The novel that will never be

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2005, 11:52 AM

This is driving me nuts. I've had a vague idea for a novel in my head for years. I have no plot in mind, I have no characters. All I have is some vague philosophical themes that I think would be interesting to build a story around. I've gone through several abortive attempts to get started, but all I ever come up with are individual scenes, none of which relate to each other. I doubt I'll ever come up with anything more than that, but it's been fun to come up with these concepts and scenes, so when the idea for one nagged at me today, I thought I'd try to get it written and share it, for what it's worth. I don't know if I like this one or not, but whatever.

-------------------------

Stopped at a red light, he puts the car in neutral to save those few pennies in gas. Radio on, he nods his head along to some song he's never heard, but definitely likes, hoping the DJ will name the tune for him. His head swivels from side to side, trying to observe the other drivers without them catching his eye because, of course, it's somehow rude to look at other people in their cars. Strange how everyone expects privacy in a box with windows on every side. Finding no one interesting in any of the neighboring cars, his eye wanders to the shops along the street. A record store, a coffee shop, a fast food chain, another coffee shop across the street (at least it's a different chain), a small travel agency...WHAM!!

He's shocked out of his absent minded survey of the street by what will shortly become the second most bizarre moment in his life. Sitting on his now severly dented hood, spattered with various engine fluids, steam and smoke from burning coolant rising up around it, is a large brown lump of wet clay. If this lump had been shaped into anything before rudely implanting itself in his engine compartment, the considerable force of the impact successfully shaped it back into a large brown lump.

He stares blankly, in shock, momentarily fascinated by the rising smoke trails. He might have sat there for an hour had the driver from one of the cars next to him not knocked on his window to make sure he was alright (apparantly a large brown lump of wet clay smashing into one's hood is a signal that you are allowed to acknowledge someone in their otherwise private realm of existance inside their car).

Recovering from the shock, he turns the ignition off (an unnecessary step when your hood's been dirven through your cylinder head by a large brown lump of wet clay), unbuckles his belt, opens his door, and begins to step out to survey the damage. Something stops him in his tracks, though. There's a piece of paper under his heel, and he's now staring in shock for the second time in the span of a few seconds. For him to be seeing that particular piece of paper there in the street with his shoe print on it was, in a word, impossible. What made this, seeing that single piece of paper, the most bizarre moment in his life (yes, more bizarre than a large brown lump of wet clay appearing from nowhwere to redesign his front end) was the fact just three days prior, he had been handed this exact piece of paper, complete with the shoe print he had just applied to it.

Motorboat Cruiser · 04-04-2005, 12:28 PM

That's just not fair to keep me hanging like that, GD.

I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, even as my mind goes in numerous directions, trying to figure out where the damn clay came from and how the note got there. Feel free to expand.

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Feel free to expand.

Ha! That assumes I know...

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 04-04-2005, 12:38 PM

If you don't continue with this I will kill you.

How's a death threat for inspiration.

It reminds me of Paul Auster's <i>New York Trilogy</i>, a favorite book of mine. Philosphy. Mystery. Noir. What the huhs????

Is it a golem?! Did golem land on your car?!

I dig it alot. Work on it. Work through the blanks. It's totally worthwhile. If you can't make a novel, go for a lengthy short story. And if you can't get all the parts to tie together, go with a trilogy! Just don't not write it.

Again, I reference the death threat.

Cadaverous Pallor · 04-04-2005, 04:46 PM

I have a chunk of a book/screenplay that will never be finished, mainly because I can't decide what it's really about. No way in hell am I posting it.

I hope my husband does get something going on this - not only because it's full of cool concepts, but because he'll never stop talking about it.

Babette · 04-04-2005, 05:06 PM

Dude! Who gave him the paper? And how did it get there in the same moment the glob of clay ambushed him? You need to finish the story, man!

I always have little random ideas for a story or screenplay, but never take the time to write them down before they flee from my brain. (Princesses only have so much capacity for thinking and such.) Keep the creativity flowin'.

Name · 04-04-2005, 05:30 PM

hrmm, I think I like the idea of a book full of massively short stories that are mega cliff hangers that allow the reader to come up with the ending and the back story. Good stuff, who knows, continure writing other random things, and you may find a way in the future to tie them all together.

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name

hrmm, I think I like the idea of a book full of massively short stories that are mega cliff hangers that allow the reader to come up with the ending and the back story. Good stuff, who knows, continure writing other random things, and you may find a way in the future to tie them all together.

Heh, I totally thought of doing that. Hell, I could sell it as a creative writing text book. Isn't that an awesome cop-out?

Prudence · 04-04-2005, 06:52 PM

I am so jealous of people who can conceive of plot elements. I can spot a misplaced comma at 50 paces, but I don't have the imagination for plot. I radiate envy in your general direction.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 04-04-2005, 09:35 PM

As a published author **KOFF!** I can say that even when sometimes a story isn't working out, it can always be a springboard for something else. The middle can soon become the end or the middle can become the start or the end the beginning. Think of it as a big maze that sometimes you have to back out of and move along another path.

Keep it up. Success comes from doing!!!

04-04-2005, 11:52 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	The novel that will never be This is driving me nuts. I've had a vague idea for a novel in my head for years. I have no plot in mind, I have no characters. All I have is some vague philosophical themes that I think would be interesting to build a story around. I've gone through several abortive attempts to get started, but all I ever come up with are individual scenes, none of which relate to each other. I doubt I'll ever come up with anything more than that, but it's been fun to come up with these concepts and scenes, so when the idea for one nagged at me today, I thought I'd try to get it written and share it, for what it's worth. I don't know if I like this one or not, but whatever. ------------------------- Stopped at a red light, he puts the car in neutral to save those few pennies in gas. Radio on, he nods his head along to some song he's never heard, but definitely likes, hoping the DJ will name the tune for him. His head swivels from side to side, trying to observe the other drivers without them catching his eye because, of course, it's somehow rude to look at other people in their cars. Strange how everyone expects privacy in a box with windows on every side. Finding no one interesting in any of the neighboring cars, his eye wanders to the shops along the street. A record store, a coffee shop, a fast food chain, another coffee shop across the street (at least it's a different chain), a small travel agency...WHAM!! He's shocked out of his absent minded survey of the street by what will shortly become the second most bizarre moment in his life. Sitting on his now severly dented hood, spattered with various engine fluids, steam and smoke from burning coolant rising up around it, is a large brown lump of wet clay. If this lump had been shaped into anything before rudely implanting itself in his engine compartment, the considerable force of the impact successfully shaped it back into a large brown lump. He stares blankly, in shock, momentarily fascinated by the rising smoke trails. He might have sat there for an hour had the driver from one of the cars next to him not knocked on his window to make sure he was alright (apparantly a large brown lump of wet clay smashing into one's hood is a signal that you are allowed to acknowledge someone in their otherwise private realm of existance inside their car). Recovering from the shock, he turns the ignition off (an unnecessary step when your hood's been dirven through your cylinder head by a large brown lump of wet clay), unbuckles his belt, opens his door, and begins to step out to survey the damage. Something stops him in his tracks, though. There's a piece of paper under his heel, and he's now staring in shock for the second time in the span of a few seconds. For him to be seeing that particular piece of paper there in the street with his shoe print on it was, in a word, impossible. What made this, seeing that single piece of paper, the most bizarre moment in his life (yes, more bizarre than a large brown lump of wet clay appearing from nowhwere to redesign his front end) was the fact just three days prior, he had been handed this exact piece of paper, complete with the shoe print he had just applied to it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ Last edited by Ghoulish Delight : 04-04-2005 at 12:53 PM. Reason: sticking with a bloody tense (sloppy, sloppy, sloppy)
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04-04-2005, 12:28 PM	#2
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	That's just not fair to keep me hanging like that, GD. I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, even as my mind goes in numerous directions, trying to figure out where the damn clay came from and how the note got there. Feel free to expand.
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04-04-2005, 12:38 PM	#4
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	If you don't continue with this I will kill you. How's a death threat for inspiration. It reminds me of Paul Auster's <i>New York Trilogy</i>, a favorite book of mine. Philosphy. Mystery. Noir. What the huhs???? Is it a golem?! Did golem land on your car?! I dig it alot. Work on it. Work through the blanks. It's totally worthwhile. If you can't make a novel, go for a lengthy short story. And if you can't get all the parts to tie together, go with a trilogy! Just don't not write it. Again, I reference the death threat.
	Submit to Quotes

04-04-2005, 04:46 PM	#5
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	I have a chunk of a book/screenplay that will never be finished, mainly because I can't decide what it's really about. No way in hell am I posting it. I hope my husband does get something going on this - not only because it's full of cool concepts, but because he'll never stop talking about it. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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04-04-2005, 05:06 PM	#6
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	Dude! Who gave him the paper? And how did it get there in the same moment the glob of clay ambushed him? You need to finish the story, man! I always have little random ideas for a story or screenplay, but never take the time to write them down before they flee from my brain. (Princesses only have so much capacity for thinking and such.) Keep the creativity flowin'.
	Submit to Quotes

04-04-2005, 05:30 PM	#7
Name Title Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: here Posts: 779	hrmm, I think I like the idea of a book full of massively short stories that are mega cliff hangers that allow the reader to come up with the ending and the back story. Good stuff, who knows, continure writing other random things, and you may find a way in the future to tie them all together. __________________ Signature
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04-04-2005, 06:52 PM	#9
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I am so jealous of people who can conceive of plot elements. I can spot a misplaced comma at 50 paces, but I don't have the imagination for plot. I radiate envy in your general direction. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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04-04-2005, 09:35 PM	#10
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	As a published author KOFF! I can say that even when sometimes a story isn't working out, it can always be a springboard for something else. The middle can soon become the end or the middle can become the start or the end the beginning. Think of it as a big maze that sometimes you have to back out of and move along another path. Keep it up. Success comes from doing!!!
	Submit to Quotes