieve balance between protecting yourself and helping others? So long as I keep my life calm and in control I don't usually find it too challenging but entering a new situation can illustrate just how interconnected and uncertain many of our interactions are. Compared to navigating reality, exploring the worlds in fictional stories often seems like a breath of fresh air. All authors have heard the advice: 'write what you know'. For stories rife with realism and relate-ablility this is a sound recommendation. Even when you're writing about worlds and scenarios vastly different from those with which most people are associated, retaining familiar reactions, motivations and language will guide readers into the narrative. When done well, a reader can be invested in the tale before the first chapter's conclusion.
While the techniques to achieve such a result are definitely worth exploring, on this occasion I am reflecting on why authors end up writing certain things – themes, genres, styles etc. Considering why we gravitate to particular formulas can help inform our decisions, improve our craft and teach us about ourselves. Time and again I return to the themes of environmental and social stability, investigating the forces that disturb and encourage it. These usually involve journeys. Journeys are convenient and generally easy ways to explore situations and characters. Fantasy is also important. Part of the reason why is linked to reader engagement. Fantasy provides a realm in which complex circumstances can be explored more conveniently while also drawing in readers through interesting set-ups. For instance, an orphan discovering the identities of their parents is an emotionally charged scene yet it's also one we've all seen dozens of times. Using unique elements to breathe new life into a common trope can make it fresh and even ripe with implications you might not have imagined. To continue the example, what if a lamp post suddenly came to life and told the orphan that their parents had given them up because they'd been indebted to someone threatening to turn you into an outdated cassette player. Even if stories about normally inanimate objects aren't your usual preference, this set-up has the potential to get your imagination churning. Another trend I've noticed in my own writing is the tendency to write homosexual couples in fanfiction. One of the reasons I enjoy exploring these relationships is because homosexuality adds multiple layers of complexity to explore throughout the narrative. Even if same-sex pairings are accepted in the character's world, issues of competing partners, societal expectations and even role assignment contribute further intrigue. What themes reoccur in your art? What subjects and conflicts fascinate you? Are there topics or scenarios you explore in personal writing but would never share with anyone else? A fun writing exercise is to find random scenarios and set aside half an hour where you force yourself to write them. You won't always enjoy the process or the end result but this will strengthen your style and broaden your experience. Now that spring is here with summer fast approaching, get out your lawn chairs, hammocks or blankets and get some fresh air while you create marvelous stories. Happy writing! If you've been following my blog for a while you'll be familiar with my thoughts on the evolution of video games. The medium has come a long way since its arcade days, branching into all of the storytelling styles once exclusively the realm of film and literature. Video games involve their participants more actively than film. Depending on the game's structure and genre, players can follow pre-set paths were decisions are limited, say, to gear and skills, or ones that enable them to shape the narrative as it unfolds.
The creativity in gaming excites me an enormous amount. Television has also been allowed to stretch from the limitations of sitcoms and reality-style sagas. I celebrate the freedom to tell more complex and challenging stories whole-heartedly. The resulting tales are richer and more influential. There is one video game in particular that has reminded me of what the medium can achieve: Horizon Zero Dawn (HZD). Its tropes and themes are typical of an open-world adventure genre, yet the intense beauty of its backdrop, dedication to realistic character interactions and depth of narrative make it a shining example of game storytelling. From the moment you enter the post-post-apocalytpic world where humans live in primitive tribal societies and animal-like machines roam the land, you're embroiled in questions. Given that description, the most prominent one is how did this world come to be? The protagonist is sympathetic yet empowered. Aloy, an outcast from birth, is raised by a man outcast by choice. At first, her driving motivation stems from the desire to know who her mother is. That aim quickly becomes entwined with the secrets of the larger world, Aloy delving farther into the past for answers. I watched this story unfold through the Let's Play by Christopher Odd. While uncovering the narrative's mysteries was always my primary interest, I have to say that the combat with machines was always interesting to watch, each battle unique and sometimes truly suspenseful. In contrast, fights with human aggressors were not as engaging but their repetitive nature was eased by interesting backdrops and subtle world-building tidbits. The following paragraphs will enter spoiler territory so if you intend to watch or play the game (which is, sadly, only available on PS4) you can stop reading. Otherwise, I shall continue to describe why I have the utmost respect for the team behind this game's creation. HZD does many things expertly, not least of which is how it paces the narrative, giving its audience clues to the answers they're seeking but never revealing too much, urging them forward to uncover more. The balance between personal and external reality, established with Aloy's initial motivation, carries through the entirely of the game. The data files and sound clips Aloy discovers reveal the building and subsequent destruction of a world told from the perspectives of those in charge as well as those who are ultimately casualties. Aloy learns that the Earth's climate crisis is overcome through technology, leading to a period of prosperity and advancement. Humanity then makes its machines too powerful, the imminent destruction of life as we know it resulting in a race against time to implement measures that will make Earth habitable once the machines have consumed it. Religious, moral, scientific, philosophical and all other perspectives are brought to bear on the implications of this initiative. Some think the event is natural, that extinction should be embraced. Others see it as just punishment for humanity's arrogance. Most are driven to save life but the methods they use to achieve that objective come with monumental sacrifices. The vast majority of people are deceived about the project's true cause, giving up their lives without any idea of the final outcome. As you may gather, this is an incredibly complex set-up that no one would expect a game to handle, particularly with the depth and thoughtfulness HZD provides. The personal accounts of those involved in the project to protect Earthly life show just how much is sacrificed to give life a chance in the future. Even knowing that their efforts pay off – after all, Aloy would not exist to learn about them otherwise – the loss and suffering that went into achieving this success makes it bittersweet. Beyond the expert storytelling in the game I find the subject it tackles particularly inspiring. Outside the game reality, humanity is at the beginning of this narrative, facing a climate crisis and expecting technology to help us overcome it. Avoiding the dangers of thoughtless action and progress for the sake of profit are central lessons in HZD. No one wants the planet to become a lifeless rock thanks to our actions and they certainly don't want to be torn apart and consumed by machines converting biomass into fuel. I would highly recommend this game. Whatever the media, a good story is timeless and I commend those willing to challenge our current societal trajectory. Horizon Zero Dawn does this with beauty, intrigue and diversity. Give it a try – you might find yourself as entranced as I am. Below is a fantastic piece of artwork titled 'Horizon Zero Dawn' by ryanswnanick. I've been fortunate to have people around me whose love for language and weaving narrative matches my own. Writing is very much a self-directed activity. Countless hours of work go into crafting scenes let alone whole books. This work is generally unrewarded until a mostly coherent piece has been established, however, if an author can connect with individuals or a group to exchange ideas, section editing or even novel swaps then a whole new depth is added to the process.
I prefer to work with individuals rather than a group and the person I've worked most with over the years is Accalia Leigh. Since meeting in high school writing has been a foundation of our friendship, navigating the intricate layers of plot, characterisation and world building a constant source of joy for us both. One of the most challenging aspects of assisting someone else with their book is providing feedback without rewriting their story in your own words. The first full story I helped Accalia edit was 'Dance of the Chaos Winds'. It, more than the ones that followed, suffered from this aspect of me being a novice editor. Because I had particular word preferences, sentence structures and even punctuation styles I liberally applied these to 'Chaos Winds'. As a result, the story has a lot of my author's voice in it. What an author should do is suggest changes based on sentence structure, comprehensiveness and story enrichment, not make another's tale their own. Thankfully, Accalia and me have increased our editing experience so this is not nearly as much of an issue anymore. Something I've found helps to eliminate this tendency is planning multiple editing sessions. The flow I usually follow is: Round 1 consists primarily of detail-oriented editing like sentence structure, word choice and comprehensiveness. Round 2 involves a deeper look at the story, characters and world, ensuring that each of the aforementioned is fleshed out, believable and interesting. Depending on how much editing is required in rounds 1 and 2, a 3rd round might be necessary so that the changes are well-integrated. Accalia and I usually alternate between stories at different stages of editing to avoid boredom and errors linked to familiarity. An example is that, once round 2 of Story A is complete, we will move onto editing Story B in round 1. Once round 1 of Story B has been completed, we will then go back to Story A and perform a round 3 edit. This sequence has worked very well and our stories are much improved by it. Having a dedicated writing/editing partner is amazing and should be treasured. It's just as important to have as many readers as possible review the story since, the more who do, the better it will become. Every person has their strength when it comes to narratives as well as their preferences. Incorporating the opinions of multiple readers will make the story the strongest it can be. On that note, I want to say that you, the author, should not feel pressured to utilise all the recommendations you receive. You envisioned and wrote the tale so are the person who knows best what you're trying to say in it. All feedback is valuable, but what you implement should only bolster your original vision, not transform it into someone else's. April Camp NANOWRIMO is next month. If you're looking for a community of writers to support your creative endeavours, it's a fantastic place to start! |
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