Chapter 8 is going to affect people differently. This one isn't so easy to get through, but it forwards the plot significantly, so bear with me and hang in there. Brighter times are ahead.
As frivolous as these stories we enjoy sometimes are, we should always be aware of what "consensual" means and be responsible. My hopes are that no one among my readers has had to endure such an incident.
As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments on this blog.
Timothy,
ReplyDeleteJesus, I didn't see this coming. I like how you pulled a character out of your first story. I know you will make something good happen from this.
It sort of made me shudder as I remember being pressured into doing something I didn't want to years ago. Thankfully, I resisted. This really struck home with me.
Just finished Ch 7-8 and I'm loving the continuing story. I'm with Timothy about Nifty stories: It's caring about the characters that grabs me and brings me back. I loved Trent coming out to his mom, and the very different scenes with Lance in Ch 7 (the sexy flirtation) and Ch 8 (his rescue of Trent). Lance btw grabbed my attention way back in "Extracurricular," maybe for his raw sexuality plus the feeling that that wasn't all there was to him.
ReplyDeleteKen,
DeleteOver the course of the writing, Lance really became a strong character to me. When all is said and done, I found his evolution as a character very rewarding. He has so many twists and turns ahead of him. Way back at the beginning, I wasn't expecting him to develop into this relatable person. There is SO much more ahead.
I'm happy that you've addressed such a serious issue in this chapter. Having said that, I feel that the story missed an opportunity to at least mention the option of requesting a rape kit to collect evidence that can be later used for criminal justice.
ReplyDeleteI know that it's ultimately the victim's decision whether to report the crime to the police, and also that a rape kit might not fit in the story arc. But, rape is such a serious issue that I believe an author's note with a link to helpful resources for rape victims (like the link I'm listing below) would be helpful for some readers. Your stories are educational to an extent, and it's just a shame to see the rape victim not get to handle the situation in an ideal way.
RAINN "Steps You Can Take After Sexual Assault": https://www.rainn.org/articles/steps-you-can-take-after-sexual-assault