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Showing posts from July, 2006
Note: This entry shows my technique of asking myself questions to stimulate my thinking about a plot or character point. It's a brainstorming technique, and thus a lot of this didn't end up in the final book. Before beginning, another piece of backstory I'm still lacking is how Hap met Don in college. I have the feeling this is too important not to figure out in advance, because it will color Hap's whole attitude about attending the week at Don's cabin. Q: What kind of person was Don in college? A: He was a dual business and computer science major. As a computer science major he was a geek who preferred to stay in the data center (don't forget this was in the 1980s before there was a computer on everyone's desk). But as a business major he developed a feel for contacts and politics and did a certain amount of schmoozing at fraternity parties. I might make some of his sex stories about the sorority girls and so on. Q: Maybe it would be better to ask...
I've been reading Tropic of Cancer in order to imbue myself with the Henry Miller voice for my book. I'm not sure it will work in the long run but I'm hoping it can enliven things. No doubt it's something that people have tried and failed at before.