Gathering Of Dedicated Scribblers discussion

Hello all! I need some feedback please and thank you in advance. Please don't hold back, with a box of kleenex and enough wine - I can take it.

Character Development - did I understand the assignment or simply go off the rails? Everyone I have reviewed submitted a MUCH smaller profile, but I really wanted to know who I'm writing about, even though 90% of it won't end up in the story. https://www.coursera.org/learn/write-...

Chapter 1 Outline - It leaves a lot of questions and one reviewer really hated that they didn't know everything, but it's an outline so... *confused https://www.coursera.org/learn/write-...

Chapter 1 - I actually have through Chapter 6 written, but had to break up the first chapter to adhere to the 2500 word count. *headbang Back to the editing room! https://www.coursera.org/learn/write-...

Hi Marcia,

It’s lovely to meet you. I left you a review on your chapter 1. I hope you don’t mind I decided to dive straight into the novel before reading your character outlines. This way I can form my own conclusions about your characters and then compare them with what you had in mind.

In my opinion, it is helpful to have a few specific questions for your reviewers. I usually include them before the chapter itself, e.g. What did you think about the pacing? Did you like the voice of my protagonist? It’s probably more useful in later chapters. Just a thought.

I really liked your chapter 1. I’m writing in a similar genre: a suspense thriller with a romantic subplot, also in close 3rd POV, past tense. I’ve written most of the novel, but I’m now revising my second act, because one of the subplots did not work as well as I had intended.

I tried to stick to the 2500-word limit too, but in act 2 I realized I have too many plot points to cover and my chapters got much longer. I wouldn’t worry about exceeding the word limit.
I hope you find my review useful in some way.

All the best,

Beata

Thank you and your review was very helpful! I liked that you also had issue with the newlyweds and meeting reschedule paragraphs. They've bothered me too, but I couldn't figure out how to change it so I shelved them. I took your suggestions on both and it reads much better now!