Altitude

I have been reconsidering my story. So much has happened this year, especially at the end, that the whole idea of finishing a story has been an indulgence I couldn't afford. Now, staring down the butt end of the school year with its requisite softball games and graduation ceremonies, I can unclench a bit and let the juices flow again.

It feels good, really, to get back to something so esoteric as writing. Even this blog is welcome respite from the other public venues that I have to communicate in (report cards, emails to concerned/angry parents); at least here I can ruminate on the act of writing and not feel that I'm sounding like a zealot (well, that's a risk I'll take). So, with that in mind, I've been reflecting on altitude.

Narrative altitude allows me to rise above the story. As the draft stands now, it's a first perosn confessional. Too close, I suppose. I need to give my main character a bit of room to be surprised...I want to see his reaction to events, but not necessarily from ground zero. The higher I get (3rd person), the easier it is to see him as a character, not as a person. Helps me get away from him, too. As I've mentioned before, it's tough when you get so close to a character, and I'm afraid I have. Time to float.

Of course that means a pretty extensive rewrite. Thank God it's summer. I'll have the time. No more angry parents, right?