The blank page in word taunts me so I am therefore writing down ideas in here. Plus, this venue is easier to share with folk.

Heaven's Paperwork

I want to start out the story with the main character waiting in line to be judged at the said gates. The story will open right at the beginning of the new world opening up and the action about to take place.

Topic of debate: Main character's gender. Some article said that men are more likely to prefer male characters whereas women have less of a preference. First person or gender neutral name would give way to a non-gendered observational character. Though many readers will attach a "she" based on author name. Readers will also look for sexual tension, so picking a gender will be easier and avoid the santa-cruzian gender/labeling bullshit. It would probably feel more comfortable writing as a female character. though with a female character, many metaphors will be made about the female fitting in a man's working world as this is more of an office kind of story...

Character has stood on line for an hour and sees people processed in two ways. Individuals granted access are directed left toward a cloud formed building labeled "wardrobe" where they are fitted with a white robe and wings. Individuals who don't make it are sent on an elevator ride downstairs. There are seven elevators that take the aspiring devil in a labyrinth-style elevator shaft circling earth they tormented. Eventually, they are sent to a particularly wretched place below earth's surface. Many geologists have tried to discover the whereabouts of hell, but have only managed to discover tiny hints in Arizona and Texas of the United States. One scientist tried proving hell's existence below the frozen terrain in Greenland, but no one was able to give him the benefit of doubt due to a recent cliche about Hell and freezing.

When character reaches the front of the line (the story should begin with being next in line and reflecting on the journey so as not to waste too much time actually waiting for the story to begin. the man at the gate peruses the file with "hm's" in various tones. Character ponders their fate when he/she is given a slip of paper to head to the 7th floor of the cloud formed building on the right and that someone would be waiting in Conference room A.

Character enters what looks like a typical earthly conference room with floor to ceiling windows, and a gigantic dark "wood" table surrounded by chairs that loose their comfort in the exact middle of any meeting held there. Character suspects that the chairs were not only engineered this way, but that the ceo chair had a special button to activate the uncomfortable state when the middle of each meeting had been reached. An angel sitting in this particular ceo chair motions character to sit in the seat next to his. A dialogue exchange happens where the angel asks a couple of interview type questions and issues character an job as an assistant to G-d's personal executive assistant. Character questions why they have been chosen and the angel responds that their file showed excellent aptitude for this kind of position, leaving the character wondering what the file had contained... which leads to a distinct need for some character development.

I figure that the best way to get some character development going is to have the character fill out one of those MySpace quizzes... (yeah, remember those?) apparently there's a few websites devoted to them.

Name:
Age:

1. What is your best friends name?


2. What color underwear/boxers wearing now?


3. What are you listening to right now?


4. Whats your favorite number?


5. What was the last thing you ate?


6. If you were a crayon what color would you be?


7. How is the weather right now?


8. Who was the last person you talked 2 on the phone?


9. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?


10. Do you have a significant other?


11. Favorite TV show?


12. Siblings?


13. Height?


14. Hair color?


15. Eye Color?


16. Do you wear contacts?


17. Favorite Holiday?


18. Month?


19. Have you ever cried for no reason?


20. What was the last movie you watched?


21. Favorite Day of the Year?


22. Are you too shy to ask someone out?


23. Can you do a headstand (not using the wall)?


24. Hugs or Kisses?


25. Chocolate or Vanilla?


26. Do you want your friends to respond to this?


27. Who is most likely to respond?


28. Who is least likely to respond?


29. What books are you reading?


30. Piercings?


31. Favorite movies?


32. Favorite football Team?


33. what were u doing before this?


34. Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn?


37. Dogs or cats?


38. Favorite flower?


39. Been caught doing something you weren't supposed to do?


40. Do you have a best friend of the opposite sex?


41. Have you ever loved someone?


42. Who would you like to see right now?


43. Are you still friends with people from kindergarten?


44. Have you ever fired a gun?


45. Do you like to travel by plane?


46. Right-handed or Left-handed?


47. How many pillows do you sleep with?


48. Are you missing someone?


49. Do you have a Tattoo?


50. Anybody on myspace that you'd go on a date with?

It has been far too long since I've written a story, and even longer since I've written a story that I don't get a sense of regret, disgust, or failure after I've handed it to someone. I have two stories in the brainstorming stages that blossomed during the same day, though I hope to evaluate them as separate entities. Here goes.

Idea: "Happiness is finding your favorite song on the radio at 4am. Sadness is realizing there's only 20 seconds left." - me

Early Notes
Possible reasons for being awake at 4am:
can't sleep
sick/depressed
work graveyard shift
inventory (job with situational shitty hours)
deadline next morning
early shift
morning person

are all these people connected? Through one song? (good song for some, not for others)

*How would they connect?
car crash
work in same building
not all connected but flow together?
should they connect?

Song should represent theme...do they all hear the same part or would it be too cheesy to have them hear sequential parts?

Song affects mood
interconnectivity - are we all really that different
- can one song brighten/ruin any day?
- can just 20 seconds?

Is life a bittersweet symphony of interconnected people and events? should the song be revealed only at the end (cause no one knows the artist/title)?

Summary
The story so far is about a group of people affected by a few seconds of a semi-recognizable song. At this point the song is Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve but could change. The characters will hear the song through different venues such as a loudspeaker, radio, random humming, someone else singing, etc. The plot carries them through their routine but the song makes them stop. Each character will have a conflict affecting their daily routine, and the song, of course will change the way they perceive the conflict and corresponding routine.

Big areas of development
Will the song ultimately change anything? If they change their routine, what happens and is this change good?


Idea: God's Paperwork

Initial thoughts
Everyone "supposedly" is judged at the pearly white gates and given a luggage tag destination for either heaven or hell. (research who guards this gate (God, Peter, Joseph, Mary, Me?)) This story is an evaluation of the paperwork or rather the job title of being God's secretary. (much copy/fax machine humor can be had here)

Is this offensive? Should I care?

Potential funny aside: There are individuals who don't make the cut... the powers at be create a diversion during the flight down by causing a bird to excrete matter in "your" proximity. This sort of event distracts the living to the point that they miss the soul traveling downward.

Potential conflicts:
Paperwork is lost or filed incorrectly resulting in some souls going to the wrong location, someone getting sent back to earth, wrong section of heaven maybe? etc
Candidate(s) fall into a gray area and present labeling trouble
Heaven/Hell no longer has vacancy
New Heaven occupant has trouble fitting in
Secretary shows up late, or not at all (for a day) or goes on vacation
Secretary runs out of necessary office supplies
God (corporate) calls a meeting and it doesn't go well
Angry, upset clients have heartbreaking sob stories


So there we have it. Preliminary thoughts on two recent story ideas. Til next inspiration.

I've started lower case media today for a couple of reasons. The first is that I'm told that writing a blog can lead to "being discovered" by the employed writers of America and sway them into signing one more paycheck for a hopeful English Lit grad. The second is actually for my sister and every other individual out there who doesn't like to read. I understand that reading is not a favorite past time for most, and books are tossed aside until its time to sell them for $3 to a school or garage sale. But I do believe that part of the reason for the lack of enthusiasm is because most books aren't fun.

Yes, there you have it. A bookworm confessing that most books are boring. Here's why:

Society tells us what to read. Critics only review the books that will sell, or have sold, a zillion copies. To write a book that reaches this goal, it has to be written and told in a certain way so that everyone can relate to either a main or cast of characters. Meaning, there has to be a certain amount of vague generalities or bland reading ease. This just has boring written all over it. Most of the books found in the New Fiction shelves of the local book retailer are "chick-lit" tales giving hope to single women, books being re-released in anniversary editions or with movie poster covers, and three books that are actually worth looking into.

Most of all, I just want to prove to the world that those who are well paid to review books are not necessarily the best judges of worth while reading. I make no claims that my tastes and writings are better, edgier, funnier, or more insightful than anyone else. I am simply offering a point of view that might make some slight difference in the world, even if that difference is a simple furrowed brow, tilted head, and a sort of "huh" sound.

Your comments will be greatly appreciated, as well as recommendations for me to read, or to your friends if you think that this blog is worth reading. But as always, please enjoy.