FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO WRITING A STORY
Posted on August 21, 2012
Okay, just did a title search for NED FIREBREAK to make sure that no other books had that title. It led me to looking up the definition of a firebreak, something that I subconsiously knew about, but couldn't really define for you. I just liked the name as it related to dragons or stopping flame.
Here's what wikipedia says: a firebreak (also called a fireroad, fire line or fuel break) is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire or wildfire. A firebreak may occur naturally where there is a lack of vegetation or "fuel", such as a river, lake or canyon. Firebreaks may also be man-made, and many of these also serve as roads, such as a logging road, four-wheel drive trail, secondary road, or a highway.
I find that this fits in perfectly with the memory gaps that keep Ned's mind from being flooded or engulfed in the huge task or situation he finds himself in. His memory loss keeps him from stumbling into the fire right away, causing him to gather his wits, determine his true allies and identify the true evil in his narrative. Amazing how that relates to the meaning of a firebreak, at least how I see it. I find the comfortable synchronicity of this falling into place one of the reasons why writing holds such an attraction to me. I live for these happy, almost planned, coincidences of plot. Makes me look like I truly had a ingenious plan crafted all along.