Would you risk changing everything?
Hey everyone! Andrew here.
The subject line of the newsletter probably gave things away a bit. Yes, I have time travel on the brain. Time loops, specifically, and not in a casual, "oh that's a fun idea" kind of way, but more in a "I have covered multiple pages of notes trying to untangle this mess of weird plot shenanigans and I'm very confused" kind of way.
Let me set the scene a little. Tokyo is still coming down from cherry blossom season, which means there's still plenty of hay fever and sneezing to go around before we get drowned by rainy season monsoons. The petals are mostly gone now. Things end, things begin. My daughter is now off to university which is super cool. I'm very proud of her for that! But what a change. Pretty soon we'll be empty-nesters and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Happy mostly, I think. It's weird and complicated. All of this is to say that time loop ideas have been on my mind lately and while they are there, I need to work on them.
Here's the thing about time travel as a storytelling device: there are really only a handful of basic shapes the plot can take, and each one comes with its own set of headaches for the writer (that's me).
There's the classic Bootstrap Paradox: Something (an object, an idea, a person) exists in a loop with no clear origin point. Who wrote the music if the musician only learned it by going back in time and hearing themselves play it?
There's the Grandfather Paradox: You go back, you change something, you theoretically shouldn't exist. Most stories sidestep this one with alternate timelines or the idea that time "corrects" itself. (The latter always feels a bit convenient to me, honestly.) Back to the Future did this one.
The Predestination Paradox is the one where everything that happened was always going to happen. No matter what the protagonist tries to do, they end up causing the very thing they were trying to prevent. Tragic? Yes. Satisfying? Also yes when it's done well.
The version I've always had a soft spot for is the problem-solving loop. You put a character in a situation where they have to use their knowledge of different points in time to navigate their way out of a genuinely terrible bind, and the plot happens. It's like an escape room, except the rooms are different eras of your own life or different parts of a series of events and if our MC gets it wrong, they're probably dead (or will cease to exist).
That last one is the shape of what I'm working on right now. Without giving too much away, the protagonist finds himself in a present-day situation that is potentially life-ending. The only way out involves navigating specific moments in the past, understanding their ripple effects, and making very careful choices about what to touch and what to leave alone. It's complex, and it is breaking my already fairly fragile brain (my brain is crying out for a holiday from my day job recently. I want to write, dammit!) I think if I can get this plot right it will work and it would be something that I'd want to read (which is always my test for what I'm writing).
Which brings me to my question for you this week: which of these time travel setups do you actually enjoy reading (or watching)? And is there one that you can't stand? I have strong opinions, but I want to hear yours first.
Writing update: The Bone Singer (formerly Muni or The Master's Munificence) continues at 150k+ words and climbing. I keep thinking I'm close to the end. I am not close to the end. Sigh. Savior-X (ZPA prequel) is also moving along well. It's been genuinely fun to write, which I was not expecting. I'm hoping to have a better update on this next time.
That's it for this week. Please do have a look at the poll below and let us know what you think!
All the best,
Andrew (ZZ)
Zero-Point Awakening - The Complete Series Books 1-8
This deserves my 5* rating. It is epic in scope and scale with many remarkable characters.
- Amazon 5 Star Review
Promos
Check out these bargain and discounted reads from our fellow speculative fiction authors!
What would you do if you faced the devil?
Apocalyptic thriller set in the jungles of Colombia
History warned them. The iron braces warned them. They ignored it all.
When it comes to First Contact, there are no second chances.
It's time to take the battle into the heart of the enemy.
If you met your past self, would you warn them… or leave things alone? I’d talk to them I’d warn them about everything I’d stay quiet Nope—I’m not messing with time
Survey Result
And now, let's take a look at last week's poll results. We asked, "Heroic sacrifice endings—powerful or just plain depressing?"
Here are the results:
- Depends on the story --> 45%
- Too depressing. I want hope --> 25%
- Bittersweet, but worth it --> 15%
- Powerful and unforgettable --> 13%
Andrew: Forty-five percent of us landed on "depends on the story," which is no doubt the correct answer and also the most maddeningly unhelpful answer. (I say that with love. It is also my answer. But it's the safe, easy answer too.)
Twenty-five percent said too depressing, give me hope. I hear you. Finishing a book and sitting there in the wreckage of what's left of a character you loved's life is... tough. I usually don't pick those kinds of books up again. Too dark. I read for escapism. But not everyone feels the same, which is totally fine. You won't find me writing or even co-writing a book like that though. If you want pain and misery you need to check out one of Damian's solo books 🙂 heh. (I couldn't resist!)
Thirteen percent of us said 'powerful and unforgettable'. These are the readers who walk into battle with their eyes open and respect the storytelling craft enough to appreciate the gut punch when it lands.
Fifteen percent went bittersweet but worth it. I sometimes live here, actually. But the sacrifice has to mean something. If it is just sad for the sake of sad, or the writer's being mean to the characters because they can and there's no real reason for it, then I am not interested. But if it reframes everything that came before it and leaves you sitting quietly for a moment after you finish the last page? That's a kind of magic.
The short version: most of us are okay with characters dying as long as it earns it. Which is, frankly, a sensible way to read fiction. Thanks all!
Your Thoughts
A big shout out to A'Ryen for their incredibly kind words about the newsletter. Those comments genuinely made our month (our entire quarter, if I'm being honest). It means a lot to know this little corner of the internet is bringing some enjoyment.
And thank you, as always, to everyone who reads, votes, replies, and generally keeps this thing going. New material is on the way. More of it than I'd like to admit is currently sitting in various states of "almost done" on my hard drive, which I am choosing to see as a positive sign rather than a crisis. I refuse to hear otherwise!
**Please note: All links in this newsletter are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ZZ ADAMS
Meguro-Ku Kakinokizaka 2-10-8, Tokyo
Japan
We love connecting with readers and fans but if you've been added to this mailing list by mistake or you no longer want to be subscribed you can easily at any time by clicking the link below.
I no longer want to receive ZZ Adams updates and freebies
