82: The Point of Pointless Play
3/7/2014
Finished my last new scene for Chapter One yesterday, where Alena and Joyul get hit by a swarm of butterflies at the river. I like this scene for the imagery and grandeur, but I’m not sure how it will play with the book as a whole and its plotline. It’s dangerously close to being pointless, beyond its sensationalistic appeal. And it ties in with the Wings of Providence theme, of course, with the butterfly motif and Joyul’s insistence that it must be a sign. But its purpose is still kind of flimsy. No characters get developed, nor does the story. And the action within this chapter has no effect or illumination on later events.
The other two new scenes with the boys, on the other hand, developed them in ways that will influence future actions – so they had a point. Oddly enough though, I think I like this butterfly swarm scene the best. Despite its pointless existence, it’s fun.
Now I have one more scene to write in Chapter Three: The Fever. I’m playing with ideas of Tamal and his bow and arrow, maybe bringing in Makoa as his adopted father. Maybe having the boys engaged in hunting each other in the dark with spears that have hot coals attached to their ends – a sort of ancient paintball battle where pains (or burns) are part of the fun while learning hunting skills.
Not sure. Still playing with ideas.
Present-Day Reflection
8/15/2026
Focus on the rhythm of the song and clear the clutter of your complicated mind. Meanings don’t matter when they’re idle chatter of a transcendental kind. When they’re able to take any shape one likes, all that matters is the music.
–The Way of the Mystic, excerpt
This epigram used as the header for Chapter 9: Wings of Light is probably the best retort I can come up with to the original journal entry I wrote 13 years ago. All my doubts and concerns about the chapter may have been valid from the point of view of an editorial critique, but they’re completely beside the point of why such a chapter is necessary – because it’s fun
