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Author Topic: Metaphysical fantasy novel
kathmandau
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This may not be the appropriate venue for such a work as my novel, Sacred Vows, currently complete at 64K words. The concept is based on a premise that all the items in one's environment give off psychic vibrations, collectively defining your reality.

The primary character, Ian Sarin, finds that he has unconsciously been constructing a psychic portal, which reconnects him to Katerina, a woman he has always known and not yet met. As the only recipients of the Sacred Vow, a universal call to service, they become the focus of the current iteration of an ancient ceremony. This rite bonds two lives from separate dimensions in order to reverse the disintegration of emotional ties in the Collective Consciousness. Contrary to decree, Ian and Katerina seek a way to retain their personal union long after the ritual is complete. Neither can physically remain in the other’s world, but their closest friends join to take the necessary risks to assist the couple in their pursuit.

Input for any portion up to the first four chapters (setup of query packages) would be much appreciated...now for the 13 lines...


I am too weary of being apart from her whom I am never without.

Though few wish to consider such a thing, most people actually die when they become too tired to continue on. Whether by the rigors of illness, sadness, or old age, their desire to make the effort living requires is exhausted. This will be the cause of my passing. My body could go on for some time, but my heart and spirit have lost the will.

Several times every day one of the nurses tries her best to entice me into conversation. They want to lure me back from the edge of death. Mostly, if I respond at all, I smile. I’m only interested in fulfilling the promise that keeps me in this life.


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ChrisOwens
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<This may not be the appropriate venue for such a work as my novel>

Why not? This is fantasy. I've seen that and other genres on here as well.

<The concept is based on a premise that all the items in one's environment give off psychic vibrations, collectively defining your reality. >

Wow. That's not too distant from the idea of my main WIP...

Sounds intriguing.


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Christine
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Welcome, kathmandau!

The idea sounds intriguing. I basically liked the first 13 lines. They have a dreamlike quality, so if that was what you were going for them you hit right on. I noticed a couple of nit-picky things. You seem to use unnecessary words quite a bit, words that weaken the overall structure and put undue burden on the prose. For example:

"I am too weary of being apart from her whom I am never without."

I flagged the "too" as a useless word. What do you mean by too weary? How is that different from weary? At another point in the story if we had more basis to compare weary and too weary, it might have meaning, but right not it just pulls at this sentence. Watch out for adverbs, they say. "They" can sometimes be wrong, but I always check my adverbs to make sure the sentence cannot live without them.

"Though few wish to consider such a thing, most people actually die when they become too tired to continue on."

First, "actually" stands out in much the same way as the "too" did in the first sentence. What is the difference between actually dying and dying? As this is fantasy, we will assume nothing is a metaphor until we have more grounding anyway. Also, "Continue on" is redundant...I suggest simplifying to "continue."

Actually, I thought to give you examples, but now that I reread I see those are the only occurences. I like the rest of it. It is quite well written.

Could you tell me the word count of the first 4 chapters? I may be able to get to them, but December is proving to be a busy month for me. A word count would help me decide if and when I could fit you into my schedule. Scheduling concerns aside, if I were wide open I would be interested in reading more of this.


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kathmandau
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Thanks Christine. Please pardon my oversight on the word count. The first 4 chapters total 11K words.
Input on any portion would be appreciated. I realize that is a very busy season. If input does not fit schedules before year-end, I will be open for input later.
Thanks.

[This message has been edited by kathmandau (edited December 07, 2004).]


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Christine
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I tell you what. I am currently immersed in a second look at the second draft of my fantasy murder mystery novel. It's a little messy because I'm just reading and not editing now, but it would be nice to get a fresh set of eyes to look at the foundation of the story (ie the first few chapters). My first 4 chapters come up to about 11k words as well...even swap? And I'll try to get back to you sometime next week. If that's ok with you, you can find my e-mail address by clicking on the mail icon above this post....send those chapters along!
Posts: 3567 | Registered: May 2003  | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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