Commentary -- Just Another 48 Hours (Chapter 7 & Chapter 8)

[parallax23]

Chapter 7: The Youth of the Freak Nation

 

Well, this chapter received and underwhelming response.  It has the lowest reviews of all chapters.  I had a lot of difficulty getting it out.  And it felt less genuine and compelling than the others, though I didn't think it was that bad.  But it happens.  Excuses, excuses.  I'm still trying to figure out how to get my pitch down for composing a compelling piece of writing.

There was a reference to Pixar's Monsters, Inc. which was a fluke.  However there were a ton of WALL-E references because I had just finished watching the movie when I wrote this chapter.  Also, the hand holding fit both stories too.

The odd part is that there were new reviews for The XYZ Affair and After Life instead.  So I guess that balances things out?  I think the popularity of Just Another 48 Hours prompted people to check out some of my other stuff.

I learned 2 things from this chapter: 1) Getting yourself established as a writer is not easy, but when you are it gets your work more steady reviews.  2) Just because you get steady review numbers doesn't mean that if you don't do a good job that it'll maintain those numbers.  But it's still higher than if you didn't have any clout.

And a couple of things I wanted to clarify, because I know things can be read different in ways:  1) Gem is spending lots of time with Eve.  I just needed her out of the apartment for that scene to work.  2) Logan doesn’t think Alec is going to steal Max from him, he believes he is losing her again.  3) Alec is not perfect and I’m not lauding him, I just see him as just being the embodiment of everything Logan was so insecure about in Season One.  I don’t know who it’s happened to, but in life sometimes you meet that one person that shines at everything you’re insecure about and it drives you crazy.  I feel like that’s why Logan and Alec feel that way about each other.  Alec also admitted in the series that he admired Logan’s purpose in life, and that Asha and Max preferred Logan to him.  But Alec doesn’t meditate on it as much.

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Chapter 8: Out of the Darkness

 

Ah, the last chapter of the story.  I'd be more disappointed if this was actually the end of this tale.  It served its purpose to set up what's going to happen in Wake Me Up... I made it to the flag raising, which wasn't easy because I could have easily had Max ditch Logan then and there.  But then I'd be done with the whole story, and that's not where I wanted to go.

Deleted Note: Secondly, I need to clarify a few things. This isn’t the end of the story itself, just the first part of the story. There is a sequel coming up called Wake Me Up When September Ends that continues where this story left off. And it is a Max and Alec kind of love story I promise, you just have to bear with me. It’s going to be an angst filled one.

Max and Logan are in fact starting to be ‘not like that’ again here. Sorry, it’s just what they do. But I want to point this out so you don’t really feel disappointed where I’ve left off: notice that Logan’s thoughts are separate from what’s going on with Max and Alec. They’re on the same wavelength while he’s in his own world. That is why Logan’s perspective is included. He doesn’t get it – Max, Alec, what they’re fighting for. He sees this as a larger philosophical battle against injustice, while they just want to be free. *cough* Logan is behind Max, Alec is in front *cough*

This chapter was very very short.  I didn't want to introspect too much into their actions because I need it to be ambiguous.

People are not feeling the Logan insights, but I refuse to dump or bash a character who was so important to the show and plot.  Besides, his presence brings another level of complexity to the plot, especially since he will be the catalyst for what I have planned.

Anyway, I'll be doing a progress report later on everything.