Chapter 16 and Handfasting Plans...
I'd say I'm about 40% of the way through chapter 16 of TRD (as yet untitled), and will continue to work on it this afternoon and tomorrow. I won't spoil it for you, but it's coming along very nicely...the characters are cooperating again, and though what I'm writing now is somewhat different than my outline dictates, I know better than to argue. If the story wants to drive itself for a while, I'll let it.
I spent most of yesterday evening laying plans for Phoebe and Cole's handfasting--a somewhat difficult scene, as I want to satisfy everyone who's reading for the romance without degenerating into oversentimentality. I have some experience with ritual design, but still must have gone over at least fifty different examples (yes, I enjoy research. How could you tell?).
In the end, I removed the religious elements--i.e., the invocation of the God and Goddess--from the proceedings, as Charmed went to great pains not to involve any theology. I did, however, include the invocation of the Elements, which I felt was a reasonable compromise. (Oh, and by the way, I'm extremely pleased with how their vows came out. They took some time, but the result, I feel, is well worth it.)
I spent most of yesterday evening laying plans for Phoebe and Cole's handfasting--a somewhat difficult scene, as I want to satisfy everyone who's reading for the romance without degenerating into oversentimentality. I have some experience with ritual design, but still must have gone over at least fifty different examples (yes, I enjoy research. How could you tell?).
In the end, I removed the religious elements--i.e., the invocation of the God and Goddess--from the proceedings, as Charmed went to great pains not to involve any theology. I did, however, include the invocation of the Elements, which I felt was a reasonable compromise. (Oh, and by the way, I'm extremely pleased with how their vows came out. They took some time, but the result, I feel, is well worth it.)