i have a file in my mind palace labeled “editor’s notes for rachel reid” and i will be sharing them periodically because it is my g-d ordained right to be annoying on tumblr.edu so here are some questions reid should have known the answers to before submitting the final drafts of heated rivalry and the long game (this is strictly abt the books)
note: none of this info needs to end up on page in the final draft, but the author should know all of it
what is shane’s middle name
why did their parents choose their names? it doesn’t have to be super deep and meaningful.
when did yuna’s family leave japan and why?
when and where were all of the parents born and who are their parents?
do the hollanders speak any language other than english at home?
did either family regularly attend church or engage in any religious practice during the boys’ childhoods?
what was alexei and ilya’s relationship like before irina died? how did her death affect alexei?
what does “is police” actually mean? how did this role change if at all with the fall of the soviet union?
who are yuna and irina outside of being mothers?
what are shane and ilya’s favorite songs and what kind of music do they enjoy? “shane doesn’t listen to music” is not an acceptable answer
what were their favorite subjects in school? equally as important, what playground equipment was their favorite?
every author should know their main character’s ennegrams. it’s useless as a personality test but a gold mine as a character development tool
what is one concrete thing each of them are afraid of? not abandonment or loneliness — i mean heights, darkness, open water, etc
what are their favorite colors?
what is the meanest thing each of them has ever said to someone else not including to each other? who did they say it to and why? did they mean it?
