Nights in the Gardens of Brooklyn
My friend Kristen and I have decided to meet every Wednesday to have a little social-support-encouragement time for our writing life. We both have different plans and projects for this year and I knew for myself that I wouldn't be able to get it done if I didn't have a little cheerleading, support and a friendly ear to rely on on a week-to-week basis. Which is all not to say we aren't going to talk about other things too -- but our main focus is getting words down on paper (or on computer, in Kristen's case.) I love the way Kristen writes. She is always surprising me. I never can predict where her writing takes me. I am always saying to myself, I would never have thought of that.
Last week we began our discussion with books. We both love writing and that also means we love other people's writing. I asked her what she was reading and she said, Nights in the Gradens of Brooklyn
. I loved the title and as she recounted the title story, I began to think that she had a story in her with the same title. That's when we hit on the idea of taking a title (or a famous line or character) and writing our own story. I can see now the story of Gone With the Wind -- of an ill-fated love between a marine biologist and an alternative-energy engineer. Or an office satire about being reviewed by an incompetent boss that begins, "April is the cruelest month." Or "The Life and Times of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell" which can only be the story of love between an indie-rock critic in Williamsburg with an up-and-coming rock band. The only prerequisite is that the idea makes you smile -- or laugh! And have fun!
Last week we began our discussion with books. We both love writing and that also means we love other people's writing. I asked her what she was reading and she said, Nights in the Gradens of Brooklyn
. I loved the title and as she recounted the title story, I began to think that she had a story in her with the same title. That's when we hit on the idea of taking a title (or a famous line or character) and writing our own story. I can see now the story of Gone With the Wind -- of an ill-fated love between a marine biologist and an alternative-energy engineer. Or an office satire about being reviewed by an incompetent boss that begins, "April is the cruelest month." Or "The Life and Times of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell" which can only be the story of love between an indie-rock critic in Williamsburg with an up-and-coming rock band. The only prerequisite is that the idea makes you smile -- or laugh! And have fun!
Comments