As some of your may know, I am currently writing a second novel, my first fiction to be released, based on the 2007 independent feature Midnight Heat by Brad Jones. But what you may not be aware is that this is not the only project I have on the line at the moment.
Currently under the working title of The Life & Times of Dermot Cummins, this is to be my sci fi 'epic' in the vain of a Red Dwarf or Douglas Adams. There were elements of the plot I have mentioned to some people to test the vibe somewhat and the reaction I mostly received was praise for my imagination. And that left me wracked with guilt somewhat. And so here is my confession piece. A kiss-and-tell for writer's if you will.
The best fiction is non-fiction.
What I mean by that is whilst all works have some personal stamp affected indirectly by their creators that would not have been present should anyone else have got it (which is why remakes that try and stick too close to the source material suffer the Uncanny Valley effect) it is also true that many writer's write their own lives and character encounters into their fiction to an astounding level. Some become famous such as Arthur Miller's The Crucible. And yet these always get remembered as isolated incidents. A product of a time where one could only talk through allegory for fear of execution. But I find that still continues today to no end. So here I plan to explore the process of how this works, using my own work as an example..
It started with an little chip on the shoulder before I had even thought of publishing my first book, my struggle with jobcentre who had by this time suspended my account over non-attendance due to a court summons for a debt I didn't even have. This type of scenario was regular enough of an occurance that the incident was not surprising, and had even talked on a number of occasions to my MP in regards to the issues. I had been told I should write a book, a big slutty name-and-shame of all these incidents I'd had to log for discourse with the MP, and I kind of liked the idea but feared the notion of a stroppy council kicking up a bit of extra hassle in retaliation.
So I thought to play it safe. What if I changed the names of those involved? Now it was instantly a fictional story of made up character with a part time job and his struggles with job centre. Hm this solved the issue but it needed to be a bit punchier.
So what if we swap the job? Instead of a merchandiser of clipstrips and tights, now he was a plumber - much more indentifiable and builds up a new set of character traits to go with my own (which in turn automatically makes it a three dimensional character that is pretty easy to get into the mindset of for situations).
Now change the date. Add 1000 years.
Three small changes and what has that left us with so far?
A part-time plumber struggling for work is suddenly blocked from finance from the jobcentre for 'too many earnings' on his 4 hour a week job. So now he has to travel the galaxy in search of any given work he can to make ends meet.
Now we just need to swap the "jobcentre" for something a little more general, such as The Federation.
A part-time plumber struggling for work is suddenly blocked from finance
from the Federation for 'too many earnings' on his 4 hour a week job. So
now he has to travel the galaxy in search of any given work he can to
make ends meet.
See how far removed from reality it already sounds? And of course this aspect of the plot is just the jumping off point for a bigger story. But the same is true of characters. I find it's easier to use an existing person in mind, use their name for the first draft to keep them fresh in your mind as you write descriptions / think how this person will react in that particular situation, and remember to find more apt names on a redraft.
Congratulations with the smallest of tweaks you have taken a simple complaint to the dole office into a galaxy-traversing sci fi adventure with a stronger vibe of Firefly than Wigan.
So what are your thoughts on this? Did it help at all, or am I barmy, or did you just completely not give a crap? Comment below for a discussion, or;
Tweet me at @Chromosoner
or email at mpwilliamson@live.co.uk
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