Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Working Out The Puzzle

 Yeah, Quick Update


United Light Revisited

One of the things, and I think we can all agree, about United Light that always struck me was the length of the chapters I think it really shows how invested Shawna was in the characters and the story. Even though I know it ends it seems when reading it that it would make a great TV show. I don't know Shawna we are in LA !

Chapter 4

This Chapter was inspired by actual Freighter Cruises. This link was the inspirational voyage for the Maitesse. As you can imagine these cruises are quite expensive but the perfect plot device for this story.

Many of the songs helped to write along their own sections especially Life For Rent the lyrics are point on to where the character is in the story. We have a character who is general an agoraphobic and this chapter served to a be a big turning point in this, the motivation just had to take some time to set in.

Alot of people commented on the emotion in Mr. Fierro's chapters as opposed to Clara's and that is because Clara is constantly lving in the present she has had time to heal and her past is behind her.

Timelines Matter

Once again when re-reading United Light one of the things I paid attention to more was timelines. I do enjoy dabling in telling a story out of order so I thought I would sketch out the timeline as best I could.

Clara's Story is linear. Chapters 1 and 3 are told in order starting from May 2011
Mr. Fierro's Story - Is a bit more complicated. I wanted to tell what happens after the events of HOF from his POV but I didn't want to start things off that way so his first chapter (Chapter 2) takes place in May 2011 too, however he backtracks to December of 2007 and tells the story in a linear fashion from there.

It gets complicated when we try to match up what is happening to one character than another

Chapter 5

I suppose looking back I could have paired this with chapter 4, because this one is so short. I like the music in this chapter but it was more of an afterthought

Playlist

+1+ Good Night Song  - Tammy Hall
+2+ - Nothing Left To Lose - Matt Kearny

40 comments:

  1. You know with the exception of IVB I see all of the stories as TV shows, I mean that's how I visualize it but, I personally love serials because you get to turn the words into images . . . does that make sense ? lol. Lovely chapter,hon !

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  2. I love Matt Kearney--when I saw his name I knew there would be some romance.

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  3. I wanted to write how much I thought Life for Rent fit the story, I just forgot--it was so perfect. How do you find these songs ?

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  4. Someone totally called the connection between Via Garibald and Clara ! Is it weird I am actually pro- Clara and Peter, I mean he is literally a prince.

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  5. I like Peter too. I felt so bad for him at the end of LL, it seems like he really likes Clara and never really moved on with his life.

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  6. Hmm . . you mentioned some connections or patterns in the chapters. Is it something about mood swings ? Do Lucie's appearances still affect Clara in some way ?

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  7. I imagine with light skin and dark hair Rose would be a really pretty child. It was awful for Clara to want to change her.

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  8. I wish I had a job where I could take a 38 day vacation. zomg ! loving the quick updates ! ! ! !

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  9. Those tours looks so much fun ? Have you been on one ? It's kind of funny all the people in the ads are old people.

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  10. I can't imagine getting on boat and travelling for 108 days. I bet it costs like 80,000 dollars. . . I think I have new thing to add to the bucket list.

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  11. @ Lile-- I think your mom is on one of those 295 day tours.

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  12. Wow, I feel like there is so much happening in this chapter. I can't even process. I mean what is with Clara.

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  13. When there was a mention of an empty seat on the plane I was sure Clara's new love interest was going to sit next to her or something.

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  14. Is there a big signifigance in Clara watching the woman and her son on the plane ? I thought she was jealous of the mother or something similar because that woman is being a 'good' mom.

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  15. Is their something in Rose's drawings we should be looking out for ? Was she drawing Mr.F's house ?

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  16. Clara's panic attack in the plain was scary. I though she was going to see Lucie.

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  17. I have to say I was a little more than a little upset with Clara's thoughts about hurting her daughter, it was just so twisted and horrible.

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  18. I wonder what it is about Ann that she noticed was different.

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  19. I totally felt for Clara when she had that moment of not knowing where her daughter was . . . then again this seems to happen a lot to her.

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  20. These quick updates are made of win ! So many questions though : Is Rose Peter's daughter ? Why did Clara have those thoughts ? Why didn't Peter go back to his country ? What does she mean second chance ?

    Can we have an answer to atleast one !

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  21. I think the rearranging of time is really great. It makes the writing more interesting and the story flow better.

    So basically, Fierro was at Clara's grandparents 3 years ago?

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  22. Call me a sucker for the underdog but, I think Clara should be with Fierro not Peter. I think Clara and Fierro really love each other, they are willing to sacrifice so much for the other.

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  23. You aren't alone, sugarcookie ! I imagine Clara will see a photo someone took in the shop 3 years ago and see Fierro in the background or something and suddenly know he is alive . . . not to tell you how to write Lile but, it would be awesome.

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  24. strawberri_magheritaNovember 17, 2010 at 5:00 PM

    Could fickle hearts be genetic?

    Awww, I love that line for some reason. Genius.

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  25. You have played around with names a lot. Like in FS when Tomas starts referring to Sofia and Sophia.

    So, is there a reason behind when Clara calls Rose,Rose or Rosalie ?

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  26. I forgot all about Peter, I am kind of glad he is back. I'm to lazy to read back,is one of his brothers married to Clara's sister ?

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  27. My grief then began to cause me physical pain

    That was the same thing Fierro felt when Clara left the Greenhouse. I really wish she knew he was alive but, she doesn't and that is a big factor in the story. I think it is almost healthy she sees Peter as a second chance.

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  28. Assuming, LL does not become a Pentalogy there should be a series just for Peter. I would love to read a story about a prince . . . just giving ideas to keep the LILE goodness coming.

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  29. Wait, a second a toddler hits the ground and all she does is get mad and not cry. Something is not right . . .

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  30. ^^
    I think we are all suspicious of Rose but, kids are surprisingly resilient.

    I thought thier fight was particularly hard to read, it seemed so violent.

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  31. You're spoiling us with these updates, Lile can we get used to them ?

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  32. You've shouted out Shawna twice now. What's a brotha got to do to get a shout out ? (and link and mention of my new book 0 (:

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  33. ^^
    Did you just call yourself brotha ? *headesk*

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  34. So, can we assume you are working on your Italian ? Will we see some Italian in the next few chapters ?

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  35. Via Garibaldi , does that name have any meaning to it ? I like it !

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  36. In the last post you said chapter 6 was unwritten, I'm guessing there will be a lag in updates ? Noooooooo

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  37. Have you used a Mat Kearney song before ? His voice sounds so familiar.

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  38. @ Shawna - Oh, I thought books worked the same way. . . at least I find textbooks do (I'm working on one !)

    @ July - I don't know much about him. He is a bit generic but I could learn to like it.

    @ June - Well, SH reminded me how much I love Dido

    @ Carleigh - True

    @ Tabbi - I will say that at the end of LL, he did not see Clara as more than a friend.

    @ Heidi - No, I'll explain in the next post

    @ Princess A - er, no comment

    @ Ashlyn - She's not taking a vacation. I'm sure by now Clara's already been fired. . . however she doesn't really need the money.

    @ Hpgirl - No, maybe when I'm older

    @ Nybarista - My Mother does it all the time.

    @ Erik - I know right

    @ Quinn - good question

    @ Topaz - No

    @ Violeta - You are on to something

    @ SLodger - house ? No

    @ Illia - So did she

    @ Rei - I'm sorry ):

    @ Bostongirl - good question

    @ Carter - Yeah, it does

    @ angelic_spirit I'll answer the last two. Peter stayed in Rome because he works in the Embassy there and by second chance Clara is referring to her second chance at being with Peter since she had to leave the first time because of being Pregnant.

    @ Sarah - You got it

    @ sugarcookie - I never know how to respond

    @ Strawmberry_M - Yeah, me too in a sad kind of way

    @ Holly - Not really. I guess I just think like a "Mom". Though none of my kid's names are like that.

    @ Selena - No, Clara's sisters have random names.

    @ Blondie - Oh, you caught that

    @ emilelover - from what I can tell being a Prince is actually no different than being a politician. especially seeing as there is no real power for the Monarchy in Italy. They are just titles. I guess what I'm saying is the life of a prince (a non-socilate one)would be kind of boring.

    @ Harper - hm, I buy that

    @ Cherry - I suppose it was.

    @ Wilson - Maybe. NGL I'm trying to finish writing the 'missing pieces' in November

    @ Eirk - OMG, you write books ?

    @ Coraline - No, there wont' be any Italian. Missed translations cause problems. Maybe if this was in third person.

    @ Dawn - It's an actual tourist spot in Genoa. I just like the name

    I was so short in my last post that I tried to give more rounded answers.

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  39. @ Appletini - Not so much it's going to be a long one though.

    @ Marleigh - No, I got him through the power of Scrubs ! I thought UL may have had one of his songs, if you are a SH follower

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  40. @ Selena - Clara's Sister's Husbands have random names. (Derek and Colin)

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Let me know what you think !