In the software writing business there is a term called forking. It means to branch off the main line or code base and start something substantially different with new code added to the old. In my current short story, I decided to fork the story and go off in a different direction. I did this by saving it under a new name and then making the changes. I didn’t want to lose the original plot line in case I didn’t like the new direction.
I think this is done all the time and people just don’t call it forking. What can I say, I’m a bit geeky that way. Up until yesterday I didn’t have a good handle on what the story was about. I think I knew subconsciously, but I just hadn’t formalized it. Then a line came to be at work and I wrote it down. It pretty much summed up the theme of revenge that I always knew was there.
If you want to piss me off, shoot me with my own gun. If you really want to get on my good side, miss.
I really like that line and it sums up all the action to follow.