Book Jacket

 

rank 5465
word count 33938
date submitted 11.09.2008
date updated 23.01.2011
genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction
classification: universal
incomplete

Diary of a Would-Be-Protagonist

Marit Meredith

The Would-Be-Protagonist is fed up languishing in a forgotten manuscript, and aims to do something about it - and that includes exploring virtually everything.

 

There’s more to this than meets the eye. A character in an all but forgotten manuscript, the writer and her pseudonym in a never-ending triangle – and an imaginary soul delving into the mysteries of life. A story for the inquisitive mind, for fellow writers, and apprentice writers, too.
‘You all have some kind of skeleton rattling in your cupboards, haven’t you? You know, the manuscript you meant to finish – or the one that needs just a little bit of editing. No? Not a single one? Go on, who do you think you are kidding?
Well, my creator has me - and a few more, I’m sure, but they are not bothering me - not for now, anyway. I might have to look into that, though. You never know when one of them might jump out of the woodwork. In the meantime I’m going to try to make myself heard, to make the case for taking up my cause again. I’ll rattle her and worry her, nudge her and whisper in her ear for as long as it takes. She’s not getting rid of me, even if she has suddenly started favouring other protagonists, in other settings. I was first!’

 
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tags

, creation, evolution, imagination, manuscript, payback, procrastination, protagonist, superstrings

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102 comments

 

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katekasserman wrote 1286 days ago

Hi Marit! Heh heh -- BOY can I sympathize with this one, and I bet pretty much everyone on the site can too!!! Why are you making me admit in public that I have conversations with characters from abandoned books? Don't you know that I can get in trouble for that???

The frisky, curious, and slightly puckish WBP makes a great REAL protagonist, as his voice is consistently light and fun to follow. The writing went without a hitch; you (or Anna -- or WBP) keep the same brisk tone even with heavier material, and the heavier material also comes in fairly small doses (when Anna has to go off for elevenses or whatever, which breaks it up), which kept it from ever bogging down.

The addition of Anna -- and the mysterious, yet unspecified OTHER alter ego -- was a breath of fresh air that let you put in the quick, cheerful dialogue sections that help vary the pace (as well as being a funny idea -- ARGH, now we've got not only loose characters running around, but our own writer-personas???).

There are a lot of ideas fizzing around and colliding (can't be otherwise in WBP's world), and I was glad to see that some of the things I kept wondering about would come around full circle and be made plain. For example, it seemed to me that if WBP ever really DID get his story, surely he wouldn't be able to zip around to the beginning of creation and pal around with Einstein and so on and so forth, because he would have SCENES to fill, an ARC to follow, and so forth -- and so does he really want his manuscript written after all? But! BUT!!! WBP is, as both Anna and The Source point out, apparently dependent for his existence on The Source. If he gets his manuscript, and through it reaches other people's imaginations, does he then earn a life OUTSIDE his author? (And if it happens to be THIS manuscript, it hardly seems that he'll be prevented from traveling whenever and however he likes ;-) ...)

To some extent, although this may firm up as the manuscript progresses, it feels a bit as though there are two novels running on parallel tracks: one where WBP agonizes over not being made real, and another where WBP speculates about everything under the sun. Since there are clear reflections between the two track -- we are talking about creation and perception, after all -- I think it's entirely possible that they'll come together eventually; but I think it might add some more direction and momentum to the story to make these reflections more overt earlier on (which would be easy to do).

However, whether direction and momentum are important at all depends on exactly who the intended audience is going to be. If it's other writers -- heh heh, well, we already have a sufficient intrinsic interest in the topic that the conceit of the abandoned character rattling about through the universe and prodding the writer to get a move-on is enough. If the audience is going to be broader than that, you might want to add in more overt conflict for WBP; for one example, when The Source is sick, he might EXPRESS his concern that he's going to disappear even before he's properly born.

Anyway, such are my thoughts! Here's a copy-editing list I made as I went through, in case it's of any use:

Ch. 7 I'm exited - excited

Ch. 11 well --deserved - well-deserved

Ch. 11 I let her lose with a pen - loose

Ch. 13 not into math's either - maths

Ch. 14 warning signs and symptoms of illness and diseases. - diseases.'

Ch. 14 'Cause and Effect' - Effect,'

Ch. 15 aren't they?) - they?).

Ch. 16 as she and her alter ego waits - and waits - wait - and wait

Ch. 17 didn't like math's? - maths?

Ch. 18 Anna and her alter ego does - do

Ch. 19 your life wasn't' - wasn't

Ch. 19 math's - maths

Ch. 20 you enables - enable

Ch. 20 Well, that's what I was wondering. - 'Well,

Ch. 20 I f you don't - If

Ch. 22 neuroscience now estimate - estimates

Ch. 22 brain itself it physical - is physical

Ch. 24 allow me to have friend?' - have a friend?'

Ch. 26 ...another - '...another

Ch. 26 you surprised me, with chatted - we chatted

Ch. 26 Your part of me - You're

Ch. 26 your 'thinking cap'. - cap'.'

Nice work, and I'm very glad I got the chance to read this! Let me know if you post more -- and good luck!!!

Francesco wrote 843 days ago

Highly original and very clever.
Backed!

Melcom wrote 845 days ago

This has a fascinating and intriguing premise and can't understand why this isn't higher in the charts.

Great work.

Melxx
UNICORN (crime/thriller)

Melcom wrote 845 days ago

This has a fascinating and intriguing premise and can't understand why this isn't higher in the charts.

Great work.

Melxx
UNICORN (crime/thriller)

Melcom wrote 845 days ago

This has a fascinating and intriguing premise and can't understand why this isn't higher in the charts.

Great work.

Melxx
UNICORN (crime/thriller)

Pia wrote 854 days ago

Hi Marit,

Dairy of a Would-Be Protagonist - a writer's rivetting conflict with her abondoned protagonist, Anna, who has the temper of a toddler and pesters the writer, frustrated with being left in limbo in a dark drawer. The once perceived and neglegted entity nags day and night, wants to be counted and have her story told. Anna is totally at the mercy of the writer to be brought into creation. She watches the writer: ... when she started to hit the delete button, I took a step back and hid behind the virtual curtain ... There's the question of who is creating whom which slowly creeps up, fascinating. Best success

Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Paolito wrote 1055 days ago

almost forgot...what about Diary of a Wannabe Protagonist instead of would-be...?

Paolito wrote 1055 days ago

Diary of a Would-Be Protagonist...

Have you had any non-writers look at this? Because writers should absolutely adore it. I certainly do. Better than several books I've read about the creative process, and could be marketed that way.

However, I'd love to know how non-writers react to it because I'd like to see this one crossover and go mainstream.

Please promote this one on Authonomy. I want HC to see this.

Shelved without a qualm.

Cheers,
Sheryl (would be delighted if you have time to take a look at mine.)

Dania wrote 1087 days ago

This must be the best illustration of writer’s block I’ve ever seen. Actually it’s more than that, it’s about a writer’s consciousness (or unconsciousness) And you do it in such a nicely written, clear and simple way. I am sure writers would have a lot to relate to here and it’s probably something the psychologist community would love to dissect. Backed and hope to see it much higher in the charts, definitely deserves it on Authonomy and surely worth of publishing.

wainwright& priestley wrote 1092 days ago

I absolutely love this. It is clever, funny and charming, and I should imagine, on this site,you have the ideal readership, who will surely identify with the story. Happy to back it

m clement hall wrote 1098 days ago

DIARY OF A WOULD BE PROTAGONIST (Marit Meredith)
The character in the abandoned story becomes anthropomorphised and begins to take over -- that's a premise worth backing!
mch
http://mclementhall.com

shirley wright wrote 1100 days ago

This is great fun and an original idea. You write easily and smoothly and the pages just bowl along. I like your cyber-character and the writer/protagonist relationship. Just the sort of thing to appeal to we Authonomites - makes us think and makes us laugh. But I do wonder if there's any "outside" commercial market for such a book? Still, I imagine you actually had fun writing this, which is maybe what it's all about?
Shirley

Richardakray wrote 1103 days ago

I love it! A book completely written for writers! The first few lines are so true. Of COURSE we all have a MS or two laying in a drawer (or a folder I've hidden away on my computer) that just needs "some editing." It only gets better from there, too. Rejection letters. Oh man. Great. I'm doing what the "creator" has done to all that, but in a good way here. I'm shelving this.

Ray Chen Smith wrote 1104 days ago

This is one of the original ideas around. Haha. I'd think most writers can relate to your protagonist (the real person, not the novel character). Enjoyable with easy to read, unpretentious prose. I'm going to put this on my WL and will back it once a space becomes available on my bookshelf.

Riva wrote 1104 days ago

Hi Marit. What an unusual story. Can something be surreal and true to life at the same time? Well if it can, then this is. I really do hope it does well for you. I like it and I shall give it some shelf space.

Best of luck
Riva

TomW wrote 1105 days ago

Comments on Chapters 1-4 and 29...

I must say I've never come across something like this before. Is it post-modern? It's clever, it's original (as far as I know) and rather interesting. An abandoned novel's character as narrator, with her (it feels like a her) own distinct voice...

I don't have any specific criticisms/suggestions, save one (and this is why I checked the later chapter). Have you considered (or are you actually doing) making the narrator mature as (if) the writer comes back to the novel? By this, I mean have her start out as a spoilt fourteen-year-old (as the writer was when she abandoned the novel) and become more adult as the book advances. You could have her language and sentence structures become more sophisticated as she (and the writer) do. I didn't notice any particular change in the narrator's voice in chapter 29 (though admittedly a lot of that chapter is dialogue). Anyway, just a suggestion, if it's worth anything.

Nevertheless, all good and on my shelf.

Best wishes with it,

TomW (Nick of Time)

Rian wrote 1105 days ago

This is one heck of an original idea. Fascinating!

I like the voice of this unknown character, but I'm not sue if he/she will end up good or a little wicked.

I'm going to shelve this and read on.

Rian

Rian wrote 1105 days ago

This is one heck of an original idea. Fascinating!

I like the voice of this unknown character, but I'm not sue if he/she will end up good or a little wicked.

I'm going to shelve this and read on.

Rian

shelleyflower wrote 1105 days ago

This is terrific, fun, and witty. Nice writing.

Rebecca (Heroin Guns)

dana lake wrote 1105 days ago

this is such a clever idea, giving a story a personality and a mind of its own.

John Booth wrote 1106 days ago

Hi Marit
I could almost hear the Twilight Zone signature tune playing in my head by the end of chapter 2. No one could accuse you of unoriginality but I must admit that the logical part of my brain was spinning by chapter 5. I've read through to ch 7 before I started writing this.

I don't know how to comment on this work. Your protagonist seems to know more than its creator (references to alcohol), is capable of changing the physical world, can take control the author's body, can create dreams in which the other characters seem to have real lives even within the dream (man at post office desk), is weakened by the author re-using parts of the story, is strengthened by back up copies, has evolved independently of its creator.... and probably a few more that I've forgotten.

All rational explanations disappear about the time we find he/she can destroy the Internet. Here is a poltergeist with a vengeance and a mission to be completed. Your focus is incredibly narrow, we know our author is married, but we don't see her in any other context but the writing one. We don't know anybody at all by chapter 7 except the book.

I particularly enjoyed the hyper-surrealism of a non real protagonist constantly testing the reader with comments on what is and what isn't real. In some senses this is a story which is trying to talk itself out of existence. I will admit to being baffled.

Shelved, because this kind of originality deserves some kind of voice.

John

SBMartin wrote 1106 days ago

Hi Marit,
I have read the first two chapters and echo what others have already said, "This is a must read for authors!" I'm adding it to my watchlist because I want to read it when I can actually give it my full attention and not when my girls are arueing over bedtime, as they are now, because this deserves my full attention. I'm adding it to my bookshelf where it will stay through the ups and downs, which, I might add, it does not deserve any downs, but we all know how that goes!

kgadette wrote 1106 days ago

Marit, I think you have an intriguing idea, a protagonist in revolt of its author. But as it stands, this draft is lacking an actual story. I read as far as Chapter 5 hoping for a plot to unfold; it is far more like a daily diary than a novel. Yes, the protagonist thinks of ways to upend the writer, but this gets to be an overused theme without much execution.

I also think there's too much reliance on the parentheses. Editors/agents usually look on the overuse of both the exclamation point and parentheses as a mark of a newer writer. Like the stage device of the aside, used too much, it loses its effectiveness.

You have a nice flair for description, e.g., "fizzle out like a spent sparkler." And the protagonist definitely has a personality. But it sure would be great to see the protagonist engaged in a true struggle for her life, funny, serious, grave, with high consequences.

This is just my opinion and I seem to be in the minority here on the comments page; but it is my belief that without an actual story to engage the reader fairly early on, you will lose your audience.

If you rework it, I'd love to take another peek.

Odysseus wrote 1106 days ago

I sat reading this with a smile—no a big fat grin on my face. This is a must read for every author or aspiring author. If it doesn’t resonate, take up gardening.

“Last night I made her wait - and wait. I’m not sure she knew what she was waiting for, but she looked ready to get writing. Only I wasn’t ready to play ball. It was just a matter of hovering around till she gave up and went to bed... I didn’t exactly enjoy putting her through the wringer like that, but what else could I do? Oh, okay, I admit it. I had great fun. I suppose that’s something I should be sorry about, but I’m not. Its not like I can physically lead her to the desk and make her pick up the pen, is it? And if I could, she’d only go writing about something completely different.”

Everyone has one (one?) of these:

“If she thinks that shutting the manuscript away will get rid of me, she can think again. The only way I’ll move on is if she makes me complete and finishes my story. Fat chance. But it’s high time we had a heart to heart.”

This is a seriously delicious read:

“She’s not the only one in need of a bit of sunshine in her life. Actually, a life would be good. But never mind. She’s writing. It’s not my story she’s writing (but that’s no surprise, is it?), but at least another protagonist is having a look-in. The story is moving ahead quite nicely as far as I can see. Some funny quips in there, too. I like that. Can’t quite see where it’s going though. I wonder if Anna can?”

What is there not to like about this quirky book? It is creative, innovative and very funny. A stunningly simple idea. It’s just that no one else thought of it! Brilliant and Backed.

Bren Verrill wrote 1107 days ago

This is very entertaining stuff and would work well as a metaphorical cattle-prod for lazy writers. I too have one or two manuscripts I’ve put away in drawers, intending to edit them later. But none going back that far! Anna must be a pretty darn good writer if her protagonist goes back to the time she was fourteen and she’s now got an eighteen year-old daughter (the baby of the family, no less)!

Actually, I think there’s probably space for the author of this novel to get involved too. I’d like there to be a knock at the front door, for Anna to go downstairs and answer it, and for Marit Meredith to be standing there, and Marit to shout, “GO AND HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR BEDSIDE DRAWER, YOU LAZY PERSON! AND STOP DRINKING THAT VIRTUAL BRANDY!” That would complete it for me.

In short, you’ve got a great book here, Marit. Bookshelved.

ADO wrote 1108 days ago

Dear Marit, I have thoroughly enjoyed Diary of a Would-Be-Protagonist and, like so many other people on this site, can entirely empathize with the mindset that must have led to the story. It has made me return to my old filing cabinet of forgotten writing just to make sure 'past friends' are doing okay. Pirandello for the 21st century. All best wishes, Andrew.

Jeff Blackmer wrote 1109 days ago

Marit,
You're scaring me. I have long suspected that my characters were real. They tell me what to write and I obey. They even change the story. But I do make many of them wait for far too long before I give them anything to do. Of course they taunt and pester me until I give in. But now you have me wondering whether writing is nothing more than an eloquent schizophrenia expressed in print.
I feel the same way I did the first time I watched The Matrix...and I am not sure, but I think it is good.
Well done. Most original. It looks like this has been around awhile. Sorry I have missed it thus far. On my shelf!
Jeff

Debbie14k wrote 1111 days ago

Totally enjoyable read. I am sure many of us relate to your character. I plan to read on
Debbie14k

JohnRL1029 wrote 1112 days ago

I've had characters that just wouldn't die. But eventually, I had to kill them, because they were boring. Yet sometimes I still hear them harassing me, in the night. This is really good writing. All writers can identify with this. The idea of a character messing with your psychey in your dreams is scary. ha. Good work. WL.

Heidi Mannan wrote 1114 days ago

This is SUCH a clever and fun premise! Your writing is top-notch too. I love the voice, just the right amount of humor. A fun and interesting read. Well deserving of a spot on my shelf.

Raymond Nickford wrote 1114 days ago

Dear Marit

Perhaps it is the ultimate platitude to offer you but ... what a novel and fiendish idea is your synopsis! And even Descartes finds an entry most suitably because he believed the soul was like the ghost in the machine, rather like your character who will not, so to speak, lie down. The character is so delightfully cheeky to its creator and I had to chuckle when she got testy over 'shelving' her story.
When the character speaks of having "a bit more substance attached to me" this does again seem to me to anticipate Descartes idea of the ghost in the machine and, indeed, he called the soul a "spiritual substance". It would not matter a jot if you had been partly triggered by such a link for your application is still entirely novel and, from the character's perspective, wholly illuminating as an insight into the literary psyche of the writer.
Your sentence construction is devoid of pretension and its deceptive simplicity allows great fluidity and an eminently easy read when set against the complicated thought that must have gone into building your little fiend while keeping her consistent.
To begin with I found the character's observations of her creator endearing, sometimes rising to hilarious!
However, these observations shouldn't be taken too lightly for I suspect there is a build of a sub theme emerging by Chapter 3 where it becomes more evident that you are expressing a genuine empathy/sympathy not only for your delightful little fiend but also for the writer, Anna, who struggles to make her complete and perfect. For doing the latter I would be very glad to put this book on my shelf, quite apart from the ingenious development. If there are any technical criticisms I am frankly too enchanted with the whole thing that I have no desire to dissect you. Best wishes, Ray.

The Write Girl wrote 1114 days ago

Talk about turning things inside-out! I find the premise of this book funny, smart, and absolutely heart-warming. You have a great style - natural, witty, a bit cheeky, certainly fresh. Already on my shelf - both for merit and cool premise. Enough said, I guess.

sestius wrote 1115 days ago

Hello, Marit - what an inventive premise you have here. Lovely stuff. Quirky, compelling and, I suspect, a twist or similar worthy of M Night Shyamalan forthcoming...? Very nice. I agree with Bennetts (don't tell him I said so), that you should lose the index. I also prefer being battered around the head unawares. Here are my other random thoughts on the first four chpts, as they occurred:

- "non[-]existent": need the hyphen, I think;
- "It[']s not like": need the apostrophe;
- in chpt 3, "for goodness['] sake": purely for consistency with your earlier example.

All good things, m'dear, and I am happy to give you a moment on the shelf. Look forward to your thoughts on 'Pistols'. Best of luck with 'Diary' - sestius

James Stephen Rice wrote 1115 days ago

Lovely, lovely work, Marit. You can write! But then you know that. There's so much that is unique about your work. You must make this succeed: you deserve it to,and we, other writers, need it to. I could get horribly jealous over your work, Marit, but I'm not going to. What the point of that, eh? I'm just gonna pause here, wish you the happiest of birthdays, and allow myself to revel in the idea that I have 'spoken' with a genius. In the words of my youngest daughter, Marit ... you rock!

James

m.a.putman wrote 1116 days ago

Marit,
Oh the possibilities! I can see the potential for a really scary story here, though I'm not sure that's where you intend to take it. Let me suggest it.... Make this a thriller and I think it will fly. Or writer another, similar, that is meant to scare the bejeebies out of authors everywhere.

It's gold, can you sense it? The Story That Would Be Writ. or The Tale That Crawled From Me....
shelved.

MAP

Freddie Omm wrote 1119 days ago

fizzes with a bubbling cauldron of ideas that threatens to overflow into all out insanity, big bang or the big expansion, the multiverse, time flowing backwards, anna not believeing she can be young again.

your pacing is varied and keeps the tempo up and the interest too, no mean feat given the not-exactly-conventional narrative flow you're offering us.. there is a playfulness to the way you set out complex, serious, heavy ideas, a playfulness necessary to the contemplation.

then there's characters that haunt us, or alternate selves which accompany us throughout our lives.. an idea which on the surface sounds far-fetched yet is one i think most people would recognize, certainly writers.. how as one gets older the events from our childhood can be endlessly replayed, or, as you put it, "strange the way life evolves." shelved, for ambition and verve, i think you are on to something here, am backing it now and wish you all the best with it for the future... if any.. freddie

Raydad wrote 1122 days ago

Hi Marit. Diary of a Would-Be-Protagonist is a unique, skillfully wrought, witty tome. Yes, most of us have these protags running around our heads. Half the time I think I walk around in a daze thinking about revising my book, planning and plotting for my WIP, inventing new and revisiting old characters. Writers can relate. Excellent job and very worthy of my shelving.

Randy
(Buttermilk Moon)

mattrogers wrote 1123 days ago

This is a wonderfully inventive premise and it is skillfully executed. Most examples of metafiction tend to fall short of expectations, but you've done a great job here. The writing itself is neat and easy to become involved in. Again, great job!

Marco Cota wrote 1127 days ago

I will start with this..The angels told her that all people with disabilities and diseases, including children had chosen their state of health...okay so you know where this is in your book,,, then the woman is barking mad and relays how much damage this can cause with such assertions.
I recognize some very good skill in a simple statement like that as well as your ability to relate it to the reader. I am very impressesd with you and I usually dont read that far into a book here, but I was enjoying myself. My 1st language is Spanish so I dont know for sure if you spelled realise right, but that is just to point it out to you. Realize. Typos are not of too much importance to me but I constantly hear they are nowadays to publishers. other than that I see a book on my shelf now! marco Author Predator Down

Lord Dunno wrote 1127 days ago

You've written a universal book for writers. For every writers. We've all had those would-be protagonists buzzing around our heads. And yes, I am still haunted by one I created in my teens and keep toying with resurrecting, except they never really do need resurrecting do they. The dreams, the dreams... how on earth you managed to write such a complex, funny and illuminating book on this is beyond me. You have let the protaginist crawl out of the drawer and into the real world. What a liberating book this is. You know, I often come away from a book feeling jealous, wishing I had done that. Of course i feel the same here too but there's more. I actually feel refreshed and even inspired after this. You've actually made me want to get away from this site and write again. And I will. Well, in a week or so. Absolutely amazing. Everyone should read this.

Janet Marie wrote 1132 days ago

Hi Marit. How totally clever and original to exist in your fiction, thereby bringing your Anna to life. A quick read suitable for a pick me up. This moves swiftly and clearly. Excellent ending to chapter 3, wherein you become the fictional characters. Shelved for sure. Good luck. Janet Marie

maitreyi wrote 1133 days ago

for my money your pitch does not do this justice. suggestion. scrub your pitch which tried to explain the inexplicable and use your opening two paras as the pitch which are intriguing and delightful. the voice of the m/s or the WBP is charming.

the conceit of the jilted lover (i was first!) is good. maybe make more of this? more outrage, more humour, more indignation? just a thought.

ok, now i've finished chapter 1 and had a look at chapter 3 as well and i think this book is well worth a go on the old shelf.

my advice (i'm not short of that this morning) is that this needs more bite. the set-up is good but i would like a lot more bite from the narrative voice. give it even more of it's own way.

oh and, don't get waylaid by maternal guilt, that's trap we are all edging round daily.

maitreyi
BLOGSPOT

RachelMay wrote 1135 days ago

This is just so incredible. You've taken second person in your first chapter and just OWNED it. This is wuck a fluid read there is nothing bad to say, no words of advice I could give. I am in love with the style of this and your voice.

I am humbled before you.

Rachel May
Going Twice.

Shelved. OF FRIGGIN' COURSE!

Brandi G wrote 1135 days ago

I don't know how many times I've heard a writer say, "So-and-so won't stop pestering me. They keep banging around in my head, demanding me to write." Referring, of course, to her/his character.

You have summed that feeling up to a wonderful degree. The fact that you did it from the point of view of the said character is even more wonderful. It had me laughing, smiling, shaking my head, and nodding in sympathy. Poor protagonist. And poor author.

This is so relatable to any writer. I've already ready the first three chapters, and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you for the read.

Brandi Guthrie

AnnabelleP wrote 1137 days ago

Hi Marit,
This is really intriguing! You have a lovely bright book cover to catch the eye and your pitch drew me in. What a great idea for a story. Your narrative voice is strong, you have an eye for detail which brings depth to the story and the whole is well written and flows along. This is an endearing read, I read more than I meant to. You have something a little different here and I really enjoyed it. Your writing is clear and crisp, a breath of fresh air. No nit-picks and on my shelf!
Best wishes,
Annabelle
(Adelaide Short)

NicholasJobe wrote 1138 days ago

I can't stop reading this. Seriously, I just keep going for the next chapter. I love metafiction, and this just enhances my love for it. I also like the twist you put on it with the epistolary (diary) format. It keeps the chapters nice and short, while giving us hints at a plot in Anna's life (such as with her husband).

My only real comment is that I'd tone down on a few of the mentions that he's not real (a bit of a paradoxical statement there, but whatever :P ). There are just a few times when he'll bring up, yet again, that he's not a real person, and I think it weakens the work a bit by constantly reminding the reader this. It's not that the reader doesn't need to know, it's that the work doesn't seem to trust the reader to remember on their own, if that makes sense.

Otherwise, this is brilliant. Totally shelved.

John Minichillo wrote 1138 days ago

Marit, this is nuts. I can't believe that anyone would pursue such a conceit, but you are dedicated to it, and you pull it off. This is a really challenging idea but it's given you some wonderful chapters. The rest of us should maybe be more bold.

ccpup wrote 1138 days ago

I found myself laughing, always a good sign. A book written by a long-forgotten protagonist desperate to get his (her?) Creator's attention. How can I not shelve it?

You immediately draw me into the conversation. You writing is smooth, tight, accessible and instantly engaging. Almost addictive, actually, the choice to click to the next chapter a wonderfully easy one.

And I have nothing but praise. I wish I could offer constructive criticism to make it a better read. But it's ALREADY a good read. A great read, in fact.

So, I'll just happily stick it on my shelf and be done with it. Backed.

ccpup ("Martuk ... The Holy")

Ian Taylor wrote 1138 days ago

This is very quirky and original. Well written too. I was curious to see how the narrative might develop and sampled a few later chapters. However these seemed to be more of the same. Indeed the chapters might be assembled in any order. Is this not the kind of material for a short story? (And I don't mean that at all disparagingly)

Name failed moderation wrote 1141 days ago

Hi Marit,
Apologies for taking so long to get back to you. I really enjoyed reading this because it was so different. I was entertained and kept reading for as long as I had this morning. I think this would be a good book for writers. It reminds me of the start of a novel by Italo Calvino where the reader is addressed by the book. Not sure it would be to everyone's taste but then what book is.
Will be back for more.
Good luck in meantime.
Rona

nikkidudley wrote 1147 days ago

Hey Marit,

this is relaly funny and unconventional! I love books with crazy charcacters and this is different, a character who is a character in an incomplete book! Loving it and I'll definitely read more soon. For now, shelved!

Best wishes, Nikki

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