by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
A number of reasons exist why probably we’re in the development stage of a lot of novels and movies about the Trump Era. Remember, not only does it take time to develop a movie or a novel, it also takes time for “creative types” to figure out how they want to tell the universal truth of a particular moment in time.
As such, the definitive movie of the late 1970s — Apocalypse Now — was really a film about the late 60s, early 70s. Not only did we have to actually end our involvement in Vietnam for that movie to be developed and made, but it took time to develop the movie as well.
This is very much the case with Trump. Trump is both about to be removed from office AND about to be re-elected and serve out his term. Both, at this point, are equally true. So, as such, if you’re an established writer in Hollywood or a similarly established novelist out in novel land, you probably are in something of a wait-and-see mode.
It’s dipshits like me with nothing to lose who are willing to strike out, not knowing where they’ll land once the journey of writing their novel is done. I mean, my novel could be one of a slew of similar stories that come out at about the same time, or it could just be the best I can produce given my skillset and no one outside of those who know me will even know if its existence.
Regardless, that doesn’t even begin to address how problematic my background is, how conspicuous I’ve been in talking about this “project” online and the fact that blue check liberals on Twitter probably would do a search for my name and think I’m some sort of crank. (Which, I guess, relative to them, I am.)
But as I keep saying, this is more about proving to myself I can seriously write a novel than it is any expectations that I can actually write a “break out hit” novel. This is more about proving to myself that I have it in me to do it.
The important thing for me is this is a character-driven novel. The major problem I’ve had with other attempts at writing a novel is they were all conceit. This has an array of interesting characters doing interesting things in a way that just happens to be constructed in an obvious allegory of the Trump Era.
I refuse to be one of those jerkoffs on Twitter who bager you into writing their self-published novel. I want to at least attempt to publish this through a traditional publishing house and will only self-publish if I fail on that front.
This is a really interesting novel and I think at least a few people outside of my immediate circle will find it enjoyable. Of course, the crux of the matter is I have to, like, write something and finish it.
So, as I’ve said, as of March 1st, 2019, I plan to start writing the first draft of the novel, no matter what. It may be more in the afternoon and evening when I do it, but I do plan on doing it that day. (Which as of this writing is tomorrow.)
I’m really looking forward to this next stage in the journey, however. I am, as I’ve mentioned before, extremely paranoid that someone is going to steal a march on me and make this old “project” moot.
But I think that’s pretty much the typical insecurities and jitters of any first time spec novel writer.
We’ll see.
