January 18, 2026
The Margaret Test
When a scene becomes too clever, I run what I call the Margaret Test. If Margaret would not believe the line, the line goes.
If she would ask one sharp question and the scene cannot survive it, I rewrite.
Margaret is not a supporting ornament to Alistair; she is one of the moral centres of the series. She notices where people are posturing, where they are frightened, and where they are trying too hard to look principled. That test has helped me avoid sentimentality. It is easy to make a scene emotional.
It is much harder to make it honest.
Margaret keeps me honest.
Clive