Tuesday, January 1, 2013

a book

So I have had the idea for a book bouncing around in my head for about a week.
I am full of random fancies like this, but this time this idea did not go ahead and bounce itself out of my head.

The concept is to tell a story completely through facebook. Wall postings- private messages- photos shared- checking in- games played- profiles- It is going to be YA fiction. I have 9 pages written. I have never been this motivated to write before. I have had 100 plot lines I have thought through since I was 3, and this one really is blooming.

I was inspired by these support group pages. When super storm sandy worked its way through GA a few months ago, the only person hurt was a small boy named Tripp Halstead. He was critically injured when a tree fell on his head at his day care. His parents set up a "Tripp Updates" FB page. When I discovered it, I went all the way to the beginning, and read it straight through . I did the same with a woman who's husband has set up a page when she had a seizure, fell into a coma,had to have her baby delivered via c-section, and he had to return from Afghanistan early.  There are months worth of updates on her support page showing her steady improvements. I was completely engaged.

So I thought- What if there was a whole novel written this way. Where the reader was challenged to fill in the gaps. What if they were surprised when they were wrong, affirmed when they were right? So much of our lives are played out in social media. My main character would be an average high school girl, maybe a little kinder than the rest. divorced parents. evil stepmother, game obsessed brother. Balancing job, college decisions, boyfriend, friends and family. Then there would be an accident. Not sure if it is going to be her fault via txt and driving (avoiding that b/c I don't want this to be a morality play on the woes of txting and driving- plus Glee already did that) or if she is going to be hit. If she is hit, then what of the other person? Should they have been drunk? Or texting?  Will they live? Will they die? All of these decisions are going to dramatically effect my main character. I know her injuries are going to potentially paralyze her. She will walk again- but it is going to be a very long journey and the book will not end with her walking across the stage to graduation. More likely it will end with the reader knowing she will walk again.

I need to do research. I need to know what hosp do when they have someone with a spinal injury. I need to know what the rehab is like.

Before that I need to be more aware of how teenagers talk and use FB. I have a few teenagers on my friends list, but they are far from typical.

I can develop the characters. I can make you like them and hate them. I can make you go- what the heck are they thinking. But I need to hash out this plot.

This is a very big undertaking and I am fully aware of the time and energy I am going to need to put into this. That is why I am giving myself a year. Once a week I will write. On breaks. I will write more often. You will be my accountability partner.

I think starting a blog has given me the fuel to write. Thanks Lucy.

2 comments:

  1. I really like that idea, and I am impressed with your ambition! My friend Kim would be a good resource, especially with how youth use the social media, plus she has a degree in English. Can't wait to read your book!

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  2. SUCH a good idea! I think it will be all kinds of wonderful!

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