Pop-Up Submissions, 16th December (Last of the Year!)

[AgentPete]

On today's Pop-Ups there's YA fantasy from Andrew; Humorous Women's Fiction from Rachel; YA Alternate History Adventure from Andrew; Superhero fiction from ST; Horror/thriller from Matt and fantasy from Pete.
Next show... 13th January!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Interesting mix last night. Lots of fun, thanks Peter and the delightful panel. I think I'd have gone most for the cult rescue story. It had gravitas, and everyone remembers about Waco etc. The writing had shades of the opening chapter of 'Salem's Lot' and a pinch of Steinbeck.
But The Shrooms were high energy, fun in a small dose. I'd never have carried on with it, but I never managed to get into Pratchett, either, and I have friends who are crazy about his books. Just love them like anything, so there's a blind spot there.....(mine)

 

[Emily]

I agree on the gravitas, but it slightly irritates me when someone tells me this is a story like no other and proceeds to submit something where the grammar and punctuation is appalling... I think we spend so much time trying to make something as flawless as possible before submitting, that it's not good enough to dismiss it with saying, 'I know my grammar needs work but the story supersedes all that'. Maybe he will join Litopia!!
I never really got into Pratchett either, but I did like the visuals of the Shroom world (too much Shroomery in the blurb, though, and I'd be a fungi and mycelium fan); I could see it so clearly. And @AliG 's reading was perfect, I enjoyed that immensely

 

[Leonora]

I wasn't sure if it was Kirsten's reading that was so good. It reminded me of TV like True Detective.
I liked the Shrooms because of the cleverness of the up down thing (gravity!), the writing, and I liked the warmth of the voice. I don't like Pratchett either.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

@AliG's reading was spot on, as always, Kirsten's too.

@Rainbird said it slightly irritates me when someone tells me this is a story like no other and proceeds to submit something where the grammar and punctuation is appalling

It gets my back up right away. Absolutely. No-one has any business telling us what we'll make of their writing.

It's all subjective.