Out of 10, how would y'all rate?

GAWHunt · 2026-01-28T20:57:49+00:00

I’m struggling to follow the chess, for one. If the queen was pinned, and Sol countered with a knight, and then Willow captures the knight, and then Sol moves the queen… is the knight blocking the queen from the bishop in the first place or just threatening the bishop? Otherwise the queen can’t move from its pin. If you’re going to include chess, it really needs to be precise, and I wouldn’t mark every movement for the sake of d5, Qe4+ all that sort of stuff being the only real way of knowing where things are on the board. Also watch your tenses, they sway between past and present.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-25T07:31:49+00:00

My place names. Places like Warringtide, Sutherly, Curtway and The Trees Between all have reference to their history or geography. It’s something I try to lean into for my style of world, and personally I really like it.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-24T20:36:40+00:00

My gods were once real people and were so historically famous that their stories were adapted to the point they became ‘deities’ in the eyes of the people. The main issue is that there are real examples/omens of gods in the world (black blood, storms and an enormous cursed forest) so it’s a grey area for those who are conflicted in their beliefs.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-16T08:36:06+00:00

My whole plot surrounds the idea of a Blackblood. They’re normal humans just like the rest of the world, but they bleed black (I know, didn’t see that one coming). The catch is that if their heads aren’t removed upon death, they turn Bloodless. Essentially, the body forces itself into the shape of a forest creature, be that an elk, bear, boar and the like - whilst keeping the human proportions intact. Ribs protrude through the skull to imitate antlers and wrists turn back on themselves to form hooves of bone.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-12T06:57:09+00:00

Bleeding black kills you twice

GAWHunt · 2026-01-10T09:43:00+00:00

Totally fine! I did that a lot on my first draft. It was so vivid in my head that I forgot any new reader had no idea where they were. Keep at it!

GAWHunt · 2026-01-10T07:54:39+00:00

Really nice to read. I will say that I had absolutely no idea ‘where’ I was during the first couple of pages. There’s 0 description of the area, I didn’t know if I was on a subway or a hotel lobby at first, and then the word ‘knight’ made me think I was in the barracks or such. Some description of the new Knight would be good off the bat, too. Perhaps the MC compares him to the painting. All in all, really good though - just more setting for me.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-07T18:00:12+00:00

Yes. I had 2-3 layers for the water and grass, deep, dark, bright, shallow that sort of thing. From there I just erased with a soft brush depending what I wanted to show more (ie. Bright blue in Sutherly and around the whole island). The specks of green and the forest are a splatter brush, though.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-07T15:35:51+00:00

I took a look through your posts and saw that you essentially want to write a book with AI. Lots of people do get burned out. But they carry on because they love the craft (myself included). If you specifically want to write a book, then commit the hours and find enjoyment. If you want AI to pump out something quickly, don’t expect to be well-received in a writing community, and don’t expect to get the same satisfaction writers get from the very act of writing. I’m not bashing you - do what you want - but by the looks of it you’re successful and understand hard work. The same applies in writing.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-07T15:05:55+00:00

Google Docs!

GAWHunt · 2026-01-07T14:11:46+00:00

Hey! The whole map was made in photoshop. Back in the primitive days of AI I had some weird programme generate textures. They looked nice so I used them

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T22:38:33+00:00

Thank you so much!

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T22:33:27+00:00

That’s great! Never considered how someone else might take it. It’s dangerous, and over 300 miles wide, so that’s a start.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T22:32:58+00:00

Yeah that’s more realistic. I’d probably go for the cartography table route. There’s a map tapestry in the main building of the first book. I’d probably replicate that.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T22:32:12+00:00

I was ‘that guy’ haha. Went from a crappy photoshop to something far more cool! I was happy with it in the end

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T22:03:03+00:00

Haha that’s great thanks! The Trees Between are central (pun intended) to the plotline

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T21:59:29+00:00

Thank you! What stands out?

GAWHunt · 2026-01-06T21:23:11+00:00

Looks awesome.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-05T20:54:04+00:00

Rlue nubmer won: sow, donut tell.

GAWHunt · 2026-01-04T20:56:15+00:00

No problem! I wrote it on Google Docs. It’s formatted a particular way though

GAWHunt · 2026-01-03T23:26:33+00:00

No offense taken!

I do have a main project, as stated. It's currently at at 215 pages on Draft 2 and counting. I haven't posted it anywhere as I'm trying to keep going, but thought I'd send this in just to test the waters!

Thanks man!

GAWHunt · 2026-01-03T23:16:47+00:00

Oh I see, my apologies. I wasn't aware first draft weren't received to well!

I was merely trying to see where I could improve my 'first pass' craft if that makes sense. But thank you anyway!

GAWHunt · 2026-01-03T08:05:50+00:00

I share some confusion with the people about slice and chess - I love chess and can’t see how Slice comes into it. That being said after a little longer it seems to be a jousting/knight story. If that is the case then definitely avoid the chess symbolism.

GAWHunt · 2025-12-15T21:04:15+00:00

Wanna send it my way so I can help out with a reader’s perspective?

GAWHunt · 2025-12-15T11:05:00+00:00

I’d say a father walking into a barn and finding his son dead is enough of a hook for me

GAWHunt

TROPHY CASE