So, I've given myself a deadline of January 1 to make a decision. What will my new novel project be? Why Jan. 1? Well, let's just say that by the beginning of 2010 my schedule will be radically different than it is now. I'll have a lot more time to go full steam ahead on a novel. Why will me schedule suddenly open up like this? Well, more about that later.
The point is that I have a handful of novel ideas, and I like all of them. Some days, I want to go in a more sci-fi direction. Other days, I feel I'd love to follow up THE DEPUTY (coming in April from Tyrus) with another short, sharp crime novel. There are some things I've been wanting to try for a long time, but I've always had other obligations, contracts to fulfill, whatever. Here's what I want: I want to feel 100% awesome about whatever I'm writing. Like my body and soul are perfectly confident in the knowledge that I have absolutely made the right decision.
So I've got November and December to try to get into that frame of mind. Wish me luck.
22 comments:
You know, why not both? A short, sharp crime novel with a sci-fi bend sounds like you could really do something spectacular with it. I think sometimes when you're faced with a tough decision between two things, you should see if you could blend them or meet in the middle somehow. Just my opinion, though.
Sean,
That's not a bad idea. But really, I'm not faced with two things to choose from ... more like a half-dozen. And every day I'm in a different mood.
VG
I'm sure whatever you come up with will be another amazing read.
I wish I had that problem. Jan 1, 2010 is a deadline for me, too, but only to get out of this mind-numbing, soul-stealing J-O-B and into something different...but back to your post. The problem with crime/sci-fi is that there have been so many bad attempts that folks might be reticent to commit themselves to another one. Reading is an investment of time, and if I'm going to invest the time that I could spend doing something else then it better time well spent.
Whatever you choose I will be right there. [well, at least so far whatever you've chosen]
Good luck VG. I look forward to whatever may result
I feel the exact same way all the time, Victor. One day I'll really enjoy writing gritty stuff, then the next day I look at it and say "Man, I really don't want to write that anymore" so I understand the frustration.
Maybe you should pick one certain, specific genre for the next novel, but also have a big list of off-genre short stories that you can divert to when you need to step back from the novel's genre. I always find a short story is a great palate cleanser for genre ennui.
If you have the time why not work on several once?
If you do a Sci-Fi novel you should go all out SciFi and add in some alien sex. I'm serious.
Gerard,
I was actually thinking of a Sex in the City remake ... but with aliens.
VG
I say go with the flow Vic, and I've read The Deputy, loved it, a one sitting read. I'd like a follow up. And instead of Sex in the City, how about Sex in the City Morgue?
Cosmonauts are going to be the vampires of 2011.
At work just now I opened up a box of new books with SIX Christmas themed novels. You've cashed in vampires, you may as well write up a Christmas one.
A zombie P.I. novel would be a zany good time
I was looking at Christa Faust's FLICKR page and she had a photo with herself and a porn producer. The porn producer made a zombie porn movie.
How about a novel in which the husband fixes the garbage disposal, trims the bushes, cleans his bathroom, and signs his son up for some sort of sport? I'd read that one.
Nah, I'm not too into horror novels.
I was excited about a scifi novel, but after reading the vampire book i want a sequel.
The A-team dudes join up with Sex in the City babes to battle alien zombies!
Keith and shauyi are onto something here: Zombie PIs take on A-Team/ City Slut alliance smuggling snuff videos in GI-Joe/Jane dolls. I can feel it. It's coming together...
space pirates, alien hookers, and a talking dog with tourette's syndrome.
Okay, here's my idea. A few years back, Jack O'Connell wrote a bio/critique of the novels of the late lost noir paperback writer James Loftus. See here: http://www.fantasticmetropolis.com/i/loftus/full/
Anyway, the whole thing's a wonderful fake, but if you read it you'll understand my recommending you write one of the imaginary Loftus novels.
See if you get any stranger recommendations than that!
p.s. Just read all your old columns in PLOTS WITH GUN (wonderful) and got copies of GUN MONKEYS and GO-GO DANCERS OF THE APOCALYPSE yesterday and today; will be reading them immediately after the new issue of OUT OF THE GUTTER and the NEW ORLEANS NOIR anthology. Also, could you set your next novel in New Orleans?
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