Hey, LindseyBrooke! I hope this helps.
"But, I like that I'm alone when I come here."
You don't need this comma. And I know this is an excerpt, so you didn't exactly give it a beginning and an end, but you could try to describe the setting first, to give us something to work with. Just a suggestion.
Josh smiled and said smugly, "Nope, not at all. Amber, you witnessed my amazing punching skills. You of all people should know how talented I am."
First of all, I think you ought to elaborate on his tone of voice, his facial expression, to give us a better picture of why he's saying this completely conceited, arrogant sentence. (Sorry, but it kinda ticked me off there for a minute.)
Second: I've noticed that throughout the excerpt Josh says her name a lot. It gets a little annoying, so you might want to delete a few of them here and there. I'll point them out.
My grin faded. "Yeah, well I don't really remember what happened. If you'll excuse me, there were other things on my mind."
Again, you need to give us more to work with. Describe her face better, her actions. I mean, she was raped! If someone said that to me, I'd get up and try to leave. *Also, you need a comma after "well" at the beginning of the sentence.*
"Amber, I'm so sorry. I forgot for a second."
Cut the name. We know her name is Amber, he doesn't need to say it so often.
My eyes were focused on my duct-taped shoe.
For some reason, I like this a lot. It's somehow personal. Anyway, I think you ought to describe her feelings more. Is she trying to block out memories? Is she hurting inside? Is she experiencing mounting anger?
"You watched? Oh how terrible! Try being the one who was actually experiencing the rape! Imagine how I felt! There is no possible way you could have experienced more pain than me!" I shouted at him as I ripped my hands away from his.
This could be a very powerful moment if you used it right. She could express herself entirely in this moment, but right now it is flat and insensitive. Try something like:
"You watched?" My harsh voice feigned incredulity and horror. "Oh, how terrible for you! Try being the victim, the one being raped! Try feeling that, why don't you?" Josh's face was contorted in pain at my words, but I plowed on, my voice quieter but just as harsh. "There is no possible way you could have experienced more pain than me." I ripped my hand from his and turned away.
"Imagine how it felt to witness the person you love in pain! Imagine having that image imprinted on your brain. Do you realize how much your pain affects me?!" Josh retorted.
I stood up. "This isn't about you Josh! That night had nothing to do with you!"
"I saved your life, Amber!"
Again, here there is a powerful moment badly worded. Either of them are getting through to each other, not to mention the reader. Rewrite:
"imagine how it felt for me to witness the person I love in pain! Imagine having that image implanted in your brain! Do you realize how much your pain affects me?!" Josh retorted, trying to grab me and force me to face him
I stood up. How dare he! He was turning this situation to himself, making himself the victim? "This is not about you, Josh. That night had nothing to do with you!"
His face showed hurt and indignation. "I saved your life!"
Or, uh, something like that. *ahem* Moving on.
We stood there, eyeing each other and breathing heavily.
How did they eye each other? I mean, we know they're both ticked off, but describe the eyes.
"I-I just don't know what to do any-anymore," I gasped as the sobs clogged up my throat. "Everything wrong h-has happened and m-my dad j-just died!" I repeated these words over and over and the words I was saying weren't even coherent.
I'm not so hot on this part. I mean, I know she's had a seriously traumatic experience, but this just seems hokey. If I were in this situation, I would cry without words. Heck, I wouldn't even remember how to speak. I think no words and just sobs might improve the situation.
"I'm so sorry Amber. I can't imagine how you feel. I was wrong to have said that I experienced more pain than you."
Wow. That was a fast apology.
"But why, Josh? It's not fair! My life was perfectly fine until this occurred! Why him? Why now?"
Again. Not so hot. The concept "Life Is Not Fair" has been needle-pointed on pillows in literature for a long time. We don't need to hear it again. Actions speak louder than words.
"We're like peas and carrots," I added with a smile. A tear dropped onto his hand.
Cute! I like this part.
"Maybe not so disgusting. But consider this. What if we met for a reason?
Change the period to a colon and de-capitalize the w.
My eyes looked at him, wearily. "Do you really believe that?"
Does she really believe that? Or does she think he's just playing with her?
I loved him, I know I did, so why was I crying?
Hm. Good point. I like the above!
OVERALL: Now I want to read all of your story. I think I'll check up on it later. Anyway, I think your writing is very mature, but you tend to rush. Slow down and describe the surroundings, the faces, the emotions. Without them stories are just bare bones. You need a little more flesh. I want to know what Amber is feeling, but not hear her blubber about it. I want to get inside Josh's head, but not hear him rant about God. Sometimes fewer words spoken means more.
Hope this was helpful.
~Sunny
Points: 1122
Reviews: 150
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