Oddbean new post about login | logout I showed the first three chapters of my hobby sci fi manuscript to my husband as an alpha reader. He's a really thorough film critic, and I told him to be brutal with his feedback. He really liked them. He highlighted a few things to tweak for improvement, but otherwise loved it. Pretty genuinely I think. He particularly liked the first glimpse of one of the antagonists. There was a balance there between them being horrible but also kind of likable and intriguing, and so that delicate balance seems to have struck correctly. So I'm going to show him the first 15 chapters that, in the current draft, make up Act 1 of the story, and get his further thoughts.
🎉 Go Lyn go!
Hmmm, I think that’s the high brow version of “does this dress make me look fat?” Every husband knows the Correct and only answer to that question 😂
Please publish this at The Saif House so I can buy it with bitcoin. 🙏
I’m an avid scifi reader. Would love to be considered as a beta reader.
Noted and appreciated. :)
You can count me in too Lyn, through nostr you be spoiled for choice for beta readers. I think its really hard to judge how a creative piece of work will be perceived. Some of the greatest books, films, songs, tend to be unexpected and a big surprise. My favoirite characters are definitely the badies that I relate to. Breaking the rules symbolises guts, danger, gives the character an edge, unapologetic. Nice is boring. Even the ones that aren't obviously relatable, done right work really well. Lyn Alden, the sci-fi author. Its got a good ring to it. I've watched many of your videos, interviews. You are very focused in your analysis, and sometimes you have this serious determined look on your face, like don't fuck with me look, otherwise I mess you up. If you capture that essence in your character you might be onto a winner. We are all cheering you on Lyn, you can do it. ✊ You definitely abit of bad ass! You got this. 👑
Can't wait to read the book. Because of your progress updates, it almost feels like I'm on this journey with you, helping you write the book. Silly. Will you be publishing this? You could start off as an ebook. I think you've created a whole fan base waiting in anticipation... 😺
I will publish it if I think it’s objectively worth publishing.
I will publish memes if I think they are funny and promote NOSTR adoption.
Does that make sense?
An antagonist with redemptive qualities make for a better story. Think Gollum vs Sauron. A story cannot be written about pure evil but around it otherwise human conscious observers would not be able to relate to the antagonists drive to do the obviously wrong and self serving thing. Mankind and their lust for power and illusions of grandeur is a bigger threat to Middle earth. Elves are indifferent and reactionary. Dwarves are greedy. Hobbits are small. These are the more interesting "antagonistic forces" which allows the story to have progression and scope in it's urgency.
For context, my draft is up to chapter 38, reaching into 80% draft completion, and the third act is the hardest. I’m moving forward but this is some tough shit.
Alpha readers are the best 💜 🫂
Excited to see what comes of this