A kick-start needed, Please!

So like an idiot I signed up to write a 50,000 word novel in a month starting on Nov 1. I can do this, I tell myself, but truth is, I either have too many ideas or maybe, in reality, I have none. So I'm asking for your help.

Is there a story idea or a specific genre even that you think would make an interesting story? Romances aren't of a whole lot interest to me; I think I'd rather just write hard porn than soft. (Wait, did I say that out loud???) Sappy things aren't really interesting to me is what I'm getting at. I love suspense and drama and mysteries to a point though sometimes the story lines get so convoluted I can't keep up. I don't care for horror unless there is a purpose to it and it's short lived, but murder and mayhem are okay. I don't know a lot about police intrigue, but could bluff my through the basics. So. Anything come to mind? I'm running out of days to have at least something on the page.

Or, maybe you have a great first sentence you'd be willing to donate to the cause?

Thanks to you all, can't wait to see what you say!

How about a writer with your exact dilemma that decides to write a porn novel for the elderly? Research, and pitching the idea to your editor and agent could be very funny. The lead characters could be based on researching a Lothario at the local nursing home.

Oh Jim, I'm writing that one already!

Don’t laugh but... Here is an idea that I know that could be very close to you.

Write about Ziva maybe have a plot that she for some reason feels that she needs to have her skin smooth so that people will touch her (she could be confused with a lizard) and that her feathers are ugly.

Then get into her mind-set and start giving her parrot pictures all around her cage and telling her that she is a parrot, not a lizard. Show her a mirror image of her head only (do not show her smooth skin it WILL FREAK HER OUT hold your hand in front of the damage and ensure she only sees her feathered head) and build the story on how she learned to accept her feathers as beautiful plumage.

P.S. Plus one of my bird people said that actually doing some of this mental image work with you sending her beautiful pictures of herself just by thinking of them when you look at her picturing her fully feathered. Also, placing parrot picture around her cage to show her parrots, use the mirror work but NEVER show her the damage she is doing just the beauty of her feathered head. She could actually learn to love her feathers.

Cool idea, PDM. Funny too because I named her Ziva so that she would only see herself as pretty. Must have been on the same track as this! Thanks!

LopingAlong wrote: ...I love suspense and drama and mysteries to a point though sometimes the story lines get so convoluted I can't keep up.

I remember that you know quite a lot about our local history, especially ranches, etc. I know I like reading stories that are based in the writer's geographical region of the country. You can write a nice mystery with some suspense that takes place in our horse country.

If it were me trying to write, I'd find it easier to start with something that I'm already familiar with and build on it. Your background on the local area some months ago was very interesting to me. I also remember reading a thread over a year ago about how the mountain lion (don't think it was a bear) attacked a barn or enclosure with a couple of alpacas and a goat. Unfortunately, the goat was killed and the alpacas were injured. I know there are incidents when dogs and maybe even other types of animals with a guarding instinct help save livestock from such attacks. It's interesting to learn about such things while reading a piece of fiction.

Good luck! This is quite an undertaking.

Thanks, freebird! I like using the local stuff too. There is a story about a treasure buried up near what is now Staunton State Park--that could be a fun one. Or a killer mtn lion like Kujo. Ha! I'll work up something.

Sorry I didnt' get to meet you yesterday. Next time for sure! Whatever I decide, I'll post the first sentence here or something. That way, it's real and I can't quit come week 2 when I hit the proverbial wall. Right?

It was a dark and stormy night...

Ha! All I can envision is Snoopy on top of his dog house typing.

It was a dark and stormy night when my left testicle was caught in a vise...