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Welcome to Volume 2 of my request for user assistance on my story Princess For Hire!
I'm working on adding in bits and bobs from Volume 1 into the story as it goes on, but while I'm doing that I had some more questions for my readers.
1) What do you think of the way I'm handling the flow of time in the story? Do you like skipping the mostly boring days and, possibly, weeks between major events, or would you prefer a slower paced story, with at least one posting for each in-story week of school? As of right now that's about the equivalent that the chapters break down to, since I skipped something like three weeks between the end of the previous chapter and the most recent one, but if my readers want more detailed time, then I can give it to them.
2) I'd like to see what you think our two newest freshman Princesses should be like. Not only that, but they're still hoping to find two more... if anyone has ideas for an interesting student to make a Princess out of, let me know! You shall get credit for your creation should I use them, of course.
3) This next question I don't necessarily want an answer to right now, but rather, I want people to think about as more of the story comes out. I was planning on only going for one year of school, covering Beck's freshman exploration of what it is to be a Princess and that's it. Depending on how it goes, if there's enough interest I might choose to go further. That's still a ways away, though, so no rush.
4) Kind of an added bit to the last question, does Kingston Academy sound like it might, with some more work, be something that others would like to see opened as a story universe? The school and the local town of Persistence ostensibly are in the same universe as my other stories, but since I haven't worked any connecting threads into the story yet, if people are interested in writing stories using Kingston Academy I can separate it. Of course, there would be the normal rigamarole of working out the rules and requirements for being allowed to write stories that happen in the school, but that's all another thing that I would probably wait to settle on until finishing Beck's first year.
Well, that's the questions for this issue of User Recommendations! Thoughts and comments appreciated!
Melanie E.
Comments
Bridging Time
Bridging time gaps in stories isn't as hard as it may seem to be, but a necessary device. You are already doing it when you skip from one event or activity of another. After all, you don't waste time describing how the students walked down the hall, opened the door, went into class, cracked opened their text, etc, etc, etc. You simply need to make sure when you end one period, you do so at a logical point and open the next one with a quick introduction tat allows the reader to re-orient themselves in the new time and setting.
Example;
All in all, my Labor day weekend proved to be quiet an awakening for me, one that allowed me to deal with the many issues that were patiently awaiting their turn in the cue.
Having resolved to put forth a new and much friendlier face, I threw myself into the follow days and weeks with a renewed sense of purpose. I'd like to say all was smooth sailing, but there were more than a few surprises and problems. It was two weeks after my dining hall confession to Bobby . . .
As to sequels, when I wrote Tips, it was going to be a stand alone work. Only after I'd finished Tips did I suddenly discover 'The Need' to find out what happened to Amanda Newly and crew after their freshman year. Hence, I wrote 'A Different Kind of Courage.' It was a very different story, but one that carried on as I thought Amanda would have. My advice now is to concentrate on what you're working on and see what happens after you've finished your first book.
Nancy Cole
www.nancycole.org
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
New princesses
Not a complete character concept, more a general idea:
Sarah is a TG so is in "girl mode" 100% of the time. It seems as though the rest dive back into "boy mode" whenever they get the opportunity.
So, how about a pair that fit somewhere in between? Perhaps have one that doesn't mind what clothes they wear - so you never know whether they'll turn up to class in "boy mode" or "girl mode" - or if they'll cause a headache for the staff by mixing and matching...
Another idea could be a boy who (initially at least) isn't too keen on the Princess idea, but, coming from a (very?) poor background, dresses en-femme more than need be to earn some more money.
-oOo-
As for expanding the story beyond the Freshman year, see how you're doing in terms of plot ideas / unresolved story arcs / audience reception etc. as you near the end, and decide then whether to continue.
-oOo-
As for 'opening up' the universe, to me it would seem fairly logical if the number of rules that applied were dependent on how close to the Princesses and Protectors the characters / events were. If they were entirely based in the town and had relatively little direct contact with the Academy, writers would probably be fairly free to do what they wanted. Inside the Academy, there would be restrictions, but if the character was, say, a geek who didn't really participate in sport and didn't know any of the Princesses or Protectors (and was in different classes to them), the writers would just really need to know the basic rules and regulations of the school, as well as the school calendar. Once the Princesses and Protectors start getting involved in the story, that's where the murky water really begins.
In any case, it might be worth waiting until this Book is complete before allowing any "authorised" or "approved" stories / fanfics - as it's probably best to let the Academy and universe develop naturally as you tell the story rather than attempting to codify it part way through.
EAFOAB Episode Summaries
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
User Recommendations
1) Skip the boring stuff. (Unless it's plot relevant boring stuff!) I think you've probably got the balance right at the moment.
2) We've already got one who might be like Sarah (two even if you count Becky!) so perhaps one who like Leslie is very comfortable in guy role to add to the contrast with Becky / Beck being stuck in (unwilling) permanent princess mode?
As for the other two questions, well that's up to you! I'm just enjoying what you've written so far.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Opening Up the Universe
A way to do this that is not at all too contrived is something I did in the follow on to 'Tips.' Rather than keeping everything on campus in the second book, 'A Different Kind of Courage,' I had a friend invite the protagonist to go home with her over the holidays. This opened up an entirely different world to my Amanda.
You might give it a whirl by having your Sarah invite Becky to join her at Thanksgiving. "It will be great fun!"
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson