Yes, you read that correctly. Today I take back the Man Cave.
Maybe I'll do some writing later. In the Man Cave. Ah, that's the stuff.
One of my favorite books--top five (seriously)--is Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. If you're familiar, skip ahead. If not, well, it's a collection of stories (sort of) and a novel (sort of). O'Brien served in the military during that awful tragedy in Vietnam, and The Things They Carried follows a platoon through combat, coming home, and even fictional Tim's experience before the war. Or is it fictional Tim? Are the members of the platoon fictional? Just how much of this book is true, how much is made up?
Damn, it's a good book when it has you asking those kind of questions.
My last visit home really inspired me. You've seen the pictures. I've had this seed of an idea to write a novel/collection (kindasorta experimental) with my hometown as the base. Yes, it would be horror-esque. More dark fantasy and magical realism, I think. Yes, I would break a few narrative conventions, ala The Things They Carried. Visiting home again, I just knew this was the right thing to do. Maybe a little too ambitious for a writer of my skill, but hell. I'd rather try to climb a mountain than roll down a hill.
It's been brewing for a while. I better just write it, huh? In fact I've already started:
Elroy Jantz’s first death was an accident.
14 comments:
You're shaking off summer and waking up I see. Good to know. :D
Loved that story. Can't wait to see what you can do with the conventions Tim put forth. Good luck.
Ah, home is where the heart (and the best story ideas) is/are.
Cate - Yes. It was a sweet dream while it lasted, but I have stories to write.
Jamie - The idea is perfect in my head. Too bad nobody else can read it there.
Barry - You said it. It's good to be back.
I loved The Things They Carried, devouring it in an afternoon.
I loved The Things They Carried, devouring it in an afternoon.
Never read it, but I'll have to pick it up. :-D
Yes, get back to the writing. :-D Write whatever you want--no matter how ambitious you think it is. I have a friend who was just recently a high school English teacher and signed with a great agent and received a major deal for her YA trilogy. ;-)
Back to the man cave and inspired! Sounds like some good writing time coming up.
All hail the man cave!
I wish I had a man cave. All I have is a man closet.
<3 for that first line. Also, how on earth would we ever get MORE skill if we kept doing the same crap over and over. I think you'll surprise yourself :D
(But not me, as I'm already sure it'll be rad.)
Oh thank you!
I love your saying 'I would rather climb a mountain than roll down a hill'
I needed to say that to myself every morning from now on...
Good luck with your book...
I am as usual late to the party, but that's an awesome first line and I love the idea behind the book! Good luck with it.
Tim O'Brien came to my college once and did a reading. I hadn't heard of him at the time, but MAN, his selection from The Things They Carried blew me away. Amazing.
-Mercedes
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