(curtseys and simpers)

Seriously, I'm always afraid I'm being too sharp when I'm wearing that cap, and as a writer and editor, I wear it rather often.

Because, you see, a really indecently high proportion of writers - including some well-established ones - are lying through their teeth when they say they want genuine feedback. Since I personally happen to thrive on genuine feedback, I'm usually quite pleased to offer it. It's always a shock when the woman with her third or fourth book turns chilly on you, because you actually pointed out things that wanted fixing, rather than rhapsodising.

It's a long, twisty road, editing is. And writing is even twistier.

It's a long, twisty road, editing is. And writing is even twistier.

What am I getting into? (shakes head despairingly)

Oh, right. Creation of art, etc.

Creation of art, etc.

I'm satisfied being a very good storyteller, personally; there's something quite wonderful to me in the bardic tradition of "once upon a time", be it song or fiction or poetry. A story is a gorgeous thing to tell.

Fic is a good way to keep in touch with it, so as I don't get lost in my own dialogue and metaphors.

Fic's a wonderful way to keep in touch with it, because it keeps the writer honest. I can't suddenly make Buffy an expert on the Courts of Love, or make Xander a superb drummer - the canon imposes certain disciplines.

Hmmm. Does it matter that I never make any mention of what Tara is wearing when she leaves the apartment, or when she wakes up for that matter? Or is that something that's acceptable to leave to the audience to envision?

Also, I edited chapter 2, hopefully it's better now than it was. You didn't seem to have much to say about chapter 1, so I left it pretty much as it was before.

Well, I didn't notice that you hadn't described it, and my brain supplied its own image. So, I think it's fine. Is her clothing necessary to the plot, does it advance the story? Mind you, it's perfectly fine to describe it if you'd like; the trick is avoiding describing too many things, and too deeply. There's that whole "trusting your readers" thing, and I do apply that to all writing, fic, original fiction or otherwise.

You may be too young to have ever seen the Beatles second movie, "Help!" There's a scene in there with Victor Spinetti and Roy Kinnear, who are trying to blow up Ringo to get the One True Ring (no, not that one - different One True Ring entirely). They're standing two feet apart, with walkie talkies, and have rigged up a bomb that looks like a curling stone. Kinnear is simultaneously carrying the bomb and reporting back to Spinetti, his boss, via walkie talkie - and the joke is that Spinetti is standing right there, exasperated.

Kinnear (crackle, sputter): "I am moving my right foot - over (sputter crackle) I am moving my left foot - over..."

I think of "every single action-object-thought is described minutely" writing as "I am moving my right foot" writing. It's something I try to avoid doing, and something I preach against strenuously.

Will go back and reread your edits in a bit, or, more realistically, in the morning - it's past midnight and we've only just got home. Kitten-tending in San Jose, and its 55 miles each way...

No problem, take your time. Also, the clothing is definitely not crucial to the plot. It's just that my imagination decided to supply her a hospital dressing gown to wake up in and a normal outfit to walk out the door in, then balked at the never changing clothes. Maybe, instead of having her walk out the door at the end of chapter 2 i can just have her look up the address and then say "now she knew where to go." End chapter. Giving her time to put on those pesky shoes, at least, before walking out.

ETA: I edited the end of chapter 2 to follow my own advice. It involved the removal of one fairly pointless descriptive sentence to make the story flow more logically. I love it when that happens.

Also, I posted chapter 3. It's short. My chapters are very short, I'll probably flesh most of them out eventually (or at least combine some of them). I'm just trying to set up the most crucial plot points (while remaining as true as possible to the characters, of course) before I try that.

Basically, right now I'm setting up chapter breaks as places where a commercial break COULD occur, if this were a television show. Because that's how my mind works with Buffy/Angel.

Now I should abed.

It's just that my imagination decided to supply her a hospital dressing gown to wake up in and a normal outfit to walk out the door in, then balked at the never changing clothes.

If you have it pictured in your head, you should write it. The stuff that's non-essential is the sort of Barbie doll writing some ficcers do -- "Buffy ran a brush through her long blonde hair and then stod before her closet, selecting black fishnet tights, a red plaid mini-kilt, a gray tank top and a black belted sweater with 3/4 sleeves. On her feet she wore knee-high boots." Saying she's wearing the hospital gown and pulls on a sweater and jeans would flow with the plot, and add a detail you feel is important.

And Deena, you have mail :-).

Nova, yep, Lyra's quite right. If the picture's in your head, write it; you can always edit if you feel it's too much or too little.

And that whole "Buffy ran a brush..." example? Perfect example of "I am moving my left foot" hyper-detailing.