So, I was talking today at school with a few friends about current plot ideas and ongoing works, and I may have a new idea.

I haven’t had a new idea for an original story in a few months, since I started a short story called Reflections that’s about Odette and Odile from Swan Lake. It depicts them a lot differently than the ballet does, and I’ve been having a lot of fun writing it, especially Odette’s part. (the story changes perspectives.)

My new idea though is something that mixes a lot of stories that I’ve been involved to varying degrees in the creation of. I’m not sure how well the plot will work, because that’s a bit in-progress still, but I like the title I have for it, which is Beyond the Shattered Sky. I really hope that this plot works for me…

The most difficult part of that will be trying to figure out which characters from what will get certain attributes. It’s going to be a very character-focused plot.

I actually like plots better when the characters have an obvious influence on the plot. I don’t really like epic quests, where characters are just forced to go and do stuff because the plot SAYS that they should. I’d rather have several well-developed characters with a bit of a vaguer goal.

Yeah, I think that made sense. Sorry if it didn’t.

I’ve been wondering lately, what makes a good novel or story?

There are lots of novels I really like, but I couldn’t tell you why, exactly. Most of the time I could tell you, in great detail, why I dislike a book. I don’t like a character, I don’t like the writing style, I don’t like the plot… but why do I actually like a book? And at what point does something I dislike in the book just stop mattering because the rest of it is so comparatively good?

Well, I wish I could answer these questions.

Anyone else have ideas?