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info-dumping time
Nov. 13th, 2025 11:51 pmThe heroine has connected with some folks who know the history of the world, and are willing to tell her.
The story has underscored that she has been kept in the dark, so she is eager to know it.
It's still a challenge to figure out how to dump all the info.
The story has underscored that she has been kept in the dark, so she is eager to know it.
It's still a challenge to figure out how to dump all the info.
eavesdropping
Sep. 9th, 2025 11:54 pmHeroine has to learn some truths.
Fortunately, with her powers, she learns (indirectly) of a meeting, and listens to them.
Alas it's a meeting of two people who've been plotting together for over a year. Very high context.
True, the mere fact they meet at all and talk amicably is a Big Clue -- but I decided that one character will do something to vindicate the heroine's suspicions at once.
Fortunately, with her powers, she learns (indirectly) of a meeting, and listens to them.
Alas it's a meeting of two people who've been plotting together for over a year. Very high context.
True, the mere fact they meet at all and talk amicably is a Big Clue -- but I decided that one character will do something to vindicate the heroine's suspicions at once.
a time to heal, a time to talk
Jul. 20th, 2025 12:00 amgiving the manuscript the gimlet gaze.
Our heroine has met up with friendly people who have information that is useful to her and which would help them win her trust, which they would find useful.
Still finding it interesting to pry open the story and stuff the info in.
Our heroine has met up with friendly people who have information that is useful to her and which would help them win her trust, which they would find useful.
Still finding it interesting to pry open the story and stuff the info in.
entanglements
Sep. 14th, 2024 11:12 pmSo the heroine is listening to a tale, and searching a garden. . . and the writer gives it an eyeball and concludes that no, she would not. She would listen intently and then search.
I can still have it do all sorts of magical things about the spells that are breaking, since she doesn't intend them, and can't control whether they distract her. But she would not try to do both at once because she thinks they are important.
I can still have it do all sorts of magical things about the spells that are breaking, since she doesn't intend them, and can't control whether they distract her. But she would not try to do both at once because she thinks they are important.
contriving that coincidence
Sep. 3rd, 2024 07:53 pmRevising along, revising along -- and stopping dead. No, these characters are acting illogically, they need to have reason to believe she's who she claims to be.
ponder, ponder, ponder
Oh, yes. I grab a minor character from earlier, who would recognize her, and plop her forward in time. She recognizes the heroine from before.
Still doesn't get a name.
ponder, ponder, ponder
Oh, yes. I grab a minor character from earlier, who would recognize her, and plop her forward in time. She recognizes the heroine from before.
Still doesn't get a name.
didn't think that through
Aug. 28th, 2024 11:36 pmSo there's the scene serving vital plot purposes --
The heroine lacks adequate motivation for it. Or, more bluntly, the heroine would be greatly averse to doing what the scene requires. Not to mention the other characters needed motives. . . which were fortunately easier to provide.
Not to mention that the heroine has to make clear the problem, or they'll never be able to talk her into it. Good thing her motives are somewhat simpler there.
The fun part is that it contains the original inspiration for the whole book. Which may or may not be suitable for retention.
The heroine lacks adequate motivation for it. Or, more bluntly, the heroine would be greatly averse to doing what the scene requires. Not to mention the other characters needed motives. . . which were fortunately easier to provide.
Not to mention that the heroine has to make clear the problem, or they'll never be able to talk her into it. Good thing her motives are somewhat simpler there.
The fun part is that it contains the original inspiration for the whole book. Which may or may not be suitable for retention.
tales of old
Aug. 2nd, 2024 08:37 pmSo there I was with the hero having a handy place to exposit on certain principles of magic and their application.
So naturally the muse invents a bit of potted history that expands on it nicely and explains that one of the youngsters has heard of it and thought it just a story, giving a hook. . . .
One way to get the wordage.
So naturally the muse invents a bit of potted history that expands on it nicely and explains that one of the youngsters has heard of it and thought it just a story, giving a hook. . . .
One way to get the wordage.
Working on a legend (which is going to include a vital clue for our heroine).
Realized that with a twelve-year-old heroine, I probably want to shift it from the legend I was ripping off somewhat closer to the fairy tale in the same vein. . .
Fortunately when telling a story about a queen slandered and driven from court, the legends and fairy tales form a continuum. Keep that the problem is the king's male cousin, switch it from his attempt to seduce to his resentment that the king hadn't married the cousin's daughter. . .
Realized that with a twelve-year-old heroine, I probably want to shift it from the legend I was ripping off somewhat closer to the fairy tale in the same vein. . .
Fortunately when telling a story about a queen slandered and driven from court, the legends and fairy tales form a continuum. Keep that the problem is the king's male cousin, switch it from his attempt to seduce to his resentment that the king hadn't married the cousin's daughter. . .
I need a legend.
I keep poking at legends I know of, trying to fit it in. It needs to foreshadow the paths about the forest that aren't commonly known to outsider. Also, it needs to fit the stories planted thus far without making the world too confined.
I think there is going to be a quarrel over it, where some people claim that birds were involved as guides, and others a cat.
I keep poking at legends I know of, trying to fit it in. It needs to foreshadow the paths about the forest that aren't commonly known to outsider. Also, it needs to fit the stories planted thus far without making the world too confined.
I think there is going to be a quarrel over it, where some people claim that birds were involved as guides, and others a cat.
begin at the beginning
Feb. 8th, 2024 11:59 pmIt starts with the cat.
Or rather, it starts when she arrives at the castle and is given a cat.
The arrival at the castle should explain why, because it's going to be Important later, and she knows it now. . .
The story arrived very quickly in outline. Paragraph form is harder.
Or rather, it starts when she arrives at the castle and is given a cat.
The arrival at the castle should explain why, because it's going to be Important later, and she knows it now. . .
The story arrived very quickly in outline. Paragraph form is harder.
