Days 249 and 250

Just how is my novel going?

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What works, and what do you like about it?

Given that the story had been written over quite a few years, and has changed in content a few times, and the start more than once, overall the story works as I’d originally intended.

A burned spy, who was almost killed on his most recent mission, and while in recovery, is contemplating retirement, is convinced to return to the job with a job that was meant to be an easy re-entry.

Of course, it is the very reason why he was nearly killed that is the reason why this new mission is blown before it gets off the ground. Perhaps for that reason, he decided to continue, knowing the odds are stacked against him.

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What doesn’t work, and why?

I’m not so sure I want to keep the story that revolves around the outside of the mission he is on. The mission, to protect a keynote speaker on behalf of the government, turns into a localised effort to use the host country’s lack of human rights as a springboard for an attempted coup d’état. Our protagonist, of course, does not know the keynote speaker is working in concert with the revolutionaries, which just adds to the complexity of his position.

Thus, we have corrupt politicians, evil secret police, an incorruptible police commissioner, revolutionaries, a missing leader of the rebel forces, a son of that leader with overly ambitious aims and revenge uppermost on his agenda, and a variety of bit players who are all trying to steal the show.

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What has to stay, and is there more to the story?

At this point, I’m satisfied that everyone with a role is staying. They fit together perfectly, from the menacing to the would-be heroes. If I stick simply to the revolution and the lead-up to it, it’s fine.

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What has to go, and what gaps may need filling?

What might need to be removed is the search for and elimination of the people who are working against the organisation, the very people who caused the protagonist to be almost fatally injured. For the boss of that organisation to use our protagonist on the promise of getting those who caused his near-death crisis doesn’t really benefit the story.

The main story itself runs to about 70,000 words, so it doesn’t need the extra tale to confuse the main story, and in the end, it might serve as a sequel.

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