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June 23, 2008
Cross your eyes
I recently picked up the manuscript I wrote in 30 days in November. I thought I'd start to revise it. It's the story of a young man who abandons San Francisco after September 11, 2001, filled with bleak despair, and who decides to build a life for himself in a central Iowa town when his car breaks down there. Then wild bears attack, wreaking havoc on the town and wrenching Neil Harmonica out of his malaise. The townspeople fight off the bears, and Neil finds meaning in life and falls in love along the way. I've come to the conclusion that it may not be worth revision.
On Sunday, Dan suggested I consider a different approach to writing. Perhaps a thinly fictionalized memoir exaggerated to comic effect, in the vein of David Sedaris. I rejected the idea, because my life has always been pretty boring. The more I think about it, though, the more I think that Dan's suggestion may be a better use of my writerly impulses.
Chapter One will start before my birth, when my protagonist's mom starts moving furniture and then crosses her eyes at the command of her Thai nurse. Because that's how it really happened, or close enough.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at June 23, 2008 08:22 PM
Comments
Close enough, yup!
Posted by: Mom at June 23, 2008 09:02 PM
*I don't think anyone who's lived in as many countries as you could say life was boring-but it is all perspective.
*If you were to incorporate a female protagonist, as you mentioned awhile back you might be able to go with that sedaris-type thing.
*You should read over some of your old journal entries for inspiration in this vein.
*The reststop/hooker incident with Laura would make for a compelling vignette.
Posted by: Rian at June 24, 2008 04:43 PM
Thanks, Rian. Maybe I just need third-party validation.
Posted by: Courtney at June 24, 2008 06:10 PM
Courtney, that's so awesome! I'm so excited to hear you're interested in writing something inspired by your life experience!
Posted by: Dan Muzyka at June 24, 2008 09:30 PM