Talk:The Soldier/@comment-26030957-20150226215835/@comment-25148755-20150226224158

Hey thanks so much for the readthrough and the response. I know its rather beastly. To be honest, I completely agree with you; my tendency is to go overboard with descriptions at times when I am trying to paint a particularly vivid image in the reader's mind. If you can believe it, this is actually the pared down version; I had the first 5 parts written for about two years before I picked it up again. When I did I think I hacked somewhere between a third and a half off from what I had for the exact reasons you said. I really have no problem doing so again for the sake of the story and will likely go back through and see where I can take the axe without sacrificing plot points...my gut tells me a lot of that is going to be in the first half rather than the second (the flashback) which I feel flows a lot faster and, coincidentally, coincides with the "new" material that I've written.

Regarding the future, yeah, we'll see. I've got a notion for the next several short stories that will make up subsequent 'parts' of the larger narrative, but I tend to be lazy with writing as it's just a hobby and I don't have any particular deadlines spurring me on (which is why I enjoyed the freestyle competition so much...pressure, baby!)  However, down the line if I have something I wouldn't be embarassed to have my real name attached to I'd definitely consider something a little more professional.

Again, thanks for the critique! Look forward to returning the favor.