Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

~ John W. Howell

 

 

a Edit-a-Manuscript-Step-4

Wednesday story day already and we are knee-deep in the story of Charlotte and Bob. Last week Charlotte got a taste of Bob’s story telling ability when she asked for a little more to be added to the first chapter. Bob gave some detail off the top of his head and she was amazed. He told her he had a lot more he could share. When she asked to see it he told her it was still in his head. We got a sense Charlotte was ready to go over the edge. Rejoining them now.

“Why is your story still in your head Bob?”

“To be honest Charlotte I didn’t want to lose it or have anyone steal it.”

“Who’s going to steal it?”

“Oh come on. There are so many TV shows that would love to get their hands on my story.”

“Okay, Bob if that’s what you believe why write down the rest of the chapters?”

“ The rest is useless without the beginning.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Go ahead read the first line of the second chapter.”

“Why don’t you read it to me? It’s yours after all.”

“Yeah, good. It won’t make a bit of sense without the first chapter.”

“Try it.”

“Okay. Ahem. Here goes. There doesn’t seem to be any reason I’m sitting in this funeral home listening to my family discussing how to bury me.”

“I think you may have a point. The reader needs to understand the guy walked off the building.”

“Told ya.”

“So let’s get the story written and then work on the publication.”

“How do I guard against theft?”

“Let me worry about that problem. No one is going to see the manuscript until I show it to them.”

“Who’s going to watch you?”

“Oh, my gosh Bob. You have to trust me.”

“My mother hired you right?”

“Yes, Bob.”

“Enough said.”

23 thoughts on “Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day”

  2. Now he’s starting to remind me of a few writers I’ve met. Won’t talk about their stuff due to fear of theft. One woman I met wrote a short story in code and she’d only decipher it when she got a contract. Not sure how she planned on doing that.

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  4. Bob needs help. I’d like to shake him til his brain resets. I wonder if he’ll ever ‘get’ it.I knew someone once who dreamed about her novel and ‘had a feeling it was going to be a blockbuster’ but never did write it. Sigh.

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  5. HA! I had that same paranoia when I first started blogging. I thought, “Somebody might steal my ideas if I blog about them.” Then it occurred to me that everybody is doing their own thing, and even if they stole my ideas (Like you could any book you’ve read.) they would have to execute it their own way and it would be different from mine. Maybe Bob will get over it.

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  8. Poor Bob. I can sort of see how he might feel, having been a tad reluctant to put down my words when I first started blogging years ago. Still, what an aggravation for Charlotte! Having her hired by Bob’s mother certainly adds a new dimension to your tale — she’s probably the one who thinks junior has “the gift.”

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