Category: Garden of Eden
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Fourteen: The Exciting Dance
Everything continues to build towards the big race, yet the most interesting thing I found when writing this was how it let me throw down in words, in safe, science-fiction form, snapshots of my own introspection.
While this is, throughout, a work of colourful fantasy, I think it is from these chapters onwards where I let a little more of my own doubts and memories cloud the characters.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Thirteen: “Young Man’s Heart”
At the end of the day, Garden of Eden is a novel about chance encounters and the new friends waiting to be made in groups you thought familiar. It’s about the excitement of being somewhere, being part of something.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Twelve: “In My Dream”
The experience of live music is dreamlike, intense and memorable. This is a chapter that tries to communicate that, while also offering a little calmer activity beforehand.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Eleven: “The Borderline”
The Grey Cliff chapters of Garden of Eden were where things kicked off in all directions, where I tried to capture the excitement of meeting people, of finding new things, of everything that could happen.
For the characters it isn’t necessarily a new experience, but I wanted it to feel like even so, there were surprises.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Ten: “Leap Into the Heart of It”
The second half of Garden of Eden is ostensibly about a race. It’s more about how just the right things at the right time can lead to new friendships and a new life.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Nine: “Sky Coloured Days”
This is where Garden of Eden steps up a gear. I wanted this to be a story about people learning to do something with their lives, getting that buzz of energy and enthusiasm I feel when I commit myself to a project. Having something to work towards.
From this point on, the characters have something to aim for.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Eight: “Father and Son”
Previous Chapter: “Hard Lessons”
In this chapter, there is an argument. People do not know how to react, what to say, how to make themselves clear.
It is not pleasant.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Seven: “Hard Lessons”
Previous Chapter: “Fly Up in the Air”
This chapter is where, really, the conflicts begin; they are not dramatic ones in any sense except people are disappointed, and scared, and made aware that they have gone wrong. People will make mistakes, even in utopia.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Six: “Fly Up in the Air”
Previous Chapter: “Well Met”
If reading this can make it feel like you’re right there, you’re going too fast, daring to try stupid things, I feel it has probably succeeded. Writing a story about racing meant I needed to teach myself how to write speed.
“Garden of Eden” Chapter Five: “Well Met”
Previous Chapter: “I Hear You Listen To Your Rock and Roll”
With this chapter the remainder of the main cast are introduced; the remainder of the writing is about how they face what they have got into, and who they meet on the way.
Ideas Without End 