(08/13-18/12)

At some point in our lives - whether at school, or a writing site - we've seen a plot diagram. The one above is simple- there are more complicated ones to be found with a simple web search, but the basic points of plot structure are the same.

Our challenge is to take your one of your stories' plots and place it on the diagram (either visually, or writing about it, or both).

I'll do you one better - I'll give you three.

The Long Road Home

1. Exposition - This would cover Farley's return to New York, his reintroduction to several of the characters (Cranston, Dr. Poole, Daniel, etc.), and the revelation that he is a mage. It also includes his exposure to one of the Claymore Killer's murders, who is pitched off the Empire State Building, and learning that he is officially on probation due to his potential involvement with Shiwan.

2. Rising Action - Farley receives his test from the "coven", which he tries to deal with as best he can while dealing with harassment from Poole and the rest, eventually forcing him to team up with Cranston. In the meantime, feeling that New York has nothing to offer him, he applies for an internship with the Crossroads, hoping his abilities, if nothing else, will get him approved.

3. Climax - A fight with Poole in his dragon form, which Farley and Cranston win through teamwork. Afterward, Poole's grandfather admits that the "test" was in itself a sham, and they were waiting to see how he'd react under pressure. However, Farley agrees to help Cranston solve the murders.

4. Falling Action - They discover that the murderer was the last of the Bastards that Be - Farley's old supervisors - who was attempting to branch out into forms of supernatural warfare, and believed that Farley and the coven would make perfect prototypes.

5. Denouement - The murderer is arrested, and afterward, Farley turns down the coven's offer to join as a full member, preferring to remain independent. He receives an acceptance letter from the Crossroads, revealing that he's been assigned to work at Stark Industries.


Heirs of a Cold War

1. Exposition - Another introduction, this time to various Marvel Cinematic Universe characters - Fury, Coulson, Tony, etc. Farley gradually settles in, both in Stark's universe and at the Crossroads, though he occasionally suspects that something is going to inevitably go pear-shaped.

2. Rising Action - Our first introduction to Loki, though his only role at this point is to smile mysteriously and deliver the irritatingly vague message of 'Soon...' Also our introduction to Justin Hammer, Ivan Vanko, and the palladium sickness, which Farley takes as his sign that things are about to go straight to Hell. On the plus side - Yinsen.

3. Climax - Tony's drunken brawl with Rhodey, while Farley has to run with a package intended for SHIELD and the Avengers Initiative.

4. Falling Action - Farley learns that Tony is dying, and unofficially receives an Omni-Brace. He catches up with Fury at the doughnut diner, and has what he believes is his last meeting with Tony.

5. Denouement - A few days later, SHIELD gets word of Mjolnir landing in New Mexico, and Farley is sent ahead of Coulson, as they suspect this is something from his end of the block.


All Those Who Wander (From Puente Antiguo with Loathe)

Part One:

1. Exposition - Farley arrives outside of Puente Antiguo with Desmond Miles (Worried about writing a new character? Nooo, why would you say that?), and examines Mjolnir. Upon trying to get in touch with whoever put it there, he accidentally gets in touch with the unconscious Odin, who brings him up to speed on Thor, Loki, etc., admits that he's fucked up, and asks him to keep an eye on his wayward lunatics sons.

2. Rising Action - Farley accompanies Thor and Jane Foster to the crash site, and witnesses Thor's failed attempt to retrieve Mjolnir and his reunion with Loki. Farley later speaks with Loki, who lies to him about Odin's death, while Farley questions his belief that being a Frost Giant automatically makes him an unredeemable monster. After a brief encounter with the Norns, who are slightly more vicious than in the myths, they agree to work together.

3. Climax - The Warriors Three and Sif arrive on Earth, followed soon after by the Destroyer. After seeing Thor get killed by the Gort-wannabe, Farley distracts it until Thor regains his powers, and it is soundly trashed.

4. Falling Action - The group on Earth see the side-effects of the Bifrost being unleashed on Jotunheim and its destruction. When the smoke clears, sick of the Asgardians and their destructive folly, Farley declares himself through with the lot of them, but later admits to Selvig that he wasn't mistaken in coming here.

5. Denouement - Farley and Desmond learn about the two exsanguinated store robbers, and find an injured Loki huddling in the hospital bathroom. Loki, clearly terrified of something, confesses to why he lied to Thor and later tried to have him murdered. Despite his anger, Farley offers to take Loki with to the Crossroads, which he accepts.

Part Two:

1. Exposition - After Loki recovers, Farley questions him about what happened. He gradually reveals his plan to destroy Jotunheim to appease Odin, and his newfound addiction to blood, but prefers to keep most of his secrets until Farley proves trustworthy. Still willing to deal with him, Farley sets down ground rules in exchange for letting him bunk over.

2. Rising Action - Life goes on as usual, with Farley gradually coming to grips with his attraction to Loki. Over the course of several adventures, including an incident with an undercover HYDRA agent and the Lizard, the pair grow closer, and eventually begin a romantic relationship.

3. Climax - Several significant adventures - an encounter with an alternate Farley and a No Man's Land-styled New York, a trip into an alternate future ending with two Lokis, and a HYDRA ploy to unleash the Abomination on the world. Present day Loki also confides in Farley about Thanos and the Chitauri, and that he likely plans to use the Tesseract to retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet.

4. Falling Action - Loki deliberately introduces himself to Fury, warns him of what is to come, and advises him to continue with the Avengers Initiative, asking for sanctuary in return.

5. Denouement - Farley gets through his internship, more or less in one piece, and slightly happier for it.


Today, share with two things you carry with you everywhere and two things that are scheduled for the trash heap as soon as possible.

1. My inter-universal cell phone - helps that you can chuck it in a black hole and it'll still remember your contact list.
2. My wristwatch - had the damn thing since 1924.

1. Loki's little "cooking experiment" - He had to substitute one of the important ingredients on the fly, and it turned out like road tar. I'm just lucky I could get it out of the pot in the first place.
2. An ex-spoon - Either that, or advertise it as a form of abstract sculpture.


Show us a postcard from one of your recent holidays.

Well, more of a day trip, than anything...



Apart from the incident with the salarian - never tell 'em to slow down, 'cause it's just not gonna happen - it was a pretty nice trip.


Tonight, one hundred words on: something special you have on display.

“Is that him?” Loki pointed at a photo of Doc, gesturing expansively at the heavens and enraptured by what he saw.

“Yeah.” Farley settled back, letting him have a closer look. “The Rift gave him the power to change the local weather. Thing was, it was tied into his feelings, and he was still pretty new at them. Bad nightmares triggered storms in his room - and there were a few – and God help you if you pissed him off…”

“Charming.” Loki tapped his chin thoughtfully.

“Any reason you felt like asking?”

“You care – I believe that constitutes reason enough.”


List five things you're afraid of. Then list five ways to defeat them.

1. Someone who can mess with my mind. Defeated by not letting them in in the first place - like door-to-door salesmen.

2. Seeing people I care about get hurt. Defeated by... well, nothing, really. Sometimes it just happens, c'est la vie, and all that crap. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

3. Dying helpless. The answer? Always keep fighting.

4. Getting stuck in another universe - Can't particularly see this happening any time soon, but on the off chance, stay away from untested portal devices, anything where you don't know what the hell it does, and various technicolor swirly things.

5. Silence in unfamiliar places. To quote Moody - constant vigilance. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't a perception filtered alien behind you.


Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before. -Mae West

As someone who's dealt with actual evils, as opposed to the "shocking" social evils of sex, hooch, and Harlem blues, I really have to disagree. Just because there isn't always a good choice doesn't mean you get to run the risk of making a really stupid one.

And before anyone asks, no, I don't think letting Loki room with me counts. It was either that, or letting a God of Mischief run loose half-cocked, paranoid, and, worst of all, bored.

Not really something you want set loose on your town.