Paging the Creative Process

Sometimes I forget how much fun the start of the creative process can be. I've gathered up the notes and jots I had for the next book. As you might recall, I'm planning two different books that deal with the same subject matter. However, one is meant to be frightening and the other not so much. I don't want to call it an outright comedy, since I don't see overt humor as part of it. I had thought it would be difficult to sort which bits to use for which tale. But no, it seems I had been organizing the files that way all along. (Obviously it's been a little while since I jotted anything down for either one.) There is one snippet from the "scary" ideas that I think I'll be using for this book rather than the other, though. It just doesn't have the fright vibe.

Otherwise, I've been poring through my book of names... and I think I found that character's name I've been looking for and thought I might have had before. I'd also been hunting around the internet, doing a little preliminary research on what has been done already in this vein... and that of course led to another page or set of goodies to peruse. The ideas are bouncing around in my head and starting to multiply. No, I don't have a clear picture of the entire tale, yet. It's a lot of fun to watch a story grow.

It's also amazing to me that not every novel comes to me in the same way. This one, for instance, I have the general idea that I'm adding to and "listening" for more from the characters. But as for exactly where it’s going and what the characters want...? [None of them have been all too vocal.] But that's another way that it happens. For What If It's a Trick Question? the main character Jeremy would not shut up. I had to write an outline in paragraphs just to keep up with him and the whole story. Other stories have "tentpoles" to them, including the beginning, middle and ending and I just have to fill in the rest.

Of course, with any of these “methods” there’s always a curve ball or some part of the story that’s “missing.” In these instances, I kind of roll with the changes or let the details work out as I go. Usually the characters will come and help me -- after all, it’s their story, they lived it, they would know. And that’s the part I think I enjoy the most... the sudden and unexpected discoveries along the way. It’s the closest I can come to experiencing one of my own books unfettered by knowing what happens.

So I’ll just keep looking into the subject material, making discoveries, sorting and hammering out and listening for the characters and soon enough I’ll not be able to keep the words off the page. At least that’s the general idea...

...and how happy will I be when the title of the book is known to me?  I've only written one book that I had no idea of the title until 3/4 of the way through writing it, and that's Jeremy's story.  Midnight Chaser had a switch in title, but only by a word cut and flip of words.  Somehow I prefer knowing what a book is called as I write it. 

Tweaking Perfect

What a crazy world we live in...
...and my, how it's even changed the very way we think.

I recently took note of an actor (Chris Evans) in a movie and thought to myself... Wow, this guy would be perfect for the role of Zihn in a movie adaptation of my novel Midnight Chaser.  (Should such an occasion ever arise.)

There's just one thing.  They'd need to use CGI to make him shorter/smaller.  Isn't it wacky?  That such a notion would occur to me... and delightfully worse still, that it is in fact possible!

Also, it's the little things...  Even though I had seen him in a film or two, I hadn't pegged him as my character before....  not until he sported facial hair and had a certain flair to his attitude.

So a word to the wise in terms of casting... sometimes perfection needs a little tweaking.

And to be honest, no matter who winds up playing him one day, CGI work would have to be applied to match a particular facial feature or two anyway.

For the record, that's my personal "photo" of Zihn.  See here for more.

Yet another unforeseen "whoa" of the 21st Century.

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."

Allow me to go to Burton’s Alice once more. I’ll just be using it as an example for a moment. I find myself wondering about the previous history of the realm. Assuming that what the movie presents is true, I want to know more about the lives of Mirana of Marmoreal and Iracebeth of Crims (The White Queen and Red Queen respectively.) What of their childhood?  I’m also curious about their parents. What had the land been like during their realm? At what point and why did the Red Queen move from chess pieces to playing cards? Also, why had Nivens McTwisp, the White Rabbit, entered into our realm in the first place? (i.e. when child Alice followed him down the first time)

There are of course no answers to these questions necessarily. But that’s my question, of sorts. Are there answers? Should there be?

For another example, Anon wanted to know more about the histories touched upon in my novel What If It’s a Trick Question? Tell of the battles, the betrayals and the alliances, and the one called Choke. Main character Jeremy’s very first fan also inquired about getting to read the past the novel speaks about.  And yet Buttercup (about halfway through Jeremy's plight and loving it) doesn't feel any such need.

My novel Midnight Chaser, intended as a stand-alone piece, also prompted interest for more (both past and future) from readers, Banky especially.

But in all those cases, it’s just not a story worth telling. In other words, nothing I could tell would be any better than what they might imagine. What’s presented is all one really needs to know. The outcome of the past is what’s important and giving blow-by-blows leading up to it would just be, as the saying goes, “milking it” in the bad connotation. The same goes with the future of the main characters in Midnight Chaser. Story needs conflict, and there’s nothing I can see (nor want to) thrust upon these characters to spark up story. Sure, you can imagine them in all sorts of adventures. But nothing that would warrant or sustain a book. It’s much more fun to have the freedom to create the vignette scenarios anyway.

I know some are put off by Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles having a book for nearly every minor character. (I exaggerate to make a point.) And yet, there are those who still cannot get enough. I understand both schools of thought. Similarly, Buttercup read through one of my favorite series (at my suggestion), The Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony. She liked it a lot. I recently discovered a handful more books have joined the series. But to be honest, I don’t want to read them. One, especially. It’s about a character that had been ever so mysterious in the novels. I, for one, do not want to clear away the clouds surrounding her. And neither does Buttercup, who obviously also feels that it’s entirely possible to push too far into a world.

So, then, when is enough actually enough?

My response would be it that it’s to be figured case by case. Of course, personal taste factors in as well. But it all boils down to story – is it worth telling… or is just knowing about it sufficient?

Did He Even Know I'd Been Gone?

Truth is I've been ignorning Peter Pan for the past week or so... since I've gone in for another round of submission of Midnight Chaser.

Fortunately, though, the boy hasn't held it against me. Perhaps his splotchty memory didn't even register I'd been gone. That section I said I'd be skipping for now...? He's given me some of the very details I needed as soon as came back to the story and re-acclimated myself to what I had on the page.

Looks like I'll be skipping back to it. And yes, I am rather pleased with what he told me of his "mischievous plan."

Midnight Time AT LAST

It’s midnight time for me.
No, not by the clock, by the book.
After a LONG time of revising it,
I’m finally sending out the query letter for
Midnight Chaser.

Wish me luck.

[I know it’s official, for I already received a ‘rejection.’]

Moving on…

Not Quite Write

Well, writing isn’t going as smoothly as I’d like…

For the record, I don't really believe in "Writer's Block." It's not that I'm blocked. I know plenty to get out on the page.

Part of the problem must be that I’m not in a flowing mode yet. I don’t mean the bits of story aren’t coming easily. Rather that I’m belaboring over crafting the ideal wording. The upshot is I’m pleased with what I’ve put to paper. But the downside… there isn’t much to love. So why don’t I just turn off the expectation and hammer it out into the perfect wording later? Well, I think I’m feeling guilty.

I do have a couple other projects on the burner. And I think I’ve boiled over on them faster than what’s brewing. Since I’m just not feeling the gumption to finish those tasks, I’m unable to freely compose with Thom (the character.)

Each of the to-be-completed tasks seems daunting… I can just see the snafus surrounding each one. Not pessimism. Realism, based on previous attempts. I suppose I just need to bite the bullet, buckle down and put my nose to the grindstone. (You know what? I never liked any of those expressions.)

One of the projects is that Query Letter for Midnight Chaser. Yes, STILL. Partly I simply put it away after being remotely satisfied with it… and also sick to death of it. I’d been hoping that I’d return to it with fresh vigor. Also, I had someone who’s extremely busy take a look at it for me. She offered, and I gratefully accepted her help. She did get back to me on it eventually, but I’d not been concerned with the amount of time. As I said, I’d put it aside on purpose. Well, I’ve tinkered with it given her suggestions, but I’m just back in the “not satisfied box.”

The other projects are related to Peter Pan’s NeverWorld, but they don’t involve any writing.

Back to the new book, perhaps I’m just not writing the “correct” bit to start the flow. So I’ve also tried picking up various sections of the tale. The result is a couple of finely crafted half-scenes. I also think Thom hasn’t told me everything. Oh, I know for certain that he didn’t, as characters like to spring bits of their story at you when you’re well into writing it. But here I mean that although I know the storyline, I might be missing a thread. C’mon, Thom… Oh wait… or rather you are waiting. For me.

I better get cracking, eh? (Another idiom for setting to work of which I am not fond.)

I'm at It Again!

Well, it’s happened.
I’ve set to paper.
Yes, I have officially begun a new novel.
The third in a series of four is underway. Technically, it’s actually the “last” in the series. The fourth book, meant to be read fourth, serves as a prequel set thousands of years prior, shedding light on the events that shaped the era of the main story.

And so, Thom begins his final adventure.

Okay, he didn’t exactly “begin” his tale, as I am happy to be able to write out of order once again. There's an explanation in this post.

I know I "mean business" because I’ve also made a playlist for the songs and notes that will float around me as I delve into the words and world. My musical writing habits are talked about here. And I’m pleased to say that I’ve also selected some from Emily Bear. Looking forward to the inspiration.

I’ll still be working on the query letter for and submitting Midnight Chaser… yes, STILL honing that freaking query letter.

But here’s to Book 3… let the words flow!

REVENGE of the SEQUEL: PART II

OK, yes. I am actually going to talk about sequels.
Certainly I do think they have merit, lest I wouldn’t have written Peter Pan’s NeverWorld. In this post I explain a little about the wherefore of having written it.

I’m not speaking out against them. But a conversation with Clara and Banky a while back comes to mind.

Banky had finished my novel Midnight Chaser and still thought about it many days after reading it. (Yea, me!) Now, the thing is, which I’ve said many times, even on this site, that I really want Midnight Chaser to stand alone in book form. I don't envision a sequel…and I wondered if there could be one. Readers told me it certainly can go on…lots of adventures could still happen for some of the characters. So, why not write those? Because there is no substantial and plausible conflict to drive the story. Sure, seeing what else the characters get into would be fun… but not as amusing as for readers to think about on their own. Me writing it would just be a series of anecdotes. And where I can see that being appealing, again, in this instance, anything I could come up with is going to pale in comparison with the reader’s imagination.

But that didn’t stop Banky. He’d come up with a new scenario every so often. Complete with support from the text. But I’d always say no. Not in a cold “shoot first” way. I’d mull them over with him. But again, the compelling factor that would drive me to write it just did not exist. Banky seemed to agree each time. Even he admitted he'd been reaching. It would just be forcing it out.

That’s when Clara spoke up.
“Why are you TRYING to find a sequel to it?”
“Banky is, not me,” I said with a smile.
She then threw my protestations at me, pointing out that I’d go around asking people if they found a sequel in it. As if I wanted to find it…thou protest too much? Well, as I assured her, I can assure you, that adage doesn’t apply here. I really would like it to be self-contained. I’d ask people if they could continue it because I put effort into making it airtight other than the proverbial “leave them wanting more."

Clara, gladdened that I actually wanted a singular book, then expressed her displeasure at the sequel boom. If a book or movie is successful, BAM! there’s a sequel. Sure, it’s lucrative. But that’s a double edged sword. Is it always a good idea to create a sequel just to squeeze out more cash? No, of course not.

Now don’t get Clara wrong, she does see that in some cases a sequel is necessary. Or deserved. Or worthy. Or just happens. I pointed out The Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis didn’t know at first that there would be more. Whereas J.K. Rowling knew the arc of seven books in advance. Some stories expand.

But doesn’t it, just sometimes, seem like enough is enough? She's concerned that we're doing it "because we can." Art for profit, rather than profit from Art. Okay, as I type all this out, it no longer seems as profound as I once pretended it might be. Downright cliché. But if you could have heard the disdain and longing in Clara’s voice, maybe, just maybe, you’d be ponderous right now.

To cap this up, where did my intense wish that Midnight Chaser remain one book stem from? Being both the perpetrator and the victim of sequel crimes. I’ve wound up with a few series that I've set to finishing. And like Lewis, I had no idea there would be more to each book at the time. Yet like Clara, I felt overrun. But believe me, if the subsequent stories weren’t worth writing, I wouldn’t waste my time.

Sequels. A blessing AND a curse.

Does This Pass for a Word?

Yesterday while I took another stab at crafting the Query Letter for Midnight Chaser, I had a word as a “placeholder,” knowing I would find the perfect word later. I didn’t want to disrupt the flow of composing. I placed an "-ish" onto the word. The little suffix brought to mind one of those “Why on earth do I remember this?” thoughts.

The thought of an episode of Super Password, which I watched back in the day, as a kid. (Not that I wouldn’t watch the show now if I found it.) A quick summary for those unfamiliar with the program. Teams of 2 people (1 celebrity and 1 contestant) compete to convey a word using another word as a clue. The target words then are used as clues to guess a subject/another word relating to the clues conveyed. (It’s much simpler than I make it sound!)

Anyway, the celebrity (which I’m pretty sure had been Harvey Korman) had to pass the word “GREEN.” After considering options, he finally said, “LAWNISH.”

Burt Convy laughed himself silly, saying that’s not a word. Korman contested: “What?!? You can add ISH to any word!” But the Judges ruled otherwise.

For whatever reason, this stuck with me through the years.
I’m not really sure if Korman is right, but it sounds good to me.

Fortunately, I’m not in the habit of ISHifying words, so it doesn’t really come up.

Meanwhile, I’m hoping the Query is now done… or at least doneish.

Noms de Plume...

For me, part of the fun of writing is the nomenclature. Character names, especially.

More often than not, it isn't arbitrary. At least the main characters.

Jeremy Strache, for example, gets him surname from a smashing together of "stratum" and "cache." So, his name means hidden layer. You'll also find that the novel he's in, What If It's a Trick Question? is teeming with anagrams and such puzzles and plays with words. Of course, it's a conscious decision to craft it as such. For these kinds of puzzles have a great deal to do with the events and plot of the story. And yet, one might otherwise never realize it. The very odd part of Jeremy's last name is that I discovered it's in fact NOT made up. It exists. People have it as their surname. How strange, then, that I would devise a "new" name from those two words. What are the chances? (Even more odd is that unknown to me until much later, Laughter had a student named Strache. And she pronounces it differently than Jeremy told me he does.)

Sometimes the characters can actually be arbitrary themselves, though. Or at least vehemently insistent. The boy in a novel I have on the back burner has a rather odd first name. (Not disclosing it at this time. The only hint I'll give you is it's also a street in London.) The point is I "argued" with him, telling him that no one is actually named that. Man, did he put up a fight! I caved and now that's what he's called. And I've come to love it. It fits him perfectly. I couldn't call him anything else. Of course, I don't believe anything is ever fully arbitrary. I figured out much further down the road that some of the reasearch I'd done for What If It's a Trick Question? left residue in my mind. One of the brand names associated with Jeremy's favorite sport is also this kid's first name. (Another hint.)

Sometimes, though, the random choice is desirable. After belaboring over what I felt to be just the right name for the pirate captain in Peter Pan's NeverWorld, I did not exactly feel like waiting another week for the name of his vessel. For that, I opened up an encyclopedia and decided it would be called whatever I saw first, unless undeniably and utterly unusable. Thus, his ship: The Montagu.

Last night I told Banky the rationale behind the physical appearance of the villian of Midnight Chaser. It combines two of the lesser famous characters from two classic fantasy stories: Alice in Wonderland & Peter Pan (Peter & Wendy). [It applies as nomenclature on account of the combo of names smashed together, sort of like Strache. Except here it's merely a merging of words and does not have a "meaning" behind it.] But it is important which characters I chose to create him. And yet, that's not made clear from the text alone. It has to be reached for, if you're willing to dig a little deeper into it.

I'm often asked if I expect people to get these references. No, I don't. But should anyone be as wacky and harmlessly obsessive as me, at least the hidden layers are there to find.

Chasing Comments...

I’ve had a handful of reports from people who have read my latest work, Midnight Chaser. I’m happy to say that it’s being very well received.

Cassidy, who is always (thankfully) eager to read my stories, told me while still reading that it’s unlike anything else she’s read. “Very very good.” She got through 70% of it in one sitting. And when she came to the end, she offered her constructive (and correct) criticisms. But quite minor. Already have those fixed with a few added lines. She quite enjoyed it. Thanks, Cassidy.

Some else just completed it and liked it very much. Incidentally, she swept through 75% in one sitting. I had her looking things up to know more about what’s contained in the book. Quite cool.

But pleasing me the most (you’ll see why in a minute) is Banky. Banky had heard a little about this novel while I wrote it. I'm sure I couldn't keep myself from talking about it when out for Free Pie with Banky and Clara. The concept intrigued him, so he asked if he could read it. Um, yeah. He rather sweetly asked if I’d be offended or if it “wouldn’t be right” to start with Midnight Chaser. Meaning should he read my other books first? Of course not. This one interested him, so… away he went.

Well, it seems I’ve disrupted his life. He began it and soon the text messages to my phone began. He’d send over lines that struck him, theories about the story and the like. He later told me that he found himself not wanting to go to his scheduled visit to his friend’s house. That, you see, would have meant he had to stop reading.

Later that night he came from her place to our place. We had a wonderful visit, as my best buddy Laughter had popped over, too. He’s here in town with his family for the weekend. Anyway, Banky eventually could no longer wait and asked if he could freely talk about the book in front of Bart and Laughter. I explained that I’ve given all its secrets to Bart already and I didn’t expect Laughter to be able to give it a go with his happily hectic life. And Laughter said he didn't mind. So off Banky went. He’s “flipping over its awesomeness.” He had some questions. Not the “I’m confused” kind but the “I’m trying to figure this out!” kind. Later, after Bart had hit the pillow and Laughter had gone, Banky and I were out on the back steps in the cool night. Without provocation, he started again. Telling me how he’s not normally fond of fantasy, how impressive that it’s quite dense and yet doesn’t feel burdened, flying along. And then more theories and questions. He’d only gotten through about a quarter of it. And needed more. Plus, I already knew that Banky usually regarded reading as a chore, a stigma from high school. Later, while playing Ghostbusters on Wii, he looked distracted. I asked. Yup, his mind on Midnight Chaser.

Apparently today he wanted to spend he day cleaning. Bart and I went out to the suburbs, visiting relatives for the Fourth of July Holiday. I received text after text. Banky. I texted back, of course, and had to ask: Did you get any cleaning done? Nope. And he plowed through most of it. In fact, he nearly finished the book.

At this point I’m not sure if he has or not. I only just returned home. And I’m waiting for a reply as to how far along he is NOW. Thanks, Banky!

Please don’t think I’m being self-praising by posting the comments. Quite frankly, it’s not about the conceit of it for me. It’s about the relief. You pour so much of your time and focus into art. To know that it’s being truly appreciated? Nothing like it. The work is not in vain.

As I told Banky last night, it’s also very excellent to hear him expressing his need to know what happens next. As an author, I never get to experience my own work in the way that a reader would. I have a short post about this dilemma, here. I rather relished the chance to live the book vicariously through Banky’s speculations and comments.

So, I’m pleased. I do have some others lined up to have a gander at the adventures of Andy, Zihn and the Hour Gang. Here’s hoping the magic continues.

Thanks, all!

UPDATE: Banky did in fact finish yesterday. I did get a text back, cleverly using a line from the book that let me know he'd completed it. I have yet to hear his thoughts now that all his questions, so to speak, have been answered. Hope we can get together soon.

Inspiration Can Take a While...

"Where do you get your ideas?"

A very common question.

I answered it in the CJ Redwine interview:

'Obviously I am inspired by other works. Perhaps music? Out of the blue. Anywhere. I ask a lot of questions and then play “What If?” with the answers.'

But I recently realized the specific inspiration for Midnight Chaser.

I'm not sure what prompted me to remember it. But I'm glad I did.

Before I tell you the actual spark, first let me say that I'd written the basic premise of the story in my "bank" of ideas. But it only existed as a snippet. Didn't have the whole story by a long shot. Just a "what if" to play with... which sat around for at least two years if not three or more. One day I referred to my notes of stuff to play around with and then received flashes (presumably from Andy) to make it a full-fledged tale. But what prompted the original tidbit?

A Michelob commercial from yesteryear! I've hunted for it on the web and found quite a few retro ads but not the one in question. It must have been in the late 70's or early 80's. As I recall it, the camera pulled away from the people partying all the way back to show the globe and the night moving across the earth...singing: "A Michelob night never really ends, goes 'round the world, starts over again..."

And that, dear readers, is where Midnight Chaser had been born. I'm not even a beer drinker!

How wonderful that the commercial subliminally stuck with me all these years.

Andy's...Real?

Well, it's a good thing I brought the wrong file yesterday/today. Creatng "real" fictional characters from various pictures can be a delicate process. Perhaps I'd been overtired when I decided Andy looked good. I had Bart take a gander. He kind of winced, then made his suggestions. I agreed with his tweaks, but I also had to work under the restraint that it still look like Andy. Happily, it does, even more so. So there he is on the left, folks.

The boy in Midnight Chaser.

Off to the other side is a little pic I whipped up to show him with Zihn. Yes, I'm aware that they are not "fully integrated" into the background. I could probably accomplish that if I spent enough time on it. But I like them "popping out." As I've said before about these imaginary photos, I'm not trying to win any sort of photo manipulation prize. They're not even necessarily good. I make them just for my pleasure and as a fun "tool" in writing. And I think they're pretty cool.



As vaguely promised, I've included a "back of the book" type synopsis. Chances are it will be rewritten or even scrapped. Time will tell - HA.
Click on the image to make it larger/read text.

Just another Midnight minute...

I meant to post last night.

But then I started to feel bad that Andy's really the main character of the new book and I didn't have a photograph of him. So, I set to work in my mind's eye and the world of internet and pixels. I managed to devise him nicely. I'd be showing him to you now, but, alas, I brought the wrong file along with me. (I had several saved versions in various stages of development.) But he'll be more interesting in a scene with Zihn. I'll put up his picture at midnigh (in my zone.)

In other news, I have completed-finished the book. Meaning I've had my read/revise through. I'm quite pleased with it. It turned out well. It's by far the most fast paced book I've written. I couldn't believe how it glides along, pulling you into the next chapter. Even for me, when I wrote it and have read it a various points. Other times I found it difficult to read my work so soon after finishing. (Not that I'm unhappy with it. It's just very different when you've crafted it yourself and know all that's to come.) But not the case here. It flew by... which is vexing considering how long it took me to write it. But, such is the craft. :) I've also mentioned it as my shortest novel besides Peter Pan's NeverWorld. This book is about 76,000 words.

I'll tell you what. I hope to have a Query Letter type synopsis/enticement for the oft asked question: "What's it about?" If I do have that done, I'll post it along with the Zihn & Andy picture.

Until then...

FINISHED!

Well, I've completed another book.
Yes, the novel MC which I've been giving random updates about is now finished.
Yes, that's the title.
Yes, I tend to create my own title logos.

I already spoke about how I have "photos" of my characters in this post. That's Zihn, one of the primary characters. Without him, there is no story. But I'd have to really call it Andy's book. In much the same way that Peter and Wendy could be considered a story about Wendy (but Peter is needed for her adventure to occur.)

In all fairness, I have a little bit of tweaking to do. I need to add a description of a location. I'm waiting on Banky to give me a statistic. And I, of course, as always, need to read through it all again as a whole and make any and all necessary revisions.

Then it's on to the "delightful" process of crafting a Query Letter to send off to agents.

Always nice to finish another project. If you've been keeping up with my posts, you've heard me state how much freaking research this book required. Never a complaint, but... ok, maybe just a little. But then, it's self inflicted. :) And I learned a great deal about the planet we call home. The ending actually took me much longer to write than I imagined. I stopped nearly every five minutes to look up something else. I've also mentioned it as my shortest book, not including Peter Pan's NeverWorld. This novel clocks in at about 75,000 words.

I'm quite sure of my next writing project. It will be book 3 in a 4 book series. I'm quite excited to revisit with Thom. But I'm not even thinking about when I begin to compose it. I'm just damn glad it won't have to be written chronologically! (Which had been the case for my last three writing projects!)

All right, until next post...

Posts Postponed...

Please excuse my absence for a little while.
Two events supercede thinking up (or finding) cool, witty and/or silly posts.

First, my friend Lemonie’s mother passed on over the weekend. I’ll be making the trip and attending the services. Our thoughts and love are with you Lemonie and Jiboo!

Also, Andy and ZJ have been extra talkative lately. I believe I will be completing MC* very soon. I thought perhaps by Friday night, but the above trumps finishing fiction.

My prediction turns out correct - writing this part of the book is a blast.

To quote a fictional character from a movie franchise that has gotten way out of hand:
I’ll be back.

* Initials of title only.

"Notes" for a Book

Back in this post I explained how I found a song long after writing which fits just about perfectly with the character Michael Pan, from Peter Pan's NeverWorld. I didn't base him on the song at all. It's just hindsight.

Well, it seems that I might be influenced by songs more than I realize. They have a tendency to rattle around in my head and leak into my story ideas.

I'd been three-quarters through with What If It's a Trick Question? when I noticed how freakishly the song "Mad World" (originally by Tears for Fears and a grand version also exists by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews) fit with Jeremy's plight. Did my subconscious interweave it into the plot? It might have. But I can assure you it had not been intentional. I did, however, pay homage to the freakishly fabulous find by inserting some of the lyrics into the text. Very recently, I found another tune that sounds quite like what Jeremy would say and think, "Pork and Beans" by Weezer. Granted, Jeremy doesn't normally listen to such 'contemporary' music, so he might not know about it. But I feel pretty confident that he'd like it over other current hits.

I'd been well into MC (initials of the title of the book I'm currently working on) upon discovering that "Nature Boy" miraculously describes scenarios in the story. So much so that ZJ, the main character, now sings along, coming to the same conclusion of connectivity himself. (His portable media player had already been established.)

I wonder what else my subconscious is developing out of the musical depths...
I'll just have to take note...

Hearing the "Voices" Again...

So right now I’m about to dive into one of the “important” chapters of the novel I’m currently writing. You know, the part that the characters (and readers) have been waiting for - the proverbial hitting the fan.

But before I could write a word of it, I needed to go back through all of my notes. A great many notes dealt with this exact part of the book. I certainly didn’t want to forget to include anything salient that slipped my mind. It’s also a less easy task than it would seem, since I made it rather difficult for myself. I had quite a few files of notes. Not to mention some scraps of paper and one-line files that I also needed to make sure I had another gander at before compiling the scene.

As usual, I had a few bits missing. Not a shortcoming. Rather room to work out the little stuff. I hoped that my characters (ZJ and Andy) would provide me with some more details of their adventure. And oh yes, yes they did. In fact, they kept me up an hour or more past my bedtime - giving me info ranging from the sequence of new material to snips of conversation. It didn’t just comprise this “important” chapter, either. They lit up more of the rest of the work, too.

I did not escape so easily. When I finally made it to bed, ZJ forced me to grab my cell phone and launch the Notepad. Yup, even more. Nothing like typing drama into a tiny keypad under the covers.

I believe it’s fair to say I have quite the handle on the story now. Not that I ever lacked a grip on it. You might recall from this post that sometimes only the framework can be seen. Well, ZJ and Andy just painted, furnished and decorated it. But I just bet they still have some doozies they're still keeping to themselves as of yet.

It’s quite a story. I’m glad it’s being told to me. Now I just have to form it into words.

Lil' Updates

Well, I’d assumed wrong. (You know what they say...) Bart does not have the soundtrack to Leonard Bernstein’s musical of Peter Pan, which I wrote about in the last post. Jeepers. That surprises me. Maybe we’ll have to obtain it via the Holiday spoils (as in using a Gift Card.) The cover of the CD looks cool, doesn't it? (Although Pan looks an awful lot like Disney's.)

Also, I forgot to mention another opera star we had the pleasure of hearing in Madama Butterfly, which I also spoke of in the last post. And shame on me…for he’s one of my favorites: David Cangelosi. Bravo, sir! Although we did not catch him after the performance at the Stage Door, Bart and I have met him before. I told him (and quite honestly) how I could listen to him sing for hours. In fact, I have, both on stage at Lyric Opera and in a recording Bart gifted me with him in Siegfried. (Which, by the way, is a 5 hour opera and my favorite, believe it or not.) In Siegfried he plays the role of Mime (pronounced Me-may, not the like silent clowns)…and boy does he! He’s terrific.

Lemonie informed me that she has read Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, which I posted about here and again here. She loved it, too. We were both enchanted by the cat character. [The cat does not have a name, seriously.] The movie is still scheduled for February 2009. It looks promising. You can visit the official website here. It's worth it. It's quite charming and elaborate. LOTS of interactivity. Or, if you just want to see the latest trailer:


I’m sure that my characters ZJ and Andy must hate me. For all sorts of other obligations (and perhaps a touch of laziness, I dare admit) have kept me from writing their story. Their story of course being the book I am currently writing. (Or not.) I plan to delve back into them today and tonight. Let’s hope they’re not too cross with me and will jabber on so that I can barely keep up. [Note: Only ZJ is depicted, as I have not yet made a picture of Andy.]