h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm into the last section of my story - act three, if you like, where all the events and characters should come together in a climax, followed by a resolution.

Tim and Helen have visited Alison and told her that she needs to sell the house, an idea that Brian dismisses out of hand. I'm now at the point where Alison tells Francois of her predicament, and he suggests she leaves Brian. Here, I have options. Alison could go back to her house and tell Steve that she's thinking of leaving his Dad. Steve is quite old enough to decide what he wants to do. But Steve is angry, because Francois's daughter Nathalie has already told him that her Dad and his Mum are lovers. Steve decides he's so fed up with his parents that he goes to stay with his friend Andre. It is when Andre's parents return Steve home that Brian gives him such a telling off that Steve loses his temper and tells his Dad that Alison is about to leave and go and live with her lover. This brings about the climax.

But I don't know that Alison would leave that easily. Even if there's a room above the bar at Francois's restaurant which Steve could occupy if he wants, it's a big step for Alison to take - openly living with her lover. It has all sorts of repercussions - what will Francois's family and his other staff think; what will Alison tell Tim and Helen, and what happens to the relationship between Steve and Nathalie?

At the point where Alison goes back to the house, Alison should go back and tell Brian of the affair, and her options

not Steve, that can still be playing out

Was your comment so rude, Peanut?

no the mods are doing a good job in terms of timing

I should apologise for the wait, it is me on pre-mod, sorry

still if you want to re-write you sexy scene perhaps we could give them something entertainly explicit to read and pass

Of course, to me, these wonderful Writers Block journals are as much part of it all as the story itself. .

How remarkable, mysterious and marvellous is the creative art of the writer.

The destiny of these characters is all there in essence, in the ink of mvp's biro. Yes! I await with anticipation.

Thank you for your comments, Peanut and cc. I think Peanut is right - most people I've met who are thinking of leaving their spouses have some conversations along those lines first.

But I doubt if Brian is rational enough to discuss Alison's options. And I think she might give him a half-truth - say she's thinking of leaving because he's so irresponsible about money, but not tell him about Francois. And I still think Steve gets involved. He's seriously disillusioned with his Dad, but he's angry with his Mum too.

I think this process is fascinating. This is the question at the heart of fiction - would this person do this thing at this point.? If she decides one way, it leads to one set of consequences; if she decides another way, it opens up a new series of problems and opportunities.

But to be good at fiction writing you need to understand the human heart. I'm not sure I'm good enough at that.

I don't think my sexy scene is explicit enough to shock the mods!

I think you are good at understanding the human heart

I used to like those adventure books where you got choices, character turns right go to page 8, turns left go to page 12, sort of thing but more exxicting that.

I have been pondering this, if Steve knows I don't think that Alison has any other option but to tell Brian, it is an awful secret to ask your child to keep whatever their age. However messy and complicated her marriage and the situation is I think she would make this decision as a Mother wouldn't she?

Have you decided then that a seperation is going to be down to her?

I would think that her affair might make Brian finaly take stock of the reality of the situation although from what I am picking up he might also choose to pretend it never happened, this might work for him, but it doesn't actively do anything to address the issues in ther marriage, which it clearly needs to be a fulfiling one or just to survive

How old is Steve by the way?

oh sorry,did I mis-read, Steve knows but Alison doesn't know he knows. I am easily confused.

It does get confusing - especially as I change my mind from time to time!

Steve is sixteen, and goes to the same school (lycee) as Nathalie, Francois's daughter, and they get to know each other. Nathalie realises there's something going on between her father and Alison and tells Steve. Steve is angry, but doesn't confront his mother until she tells him she's thinking of leaving Brian.

ah, I think I would lose any sympathy for Alison at that point, that is not a coversation she should be having with her son that she is thinking about leaving his Dad.

oh sorry that sounded blunt

my parents split up when I was a teenager, sore point and Chris Huhne son keeps springing to mind.

I read an article in the guardian about older children and young adults how they are affected by their parents marriage break ups or difficulties, all too often parents think they are od enough to deal with, see it in some kind of adult perspective and they aren't

I'l see if I can dig it out

Thanks Peanut

I did have a look but can't seem to find it, having thought about it it didn't say anything particulary earth shattering anyway, I'm not sure it would be really any use to you for your writing.

Sorry mvp for being really unhelpful



Still, I do think that now Steve is involved it is a terribly messy situation. You said somewhere earlier that dispite Alison was have an affair whih some readers might make a judgement about you wanted them to emphathise with her rather just make a moral judgement

Once Steve is invovled I think you might have to tread carefully if you want to maintain that, while she still has decide where her heart lies,and I think she should do that for her, ie not go back to Brian just because it the 'right thing to do', her priority when it comes to managing the fall out has to be with Steve

You're being helpful, Peanut.

It's very useful for me to try plot ideas out on willing people. If you say 'that's not right', I can change it now, before I've written a load of stuff that I have to scrap.

And yes, I'm clear that Alison will want to do what's best for Steve. So she won't leave Brian unless it becomes difficult to stay. Now if this was England, I could have a possession notice arrive, but I haven't found out how these things work in France.

I better go and do some more research.

Really, I can't imagine myself being helpful

whereas you being being kind and lovely is no stretch at all

where did you get with your research?

I have been going through all sorts of last minute reprieves for the house, working holidays, youth hostel, backpackers?

and also could Alison move somewhere on her own, ok I can imagine that the choice of accomadation wouldn't be great, space of her own and a place for Steve a short term tenancy, just chucking it out as an option

cos I am helpful like that

Yes, I think there's merit in Alison and Steve finding a few cheap rooms to rent. (Obviously they wouldn't be able to afford much but in this part of France lots of property is under used.)

But the house has to be sold I think. The house is a key character, although it doesn't do anything; it's at the centre of the story.
The theme of the story is the cost of pursuing unrealistic dreams, so there has to be a cost. I can't do a story where everyone ends up happy!

PS. Thanks for calling me 'kind and lovely'. I got called a nasty person when I crashed out of my voluntary job with the Citizens Advice Bureau and it sent me reeling for a couple of months.

(reading postings, this is a great read, I am involved with these characters, whatever their destiny .)

So many great ideas here, shame to leave any of them out. There could be alternative endings to this story. . I like alternative endings, various possibilities, parallel universes .



I'm very upset, mvp, that you were called a nasty person. . Sounds like the other person was unhappy.

I don't like being spiked by unhappy people, it makes me want to wrap my aura in bandages, and wear dark glasses even at night.



You are so far from being a nasty person, you are lovely, and your writings are very much about the varied journeys of the human heart.

Hurrumph and hurrumph again.

I need cake.

yes what cc said,

I read your post last night and it made me bristle that someone would call you nasty, I tried to post something but I was so indignant that I had to click away because I couldn't get my words together

I'm sorry that such hurtful but untrue words sent you reeling

I kind of know how that feels, I am getting more teflon about it but I don't think you ever quite become totally immune

Sorry cc, I don't want to hurt your aura. I'm not sure how you bandage an aura - I'd thought of it as a kind of shiny, shimmering thing.

But I'll join you for and .

And I might end up writing alternative endings.