Chapter 14 of The Aphanes is up.

[to_cry_about]

Chapter 14, Stendhal Syndrome is finished. Piotr and Bobby! James Joyce references! Epilepsy!

The last chapter and the epilogue will appear together, probably fairly soon.

Comments

[youngest_one]

Damn

[to_cry_about]

It's ironic, I think, that the Stendhal Syndrome seems to be considered an obstacle

Charles is being a little facetious there. But there is a sense in which any real epiphany comes with a cost -- there's a lot to take in, and it can be overwhelming and exhausting (just like a trip to the art galleries of Florence). His advice to go see a movie and relax is probably wise, although Joel may not take it. ;-)

I am giddy with delight that you "got" this chapter, anyway, because I posted it late last night and thought it was weak and disappointing and improbable. It looks a lot better today.

[youngest_one]

Yeah, that makes sense. The true mark of any prophecy or revelation is how much it takes out of you, I think.

I've had the experience of having abolutely no idea if what I was writing made any sense, and turning it in convinced that it was crap and terrible and no one could like it and GOD why didn't I get it done sooner. Oddly enough, I think I might have done some of my best writing while in such a state.

[talktooloose]

This chapter was marvelous. It is a great joy to watch Joel emerging as a remarkable young man and doing it in ways that no one expects. He is not being molded by any of his therapists or mentors -- he is materializing from the Aphanes of his own paralysis into vivid, passionate engagement.

Yowza.

[waterstrider]

I'm really happy to hear this. Writing recovery and redemption is a lot harder than writing destruction and misery, and this is exactly the point where I've been worried about dropping the ball.

I originally had something completely different in mind for Joel, but he's had his own ideas. The sense of engagement, though, is exactly what I wanted.