I’ve mentioned a few times that The Compass Key has had more battles than the other 4 books of Legends of Windemere combined. It’s been worrisome because it feels like it isn’t me, but it works for the story. I’ve been scratching my head trying to figure out how it came to this. All the converging rivalries and subplots? The big kickoff to the major plot of the series? Well, Nyx said something in the scene I’m writing that struck me as the core of this book:
“I’m tired of all this fighting. Is this all that being a champion is about?”
This led to a question a character will ask in a later scene:
“Is a champion the person or the powers?”
It is a very good question and one that will have to be explored. I strive for character-driven stories, so this quest for identity among the 6 champions is going to be important to their growth. Nyx has already investigated it and it’s starting to dawn on Luke, so I’m heading in that direction. It might not even be the same answer for each of the heroes.
Another issue I’ve found here is that the 3 male characters are starting to merge. Nyx is going to be bringing this up to one of them. They are all showing the key traits of each other and becoming the same type. They’re supposed to be divided by reckless, wise, and patient, but each one has demonstrated the trait of the other. What happened here while I was writing? I wasn’t sure until I considered the following:
- The villains have thrown away subtlety and are simply pounding at the heroes. This has forced them to react more than think, which is why everyone is having Luke moments.
- Friends do take on the positive traits of each other if the situation allows it. So, it isn’t too odd for Luke to act wise and Timoran to act reckless since they’ve been together for a while. The constant combat is making it happen quicker.
- Most importantly: Sari has been separated from the others for the entire book. I see now why she’s so much more than the flirty, happy thief. She keeps the other characters true to themselves. Sari is quick to point out when someone isn’t acting ‘right’ and do something about it. The characters have truly suffered without her, so she’s going to have some work to do when she returns.
That’s all the revelations I’ve had today on my own book. Amazing what can happen when a character acts a single question out of nowhere.
Legends of Windemere 
Isn’t it amazing where revelations can lead you? They can completely change an idea for your story and help you figure out your plot and direction.
I’m sure that you’ll think of a brilliant idea for book 5 and if it does lead to fighting maybe it’s for the best. It may give the book a good kick or twist.
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I’m going to be done writing book 5 in two weeks. 2 and a half chapters left to go. The fighting can’t be avoided given the plot. I’m just hoping the characters coming to this realization near the end of the story is enough to cushion it. I think one character is starting to get PTSD, but is calling it battle fatigue.
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2 1/2 chapters left eh sounds like you’ve got it pretty well figured out.
I think that you could cushion this realizations for the characters.
The PTSD sounds like it could be something good to put in with your next book like an issue that the character will have to over come, but struggle with.
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I’m not sure how I’m going to pull it off. I’m leery of using a disorder that I know nothing about. The other books are not as battle-crazed, so I don’t know if I have to worry as much. I already have one character trying to deal with the fact that he killed his first humanoid character and he doesn’t really care.
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Well you could always do research. You might find it fascinating. I’m in the early stages of writing a screenplay about a transgender boy, and have been doing research that has taught me a lot about what transgender guys go through.
You could learn a lot about PTSD and I’d start with maybe some google searches. I’ll bet you’ll find out a lot through the internet alone. Not to mention books on the subject too.
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Yeah. I just have to decide if I want to go through with it. PTSD is a very heavy topic for a fun adventure series. The character is slated for a breaking of confidence and identity in a few books too, so I might time it into that. At least a tiredness of fighting type of thing.
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That could work if you do decide to go that road, but perhaps you’re right it might be too heavy for an adventure series.
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Yeah. The fun of a series is you just have to see what happens.
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Very true
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I love the way a story moves once you’ve created a world and characters that take on a life of their own. They raise new questions and dilemas that you’d never thought of before… the bad guys can become good, ambitions can change, moral choices take you in unforseen directions… and yup, soemtimes it’s a challenge to find the right way out!
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I’m liking how this scene is playing out with the characters worried about all the battles. It seems to justify all of them and shows that there is a downside to a battle heavy adventure.
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One of the things that I love most about being an author is connecting with like minded people – who else could read this piece and completely understand it? We talk about our characters as if they are real people and unless you are an author, I think you totally miss that point. Excellent discussion. 🙂
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I’ve noticed that. There are times I’ll try to explain to a non-author how a character messed up a scene and they always say ‘then don’t let them’. As if it would be that easy. Characters have a personality too and you have to stay true to them. Even if they make a part of the previous scene pointless because a bad guy says the wrong thing to them, so they wipe the floor with everyone and removes the big debut of a cool weapon. Nyx is being a problem today.
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Oh dear, I hope she sorts herself out soon! (She is a she isn’t she?? I think I read that in one of your other posts…)
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Nyx is the character from my second book’s cover. As far as her sorting herself out, I have no idea. It’s not so much her sorting herself out. It’s me figuring out if there’s a way to write the scene without her losing her temper and becoming a one woman wrecking crew on the bad guys. So far, her ally is designated to cheerleader unless he wants to get himself killed.
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Hmmm – tricky. Happy pondering.. 🙂
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I did the best I could with it. Thanks. At least Nyx came off like an unstoppable force of nature.
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I find it intriguing that we start the words off and they end up taking the writer on the journey.
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It’s a lot of fun. Also frustrating at times.
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Couldn’t agree more.
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