Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 2 Question 2

Crossroads: An Author Self-Interrogation Chapter 2

2). How much does your protagonist want this thing?

Zy wants to please Murdock very much. After all, he could have turned around and left her on Earth. She owes her career and her escape to him, and feels that is something she could never pay back.

Is this the most crucial need, or close to it, that this character has ever experienced?

She has never had someone filling this parental role so close to her before. And after the killer makes attacks on her, capturing him to protect Mylte and Xeryl becomes more important. Because the killings are accelerating, it's only a metter of time before he starts killing anyone regardless of their criminal background.

Does the reader, in fact, recognize that this character has a life before and beyond this story in order to be able to make this judgement?

I refer to her recent past life a bit. Previous cases, life on Earth. The future is trickier. I haven't visualizied as many plot points for a series.

Will the reader be able to identify with your character's feeling of crisis when it comes to this desire?

Well, the hunt for the killer is going to be stated plainly. Zy's need to please Murdock I'm going to leave as unstated character motivation.

Have you adequately presented and communicated that atmosphere of urgency?

I hope so, but I don't know yet.

If not, how, specifically (in scenes, action, dialogue), can you turn up the story heat on the intensity of his desire?

Coming up is Mylte's surprise intro. Have one trap planned that will end with the killer attacking Zy and getting away. A second trap that is also avoided. Another attack though not the killer attacking personally. Zy has to go back undercover in order to protect Xeryl. The climax attack. Along with the standand red herrings and dead ends in the hunt.

Read Free!
The BookWorm

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