Do I or don’t I? In some areas The Bastard Line is developing to be more vicious than anywhere in the previous two books – it has more calculated cruelty and violence in the story – more blood, more death – The main thread was always certain, it just needed to be written and linked together in appropriate detail and order (yes, with some of that savagery), however a secondary thread, which is Va’el’s side of the story, had to be created from scratch and proved trickier than I anticipated, for reasons I didn’t expect – mainly because of the blood.
His age is a concern. How rough can you get with a kid? Yet, let’s be clear here, I don’t write children’s books and you always knew that once we got into Khekarian territory, things were not going to be so nice. This story is most definitely meant for adults. I had to give Va’el something more than a kiddies’ adventure and it had to be something fitting for the character, his future and the history and nature of Khekarian society.
What I have ahead for him is actually something pretty nasty, and I don’t mean Sevi. Given his age (ten), I’m not sure I should go there, but I’ve decided to push ahead anyway because the event has done a strange thing to his nature. Primarily, it will be what transforms him from spoilt-brat boy to eventual villainous adult, but along the way it opens him up a bit to sensitivity you don’t really expect to find in this sort of character. It also paves the way for connections with future ramification.
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This means I’m running with it, whether it’s too graphic or not. The trouble with realism, though, is that you sometimes bump into the Uh-oh of consequences. That means, I’m bound to offend some people. All I can do is remind readers that Va’el is from Khekarian society which is much harsher than most of our own.
The Bastard Line is the third book in the Khekarian series. It’s not ready yet, but it’s well on its way and so far is looking good.
Cheers! 😀
Allyson
Bloodstone Sci Fi 
I love your honesty about taking risks as a writer. Those crossroads of do I or don’t I , can be tricky to pass through. The beauty is your instinct does indeed kick in and sometimes our instincts will tell us when to override the direction the story wants to go if that terrain is far to rocky for our readers to traverse. We, as writers, do write for ourselves first, but sometimes we have that little itch that tells us to consider the reader. In the end I believe we make the right choices, for ourselves, our characters and for our readers. That being said, press on! And remember if things get to “messy” they are nothing a good revision can’t work out 😉
Hi Candice – I love that. Yes, it can always be undone and I shall bear that in mind. Meanwhile, I’m writing the scenes with HUGE care, as you can imagine. It’s extra tricky for dealing with kids. That said, I remember listening to a producer of a horror movie that depicted the death of a family, including the kid (about 4, I think). He said he did that for all the kids out there who (as he did as a kid) HATE it when children always escape in movies. That stuck in my mind because I always felt that way myself. 😀
If my Official Reader (Greg – my husband) finds it too gruesome then I shall rework it as something in the background. I suspect I shall be okay with it, though.
Just read your recent post about “it” staying. Glad you were able to come to a decision so quickly. As it goes with children, I think being realistic is what is best. Children don’t always get away. That is the state of our world and our world does effect the worlds and lives of our characters. It makes things more raw and gripping I think. 😉
I was actually pretty certain before I ever posted about this, but for Va’el the ramifications have to come and they have to be based on something powerful, not sloppy or weak. He becomes what he becomes for a reason. Thank you for your words of support, they are much appreciated. 🙂
You are most welcome! I enjoy watching your process.
I like to hear that! 😀
Have you watched Game of Thrones? In the books, Joffrey is twelve at the start of the series, and I would guess he’s 12 or 13 by the time he becomes the psycho boy king from Hell.
Go with it, if only in the draft stage! You can’t get that passionate emotion that comes from writing from your gut anywhere else. Even if you back off, it’ll still color what’s left.
Thanks, Matt – what you say is so true. I am indeed going for it, there’s no other way.
YES, I’ve seen Game of Thrones. I really hope that brat meets a sticky end. 😀 Va’el is more likeable, fortunately, but he does have his moments.