How to tell a story

How to tell a story

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

In the office

Almost feels like the first day of class after such an absence, however short. Hope class goes well and I'm back in the groove.

Been brooding about CJ, a 3-part structure in the new novel, a metafiction really, a posthumous manuscript published by a small press. Working titles for the parts: On the Road ... The Play, the Death, the Arrest ... The Trial.

He meets the crone on the road, they hang out, she convinces him to convert some of his poems to street drama, starring herself ... back in Portland for a funeral, runs idea by Matt, who loves it and volunteers to direct ... they do street theater ... in a production protesting senior health care, a terminal actor commits suicide during a theatrical rite, but CJ is arrested for murder ... the trial, from two p of v's, the DA and a journalist covering it ...

Lots of wild layered ideas. As far as I'm concerned, the more formally outrageous, the better, as long as coherence and suspense are not lost. I am getting very excited about this ... and I think the title is a keeper, CJ's Last Will and Testament. Because that is what it is.