Finally I have begun the third chapter! Named after a Coldplay album (the good one) it details Careless' search for Daniel. There is a brief flash forward before picking up where we left her- half starkers staring at an empty room. The title is there to inspire some action into the scene.
I've made a deliberate attempt to include some figurative language at this point and attempt to set the scene a little. There's actually an Alien reference in there for the Sci-Fi minded. I think some of the descriptions can go but the general idea is there to beef up the writing and see what sticks. I really need to find time to just write as much as possible and get into a groove. There is another character introduced in this chapter- Kenneth (yes, named after the youngest gangster in The Wire). Kenneth is a local to New York who will help or hinder Careless in her initial search. I'm yet to decide on what function he'll perform exactly. He is cordial for now, having met the couple recently.
On an entirely different matter I just finished Martin Blooth's The American (a reprint of A Very Private Gentleman) which I thoroughly recommend and has me considering a move to Italy. Next up is Tobais Wolff's This Boy's Life, which I've never read all the way through. Certainly Blooth's prose has inspired me to become more descriptive. His slow burn to the climax is brilliant.
I'm working it into a thriller now, despite the stillness of this excerpt. I've been thinking about some of Chuck Palahniuk's early stuff and of the Millennium series. I haven't settled on a chorus yet since nothing has come to mind. The opening line might make for a good refrain as it sets up the premise of the narrative nicely. "Sometimes the past catches you buy surprise."
So here is the start of Chapter 3- A Rush Of Blood
Careless would later admit she looked under the bed. It sounds stupid but when the center of your world is suddenly missing some rationality leaves your mind. She was meek and embarrassed when she told him she didn’t know where Daniel was. They could prick her and poke her but there were things for which she had no answers. She couldn’t tell them where Daniel was and how he had left. None of the clues made sense to her until later.
Immediately after her shower she had checked the bed and opened his draw. His passport was gone. Despite the cool February air she could feel perspiration welling under her arms. The breeze struck her as peculiar- the window was wide open. As one does when they’re in shock, a million illogical thoughts ran through her head. Had Daniel fallen? Had someone grabbed him as he stared into the street? Careless ran to the window and peered down. Snow fell lightly on the balcony, covering it in white dust, but there was no sign of him. Half dressed she didn’t feel the cold. She spun back into the room and tripped on the plush pillows by the bed. Had they been there before? She couldn’t be sure. It wasn’t in her nature to notice such trivial items. She bumbled into the bed grabbed the bedspread, clenching her knuckles around the fabric into a fist. She rolled onto her back and gazed at the window the way a teen does after their first bingle. The room felt different. He wasn’t here.
Despite the panic that caused deep heaving breaths, she found time to sit. She felt dizzy, lightheaded, like every thought she’d ever had was launched out of an air lock and into space. There was a void. Nothingness. Emptiness. There was no discernable sound. She never told anyone this part of the story, but when she couldn’t find him, she just sat.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Four.75- a little less conversation
Having a strange week that may get better or worse in the next day. Rather than work through into Chapter 3 I've spent a couple of hours going back through Chapter 2 and refining the details. There actually isn't much in the way of dialogue but the few bits that are serve to highlight a few things about the characters' perspectives in their own words. Everything else is third person narration, mostly following Careless as she wakes up.
It sounds trivial I know, but waking up is an amazing time of sustained thought. When we wake we simultaneously plan the day and try to reach into the abyss we have woken from. Perhaps it the half-asleep way we stumble into our routine that puts us in touch with our unconscious thoughts. It feels natural to draw out the process so that Careless thinks about her past and allows a natural exposition of how her and Daniel came to be in New York.
A number of problems are established, notably around the scars she has across her midsection and back. Scars will be a motif that indicate a character's past feeling closer. It might appear simple, or perhaps nuts, but it makes sense in the context I'm building.
I've started reading Martin Booth's 'A Very Private Gentlemen' and am in awe of his prose. Entirely fluent and original the descriptions and time he takes to build his protagonist is incredible. The use of first person narration allows this, but the attention to detail in establishing setting (and a menacing mood of mystery to boot) is inspiring. The use of his craft is of the highest caliber, so I'm hoping the story goes somewhere. The slow build is great though so, in writing tonight, I've probably tried to go back through Chapter 2 and slow it down. It can be a good idea to tell the character's story at an early juncture, and move the plot from there. Having something happen to Daniel and Careless will mean more when you know who they are and how they came to be. There is some mention now of why they work as a couple, though it is entirely Careless' perspective at this point (despite the third person narration), and it is only a mention of the contradictory nature of their personalities.
No doubt we will hear Daniel's side at some point, thought the early stages of this novel will be very much a story of the heroine.
On another note I watched 'Machete.' How frickin good is Danny Trejo?? An awesome, over-the-top, stunt film. Just insanity. At the same time, I was saddened by how far Robert DeNiro was fallen. He was The Man at one time, and is not in a B-Grade blood & guts action flick and it doesn't feel like a big deal. A shame. Overall though it was a smashing good time. Started watching The Godfather trilogy again too. Despite the flaws in the third film it is one of the better stories ever told. Ambiguous characters, an excellent script, and perfect use of symbols and motifs.
Maybe my mood here was helped by the fact I've been listening to a lot of metal lately- Arch Enemy, Slipknot, Slayer and The Haunted.
Or may the dark clouds are gathering.
It sounds trivial I know, but waking up is an amazing time of sustained thought. When we wake we simultaneously plan the day and try to reach into the abyss we have woken from. Perhaps it the half-asleep way we stumble into our routine that puts us in touch with our unconscious thoughts. It feels natural to draw out the process so that Careless thinks about her past and allows a natural exposition of how her and Daniel came to be in New York.
A number of problems are established, notably around the scars she has across her midsection and back. Scars will be a motif that indicate a character's past feeling closer. It might appear simple, or perhaps nuts, but it makes sense in the context I'm building.
I've started reading Martin Booth's 'A Very Private Gentlemen' and am in awe of his prose. Entirely fluent and original the descriptions and time he takes to build his protagonist is incredible. The use of first person narration allows this, but the attention to detail in establishing setting (and a menacing mood of mystery to boot) is inspiring. The use of his craft is of the highest caliber, so I'm hoping the story goes somewhere. The slow build is great though so, in writing tonight, I've probably tried to go back through Chapter 2 and slow it down. It can be a good idea to tell the character's story at an early juncture, and move the plot from there. Having something happen to Daniel and Careless will mean more when you know who they are and how they came to be. There is some mention now of why they work as a couple, though it is entirely Careless' perspective at this point (despite the third person narration), and it is only a mention of the contradictory nature of their personalities.
No doubt we will hear Daniel's side at some point, thought the early stages of this novel will be very much a story of the heroine.
On another note I watched 'Machete.' How frickin good is Danny Trejo?? An awesome, over-the-top, stunt film. Just insanity. At the same time, I was saddened by how far Robert DeNiro was fallen. He was The Man at one time, and is not in a B-Grade blood & guts action flick and it doesn't feel like a big deal. A shame. Overall though it was a smashing good time. Started watching The Godfather trilogy again too. Despite the flaws in the third film it is one of the better stories ever told. Ambiguous characters, an excellent script, and perfect use of symbols and motifs.
Maybe my mood here was helped by the fact I've been listening to a lot of metal lately- Arch Enemy, Slipknot, Slayer and The Haunted.
Or may the dark clouds are gathering.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Part four.five: something I can never have
Sorry for the lack of progress. Lots happening in the real world lately with work and engagements. Plus the footy is back.
Plan on working on the story this week. I have a plan in my head, at least for the immediate future.
Daniel has disappeared so Careless has some hunting to do. The story will stay in NY for a while but ultimately ends up back in Melbourne. From there, your guess is as good as mine.
I'm leaning towards a detective type mystery. She's trapped in her past here and needs to figure a way out. At the same time, she wonders about happiness and normalcy- something she has never had. The very idea of happiness is foreign to her. She thinks she has in during her time in NY, but this quickly becomes a nightmare as she realises that everything isn't quite where it belongs. Careless doesn't know what it means to just sit and enjoy the breeze by the bay, so is confused by what Daniel means to her, and can't help but be suspicious of why he showed up in her life in the first place.
Hey how about I show you some? Here is a section from Chapter 2. You can find it on my Tumblr http://themrdaprano.tumblr.com/
More soon
Plan on working on the story this week. I have a plan in my head, at least for the immediate future.
Daniel has disappeared so Careless has some hunting to do. The story will stay in NY for a while but ultimately ends up back in Melbourne. From there, your guess is as good as mine.
I'm leaning towards a detective type mystery. She's trapped in her past here and needs to figure a way out. At the same time, she wonders about happiness and normalcy- something she has never had. The very idea of happiness is foreign to her. She thinks she has in during her time in NY, but this quickly becomes a nightmare as she realises that everything isn't quite where it belongs. Careless doesn't know what it means to just sit and enjoy the breeze by the bay, so is confused by what Daniel means to her, and can't help but be suspicious of why he showed up in her life in the first place.
Hey how about I show you some? Here is a section from Chapter 2. You can find it on my Tumblr http://themrdaprano.tumblr.com/
More soon
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
4. Frick
OK, I have no idea what to write next.
My characters are stuck in New York with nothing to do.
Any suggestions?
Just saw a preview of Limitless. I need something that actually makes sense.
I was listening to Foo Fighters today, the last album "Echoes, Silence, Patience, Grace." The last song 'Home' contains those very words. I like the idea of an echo. It featured in the last thing I was working on too, the concept of a memory echoing back and forth in your head, resonating in the present. But how does the present echo into the future? I have decide that the first chapter is set well after chapter two, and will come back again at some point. So I do have something I'm plotting towards but don't quite know how to get there. They are slightly nomadic but something needs to happen in New York, something that will echo, before they move onto silence.
Unfortunately I don't think a character named Careless gets to have patience or grace. So there goes the inspiration for today.
Just read the lyrics for 'Home' and remembered there was a Nine Inch Nails song with the same name.
And now I'm onto something. They can't stick around much longer. They aren't where they should be.
My characters are stuck in New York with nothing to do.
Any suggestions?
Just saw a preview of Limitless. I need something that actually makes sense.
I was listening to Foo Fighters today, the last album "Echoes, Silence, Patience, Grace." The last song 'Home' contains those very words. I like the idea of an echo. It featured in the last thing I was working on too, the concept of a memory echoing back and forth in your head, resonating in the present. But how does the present echo into the future? I have decide that the first chapter is set well after chapter two, and will come back again at some point. So I do have something I'm plotting towards but don't quite know how to get there. They are slightly nomadic but something needs to happen in New York, something that will echo, before they move onto silence.
Unfortunately I don't think a character named Careless gets to have patience or grace. So there goes the inspiration for today.
Just read the lyrics for 'Home' and remembered there was a Nine Inch Nails song with the same name.
And now I'm onto something. They can't stick around much longer. They aren't where they should be.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Part 2 - out of the darkness
I'm onto the second chapter after spending some time developing the first. The first has a little more detail. It is clear the protagonist and antagonist know each other. He is after her and has been a while. There are clues now in Chapter 1, and some red herrings.
The scene in Chapter 2 shifts to New York in Winter. The majority is purely background. You get to know Careless a bit and her love life. She is unconventional but the man she wakes up beside is mysterious (going with a Kaiser Sosey vibe here).
I still don't have an overall plot in mind but I'm drifting towards the mystery genre. I don't plan to break new ground here, and doubt that I will, but using conventions well can be successful when the writing is of a high quality. Which I'm hoping it is!
I might post something soonish, see what I did there, when I feel more comfortable with its progression. The character intrigues me. I've never been able to write female characters well but basing it around her seems to be working. I'm using a third person narration for that reason, hiding my weakness if you will.
Plus I set the additional challenge of writing this while chatting on Fb and proof reading the manuscript (fuck that was wank!) AND the battery on my MacBook is dying so, hey, why not put some pressure on?
Might produce something good here.
Stay tuned!
The scene in Chapter 2 shifts to New York in Winter. The majority is purely background. You get to know Careless a bit and her love life. She is unconventional but the man she wakes up beside is mysterious (going with a Kaiser Sosey vibe here).
I still don't have an overall plot in mind but I'm drifting towards the mystery genre. I don't plan to break new ground here, and doubt that I will, but using conventions well can be successful when the writing is of a high quality. Which I'm hoping it is!
I might post something soonish, see what I did there, when I feel more comfortable with its progression. The character intrigues me. I've never been able to write female characters well but basing it around her seems to be working. I'm using a third person narration for that reason, hiding my weakness if you will.
Plus I set the additional challenge of writing this while chatting on Fb and proof reading the manuscript (fuck that was wank!) AND the battery on my MacBook is dying so, hey, why not put some pressure on?
Might produce something good here.
Stay tuned!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Part one- from dust
Part one in the can. It has a number, but I'm unsure if it is a prologue or an actual opening chapter. (Hell, by the end of this it might be the end- it's like that sometimes).
It looks like it'll be a thriller/mystery type deal. I open straight in the action, with little time for exposition and it is largely, deliberately disorientating. (Rather than being a straight up deliberate orientation where I would actually set the scene.) I want it to feel claustrophobic. Tight, not loose. The action is therefore confined to a single room, with minimal description of the surrounds. It could be anywhere the reader can visualise. The excpetion to this is a focus on body parts (as a source of pain) and the presence of three tattoos in the opening paragraph. None of them are dragons. The matching roses on protagonist and antagonist simply symbolize their prior relationship. The chapter is linked, after much deliberation, by her reaction to his new tattoo across his throat. Originally I didn't even have tattoos in it, but since I started by called the chapter "One Hell of a Tattoo" (a tribute to an ex student), I figured I should probably include a direct reference somewhere. In the end, tattoos are a powerful motif these days, but aren't restricted in the way they use to be as needing to speak to a particular character archetype. The aggression of the character defines them in this chapter, the tattoo subtle enough (or perhaps not) to be interpreted differently by the reader later.
I end it with a little hint- something to keep the story going as Careless is able to escape. I still don't know why she is called Careless, but it certainly sounded good at the time. His (working) name is Dan. Probably only because everyone I know is named Dan, including my front and back neighbours.
Current concern- no cliches! Failed that already with friggin matching rose tattoos. How cliched is that? Might change it if I can find a suitable symbolic replacement. It is a decent motif though, and one any reader will be able to visualise, even if they base it off Johnny 23 in their unconscious.
So there we have it. (And next time I promise not to use friggin parenthesis all the time).
[References to Danny Trejo movies- 1]
It looks like it'll be a thriller/mystery type deal. I open straight in the action, with little time for exposition and it is largely, deliberately disorientating. (Rather than being a straight up deliberate orientation where I would actually set the scene.) I want it to feel claustrophobic. Tight, not loose. The action is therefore confined to a single room, with minimal description of the surrounds. It could be anywhere the reader can visualise. The excpetion to this is a focus on body parts (as a source of pain) and the presence of three tattoos in the opening paragraph. None of them are dragons. The matching roses on protagonist and antagonist simply symbolize their prior relationship. The chapter is linked, after much deliberation, by her reaction to his new tattoo across his throat. Originally I didn't even have tattoos in it, but since I started by called the chapter "One Hell of a Tattoo" (a tribute to an ex student), I figured I should probably include a direct reference somewhere. In the end, tattoos are a powerful motif these days, but aren't restricted in the way they use to be as needing to speak to a particular character archetype. The aggression of the character defines them in this chapter, the tattoo subtle enough (or perhaps not) to be interpreted differently by the reader later.
I end it with a little hint- something to keep the story going as Careless is able to escape. I still don't know why she is called Careless, but it certainly sounded good at the time. His (working) name is Dan. Probably only because everyone I know is named Dan, including my front and back neighbours.
Current concern- no cliches! Failed that already with friggin matching rose tattoos. How cliched is that? Might change it if I can find a suitable symbolic replacement. It is a decent motif though, and one any reader will be able to visualise, even if they base it off Johnny 23 in their unconscious.
So there we have it. (And next time I promise not to use friggin parenthesis all the time).
[References to Danny Trejo movies- 1]
A new blog- a new story
So I have this idea for a story. It is a story about a story. The plan is to document my thinking as I write (in a separate document) a new story. Perhaps it fits with the 'Ghost' stories I've already done, perhaps it is something new.
But I'm starting tonight.
And I'm listening to Slipknot.
It starts with this tweet:
'forever damned' would make for a hell of a tattoo.
So I'm going with that as the title.
And as of right now, her name is Careless.
The chapter is called "One Hell of a Tattoo."
But I'm starting tonight.
And I'm listening to Slipknot.
It starts with this tweet:
'forever damned' would make for a hell of a tattoo.
So I'm going with that as the title.
And as of right now, her name is Careless.
The chapter is called "One Hell of a Tattoo."
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