tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post6718398638226247942..comments2024-03-19T09:19:45.353+00:00Comments on Dan's Adventures in Fiction: The Novel Is Dead - Long Live the Novel!Dan Purduehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-72038471593488471452013-10-01T22:09:43.219+01:002013-10-01T22:09:43.219+01:00Thanks, Paul - and commiserations to you if you...Thanks, Paul - and commiserations to you if you're facing the same problems.<br /><br />To be honest, I did think about racing on through the redraft and trying to get the book in front of agents and publishers, or even self-publish it, before the film came along and stole my thunder. The amount of work and dedication that would take in a short space of time is the main problem, considering my enthusiasm for the project has dropped through the floorboards.<br /><br />Of course, you're right when you say that every writer would produce their own unique version of a given story. That's why I'm not giving up hope entirely. I just need to give it a little time, work on something else for a while, and see what happens with the film.<br /><br />Good luck with your novel(s)!Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-36660118708218450272013-09-25T17:57:21.393+01:002013-09-25T17:57:21.393+01:00This kind of thing happens to me so often it's...This kind of thing happens to me so often it's scary. I choose to convince myself that I just have to make my close version of events better than anything already out there!<br /><br />Also you could take heart from the idea that although your idea has been 'done' (I say that loosely, it's unlikely to be exactly the same)there are going to be some people out there have haven't come across it yet. So your version will be completely new! If they then go on to read something similar it'll be 'oh, this is similar to that story Dan Purdue wrote' and hopefully even 'I liked his version better'! So yes, there is the whole 'you read it here first' element but that can also be in your favour if that makes sense?<br /><br />One strange one that happened to me was in my first novel that's currently on hold until priorities change...<br /><br />I came up with a drink in a pub called 'Tiger Blood'. Subsequently put the project on hold and then Charlie Sheen had his meltdown and Tiger Blood was being said everywhere! There's not a person in the world who'll believe me when I say I had it first when my novel (hopefully eventually maybe) comes out one day!Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473070741060049552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-42834864785262169052013-08-30T09:57:13.572+01:002013-08-30T09:57:13.572+01:00Yes, a right pain in the proverbial, Dan, but I...Yes, a right pain in the proverbial, Dan, but I'm not so sure about giving up at this stage, particularly after reading your 'Next Big Thing' post. I think it would depend on how quickly you manage to finish the novel. <br /><br />When I pitched my one-pager to E4 for a potential TV drama series, I was worried it would be seen as just another zombie thing (it wasn't, but that was the danger) Because I knew that the fourth season of Walking Dead had just been commissioned and World War Z was in production in Scotland with Brad Pitt, I mentioned both of these facts to the commissioning editor to illustrate that zombies were hot(!) As a result he requested a full script treatment and I spent endless sleepless nights last Christmas pulling it together. Okay, they didn't run with it, but that was more to do with the fact that I had never written a line of script in my life - it was the idea they liked, but I still didn't have a script. If you have the product written, you could plug the fact that teleporting is the new 'hot' - but you'd have to get in there quickly! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-26281342898999733012013-08-29T14:06:32.346+01:002013-08-29T14:06:32.346+01:00Tut. Actually, TUT!
But, yes, wait until the film...Tut. Actually, TUT!<br /><br />But, yes, wait until the film happens before you decide on completely abandoning so much work.<br /><br />And here's hoping the film sinks without a trace.Karen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17855965073232507189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-51082489047800099002013-08-27T22:28:13.106+01:002013-08-27T22:28:13.106+01:00Bernadette - Yes, I really liked the way they used...Bernadette - Yes, I really liked the way they used the idea of teleportation in The Prestige. I think it's hard to know what to do because there's so much uncertainty -would the fact that a film based on the same concept is set to be made be seen as a positive or negative? One publisher's answer would probably be different from the next. I think the key thing is, it's knocked my interest in the project, and I'm convinced you can't write a decent book if you're not 100% invested in it.<br /><br />Bella! - How could I have forgotten?! Yes, my next work will definitely have to be to tell the story of DODO UPPERCASE and his attempts to unravel the mystery of A CODED PURPOSE, with only his natural insouciance to fall back on.<br /><br />Chloe - Thanks; it is a real disappointment, but as you say there's every chance I'll be able to use what I've written (or something like it) once it's clear what the film will be like. I the meantime, I can put my efforts into something new, and - with a bit of luck - something fresher and easier to push on through and finish.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-13370884446936155752013-08-25T13:29:24.853+01:002013-08-25T13:29:24.853+01:00That's such a crappy thing to happen. But go y...That's such a crappy thing to happen. But go you for choosing to see it as an opportunity. You're right, there's no totally original plot but you might as well see how close for comfort it is.<br /><br />I heard an author of children's books talk once. She got an agent for her first novel which was a sort of diary told from the point of view of a boy with Aspergers. Just as it was about to get a deal, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime came out and they couldn't get hers published because everyone thought it was a copy. She had to write an entirely new novel from scratch. BUT she got to use that original novel eventually, years later :)Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-82514283516485746422013-08-24T17:57:20.876+01:002013-08-24T17:57:20.876+01:00DAN!!!!
Firstly, a respectful silence >> he...DAN!!!!<br /><br />Firstly, a respectful silence >> here << for thine stolen idea. <br /><br />Now allow me to share some exciting news with you about you. <br /><br />TODAY OF ALL DAYS - I WAS LOOKING AT THAT ARTICLE I WROTE ABOUT 'HOW TO NAME YOUR CHARACTERS' on my blog and in the comments section you wrote a comment about what a fantastic article it was and what a fantastic experience you had when you tried my technique for naming one of your characters AND FURTHER TO THAT you actually ALSO discovered a name and a plot for your next novel !!! I,m not making this up - you should go and have a look >>>><br /><br />http://bella-de-la-ro.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bellas-writing-column-4-how-to-name.html<br /><br />Can you believe it? Bella De La Rocherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04138278586237727554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-55331515491200430322013-08-24T15:24:46.595+01:002013-08-24T15:24:46.595+01:00There is a similar concept in the film 'The Pr...There is a similar concept in the film 'The Prestige' - though I have to say that multiple High Jackmans can hardly be seen as a problem!<br /><br />It is difficult knowing what to do when something like this happens, but given that you had concerns anyway, and have other things to work on, maybe waiting to see what they do with the film is not a bad idea. You can always pick it up again later when the film turns out to be nothing like your book - which is the most probable outcome!Sherrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18288574214855156268noreply@blogger.com