The Writer's Brain Takes the Plot a Different Direction

[mmerriam]

One of the things driving the POV character (Richard) to do some of the things he does and make some of the decisions he makes is the magical contract he created with Holly (he will do thing X for Holly, after which Holly will do thing Y for him).

I just realized as I was working on Chapter Seven that--technically--the terms of the contract were fulfilled back in Chapter Two, though neither of them realize it, since they are both quite focused on their goals.

Now I have to decide whether I want to go with it and let the plot run on with the characters working under a mistaken assumption or if I should go back and take out the technicality. I'm leaning toward the first, because frankly, it seems like it might have the best potential for plot twisty goodness, as opposed to the second, which sets up more in the way of dark plot angst.

What to do, what to do?

Dark Water Blues

Comments

[tiny-wings.livejournal.com]

Pretty much what I thought too. I wouldn't want to be reading on since that chapter two and be like, WHY are they doing this if they don't need to?? You'll have to be very careful how you go about it...

That said, I think plot twistiness is better than angst.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Those are some good points. I hate it when a plot revolves or resolves around a character doing something stupid, or not realizing something they should have known.

It gets even more interesting if one of them realizes it and the other doesn't.

Early on, Richard wouldn't tell Holly because he wants the thing he wants. He might tell her in chapter five or six, when he starts seeing her as a person he is starting to care for, as opposed to a half-bred unseelie monster. At that point he would stay the course and doing thing X she asked for, even without the reward of Y, because he wants her to have X and he wants to stick it in the eye of those who would harm Holly.

If Holly knows, she wouldn't tell Richard because she desperately needs him to do thing X, even though she doesn't want to do Y in return. She might keep silent even now, knowing she can have her thing and not need to complete her end of the bargain. Actually, at this point she might tell him as well.

It also occurred to me that the incident in chapter two might not have been sufficient to fulfill both terms of the contract, but Richard's death--short as it was--might have negated it.

I need to stop and consider the rules governing magic in this bit of world building.