The prequel to my trilogy is still in developmental editing stages, but writing it was an interesting experience due to the issue of plot armor.

If you’re not familiar with the term, “plot armor” describes a scenario where readers/viewers know a character MUST survive a scene or even an entire story due to outside circumstances–the character is narrating in first person, for instance, OR . . . you’re writing a prequel, and characters appear in the original installment.

Considering book one of my trilogy (and the prequel) are about a magical civil war, this was a really interesting and sometimes delicate situation to be in.

How could I craft real stakes?

I ended up making the prequel a different kind of story. I’d say it’s a redemption story, for sure, centered around someone who does not appear in the original trilogy but aided villain (and sorcerer) Zalski Forzythe in his takedown of Herezoth’s royal family, which occurred before book one starts.

(This isn’t a spoiler. When I finally get around to releasing the prequel in a couple of years, book summary and blurbs will mention it’s a redemption story.)

My point is, the tension of the prequel is focused JUST as much on this woman’s redemption and progression toward change as it is any kind of action. (It doesn’t hurt either that she’s not in the original trilogy, so you honestly don’t know what will happen to her, even if you know certain other characters will survive the prequel.)

I don’t center things on the future of the Crimson League, because the reader already knows that.

This doesn’t feel like an ingenius revelation, but then there’s Rings of Power.

****SPOILER ALERT****

I didn’t watch Rings of Power, but I had a lot of fun watching reviews ripping it apart.

As an example of what not to do in a plot armor situation, this show ended season 1 with viewers not knowing what had happened to Isildur and whether he’d survived a battle.

Gee. Isildur. Who is Aragorn’s ancestor, but is a teenager with no kids of his own at this time. Isildur who CUTS THE RING FROM SAURON’S HAND IN THE WAR OF THE LAST ALLIANCE.

I WONDER IF HE’LL BE OK.

It’s ridiculous writing. The moment has no tension or question to it. We KNOW Isildur is just fine. So why did they write this?

Heaven only knows.