Problem Solving

[bloodyrosemccoy]

International Museum Day
Trinity Sunday (Christian)
Visit Your Relatives Day
Birthday - Mother's Whistler

 

So I’ve been stalling reworking my Hive First Contact story, which I’ve been thinking of sending into the Captain Crazypants L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest. I’ve been a bit reticent for a few reasons:

 

• The idea of Captain Crazypants L. Ron Hubbard’s name getting anywhere near what I do is somewhat unnerving, even if its connection is loose. I don’t know if I want to have anything to do with a drugged-up nutjob who founded one of the most pervasive scam cults of this century. But on the other hand, it’s also tied to a lot of writers who aren’t part of Scientology, and there are valuable cash prizes, which is always something to consider.
• I don’t have any black ink for my printer, and I keep forgetting to get some. This is a purely technical problem, but it does sort of hinder getting your manuscript out, and I don’t think I can squeak by with blue ink like I can for school papers.
• Also, there’s been something wrong with the story. The stakes needed raising, and I could not figure out how to do that with the logistics I’d worked out for this story.

The last one was the main problem. Something wasn’t going together. I had no idea how to keep these people on the planet after it got dangerous. I had to raise the stakes somehow, force them to action, and I was just staring at the plot going, “But the other choices aren’t logical!” Clearly, I needed to get dumber characters. It was that or figure out some other factor to make them stick around so they could actually do the story.

 

Then, suddenly, I had a brilliant idea.

 

I would strand them there.

 

Okay, it’s not so brilliant or original. In fact, it’s sort of a cliché. But you know what? I think it works this time. It’s a good foundational reason for our heroes to be there, and it nudges the plot forward and answers the details. It’s simple and effective, and fixes a lot of the questions readers may have about the story.

 

I feel so damn good when that happens.

 

Funny how straightforward a solution can be, and how it can be staring you in the face the whole time.

 

 

In other writing news! I seem to have entered a loose compact with kittikattieto fix the ending of The Chronicles of Narnia with regards to Susan, with each of us providing our own take on what could happen to her after the end of the series, assuming that I decide to count The Last Battle.  We’ve both got damn good ideas. For my part, I get to resuscitate a plotbunny that’s been cryogenically frozen since back when I first read The Last Battle in—I dunno, fifth or sixth grade? It involves a lot of cool magical adventures, psychological torment, and also a bit where Aslan gets his smug ass took down a peg. I still think it’s a pretty good idea. As for kittikattie’s idea, you’ll have to ask her about it.

Comments

Re: end of the narnia series

[placetohide.livejournal.com]

Uuuhhh, maybe my memory is off, but isn't the end of the Narnia series the main characters all dying in a horrible train accident or something of the like?

Re: end of the narnia series

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Excellent point. Everyone does die EXCEPT SUSAN, who likes boys and is kind of growing up and thus does not get to go to Narnia. The Royal Susan Screwover on so many levels (by the author, Aslan, and her family) gets a lot of attention and deserves some serious rectification. I am sure the fans got right on it.

You grew up, you don't get heaven!

[shadesofmauve]

Have you read Gaiman's short story "The Problem of Susan"? (It's in Fragile Things. It's not the well deserved reworking you're talking about, just a look at it from Susan's end (also well deserved!).

I needed to get dumber characters.

Oooh, I've had that problem!

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

All I remember about The Last Battle was that it started with an ape doing something stupid, and really sucked.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Personal vote: Susan becomes a badass Wicca Lesbian and founds her own magical kingdom, damnit! with blackjack! and hookers!

er... sorry. My metaphors fell in the blender.

*slinks away quietly*

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Hey, "With blackjack! And hookers!" has become a standard phrase round these parts.

If I ever write it, you're going to get the story from Susan's point of view (why her siblings think she's "no longer a friend of Narnia" and how that's totally not true), her reaction to what she knows of the events in The Last Battle, and a subsequent adventure through many other worlds. Here's's idea, too.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

yeah, I did see the original thread. I considered stepping there there with my blackjack and hookers idea (especially since I think kitti would get a kick out of the Wiccan Lesbian idea), but decided that would be too much like interrupting an actual serious discussion.