A Mid-June Reflection on Mr. Ian Woon
seconds_asunder and I know that seconds_asunder is already writing one as we speak. I will just have to assume that when this shows up on her f-list, she reads it.
( what to do when you're characters run away with everything you intended them to be, sell their character traits half-price at the nearest pawn shop and run naked through the streets before returning to you, dressed like a stranger and speaking in an unfamiliar accent. )
( what to do when you're characters run away with everything you intended them to be, sell their character traits half-price at the nearest pawn shop and run naked through the streets before returning to you, dressed like a stranger and speaking in an unfamiliar accent. )
The set-up for both plots, for me would be a discussion of Colyn beginning the novel the way you envisioned him: older, together, protective, and evolving over the next few years to realize that he does not, in fact, have his shit together. This is sort of where I see the story going as is right now. The difference between plot A and plot B for me is the respective evolutions of Colyn and Soron's characters. Because right now it seems like they are two men who genuinely love one another, but Soron is trying to hold together their relationship and Colyn is falling apart and unable to trust him. To resolve both his character and the relationship, I offer:
A: Colyn fails
B: Colyn succeeds
By fails, I mean is unable to overcome the pressure of his own past and learn to love Soron and somewhat trust the rest of the garden. In this plot line they would probably break up, or have the most disjointed and abusive relationship known to mankind. That part depends on Soron's development and whether or not he is strong enough to divest himself of a poisonous relationship.
And by succeeds, I mean seeks the help of a Soron who has to mature to the point of realizing how poisonous their relationship has become and being willing to help Colyn work through it. Colyn in turn needs to be strong enough to face his demons and lay them to rest.
For this second plot (which I personally like better. The Garden needs more functioning relationships) to work at all, Colyn's drama needs to be controlled, but extreme enough to give the desired effects, and he needs the will or incentive to overcome them. I think this can be done, but you and seconds will need to get together and decide how Colyn and Soron are in their relationship and how they evolve as people, especially as Soron enters real adulthood and begins to mature into his own person.
I know that Colyn is distrustful by nature, but I really think that by the end of the novel what he needs to realize is that if he wants the things in his life that make him most happy to stay there, he needs to open up a little bit, and if he wants Soron to stay, he needs to be able to love him.
Just my personal opinion love, take it as you will.
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The whole thing has just seemed massively jumbled and convoluted too because we haven't really had any chronology to all this, but I think it'll get better. It probably won't be in the least bit recognizable when I'm done, but I think we'll end up with option B.
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And what I hate in their relationship is the distance mostly. I think I would be fine with their arguments if I knew that deep down the both loved and trusted one another, because I don't think either man's nature is going to lend itself to a smooth, rose-scented relationship, but the idea of nothing but pain and despair coming from a physically abusive relationship (ideally them at their worst, or damn close) is what turns me off their later shenanigans.
It does make sense that as they grow and develop their relationship exits the honeymoon stage, but logically if it's going to last, it needs to stabilize sooner or later.
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