Turn of the Story, Part XI

[sarahtales]

Originally published at Sarah Rees Brennan. You can comment here or there.

I’m sorry for the delay on this! I am sick, and also I had to accept there would be another part after this. I’M A MONSTER! But I hope you enjoy.

Since I posted the last part, I’ve had the chance to talk to lots of lovely readers in person about Turn of the Story, and so this

Comments

[anonymous]

Have to admit I didn't see that one coming, though I should have. Well played, Rees Brennan. This round goes to you. (Don't think I haven't got your number on LL3, though. I shall drop by afterward to gloat about my prognosticatory powers.)

By the way, I am home visiting my mother, and she asked me twice what I was reading on my laptop this evening that had me beaming at the screen and grinning like an idiot. So far as I know, this is not ordinary reading behavior for me; at least, nobody has ever mentioned it before. Elliot, no matter how many people refuse to love you the way you want to be loved, know that you and your story are *my* absolute favorite!

Speaking of which. I am intrigued but also concerned by this late appearance of Elliot's deadbeat mom. You wouldn't bring her into the splotlight now, in the penultimate episode, in order to conclude the Turn of the Story with some kind of emotional denouement that centers Elliot's sense of parental abandonment at the expense of his quest for friendship and love, would you? It would seem a bit like turning an origin story into an epilogue. Surely you would never.

I'll just have to trust you.

*twitches nervously*

[sarahtales]

LL3 will hopefully have some surprised and some anticipated joys and pains fulfilled. ;)

I'm not sure quite what you mean by turning an origin story into an epilogue--Elliot's parents and his feelings about them have informed who he is from the start, and will be a part of the conclusion of his story, but Elliot's mom is certainly not going to become a more important character than Luke or Serene? (Plus, Luke's story following on would then be all off as regards narrative weight. ;)) But I may be misreading your concern, if so, my apologies!

I am very glad to've made you smile at your laptop. ;) Elliot, always capsizing on the love boat!

[anonymous]

Okay, that makes two of us with no idea what I am talking about!

I suppose I have assumed - perhaps erroneously! - that Wings in the Morning will involve Elliot discovering that he is chosen first by somebody. But Wings will be Luke's story, told from Luke's point of view.

It seems like it would be easy, then, for Elliot's own story to end without such a discovery. Which would be very sad :( :( :(

[sarahtales]

I'm still confused because I'm dim: how would Elliot's mother get in the way of that? Or do you fear Elliot's mother may choose him first and you'd rather someone else did?

I cannot spoil anything about happiness or sadness or who chooses Elliot or if anyone does, so I fear we are at an impasse, but I hope I will make you happiness!

Wings in the Morning has stuff for Elliot and Serene too, I promise, even though it's Luke's PoV: maybe not transformational stuff on a level with Luke's, but lots of stuff, and I hope having read Turn will give especial weight for readers to the stuff they both get. ;)

[anonymous]

I think my thought process - and it was a very silly one, now that I spell it out! - went something like this:

1) The end of a story requires some kind of emotional release;

2) much of the emotional tension in this story stems from Elliot's conviction that no one loves him, or at least that no one loves him very much;

3) oh no, what if Elliot's confrontation with his mother provides the catalyst for some kind of catharsis that satisfies requirement 1 without satisfactorily addressing 2.

Like I said, silly. Please forget I mentioned it!

[sarahtales]

Oh no, not silly at all, I understand you now. ;) And given my penchant for character torture definitely understand your apprehensions!