Normal Service Is Resumed

It was bound to happen eventually, I've managed to miss an update.  Thankfully, there was nothing scheduled to happen, it was just an entry to show that our unreliable narrator does have a normal life as well.

The lesson learned?  "If you have email alerts to remind up of updates, check your email."  Or, build up a few chapters ahead of time.  That would be the sensible thing to do.


EDITED 2/5/10
“Or, build up a few chapters ahead of time.  That would be the sensible thing to do.”
Well, those are famous last words.
I, rather unprofessionally, disappeared to see friends this weekend and in doing so missed another two updates.
The irony is that the dominant arc this week revolves around black outs.  These are pretty important chapters, but can be reinserted with ease.  Indeed, they make the subject of tomorrow's update all the more interesting.  I’ve mentioned the importance of synchronicity and the need to stay flexible before, so I won’t bore with that again, but it is getting funny.

del.icio.us Tags: TeratogenesisUK,Online Serial,Epic Fail,Deadline,Coincidence,Enough Rope To Hang

Synchronicity

Completely by coincidence, tonight’s Teratogenesis update features the Crowded House song ‘Instinct’ as it’s soundtrack.  Not only is this a great song, but it’s title ties straight into the emerging theme of instincts and intuition.  And, as the update went up, Crowded House were playing ‘Later…’ on BBC 2.

Coincidence is playing a large part in Teratogenesis.  The updates are random points along each arc and yet, by keeping the specifics fairly loose, I allow for little interstices of current events and the plot I’ve had brewing for over three years.  Without allowing for this, I’d not be able to slide a few current affairs references into the background and the whole exercise loses it’s real time aspect.

I think this is a challenge even 24 hasn’t had to face.  Each episode of 24 represents one hour of Jack Bauer’s day, (or rather 45 minutes of his day plus ad breaks.)  Teratogenesis is a whole year in the life of Ru- He Who Chooses Not To Be Named.  In the last twelve hours alone, the UK has had a change in Prime Minister and a whole new government will be taking charge.  Frankly, it would have taken more than a week of déjà vu dreams for me to predict this election and if I had, I’d have made a fortune.  This means a lot of little changes and a change of tone across the nation, which Teratogenesis will be able to adapt to.

del.icio.us Tags: TeratogenesisUK,Online serial,Crowded House,Jools Holland,Coincidence,Instinct,UK Election,24

Act 2

Well, the first act of Teratogenesis is well and truly over now.

When we first met our protagonist, he was rotten with doubt and fear.  And now he’s starting fights with hooligans.  Not bad for four short months.

However, there is something of a problem with the soundtrack.

I’ve recently starting using the Firefox browser and found that its internal ad-blocker blanks out the music widgets.  Which it’s meant to do, considering that they are, technically, adverts.  However, this is the price of free.  Without those ads, you miss out on the soundtrack, which is used to express the character’s mindset.  It’s also my only revenue stream from Teratogenesis so far, but there are examples where the choice of song betrays more than the character is willing to say.

Still, it’s just a click away (to paraphrase “Gimme Shelter.”)

del.icio.us Tags: TeratogenesisUK,Online serial,Firefox,Let It Bleed,Adware