Plottery

So I'm in the shower, thinking of, yes, "Sheep's End" and trying to improve it. reviewers have tossed several points at me, some minor, others requiring brain time.

It occurs to me that the story brings to the heroes what they need. It is a happy ending, as their needs are fulfilled in the script. The problem is that it's not all that clear what they want before they learn what they need.

I know what they want. They know what they want. The wants are there, but while the heroes pursue their desires, they never get them.

Because they never get what they want, the story seems to take them somewhat passively to what they need.

What I need to do is carve the difference between want and need more prominently into the story. And a way to do that is to have them find what they want - then reject it, discard it as they realize that they must instead pursue what they need.

It's a nifty realization, and may just lead places I'll enjoy going.

Bonus comment on the state of the Internet:

Yes, it is slow lately. Have you noticed that e-mails that used to take minutes to deliver now arrive hours after they're sent?

Blame the networks of zombie Windows boxes. Something has gone awry.