04 17 00

in a burning tree

I'm being haunted.

A while ago I mentioned a "risqué" story that I wrote, which had generated a lot of drooling fanboy feedback. I decided to remove the story from my web page and make the URL available through email only.

The story is actually a series, and it's been gnawing at me. (I really wish I had a word processor so I could start writing the next chapter in the series.) Ignoring the first story, it's actually (in my opinion) pretty good for a few off-the-cuff stories. Planning for the series has been minimal, and continuity errors abound... But the characters seem real and the plot is engaging.

I've read that the best thing you can do in a story is to chase your characters up a tree. Once they're up there, throw rocks at them. Why? Because the more problems you give your characters, the more interesting the story will be. Since I really haven't done any serious planning for this story, each time I write a chapter I toss another rock at the characters. This has kept the story fairly interesting.

Well, last weekend I realized where the story is going.

It's rather obvious, actually... On the surface, anyway. After all, there is some majorly heavy foreshadowing in one of the stories when the gods foretell the future. grin A few readers have asked me questions about where the story is heading. They're (generally) right about what's going to happen. It is pretty evident what will happen, really.

Sort of.

You see, last weekend I realized just how dark the story will get before it gets lighter. I haven't just chased my main character up a tree and thrown rocks at her. I've actually set the tree on fire... And now I have to chop it down.

That's just the natural progression of the story. That is where it's heading. I could pussy out a little and make it not so bad for her, but I would feel like I've cheated the readers as well as myself. I know where the story is heading, but I want to actually write it and see what happens in the details. Besides, you never know - sometimes the details change the story so much that it ends up going in a completely different way.

Also, when I sit back and think about what will happen, I realize I've been short-changing the story. I've been claiming that the story arc will be wrapped up in 3 stories. But now it looks like it will be 5 stories until everything is complete. And I still might have to write a conclusion for it all, a denouement which will adequately bring closure to the story.

I've grown to like this character. As much grief as she's caused me, I really want to see her through to the end. And, unfortunately for her, it will be a very bitter end. I feel sorry for her. I've put her through a lot during these stories. She's been knocked up, disowned, kicked out, kidnapped, threatened with the loss of her child, coerced into marriage, and brainwashed. Things are going to get a lot worse for her.

(Oh, and if you're wondering... She will not die. Although she might wish she had.)

I'd give you the URL for the stories, but the server that has that web page on it is down for a bit while they relocate the machine. But I promise... As soon as I get my hands on a word processor again, I'm going to write the next installment. When I post the story to my page, I'll give you a link.

Promise.

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