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Quinn Chapman and the Altar of Evil I

Quinn Chapman and the Altar of Evil The flames of Hades flickered off the rough hewn walls of the cavern as I stumbled my way deeper into the earthen maw. Acrid, black smoke invaded my eyes, blurring my vision and clouding my lungs. Dark voices shouted in a rhythmic chant somewhere beyond the hall of fire through which I now walked. My body was cut and bruised; my clothes turned to rags barely clinging to my sweat glistened flesh.  What maligned road led me to my current state of depravity? My mind flickered back to that fateful day in the warrens of Singapore, to one of the myriad of seedy opium dens lining the alleys. It was there that I found the remnants of the infamous Anglo explorer Sir Percival Covington.  I pushed back the shoddy veil of the curtain to find Sir Percival upon his back, clad in sweat-stained khaki and a weeks' worth of grime. So much for the hero of the British Empire. His glazed eyes alighted upon me, and a flicker of recognition danced across his ...

Responding to Criticism: I can't!

Responding to Criticism: I Canā€™t! 

I can't.

Nope, not one bit. At first, that is.

The fear of rejection is as real as a raging bull elephant trampling you to jelly if you run smack into him in the bush.

Crushing.

It's as real as the Earth is round.

Undeniable.

When I finally build the courage to put my baby out there and it comes back smeared in red ink. Or if my reader says that they have some thoughts...I instantly go on edge. I become defensive. Like a cornered animal I lash out regardless of their intentions. Sure, the criticism is probably constructive and will probably help my writing and story, but I am not ready for it.

I know it is for the best, but I want platitudes. Tell me I am good so I can justify my existence! I have no confidence! I cry for help! But I need your criticism, so I can in fact become better.

Shoot me with a dose on tranquilizer and let me ruminate in a hazy of half-baked thoughts. Then and only then will I realize the quality of the critique and be able to make use of it.

I can.

Yes, every bit.

But, not at first.

Vagrant sleeping on a bench.


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