Friday, March 28, 2014

Characterization and Events Should Make Sense

I've been revising Killer Eyes, and editing it at the same time, making sure all POVs are correct and making sure all plot holes are filled, and that's where I've hit a snag. I touched on this slightly in a previous post, but when a writer writes a story, everything should make sense. Sure, I've seen or read many stories where the writing was lazy, and some of the things in a story did not make sense. That's not a reason to let it happen in one of my stories, however.

No, I want everything to make sense, and when someone does something, especially something major, something that takes a lot of effort and has major consequences or ramifications, then he better have a good reason for doing it. And those reasons better not be in conflict with other things he's doing at the same time. And that's where I am with Killer Eyes. I've been correcting all POV issues, doing some necessary editing, and found that I had a problem with one of the subplots.

It doesn't have to do with Trent Smith, the main character, whose quest for justice in book one, Killer of Killers, is continuing in Killer Eyes. Trent Smith is straightforward, and his beliefs and principles are never in doubt. And they always make sense. No, it has to do with a supporting character, one who is acting behind the scenes, and I can't give any more details without giving away spoilers. And since the book's not out yet, I don't want to do that.

Suffice it to say, that after the great success in the completion of Killer of Killers, and it's even more successful second edition, I want the sequel to KOK to be just as successful in terms of the story line, characterizations, and subplots that take place. I don't want anyone to say, "Well, if this guy is doing this, then why does he end up doing that? It doesn't make sense."

Since I've been revising/editing Killer Eyes, that's just what I found myself saying. And right now, I'm calling it a snag, meaning it's holding me up, preventing completion, and it has to be fixed. Either by giving that supporting character another life changing event to make it happen the way I have it happening, or changing the character to another character who is doing the particular deed in question. Sorry to sound so ambiguous. But I can't give away any spoilers. At least not yet.

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