The Mechanics of Novel

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, judges and prestigist all, I bring to our attention, for discussion and analysis, the Novel. It isn't an elusive thing. We've all experienced the qualities that make a functioning novel. Even if our criteria difer we all experience in common that we have criteria with which we define a "good" novel. I think we would gain to debate the subject.

Question: What is the function of a novel?

A possible answer: To tell a nuanced and broad story which treats a subject, or group of subjects, that cannot be given full credence in a shorter work of fiction--e.g. a short story.

If this is a true statement about the function of a novel--I believe that it is, but I'm waiting for refutation--then it raises questions about formulation of a novel. This is a blog. We can't really talk about that in much depth. But it also raises questions on the subject of methods of preorganization. How is the projected journey of a protagonist in a novel different than the journey of a protagonist in a short story? Should as much thought be given to the character's "transformation" or should there by more emphasis in the outlining of the broader range of events? And what kind of approach should we have to deciding where to start? In a short story, we like starting in the middle of an action, but that's because we have less space to do things with so we make everything do more than one thing. In a novel, with more space, should we be as compressed with our powers of persuasion?

It's all quite confusing. I don't know how a novel functions, I've discovered. I hope we can help each other.

Knot

I was just skateboarding while listening to "Tu Pauperum Refugium", a motet for four part chorus, by Josquin Des Prez--Franco-Flemmish composer of the Renaissance, apparently, thank you wikiworld--when I was wondering why the ground was getting closer to me. Then it hit me, that I am a mass of weird contradictions.

"I Just Wanna Have Something to Do", by The Ramones, came on my mp3 player as I stood up and knocked the grit out of my scratches. I got back on my skateboard and, as much as I enjoy the works of Des Prez, I decided that the tempo of The Ramones really does fit skateboarding better.

Third submission of "Totem" and the speech

Stardate 21230.6/The Year of Our Lord 2009, September the ninth

Wednesday

Dear folks,

It was actually two days ago. On Monday. All very exciting.

This afternoon I gave an ad libbed speech on the subject of how the Dalai Lama supports the fact that civilization rests on the curiosity of writers. Giving a speech on that topic off the cuff is kind of exciting, I tell you no lie. I think I totally muffed it. I was able to speak clearly, annunciate all my words, and I managed to hit all my points and in the right order without getting lost. That was good. But it wasn't MOVING--unless it was, and I just couldn't hear it. All I know for certain is that no one laughed at the funny parts, and no one told me afterward what they thought. Now I don't know where I messed up, or if I did. I can't tell where I need improvement.

Still, it was essentially my first speechifying gig, and I actually did it. I feel like I've accomplished something today.

Sincerely,

Bouncy Mind

Random Shit Mix

Here it is, the last forty-one minutes of my birthday. I sit listening to the "Random Shit Mix" Abigail gave to me, gazing through the haze of conflicting stimulants at words made to make sense only through my intention. The uppers are fighting with the downers, and my system is exerting its perplexity-empowered self-drugging to maintain whatever fragile balance I'm meant to have. It's calming and energizing at the same time. I am in power, but I am not in any state to exert myself.

I woke this morning intending to write a judgment of the last year, or a "things I have learned", or a breathtaking tale of how I have changed in this year. The issue being I haven't changed. I maintain the same space, I have the same hair, and the same tastes. I intend the same ends, I believe in the same God. I find that comforting.

Last year, I distinctly remember thinking to myself that a year is an unthinkably long time. I remember thinking more than once over the course of this year that it has been passing with exceptional leisure. It has been taking its sweet time, and events haven't so much unfolded as grown like olive trees. It has been a slow, busy, educational and exceptional year. I also feel at this moment as if the time is over suddenly and without warning. Weird mind.

I think Buster Keaton said it best when he chose not to speak.

Good night, esteemed ideas. Take on clothing and walk like men.

Second rejection of "Totem"

Stardate 21209.8/The Year of Our Lord 2009, August the nineteenth

Wednesday

Dear anachronistic cyber spelunkers,

"Totem" was today rejected for a second time. I've wisely spent the interim not exclusively obsessing about the possibility of its fate. I have been working. It's been a busy summer.

Quote of the day: "Journalism aims at accuracy, but fiction aims at truth." John L'Heureux

Sincerely

"Snaps"

Like thought provoking, but not as strong as that. Thought poking.

I'm trying a writing technique that I haven't tried in more than five years. It's the first writing technique that I ever used, and I haven't used it in five years because it's kind of crap in some ways, and kind of limiting in all its other ways. It can be effectively pulled off, but it hasn't often been done well. So I haven't used it.

But now I am. And it isn't making me think of much except that I haven't used it in a while. I'm using it in a way slightly different than I had back then, though, and that's proving a little interesting.

Ya'll might be able to guess what technique it is from this clue: maximum immediacy.

The Most Dangerousest Game

Yesterday, the Vikings met for the third time. Last month, in our discussion, somebody started talking about beginning stories with dialog effectively. And, as inevitably happens when talking about what we've written, he mentioned something that he'd read that he thought was a good illustration of his point. "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, he said was the story.

A couple days later, this brilliant Viking sent me an e-mail and said, "Hey, look, I found the story I mentioned on the interwebs. What say I lead a discussion on the technique I talked about?"

I was all over that, man. It sounded like a brilliant idea. I e-mailed the link to the other Vikings and said we'd discuss it.

Yesterday at our meeting, therefore, we discussed beginning a story with dialog in lieu of how Richard Connell with "The Most Dangerous Game" seemed to have effectively used dialog to kick-off his story. And we found some interesting stuff. It was excellent educationing.

Here's the story: http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/danger.html It's a good bit of fiction.