Real Life Diagnostics: Would You Keep Reading This Space Opera Opening?

Critique By Maria D'Marco

Real Life Diagnostics is a weekly column that studies a snippet of a work in progress for specific issues. Readers are encouraged to send in work with questions, and we diagnose it on the site. It’s part critique, part example, and designed to help the submitter as well as anyone else having a similar problem.

If you're interested in submitting to Real Life Diagnostics, please check out these guidelines. 

Submissions currently in the queue: Two

Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through June 8.

This week’s questions:

1. Is there enough tension? I tried to keep it subtle, and use subtext, but maybe it’s too subtle?

2. Is there too much explanation? Not enough? These two were major characters in Book 1, but if people go a long time in between reading the books do they need more reminders?

3. Do you sense Tynan has a strong motivation, even if it isn't stated?

4. Is there a hook?

5. Would you keep reading?

Market/Genre: Space Opera/Galactic Empire

On to the diagnosis…

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com