Hints about Lion & Gazelle… I can confirm to you that it is a live-action. I’ll also put some emphasis on the “action” portion of that phrase. It will be the biggest feature I’ve attempted so far and I’m super excited about it.

As far as having one’s ass handed to them on the critiquing front, years of art school is a good primer to be able to handle anything someone throws at you. That said, try to remember this: In general, if someone’s really ripping your work apart with notes, that’s still much better than if they don’t say anything at all. Someone who wants to help you reach the next level in your writing will do what they can for you even if it’s hard for you to hear. Someone who thinks you’re hopeless won’t even try.

Barring the jerks who just like the sound of their own voice of course.

T

Anyway, as another writer, I can totally relate to what you’re saying here - about how you can’t count on anyone to read your work the way you intend for them to receive it. Of course they’re going to miss a lot of your symbolism, your nuance, the very things that make it unique. That is, if they really read it at all, and aren’t just serving up platitudes.

I admire your confidence. I used to feel the same way until a couple of MFA programs handed my ass to me and made me think that maybe I wasn’t a good writer after all. I hope to get back to that point where I’m sure that if the writing doesn’t resonate with the reader, then it’s the reader, not me. =)