Actually Friday

It's the weekend! I'm sleeping in til noon tommorrow. Hua! (Marine corps style)

Every good work of fiction needs plot twists. If everything in a book is something we'd expect then we get bored pretty quick. But there's different types of expectations and suprises.

People don't like "What they expect" in a book because that makes the book too easy to figure out and doesn't tell them anything they don't already know.

But people do like "what they've been waiting for" in a book because if you've been building something up then you gotta let it down somehow. Don't leave 'em hanging.

People also like "what they don't expect" in a book. This gives them a sense of something new and leaves them wanting more. However, if you're twist is too unexpected then people will find it "cheap" or "random" and feel like you took the easy way out.

So, the literary sweet spot for a plot twist is:

"What they expect not to expect"

When something happens that the reader didn't see coming, but completely understands why it happened, that is the sweet spot. It's not easy to set up. The process of setting it up can often clue the reader into what is going to happen or the lack of set up can make the twist, too random. If you get it though, you're readers will love you for it.

I've been reading Stephen King's, "The Dark Tower." No sweetspots in this book yet. It's kinda random, but like I said, people do like the unexpected, just not as much as the expected unexpected. But he's been building something and I don't know what it is yet.

The ACM is still thinking about working on an augmented Pac-Man game, where you walk around with a Pac-Man helmet on and the screen shows the grid as if it was in real life. It's an interesting project, but I think it's a bit too lofty and misdirected. I was kinda hoping they'd all be working on a real computer game and I could get my hands dirty on a real programming project.

I went to ACM movie night tonight, but no one was there, maybe it got canceled.

And then...

I spent several days pirating with the crew again. During that time I looked up a necromancer to take Ash's remains to.

Necromancers aren't bad guys, and being undead isn't that bad either. You're not dead. Yes you have a craving for brains, but with a good support group and the patch you can get over that pretty quickly. Fine, think what you want, but I thought it was worth a shot.

The necromancer took the tupperware container of ashes and looked it over. He picked up the powder and rubbed it between his bony fingers. He was a gaunt fellow in a long black robe.

What'd you expect?

He stood there in contemplation for a while and then handed the box back.

"I can't resurrect her."

"Because..."

"Because she is not really dead. I'm not really sure how or why, but she's not. Trust me, I'm an expert."

"Will she ever be ali... Will she be sentient... Will she ever be humanoid again? Yea, let's go with that one, humanoid."

"She may possess the powers of the Phoenix. If so she will rise from her ashes, I assume, but I cannot tell you when."

"That's not good."

"I thought you wanted her back?"

"Yea, but I didn't expect it to happen. We kinda spent all of her share of the treasure we found."

"Change your name? Move out of the galaxy?"

"Naw, not again, this time I'm just gonna tell her and try to pay her back."

"Keep her remains with you. When she reincarnates, she will be disoriented and need someone to care for her until she recovers, probably."

"Thanks doc."

"One last thing, be careful. When she emerges, she will have the power and fiery fury of the Phoenix and only an animalistic instinct to survive."

"Like a woman scorned."

"Indeed, now if you'll excuse me, I have a skeleton army to raise in the first step of my conquering the galaxy."

"You have fun with that, you crazy necromancer."

He seemed like he was guessing. I didn't really believe him, but I was keeping the ashes with me anyway, until I could find someone who knew what they were doing.

I was busy right now. I bought a ship! A wooden spaceship designed after 17th century sailing vessels. It was in disrepair, but a few more lucrative missions and I'd have enough to get it running. I decided to head to Notmos Eisley and look for some jobs.

Until next time fellow pirates.