"the novel," etc.

[intertribal]

I've decided to start working on the novel again.  This is a big step for me, but I imagine it means nothing to most, haha.  "The novel" in this case refers to a saga/story I came up with about freshman year of college, after I had finished up the seven-book-series I spent middle school and high school writing.  "The novel" is the first of one of those dreaded trilogies, and I got halfway through the second book before I got tired of it, mainly because I realized I didn't know where the hell I was going.  This is why you worldbuild and outline, boys and girls.  Anyway I feel strongly about "the novel," and giving up on it entirely was never an option. 

The seven-book-series will never see the light of day because it has all the problems you'd expect a 15-year-old's stories to have, but it's always interesting when I see themes from that series arise again in "the novel."  And I mean, I realize these similarities like years after the fact.  It's good, though.  It means I'm thinking about "the novel" as a story and not just my accumulated babbles!

1.  I've never seen the movie Stigmata, but I feel like I should, because I have a real Stigmata thing going on.  
2.  The "religious right."  Although my feelings in re: this issue are pretty much summed up by the X-Files episode "Signs and Wonders."  
3.  Frowned-upon marriages.
4.  Social exile.  Class issues.  Communities that eat their own.
5.  Militarism.  Military leaders.  Law enforcement.  Abuse of power (by all characters).
6.  (Negative) Self-fulfilling prophecies.
7.  Competing definitions of what makes a "man."  The role of violence.
8.  Revenge.  Lots and lots of it.  I'm pretty sure this is a reason I like Sons of Anarchy; I'm all about the revanchism, mothafucka.
9.  Guilt, Revenge's ugly sister.

And I am doing this issues differently - more nuanced, I hope, and expanded in different directions - but I guess these are recurring themes for me.

Comments

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

so..."the novel" is one i don't know about, right?

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Uh... well, I've talked about it before (like soph. year?), but you've never read any of it, no.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

I just mean that it's different from the main ones I've heard you talk about? There are others I haven't read, if I'm understanding you correctly.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, probably not. It used to be called Ilium, but it's not anymore, and significant renovations have been planned. So, uh, same one I've been thinking about all through college.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, okay. I was like what, secret novel? And then I was embarrassed if I forgot it...

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

hahahaha

man, it's not like I talked about it that much, I wouldn't blame you if you did forget.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

you did too!

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

really?? it's been such a long time!

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

http://intertribal.livejournal.com/253811.html

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'd forgotten I'd written that. Also, that was after the renovation process had begun, because clearly everybody's names had changed. That's when I started freaking out about the fact that I hadn't done any analytical prepwork for it at all (like figured out protag, antag, conflict, blah blah blah).

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not always sure what you're talking about because i get the feeling you're venting half to yourself, but I do still read and remember these things...

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

LOOL

Yeah, I am definitely venting to myself. That is sweet that you read and remember, however.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Well, it's important to you, so I remember it. In a very different way than you do, but still.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

http://intertribal.livejournal.com/272694.html
http://intertribal.livejournal.com/270480.html
http://intertribal.livejournal.com/256662.html

etc.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Man, I forget how much I write in here.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

So... I can read the links royinpink has put in but being the queen of laziness, I'll just ask (and then probably read them anyway)

When is your novel set? You said it used to be called Illium... but I'm guessing it's not set long-ago. Is it alternate reality? The future? The present?

Abuse of power by all characters--I like that. No one gets off easily.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Tee hee hee. Nah, [info]royinpink has been listening to my half-developed ramblings forever (she was actually forced to read the first couple "novels" I wrote... pity her), so some of that is a little undigested.

It's set in post-apocalyptic Nebraska, so future, but not an unrecognizable future.

Oh absolutely, no one gets off easily.

[pgtremblay.livejournal.com]

You wrote a seven book series when you were fifteen? Whoa. I'm envious that you started writing at such a young age.

Good luck with the novel. If it's anything like your short fiction, I can't wait to read it.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Well, 11-17. Not seven in one year, haha.

Thank you. Hopefully you get a chance!

[pgtremblay.livejournal.com]

Well, if you didn't write them all at age 15, I'm not impressed then. ;)

If/when you finish the novel, I'd be happy to help in any way I can, which probably isn't a lot, but there it is.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

What can I say, I ain't Nora Roberts. :)

Thank you, Paul. I appreciate it.