Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm working on a short story and wondering about recognizing what is symbolic within the story and how I might build upon that to make the story more meaningful. What steps do you take to recognize the themes running through your work and how to use symbolism to make it stronger?

I feel a little confused about the situation - how come other ppl are living there, looking after EB's horses and she doesn't know why? Not that I want you to tell me, either, I know that must be confusing - Any thoughts on this chapter would be appreciated. :) ----------- Chapter One Elizabeth Bro...

Hi, CJ: It's interesting. It's my sense that it begins in the wrong place, see below PROLOGUE A cauldron of blue light churned in the valley sky, casting a watery reflection over the surrounding mountains and a deep shadow over the valley floor. The town residents, tucked into their houses like row...

Hi, Wallflower: This is my impression: Remy wakes up-cut, not necessary on a park bench with no memory and no identity. In another part of the city, Ash wakes up-cut in an alley with-should it be with or in? the same condition. Neither knows the other exists and the only things they have are a power...

This is so very difficult isn't it? Getting the story down to its essence. I feel you leave me to guess at some things that are important. I'm not expert, haven't gotten a positive response to my query yet, but here's my impression. Hope it helps: So, this is mine. Any feedback is greatly appreciat...

Hi, A: I haven't seen your original attempts, so this is my first impression: Dear Agent: Alice Towne refuses to be like her mother , Josephine, who pines over bad decisions and waits for fate to deal a better hand from the tarot deck.When the man/woman she planned to marry is unfaithful to her, Al...

Hi Mary-Catherine:' Just a few comments on sentences/flow to improve clarity On Wallace McHardy’s release from drug rehab, he meets Sailor Crownan, a young Mormom woman who offers to share a night of foolhardy festivities with him. Even though Wallace intended to avoid the drug scene, he isn’t ready...

It sounds interesting and funny, a twist on an old classic princess and frog I would recommend that you go through the query not just for getting the plot in an interesting and clear form, but also check for sentence structure and word repetition. That way your writing looks strong to the agent, as...

This is the query that I sent out to about 20 agents. So far, have received mostly automatic e-mail responses saying the agent contacts only if they are interested, one was a personal response saying though it seemed like a strong project she didn't think it fit with her list of editorial contacts -...

I stumbled over it when I first read it, and anything that causes a reader to pause rather than continue to be entranced by the story just isn't the best idea. Perhaps some of the suggestions above might work. That said, I called my MC Gus, not a very pretty name, but not one to give you pause either.

Hi, So i figured I'd past my first page here for revision and review. Thank you all in advance ... Chapter 1 This reminds me of the opening of Lolita, I think the story really begins below Sincerity. Four taps of the tongue, once around; simple and clean. It was the lesson my grandmother taught me w...

Not really a ghost, she has an experience in which her child's spirit is present and she feels compelled to find her husband and tell him about the experience. And, yes it brings them back together in the end. You have a dirty mind! lol

This is what happens plotwise: The baby is dead and buried as the book opens. The mother has fallen into a life-threatening depression. Because of their isolation the father, who is barely into his twenties, turns to his animals for companionship and comfort. New neighbours who have two children tak...

I clench in my teeth a little shark-shaped voodoo doll - this phrase would read more smoothly as - In my teeth I clench a little shark-shaped voodoo doll - great image

I would so buy this book. You've really improved the query. The repetition of this phrase still bothers me, deliberate repetition is good, but there must me some way in such a short piece to say it differently in some places - I think you need it in the first sentence and also, where she discovers ...