A Novel Process

In this mailbag episode May answers a bunch of listener questions on a wide range of topics, including autism, gender and Andy Weir.

In this fifth checkpoint episode, we finally reach the end of the book! (In its current summary form anyway.) This episode includes is an alien invasion, a cliff-top gunfight, and an epilogue with a little bit of hope for the future.

In this fourth checkpoint episode, we have arrived at Act III. Chekov's gun will be fired, fat ladies will sing (I can say that cos I love karaoke), and resolution with be reached (or will it...)

In this third checkpoint episode, May takes us through the second half of Act II in the book's current narrative structure.  This section is sometimes called 'The Bad Guys Close In'.  May describes the bad guys in more detail, they do indeed close in, and shit gets real.

In this second checkpoint episode, May takes us through the first half of Act II in the book's current narrative structure.  This is sometimes called the Fun and Games section.

Is it fun?  Yes.

Are there games? Metaphorically, sure.

Weren't there only going to be two checkpoint episodes?  Why are we only halfway through Act II?  No further questions.

In this episode May takes us through act one of what she hopes is the final narrative outline of the book. Maybe (probably) it will all change by the next episode, but hey, a girl can dream.

In this episode, May thought she had finally found the perfect narrative structure for her novel which, interestingly, bore a striking resemblance to the narrative structure of seminal 90's teen classic 'She's All That'. Unfortunately, there's a problem.

In this episode, May goes on a journey, searching for inspiration with a visit to some beautiful limestone caves.  But, as so often happens with journeys, the real inspiration came from the friend she made (listen to her rant about the book for four hours) along the way.

In this episode, May attempts to talk about language while using language, which is a bit like trying to take a car apart while you’re driving it.

In this episode, May word vomits some thoughts on how the living conditions of her aliens might end up influencing their philosophy and culture.  In the process, she accidentally invents salamander fascism.  Like you do.