tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6464382918796251124.post8770038274903523342..comments2021-05-16T13:41:12.015-04:00Comments on The Chaos Beast: The Soul Blade Chapter 22 - CommentaryScott Delahunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06735796666483741699noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6464382918796251124.post-92014687126679852442017-03-09T18:50:55.308-05:002017-03-09T18:50:55.308-05:00Could be. My approach to writing in 2009 was to f...Could be. My approach to writing in 2009 was to figure out key scenes, then aim at them until they were written, then aim at the next. The climax is set around Grace's graduation party, and I've established that Grace can't see past that point. Trish didn't hem and haw too much; I think I was still trying to figure out her next target. A random bar patron wasn't my ideal target; the one she chose, seen in Chapter 23, was meant to cause more problems. (I had a calendar in mind, yes, and I didn't want too many murders in a row.)<br /><br />I think I unconsciously realized that Brenna's friends and family weren't being helpful. The police at least were willing to listen to her, even if part of the reason was because she might slip up and provide a detail that only the killer could know. Matt returns Friday.Scott Delahunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06735796666483741699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6464382918796251124.post-60234795464444875692017-03-06T22:27:45.926-05:002017-03-06T22:27:45.926-05:00I wonder if part of the pacing issue was an acute ...I wonder if part of the pacing issue was an acute awareness of where you were going? I remember Grace bringing up her Graduation, and that there were plot designs on it. Maybe you didn't want to derail any plans you had before you got there? (I might be way off base.) It's just, even Trish is now hemming and hawing about finding someone to kill. So instead of worrying about filling in the days... have Tricia find someone at the bar the prior evening, and kill them. Have Summer call back sooner. Have Joni remember some detail of Tricia's appearance. Have something happen during the "extra day" instead of filling it with "the details", or skipping over it. (I don't know if you were working with a calendar or not, but it feels a bit like we're stalling - maybe to not have too many murders back to back? But that takes the edge off.)<br /><br />Brenna talking to the police may also be a wee bit unintentionally funny. After being told by Grace, and Krista, and (indirectly) Rae to STOP investigating... Brenna turns to the police. The people who are usually all about "stay out of the way and let us do our jobs". And (unlike Brenna's friends) they're cool with having a chat! Possibly because of her being a suspect. It's nice to see the cops are leaving no stone unturned though, even occult, and I agree that Matt shouldn't be left dangling too long.GregThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17689711881670288362noreply@blogger.com