By now I'm sure everyone knows that Nicholl finalists have been announced and congratulations to those who made QF, SF, finalists, and winners. If you were like me, perhaps you purchased the reader comments? Just curious if anyone would be willing to share some of those? Please by all means omit any character names, important plot points, etc.
Here is one of mine:
Nicholl reader comment #1:
[character name] takes place in a dark time in America's history and uses that backdrop to tell the story of a complex hero in the titular character. He's a man tortured by trauma in his past and contending with those demons daily, even as he contends with the societal demons of inequality and racism.
The main character is compelling and the gradual reveal of his backstory and how he came to be the guardian of a young boy keeps us leaning in. The boy provides a nice counterpoint to [main character], and their relationship is really the emotional core of the story, even moreso than the romantic and supportive relationship between [the two main characters]. Who, it should be mentioned, is a lively and compelling character in her own right. These three central characters create a strong group to root for.
Antagonist [character name] character offers interesting layers - his own backstory is filled in so that we understand where much of his current behavior and attitude comes from. [antagonist character] is perhaps the one character who feels a bit uneven -- a violent bully who is also, at times, almost childlike in his behavior (around his father).
The script is a fast read, thanks to spare description and dialogue. And the script takes on thematic ideas of tolerance, redemption, and the nature of family, without sacrificing the entertainment of a mostly fast-moving and action-packed plot.
Here is one of mine:
Nicholl reader comment #1:
[character name] takes place in a dark time in America's history and uses that backdrop to tell the story of a complex hero in the titular character. He's a man tortured by trauma in his past and contending with those demons daily, even as he contends with the societal demons of inequality and racism.
The main character is compelling and the gradual reveal of his backstory and how he came to be the guardian of a young boy keeps us leaning in. The boy provides a nice counterpoint to [main character], and their relationship is really the emotional core of the story, even moreso than the romantic and supportive relationship between [the two main characters]. Who, it should be mentioned, is a lively and compelling character in her own right. These three central characters create a strong group to root for.
Antagonist [character name] character offers interesting layers - his own backstory is filled in so that we understand where much of his current behavior and attitude comes from. [antagonist character] is perhaps the one character who feels a bit uneven -- a violent bully who is also, at times, almost childlike in his behavior (around his father).
The script is a fast read, thanks to spare description and dialogue. And the script takes on thematic ideas of tolerance, redemption, and the nature of family, without sacrificing the entertainment of a mostly fast-moving and action-packed plot.
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