Lesson 7

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Monster Reveal Track

What I learned: The monster is the mystery to be solved. As the story develops, the monster is slowly revealed, and the hero must put the pieces of the puzzle together so they can understand and defeat it. The key points are layered through the plot as clues.

What are its powers?

• To predict the last words a person will speak before they die.

• A person only has a short amount of time (???) after they receive their “last words,” before they perish.

• Those who encounter the typewriter become obsessed with it, feeling compelled to use it despite the ominous consequences.

• The words it types cannot be destroyed – if you tear up the paper, it will reappear in some form.

• The lives it takes are souls that it uses to make itself more powerful (their anger and bitterness fuel the curse.)

• If the typewriter is destroyed – it could manifest as something more powerful – like an app – that can reach more people.

Note: it has had different iterations over the centuries and is now contained in an electric typewriter.

What are its limitations?

• Its location in this church basement is permanent – it can’t go anywhere. But it compels people to come to it.

• If someone confesses the truth, it no longer has power over them. Complete honesty is the only way to break the curse, adding a moral dilemma for the characters as they confront their own deceptions.

What are its weaknesses?

• Destroying the typewriter may prove to be a monumental task, as it can reassemble itself or reappear in a different form, ensuring that its dark power endures.

• The hero must find a way to appease or release the souls who have succumbed to the typewriter’s hold… this will weaken its power and then ultimately find a way to sever the malevolent spirit’s connection to the typewriter permanently.

What is its Plan/Purpose/Appetite?

• It targets specific people who perpetually tell lies to gain wealth and position.