IanG

The frustrations you're describing are quite common for writers and other people too. That doesn't make it all right but it means people can do their best and carry on despite the issues. The clay metaphore is good.

A lot of writers feel like this at times. I sometimes do. For a recent story I wstched a documentary about lifeboat crews, then used a similat scenario in my story 'Dark Midwinter Night.' The story took a respectable number of hits but not as many as some of mine and not as many as I hoped for. Pethaps I didn't convey all I wanted to. What do other people think?

If I'd been a conscript, I'm pretty sure I'd have been the guy who got killed by his own grenade.

If this is based on fact, remembet there are bettet people around than the one who left you. It may seem unlikely now but its true.

I like the metaphore of the first asdignment
It wouldn't have occured to me but now you mention it, its a good one.

If this is written from experience I hope your brothet comes home safe and sound.

As in part one, the descriptions are vivid and you build suspense well.

We are surrounded by images of people who are physically perfect. It puts a lot of pressure on us to measure up. Try to remember celebrities have a lot of help from make up artists and even personal trainers. Teenagers in films are often portrayed by twenty somethings. Photos can even be airbrushed. Most of us are not so lucky. Just because you don't look like your favourite singer or actor, it doesn't make you a failure.