Trust Simon to come along in Chapter 8 and (I say this with tongue slightly in cheek) side step the assignment entirely to, instead, throw in some social commentary wrapped in meta-analysis, further wrapped up in an enigmatic (but appealing) character who may be slightly insane, or may be a fantasy diety hanging out on the edges of this Sci-fi/Spy-thriller story writing the damned thing!
Bravo you clever-clever man!
Good luck to the the next two writers who need to find some way up finding some kind of closure. Especially as there are a whole bunch of implications about the protest that haven't been explored yet. No! Don't do that! We've already got something like ten major characters and at least five factions in eight chapters with only Dawn being "just" a "normal" person. Unfortunately the next two writers need to buckle up and commit to working for an ending. Structurally, Simon is the last person who gets to wildly branch out, or this project is gonna have an unsatisfying conclusion.
Boy, Chapter 10 is gonna be a bitch to write. My sympathies to the author.
Unless a meteor just hits the planet and kills everyone. With the Sci-fi subplot that could actually happen!
Simon, do a detect a slight whiff of either "Midnight Nation," or "Lakebridge: Spring" in your conscious or subconscious influence? As you're a JMS fan and comic reader I find it highly likely you've read "Midnight Nation." While I've recommended Natasha Troop's "Lakebridge" novels to you, I don't know if you've read them, but there are slight tonal and structural similarities here to the "Silver Knight" in that series - only in that the Knight is a homeless person with special sight who does get to make some meta observations. Tasha's Knight, however does stand revealed as a true supernatural guardian in the end.
Good spot! Yes, the 'invisible homeless person' is definitely inspired by Midnight Nation. Although, of course, it's also unfortunately inspired by the real world, as was JMS when writing MN. Incidentally, MD was I think the first JMS comic I read, and I found it quite captivating. Might be due a re-read - haven't read it for at least a decade.
I had initially hoped with my chapter to start pulling threads together, but I ended up going down this semi-meta route instead. My thinking was that this chapter does at least give the last two writers an 'out' of sorts. Not in an "it was all a dream!" way, but a method of sorts to align the quite wild trajectories of the different story points. I'm sure they'll come up with some cool stuff!
Thanks! I was rather pleased with myself when I wrote that line, I have to say. To the extent that I almost removed it, because I was worried readers would be able to hear the echoes of me patting myself on the back.
You did a fantastic job with this, Simon. These stories are all so spectacular! I love your take on it as well because it leaves a lot open for interpretation. Your chronicler has given us a meta peak behind the curtain.
Thanks, Brian! I wasn't sure whether that slightly meta pull back would work. There was a strong chance it could just be annoying! Hopefully rooting it in a legit character makes it engaging rather than indulgent.
Trust Simon to come along in Chapter 8 and (I say this with tongue slightly in cheek) side step the assignment entirely to, instead, throw in some social commentary wrapped in meta-analysis, further wrapped up in an enigmatic (but appealing) character who may be slightly insane, or may be a fantasy diety hanging out on the edges of this Sci-fi/Spy-thriller story writing the damned thing!
Bravo you clever-clever man!
Good luck to the the next two writers who need to find some way up finding some kind of closure. Especially as there are a whole bunch of implications about the protest that haven't been explored yet. No! Don't do that! We've already got something like ten major characters and at least five factions in eight chapters with only Dawn being "just" a "normal" person. Unfortunately the next two writers need to buckle up and commit to working for an ending. Structurally, Simon is the last person who gets to wildly branch out, or this project is gonna have an unsatisfying conclusion.
Boy, Chapter 10 is gonna be a bitch to write. My sympathies to the author.
Unless a meteor just hits the planet and kills everyone. With the Sci-fi subplot that could actually happen!
Simon, do a detect a slight whiff of either "Midnight Nation," or "Lakebridge: Spring" in your conscious or subconscious influence? As you're a JMS fan and comic reader I find it highly likely you've read "Midnight Nation." While I've recommended Natasha Troop's "Lakebridge" novels to you, I don't know if you've read them, but there are slight tonal and structural similarities here to the "Silver Knight" in that series - only in that the Knight is a homeless person with special sight who does get to make some meta observations. Tasha's Knight, however does stand revealed as a true supernatural guardian in the end.
Good spot! Yes, the 'invisible homeless person' is definitely inspired by Midnight Nation. Although, of course, it's also unfortunately inspired by the real world, as was JMS when writing MN. Incidentally, MD was I think the first JMS comic I read, and I found it quite captivating. Might be due a re-read - haven't read it for at least a decade.
I had initially hoped with my chapter to start pulling threads together, but I ended up going down this semi-meta route instead. My thinking was that this chapter does at least give the last two writers an 'out' of sorts. Not in an "it was all a dream!" way, but a method of sorts to align the quite wild trajectories of the different story points. I'm sure they'll come up with some cool stuff!
"Humans chasing their own tales." Brilliant line.
Very nice addition to the challenge. One of my favorites so far.
Thanks! I was rather pleased with myself when I wrote that line, I have to say. To the extent that I almost removed it, because I was worried readers would be able to hear the echoes of me patting myself on the back.
Secrets. Unseen. Unwanted. Unreality. Well done, Simon. I love that the narrator captures observations in a notebook.
Thanks, Amie!
That was damn good. I can’t imagine what it felt like to write that.
Thanks, Cody! It was a lot of fun trying to crack the code of the installments that had come from the other writers already.
I must say, your protagonist has the best outlook on life so far. Really dug this, Simon. Very well done.
Thanks, Meg! So many different angles to potentially explore, it was hard to pin down where to focus.
You did a fantastic job with this, Simon. These stories are all so spectacular! I love your take on it as well because it leaves a lot open for interpretation. Your chronicler has given us a meta peak behind the curtain.
Thanks, Brian! I wasn't sure whether that slightly meta pull back would work. There was a strong chance it could just be annoying! Hopefully rooting it in a legit character makes it engaging rather than indulgent.
Great idea, homeless people being invisible. Loved the ending.
Thanks! There's an old comic by J Michael Straczynski called Midnight Nation which explores the idea in more depth. Well worth a read.
Simon! Haha! I loved this! Yes, it was very fun to read!
Thanks, Wil!