But a Pretty Bauble Edit Update

Umm, did I say less complicated? My goodness I believe in layers. I am now about a third of the way into But a Pretty Bauble. I am finding nothing major (probably a sign I can’t see them without help) and enjoying the story. It’s funny to see how the story mutated away from the outline though. Hiba was supposed to be a spoiled princess with nothing but fluff between her ears, sort of a Middle Ages chick lit heroine. Well, that didn’t work. She’s innocent and ignorant, but mostly because she’s led a sheltered life, and boy does she try hard :). And Bab is full of himself and so confident, right up until he’s proved wrong. He accepts the correction well, while holding himself to blame for failing to realize it in the first place.

 

My absolute favorite parts so far? I’d have to say Bab and Faysal arguing, but Hiba and her father runs a close second, and heck, I like it all. Even the bad guy is…well…bad :).

 

So yes, while the uncomplicated part might not have worked out as well as I’d hoped, it’s funny and fun.

 

I’m taking Holly Lisle’s How to Think Sideways class (http://howtothinksideways.com/members/?rid=190), which is a lot of work and definitely worth it. One of the things she has us look at is our interest areas. If I hadn’t done that just a couple of months ago, I might not have noticed, but But a Pretty Bauble has a lot in common with Shadows of the Sun, as crazy as that may sound.

 

Now to be clear, Shadow of the Sun = sociological science fiction novel in which two sapient species conflict in a bloody and fatal manner when unaware humans breathe on the embers of a centuries-old conflict that has slipped largely into myth. So, aliens, another planet, jungle, islands, water, fish, humans, scientists, linguistics…

 

But a Pretty Bauble = fantasy novel where a small time kingdom fights with nomads over the right to mine jewels in the desert. So, humans (mostly ;)), this planet, desert, limited water, no fish, pre-industrial.

 

They sound like the spitting image of each other, don’t they?

 

Except…both are clashes of culture with lives on the line. Both have misunderstanding built out of secrecy started for protection, and while in one the third party is ignorant and in the other he knows exactly what he’s doing, in both there’s someone outside of the conflict who eggs it on.

 

Some day, I’m going to be great fodder for a literature class :).

 

And stats:
Edited Today: 5,491 words
11 Chapters complete – 38% of the novel
18 Chapters remain
46,538 Remaining word count
29,054 Current Total
76,836 Predicted Total

 

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