Doing a Work Shop.

 I have a Zoom call scheduled tomorrow with Joe Mynhardt, of Crystal Lake Entertainment. He's heading a novella workshop running through June and July and we will be discussing a story I'd like to write. I want/need to have certain ideas and notes written out prior to the call. Characters, setting, theme, whatever will help.

Working Title: Gone – might change, but now it fits, since I like calling it something that works with the story. This is a Butterfly Effect type tale. Done many times, so the importance is in the telling.

What I Know: There are six characters. I know that one will be given the chance to return to the moment in his past that “changed everything”. He has reasons for following multiple paths, and he must decide.

It is possible that other characters will be offered the chance to do this as well.

Rules: There are two rules for those who return to their past. First, they will remember most of the life they left, but not everything. Second, each time they repeat returning to the past they will remember less from the life they lived.

Characters:

Eli Thorne: Protagonist – Following 17 years in an unhappy marriage, and the death of his daughter, during attempting suicide he is offered the ability to return to that moment where he can change his outcome.

Ashley Thorne: Married to Eli, she’ll begin the story presented with flaws, but much will be discovered and explained.

Evelyn (Evie) Thorne – At the moment, I am beginning the story on her seventeenth birthday. This is also the day she will die, in a gruesome auto accident.

Kimberly and Bianca Bower – Listed together, because they are identical twins and best friends of Evie. Although they will be killed in the opening scene, I believe they can play an important role in the story. A challenge for me will be to develop different personalities for each.

Ana Chen – we meet her in the first chapter as the emergency room doctor, who speaks to Eli following his daughter’s death. The name could change because this character could be a bit of a changeling. She is also the one who controls the gift of returning to past lives. This is my antagonist, not considered evil or “the bad guy”, but more so the one who controls the rules/setting for those who decide to return to their past.

Can I Share More: If you made it this far, I could give you a little more info. Eli and Ashley meet while in high school, after graduation they marry and move from Atlanta to Nashville, where they attend college at Vanderbilt University. During their senior year, Ashley becomes pregnant, and Evie is born. Weeks after bringing their daughter home, Ashley reveals that she isn’t happy with the marriage. She explains reasons for not wanting to divorce, adding that her father’s lawyer could destroy him.

Eli agrees to stay with Ashley, only to be near Evie. They move back to Atlanta, where he begins working for his father-in-law and this continues until the night of Evie’s accident, and she is killed.  Shortly after the funeral, Eli plans his own death, which is halted when he can return to his youth and alter his future.

 

 

 

A Few Words on Subtext

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Creating Better Characters and Stuff

 

Hey Folks, just a quick check-in between shifts this week (working 10am to 6pm today and Friday, then chilling for five-hour days on Saturday and Sunday). No desire to talk about work – let’s ramble on writing.

Today, I want to delve a little into the world of character development, specifically how I'm upping my game with my current novel, "Gone." In the past, I confess, my characters weren't exactly...well-rounded. Take the three teenage girls in the first chapter: identical twins, Bianca and Kim, and their friend Evie. They're driving around town, celebrating Evie's birthday – what could go wrong? (Big hint: a planned accident, which you'll discover later).

Here's the thing: in my earlier works, these girls would have swapped dialogue like shuffled cards. Bianca speaks, then Kim, then Evie, with no thought to their personalities. Now, I'm creating detailed character profiles and arcs. Each girl will have distinct motivations, even if some of them remain hidden until their later "returns" (remember, this is a horror story!).

This shift from plot-driven to character-driven writing is all about reader connection. By letting my characters breathe and react authentically, I'm hoping to create a more engaging story.

Speaking of the story – you guessed it, there's more to the suicide pact than meets the eye. The real twist? Evie’s father gets a shot at reliving the day "everything changed." Yep, it's a classic "second chance" trope, but I believe I can spin it in a fresh way. Plus, the "gift" won't be limited to Eli (that’s Dad) – the girls and even the wife might get their own do-overs. Here's the kicker: these "returns" might not always be human. Imagine coming back as an eagle, a cat, or even a rattlesnake! (Maybe even a male character returning as female – the possibilities are wild!) I got to be honest – I don’t know yet where this is going.

Don’t I outline...not really my thing. I start with a loose framework, but the story often takes unexpected turns. Half the time, I don't even know the ending until I'm typing! That's where the fun twists come in (I can't resist them!).

Short thought: Everyone has a story. Don't be afraid to grab a pen and paper, or pound away at the keyboard. Even if it's a "shit draft" (I credit Hemmingway for that one – not sure) get your ideas out there. You can always revise later.

Happy writing, everyone!