A Writer’s Journal: Day One
Beginning a new project feels like …. (Fill in the blank.)
I started to write a new novel this morning. I’m calling it The Great American Write-Off. I kind of like the confusion of a ‘write-off’ as a tax deduction (?) and the Great British Bake Off.
Before I go too much further, I really think I need to map out this story.
I’m not sure that I will use the Save The Cat story structure, but I will definitely use my own ‘clock-wise’ method. And that goes along with the typical arc of the hero story conceptualized by Joseph Campbell.
I also mapped out very quickly 12 characters. I jotted down names, ages, and occupations.
The setting: The Heritage Estate in Asherton, Massachusetts.
I always use Asherton as the main town for my stories. It’s a fictional town in central Massachusetts. Just above Worcester. Probably near Leicester, maybe Lancaster.
It’s a small town but there are the typical legendary characters there. And apparently there was a wealthy guy by the last name Heritage who built this enormous stone house with beautiful property. Heritage would be someone like Bobby (not his real name) who is an actual guy who made his fortune selling cars. Then one day, he bought a bank. And he basically owns a mid-sized New England city. (That’s not really true, but my guy.. Heritage… does kind of own the Town of Atherton.
But I digress. (Writers do that.)
I named the twelve contestants. There will be drama, there will be controversy, there will be heroes, and cheaters (a plagiarist?), there will be romance, and there will be the star of this show.
There will also be a contestant who chooses to delete their story rather than submit it.
On Sundays, the contestants read for the public. The audience chooses the week’s winner. Like American Idol, the judges get a save.
It’s a funny story.
Oh, I guess I need to cute host. The mentors.
Each week, there will be a different genre.
Oh my… this feels like fun.
Stay tuned.
