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#WritersCoffeeClub Oct. 1: What makes your WIP (or most recent work) stand out from the crowd? Don't be shy.
There are two answers, one a bit silly but very true; one more serious but a bit aspirational.
The silly reason: there does not - and will not - exist a piece of medieval fantasy more firmly grounded in geological reality. As we all know, that's what everyone looks for.
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#WritersCoffeeClub Oct. 1 (cont.): What makes your WIP (or most recent work) stand out from the crowd? Don't be shy.
And the aspirational reason? My background has given me a great deal of insight into how kind, loving people can act horribly and how caring, welcoming people can exclude others. I started writing this draft to grapple with that, and I think, when I have labored at the text long enough, that insight is what will set it apart.
I suppose I should add that this is something I've struggled with. I write for fun, primarily, and it takes some introspection to describe why I enjoy the story I'm writing, just as it takes skill to critique a meal.
@DTWoodworth I understand this. I’ve seen how cliques can work.
@DTWoodworth Not silly IMO. I for one definitely appreciate writing that's grounded in geological reality. Last year I read a book that had a reservoir located *downstream* of the dam. I figured the artist who made the map inside the cover had just made a mistake so I read it anyway. But no, the author described it all in detail so it was their mistake.
It ruined the entire book (which apart from that wasn't so great anyway), especially since the climax depended on them destroying the dam to cause a flood. 
You'd think at some point while writing a book in which a dam is central to the plot, you'd maybe read up a bit on the subject.
@leadore There is a small, incredibly niche group of people who will read it and go "aha! yes!" I did the same thing when I read Dune - I started at "that wouldn't work" and got extremely excited when I realized that the apparently non-functioning ecology was a major plot point.
@DTWoodworth I haven't read Dune. I remember starting it when I was a kid and not getting very far, but I think I might enjoy it as an adult.
Was this an alternative history Western (with hippipotami?) or are there TWO?
I was so perplexed and then annoyed when they broke the levee and the water ran uphill. @leadore @DTWoodworth
@clew @DTWoodworth
Yep, that's the one!
@clew @DTWoodworth
And also, this wasn't just some self-published ebook. It was printed by a publisher. You'd think a publisher would at least copy-edit the thing.
@DTWoodworth @clew Oh, I see. I don't remember the title, but I doubt there are any other books it could be confused with. I thought it was a good premise and was intrigued.
aw, that's very gentle.
Narrow road for the author, really; history alternative enough that what-we-know maybe isn't a guideline, but based on real things, so (unlike magic) you can get it wrong.