In plotting out a new story that’s fighting its way out of my head, the question comes up right from the opening line: Mrs. McLaughlin woke up every morning at seven a.m. on May 23rd, 1997.
It’s not going to be hard to let the story emerge, but I found, as on the last story, that when one is not going straight linear, or linear with flashback, it becomes imperative to plot out the timelines very carefully. With the above, while I thought it meant one thing when I wrote it, I find it could mean something else. My interpretation was that for Mrs. McLaughlin, every day was May 23rd, 1997. Now even this could mean several things. Does she think it’s always the same day, or is it? On another plateau, on May 23rd, 1997, Mrs. McLaughlin lived her entire life, every day happening simultaneously at warp speed with a normal (?) 24-hour day. She could also be repeating the same day over and over again while the rest of the world moves along without her.
Interesting concept, and the idea of writing it out leads me to mapping, and mapping out a plot makes me think of fading in and out visuals, double exposures, transitioning, music accenting the drama. Effects of audio and visuals would indeed make this story a prime candidate for a combination of sensory stimulation.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology