It is not too short. So far, you have chunked the story in perfect bits. And if some bits are shorter, so be it. It works as a standalone bit, and I love it. Your novella gives me a feeling... I don't know how to describe it, but I love getting that feeling every time I read a new chapter. I read the first three in one go, butt looking forward to following along each new chapter at a time. I will definitely want to read this as a book when its done. I love, love your writing style.
Midjourney... I understand your concerns and I read several articles about people concerned about using it. Or who stopped using it. At the same time, I read that a lot of writers are using ChatGPT...
For me, I decided that I will never use any of the Midjourney images outside of Substack. They are not even how I imagine my worlds to be. But I need visuals for my stories and I won't use Unsplash or other generic stock images.
I am not a visual artist and I don't pretend to be one. I write. And I decided for myself that I will never use ChatGPT for anything related to writing.
But attempting to get an original piece of visual art created by an artist for each of my stories would be like commissioning a short story for each piece of visual art an artist produces. You can do it, given enough time and money. I will definitely look into getting original art for my stories down the road. But first, I want to finish my writing project.
Too kind, Claudia, thank you. I'm glad it gives that feeling. There was one paragraph in here that I edited perhaps fifty times because I couldn't properly feel Renn coming off the page, but I think it eventually got there. It's comforting to know this chapter works for you, as well as in length :)
Appreciate the thoughts on Midjourney. I know it's something we've discussed before and I've read similar words by others, too. I'm fully in the same boat -- I'm restricting my use to Substack, plus I'm paying a subscription for Midjourney for a bit, too. I honestly love the creativity that's possibly, and like you say, I'm not in a position to be commissioning so would rather be 100% focussing on writing.
Hopefully one day we'll be commissioning artists for bookcovers ;)
I rather love that Renn's o'erhasty tongue and Brae's storming off all happened in a tavern called The Patient Owl. 😆 And I am very intrigued by the idea of a night ranger--what comes out at night in Dusk's Weald that is never seen by day...?
It's tightly focused on this one encounter, nothing appears to be superfluous. I don't think more words were needed, although I'd need to see some other version to know for sure. Every scene should be as long or short as it needs to be, right?
Thanks Caz. I'm sure you're right. I think it was just the feeling of having sliced it in half that made me wonder.
For some reason, your question just made me think of (and smile at) Gandalf's line: "A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." :)
This line! “she wore her longbow across her back, the supple curve of hickory protruding from her shoulder like she had been born with half a set of wings”
That was one of those lines that somehow came from nowhere as I was writing this scene. It was the perfect image of Brae in my mind. I'm glad it resonated with you 😊
It is not too short. So far, you have chunked the story in perfect bits. And if some bits are shorter, so be it. It works as a standalone bit, and I love it. Your novella gives me a feeling... I don't know how to describe it, but I love getting that feeling every time I read a new chapter. I read the first three in one go, butt looking forward to following along each new chapter at a time. I will definitely want to read this as a book when its done. I love, love your writing style.
Midjourney... I understand your concerns and I read several articles about people concerned about using it. Or who stopped using it. At the same time, I read that a lot of writers are using ChatGPT...
For me, I decided that I will never use any of the Midjourney images outside of Substack. They are not even how I imagine my worlds to be. But I need visuals for my stories and I won't use Unsplash or other generic stock images.
I am not a visual artist and I don't pretend to be one. I write. And I decided for myself that I will never use ChatGPT for anything related to writing.
But attempting to get an original piece of visual art created by an artist for each of my stories would be like commissioning a short story for each piece of visual art an artist produces. You can do it, given enough time and money. I will definitely look into getting original art for my stories down the road. But first, I want to finish my writing project.
Too kind, Claudia, thank you. I'm glad it gives that feeling. There was one paragraph in here that I edited perhaps fifty times because I couldn't properly feel Renn coming off the page, but I think it eventually got there. It's comforting to know this chapter works for you, as well as in length :)
Appreciate the thoughts on Midjourney. I know it's something we've discussed before and I've read similar words by others, too. I'm fully in the same boat -- I'm restricting my use to Substack, plus I'm paying a subscription for Midjourney for a bit, too. I honestly love the creativity that's possibly, and like you say, I'm not in a position to be commissioning so would rather be 100% focussing on writing.
Hopefully one day we'll be commissioning artists for bookcovers ;)
I rather love that Renn's o'erhasty tongue and Brae's storming off all happened in a tavern called The Patient Owl. 😆 And I am very intrigued by the idea of a night ranger--what comes out at night in Dusk's Weald that is never seen by day...?
Very happy to hear it has you intrigued...
It's tightly focused on this one encounter, nothing appears to be superfluous. I don't think more words were needed, although I'd need to see some other version to know for sure. Every scene should be as long or short as it needs to be, right?
Thanks Caz. I'm sure you're right. I think it was just the feeling of having sliced it in half that made me wonder.
For some reason, your question just made me think of (and smile at) Gandalf's line: "A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." :)
Yes, the Gandalf quote works too. 😁
You would have sliced in half for a reason.
This line! “she wore her longbow across her back, the supple curve of hickory protruding from her shoulder like she had been born with half a set of wings”
That was one of those lines that somehow came from nowhere as I was writing this scene. It was the perfect image of Brae in my mind. I'm glad it resonated with you 😊
I think you need to Midjourney it. ;)
😉
I think I may have tried but couldn't quite get it right. But it's a good excuse to try again!
I’m liking Brae more and more. She’s so mysterious, and I can’t wait to find what she knows that Renn doesn’t🤔
Thanks so much Andrei. Glad you're enjoying, and I hope the unfolding of the mystery will satisfy.
The perfect length. The words draw pictures. (The Midjourney one seems to fit well, despite our concerns about its ‘heritage’.)
How I wish I could draw like that. Then I'd happily sketch my own.
If the words are drawing pictures, then that makes me truly very happy. Thank you for reading, Beth.
love it, never leaving without a giggle 😌
😆
My work here is done.
I was expecting a continuation of the rabbit hunt journey but this flashback is great, too.
I do need a map, though!
"On maps, Dusk’s Weald may as well have signified the end of the land, little reason to explore beyond." I want to see a map! Please? :)
Working on it ;)