Going through some big, tectonic alterations right now. It’s surprising how much major new material and ideas can show up this late in the drafting process. I think I must have written at least three new (possible) opening scenes over the weekend.

An interesting discovery in terms of technique was to realize how different a character can appear to be in different contexts. Hanging out people who despise you brings out one side of your character; being in a situation where you suddenly in charge brings out completely different aspects.

Manuscript word count: 61,000 (although a few scenes are probably going to be cut…)

There are…problems with our universe. It’s set up to be recycled. Humanity isn’t even on the radar as an obstacle.

When Zed–the cleanup guy–gets here, however, he gets zapped by Eddy Brucker’s time amplifier. No harm, really, but Zed finally notices mankind. Mind control, world domination, a mystical rat, time savants, buried Angels, and enslavement of the entire human race are just a few of the high points.

Dark Matters is the story of what happens when you don’t pay attention to your assumptions about your universe. Think you’ve got a cozy five billion years until your star pops? Think again.

You never know how the Makers are rating your universe. They might just recycle the whole damn thing.

Would you even know what that looked like? Or would you just wind up going down the plug-hole with everyone else?

Start paying attention. The end is…inevitable. Deal with it.