What Might Have Happened VI – A Fateful Father
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve written something in this little blog series. At the moment I’ve spent two weeks in Istanbul. I intend on staying for at least a month here, and perhaps longer. I love the city and I find it really easy to pass the time in.
It’s also been a god send for my writing. I find myself completing words faster than usual. By the time I leave I will have completed a full novel right here.
Anyway, on with the blog.
Richard’s father is an interesting character because he has so much potential. I used him throughout the series, but as Richard grows older his parents naturally drift into a back seat role. But my plans for Richard’s father, Jim Warren, changed.
As always, there will be spoilers in this blog, so if you haven’t read the series from start to finish I strongly recommend not reading any further.
Richard’s Father from the Beginning
Jim Warren began as all fathers do. He’s the primary authority figure in Richard’s life. Until the end of 1964, he is also the person Richard looks up to. He’s a man he can respect and grow up with. That is until he collaborates with Robert Hardy to burn down Lord Camberwell’s farm.
This deeply effects Richard and he never sees his father in the same way again, even if he never stops loving and respecting him.
By the events of 1969, it’s clear that Richard’s father is quickly becoming an alcoholic. This is compounded with his reappearance in 1973. After his father banishes him from the abode, he’s never seen again, although he does gain the occasional mention.
That was the plan I went with, but it wasn’t the plan I originally had.
The Alcoholic Goes to War
I wanted Richard to have a big angle with his father. I intended to have his father intervene in his plans as an alcoholic. The story was supposed to be about conflict within the family environment rather than outside it. Later on I would have Jim contribute directly to Richard’s mother’s death.
I admit I didn’t have the storyline fully mapped out for this one. They were ideas and they never went further than that.
This is one of those decisions I don’t regret taking. I believe that ultimately the books turned out for the better simply by having the stories pan out as they did. Jim would probably be an additional antagonist too far.
Next Time
1984 was not the original end of the series. There was more of the story still to unfold.
Find out what this means next time in part seven of this blog series.
Until next time…
James Farner
It’s also been a god send for my writing. I find myself completing words faster than usual. By the time I leave I will have completed a full novel right here.
Anyway, on with the blog.
Richard’s father is an interesting character because he has so much potential. I used him throughout the series, but as Richard grows older his parents naturally drift into a back seat role. But my plans for Richard’s father, Jim Warren, changed.
As always, there will be spoilers in this blog, so if you haven’t read the series from start to finish I strongly recommend not reading any further.
Richard’s Father from the Beginning
Jim Warren began as all fathers do. He’s the primary authority figure in Richard’s life. Until the end of 1964, he is also the person Richard looks up to. He’s a man he can respect and grow up with. That is until he collaborates with Robert Hardy to burn down Lord Camberwell’s farm.
This deeply effects Richard and he never sees his father in the same way again, even if he never stops loving and respecting him.
By the events of 1969, it’s clear that Richard’s father is quickly becoming an alcoholic. This is compounded with his reappearance in 1973. After his father banishes him from the abode, he’s never seen again, although he does gain the occasional mention.
That was the plan I went with, but it wasn’t the plan I originally had.
The Alcoholic Goes to War
I wanted Richard to have a big angle with his father. I intended to have his father intervene in his plans as an alcoholic. The story was supposed to be about conflict within the family environment rather than outside it. Later on I would have Jim contribute directly to Richard’s mother’s death.
I admit I didn’t have the storyline fully mapped out for this one. They were ideas and they never went further than that.
This is one of those decisions I don’t regret taking. I believe that ultimately the books turned out for the better simply by having the stories pan out as they did. Jim would probably be an additional antagonist too far.
Next Time
1984 was not the original end of the series. There was more of the story still to unfold.
Find out what this means next time in part seven of this blog series.
Until next time…
James Farner
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