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so I started a new story and ended up with two different versions, and would like to know what you all think of them:

[sblock=version 1]Kellina looked around the cell with her hazel eyes wondering what would be happening to her. It wasn’t as if she had planned to get caught, but her client had failed to mention the cat. Gods, I he doesn’t expect me to give him back the gold he already paid; She thought to herself as she ran a hand through her dark purple hair.
“She’s down this hall way, first cell to the right. Luckily she’s also alone.” A rough voice said that she knew belonged to a guard.
“Good.” Came a response from a voice she didn’t know.

The guard soon came into view followed by another male. Who came to a stop in front of her cell and looked her over with his cold grey eyes. He pulled out a slip of parchment before glancing back to her.

“You are Kellina Baskin, notable criminal and mercenary?”
“Depends on who is asking and why.” She answered standing up from her cot and walking up to the bars.

The guard made a motion as if to say something or perhaps knock her back from the bars, but the mystery man waved his hand motioning that it would be okay.

“I represent the Colovinghold clan and I’m here with a ticket out of this cell along with an offer of high value.”

“I see, no further details until I agree?” She asked as she narrowed her eyes.

“Other than I am permitted to gain your release and offer an initial 200 gold to meet with those above me.” As he answered he pulled a small sack away from his belt and handed it to the guard who then proceeded to open the cell door.

“And my stuff?” Kellina inquired as she stepped out of the cell.

“It’s already taken care of. Now if you’ll follow me.” The man spoke as he turned and started to head back the way he came.

Outside the jail was a carriage pulled by a lone horse. The man opened the door for her.

“Your items are inside, and I will be taking you to meet your employer.”

Kellina nodded as she got into the back of the carriage not wanting to point out that she hadn’t agreed to being employed. As the carriage pulled away from the jail and made its way through the city’s streets, she reached for her grey bag to make sure it wasn’t missing anything. The carriage pulled up to a building that clearly had seen better days, she noted looking at the boards that covered the windows. What a dump, but I guess it will work as a meeting place. She thought to herself as she climbed out of the carriage without saying a word.
[/sblock]

[sblock=version 2] Kellina looked around the cell with her hazel eyes wondering what would be happening to her. It wasn’t as if she had planned to twist her ankle, but her informer had failed to mention the cat.

“She’s down this way sir. “ Came one of the guard’s voices as two guards came to her cell trailed by a third person.
“Hello father.” She said looking at the third person.

The guards’ eyes went wide upon hearing her speak. It was clear by their expressions that they hadn’t expected the prisoner to know the sub-minister for security.

“Hello, Kellina.” He responded sounding a bit worn out, he then looked at the two guards before speaking again.
“You may leave us, I doubt I will have any trouble.”

The guards wisely nodded and headed back the way they had come.

“How did you know I was here?” she asked with an edge to her voice.
“I have my ways.” He answered looking back at her with a cold stare.
“So, why are you here, unless it’s just to say how disappointed you are in me again?”
“No, this time I came here on behalf of your uncle the king.”

Her eyes went wide, as far as she knew the king hadn’t even acknowledged her existence.

“Yes, he does know that you are alive.” He answered seeing the look on her face.
“Then what does he want with me?”
“He would like to make you an offer, in return for your services: You’ll be granted a full pardon along with a hefty sum of gold.”
“I’m guessing this isn’t an official offer?” She asked skeptically folding her arms over her chest.
“Due to the nature of the require services, no it can’t be done in the open.”
“Then why me?”
“Only a few inside the family know of your connection and existence. Since the job will deal with those who not family, it won’t matter one bit. There’s also the matter of your abilities.”

[/sblock]

I'm also considering merging them
 

I prefer the former. Personally not a fan of the "privileged youth in trouble" trope right now. Especially early on. At least, not with both parties fully aware for each other.
 

There are two major things I can see there, and the solution is the same for both. To begin, then, your descriptive text reads as if going down a list of elements to impart to the reader; and second, the scene is somewhat bare of details.

Try picturing the scene from behind your viewpoint character's eyes; what do they see? hear? feel? touch? smell? Rather than thinking "What details does the reader need to know?", consider "What is the character thinking right now?"

Focusing on your character's surroundings allows you to set the scene, starts off the story, and ideally, should tell your reader what both are about. An internal monologue sets a different kind of scene; one where the...well, scenery, is the character's thoughts and feelings, and tells us that the story will be set largely in, and be about, the character's mind. Most stories have a mix of both. This may be, and likely is based on what you've written, something you already know. But can be useful to note, and also relates to the two examples below.

I would write more, but I have some sort of stomach bug or something. So. One really bad example, bare of any real emotion or detail, and one not bad example, showing an internal monologue; although it could use detail.

Examples:

Really bad:
[sblock]There was dust, chaos and confusion as Doctor Destructo fired his Chaos Cannon, green bolts crashing into buildings. Civilians ran to and fro. I hated it. I hated the destruction, the fear, the screams, the blood. On a nearby rooftop, our team, the Freedom Defenders listened to our leader, Bulwark, lay out our battle plans. I wanted to punch Doctor Destructo in the face.[/sblock]

Not bad:
[sblock]It's the smell that gets to you, after a while. Blood, certainly. Shattered bodies; worse things. But horrible as it sounds, you can get used to that. You get used to it, and your mind blanks on it. Like too much fear. There was blood, and shattered bodies, and worse things on the ground below. In the background, a four-story apartment building begins an inevitable slide down, bricks and detritus slowly sailing through the air, the sound of it not so much a thundering as a loud rumble felt in the bones. Screams, too; your mind just filters them out, except as tactical information. Who needs help, who needs rescuing, which innocent civilian needs to be saved now? That's my job. I'm a speedster. Temporal. Every ten seconds for me is one for you. And vice-versa. So you'll understand if I ramble to you, dear imaginary listener, as Bulwark finishes giving out our marching orders.

I take a large, deep breath of Metro City air. Doctor Destructo is the name of the latest maniac.

Bet his teeth crumble just fine, underneath that oversized suit of power armour.

There's too much dust in the air.[/sblock]
Ideally, I'd re-write the second example at least three times; one of them a complete re-write, and run it by an editor/beta reader. Also do a pass or three over the names. Check for grammar and spelling as many times. Or rather, do that to the entire chapter containing that opening. Then, if I really wanted to polish it, I'd forget about it for a month, and then lightly edit it to bring everything together, with a critical editor and reader's eye. Or, possibly scrap it, if it's not going to work.
 


Hope you get to feeling better
Thanks. :)

The repetitiousness needed to put out truly good story is why I am *not* a writer - Repeating the same task on the same material over and over again feels like running rough sand-paper over my frontal lobes.

I did, however, read a lot of "How to write" material written by published authors; and, honestly, still do occasionally. It is just not something I could really do, or so I've found.
 



Right now, they're all literally under the weather, so understandably, incommunicado. Depending on what happens, they may not even be able to contact us for days.
 

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