My Writing Sucks

In this episode, I read the epilogue from the original draft of Starchild as well as multiple scenes from a second (and wildly different!) draft that I wrote in college to illustrate how complete the revision process can be. And I remind you to be proud of yourself—because it’s true! 

In Part Nine, Ruby finds herself at the center of a high-stakes intergalactic conflict. The most pretentious, angsty-boy villain I’ve ever seen in fiction makes an appearance, sacrifices are made, and Ruby and Fiora are forced to say goodbye.  I talk about how Starchild has never been Ruby’s story, some really irritating plot holes, and, despite it all, how much I love Ruby and Fiora’s friendship.

Part Eight is explosive, to say it lightly (catastrophic to say it less lightly). Somehow, at the exact same moment, a mysterious spaceship crashes onto the Lorencip’s property and Ruby’s dad comes home after his (ambiguously long) absence. Seventeen year old me attempts to manage this emotional fall out to a varying degree of success. I discuss how bizarre Ruby’s parents are as characters, how seventeen year old me keeps skirting away from any scenes with emotional resonance, and the importance of saying less. 

Part Seven desperately wants to be a climax. And a psychological horror film. The story goes from zero to attempted murder real fast when Fiora loses her mind on the bully girls who haven’t been mentioned since Part One. I discuss Starchild’s unbalanced plot, the basics of a climax, and how and why (despite it all) Ruby and Fiora still resonate with me as characters. 

Part Six rivals Part Five for the world’s longest exposition dump—but this time, it’s Ruby doing the dumping (and yes, that is the worst way I could have ever phrased that). Join me as I rapidly lose my mind reading this saccharine mess out loud. I discuss writing without limits and bring depth to your secondary characters.