Fits and starts

About a week ago I posted I was starting on act III in my story "A Far Sun," and at that time, I was. But after writing about 3,500 words of my heroes' arrival at the Library, I realized I hadn't completely thought through how they would have reconciled their available choices in the aftermath of the "big battle." So, I wrote some notes in my notebook exploring their choices, and trying to identify the pros and cons of each. Of course, there is really only one viable course of action for them (and it's what I had written in the first place—they go to the Library), but I need to let them sort that out for themselves. I am taking time out from the "action" to write a (probably) long conversation/argument/discussion amongst themselves where they try to decide what to do.

I don't know if this discussion will survive to make the final cut. It's kind of anticlimactic and slows down the building momentum right at the point it should be accelerating. But they need to hash out their options so that everyone understands what they're doing, and why. And by everyone I mean all four of my protagonists. Yeah, I call them "heroes" because that's the role they're playing.

And for those who are paying attention (both of you!) you know I've been mentioning three heroes all along. The newest one, at least temporarily, has sort of wormed his way into the story from a somewhat unexpected direction. I had long ago envisioned a love interest for my female hero Jane, and when a suitable candidate came along I simply went with the notion. Oddly enough, his personality, back story, and agenda just fell out rather naturally, so now I have him. And he's important to the plot, as well.

About the only thing that concerns me is the speed with which Jane as taken to this guy. Mere days, and she's in love. Well, she thinks she is. It's not so odd that he feels as he does; he was prepared to make that choice when he met her. I view the "love dynamic" being a little like how we picture the Victorian era. People could meet and "fall in love" almost immediately. Or so we have been led to believe. There is a feeling called love at first sight, but it's not that enduring love that develops over time. Oh well, besides that, I'm happy where my characters are at and where they're going.

So there.