0005

On James Bond and why I can’t give a decent review of “Inception“

Inception: Joseph Gordon Levitt wears a bunch of amazing suits and looks absolutely stellar while a bunch of fantastic storycrafting is taking place around him, but when asked, all I can say is Did you see that shot of his suspenders at his lowerback? I am officially inspired for weeks. Don’t ask me to leave the house, I have writing to do. Stories to uncover. Entire novels to write about suspenders and lower backs.

And yes, we can also talk about Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Lukas Haas, if you so desire. I won’t stop you. Storytelling at a wonder-level, laced with good looks and good dressing. Really, we could talk about it all you want.

I just am quite sure I wouldn’t know what to say.

I’ve been thinking lately, on the usual things. What makes a story. What makes a story I love. Action, adventure and heartbreak – usually. Dead lovers, sharpened knives, guns with silencers on them. I am often told the things I love in life, in media, aren’t reflected at all in my stories.

This, I think, is true.

I have a folder full of quiet moments between people in bed, nestled together under the sheets. They have blankets up to their nose and scabs and scars that are hidden from plain view. I am not very good at putting together reasons behind these cuts and bruises, but they are there. The moment lacks it’s proper saccharin though. How can it be so sweet, so cloying when there was no burn beforehand. And what I want and need is burn after burn after burn. Motion, action, violence. I am learning plot slowly, through character motivation (as simple as they can be. Man wants to find his cat. Man wants to go home to his kids. Man wants to make it through the end of the day.) and simple cause and effect action. It is a hard learning process. Writing action is right up there with it. I don’t really read action books, but, I’ll watch an action film. I’ll watch them two or three times, watch them four or five times and never have a problem.

How does that find itself into a book?

Sure there are thrillers. Mysteries. I’m a half-breath from Miami and Miami is a wonderland for all that sort of stuff. Every new crime show, every new crime novel is here. But, no, I’ve decided to take it even further back. Back to the year my mother was born with From Russia with Love. With that gorgeous new cover they so deceptively placed in a stand near the comic table I was going to look through at the local bookshop. I love James Bond – how can you not? I’ve never read a James Bond book though.

So I am starting now.

I am going to learn to put things together perfect. With reason and motivation and proper gunshot sequences. There will be boys in suspenders and bloody kisses under sheets. There will be everything I love in it, really. And this is how I am starting out.