Julianna Keyes's Blog - Posts Tagged "change"
Release Week Post 4 - Past, Present, Future...Past?
RELEASE WEEK POST 4
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE…PAST?
When I plotted out the major turning points in this book, I made a mental note to give each section a type of theme, and given the storyline, the theme of “past, present, future” made a lot of sense to me.
When we first meet Aidan, he’s still living as his “past” self. He’s been at college for three years as part of a scholarship program for troubled kids, and while he’s doing enough to keep the scholarship, he still hasn’t really embraced the opportunity he’s been given. As you are likely aware, he moves in with Jerry, spots Aster, and does what he can to steal her. Not exactly hero behavior, right? But very much the behavior of his past car thief self.
Once Aidan has split up the happy couple, he becomes more of his “present” self, cued by seeing the harm he’s caused to both Jerry and Aster and starting, for the first time in his life, to feel bad about his actions. As soon as he experiences regret, it’s like a tiny light bulb switches on and illuminates the world around him, and it’s a turning point for his character. It’s also the first time both readers and Aidan see that he might just have the potential to be the hero of this story.
As the romantic relationship between Aidan and Aster progresses, Aidan, who initially just wanted to hook up with Aster to get his craving for her out of his system, starts seeing a possible future. A future with Aster, but also a clearer idea of the future he’d like to have for himself. It’s the first time he’s ever looked that far ahead, and it gives him the motivation keep learning and growing.
If past, present, future were all there was, we’d have a pretty nice story. But I need more conflict in my books, and if it ended there we wouldn’t have a way of knowing for sure that all the lessons in the preceding pages had made a true difference in the lives of these characters. So to test that theory, the past shows up again, forcing both Aidan and Aster to use the things they’ve learned to leave those ghosts behind them once and for all. Only after I’ve sufficiently tortured them are they truly ready for their happily ever after.
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE…PAST?
When I plotted out the major turning points in this book, I made a mental note to give each section a type of theme, and given the storyline, the theme of “past, present, future” made a lot of sense to me.
When we first meet Aidan, he’s still living as his “past” self. He’s been at college for three years as part of a scholarship program for troubled kids, and while he’s doing enough to keep the scholarship, he still hasn’t really embraced the opportunity he’s been given. As you are likely aware, he moves in with Jerry, spots Aster, and does what he can to steal her. Not exactly hero behavior, right? But very much the behavior of his past car thief self.
Once Aidan has split up the happy couple, he becomes more of his “present” self, cued by seeing the harm he’s caused to both Jerry and Aster and starting, for the first time in his life, to feel bad about his actions. As soon as he experiences regret, it’s like a tiny light bulb switches on and illuminates the world around him, and it’s a turning point for his character. It’s also the first time both readers and Aidan see that he might just have the potential to be the hero of this story.
As the romantic relationship between Aidan and Aster progresses, Aidan, who initially just wanted to hook up with Aster to get his craving for her out of his system, starts seeing a possible future. A future with Aster, but also a clearer idea of the future he’d like to have for himself. It’s the first time he’s ever looked that far ahead, and it gives him the motivation keep learning and growing.
If past, present, future were all there was, we’d have a pretty nice story. But I need more conflict in my books, and if it ended there we wouldn’t have a way of knowing for sure that all the lessons in the preceding pages had made a true difference in the lives of these characters. So to test that theory, the past shows up again, forcing both Aidan and Aster to use the things they’ve learned to leave those ghosts behind them once and for all. Only after I’ve sufficiently tortured them are they truly ready for their happily ever after.
