Barney’s religious obsession with two women who he feels “fell from grace” is a bit ominous. And I on Marissa, I can’t help but hope she chooses herself. Just in my real life, when someone I dated was clearly not interested in investing his time with me, our relationship ended—thankfully before we could be married. Because I’d have said yes. I felt gratitude to the person I dated next because if not, I feel, for their presence couple of months before, I’d possibly have been trapped by someone who was not for me. Things work and don’t work when they are for us / not for us. Barney’s desire to control people who aren’t real to him is mirrored in a way—and Marissa’s pain is familiar…when we experience the cognitive dissonance of the reality we believed is real is sharply contrasted with the one that occurs. I have learned to keep my grasp on reality loose for this reason. So I have the room to pivot at a moment’s notice.
All that to say is that your characters are relatable. And I hope they end up happy. Or rather—I hope they all get the ending they deserve based on the story. I love psychological thrillers but I love when love wins and the MCs who have been pushing for something real are able to solve a mystery and come out happy. I know. I’m a sucker. I was the one born the minute I was. Haha
Amy, thanks so much for reading and giving your interpretation. It's interesting how we become invested in characters in a story. I like the psychological thriller aspect. It is a phycological thriller, and I need to mention that when I share it.
Why people do what they do has always fascinated me and making those actions come alive in the characters is part of the fun.
There are many plot twists and turns ahead...stay tuned.
I saw it as a psychological thriller right away. Style wise, you capture the ominous aspect of the unknown that’s essential for a PT. And then you have multiple threads that are being woven. And plenty of misdirection. We are also only getting one side of a few POVs. I love the detective as the neutral narrative voice. I would expect all of these plot lines to weave together by the end. It all comes out in the end.
That’s an ambitious endeavor. But you inspired me to revise my own attempt at a serial WIP on here. I also may not be able to recover this account on desktop given I am a technidiot, so I will be trying to follow my faves like you from @insouciantennui.
I’m also interested in people. I had an additional thought—Marissa’s husband—I have to wonder what’s in his mind…why doesn’t he admit to his wife that he wants out? I know people have a million reasons and it goes back into many areas of life, how we show up, but it reminds me a little of Nick in Gone Girl who did cheat and enrage his wife and I love the way you’re on one team or another depending on whose story you get—and both are true and real. There are always two sides. And in telling our version, we end up creating an antagonist or whatever out of the other depending on how we feel. I have an ex who chose villain in my story and the actions IRL reflect that, so, that’s the story I have in my life. But I know when we have been hurt, we end up seeing ourselves as blameless. I have done this.
Memoir and creative nonfiction are my genres—and they should come with a warning label. Like yes, you can tell your truth, but some people may not be able to control their reactions to it if they see themselves reflected in something they don’t like. And I can control myself but not the other characters in my life…so, these are things I plan to teach other writers, so they don’t bring fire and brimstone onto their lives…unless they want to take the insane risks I have to achieve outcomes…like all of these amazing lessons, sharper sixth sense, no shame, and the story idea of a lifetime…and a strategy for starting over.
I’ve always seen starting over as an opportunity. You get to do it better with more awareness the next go. And the things that fall away along the way naturally by virtue of course, such as my Facebook account, has been a blessing I’d never have given myself if not for the situation.
So, I know these characters are going to show us a lot about ourselves in how they act on the page.
Looking forward to next chapters . Love the story . Hugs and peace to you and family
Thanks so much, Mitch! I truly appreciate your support. I hope all is well
There are some days I am just fair ,others i am not even fair .Today i could finally read this so i did . Hugs and peace to you and family
So sorry, Mitch. I hope you feel better
I look forward to these chapters every weekend! 😊
Thanks so much, Darcy!
Great writing Jane 👏🏼
Thanks so much!
Barney’s religious obsession with two women who he feels “fell from grace” is a bit ominous. And I on Marissa, I can’t help but hope she chooses herself. Just in my real life, when someone I dated was clearly not interested in investing his time with me, our relationship ended—thankfully before we could be married. Because I’d have said yes. I felt gratitude to the person I dated next because if not, I feel, for their presence couple of months before, I’d possibly have been trapped by someone who was not for me. Things work and don’t work when they are for us / not for us. Barney’s desire to control people who aren’t real to him is mirrored in a way—and Marissa’s pain is familiar…when we experience the cognitive dissonance of the reality we believed is real is sharply contrasted with the one that occurs. I have learned to keep my grasp on reality loose for this reason. So I have the room to pivot at a moment’s notice.
All that to say is that your characters are relatable. And I hope they end up happy. Or rather—I hope they all get the ending they deserve based on the story. I love psychological thrillers but I love when love wins and the MCs who have been pushing for something real are able to solve a mystery and come out happy. I know. I’m a sucker. I was the one born the minute I was. Haha
Amy, thanks so much for reading and giving your interpretation. It's interesting how we become invested in characters in a story. I like the psychological thriller aspect. It is a phycological thriller, and I need to mention that when I share it.
Why people do what they do has always fascinated me and making those actions come alive in the characters is part of the fun.
There are many plot twists and turns ahead...stay tuned.
I saw it as a psychological thriller right away. Style wise, you capture the ominous aspect of the unknown that’s essential for a PT. And then you have multiple threads that are being woven. And plenty of misdirection. We are also only getting one side of a few POVs. I love the detective as the neutral narrative voice. I would expect all of these plot lines to weave together by the end. It all comes out in the end.
Thanks so much, Amy! There are a total of 40 chapters so much ahead. Stay tuned
That’s an ambitious endeavor. But you inspired me to revise my own attempt at a serial WIP on here. I also may not be able to recover this account on desktop given I am a technidiot, so I will be trying to follow my faves like you from @insouciantennui.
Thanks so much! This is in its second draft now; my husband is my editor.
I’m also interested in people. I had an additional thought—Marissa’s husband—I have to wonder what’s in his mind…why doesn’t he admit to his wife that he wants out? I know people have a million reasons and it goes back into many areas of life, how we show up, but it reminds me a little of Nick in Gone Girl who did cheat and enrage his wife and I love the way you’re on one team or another depending on whose story you get—and both are true and real. There are always two sides. And in telling our version, we end up creating an antagonist or whatever out of the other depending on how we feel. I have an ex who chose villain in my story and the actions IRL reflect that, so, that’s the story I have in my life. But I know when we have been hurt, we end up seeing ourselves as blameless. I have done this.
Memoir and creative nonfiction are my genres—and they should come with a warning label. Like yes, you can tell your truth, but some people may not be able to control their reactions to it if they see themselves reflected in something they don’t like. And I can control myself but not the other characters in my life…so, these are things I plan to teach other writers, so they don’t bring fire and brimstone onto their lives…unless they want to take the insane risks I have to achieve outcomes…like all of these amazing lessons, sharper sixth sense, no shame, and the story idea of a lifetime…and a strategy for starting over.
I’ve always seen starting over as an opportunity. You get to do it better with more awareness the next go. And the things that fall away along the way naturally by virtue of course, such as my Facebook account, has been a blessing I’d never have given myself if not for the situation.
So, I know these characters are going to show us a lot about ourselves in how they act on the page.
I never saw Gone Girl. I'll have to watch it now