On Evidence

From The Daily Writer:

Evidence plays a fundamental role in all writing. In nonfiction, of course, assertions must be backed by reliable data, testimony, analysis; they must weather counterarguments. Evidence also plays a role in fiction. If you're writing a political thriller, for example, and part of the drama is played out in the Pentagon, you will need to "prove" to your readers, by way of "inside" background information, that the setting is authentic.

The truth is universally honored; yet many are not aware of the extent to which a claim must be backed by evidence before it can be accepted as truth. Moreover, as Carl Sagan once pointed out, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." For example, if you're going to claim that you were visited by aliens, you had better come up with more than a photograph, which can be easily faked.

This is the central plot problem in Rasputin Wakes Up. Rasputin can tell from sensing his own body that he is a vampire; but how can he come to believe that Ivan really is Ivan the Terrible, First Tsar of Russia? No inside information is going to be sufficient, because Rasputin has no means of verifying it. Manner can be put aside to arrogance or delusion; there was no artwork that Ivan can stand next to to prove his identity, and it wouldn't be precise enough if there were. Ivan can try to use his personal authority on Rasputin, but the first encounter with Rasputin after he wakes up proves that Rasputin is too powerful a personality himself, even though he was "only" a peasant, for that to have any influence with him. And in fact, Ivan does lack authority, because he is not the Tsar that Rasputin knew, his powers are no greater than Rasputin's (only his experience), and in any case he has yet to realize that his power when he really was Tsar derived from the office, rather than his personal qualities.

Ergo, he can not make a case that Rasputin will believe; he is going to have to forge new power, rather than stand on his prior standing. This is the realization that will lead to the conclusion.

Thank goodness for ten minute writing prompts!! My whole plot makes sense now...