70: Distorting Points of View
12/19/2013
Well, I’m going to be blowing my deadline. There’s no possible way Dissolutions will be done by New Year. But I finally finished the fifth scene tonight (Tuk’s scene), and I’m happy about that. Happy that it’s done, but not so sure if I’m happy how it turned out. Have to give it some space and reread it fresh in a couple days.
I made a last minute change with this scene by writing it from Tuk’s POV, the first one I’ve written for him, and I’m not sure if I got it right or not. But the unusual perspective is at least nice. I’m also happy with the impromptu imagery of the boy’s secret den that I came up with, complete with a drawbridge. I like it when Ephrathah expands and gets more fleshed out like this. World building.
I’m concerned that the emotional impact in this scene might be weak, which could be because I used Tuk for the POV. I made a couple on the fly changes to the plotting structure that now forces me to go back and edit past scenes for the sake of consistency – e.g. Diallo will now be waiting for four days for Alena to come to him in their love nest, which is why the whole village knew about Alena’s marriage before him. Tamal, Dougga, and Bakar were looking for him for those four days. Tuk should probably be more protective in scene four when Kinjul becomes threatening.
Now, for the next scene – I hadn’t originally envisioned Tuk being present for the Siona confrontation. This forces me to alter the physical threat of Siona somewhat. Might be interesting though.
Present-Day Reflection
8/3/2026
My memory of writing what is now called Chapter 47: Tuk’s View is quite different from what is expressed in this 12/19/2013 entry. I remember having done quite a bit of research about dogs, their behaviors, and their sensory capabilities. Also, reading other works of fiction written from a dog’s perspective. I don’t remember Tuk’s POV being a spontaneous decision at all. Though maybe all my research came after the impromptu first draft.
I also remember having loved the quality of the writing for this chapter enough to have gone back and reread it several times just for the shear pleasure of the reading. I don’t recall at all the initial doubts and concerns being conveyed in my Author’s Journal.
Such is the malleability of memory and the distortions of time. It’s a pattern with me I’ve long suspected – the possibility that I view the past as something better than it actually was. If this is true, it’s a failing I appreciate since it allows me to be happier with my life in general than perhaps I have a right to be.
