Tag: Annie Hall

This Is A Surreal Situation

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Not since that brief moment in Seoul when ROKon Magazine was the only English-language magazine in the city (for the average expat) have I felt this much promise in something creative I’m involved in.

The idea that I would be actually ahead of the curve when it comes to writing a story about sort of an android Annie Hall (who at some point becomes a stripper) is rather surreal. The big question is will there be a flood of such android manic pixie dreamgirl *wink* stories in 2026 to the point that while I’m querying this novel this little sliver of opportunity I have will be all very moot before it’s over with.

I just don’t know.

The key thing is I’m writing a novel, not a screenplay (even though if I was 25 years younger that’s exactly what I would be doing.) So, as such, the dynamics are a little bit different.

If there was a movie made of this novel, I think Rachel Sennott would be perfect as my female (android) romantic lead.

It could be that there will be room enough in the zeitgeist for a flood of such movies and novels and just because my idea is one of many, doesn’t mean it can’t be sold traditionally.

But I would be lying if I didn’t admit I am feeling very anxious about hurrying up. I really need to bhali-bhali as a Korean would say — hurry, hurry. I really want to wrap this AI-assisted beta draft up ASAP so I can turn around and have beta readers review it for me and tell me how to improve it.

There remains a chance that I really will wrap this thing up in the general April-May 2026 timeframe and will be able to query it then. What I *wish* would happen is someone in Hollywood would, in good faith, contact me and want to read what I’ve written so far so maybe we could speed the process up some.

But that’s being delusional.

It’s kind of every storyteller for themselves at this point and I’m just an old(er) loudmouth crank slaving away in the middle of nowhere.

Finished The First Draft Of The Scifi Dramedy I’ve Been Working On

After several false starts with other science fiction projects that never quite found their footing, I’m excited to announce that I’ve finally finished the first draft of my sci-fi dramedy. This one feels different—more focused, more intentional.

The concept emerged from wanting to explore the sweet spot between two films that have stuck with me: Her and Ex Machina. There’s something compelling about android narratives that I feel hasn’t been fully explored yet—specifically, the potential for a more intimate, relationship-driven story in the vein of Annie Hall. I’m not claiming to be anywhere near Woody Allen’s caliber as a storyteller, but that’s the general tone I’m aiming for: thoughtful, character-driven, with touches of humor alongside the deeper questions.

Now comes the traditional advice: set the manuscript aside for a month to gain perspective before diving into revisions. In an ideal world, I’d follow this wisdom to the letter. Unfortunately, my timeline is compressed. Life has a way of intervening, and I know that significant changes are coming in late spring 2026—right around when I hope to begin querying this novel. Given these circumstances, I’m planning for a shorter break: perhaps a few days, maybe a few weeks at most.

The practical reality is that I can’t afford to let this project sit idle for an extended period. Between the natural pressures of time and the knowledge that my circumstances will shift dramatically next year, momentum feels crucial.

For now, though, I have a stack of books waiting and a queue of films and shows I’ve been meaning to catch up on. This brief respite might stretch my break to a few days, or possibly longer if I get particularly absorbed in my reading and viewing list.

Either way, the first draft is done. That’s something worth celebrating.