I think my story will be about a bounty hunter hunter. I don't know, that Story Corps piece on the bounty hunter plus the looming extradition of Duane "Dog" Chapman have convinced me that this story's time has come. I haven't worked out a plot quite yet, but here we are. A bounty hunter hunter, of course, is a person who criminal syndicates employ to round up bounty hunters that may threaten their bail-jumping associates. It's a profession with a quiet nobility, like teaching grade school. The world in which the story unfolds will be mildly post-apocalyptic
The story will end with our gutshot bounty hunter hunter looking into the contented eyes of the bounty hunter hunter hunter. Our antihero will say, "I thought you were just a bounty hunter, Virgil."
Virgil will say, "That's what I wanted you to think, Thirsty.
"
It will be poignant as hell, but he probably won't be named Thirsty later on.
1. Hypertextuality-I want to create a bunch of folk taley larger than life characters. I want to expound on them in asides, so as not to break the surging momentum of my narrative. I think hypertext allows for a richer background for a shorter, smaller story. I want to create a very grungy, darkly comic world, so I need that space. Butt I don't want to force the reader into it, so this will be perfect. Additionally, it is pretty important to me that the story be white text on a slate grey background.
2. Fauxral History- This is fiction of course, so it's not actually an oral history. But having someone perform this piece, could bring something neat out of it. If anyone has Tom Waits's phone number, he'd be great for it, but he may be busy.
3. Graphic Novel- This is not a serious option if I am flying solo. I have the worst small motor skills known to man and couldn't draw my way out of a paper bag with a machete for a pen. But if someone with an ability to render objects that the human eye can identify wants to saddle up, then we can do a thing.
This is not to say I won't see someone's better idea and desperately, fumblingly try to hitch my decrepit wagon to his or her star.
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5 comments:
I agree. This story's time has definitely come. I wonder if you could write it as part narrative and part "Bounty Hunter Hunter's Handbook." In other words, send Thirsty out there into the world, hunting bounty hunters, but have hypertext that leads the reader to the BHH Handbook that offers the reader tips and insights into this world.
Headings could be the like of:
-- HOW TO LOCATE BOUNTY HUNTERS.
-- HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH BOUNTY HUNTERS.
-- BOUNTY HUNTER HYGEINE.
-- DOS AND DON'TS OF BOUNTY HUNTER HUNTING.
This sets up two narratives. Actually three: The story. The handbook. And then the story and handbook together.
Very creative! I think Tom's idea of incorporating a handbook is great. As I read your description, I thought of a similar "dos and don'ts" idea. You could weave the guide into the story, so when the bounty hunter hunter is successful or does something good, the next chapter, or maybe a hyperlink, could be a "Do" section, expanding upon what he did well. On the other hand, a mistake or situation with which he could have dealt better could be followed by a "Don't" section, explaining what he should have done differently and will avoid in the future.
The reader can choose whether or not to look at these tips, if they are hyperlinks, so you will not have to worry about interrupting the story (just as you plan to expand on the characters in similar asides).
Sounds intense yet funny...I like it!
Oh, I think you should keep 'Thirsty'. It has a nice ring to it!
. . . I'm not sure how much other helpful advice I have, but I love the concept of this story. I'm really interested as to how the details of this post-apocalyptic world will work; it's the sort of thing that whatever format you use - especially if you work in the little tips that were mentioned above - you could very easily toss off offhanded remarks that would make it clear just what some of those differences were between this world and ours without using a writerly version of that movie-preview-announcer 'IN A WORLD!' voice.
. . . alternately, starting with a 'IN A WORLD!' would be kind of fun too, but probably not the story you're going or.
I like the handbook idea, but I think this also lends itself to a linear story too. Anything guns or mercenary related makes me think of graphic novel, but you expressed caution because of your confessed lack of artistic skills. I think you need some form of visuals in there, however. Incorporating an aesthetic of the character's life into the medium I think is important too. I wonder what his home is like- shell casings, papers, and jelly donuts? Or this some form of western type of character? I think you can take this a lot of places, but I think finding the tone and aesthetic you want to accomplish is an important first step. Personally, I think a graphic novel would be awesome here, but the various narratives lend the project to hypertext as well. Good luck, this sounds awesome.
Allan,
You’ve got to know the mind of a bounty hunter hunter hunter to know the mind of a bounty hunter hunter. And to know the mind of a bounty hunter to know the mind of a bounty hunter. And know the mind of a bounty hunter you’ve got to know the mind of the common man, aka “filthy criminal.”
The how-to guide Tom mentioned is quite tempting. It might work better as a video, though, one you could post to all these HowTo video sites popping up all over the web. Be cool to see how many people left it posted and then took you seriously.
I’m convinced, however, that this should be pre-apocalyptic. As in, “there will be many job opportunities to be bounty hunter hunters after the apocalypse, but don’t wait till the world ends to get in on the ground floor of the most exiting business opportunity the coming apocalypse will present.” So that it’s an infomercial for how to train to be a bounty hunter hunter and thus position yourself perfectly to step up in the world after it comes crashing down.
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