Remember to Have Her Punch Someone in the Face: A Satisfying Full-Circle Moment

While editing an early chapter of my novel by hand, I scribbled a little note to myself in red pen:

“Remember to have her punch someone in the face.”

It wasn’t a random thought—it was written right there during one of my favorite early scenes, where Rune’s best friend, Halia, tells her:

“If a god isn’t careful with you next time, feel free to punch them in the face.”

Naturally, I wanted to make sure Rune actually took that advice to heart. And she does.

About 50 pages later, Rune, the God of Fate, finds herself in a tense moment with her love interest—a moment that escalates quickly when he tries to kidnap her (romance is complicated, okay?). Remembering Halia’s words, she makes a snap decision and punches him square in the face.

Honestly? He deserved it.

What I love most is seeing how that little thread came full circle—from one throwaway line between friends, to a red-ink reminder in the margins, to a defining moment of agency and power. It’s small, but it’s one of those scenes that makes me smile every time I revisit it.

I’ve included some pictures below—the two highlighted passages where the setup and payoff play out. These are the moments that remind me how much fun writing can be.