Rami Ungar The Writer

I’ve written once or twice about having an idea for a story or wanting to write a story with a certain sort of theme/creature/character/whatever in it. Usually those sorts of stories are short stories. However recently I came up with an idea for a novel, and although I had enough for a blurb on the back cover, which is usually what I put down on my Ideas list on my flash drive, I felt it was lacking somehow. I wanted more, because I had a feeling this was the sort of novel (or perhaps series–who knows?) where I might play around with it in my head for years before I got around to writing it.

However, nothing came to me. I knew I wanted one more element, something that wouldn’t be on a blurb but would be central to the story in my head as I played around with it. It was annoying as heck, not being able to come up with something. Romantic rival? Too YA for my tastes. Romantic problems anyway? That’s definitely going to be a part of the plot, but it won’t be the main focus! Some special history to the main character’s special powers? I need something to drive the plot, not enhance it; I didn’t come up with the powers for the main characters of Reborn City till after I knew what sort of story I was writing, so I need to hold off till I have something to work with. Politics? Maybe, but it can’t drive the tale. Family troubles?

Finally, while I was getting ready to take a shower and get to bed, something came to me. Just like that. And I knew how it would connect to the full story and drive the plot and ultimately make it fun for me to work with. I felt such a hit of relief, I very nearly started to sing. Good thing I didn’t sing though; the windows might’ve broke on me! In Columbus in January, you don’t want broken windows.

Now, you know I’m not going to tell you what the story’s about or what I added into it (I’ve told a few people, but I know they’re not going to brag about it or reveal anything they shouldn’t). I will say that I take a classic fairy tale by a Danish author (start Googling…now!) and that I give it the usual Rami Ungar treatment…which means it’ll be distorted and made creepy and possibly a little gory and/or sexual. Hey, I am what I am.

I’ll also tell you that it’s not uncommon for me to come up with an idea for a novel and let it rattle around in my head for a year or more. That’s what happened with Reborn City and what happened with Snake. But when I look at how they turned out, I know that was the right decision; my friend who’s helping me edit RC says he thinks it’s very interesting, and usually his critiques are limited to grammar or extraneous words in the writing, which I can only take as a good thing. As for Snake, I think that’s some of the best writing I’ve ever done, and I’ve only done the first draft!

So this works for me. Maybe by the time I sit down to write this story that I’ve been devoting this post to, it’ll be something so spectacular that maybe I’ll ruin–or enhance–high school and college literature courses with it.

I can dream, can’t I?

In the meantime, stick with me and let’s see how I do in the writing world. I’ve got a lot of ideas, and I’m looking for the right oppurtunities to put each and every one out. I hope you all will be with me as I write them, because your support is what helps me get the words out on paper and eventually, to you.