I am proud to say,
I HAVE A PLOT.
Where: "Roe" - my own small town creation
When: present day
The town of Roe is divided (conflict) when two of its sons--All-American Good Boy and Countercultural Rebel--are killed in a car accident while traveling together (catalyst).
Readers experience the Roe tragedy through the eyes of Protagonist (female), Rebel's sister, who is also married to Good Boy's cousin (conflict).
I haven't decided on what crystalized the catalyst: animal in the road, another driver, kid throwing rocks from the treeline. I haven't worked out whether I want to
neutralize the cause, or
demonize it--whether I want to
humanize the cause, or
objectify it--whether I want to reveal the catalyst at all, or maintain its anonymity.
What I decide on will be determined by how much weight I want the cause to hold in contrast to the town's reaction.
Neutralization = "It could happen to anyone."
Demonization = Characters become victims of a villain.
Humanization = The cause can be
understood.
Objectification = The cause can be opposed.
Revelation = Reader carries burden of knowledge, and plot must gratify.
Anonymity = Story carries burden of revelation, and plost must gratify.
I suppose the plot must gratify any way you slice it. But these are the questions I'll be chewing on over the next few days. I've
got to resolve this issue. I
cannot go into November with a flaky catalyst. The way I write, the rest of the story's credibility and SOME sense of unity (I tend to forget...this IS Nanowrimo; there's not SUPPOSED to be any unity) depends on it.
But the bigger and more pressing question: Do I REALLY have the brain resources to tend to this FREAKING question of catalyst??? And if not, WHY am I punishing myself???
Papering the college tomorrow for
Nanowrimo, and then schmoozing at Cafe Cottage with Sister to try to net some participants. If anything, we'll get to sit in a disgustingly hip atmosphere, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, talk story, and makes stupid jokes for a couple hours. Much better than stressing at home.
[_]o
