OTF: I Don’t Get It, Johnny Depp, and My Third Novel…

The joke’s on… One of the fears I’ve always had about my novel is that people won’t get it. I’ve been thinking about that lately. I’ve tried to keep a loose style, especially in the character dialogue. The two main characters have their own shorthand that they slip into every once in a while. I know that everyone does it, but strangely you don’t really see it too much in books (at least I haven’t…) I think that in itself is interesting, trying to pull that off. It’s also scary for a first-time novel, to cover new ground. Maybe there’s a reason it hasn’t been done…

As I say, I’ve been aware of this since the beginning, and I’ve tried to combat this potential for miscommunication by not relying on these passages to carry too much of the plot. I guess the conversations are a literary device in themselves (now that I think about it) rather than the words. Still, I’m a little worried it might be confusing or (worse) off-putting.

Of course that’s not going to change anything — yet. I’m still pushing ahead, writing the book I want to write first, and make changes if needed later…

What do you do with a drunken sailor? Very excited to hear over the weekend that The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson is now a movie starring Johnny Depp. I just caught 30 seconds (or less) of the trailer, but already I like Depp’s take on the character. Seems like a quieter, more reserved Thompson. Which is still pretty loud.

I haven’t actually read that book yet, but maybe I should move it up in the rotation in time for the movie…

Germs of an idea can be infectious – Got an idea for my third novel. Yes, I haven’t finished the first, I know. The second isn’t even in the works yet (in case I haven’t mentioned it here, the book will be about a restaurant owner/entrepreneur).

This third one is actually based on an idea I had many years ago, but I couldn’t find a way to make it work. This weekend, inspiration struck, and the whole structure of the book came to me in a flash (a cliché way to put it, I know, but it is so true…). I still don’t know the plot or characters that well. But at least I know how to tell that story when I do…

Should be able to block out some more time for the novel this weekend. I’ll keep you posted.

~Graham

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