posted
Soon I plan to re-do an old story of mine, "Lost and Found." It's a "be careful what you wish for" story on a couple of levels. My namesake and muse, Emrys, plays the role of the Djinni or "monkey's paw", granting wishing to a young archaelogist after she finds him in a long-lost city. Madness ensues when her not always well worded or well thought out wishes begin to go wrong.
I'm aware this is seen as "cliche" but I'm just curious as to peoples thoughts on these types of stories, whether reading or writing them, in case I might pick up some useful tidbits for the re-write. Also, if anyone has knowledge of archaelogical procedure it might be handy.
posted
I think even though it is a cliche, if you can come up with some very funny and unique wish misfulfillment scenarios it would be forgiven.
If you aren't going for humor, I think if you could take a fresh take on what a Djinn is by avoiding anything remotely like the popular western conception of it. I could go into that further but I'm not sure if you are literally wanting to use a Djinn type character or you were just speaking metaphorically.
I have been to many historical sites in Egypt (both from ancient egypt and arabian egypt), I know a little about archaeological procedures but I'm not an expert. If I can be of help let me know.
posted
No there isn't a literal Djinn. My character Emrys is an extremely powerful wizard who will be doing the wish-granting. Theres also a twist to the whole business...he isn't entirely truthful with the MC about the whole situation.
I'm thinking I may just bypass the archaelogical details and go right to the point.
posted
I don't know if this will cause you a problem, but Alan Dean Foster wrote a book called "Lost and Found". It was the first book of a trilogy.
Posts: 1320 | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
The cliche of this type of story is that the djinn likes to misinterpret the wishes (think Bedazzled: 'I want to be rich and powerful' so she made him a wanted drug dealer). Usually there is a twist at the end whereby the wishee gets what they really needed (not the money or the power--love!) or something along those lines--sometimes the Djinn gets his comeuppance. The reality, Merlion, is that I have seen a load of permutations of this type of story--so yours would need to be different from the off and remain resolutely so to keep me fully engaged.
That said, I am always prepared to give a 'three-wishes' story a go because of the challenge in trying to predict the ending--although if it looked predictable I would put it down.
posted
archeology and anthropology are very meticulous work, and the people who do it have extreme patience and tolerance to hostel environments. (Weather, insects, the food, hostel locals, etc.) They do all this just for a glimmer of a chance they will find that rare piece of history. The same as anyone who does straight endless hours of the same thing for days on end in the blazing hot sun or muggy tropical climates your humor becomes one of your only release's, but tends to get pretty childish, but is thought truly funny by those working, but not so funny to people on the outside.
It's not hard to imagine a Jinn having luck with these people, because after a few weeks, months, you start filling those long empty moments with dreaming about the things you love, and the things you lust after. You dwell on what you're going to find, anything and everything you can imagine, just to keep yourself in the zone for the next day, the next day, the next day, etc. In a business that requires you to move volumes of dirt at a snails pace so you won't break that rare peace, it can be mind-numbing and exciting at the same time. The reality is not a nearly as fun as the movies make it. So yah, feeding ground for a Jinn, remember they're looking for Aladdin's Lamp on a daily basis.
As for cliche, everything is kind of cliche right now, but a Jinn story has a far better chance than a vampire or werewolf story right now for which I believe the market is flooded with these two creatures. So a really good Jinn story might just be what they're looking for. Well- wizard in the guise of Jinn story.
Also remember - Twilight - and say this with respect to the author - is one giant cliche to me. Vampire vs vampire with werewolves on the side and the maiden in distress. It's just been translated into the genre of teen romance, and I can't knock it because while she's making her billion's I'm here wondering what's to cliche to get published.
I know I'm a novice but it seems to me to be better to have to much detail and tear down parts as needed, than start to swallow and then try and build up.
W.
[This message has been edited by walexander (edited August 03, 2010).]
Printer-friendly view of this topic
