Round 10.3 - Discussion [Rasputin the Translator v. Time to Die]

1. We don't really seem to know what the actual story is for Rasputin the Translator. Should that be a factor in whether it advances or not?

That's a good question, but I say no. We both were excited about the character bios, and we're both excited by the possibilities of it. Besides, this heat was never about defining the story as much as it was about exploring it obliquely through extraneous characterization. Our work, while maybe not clarifying anything about the story, has certainly not made me doubt it at all.

2. There are a still a couple of bios that I'd like to see: Rasputin's Cecile, and Time to Die's unnamed warden character. Should those be written now, during this discussion, or wait until the stories have (potentially) moved on, or what?

Another good point. I would say it's in our hands -- if the bios would be handy, I say we divide them up and each take one on. I don't see it influencing the decision to move the stories forward, but it might help down the line. Wait--who's Cecile again?

3. What are we looking for when we decide whether to move these stories on? Is it simply a gut thing, or can it be stated in a quantitative way?

Either. I think, like Steven Colbert, that the gut has more nerve endings than the brain. Or, at least, it's sometimes right. If you have a feeling, vote it through. If it doesn't have enough meat on the bones, I doubt it will become the #1 pick anyway.

4. Did we ever decide what Time to Die's prison was like?

No, we didn't -- and I'd actually like to put this question off a bit until we do more brainstorming (or, dare I say it? Spitballing....) about this story. The reason is that I think the environment will play a really large part in the plot (both in a kind of "doomsday" device that you had in mind, and also in the set up that allows the prisoners to take over the prison). I want to make sure the choice is informed by some different options before I commit.

5. What exactly were your plans for September's stripper and dominatrix pals, anyway?

Bastard. You had to bring up that again. Well, I was thinking tough, independent women who would be a bit wild and never conform to the expectations society had of them. I saw this as an influence on September, who in general is a more mainstream person. What influenced her life to make her completely disregard the authority figures who tell her that what she wants to do can't be done? That's the gist of it -- and, I totally confess that I didn't support those ideas at all, and that out of context it looked a little bit like drooling geek boy fandom. My angle was looking at the characteristics I wanted to fill, and then thinking of a profession to support them instead of the other way around. In retrospect, I should have chosen something less open to...shall we say, interpretation?