I have a… problem isn’t the word, but it’s close. There’s this thing anyway with Drink Me where you can read it in a way that’s… not what I intended. I’ve been aware of it for a while now. And I don’t mind people reading it that way because honestly the idea of following that path is sort of appealing and I haven’t totally ruled it out. Which, you know, might have something to do with why it keeps sneaking in.
But I was reviewing this draft, looking at a scene that I thought was innocent in that respect. And I found myself thinking, You know what? You could read that a whole other way.
Now I’m wondering just how much of the book is like that. I mean, I’m usually very precise in my word choices. If I phrase something in a way that introduces ambiguity in meaning it’s usually because I want both interpretations to be available to the reader, either because they’re equally valid or because I want the reader to think about it. And I enjoy ambiguity, so I do it fairly regularly. So I expect there to be alternate interpretations to my work. I rather encourage it.
But this — I didn’t mean to put this in. And I’m just… my characters are meant to be in all kinds of denial but I’m not. I’m supposed to know what’s going on. And I’m not entirely sure I do.
Kandace Mavrick
Paul McLaughlan
platform thing 
Jp
17/10/2013
It could be said that the characters are inside your head, bursting to get out, and you’re simply converting their story, their existence from inside your head to written form.
Does anyone need to be in control?
Kandace Mavrick
17/10/2013
Yes! Me! I’d like to be in control! I hesitate to use the phrase ‘control freak’ but it’s not, you know, totally inaccurate…
D. James Fortescue
17/10/2013
When it can be read from different angles, it would open up opportunities to ‘curve ball’ the reader while not being from out of nowhere.
Many writers say that the characters and stories take on a life of their own once they are transferred into text, so maybe roll with it and see where it leads? You can control which sub-story branch the overarching storyline goes down. Like a rabbit hole with a bungee cord attached; you can explore, but always get back out and try the other branch =)
Minkie
18/10/2013
You also become ambiguous when you are unwilling to commit to either answer.Even long after the point where you really should.
Kandace Mavrick
18/10/2013
Yeah, that’s not ambiguity. That’s denial. And we’re trying to avoid it.