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Published On: Dec 09, 2003 10:43 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 09, 2003 10:43 AM
A Dead Ringer for Neal
My friend Bryan and I have been writing stories since
we were kids. One favorite exercise is to write a chapter of a story and then
pass it to the other person. Bryan would pass stories back and forth, writing
chapters and seeing which characters would get into and out of precarious
situations that the other writer would create. It's fun.
For the record, #1 favorite book in the world is Cryptonomicon
by Neal Stephenson. I'll spare you the rant, but suffice to say it's an
enjoyable read, if maybe a challenging and long one. (You do NOT polish it off
in an afternoon. You schedule a week or two that you expect to have some free
time.) Well, Stephenson has just released a few weeks ago a
prequel to
that book called Quicksilver
. I've been trying to dent this book for weeks now. I brought it to the Practice
when I was doing the extra work and got about three hours a day of reading.
(After 3 hours my brain couldn't focus any longer. It takes that much
concentration!)
The funniest thing happened this morning. First, some background:
My friend Bryan and I have been writing stories since we were kids. One favorite exercise is to write a chapter of a story and then pass it to the other person. Bryan would pass stories back and forth, writing chapters and seeing which characters would get into and out of precarious situations that the other writer would create. It's fun.
About a year ago Bryan wrote a Chapter One for a new story and sent it to me. To tell you the truth, I think it was really phenomenal, like something of publishing quality. It was really funny and satirical and overall well-written. Back then I had a funny idea in my mind as to where I could go with it, but I never got Chapter Two written. Then Bryan and I fell out of touch for a while.
So yesterday I wrote Chapter Two and sent it to him.
The chapter wasn't as good as it might have been, but I really wanted to get it out. So I spent maybe three our four hours (after I couldn't focus on math stuff anymore) and got it written. While I was writing I noticed that the writing style was richer than my usual style. It had a certain common "turn of a phrase" that held a slightly comic tone at times. Basically, I was aware that my writing at the time was heavily influenced by my recently read Quicksilver.
This morning I got a note from Bryan. He mentioned how much he enjoyed the way I wrote things. Then without skipping a beat he asks me in the e-mail if I've read Quicksilver yet! I don't know if it was his conscious or subconscious mind at work, but Bryan's brain recognized Neal Stephenson's style in my writing straight off! I think that's both remarkable and hilarious!
P.S. No, I don't plan on posting the story on my web site. It's a private exercise between Bryan and me. If he decides it's okay to post then I'll put it up, but we might wait for an opportunity to do some 2nd-draft editing.
Then again, the serial (episodic) nature of the story might make it a perfect thing to put on the web to attract returning visitors. Okay, maybe I'll approach Bryan about the idea, but his decision is final.
The funniest thing happened this morning. First, some background:
My friend Bryan and I have been writing stories since we were kids. One favorite exercise is to write a chapter of a story and then pass it to the other person. Bryan would pass stories back and forth, writing chapters and seeing which characters would get into and out of precarious situations that the other writer would create. It's fun.
About a year ago Bryan wrote a Chapter One for a new story and sent it to me. To tell you the truth, I think it was really phenomenal, like something of publishing quality. It was really funny and satirical and overall well-written. Back then I had a funny idea in my mind as to where I could go with it, but I never got Chapter Two written. Then Bryan and I fell out of touch for a while.
So yesterday I wrote Chapter Two and sent it to him.
The chapter wasn't as good as it might have been, but I really wanted to get it out. So I spent maybe three our four hours (after I couldn't focus on math stuff anymore) and got it written. While I was writing I noticed that the writing style was richer than my usual style. It had a certain common "turn of a phrase" that held a slightly comic tone at times. Basically, I was aware that my writing at the time was heavily influenced by my recently read Quicksilver.
This morning I got a note from Bryan. He mentioned how much he enjoyed the way I wrote things. Then without skipping a beat he asks me in the e-mail if I've read Quicksilver yet! I don't know if it was his conscious or subconscious mind at work, but Bryan's brain recognized Neal Stephenson's style in my writing straight off! I think that's both remarkable and hilarious!
P.S. No, I don't plan on posting the story on my web site. It's a private exercise between Bryan and me. If he decides it's okay to post then I'll put it up, but we might wait for an opportunity to do some 2nd-draft editing.
Then again, the serial (episodic) nature of the story might make it a perfect thing to put on the web to attract returning visitors. Okay, maybe I'll approach Bryan about the idea, but his decision is final.
Posted: Sun - October 26, 2003 at 01:28 PM