This is a good story but it is darker than I like. I like happy endings, probably too much. I hope the next part will be lighter.

curious_guy (imported) wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:20 pm This is a good story but it is darker than I like. I like happy endings, probably too much. I hope the next part will be lighter.

I have something of a rule when I write a story.

"Dig a deep hole."

The deeper it is, and the more difficult for your characters to get out of, the better.

The very best stories are the ones where there comes a moment when it seems like there is absolutely no hope for your characters. Where there doesn't seem to be an escape. Where a wound seems like it is too much to survive. The hole is too deep, and it is too dark at the bottom to see a way out anymore.

Then, when the hole seem insurmountable, and the soil begins to pour in, and the character will surely be buried, Then, you start to climb.

When a character can go from no hope, to a happy ending, that is (to me) the mark of a really good story.

It can be tough to read a story that goes dark. Sometimes the bottom just drops out of a story, and you didn't notice the hole being dug beneath your feet. Sometimes you notice the digging, and you notice how dark it is getting down there. You just want it to get brighter already. Every inch you descend into darkness seems like agony. I have to take a break from some of those stories before I can continue.

The difference is, that when the place your character is in seems hopeless, but they escape anyway, or they overcome despite the dark, the story is so much more fulfilling. The meaning has so much more impact.

I think Sander's story is like that. He's going to keep digging that hole, until we readers cry, "Uncle!" I have no idea where the bottom is. Perhaps even Sander doesn't. Yet, I expect that it will get darker before things start to improve.

We've been waiting a long time for this story to continue. I'm excited to see where it all goes. I'm as in the dark as you are as to where it all will go, but I know one thing... I'm bringing my miner's hat, and a shovel. I don't think we've hit bottom yet.

I hope that Sander finishes the story and that it has a reasonably happy ending.

I totally forgot about this story, and am THRILLED that Sander is still writing for us!

Sander, I saw your chapter in the new stories and just about shit my pants. I'm SO glad you are still here!!

It gave me an excuse to start reading from the start, and I'm glad I did. This is quite the tale. Dark indeed, but perhaps thats the mood you're in; whatever the case, I'm just glad to read something new from you.

Please do keep on writing!