My Paticular Kink
For reasons that I’m not sure I could ever full explain - or for that matter, ever want to understand - my stories seem to focus on the abduction of one or more of my characters. Usually JD. And generally in the opening sequence. Does this make me a one-trick pony? And if so, is that a bad thing? Provided I do it well?
For instance, in the story “Build Me a Son,” I open with a motorcycle being pursued by two menacing town cars. They eventually capture the rider, JD. This motif appears again in the work in progress affectionately labeled “Alley Cat.” The curtain rises on an injured JD racing through the back allies of Denver trying to escape the men hunting him. He is, predictably, collected. Of my other works in progress,
Another thing that I repeat over and over in my stories is isolating the characters. I think this is a by-product of my chosen fandom. With seven leads, it can be dizzying to keep track of all the players. And very easy to forget to include someone. Even when you’ve already written them into the scene. I don’t know how the scriptwriters managed to do it on a weekly basis. Although, if memory serves, they didn’t always manage. Which is how you ended up with episodes that were scewed heavily toward some characters over others. In this respect, Nathan and Josiah got screwed. A lot.
So, if you know that you enjoy writing a certain plot, is it bad to return to it? Time and time again? Like a well worn security blanket. Or is this taking the coward’s way out? Never stretching my writing skills and imagination beyond this one plotline? Familiar friend that it may be.
It’s the same story that sets my heart racing on the small screen. But would I want an entire series of nothing but the same set-up? No. Am I likely to ever write an entire series? Decidedly, no.
So for now… I think I’ll stick with what I write well. After all, I’m barely free the clutches of the Dread Writers Block. And it would not do to test the loyalties of those allies that I still have.
For instance, in the story “Build Me a Son,” I open with a motorcycle being pursued by two menacing town cars. They eventually capture the rider, JD. This motif appears again in the work in progress affectionately labeled “Alley Cat.” The curtain rises on an injured JD racing through the back allies of Denver trying to escape the men hunting him. He is, predictably, collected. Of my other works in progress,
Another thing that I repeat over and over in my stories is isolating the characters. I think this is a by-product of my chosen fandom. With seven leads, it can be dizzying to keep track of all the players. And very easy to forget to include someone. Even when you’ve already written them into the scene. I don’t know how the scriptwriters managed to do it on a weekly basis. Although, if memory serves, they didn’t always manage. Which is how you ended up with episodes that were scewed heavily toward some characters over others. In this respect, Nathan and Josiah got screwed. A lot.
So, if you know that you enjoy writing a certain plot, is it bad to return to it? Time and time again? Like a well worn security blanket. Or is this taking the coward’s way out? Never stretching my writing skills and imagination beyond this one plotline? Familiar friend that it may be.
It’s the same story that sets my heart racing on the small screen. But would I want an entire series of nothing but the same set-up? No. Am I likely to ever write an entire series? Decidedly, no.
So for now… I think I’ll stick with what I write well. After all, I’m barely free the clutches of the Dread Writers Block. And it would not do to test the loyalties of those allies that I still have.