OK, so I thought I’d try some “train of thought” writing. Only now because it took so long for my laptop to start up, I’ve had some time to think about it so it’s not as off the top of my head as I would’ve liked.

I had a very interesting dream last night. As always, the details have faded throughout the day, but the vague gist of it was I was on some kind of adventure with a group of middle aged people. It involved trains, and overnight stays in huge supermarket (as happens all too often on American TV). I must’ve also have been middle aged. There were explosions, and fish tank demolition balls.

The thing that will stick with me the most about this dream was the ending. (Obviously the fact that I’m recording this will allow it to stick with me. We all know how dreams fade from our memories all too quickly.) I must’ve been having a birthday party or something, as the cast of my dream had all been assembled. There was a sense of accomplishment, so we must’ve finished our adventure. (I use “must’ve” quite a lot, don’t I? Must have, must’ve, must have. Hmm) At some point I’d met and fallen in love with a man, who wasn’t quite Christopher but could’ve been. I think before we’d set off I was married to a woman, but that hadn’t quite worked out. Anyway, before my birthday party, something happened with a magician-type villain that reset my memory to how it was before the adventure, pre-boy-loving and married. (I say this was happening to me, I was observing and aware of everything. But it was happening to me.) It was so sad, I had no idea who this beautiful man who I’d previously fallen in love with was. The looks on everyones faces… The look on my face! He tried to kiss me… To try and remind me, we looked at some photos of us being couple-y. I had no idea.

Then I woke up.

Fuck.

OK, OK.

I googled “Writing Challenges” and found one of those sites that generate random plots. I randomised it a few times and chose this one:

A character is calm throughout most of the story. During the story, a character is killed. The story must have a frog in it. The story ends in a valley. During the story, there is a delivery made.

My immediate thoughts when I do stuff like this is to link the separate elements together. I’m not sure if that’s the point, or if I’m supposed to create a separate plot that links the elements together. Fuck it.

So maybe the “calm character” is the character that is killed. He’s calm because he’s expecting expecting his own death, you see? Maybe the frog and the delivery are portents of death? The frog definitely is, though maybe the delivery is a baby? The valley I’m not so sure about, but I’ll think of something. Maybe the frog could be the main character, haha.

I’ll keep you informed, I guess.

OK, OK. OK.

I want to start writing. I’m going to use this blog to start writing. I’m thinking short stories, maybe scripts for comics that I’ll ask some lovely arty-type to draw for me.

I’ll also likely use this to document anything I read. I don’t read nearly enough. I’ve got two books on the go, both non-fiction. “Life’s a Pitch” and “No Logo”. Both very business-like. After that I think I’ll tackle more HP Lovecraft or Poe. I’ll keep you informed!

Maybe I should set a target for myself? How about a short story finished by the end of March? Better get started then, hadn’t I?

OK? OK.