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Author Topic: Jealousy Kills - Horror - 83,000 words
XD3V0NX
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Here are the last three versions of my first 13 lines. My newest, as you can see, is the first up here. Let me know if it hooks you or doesn't, or if you would read on. Also, if you would like a partial. Also, let me know if there is anything else I can work on and/or if the newest version is better than my last two.

Oh, and I should have my first Query letter attempt up here shortly, too.

Thank you.
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Newest (3rd) Version

<i>Just keep it together, Justin…</i> Justin Adams thought as he lay on a chair in Dr. Marks’ office, staring up at the white tiled ceiling, and hoping nothing bad would happen to his girlfriend, Jessica. <i>So stay strong. You can do this. Just think: you’ve been through worse.</i>
Justin finally glanced back at Dr. Marks who had a notepad in his hand, and wondered why he hadn’t started talking yet.
<i>Any time, Doc. I’m ready when you are…</I>
And, almost as if The Doc had heard Justin’s thoughts—and maybe he had—Dr. Marks began in a neutral tone, “So tell me, Justin: how was your last date with Jessica? Did you two have fun? Were there problems or evil thoughts that crossed your mind?”
Then there was a long pause.
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2nd version

Justin could feel the demon inside him growing stronger as he lay on a chair in Dr. Marks’ office, and the way he’d started acting was scaring his girlfriend, Jessica.
“So tell me, Justin,” Dr. Marks said, notepad in hand, “how was your last date with Jessica? Did you two have fun? Were there any problems or evil thoughts that crossed your mind?”
There was a long pause as Justin thought deep into his mind. “It was... great...”
Then, for some reason, he heard Jessica's voice: But was it great, Pretty Face? Was it really? She was the only one that called him Pretty Face.
Yea, it was, he thought. You were there. You know how much fun we had. Then he remembered the cold feeling around him.
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Oldest (1st) version

Justin Adams lay back in a chair staring at the ceiling, and he knew there was a demon inside him. The thoughts he’d had the last couple months kept getting worse, and the way he’d started acting scared his girlfriend, Jessica.
“So tell me, Justin,” Dr. Marks began, notepad in his hand, “how was your last date with Jessica? Did you two have fun? Were there any problems you faced, any evil thoughts cross your mind?”
Justin had been seeing Dr. Marks the last month or so. Jessica had recommended it. 'I’ve got a guy,' she’d said, drawing her fingers down his abs. That always calmed him down. 'And he might be able to help you. It’s worth a shot, right?'
“It was...great,” Justin finally said, searching for more words.


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chalkdustfairy
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I thought the original version best set out the premise that here's a guy who knows there is something terribly wrong with him, who's reaching out for help, but who's afraid of doing that at the same time. Now if you could convey in that version the implication that there is something nefarious about the doc, as well (which is what I assumed you were implying from one of the other lines)that would set it up even better.

I personally think the hook would be better without knowing Justin's thoughts; somehow keep the scene clinical, but leaving us no doubt that Justin is not in good hands.

I also liked the line that the doc is the girlfriend's 'guy'; which gets me to wondering if there is something evil about the doc- what's up with the girl, which could be an interesting plot twist. (maybe include a line where the doc reaffirms the fact that Justin was referred to him by the girlfriend) But I know the problem in setting up everything in the first thirteen lines! Good luck!



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elma
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I like the newest version best. I think the others give away too much too soon. Some specifics on this version:
- omit "so" before "story"
-I don't think it's important to mention the notepad where you have it. Seems distracting
-"I'm ready" make more specific. Have him tell what he's ready to do
-"The Doc" seems awkward
-"you two have fun" omit the word two. This would be understood
-"were there problems" is too general to be interesting. I'd stick with the evil thoughts idea at this point. You can bring other problems in later

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