by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
I only write about this because, well, I’m still in the delusional phase of the process of writing these novels and I feel like letting off a little creative steam. This project begins with a novel set in 1995 and ends with one set in early 2020. In the last three projected, imagined novels, there is a character who is essentially a “proxy me.”
You’re not supposed do that, of course. You’re not supposed to write yourself into your universe. It’s bad form and it’s too easy to abuse. But I am very self-conscious about this element of writing these novels and so I hopefully will avoid the storytelling pitfalls of having a “proxy me.” Besides, the proxy isn’t one to one. Even though the character is probably going to share many of my flaws and weaknesses.
Anyway, in my mind, this proxy me looks a lot like Chris Pratt. I think some of this comes from my own self-perception of what I look like. Of course, this is very amusing given that I think Pratt is a MAGA Republican who keeps doing voice work because he’s a doofus and refuses to get his COVID vaccine.
But the key issue is Pratt is just about the right age for the character. Let me be clear — I am well aware that I’m being delusional to even broach this subject. I haven’t even finished the first draft of the first novel — set in 1995. But you have to believe, you know? You have to keep going and believe that if you do the hard work then it’s at least possible that someone like Pratt might play a version of me on the silver screen one day.
For the time being, however, I’m trying to just focus on finishing the first novel, querying it and ultimately getting it published. Only time will tell, of course.
Wish me luck.
