Tag: novel

The Issue Of A Prologue



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I continue to read a lot about the mechanics of novel writing and there doesn’t seem to be any consensus as to having a prologue. Pretty much, the closest I can find is the idea that you can write one, but be prepared for a sizable chunk of the audience to ignore it.

The only reason why I feel I may need one is the issue of tone. The thing I’ve noticed about Stieg Larsson’s The Girl Who Played With Fire is he has a dark, gritty prologue in that book and that frees him up to be rather matter-of-fact about the rest of the story. That prologue gives him some leeway because it establishes the intended mood of the novel.

I’m just about to reach the portion of my first draft outline where I have a big empty hole, so that would be a great time to sort of reflect and maybe write a prologue that I may, or may not, actually use. I do have a very specific reason for having a prologue, enough of one to warrant at least writing one.

I continue to vacillate on this issue, however.

The Quiet Before The Storm: Daydreaming About Hollywood On A Dull August Evening



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Usually, August is good for one good astonishing surprise. But, so far, things have been exceedingly meh. It’s normally just about now when breaking news event forces all the Beautiful People drinking pina coladas on the a Seychelles beach have to rush home because everything has changed.

If you’re an astute media consumer, you will notice that the Beautiful People let interns take over the office and we end up with some very earnest, very dumb articles that leave you asking, “How did THAT get published?”

Now, I’d prefer if some Big Event happens in August that no one gets hurt and it’s “fun interesting.” But, as of right now, it seems as though August is simply going to be the quiet before the storm of the fall when we’re going to have the double wamny of a the flu season smashing into the COVID19 pandemic and a pitched battle to see who POTUS is going to be.

For my part, I find myself thinking about starting work on the development of a screenplay. I’m already cruising along with a novel and this weekend I had something of an existential moment when I realized I do not have a Plan B. As such, I think I’m going to use a number of things I’ve learned from developing this novel to begin working on a screenplay. I’m going to use Star Wars as my “textbook.”

Now, I know I’m being delusional. I’m too old, for starters. I’m far my likely to sell a first novel given my specific circumstances than I am a screenplay. But something about having the adventure of developing and writing a screenplay (or two) then traveling all the way to LA to see if I can accidentally-on-purpose run into a producer or some other Hollywood type is very enticing.

In fact, my personality is probably the only thing I have going for me on that front at this point. I’ve got solid talent, but, as I mentioned, I’m kind of old to get into the screenwriting business. But, again, I know that if I have a screenplay finished that I have the wherewithal to fly to LA (on the other side of the country) and hit the pavement. The idea of “somehow” being invited to a Hollywood party while I’m in town and “somehow” catching the attention of someone of note at the party is just the long-term project that appeals to me on a very basic level.

I know myself well enough to know that if I “somehow” was to find myself in a Hollywood party that all I would have to do is get liquored up and before you know it, I’d be Quentin Tarantino in the movie “Sleep With Me” pontificating on a wide range of thought provoking ideas and ending up with a three picture deal before it was all over with. (This is an extreme romanticized dream on my part. Probably none of that would happen, but, lulz, this is a very dull August evening.)

So, as such, I’m going to try — try — to have a Plan B, C and D that I can turn to if and when disaster strikes and I simply can’t continue with the novel I’m working on. The novel itself is really, really good (at least relative to my abilities) but I’m growing nervous that I’ve put all my eggs in one basket and I need to have a few backups in case something out of my control happens.

Anyway. What else am I supposed to do as House Trump consolidates power and turns us into a fascist state?

Things Are Going Well With The Novel At The Moment


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

For the moment, at least, I’ve kind of gotten into a groove with the novel. I’m averaging about one chapter a week, but I think some of that comes from how hot it is. Once it gets a little cooler I may get closer to my goal of three chapters a week.

My absolute deadline for the first draft is Thanksgiving and I just can’t be this slow. I really need to speed up. There are, of course, remaining holes in the outline I’ve been using, but hopefully as I write I’ll be able to fill them. I may just say “screw it” and write something anything in those “holes” in the outline just so I can finish a first draft of some sort.

But the story in general is so strong — and so lets me vent about the Trump Era — that I keep going. I keep having a lingering interest in writing a screenplay, but that’s just creative restlessness. Though I do think I have the skillset necessary to be a success in Hollywood, I’ve invested so much into this novel that I don’t want to take away any mental energy for a SECOND delusion.

Anyway.

I’m still at the point where I am allowing myself to be as delusional as possible. It’s not until the second draft that I’m going to take a deep breath and start thinking about the cold, harsh realities the marketplace. Things like word count and character names being “normal” will come to the forefront of my mind then. But some stuff I’m not going to change, even then.

I have a very specific vision. Some elements of the story are existential and if I can’t sell it if I have them in it, then I’ll just self publish.

Being Delusional About My Hollywood Prospects



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

There’s a theory that some people — like Donald Trump — think they are able to do things they clearly are not able to do. But no one reads this blog, so let me indulge myself in some pretty outlandish daydreaming.

I’m well on my way to figuring out how I develop a piece of mass media. As such, once I finish the two novel connected to this story I’m working on, I will have the experience necessary to turn my sights to something like a screenplay. I keep thinking I can have different “tracks,” but that’s just not possible. I’m completely obsessed with this story and as such I’m too wrapped up with it to turn my attention elsewhere for the time being.

But when I do finish these novels, I have a number of very strong screenplay concepts that I will dive into. Here’s where the delusion comes in. I believe if I can just finish a screenplay that I’m personable enough as to have a decent shot of selling it.

Now, there are some obvious caveats to this idea.

One, is I’m going to have to visit LA every once in a while. I have a knack for meeting famous people and if I just endup in Hollywood on a sporadic basis after finishing a screenplay that I have a decent shot of being able to get someone in the Hollywood community to read it.

Again, I’m obviously being extremely delusional to think this.

Add to this the fact that I’m too old to sell anything to anyone for any reason and I really am being delusional.

But one man’s delusion is another man’s dream.

You never can tell.

Ageism, Hollywood & Art



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I find myself wondering if this novel is simply me having a mid-life crisis. I’m too poor to buy a vett, so I’m writing a novel instead? This reminds me of this guy I once knew who was about my age now when he wrote a Wonder Woman screenplay — and got the hair on his back removed.

He swore to me that a Hollywood producer had his screenplay on his desk and was going to produce it at any moment. I fear the movie that was ultimately produced was NOT done off that guy’s script.

I have repeatedly said I’m allowing myself to be completely delusional with this novel, at least for the time being. So, while in a sense this novel may be my mid-life crisis, I feel I do, in fact, have the actual ability to tell a decent story as well.

I’m well aware that should I somehow win the showbiz lottery and actually write a breakout first novel, that my age will be a part of the story. It will be the angle that people use to talk about it. In general, if you don’t have a career in showbiz by the time you’re in your early 30s, then, lulz, your age becomes part of any success you have.

And I should I attain any type of success via this novel, or, say, a screenplay I might write afterwards, it’s not like all my dreams will come true and all my problems will be solved. Showbiz is tough for even people who do it the “right” way and I have a feeling I’m going to be quite let down should I actually sell this novel.

Yes, I might stop being a pauper, but it’s not like I can go back in time and be 25 again. I’m going to be middle-aged and have the experience that such an age brings with it. In a sense, given how much of my personal history I’m throwing into this novel, I guess maybe on some level I think I can regain my lost youth via it as well.

Sadly, that is not going to happen.

But all of that is really me just being extremely delusional. I’m probably just going to self-publish the two novels of the story in the end and turn my attention to a screenplay.

Feeling Politically Powerless Drives My Creativity #AmWriting



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I’m feeling rather powerless as my nation slides into fascism. I really don’t have any other outlet but being able to tell a decent story, so that’s why I find myself having a huge amount of energy to develop and write this novel.

Every day, House Trump manages to enrage me more than the day before. That’s a limitless supply of creative energy for me to do whatever necessary to finish this this story (two novels) as quickly as possible. It really makes me feel a lot better to be able to articulate my rage at the Trump Era in a well-thought out manner.

As I’ve said many times before, I hate “woke” art for a number of reasons, chief among them if you’re so busy preach at me that you forget to tell a great story, then what’s the point. If you can’t use subtext to get your point across, then don’t even tell the story, no one wants to read it or see it.

Anyway, I’m moving fairly quickly with this novel. But I have to speed things up even more. If I don’t wrap this up sooner rather than later, we’ll be so far into Trump’s stolen second term that my window of opportunity will have closed and I’ll simply be snatched off the street — or pushed out a window.

I’m trying to do at least three chapters a week instead of the current one. That seems like one of the ways I can get this done by no later than Thanksgiving 2020.

Wish me luck.

Novel Update



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Things are going quite well so far. I’m slowly working my way to the end of the first act. It’s going a lot slower than it needs to go, however, if I want to wrap the first draft up no later than Thanksgiving.

But the overall process is a lot of fun, if a lot of hard work.

One of the big issues is, as always, I have no idea what the world will look like when I actually finish the two novels. I also have to stay focused. It’s very easy for me to realize there’s another concept I could work on that’s a bit simpler that I could wrap up pretty quick.

Yet I’ve sunk this much time into this thing — and it’s a really strong concept — I might as well keep going.

I am, however, definitely learning how *I* develop and write a novel — or a screenplay for that matter.

I really, really like this story, however, so I’m going to keep going until something out of my control forces me to reassess things. Wish me luck.

After Two Years Of Development I May Have Figured How To Structure My Novel



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Right now, my only concern is it’s taking me about a week to finish a chapter, which is way, way, way too slow. I need to triple that to get this done before Trump’s third term.

But at least I have figured out how *I* structure the development of the novel associated with actually writing the novel. Things are moving fast in that respect, at least. I have the ebb and flow of writing down pat.

Yet, of course, there is still the issue of speed. I understand how to be methodical with my writing — I’m not running of my passionate hatred of the Trump Administration that much anymore. Now, the novel is more like a job I really love.

As I’ve said before, I am in a very unique situation with this novel. This ideal situation isn’t going to last forever and I really need to squeeze every moment out of this opportunity. If I don’t, I’m going to be kicking myself when it’s no longer available.

I think I can speed things up some, maybe. I just really need to stay focused on the overall picture.

Becoming More Methodical With Development of This #Novel



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

The general conceit of this novel is very strong. After about two years of struggle, I’ve come up with up with a reasonable way to explore the universe I’ve constructed that isn’t too convoluted.

But now that I’m going from the abstract of development to actually writing, I’m really bumping up against some serious problems on occasion. I have a general way I sketch out individual scenes in the outline I’ve come up with and sometimes I have to throw out entire scenes because they just don’t work. There’s no there there, as they say.

I have decided to do three chapters at a time now in hopes of speed the process up some. I’ve been doing about a chapter a week since I started writing again and that’s just way too slow.

I also need to start reading some of the 30-odd books I have floating around. They say if you have time to write you have time to read and I really agree with that.

One thing that’s difficult to deal with is the temperature. It’s brutally hot, even with the air conditioning on. So, that slows me down a little bit. But I’m giving myself an arbitrary deadline of Sunday afternoon to wrap up a the scene summary of a three chapter segment. Hopefully, if I can do that, then I can maybe wrap up three chapters in a week, no just one.

There’s so much to do still. It’s rather overwhelming, but at least I’m moving forward. The story still isn’t dark enough, but I’m hoping I can get there on that front with the second draft.

That’s the goal, at least.

Getting More Serious With The Novel



by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I continue to allow myself to be as delusional as necessary to finish this first draft. That’s pretty delusional, all things considered. By the metric of any “normal” person I’m a fool wasting my time in a very conspicuous manner. But fuck those people. I have a vision and I’m going to see it to completion.

I keep mulling screenplays and pushing them aside. The thing I’ve realized about being serious about storytelling is the amount of research that’s involved. You really need to reach as much as possible if you want to give your characters some nuance.

Anyway, my goal, at least, is to use August to buckle down and write as quickly as possible. To date, I’ve finished about a chapter a week and that’s way too slow. I’m going to try to shoot for something closer to three chapters a week. It helps a lot that I know how *I* develop a novel now, so that speeds things up a great deal.

I guess the reason why I think this novel has a shot is I absolutely believe that when I finally get around to shopping it to agents, America is going to be seething with rage that Trump stole the 2020 election in a rather brazen fashion and and so people will be interested in reading something like an allegory of the Trump Era. I believe Trump is going to steal the election in such an absolute way, that I know the conditions will be there for people to want to read something like what I’ve come up with.

Though, even if somehow a literal miracle from Jesus Christ himself happens and Biden manages to actually, somehow become president, I still think people will be interested in such a novel because, well, people liked Apocalypse Now and THAT came out after the event it meant to described was finished.

Anyway. I hope to get far more work done on the novel than I have to date. I’m just going to read and write as much as I possibly can. This is a really strong concept and the only thing stopping me at this point is how much I’m willing to delude myself.