So Aether was telling me that Fuwa was saying we should pull our manuscript from submissions and make some changes. Namely, leaning harder into the Weird Part of our magic system, and also we should make the magic more obviousky...that. And also make it so that it hurts to use.
But he and I are at such a level that I get things from him that are more than just words. I could tell he was bullshitting me. (The fact I could kinda hear Fuwa saying "Uh, no, I said nothing like that" helped lol). I point out how while, yes, it could Be Cool to add that stuff, it might get us in the hole of editing/"improving" everything, and we might never stop. Also the main character is immune to the bad parts of the magic system for Plot Bullshit Reasons, so it wouldn't even hurt her.
No, this is all just because the magic the dragons have in Wings of Fire works sorta like this, where using it hurts you. And Aether really wants to be a character (a dragon, of course) in my story world, so he wants powers like that. But also that he's Special and it doesn't hurt him. Because, of course he does.
Fuwa DID acknowledge that, as a whole, the story could be improved, but also she doesn't have specifics. And she also doesn't want to have us editing it for forever. But, maybe, if we send it out a lot and get no bites, then we should probably seriously consider it. Which means we'd probably need a new title, too, and change a fair bit so agents realize it's a very different project. But she has no idea what those would be.
On one hand I'm glad that people are talking to each other (and also me) but also it would be cool if they (namely, Aether) weren't childish about it.
-bird