Part of the Night-Chapter One

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Hola! So before you begin to read please know that this is not the entire chapter by any means! When I write I tend to write alooooooot! So I'll make my posts small so that people will actually be able to review my writing! xD So if the end of it seems abrupt or anything... That's not the true end!

The night air has a way to seep into the darkest parts of you and help bring them out in ways unimaginable to the human mind. The way the moon glistens, revealing shadows that tremble and shiver on alleyway walls. As people jump from the rooftops murdering without a care.
Those who live on the street live by one rule. Survival. We believe that the way of life includes that the strong will always conquer the weak. So hide away your secrets and your despairs, your woes and your flaws. For if someone fails to do so, they might just end up having their neck meet the cool blade of my knife.
Once the sun has set all other rules no longer apply. This is the time when the city is run by the thieves and the cut purses, and all other uninviting creatures. However by the time morning hits another group of people rule, shutting out the fear in peoples hearts that has been placed there by the darkness. For it has always been an ongoing battle for eternities over the light and the dark. I have always been told that there is no in between and that any thought of one is blasphemy.
Such thoughts were in fact what I was dreaming about when I was awoken on the morning of my nineteenth birthday. I mumbled as I opened my eyes to see Cade standing over me.
His muscular tanned arms from the sun were crossed, where his dirty uncombed and uncut hair fell onto his face. I could tell that he had been out working all night from the way his eyes were glaring at me, and evidently full of stress. I sat up and tossed my black hair, which was now damp from grease and sweat over my shoulder and said.
“Hey there.” He smirked and sat down next to me and before I knew it his lips were on mine and the taste of him was overwhelming my senses. He seemed to scare away all my strange thoughts of being in the middle of darkness and light. His kisses helped to sway me to stay who I had always remembered being, Saskia Night. Long before I was Saskia Night was all a blur. Whenever I asked around no one was forthcoming on information about my past. So at eight years old I had been forced into forging my own identity.
Suddenly he pulled away and stood up murmuring about how I smelt bad. I gave him dagger eyes and shoved him as I rolled out of my cot. I began for the exit and Cade laughed.
“Where were you last night anyway?” I asked coolly. Cade stopped laughing and shrugged as he calmly replied with,
“My current employer has me on a lengthy job.” I stared down at the scar on my hand as I sharply retorted.
“What happened to helping me with my job last night?” I could see his eyes flicker nervously for a moment before he regained his composition and began to come up with an excuse I didn’t feel like hearing. I slammed the door shut as I left the room and heard him call out,
“Happy birthday gorgeous!” I considered turning around and throwing a knife at his head but knew I’d regret it. I sighed as I looked at my fingernails which were short and choppy. They also happened to be turning a light shade of yellow, unlike my teeth. I slumped my back against the door as I began fumbling around in my boot for my dagger. I felt the handle and effortlessly pulled it out.
For a moment I gazed at the jewels encrusted into the handle and couldn’t help but smile at the worth of my dagger. If it were to become known to any other thief in the camp that I had a valuable dagger in my possession I would be interrogated, and likely murdered. The beautiful jewels on the hilt were visibly very old and glimmered in the sunlight. They were the only thing that I took my time to clean and shine.
I gripped my dagger tightly as I began to make my way out of the thief camp, ignoring everyone as I went by. The camp was full of some of the most dreadful thieves, and the laziest. The place reeked of filth and residue. To anyone but a street rat the mere stench would be enough to provoke tears. I tiptoed over sleeping bodies as I gradually left the deceitful bunch.
My high boots splashed through puddles as I headed out to find Madame Quincy, my latest employer. She was one of the Queens ladies in waiting and therefore needed someone who had a knack at my trade.
I did my best to blend into the walls of homes and the pavement, as I exited the city’s slums.
HEY YOU!
Yeah you! :D

You should check out my latest novel "Part of the Night!"
http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/novel.php?id=877
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Hi there,
I love the characters of this story. Do you read any Tamora Pierce? Your style reminds me of hers a lot.
Now, to start at the beginning: I liked your introduction. It caught the reader's attention nicely. However, there are a few grammatical errors that were a little distracting:
The night air has a way to seep into the darkest parts of you and help bring them out in ways unimaginable to the human mind. The way the moon glistens, revealing shadows that tremble and shiver on alleyway walls, comma as people jump from the rooftops, comma murdering without a care.
Those who live on the street live by one rule : colon survival. We believe that the way of life includes the strong will always conquer the weak. So hide away your secrets and your despairs, your woes and your flaws, comma For if someone fails to do so, they might justend up having their neck meet the cool blade of my knife.


Another awkward line make-over:
His muscular, comma tanned arms from the sun were crossed, where and his dirty uncombed and uncut hair fell onto his face.


Those were a couple of the things I noticed. Also, when talking about the dagger, you say "dagger" a lot. Replace it a couple times with either "it" or "the valuable weapon" or something to keep a lot of word variety.

Thanks for sharing this piece! It's a fun read. PM me if you have any questions, and if my review was helpful to you, I'd love to read the rest of this story as it comes along! Happy writing!
My main project until Script Frenzy is an experiment using blog posts between four characters as episodes of a common story. You can read this work as it progresses at http://knowallchronicles.blogspot.com/.




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First off, put spaces between paragraphs, makes it easier to read.

This is the time when the city is run by the thieves, and the cut purses, and all other uninviting creatures.

Remove the "the"s before thieves and cut purses, remove the and after thieves an put a comma there instead.

shutting out the fear in peoples' hearts that has been placed there by the darkness.

Put the apostrophe after the s in peoples.

His muscular tanned arms from the sun were crossed,

Think about adding "across his chest," after crossed.

I gave him dagger eyes and shoved him as I rolled out of my cot.

Gave him dagger eyes? I'm sure you can be more inventive than that, no? ;)

I began for the exit and Cade laughed.

Put started in there and see how it fits.

Overall: Interesting story, I like it. The descriptions of the characters are good, but what about where they're at? What does it look like. And the jewel in the dagger: is it an emerald, ruby, diamond, or something totally unique to your character's world? All we know is that you said the gem is valuable, but we want to know how valuable. Also, what about this Cade, first she's kissing him, next she wants to throw a dagger at him. What's up with that? Why the sudden mood change? And lastly, why does she want to learn about her past? I know it's a strange question, but I'm sure the reader would like to know. Anywho, keep writing, and if you need another review feel free to ask me.

Signed,
Lethero the Werewolf
Fly, Fight, Win . . . in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.
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Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence In All We Do
~Air Force Core Values~

*Lethero*




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Oh, yay! I'm really enjoying this story - and I know what you mean about long chapters! Mine have been pretty concise, lately, but my last project had a 30-page chapter at one point! Good to see you're trimming them down.
I have only one outstanding criticism;


For if someone fails to do so, they might just end up having their neck meet the cool blade of my knife.


Seems a little awkward here; I like this line, but try something more along the lines of end up with the cool blade of my knife at their neck. The way you have it sounds just a bit off.

The rest of it is great :) There are a few other issues, but I think Lethero caught most of them. The only other bit of advice I can give you is this; COMMAS! Your sentences tend to be rather short, but in the lengthy ones, you must remember COMMAS! I'd advise you to read your work out loud, and see where you tend to pause. Those would be the best comma locations :)

Otherwise, great chapter, and I'm looking forward to more! I like the introduction of Cade and the whole


For it has always been an ongoing battle for eternities over the light and the dark. I have always been told that there is no in between and that any thought of one is blasphemy.


sentence. It's just great ;)
KEEP IT UP!!!
"Children see magic because they look for it."
- Christopher Moore




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Love it aly! Love it love it love it! Post more! I need more! Gimme gimme gimee! GIMME!!!!!!

Okay, so first off, you have a tiny bit of a problem with grammer, you're missing a bunch of commas everywhere.

Other than that, I honestly have no other issues with this. I really couldn't spot anything wrong with it.

It was really good and I can't wait for you to post more!

That's all I've got!
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'Ello, 'ello.

I had written half a review for this piece, and I pushed a button and it all magically disappeared. So, I will try to rewrite it as best as I can. I hope you find some helpfulness in this review >.<

Paragraph:

You need to space your paragraphs apart here for it all appears jumbled together. Also, there is something I am going to point out. I don't know if it is the result of your work being jumbled or it is by your doing. But it's really confusing and wrongly written.

“Where were you last night anyway?” I asked coolly. Cade stopped laughing and shrugged as he calmly replied with,
“My current employer has me on a lengthy job.”
I stared down at the scar on my hand as I sharply retorted.
“What happened to helping me with my job last night?”


Oki doki! See those bolded parts? They should be in their own separate paragraph. And those coloured parts there? They should be in their own paragraph. You have one character's dialogue tag in a paragraph that held another's speech. That is a no-no. Every character's speech and dialogue tag should be in their own paragraphs.

Example:

"What is it you got there?" Drew inquired, leaning over Mari-Anne's shoulder to see what she held in her hand.
She side glanced at him, a slight smile quirking her lips as she said, "The registration papers for my Paint mare. They finally came."


See?

Description:

Me loves description. Not too much, but the right amount. And you, me dear, have the right amount. It's great, I enjoyed it. I could [almost] picture it. I will eventually if you post [and I read] more of the future pieces. However, I believe you could give your characters a little more bodily actions. Don't get me wrong, you have some there. But mayhap add some more?

Others:

Did you know, having jewels in any sort of blade's hilt knocks the sword/dagger off balance? Just thought I'd point that out to you. However, if your nameless character didn't want anyone to see the jewels, why would she clean them so people could see them better?

Overall:

Not as good as the first review, but it's there. I greatly enjoyed reading this. I love thieves. They're much fun to write about.Your description is good. Your paragraphs need ample work. I don't have a feel for the characters just yet, but seeing as how this is [part one of chapter one?] the beginning I'm sure it will come along.

PM if you have any questions or when you post the next part up.

Toodles!

Meadow
Purple light in the canyon
that is where I long to be
With my three good companions
just my rifle, pony and me

--- "My Rifle My Pony and Me"




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Hi! Here to review :)
The night air has a way to seep into the darkest parts of you and help bring them out in ways unimaginable to the human mind. The way the moon glistens, revealing shadows that tremble and shiver on alleyway walls. As people jump from the rooftops, murdering without a care.
Those who live on the street live by one rule. Survival. We believe that the way of life includes that the strong will always conquer the weak. So hide away your secrets and your despairs, your woes and your flaws. For if someone fails to do so, they might just end up having their neck meet the cool blade of my knife.
How about 'their neck just might meet the cold end of my knife' or something to that extent.
Once the sun has set, all other rules no longer apply. This is the time when the city is run by the thieves, and the cut purses, and all other uninviting creatures. However, by the time morning hits, another group of people rule, shutting out the fear in peoples hearts that has been placed there by the darkness. For it has always been an ongoing battle for eternities over the light and the dark. I have always been told that there is no in-between and that any thought of one is blasphemy.

be careful about run-on sentences. Not a huge issue, but it can be a little tougher to read.

I could tell that he had been out working all night from the way his eyes were glaring at me, and evidently full of stress.
I like this sentence

I sat up and tossed my black hair, which was now damp from grease and sweat over my shoulder and said.
“Hey there.” He smirked and sat down next to me and before I knew it his lips were on mine and the taste of him was overwhelming my senses.

For me, I think it would sound better if you separated it into paragraphs.
I sat up and tossed my black hair, which was now damp from grease and sweat over my shoulder.
"Hey there," I said.
He smirked and sat down next to me. Before I knew it, his lips were on mine and the taste of him was overwhelming me senses.

Long before I was Saskia Night was all a blur.

Do you mean IT was all a blur?

I gripped my dagger tightly as I began to make my way out of the thief camp,

I'm not sure if I like the phrase 'thief camp'. It seems like since she was a thief, she would just call it a 'camp' or 'clearing'. Also, the repetition of the word 'dagger' is noticeable, so I'd try and switch the words up as much as you can.

Although I did enjoy this, I thought your first chapter was stronger; you're amazing at descriptions, but I think your dialogue needs a bit of work. I usually get confused when dialogue isn't separated into paragraphs; it can be hard to follow who's speaking. Also, using a few dialogue tags, even said, can help immensely. It was also a little hard to tell what the two characters were feeling while they were talking. First, they're kissing, and then suddenly she's mad at him. Did he use a harsh tone? I couldn't tell.

Hope this helped :) Any questions, I'm just a PM away.
The bad news is we don't have any control.
The good news is we can't make any mistakes.
-Chuck Palahniuk




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Listen to your friends here, commas are your friends! Use them! A good way to know where to put a comma is to say the sentence out loud, and any time you pause, or feel like you stop to take a breath, put a comma there! And also, I feel like this is a good transition into Saskia's later life, but I feel like it's a little cliched. Chapter one is important, because you have to follow up the prologue (which is pretty good), but you also have to make a story that people want to keep reading. If chapter one is cliched, I'll read it and think "hmm, I've seen this all before." So here's a couple of ways to jazz up this chapter and get people really interested:

Tell us about how Saskia has transformed. If you're going to make a point of how she came into this idea, you can't just leave out what she was like before. That's a whole half of the transformation! I mean, if you don't bother telling us about what she was like before, I don't really have a reason to care. I want to care! Saskia sounds like an awesome character, and I want to know more about her, so tell us!

Tell us about what she's become! I mean, I can see she works with thieves and such, but what kind of thief is she? What does she do? What job did Cade come from doing? Who the heck is Cade anyway? Her boyfriend? A contact? A work partner? And if thieves are so dishonorable and lawless as you say, why would they live together in a camp like you say? Are there any other 'night people' besides just thieves? Just some questions about her current company.

Begin chapter one en medea res possibly. That's Latin for "in the middle of things." Start with something actually happening, then use your characters and your environment to describe what's happening.

All and all, you have great characters, and I really want to know more about them! Keep fleshing them out, and I will hopefully keep learning about them!

- SOCKS, the Good Doctor
Would you kindly?




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Hey!

I really like the opening, the way you describe life on the streets and survival. Not all gramatically correct, but of course that can easily be corrected. I like it!
Good work.




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Again, I really like this. It's quite interesting. Your imagery and description is very good, painting a clear picture in my mind. A couple of your sentences were a bit akward again but it still very nicely written and unique. Good job, don't ever let anyone discourage you <3



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