Mostly I'm telling people that they don't have to be victims
I'm very fond of the Talent series, and also the Crystal Singer trio.
I do outlines when I'm writing with someone, but they also need to have a certain amount of freedom
The blackest night must end in dawn, the light dispel the dreamer's fear.
People have freaked out when I tell them that my dragons are scientifically based... what else can you call a genetically engineered life form?
I would recommend the short story form, which is a lot harder to write since you have to be so careful with words, until there is plenty of time to doodle through a novel