Plot Development
The Story that Knew Better. Honorable Mention in Not Quite There Yet Challenge.
I don’t have any idea of the crime, the clues or even the protagonist. But I have everything I need to begin. I stared at the old man thoughtfully and waited. He sat in a faded blue armchair puffing on a long wooden tobacco pipe, which he held with long white fingers. This made his large ring stand out all the more obvious. The band was intricately shaped like a dragon which coiled around a large blue opal. It sparkled in the light as he moved, clearly something he kept polished and cared for greatly. My eyes continued past his hand and rested on the surface of the chair beneath his arm which was discolored and stood out from the rest.
By Adam Kolozetti3 months ago in Critique
Imposter Syndrome. Runner-Up in Not Quite There Yet Challenge.
Indecisive. That’s what I am. What should we have for dinner? What film should we watch? Don’t ask me. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion, especially when it comes to writing a story – In fact, I have so many ideas it's the equivalent of spinning countless metaphorical plates. But choosing one? Well, I might as well be Greek.
By Sian N. Clutton3 months ago in Critique
A- B Disconnect
The roads were busier than usual as the barriers kept rising. The metal vehicles buzzed all over as the barriers rose and fell. Built for collision, not comfort, the full-metal vehicles rattled along the roads to the city of Altronia. Elizabeth could feel her stomach shift as the vehicle sped past the barriers, and the traffic without humans was as bad as when they drove. The A-B competition was the one thing Elizabeth had selected for the event, hoping to make the A team, the best team, but playing for the B team if necessary. The yearly multi-sport event that teens would compete for dominance in physical sports. Elizabeth was running late. The event of the year was running on time. The ride there jolted as she grabbed the vomit bag in the back, emptying her stomach for the second time. The competition was only miles away, and yet the traffic was crazy between all the other cars. A stream of light flashed as the car came to a sudden stop. The wall stood up as Elizabeth flung forward. The wall lowered as the car sped to the event center. Looking at her watch, she saw the time had gone by quickly, and she was going to be late. This could cost her a chance to make the A team despite leaving so early. As the large building came into view, Elizabeth hoped she could finally check in. Another slam on the brakes left her holding on for her life.
By Sarah Danaher3 months ago in Critique
Someday I'll Write That Novel
That's what we all say, right? Someday, we're all going to write a book. (I was going to say "novel," but then I remembered some people have the attention span to write an entire book of nonfiction.) I want to write a novel. I want to prove to myself I can do that, and I need the practice stretching my ideas over a longer word count. So far, I haven't figured out how to get there. I like to think I'm pretty good with beginnings and endings, but in the case of Vivian, I may have written the middle of an outline with no idea what comes before or after.
By Rebekah Conard3 months ago in Critique
Cut! That's a Wrap!. Content Warning.
Apparently I don’t know how to have sex. You think someone would have told me that this is an issue – like, say, my darling hubster – before things got this far. Thirty years on, you’d think there would be complaints in the Department of Horizontal Pokey if I didn’t know how to please one particular man?
By Meredith Harmon3 months ago in Critique
The Novel That Bit Me. Honorable Mention in Not Quite There Yet Challenge.
Fir the Next Great (American) Novel challenge (which, despite the title, didnae actually huv tae be American), Ah hud two ideas an' two entries. Baith included Glasgow as almost a central character. One wis heavily inspired by Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh an' a real-life experience that happened many years afore Ah started writing.
By Paul Stewart3 months ago in Critique
In the Archives. Runner-Up in Not Quite There Yet Challenge.
In the Archives originally started as a Final Fantasy VII fanfiction. In this storyline, Reno is held captive for seven years as one of the deranged scientist’s experiments in a secret laboratory while ShinRa rebuilds what once was Midgar after its nearly destroyed by Meteor at the end of the game. It’s revealed throughout the storyline that Professor Hojo’s experiments did detrimental damage to Reno’s psyche that causes Sephiroth, the original villain of the game, to split control of Reno’s actions.
By R.C. McLeod3 months ago in Critique
