here is some explaining to do here.First, let me tell you the reasoning behind, and the purpose of this project. The reason is family, and the purpose is to give me small projects to write and share while I work on the larger ones. Of course, there is much more to it than that.
These tales are a long time coming. You see, our family (like many others I'm sure) has some comic history. Different people have done different things that have caused others to laugh. Some have little quirks that continue to bring a smile to others' faces. There have been events that have led to spectacles that often times are remembered more than the purpose of the events themselves. I should know. I have documented a few such occasions on "film" over the years.
It seems like just yesterday, but nearly a decade has past since my first project was underway. It was simply labeled Bowman Bash and it centered around one such event – a huge birthday gathering actually. Four people in the family were having milestone birthdays around the same time. I caught a number of humorous moments on video, and I later began the journey into video editing and using visual effects. Some of the project remains, but sadly, some bastards broke into our apartment and made off with the computer I was using. Most of the editing files were lost. So I lost all inspiration and the project was laid to rest.
Over the following years, I did a few other projects, but none with the direction that Bowman Bash was heading. So it is now that I have decided to take another route – a route that requires no filming and having "actors" available. This medium is one in which I was really starting to grasp on to late in high school. I seriously considered writing back then. Unfortunately, I veered off that path shortly thereafter.
This leads me back to the purpose. About four to five years ago, I found inspiration to write once again. I had a vision for a major epic. In fact, it was to be a reworking of some short stories I wrote in high school. The project was actually started. In fact, I have about thirty to forty pages completed in the first novel. I have a timeline started. I have some character profiles started. Yet most of it still lies in my head. The ideas are all there. The inspiration is there. Hell, even the desire is there. I just have found excuses to put the writing off.
Last year I saw a new opening. Some may be familiar with it. It is a "competition" that takes place for one month (November). I'm talking about NaNoWriMo. I'm not going to go into vast details about it (look it up yourself), but its main purpose is to simply let go and write. The goal is to write at least 50000 words within a month. The prize? Not much really. Just a web graphic award, but that isn't the point. The point is to get writers to break loose of the things that normally slow progress…or even halt progress. How far did I get? About 30000 words. I'd say not too bad for my first time out.
Anyway, that story was also another project I thought of. Perhaps I was breaking NaNoWriMo rules slightly, but so be it. I had/have full intentions to complete the novel. I actually impressed myself with what I had done. I'm sure I'll need to make some edits to it, but I think it definitely has potential for others to enjoy. The problem is, it has all but sat on the "shelf" since last November. I may have written a bit after that, but nothing as of late.
At the beginning of this year I came up with another idea. This one was something I had thought would give me enough drive to move along with the other larger ones. A few ideas started to come to me, and I determined that I could put together a collection of short stories. Only all of the short stories would be connected – both by theme and overall plot. They would stand alone on their own, but the completionist would require reading them all. This one actually saw some progress quickly. I actually completed one tale. I was far into the next as well. Then, again, came stoppage.
I know I don't stop because I have writer's block. I know it is not a lack of creative ideas. Believe me, my mind is full of them. Perhaps that is the problem. Perhaps that is why I can never get one thing done. It is like my brain is acting like some dam and the conduits (my arms, etc.) are not good enough to create the desired flow.
Long story short, this project was also conceived a few years back. I just never did anything about it. Well I've had enough of not doing anything about things. It's time to grab the reigns and take these projects for the ride they deserve. 2008 was meant to be the year that I got back to reading and writing more. I have succeeded in the reading department. I have failed in the writing department. Yet 2008 still breaths life. And so, I will not give up. And it will start here.
So now that we have that out of the way, let's examine what this project really is.
For starters, these chronicles will be available for free online. I may one day look to put them together in one binding, but who knows? This project is primarily for fun. Not that my other projects aren't. I'm not even sure what path I will take with those. Some people have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of previewing parts of them. Perhaps I will stick with the free route. We'll let fate decide that when the time comes.
As to what these tales are really about? Well, they are definitely inspired by my family. The characters are all (at least the main ones) representations of real family members. However, the events to follow have little to nothing to do with our real lives. The characters will most likely differ from their real life counterparts more than they are similar. These tales are merely inspired by my real life family, and mainly only little aspects.
This is ultimately about having some fun. That is what I'm hoping all who read this can have for themselves. Imagine that this is a different time period (which it is), in a different location (pretty much true), and in an alternate reality (it is). And with that, let the fun begin.
Tim Johnston
September, 2008
September, 2008