Here's Let's Talk! That final chapter where I get to speak as an author instead of just storytelling. For those of you who don't know, Let's Talk is where I explain things like where I got the idea for this story, special plot points, and I break down some scenes. We've got quite a lot to talk about! Let's get into it! Let's talk about Out on the Road!


I've never felt like this while writing Let's Talk. Out on the Road has been the story during which I've gotten the most reviews, favorites and follows, and just generally the most support. It's weird letting it go now.

One really crazy thing is that at the moment this story has 5 490 views! That's completely insane, and I've just got to thank everyone who took time out of their days to read.

As you know, in chapter 8 I asked what story you want to see next. Finding the Baudelaires or A Slightly Changed Series of Unfortunate Events. Finding the Baudelaires got four votes, and A Slightly Changed Series of Unfortunate Events got six votes. So the next story you'll see from me in this fandom is ASCSOUE! Though that won't be for a while. I'm finishing off some stories over in the NRDD fandom, and then I've got a couple of other stories I'm really excited about writing over there. We'll see when I get back.

Now let's get into the part of Let's Talk which actually has a layout!

Inspiration and Ideas

I don't know where it came from, but around August 2019, I got a bunch of ideas surrounding road trips. There's just something fun about writing about road trips. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I guess I thought, "hey, what would happen if the Baudelaires and Quagmires went on a road trip together?", and this story was born.

I had two ideas immediately. Two of the scenes in this story were thought out from the beginning.

1: Quigley's confession to Duncan about kissing Violet.

2: Duncan and Violet's first kiss at the campfire.

So let's talk about those.

Quigley's confession

Those of you who have seen the Netflix movie Tall Girl might have recognized this scene. It is very much inspired by the scene where Stig tells Jack that he kissed Jodi. While I was rewatching Tall Girl I had the random thought: "This scene could fit Quigley and Duncan."

Duncan and Violet's kiss

When going to sleep, I always make scenarios in my head. Sometimes they're about me, sometimes they're about stories and characters. On one particular night I was in a particularly Series-of-Unfortunate-Events-ey mood, and I had the particular idea that Violet and Duncan would kiss by a campfire.

All the other things that happened

The theme park: This was a random idea that I came up with while trying to figure out where Quigley and Violet would kiss. The story of how I came up with it is an interesting one. Anyone who has played Goat Simulator will know about the town called Goat City Bay. In that town there is a theme park on a pier, and it has a big Ferris wheel. That's where I got the idea. I got an idea for my story about intelligent teenagers on a road trip from a game where you play as a strange goat. Not everyone can tell you that.

Klaus and Isadora's kiss: This scene was the writing version of improvising on stage. I just made things up as I went, and you all loved it! I'm very happy with how it turned out as well.

The whole Beatrice story line: I'm not sure where this came from. It just kind of happened. I wanted to do something with the parents, and this came to mind. I like it though. Bertrand and Quentin were kind of in the background during the entire story. Hope none of you have Bertrand and Quentin as your favorites.

Explain the Chapter

14 Years Since Last
Chapter Summary - On a casual afternoon, Beatrice Baudelaire gets a phone call from her best friend Karen Quagmire, whom she hasn't seen for 14 years.

I would like to call this "The Lonely Chapter", because once I had posted this, it took me six months to post the next chapter. It took pretty much exactly one year to finish this story. I think this was a great start to the story.

Love at First Sight
Chapter Summary - The two families meet each other, and sparks fly between the five older kids.

I remember that this chapter was pretty much entirely improvised. It was the one that I posted on March 20th, so I had a deadline to face. It's pretty good though if you ask me.

The First Hours
Chapter Summary - On their way to the first stop of the road trip, the adults catch up and the children get to know each other.

I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I just got to make up facts about the characters and make them have a nice conversation about it.

A Plain Walk in the Forest
Chapter Summary - Once they're finished setting up their camp for the night, the group take a walk in the forest.

Filler chapter alert! I felt it was too early to get into the real story points, so I threw this together.

Initials
Chapter Summary - The next morning, Sunny shows off her chef skills, the Quagmires bicker a bit, and Violet finds some very interesting letters written in Duncan's book.

This was what I had been looking forward to. I loved implementing small things from the show into this story. The initials in the red herring are adorable, so I had to put them in here as well.

Happenings at the Wonderfair
Chapter Summary - The group goes to a theme park to spend their day. Klaus and Isadora grow closer while Violet and Quigley share a moment on the Ferris wheel.

This chapter in its entirety was the most fun write. So many things happened, and each one of them pushed the story further.

Confessions
Chapter Summary - An item at the Wonderfair births a great concern in Beatrice. Both Violet and Quigley makes confessions to their roommates, to different reactions.

This chapter was the easiest to write, seeing as I had pretty much already written it in my head, and had already watched it in a movie. It turned out great in my opinion, and from what I can tell from reviews, you also thought it was great. Everyone was saying how bad they felt for Duncan.

The Particularly Perfect Moment
Chapter Summary - The families go to a nice restaurant, which improves the moods of Violet and Duncan, and strikes up a moment between Klaus and Isadora.

Kladora stuff; everyone's favorite! Here was another nod to the show, with the Pasta Puttanesca.

Motel of Admitting Secrets
Chapter Summary - While Isadora and Violet discuss Isadora's kiss with Klaus, a slightly drunk Beatrice confesses to Karen what happened on the Night of the Poison Darts.

And here we struck up the second big conflict of the story. I don't know whether I had planned this or if I just randomly decided that, "Yep, she's confessing now."

In the Heat of the Campfire
Chapter Summary - As Karen grows distant to Beatrice, Violet finally makes her decision between the Quagmire brothers.

This chapter was also very easy to write. I only struggled with the conversation before Quigley left. Then of course, as you know, we finally get our Dunclet moment. Because Dunclet is better than Quiglet; no matter what y'all Quiglet shippers say.

A New Conflict
Chapter Summary - A delighted Duncan tells Quigley what happened the previous evening. It doesn't turn out as he expected.

I remember that this chapter also just flowed out from my pen. I faced no struggles and could just imagine everything clearly. That was really nice.

The Wise Words of Monty
Chapter Summary - The families finally reach Monty Montgomery's house. They eat cake, Sunny finds new friends, and Monty talks to Quigley.

Monty and Quigley's talk was my favorite scene to write in the entire story. I don't know what it is about it, but it was just so nice to write. I really felt like I got the characters, things were wrapped up nicely, and it was a great moment.

The End of the Road
Chapter Summary - At the end of the road trip Quigley finally accepts Duncan and Violet's relationship, and Beatrice confronts Karen about her distant behavior.

I wrote one part of this in July (Quigley accepting Duncan and Violet), and the rest during my food and nutrition class (I go to a school which focuses on cooking and learning about food and restaurants and stuff)... in September. If the two parts of the chapter seem a bit disconnected - you now know why. I was planning on writing one more chapter, but then I fit everything into chapter 13. So the end was just as unexpected for me as for everyone else. It's a bit sad that it's over.

But now I'm excited about writing some other stuff, with other characters. I'm now moving back to the Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn fandom for a while. We'll see when I get back.

Thank youuuu!

Almost 5 500 views... This is insane. I don't have the words to say thank you enough. So instead I'm just gonna assume you understand how thankful I am, and I'm gonna get straight to special thank yous.

Thanks a heck lot to 1d10teque, AHunterofArtemis1507, Abby-E-Potter, Anonymoose666, AnonymousRebel1103, Danceurlifeaway2, Dylan Quagmire, Fanficloverforever2005, HarleyOfTheSand, Kat Princess 3103, Marthmello, Number 10, SkiGirl121, VeronicaWeasley, VfdAgent, Vi Baudelaire, XxJOYCExX, .0529, sunflowerrss and uncoolfanboy for following! 20 people followed this, and to me that is crazy. Y'all are awesome, thank you so freaking much.

Thanks even more to 1d10teque, Anonymoose666, AnonymousRebel1103, Danceurlifeaway2, Dylan Quagmire, Fanficloverforever2005, Fizzydrop200, JASMINE, Marthmello, Number Ten, ParisEra, Shadow77776666, Sheriff100, SkiGirl121, TUCfan, VeronicaWeasley, VfdAgent, Vi Baudelaire, XxJOYCExX, sunflowerrss, supremefangirl18 and uncoolfanboy for favoriting! It means incredibly much and really supports me more than you can imagine. Favorites motivate me almost as much as reviews.

This story has 76 reviews... That is far beyond anything I imagined possible for any of my stories, but you all made it happen! Thank you so inordinately much! While I can't write down everyone who reviewed, I want to give special thanks to a few people who reviewed every single chapter, or almost every chapter. So here goes.

The most thanks of all to VeronicaWeasley, Number Ten, Abby-E-Potter, sunflowerrss, TUCfan, and Vfdagent! Your reviews really are what made this story possible. I couldn't be more thankful that you reviewed so much!

Thank you so much for reading Out on the Road!