FALLEN NEWS

Fallen is pretty much the reason I'm still on this site. I continuously receive messages and reviews on it, for which I am eternally grateful. I have, over the last couple of years, been fairly terrible regarding updating it. The reason, particularly recently, is that whenever I sit down to try and write for it, I'm pretty much constantly cringing at my writing and treatment of the subject matter when I began the story with such enthusiasm a handful of years ago. For this reason, I am in the process of a fairly detailed re-write/edit before I feel comfortable continuing with Fallen.

I have matured as a writer, and more importantly as a person! I can see the inconsistencies in my writing, and criticisms which I had previously shrugged off resonate much more with me now! I believe I approached the writing of this story with naivety and romanticism, and didn't take the opportunities for deep character study which were available. The way I treated the situation somewhat trivialised it, and I feel that with a great deal more life experience than I had when I started Fallen, I could do a far better job at this point and further, but not without bringing the currently available chapters up to my present standard of writing and understanding.

I can confirm that the story remains a work in progress, with a planned sequel although I am unsure how many more chapters Fallen will include. I do my best to answer all questions, although this is easiest when reviewers are logged in or send me a message! I used to have a specific Tumblr for the story, but deleted it as I rarely use Tumblr anymore, so do message me if you have queries or comments!

A note: I won't publicly enter into debate about the morality of writing/reading this story and will delete pointless flaming. Character studies, even those disapproved of by some, are kind of my thing. It may occur to some as sick. But Spielberg's representation of the events at Plaszow was not accurate in itself. If you find writing fan fiction set during the period of the Holocaust, best not read the story. I would point out that a great deal of artistic license was used in making the film of Schindler's List, and before that in the book, Schindler's Ark. The nature of these narratives means that taking liberties when writing fan fiction comes quite naturally, though I hope I am doing so sensitively and with adequate historical awareness.

I have come across a couple of blog posts flaming this story, and whilst I understand the knee jerk reaction of revulsion to some of the stuff in these stories, I'd rather people didn't knock stuff they aren't into or interested in. I am aware I was not as sensitive as I could have been when I started this story, but to be honest, I was a kid. I hadn't much experience of relationships, much less abusive ones, and unfortunately, I am now in a position where I have had a taste of those experiences. Whilst this story and topic still interests me, I hope in rewriting it, I will be able to undo some of the damaging representations I was so obsessed with at the time when I started it.

BELOW is a timeline of events up until Chapter 17, to alleviate any confusion. I am attempting to be as consistent as possible with dates, in history and in the film, but suffice to say that in coming chapters, there will be some significant changes regarding historical timeline, all of which will be explained in due course.

"FALLEN" TIMELINE

Bold = date

Normal = historical event

Italic = "Fallen" specific event

13 March, 1943 - Liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto

Helen Hirsch goes to Plaszow

6 April, 1943 - Helen is chosen to be maid to the Kommandant, Amon Goeth

Early 1944 - The burning of the bodies of Plaszow prisoners begins.

28 April, 1944 - Oskar Schindler's 32nd birthday

29 April, 1944 - Oskar Schindler is arrested for kissing a Jewish worker at his party.

22 September, 1944 - Amon refuses Oskar's request for permission to include Helen on his list of workers to move to Brinnlitz

Oskar offers Helen an illicit chance at escape

14 October, 1944 - Amon takes Helen to the woods with the intention of shooting her

Amon discovers the escape plot and executed the prisoners involved

15 October, 1944 - Oskar Schindler's workers are relocated to Brinnlitz

Helen escapes and goes to Brinnlitz with the other workers

23 October, 1944 - Amon goes to Brinnlitz under the guise of an inspection, to look for Helen