CONCEPT
Well, I’m embarking on my next blitzkreig novel-writing project. This one will be a Zombie story, estimated length: 80,000 words, to be completed in the next month.
ZOMBIE ASPECTS:
My research is not extensive… I’ve brushed up by reading Max Brooks’ The Zombie Survival Guide and by watching or re-watching the four Romero Dead movies. I’m also relying on a vague, non-bullshit awareness of voudun, and the memories of other relevant flicks I’ve seen over the years, from Logosi’s White Zombie to the Evil Dead series to Shaun of the Dead, and the oddly applicable Ice-Cream Man. Yes, I plan to watch/read more about zombies as I work on this. Yes, I think I am sufficiently prepared to take on this project.
GOTHIC FUNK ASPECTS:
I’m also trying to write this as a piece of “saturated gothic funk.” That is, while I think 60-70% of what I write could safely be described as gothic funk, I intend this to be an illustrative example, in three ways. It will be 1) profoundly, or if you prefer, semiotically gothic funk (think the Great Conveyor — implications of language and communication), 2) superficially gothic funk (think surface currents — emphasis on rhythm and broods), and 3) conventionally gothic funk (think sea breezes — Bacardi and Candles).
THE PREMISE:
It’s not digusting from beginning to end.
It does have disgusting parts.
It’s probably more optimistic in spirit (if not in life expectancy of characters) than most of the movies I’ve seen.
It does take place in Flint. But this is an unrecognizeably otherwordly lively Flint of the Zombie-infested future.
On that note, it’s an apocalypse scenario.
Major themes: Fate, Symbiosis, Communication, and Communion.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN TO WRITE AND FUN TO READ.
If anybody is interested in reading it, for fun or to give me feedback, I want to send it out serially — that is, at least a chapter once every two or three days until the project is finished. If the idea grabs you, leave a comment or email me and I’ll add you to the list.
~ Connor
END OF POST.