The Colony

Oo er. A big one. What would you gain? Drama, momentum or depth?

Drama, I think. Momentum too, hopefully. Above all, it might simplify the story into less of a knot ... But I'm not sure if I want to keep the knot?

Does the knot deliver a heavy payload? How does it affect flow and pace? Draw a card, keep the knot, and then another, lose the knot.

Ah, bless you, Katie. Thank you for the card. (Insert hart emoji) The knot would be good for the story, I think, but it might fuzz things up for the reader if I'm not careful. Maybe it's a case of writing it in a simple way?

Do you have a card deck anywhere handy? Ordinary or Tatot. Draw one for keep the knot, one for get rid of it, let me know what cards?

Llewellyn deck. When I got the deck out, the top card was the magician. It kind of resonated, but it was at the top, and from the last time I used the deck, so it's prob nothing. Anyway, I shuffled and a card flopped itself out, and landed face down, in the opposite direction of the others. Five of swords. It was nearly upside down. I never actually drew one though.

OK, drew some despite the five of swords flopping out. Keep: seven of cups. Get rid: page of cups.

And what was the decision (and (re the cards) why Katie?)

Waiting with bated breath!!!

Emily, decision not fully made yet. I might compromise, and to a half plot-turn.

Keep: 7 Cups. Get rid: page of cups. And the 5 Swords flopped out. Point of stress there, unless describing crux of the knot (rage and frustration of an unwinnable battle). The knot is too woolly if you keep it as it is. But page of cups says retain whatever in there racks up emotional punch. Absent, the several swords cards saying CUT completely. The 5 says 'Do not get bogged down.'

Thank you very much, Katie. It kind of confirms what I've been thinking. The knot in theory helps to make the protagonist sink deeper (the unsolvable problem, another potential solution going wrong.) But at the mo it feels potentially confusing and 'wooly' like you say. The thing is, the knot 'provides' a dead friend and a plan that goes wrong (the bits to keep) ... Hmmm. I'm going go ponder how to do the knot.