Chapter twelve is the last chapter of Connecting. It basically shows the same scene but from two completely different viewpoints. First there is that of George’s and his shock in having killed someone who very clearly was a tyro and did not understand the game, in as much they had tried to surrender, and the other viewpoint is that of Jessie’s. The tyro who has a crush on GoD and whose only goal was to die in his arms. For her everything is incredibly romantic, and he is her hero, and this is how she interprets his looks.
The chapter is designed to develop the characters of both George and Jessie, and their relationship. It also allows me to develop Jessie’s relationship to her WallScreen. A object which is my imagination for the future of phones. Individual, private Alexa’s, that can interact almost on an AI level.
Naturally, to close the story, I have Jessie discovering a way to ‘hack’ the game. Dying in GoD’s arms obviously not enough for her.
***
It was only when I had finished the book, did I realize I had only managed to get George across level’s one and two. Which, doing the math, told me the whole story, the book of Creation, would need five parts/books to complete – which coincidentally is the same as the bible. I enjoyed that coincidence a lot, when I found it. The idea of five books was definitely not planned. But I think by now you realize none of the story has been planned. The story was always there. Out there somewhere, just waiting… (smile) I just have difficulties tuning in and hearing what is to be written. I often feel frustrated with a chapter for no reason, going round and round in circles, until finally that little something that I missed, I find.
Sounds crazy but it’s not. It’s the only way I can describe my work process.
Privately, I would say the story is brilliant – There are so many scenes that I can see visually – like part of a great movie. I am secretly sneaking in the soundtrack too, in places (smile). Unfortunately, I am a terrible translator. The story should have landed in someone else’s mind. Someone who knows how to put words down and make them flow … like something that just feels right.
That someone isn’t me. And what really doesn’t help is I honestly cannot remember everything I have written. Of course, when I re-read the chapters I remember and the inspirations for tiny details within the story come back to my mind. There is a lot of my life connected to the background of the story – not the characters but the world around them. These end up as footnotes sometimes. I have a lot of them. I do not do this because I want to appear to be clever, but first, I don’t want to steal anyone else’s idea. I’ve had that done to me, and it’s not a nice feeling. And second, the footnotes remind me of where I was in life. It is always fun to re-read the books.
And for a closing note, for those of you who have managed to get to the end of the book and this one blog – if some of my tech details, or my fantasy seems unreal… remember, it’s a book. A story. Not a prediction about the future. I have had great fun writing it, it has allowed me to face issues I have not been able to share with anyone. It has allowed me to try to show my understandings on certain emotional issues, such as bereavement, love, and youth. This does not mean they are right, but I have at least tried to make them real for my characters. All of whom are me. They are not based on people I have met but based on the many voices inside my own head.
So, does that mean I have female voices there too? No. But like every other person, I have a mother. I also have two sisters, and two daughters of my own. Again, they are not in any way like the characters of the book, but I might have used some of the moments of their time with me, to make background images for the female characters. The way the female characters think and talk… that’s all just me again.
I hope some of this has helped you understand a little bit about how I write, and how each chapter has evolved. Maybe when I finish the last book, (and I remember) I might know why I wrote the story, and what had been the real reason for writing it all.
Have fun….
Edward
