 sango taijiya1 2009-05-03 . chapter 4I am so confused! You have my interest, and your fanfic certainly seems like nothing I've read before, but I'm still waiting for it to make sense. You're a skilled writer, please continue with your story. I'm interested to see where it goes, maybe it'll start making sense to me later on. Hopefully. |
 Millicent Bystander 2009-04-11 . chapter 3This story started off well. It was clear, flowed well, and had a relatively well laid-out, systematic plot. After the first chapter, however, it went downhill fast. Chapter 3 was by far the worst. Since when is it acceptable to publish/post utterly incomprehensible stories? (I hesitate to label it 'drivel'. However, it came close). After the second chapter I had hoped that the story would improve. It did not. I will not be reading future posts since, by all appearances, it will be a waste of time. Yet, since the first chapter did ensnare me, I recognize that you have the ability to improve drastically. Please, for the rest of your readers, a) create (or maybe reconsider?) a cohesive plot, b) follow said plot and thus avoid confusion, c) stop assuming the readers will magically know what you mean and start including more context to your plot/setting shifts, d) consider taking more time to set the groundwork for the future direction of the story, and finally, e) connect with a good beta who will keep your stories comprehensible.
It is obvious from your numerous p.o.v. and time shifts that you're going somewhere with this story. However, please remember that you're only 3 chapters into your tale. It's okay to spend a little more time laying a comprehensive groundwork for your main characters before whipping out the conflict. I can fully appreciate your desire to create a little mystery and suspense. I would simply recommend choosing a different avenue to do this. Right now, you've created so much mystery that these almost-tangents seem completely unconnected to the story. I feel like I'm reading 3 or four different stories at once, with more being added every chapter.
The simplest way I can see you adding detail, while maintaining the mystery and suspense you seem to desire, is to devote a chapter to the 'other side' of this story at an appropriate time (emphasis on 'appropriate'). The chapter doesn't have to be long. In fact, the more concise yet well-written it is, the higher the suspense can be built. By doing this, you'll also give yourself the opportunity to flesh out (add detail like names, hint at how they tie into the main plotline, etc) your story's most evil antagonists.
*Sigh* ...Somehow my simple 'this story confused me to no end' turned into a little more. I hope, in turn, that my review makes sense to you and will offer some help! I think you have great promise. You simply need to deeply consider how you wish to present this story. |