Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Genesis of an Idea, at Novel Spaces

I'm over at Novel Spaces today with a post about generating writing ideas. It's related to an idea for a story that occurred to me yesterday on my commute for a noir story I'm calling "Swampy Jack's Final Cut." I hope you'll drop by.

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12 comments:

  1. Don't take this the wrong way, my friend, but I advise you to start thinking of a new title for your project. Shorten and sharpen it like Final Cut, or something. 'Swampy Jack' reads like a cartoon. 'Black Jack's Cut' grabs a bit too.

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  2. Bernardl, it all depends on how the character turns out, I think. But that is just the working title. It's probably too much of a giveaway to be the final title. I'll have to see.

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  3. I'm thinking about your long daily commute. I've had long commutes, even longer, and I find them to be great for "decompression" and de-stressing (when the traffic isn't bad). Commuting by train is better; I can get some uninterrupted reading done. On the Riverside-to-LA Metrolink, there's even a "quiet car," where riders can't talk or use cell phones. And there's always the chance that the conductor doesn't love the sound of his own voice on the PA system.

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  4. Charles, Swampy Jack sounds like the name of one of the air boat guides on an everglades tour! Too tan, missing teeth, skinny, and straggly ponytail!

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  5. Ron, I've often thought train commuting would be nearly ideal for what I like to do. Alas, no trains, or boats cross the Causeway.

    Jodi, I've got an image of him maybe a little older than what you describe but pretty much similar. I think he's going to be an interesting character to talk about.

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  6. Great post. Left a comment over there. The story sounds really good. Best of luck with it.

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  7. Sean, thanks. I'm having fun with it.

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  8. Charles, I picture him old, too. And grizzled. Maybe a former white collar dude who ditched it all, maybe with something to hide. Or just an old hippie that's been around the block! So many possibilities!

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  9. Jodi, he's got something to hide for sure :)

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  10. does the new title telegraph the tale, charles?

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  11. Great stuff, Charles. From the one small paragraph describing Swampy Jack, I could see so much.

    Great idea about using the setting to help generate ideas - I've never done that before and it sounds like it might help during those "stuck" moments.

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  12. Laughingwolf, on rethinking, I think it does a bit. I'm gonna change it, but I am still using it as a working title.

    Kate, I sort of stumbled upon that practice years ago, but I use it consciously these days.

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