posted
This is a project I'm planning on sometime in the future. I have another project currently underway so it will take some time. However, I have written a sort of a synopsis, a basic plot with only the most important characters. Since I'm still refining my written English, I use this synopsis now to practice translating.
In short words, I have invented a world populated with humans and (mostly) same animals as Earth. I plan to write down the whole civilization, roughly ten thousand years of history. I began by a very general description and eventually going more and more into details. The posted 13 lines is the most far-off view of the world. I have begun working on a closer look as well. If anyone wants to read it, let me know.
Inhospitable weather conditions forced many peoples to move out of their natural habitats. Many took to sea by means of primitive craft. After many decades of wandering the seas using smaller island chains as outposts they found a large piece of land. This was the continent Haru, where individual tribes eventually united and gradually founded nations and states.
One of those peoples was called Tarians. For a few centuries Tarians enjoyed prosperity in the new land. Then the climate changed and they were forced to move again, this time by land. They crossed a great mountain chain that was a border of their former realm. On the other side of these mountains they found a new homeland. A country called Tarium was formed here; with time it was forced to develop a military caste, thus able to repel even the strongest of enemies...
(I corrected the spelling errors.)
[This message has been edited by MartinV (edited June 12, 2007).]
posted
I am wondering what the inhospitable weather were. Storms? Heat? Cold? Something unimaginable on Earth?
I'm interested in the world and would keep reading.
Small questions/corrections: -- "wondering" should be "wandering" -- I am not sure what a military "cast" is, though I know little about military and it may be my ignorance here.
posted
"Inhospitable weather conditions" refers to extremely long and harsh winters and very short summers. I imagined this to be some sort of a mini ice age (they are recorded through history I believe), caused by eruption of a distant volcano. This is still an open question; if anyone has a better idea on how to make the climate change for a few years or decades, let me know.
Wonder/wander: I get mixed up on such words, thanks for correcting me
My mistake: it should be written 'caste' not 'cast'. Typing error. A military caste is what medival knights were in Europe or Samurai in Japan.
How does this work - do I post more of it in here (I have to translate it as I go) or should I send it to a personal e-mail?
posted
My complaint with this is not that it is all information/background pseudo-history. No, I've read that type of opening and have enjoyed them.
What I find not working -- for me, that is -- is that this is not interestingly written. What do I mean by that? Well, you can relate dry facts in an interesting manner and you haven't here.
A colorful Voice might help. Interesting details...like a history prof relating how once President Taft, who was obese and then got fatter, had to have the secret service haul him out of a bathtub in the White House. Gives a specific (if unflattering) image of a point in history. But the students will remember Taft afterwards.
posted
As I've said before this is the most general view of the whole thing. I have a more detailed description where characters are involved, their minds and ambitions. I could not post that in 13 lines could I?
How does this work? Do I send people private e-mails with the rest or do I post another portion here?
posted
Is this more character-oriented stuff an alternative opening or is it stuff that comes AFTER what I just read?
If it's an alternative, okay, I'll take a look, but if it is just a matter of "hold on, keep reading down, the good stuff is coming soon" with this first post as still preceding the new stuff -- you're missing my point. The first post text was not interesting. It's the sort of information I have in my notes but would never put out as the opening. I'd look for some way to make the history/geography lesson interesting.
Inhospitable weather conditions forced many peoples to move out of their natural habitats
How about...a hemispheric wide storm erupted out of nowhere. Within days sheets of ice covered the rolling hills of ____. The fortunate few inhabitants who escaped on small fishing smacks and rafts of lashed together furniture fled southward toward the sun. It took years. Years of eating fish and storing rainwater. Babes were born who never knew land. Then, one day --- insert a scene of someone who never knew land seeing land on the horizon.
Not great lit, but is seems a tad more interestingly told (easier to visualize and remember) to me. Well, that IS just my opinion.
[This message has been edited by arriki (edited June 12, 2007).]
posted
Martin - this is your summary, right? It's not necessarily how you see the book starting, but rather the background, possibly even the prologue?
I agree with arriki that this isn't particularly exciting, but then it's more like I'm listening to a Natural History TV show than a story, does that make sense? As background to a story, it's maybe acceptable, but for the story - I'd hope to be involved with characters and action.
However, one of your questions was that this was a translation exercise for you. From my perspective, the translation is very good. You already corrected the few small things. The tone is, as already mentioned, a little dry. I'm reminded of the sections of Moby Dick that are all about the whales. Maybe fascinating to some, but not all your readers will care. Most want to get into the story, regardless of how much background information you've worked out ahead of time.
Specific critiques on the passage quoted here:
"One of those peoples was called..." - I suggest you repeat the use of the word "tribe" as it'll help the reader know you're talking about the same thing from the previous paragraph. "One of those tribes was called the (add "the) Tarians."
- border of their former realm - this was confusing to me. Are they in the place they had abandoned in previous generations? It's been ages since they lived there, right? Does it matter then that they crossed into their former realm? Is it their ancestral lands?
- You start talking about repelling enemies when, at this time, I don't expect enemies. Who is fighting them? Are those tribes mentioned earlier at war? Or do they war from time to time?
- "A country called Tarium was formed here." (end that as a sentence. "In time (not with time, in my opinion in time fits better) Tarium was forced to develop a military caste to fight the many warring tribes that attempted to overtake their lands." (or something like this.)
As for your questions about how it works, yes you should, if someone has offered, contact them via email to see how they would like to proceed with reading more. Typically in this Novels Fragments/Feedback section, you will get offers to read a chapter, or 10 pages, or that sort of thing. Not everyone who offers a critique is offering to read more, though, so be sure to check. (For instance, I can't offer to read more right now.)
posted
I think the problem with this is that it's typical "prologue" writing.
Don't give us that part's first 13 (just like you shouldn't give the agent your prologue, if you must have one, in a small sample but from the first chapter onward). You might consider if you want it to be the first thirteen in the book, too. Of course it turns to flashback if you put it after you introduce a character. But it's infodump any way you cut it.
I agree with the suggestion that if this must be the way to start your story, give yourself a bit more of a voice here. What's making your story stand out? Make that part of your overall package.
posted
This is reminiscent of the frist three paragraphs that scroll into the distance at the opening of a Star Wars movie.
Tell me about the Tarian whose PoV you're seeing the story through. He/she's a warrior - they have to be, right -- so show me how society has shaped him/her through your protagonist's actions and words.
Fact: The Spartans forced their children to fight -- broken bones, bruises, bloody noses, and to their deaths fighting -- from the time they were ten-years-old.
But, I would get more of the full picture if Magus was dragged away from his mother and welcomed to his new home by being thrown into an arena against a sixteen-year-old that circled with a knowing grin. When I look through Magus's eyes, feel his fear and anger, then experience the welcome beating he gets, I am really in the picture. If the boys that are looking on have arms in slings and are bruised and freshly stitched, I have an idea that this is normal for the Spartan society.
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited June 16, 2007).]
posted
I have translated most of the sinopsis I have written so far and I'm willing to give a partial reading to those that want it. Partial because I will not load people with 30+ pages of text that will get lost on their computer. If you like it, I will send more.
This text is as was the posted portion - without expressed emotions or nothing but the most important characters. The idea is to describe the setting and events, not the story itself. If I did that, I would put it to be published.
posted
I'll send smaller parts to your e-mail so you don't have to bother with the whole file. If you don't want me to send more of it, just say so.
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