Saturday, May 10, 2008

A new story


Did I mention that I dreamed a plot the other night?  Most stories I dream are complete nonsense when I wake up, but this one actually made sense.  And it charmed me, really, so much that I can't get it out of my head even though I'm working on something entirely different. 

It keeps coming to me in bursts and snatches, so this morning I typed out the first two paragraphs, just so I'd have a starting point . . . when I finally get around to writing it.  And find a publisher who wants to BUY it. 

So here it is.  It's completely different from anything I've ever written (notice the omniscient POV), but I like it.  I hope you do, too.  

The miracles began on the day Riley Drummond began having problems with his telephone. The instrument turned balky, interrupting his conversations and blasting his ears with intermittent blasts of static. Though in months past he had experienced trouble with a gasping air conditioner and a groaning freezer, those appliances continued to pull their weight, cooling customers and freezing the ice cream sandwiches and popsicles so beloved by the little ones who regularly followed their mothers into the Siloam Drug Store. 

Because the telephone was an important lifeline between Riley and his customers—or, more precisely, between the pharmacist and sick folks—this irritating illness would simply have to be diagnosed and repaired at the first possible opportunity. So Riley called the phone company and, in between bursts of white noise and spatters of random rock music, requested a visit from the first available technician. 


Ta da!  And that's all I have for now.  


~~Angie

16 comments:

sara said...

oh my gosh, that is intriquing....how long do we have to wait to find out what the miracles are?!!

Kay Day said...

I love it! I really like the omniscient POV when done in an intriguing way, not a dry narrative. Maybe you can bring it back into fashion!!

Mocha with Linda said...

Wow. Have I ever told you what a gift you have? :-) I am right there in that drug store.

I love words. No matter how many books you write, there are always more ways to weave words together in a new and fresh story.

I guess some days you probably feel like it's pulling teeth to get the story to come and other days it just pours out faster than you can type it?

Anonymous said...

I'm intrigued ... particularly liked the use of "Siloam" as the name of the place where one goes for healing products. Can see all kinds of potential in this beginning. Rock on! Clyde

Megan DiMaria said...

Fabulous! I can't wait to read more.

A prisoner of hope,
Megan

Doni Brinkman said...

Hmmm...interesting. I, am quite anxious for you to finish the one you are working on so don't get too distracted! LOL! ;) I dreamed of a sci-fi plotline last night. A group of individuals were fighting a battle and suddenly they began to stand on one anothers shoulders like a cheer squad in the middle of a field. When they were all in position, the became invisible. Hee hee. Think I better stick to photography.

Anonymous said...

Well doesn't that just sound like spec-fic ...

Leslie said...

That does sound intriguing!


Accidental Poet - what is spec fic?

Angela said...

Thanks for the doses of encouragement. And the genre will actually be magical realism--think "Like Water for Chocolate." (And you can read about the genre on Wikipedia.)

Spec fic is "speculative fiction." Usually fantasy, sci-fi, etc., though anything with a wildly speculative premise will do. :-)

Angie

Kay Day said...

OOH OOOH! Now I know I'm going to like it!! I LOVE, LOVE magical realism. If you know any good ones to read I would love recommendations. I love Like Water for Chocolate! And I love the movie Big Fish, but haven't read the book yet.

Anonymous said...

I think we're playing with semantics - how can magic realism not fit under the speculative fiction umbrella?

Angela said...

We are playing with semantics. "Spec fic" is such a new term, where "magical realism" has been around a long time and is much more specific. "Spec fic" is so broad that it's almost useless -- but not quite. :-)

That new TV show "Pushing Daisies" is magical realism. There's list of other books/movies in the Wikipedia article.

Angie

Mocha with Linda said...

Soooo, I'm thinking "speculative fiction" is imagining what it would be like if I got to have lunch with Angie.

"Magical realism" would be if it actually happened!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Leslie said...

Thank you for the explanation!

I enjoyed Like Water for Chocolate - we watched an edited version in high school :). I can think of a few more movies like that - don't think I've read any books - so it sounds intriguing.

P.S. I am with my mom for Mother's day - found out that there was a Borders - went yesterday and found the Heavenly Daze books there. I got the first book! :)

Anonymous said...

I think that's going to be a good book! Hope to read what happens next soon! Nice blog, have a great day.

Holly said...

Ooooh, I'm interested...keep going! :)