Simplicity

Yesterday, I spoke about complexity. Today the opposite. Simple. Unpretentious. Well Darcy would chose unpretentious because he thinks in larger words. Me. I like simple. My mind may be swirling complex thoughts around in my brain but the rest of me likes simple.

I never cared for material things, they never held much sway with me. I never wished for the biggest house on the block nor the fanciest car, nor the most exquisite jewelry and clothes. I like simpler things such as simple meals over the multi-course ones. For my Christmas dinner I make prime rib - good gosh - what could be easier than that. Throw some salt and pepper on it stick a thermometer in it and shove it the oven and wait until 135 degrees to take it out. Of course I do add backed potatoes (another simple dish) and kale if I can get it (my family tradition) salad and cheesecake made from somewhere else. Simple. It gives me time to spend with my friends and family.

I think some of the most popular stories on the JA ff sites are simple ones or ones with simple messages. I understand how hard it is to follow a story week to week or heaven forbid unregular postings. Me, I have to just about read a story over again if there has been any time between postings. When I pick up a book I am done within 48 hours. I never could lay it down and read a chapter at a time. Maybe that is why I was obsessed to get my story finished. Well, back to simple. When I prepare my story for putting out in a book I have many changes coming and they all do simplify the story line.

I use the reactions of the readers to gauge when a chapter works and when it does not. There are always little messages like this week - complexity reared its ugly head. I see better ways to present information in the early chapters which will help everyone understand the theme of the story. Simplify but keep it tense, suspenseful and a little complex. lol

I chose to create new men in order to contrast Darcy's behavior with those features most women like - charm, humor, mystery. Blake, Rawlings, Kent. You could say I split Darcy into 3 pieces and we have been spending our time with each piece of him. Darcy is charming when he wants to show it, funny with those of his circle, and mysterious. I did not go into this story with that "symbol" in mind but it is there underneath it all. When Blake charmed Elizabeth we wanted that to be Darcy; when Rawlings looks upon a scene and utters some of his witty thoughts, we wanted that to be Darcy. When Kent stands in the background and observes the actions while thinking about what he wants then we can assume that is a side to Darcy as well. He does sit and watch. I have kept Kent in the background. His story is really in London. I have kept the information about him rather simple. He is tradesman's son with a chip on his shoulder and he wants in where the in people go. He has a plan and he will not be able to put it in place until they return to London. Now London will see Darcy come to the forefront. It is sorta like Blake and Rawlings the first half and Darcy and Kent the second and Bingley as the common denominator. Darcy brought RAwlings into the fold; Bingley brought Kent. Blake and Bingley prowl the social scene together - they do fancy the women; there are alliances of all kinds that happen.

Well I need to provide a simple look back on the first 25 chapters to help the readers. something that can be quick and simple to read and get the gist of the story. Maybe a few of the readers that opted out earlier will return with the promise Darcy is in the forefront. Don't know and really I can't worry about them. but for a few of the readers that mentioned the complexity perhaps a simple summary will do.

Off to fix some eggs and bacon. Feel like having some today. I like mine over light and then the eggs are placed on top of the toast Simple. and i always eat the bacon with my fingers. shame! even in restaurants. Unless of course it flops around then I don't eat it all. I like my bacon crisp. very crisp. I like my yolks runny and my toast buttered with butter. simple.

till tomorrow when I waste more of my time rambling about nothing much.

gayle;