One of my characters surprised me by bringing up the Magellan. I didn’t know he was aware of it. I thought the characters, stories and ideas were all kept segregated in my upstairs.
The Magellan is ‘conceived’ three hundred years from now. It existed in minds before then, though. It was only three hundred years from now that the impetus develops to create the necessary consortium of resources required for the ambitious projects. In my future worlds, greed, corporatism, and nationalism, along with war and disaster keep Humans from exploring space outside of a few Moon and Mars settlements.
A generational biosphere designed to explore beyond our solar system, Magellan is constructed in space. Part of its construction, equipment and plans is to send ships back to Earth every twenty-five years to bring materials and people back. But all trips are planned as a one way trip.
I thought of the Magellan and its mission a decade ago. As part of its loose story line, it went out there and all went well for about fifty years. Then there was no more, and it was mostly forgotten in the way that efforts are forgotten and yet remain part of history. That’s why I was surprised that one character suggests, “What if we encounter the Magellan or one of its return ships?”
Employing Mom’s tactics from my youth, I told the character I’d think about it.
I don’t know if he knows what that means.
Michael Seidel, writer 
300 years?! Ohh…you mean the setting not the release date lol. Or did you? I like how you said “character” rather than admitting to talking to yourself I’m gonna try that 😜
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Talking to myself? What an interesting idea. But no, I wasn’t talking to myself; I think I would have recognized my own voice (although it doesn’t sound nearly as nice in real life as it does in my head). No, it was Handley who came up with this, out of the blue yesterday. And to clarify, she wasn’t actually talking to me, but the writer within me. I never understand what’s going on, but the writer keeps gnawing on it until he does.
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Ohhh ok I gotcha. Bit of a split then you are. No judgement here I’m one as well…there’s the fun one and the bitch and the little girl…idk wtf is going on either. Thank god for words right? Xoxo
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TG for words.
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Color me intrigued!
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Hmm I see you didn’t want tell us “your” character’s name. Well as any parent knows our children come through us and once they’re freed – they are out of our control. You might as well answer “your’ character’s question.
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The character was my space pirate, Handley. I’m actually not saying no to Handley. I’m tending that way because I don’t see what she sees, but also because what she’s suggesting is a lot of work. Yet, I’m beginning to see how it fits…and the strange circle that it creates in the plot. I kinda like it but it needs more thought. Characters just don’t seem to understand that it’s all not as obvious to me as it is to them.
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That silly space pirate ran off with mine name, pray tell might I have it back?
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No, but she’ll sell you her parrot, J.R.
Handley would never give up her name because she’s trying to live up to those with the name who went before her.That’s why she first went into the military, and later became a pirate.
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Long as she does it well!
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Well, she has her flaws – she feels responsible for everyone and protective of them, and she’s addicted to Concentrates – but she has a strong heart, a clear conscious and powerful determination.
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Tell me more about these Concentrates?
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Concentrates are illegal drugs of the future. They boost organic thinking, memory recall and mental clarity for a short period. When they work, they’re spectacular. However, they work for only about ten percent of the people, and only about fifty percent of the time for them. Handley was the miniscule one percent who it worked for about ninety percent of the time. She uses it furtively so no one was aware. They’d just be in awe of her results. But she loved the attention and getting those results. Eventually, though, even she had a few bad, bad experiences. That doesn’t stop her from using again, though, unfortunately.
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Sounds interesting, can’t wait to read your book!
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Me, too!
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This -> “Characters just don’t seem to understand that it’s all not as obvious to me as it is to them.” #wisdom #quote
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