Um.....

[Amber]

Were people really driving backwards in London? Or, was that a joke?

 

[Amber]

I'm such an idiot. Obviously ..... not real. But he sounded so believable.

 

[Amber]

You've got to have a straight face to tell a good joke, and he did that very well, but I would guess that the reason that it didn't get a huge laugh was that it didn't have enough pain hidden behind it. Or perhaps you would need to understand London's politics surrounding street preservation in order to fully get it. Perhaps the politics are painfully embarrassing.

I loved your story, by the way. When I see people who just know instinctively how to put together a story like that, it reminds me of what a hack I am. I haven't absorbed the logic of a novel enough to hammer one out in the way that the pros do. Instead, I try to make up for my hacking methodology with satirical humor that I'm worried people won't get. My hope is that even though it is a risky way to write, risks sometimes pay off.

The tip off was all the people walking backwards. I'm very bright.

There are politics around street preservation? It sounds like someone has time on their hands. We don't have that sort of time here in the States. We're busy trying to turn gay people into straight people and giving hookers hush money.

I'm glad you liked the chapter. It feels good every single time and that's not a lie. But I also have to be honest and tell you I don't bang out novels and my instincts need to be tuned.

People will get your satirical humor and that's who your writing is for.