Ideas

Sometimes in life we reach a crossroads. Take one path and the other closes off forever, but you are always left wondering what might have happened had you chosen the other option.

I came across one those crossroads just a few moments ago, and the decision was one of the hardest things I've ever done...

... Do I write this blog entry, or embark on an evening of binge-watching Supernatural?

You see, my life is often crammed full of such important, life-defining choices. It explains why I am such a social person who rarely ever stops talking.

Yeah, there's no way I could maintain a straight face while writing that...

I could've sworn I sat down to write something meaningful. Then again, in my life and in my stories, you should never expect to read anything truly meaningful or profound. In truth, I have not experienced nearly enough of life yet to be able to offer such an opinion, to bleed onto the blank page and provide some insight into the human condition. Maybe one day I might have something worthwhile to say, but until then I will continue to write strange stories about detectives and aristocrats and supernatural stuff and have a ton of fun seeing what my imagination spawns next!

I guess this would probably be a good time to give an update on how the planning side of things is going. NaNoWriMo is certainly a time to write like a destructive force of nature, but as I mentioned in one of my earlier blog entries I require a rough plan to work by. So, what have I been up to?

Firstly, I have some books I need to get through. One massive inspiration right now is the masterpiece that is Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. Seriously, if you haven't picked this up then you need to reassess your priorities in life. Gothic fiction at its finest; protagonist's inner monologue is truly fascinating, and complements the constant sense of foreboding that hangs over the entire household. It also features an aristocratic manor, because what Gothic story is complete without a creepy aristocratic manor or castle? Just ask Dracula, or Carmilla. I doubt Jane Eyre would disagree, and what about you, Fall of the House of Usher? I was about to add Jamaica Inn to that list, but that was more of a creepy pub than a castle. Slight difference, sure, but it has certainly provided me with an unhealthy fear of the Cornish moors...

The problem at the moment is that I don't really know what sort of story I want to write. I have a loose collection of disparate ideas, but most of them are so vague that I'm not sure how to combine them. Plot is still an unknown factor, and while I do have a couple of thoughts about some of the characters that will populate this story they have yet to take shape or identity, still to develop personalities. So far the planning stage of this project feels akin to standing at the foot of a mountain; one gigantic, impossible obstacle, with an even bigger one behind it that will have to be tackled in November.

I think the best course of action would be to separate the planning into individual segments, rather than look at it as the aforementioned mountain: insurmountable and daunting. Try and work out the characters first, then the plot; I would rather have a flawed story with interesting characters than the opposite. Hopefully once those are planned the rest should follow easily enough. It's something to think about...

What I do know for certain is that it will be focused around an aristocratic family, so expect lots of sketches and notes on the household and its surrounding grounds. It will contain elements of the supernatural, with lots of other weird things taking place that will be integral to the story. Not decided whether it will be set in our reality, or a fantasy equivalent. Not even sure what time period yet, though I do have an interest in the Victorian era. Hmm, questions, questions...

... Everything is a little uncertain at the moment, a little unclear. Once a more concrete idea presents itself then I'll discuss it further. Glad I have a few weeks to prepare!

All this typing has given me a thirst for tea. I need to do something about that.

I could also do with watching some more Supernatural.

A blog post and a couple episodes of Supernatural?

Turns out it wasn't much of a crossroads after all. Who would've thought?