review of 'The Exterminators Pt2" by ludikristo on Critique Circle

It was the second chapter in a book and takes place during a training mission for several young magicians. It's an urban fantasy set in Boston for the chapter available to me.

I think the writer has a good idea of his characters and where he wants to go with them. The descriptions are detailed enough and he actually has a story to tell instead of the crap I read before this that was mainly a racist rant masquerading as a story.

He mostly suffers from the new writers disease. It's when you fail to see the need for either editing or rewriting. You think every word you write is perfect even with the spelling errors and redundancy of names and "ands" and "hads"

I assured him we've all been there and expect good things from him in the future.

It's a hard thing reviewing others work. You have to be careful not to make their stuff yours, in the sense that your criticism forces your style on to them.

I mainly stress flow and brevity.

I'll be doing many more hopefully with more detail.

28nov15

Still moving foreward. Spent all day editing Hang the Hunter and still writing everyday. I'm focusing hard on adding detail and color without clutter. Read an article about short stories making a comeback and found it inspirational. Longer works feel like too much right now. Frankly the boredom factor sets in long before I reach the two hundred |three hundred range. I believe it'll get better but this is now. 

I continue to update "found while dreaming." Even if it's just a line or two as it will be my main project after this last rewrite of Hang.

My plan for the "I write too" page is to read other people's work on Critque circle and wattpad and offer criticism, then place links o their work on the page. Hopefully they'll return the favor and I can gain some traction.

Still on the path...

18Nov15

Still writing which is I know, redundant but I need to reinforce.

The outline for "found while Sleeping" is going well and I'm back to proofreading Hang the Hunter again. Feeling productive even if a little down.

12nov15 updates

First and foremost still writing. Albeit all over the place.

I work on the theory "finish what you start!" But lately I find "you have to know when to get off the path." A more appropriate adage. 

Sticking with some stories is like chipping at a rock. I know; the next story is always more exciting than the one you're on and that's true. Still, refer to the rock analogy. I think now as long as I'm  productive...

So... I ve shelved the idea of Hang the hunter as a novel returning instead to the short story concept. I've rewritten the first part again, will post it soon and have the first draft of the sequel "Rachael's Tale" It needs a major rewrite though. I'm changing the pov but know where it's going and that's half the battle. The process is time consuming but I don't mind. My attention to detail is better lately. In the past I've noticed a lack of patience in my work. I chalk this up to years of television watching. It makes me want to get right to the heart of things while neglecting the scenery but as I said, getting better.

I started a Facebook page for writing and reviewing work but it's way more time consuming than I thought. Another problem is I'm not all that social even though I  like people in general. My friends are special to me and welcoming strangers in is hard since I've gotten older. I have to find a way to resolve this because I need to get me out there, that can only happen by reaching out.

6nov15

Too drunk to write tonight. I have failed. I wrote earlier and am happy with the work done but it's not enough. Wanting to write but not being able to focus enough sucks. I have to get stronger mentally. Stop the mental whining and stand up. The writing doesn't care about your heart, your longings, it only wants its needs met. 

I obey.

03now15 updates

Did the GRE today; horrible at the math but fine with everything else. Now I only need to get those scores to the school and hope the loan people don't fuck up my plans.

But even if they do, they can't fuck up all of them.

I'm a writer. It's taken me about thirty years to realize this but it's so.

They can't take that away.

I'm back to chipping at the second Hang story. I'm obsessed with finishing what I start even though I'm tired of it. To not do so feels like quitting and I'm too old for that. I need to make better choices though. The clock is ticking and there are things I want to finish before the end. The Priest saga being one of them.