I mowed the lawn earlier, and it gave me a chance to do some thinking about writing—something I’ve taken a few days off from, mainly due to being busy with other things and feeling run-down. But I’m still fixated mainly on my “Unanimous Consent” idea—it’s the only one that’s really calling out to be written right now. I need to make more effort to develop its outline, characters, and world, since November 1 is quickly approaching. I should also eliminate some more ideas from the list.

Since I finished reading Illusions last week, I’ve been having a tough time deciding what to read next (along with Is Life Like This?). A few days ago, I decided to try to finish Atlas Shrugged, which I’ve been reading on and off for about a year. It’s important for me to read because of its popularity in libertarian circles, and, perhaps more importantly, because I think my ideas for Unanimous Consent have a lot of similarity to the theme and story of Rand’s novel. But it’s a tough read. I think the book is important but overrated. It could have benefited from a good editor—it’s too wordy, too long, and it’s a challenge to get through it. Although the characters are described well, I don’t find them particularly likable and can’t really even identify with any of them. I’m kind of hoping Unanimous Consent can be my new revised version of Atlas Shrugged, set in the current day and based on libertarianism rather than Objectivism. Oh, and be more readable.

[Later...]

Today I went ahead and started putting the contents of this notebook on my blog. I have mixed feelings about it—I’m doing it because it just feels like something I should be sharing, that others may find useful. But I feel really exposed—especially after announcing it on Facebook and Twitter. It’s interesting typing in the posts, editing to take out stuff I’m not ready to share, which so far hasn’t been much. I’m trying to put as much out there as possible. Hopefully it will motivate me to write more here.

I need to get my ideas list pared down real soon, so tonight I’m taking two more off the list: “The Final Fight” and “Code of Death”—both of which are good ideas but now doesn’t seem the time to write them. That brings the list down to nine, with “Unanimous Consent”, “Finding US”, and “Execution Isle” being the top three.

As I sat here tonight trying to put together an outline for Unanimous Consent, I had music playing in iTunes on the computer, and a cool thing happened. I started seeing scenes in the novel along with the music as if it was a soundtrack to the movie. “Track 23” of Thomas Newman’s score to Fried Green Green Tomatoes came on and I pictured my main character standing before his newly-purchased land in Wyoming. Next, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” played and I see the town a year later with a bunch of homes and the families having a joyful anniversary picnic. I guess it’s a good thing I’m starting to visualize the world I’m writing about. I also keep seeing the sign at the main entrance to the town; apparently it’s called “Liberty”.

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• Consent for Unanimous Consent? (Writing journal, October 10, 2012)
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