Further Adventures in "Driving While Writer"
Me: "Okay, Brain, we're going to be doing a lot of driving today, and you know what that means. We've still got some important plot threads to work out in Medusa Falling, and this will be an excellent opportunity to wrangle them into submission."
Brain: "Yep, yep. My subconscious is bustling with possibilities."
Me: "Terrific!"
Me: Cranks car, starts the music, pulls out of the driveway. "Brain, let's do this thing."
Brain: "Okay, hear me out. Alternative idea: let's instead relive the DUALITY Postscript, line by line, word by word, on an endless loop."
Me: ... ... "I can't find a flaw in this idea."
There are scenes I have written that will stay with me forever, that I can call up from memory, almost word for word, at any time. Most of them probably won't surprise you.
A non-exhaustive list: Alex and Caleb's fight after Alex is shot on Seneca in Starshine. Richard and Will's reconciliation in Vertigo. Alex's withdrawals after she severs her connection to the Siyane in Abysm. The last chapter of Rubicon. Nika's Plex assault on the Rasu stronghold in TSLG. Miriam's memories as she reawakens in a new body in Inversion. Eren's visit to the grave in Chaotica.
Needless to say, the last scene of Duality joined this Hall of Fame list the instant it was written. And there it will surely stay forever.
*Brain and I did get around to the Medusa Falling work, eventually.
*
Originally posted on Facebook.