17 Comments

I detect a bit of mild self insert fun here!

Humor mostly aside, this made for some entertaining layered storytelling. For a time, I wasn't certain if the segments that weren't block quoted were part of the story itself or your brief explanations between scene snippets. The ending complaint from the editor ties it all together, though. The scenes presented are well paced and give a solid sense of character despite being relatively brief, while the cutaways to the author's/editor's notes add a nice touch of humor and a sense of genuineness to the whole thing. Those segments in particular read as a witty fictionalization of your own experiences with publishing, which could be a wild and completely wrong assumption on my part, but it works well by helping the story feel just that little bit more relatable.

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As long as you don't go full Martin you should be fine.

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What does "go full Martin" mean?

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By that I meant start slaughtering without reason all leads, as GRRM did only for him to write himself into a corner. But I don't see you doing that.

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GRRM?

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George rr martin

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Um, I just looked up his site (never heard of him before this). Did he kill off characters willy nilly?

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Yep

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As long as there is a reason for the death I'm fine with it. But the fallout must be dealt with

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Aye, the fallout -- therein lies the rub!

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You wouldnt have to set up another hero. I think it might be fun to give the bad guy a win and watch the supporting cast trying to get their poop in a group, then set up the next hero or the supporting cast learns not to put all the eggs in one basket and come back with a cool strategy in the next story

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Certainly doable! Sadly, the publisher would have a fit, which is sorta the point of the post. Of course, the best thing for a writer to do is let 'em rant. Write what you want!

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Bastards never let us have any fun

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Har!

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You could move the sequence to the end of the book, so that Drew's death takes the form of a heroic sacrifice.

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The publisher's dilemma is that Drew is an MC in a novel series.

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