Pre-Workshop Reflection

     Having just completed my first draft of "Logan's Flight," the aspect that I'm most excited about is the distinct voice of my main character. Logan is funny and sarcastic but underneath that is a lot of pain and struggle. I think this makes her realistic. Usually I find it challenging to create a voice or to recognize if my writing has a distinct voice or not. I think it's working better in this story because the source of Logan's tension is based on someone I've met a handful of times. I wanted to try writing this from the perspective of someone close to her, so I thought what better way to create tension than to make it her mother? I like my writing to challenge me as well and this story definitely does that. It's hard to write about a mother/daughter relationship like this one, especially because the mother is so selfish and cold but has no self-awareness, has no idea how she affects other people.

     I do want to make improvements in terms of internal conflict for Logan. I worry there may be too much focus on her mother, which is external and not on Logan herself. I hope it comes across that showing her irritation with her mother is reflective of problems Logan needs to work on. Especially because she is, like her mother, not incredibly self-aware in the beginning. She doesn't see the contradictions in her logic and behavior. For example, she is so aggravated by her mother that she tries to avoid her but yet she is also co-dependent and still turns to her when something goes wrong.

     For this reason, I would say her internal conflict is that she has low self-esteem and needs to value herself more. She wants to be strong and independent but she keeps repeating the same patterns, allowing unhealthy relationships to remain in her life when creating some distance from those toxic people would be in her best interest.

     For the workshop, I'd like to address how to put more focus on Logan's internal conflict and less on how she is affected by her mother. Also I'd like to know if the ending is too quick of a turn-around for Logan or if it seems natural and shows that she is taking a risk and trying to better her life.