The Running Tree: an ESO Tale

Donovan Spins a Yarn has moved to its new location at The Elder Scrolls off the Record !
Thanks for all the support for this fledgling site. "The Running Tree", "Journals of a Bosmer", and future Elder Scrolls stories can be found under Donovan's Tales at the new site. See you there!

Donovan

3 comments:

  1. Awesome! This could be the start of something awesome! Shows a lot of creativity. Definitely going to read more.
    My only real suggestion (this is completely on my reading preference and you can choose to do this or not) that you add more detail or slow the pace down. Things moved to quickly for me, I want to know more about the characters and the scene before we delve into the action. Is Calina also a high elf? Who is Gantar? Is he a boyfriend or a friend or are they related? Give me background about these characters. I want to know what they are like. Why is Restic helping them in the first place? Are Carlina and her mother close or just look out for each other? Why is Coreman interested in her mother? What are the connections between everything? What is the seen like? you sorta jumped from docks to the wedding and that confused me You get the idea. For me you got in to the action to quickly before I could really know anything.

    But I like the idea of the story so far. It's got a solid conflict and could be a very adaptable story to twist to how you want it. I'm very interested and wish to read more.

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    Replies
    1. I'm very happy you like the story. I will address some of your questions, because I love talking about the process...

      First, the quick pace is a stylistic choice. I edit down anything that feels watered down. I'm setting the story in a video game world, so I want the narrative to be as efficient as possible. Think of a fusion between novel and episodic television. I want each chapter to feel like an episode in which the reader is only mildly satisfied and is left asking questions to which he or she will "tune in next week" to discover the answers.

      With that in mind, it brings me to all your questions about plot, characters, setting. With the exception of setting, I only hint at plot points to keep the reader asking questions. From the first chapter, you can assume that Gantar is some kind of friend. This is confirmed in chapter four. Restic's motivations, Calina's relationships, and any other backstories are designed points of interests that come out in time. Keep that in mind when reading ahead. It's a very long tale in which the reader will discover more questions as others are answered. It's not a short story in which everything is revealed at once.

      As far as setting is concerned. It's also a stylistic choice to be as thinly descriptive as possible. I'm counting on the reader to know at least a little of the areas I'm talking about. I don't feel the need to spend three paragraphs explaining the color of the sky or wear of the cobblestone road. Of course, I do this when I feel it necessary to the story. I apologize if this leaves you wanting more. I hope you keep reading, however. There's plenty more to come.

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    2. Ohhhhhhh... ok. I thought this was more like a short story/novel kind of thing. I get what you're going for. I can fill in the gaps. Interesting idea. I have read stuff similar but not really the style you are going for. I'm curious to see how it goes.

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