Sunday 21 November 2010

The Museum That Isn't a Museum

Otherwise titled... Where I ramble on about my NaNoWriMo book.

This book is Science Fiction, I suppose. Or as it involves time travel, a giant robot (The Breaker), fabricated people and a dystopian future it can't really be anything else and yet I'm desperate to turn it into something  dark and spooky. I want it to be more about the dark than the science. And the book I'm supposed to plot to follow this (not a sequel at all or even in the same universe) is science fiction too - alien invasion with a creepy twist. Or a creepy twist, I hope.

When did I become a science fiction writer? And can I be a science fiction writer when I'm sure my science is seriously flawed? I mean, time travel shouldn't involve supermarket trolleys ever... Then again, maybe it should. I write dark stuff. It just so happens that this dark stuff happens some time hence. Well part of it. And that some of the people don't realise they're not real, that they're fabricated. But then, if no one ever told them how are they to know?

Ah, then there's the whole 1920s part of the book which I've toyed with making the 1970s (because I lived through that era - and adore the 70s) or maybe contemporary (because I'm lazy and because my Jake has a thoroughly modern voice because well, I'm lazy).

'Tis a first draft. I suppose I should stop overthinking. Can you stop overthinking?

And ooh look, I passed the 40,000 word mark.

Friday's word count: 1287
Saturday's word count: 667
Today's word count: 3350 + 1413 (other projects)
Total word count: 41,601 + 4763 (other projects)

11 comments:

Katey said...

"Stop overthinking." God, I wish I knew how to make that happen.

time travel shouldn't involve supermarket trolleys ever
Hey, if it can involve phone boxes, why not?

Cate Gardner said...

Ha! Excellent point, Katey. And the Doctor can be very dark at times and I'm certain his science is sometimes screwy.

Alan W. Davidson said...

I suppose one never stops (over)thinking. Passed 40K. Wicked. And you've still got 9 days left.

Corinne said...

Honestly, everything you've said about this book so far sounds unbelievably awesome. I wish I had your imagination.

Congrats on passing the 40k mark - and good luck with the rest!

Aaron Polson said...

You are a Cate Gardner. No further genre explanation necessary.

And 40K? YES!

Fox Lee said...

Booze usually nips the over-thinking in the bud for me. Of course, if I used it every time I would be an alcoholic by now. It's all about balance!

Danielle Birch said...

Images of a trolley riding time traveller springing to mind...I agree with Katey. And well done on the word count. Isn't it frustrating how we spend so much time overthinking the first draft when really we should just be getting it down. But then, I guess we just want to get it right.

PS Have finished Strange Men. It's bloody brilliant. Congrats again.

Simon said...

To hell with the science. Science, magic, call it what you will, it's a gadget that takes you through time. And as Aaron said, you're a Cate Gardner. So you can do whatever you like.

This one sounds deeply funky. And if anyone can pull off a time-travelling supermarket trolley, it'll be you. :D

Barry Napier said...

Nothing at all wrong with sci-fi. Same thing going on with me: where the hell did all of this fantasy come from???

Cate Gardner said...

I guess not, Alan.

Thanks, Cory.

I doubt agents will accept that excuse, Aaron. :D

No booze here, Natalie. Maybe that's my problem.

Thanks, Danielle. Oh, and your word count is kicking serious ass.

Let's hope so, Simon. Though I suspect mine have wonky wheels.

I don't know, Barry!!! :D

Unknown said...

I think there will be a new sub-genre soon called "Cate-Fi".