Things you discover in your critique group

[pbray]

I have an obsession with goats, something which I had not realized before. In honor of this revelation I have vowed to include gratuitous goat references in every new chapter I write.

Comments

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

I'm going to hold you to this.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

What made it more hilarious is that before we'd gotten to the critiquing portion of the evening I'd spontaneously launched into a rant that involved YouTube, scandals and trafficking in underage Nubian goats. Mostly I was trying to get a spit take out of fireun but my choice of goats to illustrate depravity was seen as a sign that the fixation extended far beyond the written page.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

You poor woman.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, that's funny! And I do know how it happens -- my local crit group has a joke about mandatory horses. We all end up with horses, one way and another, even when we vow not to. Even in gritty realistic techno-thriller stories.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I'd previously noted my obsession with feet, which is a recurring theme in all of my books, but this goat thing is new.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

With me, it's water. Everything I write ends up being about water.

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh, this will be interesting.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

*Nyaaaaaah* Indeed.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's an odd tell to have, but not the first literary tic that I've observed in myself. Nor will it be the last.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should stick to one gratuitous goat a book. Mind you, said goat can pop up several times...

Think Steven Spielberg and shooting stars.

What else can your critique group find?

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Well, in my case they've found that I like things in series of three. And I guess it's true. I can't have something "this and that." It always ends up being "this, that, and the other thing." Perhaps it has to do with the rhythm I'm trying to achieve in my writing?
A particular obsession that tends to manifest itself in the Stone Island Sea Stories is Edward Pierce's love of coffee. Perhaps that is because I also am a coffee drinker.
Dave