Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah.

Okay, so I'm not up for a catchy title yet. It's been one of those weeks where I've fought the arch villain, Inner Critic, to a standstill. He keeps poking at me, reminding me I'm doing it wrong, trying to turn me to the dark side. However, there are the occasional Rays of Hope (you hear me, Ray? I Hope?) I'm getting better at hitting a rhythm when I write, and I'm getting a sense for the feel of the tale better than when I started.

I can hear the question already, though. "You mean that you didn't have a feel for the tale when you started?" I suppose explaining what I mean by feel is in order. Starting out Imperfect Hope, I had a good sense of what the overall theme would be, the importance of "Hope". However, as I write, I'm getting a better feeling of the depth of how that theme will come together. The early parts of the novel will develop the main characters, Cerryn and Randir, showing their basic 'heroic' nature, as it has developed during their normally stressful but successful heroic lives. Then, crux encounter, which will change the fortunes of the protagonists. One will face his doubts through his faith, the other's faith, and hence hope, will falter. The feel for the tale incorporates a gradually darkening of situations, the playful banter of the early tale will later be replaced with grimness from the point of view of Cerryn and Randir.

Right now, I"m working on the pre-crux tale, setting the stage for the first reversal of fortune. I've introduced the antagonists, mysterious at first, and I'm building up to their first encounter. One of them is the Lord-Admiral of the Empire's fleet. He's a sympathetic character in an unsympathetic role, much like Phorix in "Sha'te Valley". Or so I hope.

At any rate, cheer me on. Word count keeps building, I've added more scenes and I've made notes on things the (Shhh, whisper his name lest he wake up) Inner Critic has identified. I promise, I"ll work on it later, just don't wake him up!!!

Clear skies,
Jim