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Anthony Diastello's avatar

“Oh, I don’t plan more 100-mile hikes for a while.”

Consider "plan on any more"

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

but I am sure you are right.

The way you have this character speak, the contraction, "you're" would feel more natural.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

know you are trying

Same here.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

hope I am not

Same here. I'll quit, I'm sure you get the idea.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

He laughed again because he was talking to his body like it could understand.

Laughed might be to strong. Maybe if he was still under the effects of the medicine, but chuckled ot laughed to himself.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

Yeah, I rather have you complaining than feeling

Consider dropping the "Yeah" and it should be "I'd rather" or just "Rather"

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

Something about the way she said that made a tingle run up his spine. His eyes widened. Yeah, he knew more about her than he should. They weren’t married, but when had that stopped anyone these days? Somehow that all felt wrong and went against his upbringing. That he could remember fairly well. He started laughing.

I like the morality, but the wording leaves it feeling forced in. I think drop the "Yeah". I think the "when had that stopped anyone" is the part that feels like it breaks the flow. Why would he think about general society when he is trying to remember this intimate relationship? I think placing the relationship would be the focus until remembering his upbringing (because it conflicted with the situation). I think just go straight from the upbringing and ditch the societal commentary.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

*Her* creased brow and darting eyes made him look around the room.

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Anthony Diastello's avatar

He snorted and shook his head. Who knew what the general had thought about his sudden appearance? He could not figure it out himself.

This wording feels like it could be more natural. "he wondered" or "he needed to know" or "He had passed out before learning what the general thought of his sudden appearance" or some such.

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Althea Damgaard's avatar

Thanks for the input. I can see what you mean and like that you gave suggestions. I did my best to polish this and have fun with it, but left it open for readers to feel free with comments that can help the story and my writing.

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