My book has been doing really well on Amazon this week. If you're my Facebook friend, you may have seen this post on Tuesday:
Figures change hourly, but as I write this on Tuesday morning, Bastard Husband is up to #3, way ahead of Steve Martin, who's now at #8. And I'm #1 in a couple of divorce categories.
I know I have a good product; I know it's well written and that people of all ages and both sexes really like it. Everyone asks when my next book will be out--it's been almost three years since BH was released. The truth is, I have no freakin' clue. I don't even know what my next book will be about.
I've been kicking around ideas over the past couple of years, but I can't seem to find the passion to get anything rolling and maintain the momentum. Here's what I've come up with:
- A David Sedaris type of book, a collection of funny reflections on life. Kind of general topics.
- A humorous self-esteem boost in the vein of some of my "Great advice from me" posts.
- (Working title) How to Survive Your Day Job Until You Can Quit Your Day Job -- elaborating on this post. This would leverage my years of experience in corporate outplacement and teaching career development workshops, but it would be funny, too.
- A screenplay (or regular play) in the vein of My Dinner With Andre, the 1981 film in which Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant. My version would be funny, and with two women. My Dinner with Andrea.
- A screenplay in the vein of The Straight Story, the 1999 film in which an old man (Richard Farnsworth) makes a long journey by tractor to mend his relationship with an ill brother. My version is actually a lot different--an 8-year-old girl is growing out of her cool little motorized car and drives cross-country by herself to deliver it to a young relative. I got this idea from Mike's daughter, who wants to give her car to my granddaughter, Hazel, in New York because she's getting too big for it. It's a fantasy--duh--but having made two cross-country trips myself, I know some places she could stop and meet characters along the way. And you know the kid's gonna end up in a biker bar. I think this is actually my favorite of the possible projects.
So what do you think? Does anything grab you? Do you have an idea for something completely different?
Or maybe I'm just a one-hit wonder, the Norman Greenbaum of memoir writing. Norman Greenbaum... an obscure reference that I know a few of you will get. :) I love doing that.
Please send your thoughts!
12 comments:
My favorite is the cross country toy car trip. That sounds like a blast! But, I'd love to see it as a book THEN a screenplay. I'd want to read it first and then see the movie. In fact, I so rarely go to movies anymore that I'd want the book (and probably would never see the movie!). :-)
I'll vote for the cross-country trip in a toy car, too. And I agree with Liz; book first because there's so much more you can get into a novel than you could squeeze into a screenplay.
Second choice would be the stage play Dinner With Andrea. That could be a real hoot! Plus, you've got a connection to the theater community there. ;-)
Something about Vegas and the people that live and work there...people who repair slot machines-do they have the urge to set a machine in the customers favor and then go back to play it, the person who endlessly watches poker tables...does it drive him/her crazy?, funny stories from waiters and waitresses, any nude swimmers in the fountains, the new television shows that are previewed and people asked their opinions,finding stuff for small kids...are there miniature slot machines,adjusting to Vegas weather, Hoover Dam-anybody tried to slide down it?, stories about locals, how to find jobs...do you just door knock on casinios emploment office Audience-anybody who has been to Vegas..just an idea...
I'd like to see you write about funny reflections on life. It could be an extension of your stand-up act. Kill two birds with one stone, if you will.
Of course, you could just ask the Spirit in the sky ;)
They all sound like good ideas, but I like the last one (cross-country) and the one about how to survive your day job the best. I also think those two would sell the best... but that's just my opinion.
Thanks, everyone! I feel the most passion for the little pink car story.
Lucki Duck, your suggestion would be the easiest for me to do, since I have so much already written.
Tom, I like your idea. My husband has long talked about writing a "Tales from the Trenches" similar to exactly what you're talking about.
Good stuff. I appreciate your input.
I like the screen play idea which would bring out another talent of yours!
I think you could (and maybe should) write ALL of them! :-) You know in all the spare time you have. LOL.
You're so good and funny when it comes to road trips though. I've seen your posts about your travels with your sister Lori and more. So like everyone else says, the car story would be amazing.
Best of luck! And congrats on your book doing so well. I know I loved it and I'm a young happily married gal with two young kids; so it even appealed to me.
-Mandy
www.mandylifeafter30.com
Thanks, Ray and Mandy! I'm going to explore the screenplay idea--it'll be a lot easier than writing a book!
I do appreciate your input!
I vote for "How to Survive Your Day Job" - the post you wrote is bookmarked on my iPhone and I reach for it more times than I care to admit when staring hopeless into my grey cubicle!! I love your writing tone in that post - it's such a kick in the butt!
Or what about something that chronicles learning to do something knew a la Julia & Julia - maybe not cooking per se - but something like how you wanted to learn to be a stand up comedian and the road emotional and physical you took...?
Can't wait to hear more about it!!
Thank you, Jazzy Cazy! I love that you bookmarked my post. Sometimes there's something worthwhile in all the crap I have to say!
Ok Linda Lou! Looks like we need to do some more road trip research! I am ready when you are!
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