3 May 2008
Character musings; writings in progress
Posted by Denise Kendrick under: My Brother's Keeper; writing .
Dex did something very nice for Malik last night. I was quite in love with him for a moment, and I thought to myself, “This story might actually work!”
RD and I have been turning a short story set in the future of the My Brother’s Keeper universe, Ciaran’s Gift, into a novel. When we first wrote the story, I thought it was a lovely sort of coda for Ciaran and Malik, showing how they were together a year later and resolving a few last threads in their relationship.
But then it was kindly suggested to us by someone who had graciously read all of the My Brother’s Keeper stories, that we were missing an opportunity if we did not write a full third book. Personally, I believe she was just in love with Malik and wanted to see him angst more, as she concluded her recommendation by suggesting that such a story would begin right after My Brother’s Keeper and be from Malik’s point of view.
Now, Ciaran’s Gift was a very Ciaran-oriented story, although not strictly from his point of view, and these comments immediately sent him sulking into a corner, muttering, “Why does everyone like Malik best?”
Of course, the answer is simple. Malik is more beautiful when he’s miserable. He’s uncertain. He bites at the corners of his thumbs anxiously.
Ciaran did not take this answer well, as he is very private and must angst in a more dignified fashion, at least attempting to solve his own problems.
So when it came time to decide who would benefit most from the hurt end of a hurt/comfort scenario, there was no question. Poor Ciaran. And yet he still ended up being the one to comfort Malik.
At any rate, RD and I are well into the story now, although I continue to wonder if it is meant to be. It is odd to be so in the dark about my own story. Usually, I have a clue as to what’s going on, but with this one, each day we write something and have it revealed to us, and say, ‘oh! so that’s how it’s going to happen.’ I hope the universe knows the rest of it, since I sure don’t.
We’re also trying out a new co-writing format that makes collaborative use of google docs and writeboards. I think it’ll be a good system when we get to the editing portion of the process but it does prevent me from obsessively checking the word count. A futile game, I know, as the story ends when the story ends, regardless of word count. But I can’t help my curiosity.
As with My Brother’s Keeper, we’re ending up with a number of cut scenes between Dex and Dashi that relate to the plot but won’t be used because we’re not using their points of view. I think someday they will have to have a story as well, if only so Dashi can show off his collection of jeweled butt plugs to the masses.
I can see it now, he can have his own series of short pieces, each with a different colored butt plug on the cover. A is for Amethyst and Addled Aspirations. T is for Topaz and Titillating Transmutations. E is for Emerald and Egregious… er… Excavations? Ah well, or something like that.
2 Comments so far...
RD Solange Says:
3 May 2008 at 12:54 am.
Argh. I do so want there to be a lovely focus on Ci. He’s been so beautifully patient and I am quite fascinated by his evolution in Ci’s Gift. I think the H/C we have currently will be a good opportunity. I will promise to have a stern talk to Mal. Fingers will be waggled.
Calvin Says:
5 May 2008 at 2:29 am.
Egregious Escapades? Egregious Entaglements? Heh I think I like this series already!
