Oly Writer

Another 1,500 words yesterday, 3,000 total. Nearly enough words/day to finish the 50k first draft in 30 days.

Cindy has turned out to be the key to the story. It’s still Price’s story, but I can see how her antics—trying to keep Price from finding Alice—are going to be what makes the story funny. The fear of, and wanting to know what Price plans to do when he finds Alice drives the story. The gun in the knapsack he carries as he looks for Alice charges the drama. Plus, the slow revelation of what happened years ago that’s makes everyone still so mad at him. The nail biting and hypnotist report get worked in as Price reveals that Doria was responsible for getting him arrested. He starts reminiscing, little by little going back over all the reasons why he hates his sister.

I‘ve been a little worried with the contradiction in story of Price being so desperate for Alice’s forgiveness, yet apparently totally unwilling to forgive his sister. Then it occurred to me that all Price’s life he’s been constantly forgiving Doria, trying to love her, only for her to betray him on a big time, seriously adult level.

Before the story begins, Price has forgiven Doria for almost getting him thrown in prison. She made a stupid mistake (though she never apologizes, being stubbornly self-righteous). What he has come to accept, though, is that it’s okay to hate her, as one would hate evil. She is “evil” in his application of the interpretation of the word.

Doria is very smart. She’s evil because she has the ability to reason, but reasons that mastering specious evangelical sophistry is a way to terrorize and control the people in her life. Her anger with Price is that she can’t control him. The last thread of control she has is his guilt for hating her. He’s been told to him over and over again “you can’t hate your sister” by everyone except Alice. This thread is finally broken when Doria betrays him.

Well, getting late. Better get to writing.