NoL updates and thoughts
So I resumed working on part three of TNoL and I remember why I put it down in the first place.
It's fucking hard.
I think the problem with this story is that it wasn't meant to have much of a plot to it. It was an exercise in voice and style. Then, somehow, it spiraled into one (sort of) and wrapping that up within the framework of the boys' stream of consciousness is making me want to throw my laptop out the window. Brick, in particular, is quite tricky considering most of the plot points have to be resolved to a certain degree and his interaction with his ghosts are very literally yet not? I'm struggling on how much of reality I can blend into his 'inner reality' and have it be vaguely cohesive.
By far, Butch's chapter is my favorite. It's the one that remained the most true to my original concept of the story and I feel like the flow was pretty seamless between present and past (How did I do that? I need to get that power back). Back when I had a beta, she commented on how she struggled with this version of Butch because he's so unsympathetic and rather despicable. She was concerned that it would alienate the readers from him. It was great to hear that from her because none of the boys are supposed to be sympathetic. Or rather, they're not supposed to be likeable. They have their moments where the reader can connect with their struggles and such, but it doesn't negate the fact that they are brutal assholes and are responsible for some really terrible things (hence, the M rating and horror/tragedy genre).
The whole point of NoL is that they all experienced loss and are haunted by it, but at the same time, they are responsible for it. And the thing about loss is, you can't get it back.
It's fucking hard.
I think the problem with this story is that it wasn't meant to have much of a plot to it. It was an exercise in voice and style. Then, somehow, it spiraled into one (sort of) and wrapping that up within the framework of the boys' stream of consciousness is making me want to throw my laptop out the window. Brick, in particular, is quite tricky considering most of the plot points have to be resolved to a certain degree and his interaction with his ghosts are very literally yet not? I'm struggling on how much of reality I can blend into his 'inner reality' and have it be vaguely cohesive.
By far, Butch's chapter is my favorite. It's the one that remained the most true to my original concept of the story and I feel like the flow was pretty seamless between present and past (How did I do that? I need to get that power back). Back when I had a beta, she commented on how she struggled with this version of Butch because he's so unsympathetic and rather despicable. She was concerned that it would alienate the readers from him. It was great to hear that from her because none of the boys are supposed to be sympathetic. Or rather, they're not supposed to be likeable. They have their moments where the reader can connect with their struggles and such, but it doesn't negate the fact that they are brutal assholes and are responsible for some really terrible things (hence, the M rating and horror/tragedy genre).
The whole point of NoL is that they all experienced loss and are haunted by it, but at the same time, they are responsible for it. And the thing about loss is, you can't get it back.