January 25, 2009: Week 2
Congratulations to writing partners Tim Dragga and Jacob Michael. They gave us some very interesting situations and cool characters to develop and build on. You have the following characters to consider as you go about writing the next ten pages: Raul, Masked Spy, Cable, Jonas, Jonas' mom, Harry Walters, Freddie, Nora, and any new characters you want to include.

We left off with Raul racing out of Harry's house after hearing the approaching police sirens and with Jonas perhaps learning that Harry isn't who he thought he was. So, where do we take the story from here? What's Jonas' reaction going to be to seeing Harry with a gun? How is Harry going to handle this situation? Maybe he's unexpectedly brusque with Jonas? What will he tell Jonas and the police and what will Jonas tell Nora? Also, what will Raul report to Cable? And what are Cable and Raul up to anyway? Lastly, who is this masked spy and why did he want the obsidian? You should consider all these questions as you go about building on the story we already have.

Your pages may continue the scene in Harry's house but they don't necessarily have to. You could start the next ten pages with Harry talking (lying?) to the police or with Jonas begging him to teach him to be a spy. Or even pick up later that evening or the next day or next week in school. Maybe Jonas gets caught selling test answers and is suspended or his mom refuses to let him go to MIT camp. Maybe he recognizes Raul in one of his morning news stories? Perhaps things go south with Nora or maybe, impressed by his bravery, she asks him out on a date?

Again, Tim and Jacob did a great job of leaving us all sorts of minor details and story threads pick up on. For example, who is Nora thinking of calling when she considers her cell phone? Maybe it's insignificant, but maybe not. Be sure to read their pages carefully and build on something that strikes you as interesting. At the same time you should create your own story elements to take the plot and characters in interesting, unexpected places.

As always feel free to consider some of these suggestions or ignore them completely. The best submission will win out regardless.

Good luck!

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