I've been thinking lately of rewriting my Valle Lacrimarum series. I know I've been working on it since 2011 and have put a ton of effort into it but there are so many problems with it. Here are few things I don't like:
- It's written in the Japanese format. I don't really like manga/anime anymore so the right to left thing is getting old.
- The fashion in the first two-thirds of the story is historically inaccurate. The story takes place in the years of 1854-1856 yet Amelia's original outfits look like a sad conglomeration of goth Halloween costumes.
- Amelia isn't miserable enough. Right now she is just a lonely rich girl. Not enough tragedy!
- Azriel's introduction wasn't too great. He's the Grim Reaper! He needs a more epic entrance than the umbrella delivery. In fact, I don't think he is in the story enough at all.
- Not enough variation in human male characters! Besides Gaurin and Leone, there really isn't any men. Amelia was supposed to have a father named Jourdain de Belvoir that I would love to throw in there.
- The story is taking too long. (Spoilers) Three years in the making and Amelia still hasn't died?! The whole idea for the story was for Amelia to be sent to Hell by ravenous demons and have her lose her mind to adopt Azriel's persona! A hundred pages in and she is still just pouting in her luxurious petticoats and bonnets.
- I've made dramatic revisions to the story. There are several different versions of this story that I've drafted up. One includes Amelia serving as Santa Muerte and is Azriel's wife (omg I know, it's silly), another of Amelia committing suicide and meeting Azriel through the act of death itself, etc. Seriously, like countless versions of Valle Lacrimarum, all of which are more interesting than the story so far.
I would really love to finish what I have so far though, but drawing comics takes forever! I might write it out in a story book fashion, with embellished stationary and occasional illustrations.
