Wow, it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these! It’s been so long since I’ve written anything new, being so focused on revising and submitting. But, I managed to write and revise a new piece in two weeks, and still have it come out half-decent, at least according to the group…
The Good
- Story was called “fun”
- Character not a stereotype (a dancer turned soldier, trying to be a dancer again)
- Message of the story was delivered “gently”
- Good ending with a change in the character (or, an acceptance of that change on the character’s part)
- Story painted a picture of a future that was “right around the corner”
The Bad
- Unclear at the outset that my protagonist was female
- Character didn’t seem feminine enough to one member; the occupational hazard of a male writing a female POV.
- The secondary character was introduced early, but wasn’t much of a character then.
- Some minor story points that raised too many questions and were better off eliminated
- Some “writerly” phrases better off eliminated, especially since they caused some confusion as to the setting.
The Ugly
- Too many plot questions raised about the sci-fi element in the story, which some members admitted weren’t necessarily central to the piece, although…
- Those questions raised philosophical questions about the business of artistry and humanity
And, I haven’t the first clue how to address that last issue… :(.