I’m seriously considering writing a book.
It’s definitely going to be a novel, and I have the basic storyline for it so far. One part of the book involves time travel, and the main character gets to choose whether or not to travel back in time, but he only gets to do it once, not like the ‘Back to the Future’ time travelling where they can go back and forth all willy-nilly over and over again.
That’s where you all, my dear readers, come in. I need some ideas on how the option of time travel comes into the story. I don’t want the time travel to be something that’s been invented by some scientist. It can’t be offered by an alien. I’d prefer it not come about from an angel or God. It has to be something more mystical.
I don’t want to give away too much of the book’s story yet, but the time travel offer will most likely come in immediately or shortly after a great personal tragedy.
Of course, sending me your idea is completely voluntary and non-compensating. If I use your idea in any manner I’ll thank you in the book and invite you to the movie premiere.
Even more importantly, the best idea I receive in the comments by Monday, December 22nd, will win a $25 dollar gift card from Amazon.com.
I’ve also started another blog that will deal exclusively with the book writing process. It’s at TimeTravelBook.wordpress.com. Have I gone insane? Yes.
Thanks, and Good Luck!
Related posts:
#1 by WeaselMomma on December 15th, 2008
If it doesn’t change your story line too much or write a different book for you, how about this:
Tragedy happens suddenly and unexpectedly.(death of child, parent, sibling). One always second guesses, would have, could have, should have, done differently. In a SIDS case, it’s “I shouldn’t have gone to work, I used the wrong blanket, I should have known something was wrong, breastfed, bottle fed, different hospital, any sort of irrational second guessing. With a parent it’s what I said, what I didn’t, mistakes long a go past ghosts, etc. You cry and mourn and think if you had done something different that this tragedy would not have happened. You beg God for a chance to go back and do it all again. Only in the reliving of the past do you realize that everything that happened did so for a reason. And how all of your pain now is not in vain, that it also has a purpose. That you did things right from the start and God is able to take your guilt and pain onto himself and give you peace.
Let me know what you think or if this even makes sense to you.
WeaselMommas last blog post..Speechless
#2 by VegasDad on December 15th, 2008
Let me think about and get back to you. This is too much pressure for my Monday morning.
VegasDads last blog post..chronicles of regression and a milestone
#3 by katelin on December 15th, 2008
how about it comes from a plant? yes? no? i have no idea, haha.
#4 by alexa on December 15th, 2008
hmmm. i was going to say you just hop in the delorean but i guess that’s out of the question.
i think it should have to do with a child. like a mysterious child with a the gift of time travel comes into the life of your protagonist. children are so innocent and pure it could work.
alexas last blog post..you did what with a toilet seat?
#5 by terri on December 15th, 2008
You’re writing a book? AND you even have a storyline? WOW! I am impressed.
Time travel… hmmmm…it’s hard to say not knowing what the basis of the book is. Years ago there was a movie starring Christopher Reeve. He picked up a penny from a particular year and was transported back in time to that year. So… could it be touching a particular object? Passing through a particular door? Entering a particular room? Crossing a bridge? Walking through the woods?
That’s the extent of my ideas for now. I’ll let you know if I come up with something mind blowing.
terris last blog post..Password
#6 by Karen on December 15th, 2008
How about the main character eats a bad can of sardines, and gets food poisoning, and while he is delirious, he talks to a giant sardine who gives him a chance to go back in time to his choice of place in time. Or something like that.
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#7 by chruchpunkmom on December 16th, 2008
hm.. i may have an idea or two.. i’ll send you an email later..
chruchpunkmoms last blog post..The Boy Scout (Part
#8 by bejewell on December 16th, 2008
Sexy gypsies, dude. You can’t go wrong with sexy gypsies.
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#9 by Sarah on December 16th, 2008
I think the device for time traveling needs to be symbolic to his reason for going back, no?
Without knowing the story, it’s hard to say.
Sarahs last blog post..4 Hankie Event
#10 by Andrea on December 16th, 2008
I’m not much for contributing to your storyline (which is why I’m not writing a book myself!) but I have to give you respect for undertaking the task. That’s awesome! I’m proud and uplifted.
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#11 by Sensibly Sassy on December 16th, 2008
I think it would be cool if the time travel happened when a certain belonging was touched, held etc. you know like the “thing” is the portal to the past….
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#12 by chruchpunkmom on December 16th, 2008
Okay, I’m back..
Like others I was also thinking that the mode of travel be somehow connected to what the event is that brings it about. Like going to a special spot, or touching a special object..
Another idea I had was sleep. He can fall asleep and wake up in a different time.. and also fall asleep and wake up back in the present. I think if I were to include time travel in a book, that’s how I would do it.. But then, I’m not a fantasy or science fiction writer.
Best of luck with your book!
chruchpunkmoms last blog post..10 Things Tuesday
#13 by sarah on December 16th, 2008
I’m back. Thanks for the inside tip. I say there is some unknown about the crash site and the husband wants to know. Perhaps the pilot survives (or a pilot friend?) comes to visit and offers to fly him to the spot and either the flight itself takes them back or once on the spot the pilot presents the offer.
That’s my thought. Also don’t make it like the butterfly effect. That movie was depressing!!!
sarahs last blog post..4 Hankie Event
#14 by Trish/Astrogirl426 on December 17th, 2008
Alright. I like the idea of the object that some people have given, but the problem I always have with that type of plot device is that all-too-often, that’s where it ends. There’s no explanation given for WHY that particular object has those particular properties (especially because if it’s an especially cherished item it was probably held or touched before without time travel occurring).
And I’ve read enough of my share of sci-fi to be a danger to myself, and others
. But.
I prefer the idea (and this is pretty rudimentary and would need to be fleshed out) that the time travel occurs because of the relationship your protagonist has with the person who dies. So, it’s the properties of the person themself that allows him to access this special gift. The person could be partly human, partly “other”, and that is the time travel connection; perhaps this was someone who essentially traveled through time themself, either with their knowledge or without (perhaps through a “reincarnation”-type deal). In fact, if the person who died was related by blood, you could work in the angle that the protagonist himself is part “other” and has these time-traveling abilities, which he doesn’t discover until his grief opens him up in a way to the possibilities that he wasn’t open before. So basically, the time travel ability comes via the properties of certain people (the person who dies, the protagonist, etc.) instead of an object. Hope this helps!
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