The Gathering Storm

[jhetley]

Clouds and breeze out there now, as if that front has finally decided to move north and east like normal weather. Rain forecast for tonight and on through the end of the week. Not like Younger Son's location down at ground zero, though, with maybe a foot of rain over the last few days. At least his apartment is on the third floor (or maybe second, he just moved). However, Younger Son's Girlfriend got flooded.

Don't panic, the kittens are fine.

And the roofing crew showed up next door. Their first move? Strip off the last remaining shingles....

Started in on the revisions for SIGNATURES this morning, trying to make it into an actual story. So far, most of the comments from the crit group are along the lines of "This isn't the sort of thing I normally read, so I can't help you." Oy. Since I don't seem to _sell_ the previous type of story, the Something Completely Different aspect was a basic part of the design criteria.

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I don't buy it. The basics of good storytelling -- plot, characterization, action, dialogue, and continuity -- aren't dependent on the genre in which you write. What, they can't recognize a problem in those areas because you're dealing with magic?

A quote from The Making of Star Trek seems appropriate here: "If you're one of those people who says, 'The character acts that way because it's science fiction,' don't call us -- we'll call you."

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I guess it's the "hard-boiled" detective story mit magick aspect, since we organized the group for fantasy and skiffy.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

"Hard boiled detective mit magik" isn't fantasy? Ask if they read Jim Butcher, or if anyone in the group has heard of Randall Garrett. Or, for that matter, having happily thought of Garrett, Glenn Cook.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I know that. You know that. Appears that _they_ don't know that...

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

Work, Jim. Work HARDER. I need more reading material...