Thanks for the comment, Leo! I appreciate you taking the time to read this story. There are other info dumps, but Chapter Three is the worst because no action breaks it up. I played around in earlier drafts with different ways Alaudae would learn about his world. At one point I planned to have him "realize" everything through internal dialogue as his brain digested his coded memory.
I like to explain everything to some degree early on, then go into detail when the concept in question comes up. It felt weird introducing new things midway through the story, almost as if I was making it up as I went along. It’s a consequence of my cautious personality. Also, I build on many of the ideas and want the reader to feel somewhat secure in knowing what is happening. Please let me know if you think I’m losing or spoon-feeding the reader.
When I first started writing the outline for Jupiters, I was writing at the high school level. I barely understood the differences between the tenses and chose present tense without weighing its pros and cons. I didn’t realize I wanted to be a writer until a few years ago, and I’ve have been scrambling to make up for lost time by reading and writing like crazy. I also hired a professional editor who has been instrumental in helping me refine my craft. After writing the early drafts in present tense, writing it in past tense felt wrong. Along with the familiarity for me, present tense adds immediacy, which I felt complimented Alaudae’s story.
Thanks again for the feedback! Don’t hesitate to ask any more questions.
--Alex
