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hrjAs part of some long-term plot-noodling this past week, I realized/decided that a particular plot-driving event that sets up much of the action in Mistress of Shadows would work better if it happens towards the end of Mother of Souls rather than as the opening event of that book. This won't entirely break my principle of "no cliff-hangers" but I apologize in advance to those who will then suffer through the two intervening books on the writing schedule (Floodtide and Tapestry) before finding out more of the consequences to that event.
The more immediate consequence is that I had to figure out when and where the event would fit into the current book. It had to be towards the end of the story, and it had to happen during a time when Barbara was traveling between her various rural properties. Given the existing outline and POV structure, that left one obvious place: Chapter 30, right at the beginning of the summer of 1825. Problem is: that wasn't one of Barbara's chapters, it was Jeanne's. Well, actually, it was originally Antuniet's before I decided I needed to cut down on the overall number of points of view and gave all Antuniet's chapters to Jeanne. And that chapter already had some specific events pencilled in for it: Margerit's cousin Iuli is facing the end of her year in Rotenek and a startling possibility is offered to her, and there's an interaction involving Anna Monterrez in the equivalent timeline in Floodtide that needs to be referenced in some way, and then there's a note, "I need more to happen in this chapter."
Well. Funny how things work out. When it comes down to it, the interaction with Iuli would be all the more poignant if it involves Barbara, because Barbara is initially going to be furious when Iuli turns up in Rotenek on Margerit's doorstep--and even more furious when she discovers…well, never mind, that would be a spoiler. So having Barbara suggest the solution to Iuli's dilemma brings a nice closure to that previous hostility. And as for "more needs to happen"…looks like we have that solved, right?
The plot-octopus tentacle can stay anchored at the tip and the base, but I just need to pry a few staples out of the middle portion and move it over here with a little bend there and now…*thwacka* *thwacka*. There: stapled into a new position. (You really do need to see me explain "stapling the octopus" with the fully acted version. It's even more entertaining than watching squid screw.)
The more immediate consequence is that I had to figure out when and where the event would fit into the current book. It had to be towards the end of the story, and it had to happen during a time when Barbara was traveling between her various rural properties. Given the existing outline and POV structure, that left one obvious place: Chapter 30, right at the beginning of the summer of 1825. Problem is: that wasn't one of Barbara's chapters, it was Jeanne's. Well, actually, it was originally Antuniet's before I decided I needed to cut down on the overall number of points of view and gave all Antuniet's chapters to Jeanne. And that chapter already had some specific events pencilled in for it: Margerit's cousin Iuli is facing the end of her year in Rotenek and a startling possibility is offered to her, and there's an interaction involving Anna Monterrez in the equivalent timeline in Floodtide that needs to be referenced in some way, and then there's a note, "I need more to happen in this chapter."
Well. Funny how things work out. When it comes down to it, the interaction with Iuli would be all the more poignant if it involves Barbara, because Barbara is initially going to be furious when Iuli turns up in Rotenek on Margerit's doorstep--and even more furious when she discovers…well, never mind, that would be a spoiler. So having Barbara suggest the solution to Iuli's dilemma brings a nice closure to that previous hostility. And as for "more needs to happen"…looks like we have that solved, right?
The plot-octopus tentacle can stay anchored at the tip and the base, but I just need to pry a few staples out of the middle portion and move it over here with a little bend there and now…*thwacka* *thwacka*. There: stapled into a new position. (You really do need to see me explain "stapling the octopus" with the fully acted version. It's even more entertaining than watching squid screw.)
