Post by Cow-winkle on Nov 1, 2010 19:07:19 GMT -5
(I haven't written my first sentence yet, but since others are starting threads based on their own NaNovels, I thought I might use this as an excuse to "ham it up" and hype myself up to start writing.)
Once every generation, a book is written which resonates with the zeitgeist of the era, putting forth bold ideas, with characters that leap from the page and into the fundamental consciousness of society, and themes that delve into our deepest fears and our highest aspirations. Books such as Hugo's "Les Miserable", Tolstoy's "Ressurection", and Seuss's "The Butter Battle Book" caused revolutions in human thought, and continue to permeate our culture today.
But this month, we shall see the dawn of a new era in literary history, as I, Mr. Cow--author of such classics as "Tuesday's Grocery List", "Essay on Gender Roles in the Roman Republic" and "olleH" (written on the inside of a misty car window)--give humankind a new, more transcendent form of literature (whatever that means) which captures the universal truths that affect all of our lives... and, hopefully, I'll get around to writing a novel as well.
The novel centers on, not a human, but a bird. I don't know what his name is yet. I don't know what species of bird he is. Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure he really is a bird, but he has wings, so that's close enough for now. He's not a particularly amazing or anthropomorphic bird. He's just a well-meaning guy who lives in the jungle and somehow gets caught up in the affairs of humans. He goes on an adventure, finds true love, stares death in the face, and learns the meaning of life (or at least a reasonable approximation).
Now, I know what you're thinking: Mr. Cow, that's a stupid idea for a novel, and your description of it is too vague! What is it? Is it a lighthearted comedy, or a scathing criticism of modern life? Does it deal with the dank depths of human misery, or the high-minded goals of spiritual and philosophical enlightenment? It is a Tolstoyan epic, or a simple fairy-tale fable? Will you write it with big words, or with more diminutive lexicographical units? Is It a Good Idea to Microwave your novel... and Will It Blend?
Well, as they said on Saturday Night Live, "It's a floor wax, AND a dessert topping"! Yes, Bird of Paradise will be all those things and more... maybe less! But I can assure you that, no matter how this novel goes, I will put my best, painstaking efforts into this novel--that's right, I'm putting the "OW" back in NaNoWriMo.
But don't take my word for it. Just read these reviews which may or may not have actually been written by important people:
"It is dangerous to believe that there are authors... unless that author is Mr. Cow!"
-Michel Foucault
"Mr. Cow combines ideas in a way that reminds me of myself. For example, I once wrote a novel about War and a novel about Peace, until I decided to combine them into the classic I'm remembered for: Anna Karenina."
-Leo Tolstoy
"Outlook not so good."
-Magic 8-Ball
"Mr. Cow is a literary giant--the kind that's made of wood, and stands in a field swinging his arms vertically in a circle."
-Miguel de Cervantes
"Novels such as Mr. Cow's can certainly be entertaining and enlightening, but that doesn't make them art."
-Roger Ebert
So, in conclusion, in a world where art is too often used as a cynical and pessimistic tool to nihilistically portray the inherent meaninglessness of life, I say: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
(Okay, I went on for a while there. I might not update this thread very often, but I did find it helpful in getting me to take this slightly less seriously so that I can enjoy the writing process. I hope you enjoyed it, and that my humour wasn't too obscure.)
Once every generation, a book is written which resonates with the zeitgeist of the era, putting forth bold ideas, with characters that leap from the page and into the fundamental consciousness of society, and themes that delve into our deepest fears and our highest aspirations. Books such as Hugo's "Les Miserable", Tolstoy's "Ressurection", and Seuss's "The Butter Battle Book" caused revolutions in human thought, and continue to permeate our culture today.
But this month, we shall see the dawn of a new era in literary history, as I, Mr. Cow--author of such classics as "Tuesday's Grocery List", "Essay on Gender Roles in the Roman Republic" and "olleH" (written on the inside of a misty car window)--give humankind a new, more transcendent form of literature (whatever that means) which captures the universal truths that affect all of our lives... and, hopefully, I'll get around to writing a novel as well.
The novel centers on, not a human, but a bird. I don't know what his name is yet. I don't know what species of bird he is. Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure he really is a bird, but he has wings, so that's close enough for now. He's not a particularly amazing or anthropomorphic bird. He's just a well-meaning guy who lives in the jungle and somehow gets caught up in the affairs of humans. He goes on an adventure, finds true love, stares death in the face, and learns the meaning of life (or at least a reasonable approximation).
Now, I know what you're thinking: Mr. Cow, that's a stupid idea for a novel, and your description of it is too vague! What is it? Is it a lighthearted comedy, or a scathing criticism of modern life? Does it deal with the dank depths of human misery, or the high-minded goals of spiritual and philosophical enlightenment? It is a Tolstoyan epic, or a simple fairy-tale fable? Will you write it with big words, or with more diminutive lexicographical units? Is It a Good Idea to Microwave your novel... and Will It Blend?
Well, as they said on Saturday Night Live, "It's a floor wax, AND a dessert topping"! Yes, Bird of Paradise will be all those things and more... maybe less! But I can assure you that, no matter how this novel goes, I will put my best, painstaking efforts into this novel--that's right, I'm putting the "OW" back in NaNoWriMo.
But don't take my word for it. Just read these reviews which may or may not have actually been written by important people:
"It is dangerous to believe that there are authors... unless that author is Mr. Cow!"
-Michel Foucault
"Mr. Cow combines ideas in a way that reminds me of myself. For example, I once wrote a novel about War and a novel about Peace, until I decided to combine them into the classic I'm remembered for: Anna Karenina."
-Leo Tolstoy
"Outlook not so good."
-Magic 8-Ball
"Mr. Cow is a literary giant--the kind that's made of wood, and stands in a field swinging his arms vertically in a circle."
-Miguel de Cervantes
"Novels such as Mr. Cow's can certainly be entertaining and enlightening, but that doesn't make them art."
-Roger Ebert
So, in conclusion, in a world where art is too often used as a cynical and pessimistic tool to nihilistically portray the inherent meaninglessness of life, I say: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
(Okay, I went on for a while there. I might not update this thread very often, but I did find it helpful in getting me to take this slightly less seriously so that I can enjoy the writing process. I hope you enjoyed it, and that my humour wasn't too obscure.)
