Our Hopes and Expectations

[Revel]

A few people have mentioned they are liking my "clean" writing lately. That's great to hear! But I also fear that maybe my writing in the first half of the story wasn't liked as much? Certainly there are pros and cons to both styles. What's your opinion? Mine is in spoilers.  :P

I like my earlier style better, especially the first two posts. There's a depth I feel, to the narrative that I just haven't had time to apply to my last few posts. In comparison, my last posts feel very empty of vibrancy. They feel dull and stiff, cutting out delightful twists of phrase that I had much joy in creating at first. To hear that people like the new style is a little disheartening because I don't think it's as good. Its certainly servicable, but nothing I'd look back on and read for the wonder of language. It seems like "fanservice" writing where its just the bare bones of a scene, like reading a script of a movie. Maybe the simplicity is what is pleasing for readers?

[Erethas]

I have always liked your writing; it is always fun and interesting, and it is certainly done in a different style than the writings/fanfics I usually read. It's a different approach.
To me, your writing has improved; I feel that Revel has become more involved with the other characters, and also is showing a broader range of emotion. Earlier it had seemed like Revel wasn't quite fully aware of what was going on before hand and was partly in her own world before hand (not that I didn't like it at all - I loved it!), and it still is that way, but less so, so she's got a foot in both worlds.
Also with the emotions, it's nice to see that she can also show fear, anger, and annoyance, and especially when she was was guiding the otter to the hut; that was a new Revel.

[Sparrowhawk]

'kay, I'll come clean (so to speak). For whatever my lone opinion's worth, I did love old-Revel style of writing, all that layered, moody, shifting, whimsical description - more perhaps, than I like this new stuff. I think the character wore it well, that style of prose - it almost seemed to become a part of her.

And I stick by what I said earlier, about you doing what feels best for you. If you're not enjoying or happy with what you put out, I don't think it will be long before the audience begins to feel the same about it. I know people were complaining earlier about lack of interaction, lack of development - but I don't feel that you're lacking on those fronts, not now and hopefully not in the future. I trust you as a writer to do what's best for the story while maintaining your freedom of expression. And I realize that perhaps some fundamental part of this contest is catering to the audience, but still it doesn't seem right that you should be posting stuff you don't like. That's not the point.

So, if you survive and i really want you to survive, maybe more than anyone else in this contest I encourage you to return, if you feel it suits Revel's needs, to that richer style. I mean whatever you do, at this point, you're probably golden. It's cool that you're listening to the audience and all, but I feel like as long as we can understand basically what is happening in your posts you're free to construct them to your own preference.

[Jarrtail]

I really did prefer the Old Revel as well. The odd, semi-creepy way everything "looked" from her perspective was quite amazing. 
Of course, it being the last(?) week of the contest, it's probably too late to make any changes.

[Revel]

 :'( You guys make me happy. Thank you!

Haha, part of what may be making the prose simpler is that nothing has been going very well for her at all. Happy-Revel's prose is different from being-beaten-up-Revel's prose?  :P

[Jarrtail]

Oddly enough, beaten-up-Revel's prose seems more, ah, "normal" than happy-Revel. I dunno, maybe she took a blow to the head during the beating-up process that recessed her formerly prevalent animalism somewhat.

[Cairn Destop]

I have a feeling motherhood has affected our stoat.  In the earlier posts, Revel had just one interest, herself.  Note how at the end of this last chapter, she is wondering about the one kit that is missing.

[Sparrowhawk]

Of course, it being the last(?) week of the contest

Nope... still a week of writing left before the vote for the top three, and then perhaps even a little more to finish up? So we've still got time!

[Sycamore]

I have a feeling motherhood has affected our stoat.  In the earlier posts, Revel had just one interest, herself.  Note how at the end of this last chapter, she is wondering about the one kit that is missing.

Aww, I really gotta stop reading these posts before I catch up with the story . . .