Novel Update

This is another sort of - almost - not really an update on the novel. I've had another crazy idea for a different story. The very basic sketch of it is as follows:

It would be a pulp crime detective novel with all the typical trappings of that genre: loaded descriptions and melodrama centered around a tough talking detective type with a gorgeous secretary.
The twist?
The detective is a lesbian.
The secretary is just coming to terms with her own homosexuality. And she has a kid.

I'm kind of in the research stage right now. I don't want to put off this vibe of being a pervert, I genuinely want to explore the genuine feelings of someone in this situation, while still having fun with the action mystery stuff.

The reason I'm putting this out there is maybe it'll motivate me to actually write the damn thing. (I must admit I'm nervous about painting myself into a genre corner that would alienate most of my readers).

Any thoughts, comments, or snide remarks on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a mill,

-Justin

Poem a Day, Day 15

Today's challenge was to write an insult poem. I've been having trouble with a grumpy, cantankerous boss, so this came easy...

Morning approaches

I'm filled with dread

Already replaying previous words that you've said


I work hard all of the night

You tear down my achievements like you flick off a light


Yet I'm still proud of what I've done.


So who do you think you are?


Did you buy a bed with dual bad sides?


Judging by your troll-like figure, it must be in the genes,

Your mother couldn't trade you for any magic beans

So she must have prayed to the gods to vex you

curse you

with a sour disposition

so that no one could stand you

Throw in a little gender confusion, just to be sure,

And here you are to torment me


My only question?


Who did I vex that would curse me to be in your presence?


-Justin M. Howe

Poem a Day, Day 14

This challenge was a little different. There is a song by Feist called How My Heart Behaves. The challenge is to write a poem exchanging 'My Heart' for something else. So here's my go at it...


How My Fingers Behave


I stare at the blank screen before me

When all at once

a twitching

an itching

fingers begin to move

seemingly of their own accord

if they're writing well, I cannot guess

let others decide

if there's talent in


How My Fingers Behave


-Justin M Howe

Poem a Day, Day 12

This one is a bit embarassing. The challenge was to write an apology poem. Funny thing is, This challenge came down the day after something I really, REALLY needed to apologize for. I only hope I found a few words that do justice to my shame...

You looked at me in shocked astonishment

hitting my heart like super-charged defibrillation

What day is it?

What's the date?

Worst screw up ever

Becoming a cliché

Like a bad sitcom

No way to recover

I love you so much

There was so much going on

Days blending together

No excuse

Can't blame you

I can't believe

I forgot



birthday




sorry?



I can't say I'm sorry

and think that's the end

I'm supposed to

adore you

cherish you

worship you

You are the center of my universe

somehow my orbit got askew

Life happens doesn't cut it

I want to be worthy of you

I want to cherish you

I do worship you


You inspire me

Yet I let you down



Again



I'm not worthy to love you

yet I do

I'm not worthy of your love

yet you still say you love me


I adore you

I will cherish you

I will worship you


It's what you deserve

It's what I will do


Don't worry


Ball's in my court


I won't let you down


I promise


I'm sorry...

-Justin M. Howe

Poem a Day, Day 11

The challenge for the eleventh day was to write a poem about something often overlooked. He was thinking inanimate object, and so did I.

A most vital tool

I eat from it when I am at work

Although some think it's cute

And others think it's silly

I can't think of a better way to

have a meal

Than from my Batman lunchbox


-Justin M. Howe

Poem a Day, Day 10

OK, I let myself fall behind on the Poem a Day challenge. Let me just say life happened. So I apologize in advance for the barrage of blog posts that are soon to follow. I post 'em as I write 'em, so this might happen all at once or I might need to spread this out, anyway, on to the tenth challenge:

Day ten's challenge was to write about a location. For some reason, I couldn't come up with anything. What I wound up with is a quick no-brainer. I can't believe I agonized over this for days. Anyway, since this post is already longer than the poem itself...


At Home


The television is teaching us how to share

to read to think to cooperate

We laugh at different times

There's no place I'd rather be

Except maybe to turn this thing off

and go outside to play.


-Justin M. Howe

Poem a Day, Day 9

Today’s challenge was to pick a word, any word, and write a poem about it or use it in different ways. Here’s my go at the word "community"

Community


A loaded word. Is a family a community?

If so, it’s the only one I’ve felt I belong

Is it your neighborhood?

How many people talk to their neighbors anymore?

We go to our cars, heads down

We got things to do

can’t talk

can’t relate

must MySpace


Community?


-Justin M. Howe

04/09/08

Poem a Day, Day 8

Today’s challenge was to use one of these two paintings:

Piazza D’Italia by Giorgio de Chirico
and
The Little Deer by Frida Kahlo

I chose to combine the two...

There’s a Storm Brewin’


There’s a storm brewin’

and you put it there

With your lies and your deals


"Meet me by the train station."

I saw you there, you didn’t see me

You were with...him.


I ran, hunters upon my back

I ran faster than I ever have...

They got me, seven eight nine times

with their arrows of truth


But you can’t keep me down

I will run back to you

And then you’ll see what this little deer

can do!




Inspired by the paintings


Piazza D’Italia by Giorgio de Chirico

and

The Little Deer by Frida Kahlo


-Justin M. Howe

04/09/08

Poem a day, Day 2

The challenge was to write a poem from the point of view of someone else, so naturally I chose...

Calli

After a year and a half
I know more than you think
You still seem surprised
when I know what you mean

I love you and love to snuggle
But right now I need to run
to play to bite things
Why did you take that away?

I will cry,
but I'll get over it
This world is too wonderful
to spend much time sad

-Justin M. Howe
04/02/08

Tonight, tonight, it came tonight!

Woo-hoo! Got my copy of the 2008 edition of the Writer's Market! I got the deluxe edition, which includes a one-year subscription to the online Writer's Market database.

Guess that means I'll have to finish something...

;)

-Justin

Starting Over....

OK, I started the novel over. It's now at 1320 words. This, however is not a setback. A section that was half a page I've expanded to six pages (and counting!) This is not fluff, however. It's like I'm starting to get it. I'm taking the time to develop these characters and let them take over! It's much better for it!

Anyway, that's all I've got for the day, take care!

-Justin

Slow and steady wins the race?

OK, I'm at 2826 words and an odd thing happened. At some point the narration began to sound more like a summary than narration. No dialogue, just a short history of the universe I'm exploring. Kind of weird. I don't think that will be in the final version, although it may make for a great springboard for flashbacks or something. Only time will tell.

Peace,

-Justin

What am I doing?

I know, one blog entry and I had to go and set up a myspace page. Crazy, huh. It's just that I've made a decision tonight to use this space for more in-depth coverage of my journey to the great American novel, and I'll use My Space to cover more of my interests other than writing. So come here if you want to know about my writing, go to http://www.myspace.com/howefitz to know about my entire life. There will probably be some cross-pollination, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum.

As of tonight, I am at 2,463 words of my novel, which according to my writing progress meter is 4% of the average 50,000 words for an average novel. I don't know really where this is going, but I've already surprised myself a couple of times. It truly is amazing how characters start living a life of their own. I just have to document it. (And try to keep up!)

Thanks, Justin