Sunday, March 12, 2006

Story.

Every day stories occur to me. Conversations, moments on transit, images that strike me all conjur up story ideas. Some fragments I note could be inspiration for a story. Some fragments I spend more time with rolling them over, expanding on the idea asking, what kind of story is it? Is it a short, experimental, documentary, or feature length film? I always think in film. I've stopped thinking in terms of prose. Even if I shape an idea prosaically, I seek out the potential film that exists within it.
All of the stories I've let pass through my thoughts without ever jotting down the ideas are gone. I've no regrets about this. However, this week I do intend to carry my notebook and pen with me wherever I go, whether it is to the gym, the corner store or work.
The blog has been another way for me to think about story and how it develops for me. An earlier snippet from my "what comes next" in my archives spent some brief time with Jen. Since then I can't seem to turn this story away from a horror piece. Hmmm. Why do I feel the need to do so? I suppose I feel the need to come up with something more clever than genre convention, come up with a story that can be more terrifying than reality. Is this possible? I'll keep turning. I've come up with all sorts of complications for Jen and why she is in the place she is in. I suspect I will have to share some more on the blog as her story progresses.
Let's see what transpires.

3 comments:

redjane Stephanie Belding said...

I really like the Jen story and as luck and life would have, I'm learning that real life is very much part of the horror genre; that the scariest, most brutal and terrifying aspects in one's life can happen on a day to day basis, out of the blue, in a split second and leave one forever altered; that's what makes it so horrific- the mundanity of it, the instantaneous flash of change that brings forth the horror of the moment, you know what I mean?. But, if she goes into smiley happy people land, too, that's alright:) I look forward to reading on...and if I've not said it enough, a million thanks for all your help and aid, attention and support- I couldn't get through this horror without your care!

sp said...

thanks for the encouragement.

I do know what you mean. "the mundanity of it" is why I like films like the Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby. I do hope to find a suitable quest for Jen and find a way to disrupt what is mundane for Jen.

Life can be quite terrifying and that's one of the things I like about the horror genre, it can let your fear out and bring it to the surface of the skin.

Maybe Jen should have foot surgery...yeah and...to be continued.

Anonymous said...

I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of "everyday" horror. We really don't have to turn to aliens or supernatural monsters - horrible things happen every day to everyone. (Wow, am I a ray of sunshine!) But it's true - and I've always been interested in those kinds of horror more than over-the-top horror.