So, I have

Chatterbox: Inkwell

So, I have

So, I have this idea for a story. It's not a plot so much as a deconstruction of the concept of self-inserts or author avatars (a la Bella Swan).

The idea is that the protagonist is a self-insert of me, or caricature thereof anyway, who, over the course of the story, gradually becomes self-aware (i.e. realizes that she's a self-insert in a story that she has absolutely no power over). This, naturally, drives her insane and negatively impacts the story as a whole.

I have some vague ideas as to the actual plot, but no specifics.

Anyway, the point is, does this sound like the sort of thing that would be viable as a story and/or interesting beyond a simple thought exercise? Or is it the result of a TV Tropes overdose?

submitted by TNÖ, age 18, Deep Space
(December 30, 2011 - 8:56 pm)

back to the Inkwell

XD Sounds like a Tv Tropes overdose... not that you shouldn't try it anyway. I had this strange idea for a short(ish) story, about a young lady who wrote a story, but the main character turned out to be a Mary-sue, so she made a new main character, and gave the Mary-sue a side part, but the Mary-sue assumed that their replacement must be evil and tried to kill them. Meanwhile the designated villain doesn't really want to be evil, but thinks disobeying the author is a worse sin than going along with their role. Naturally, the author gets involved and solves some of their problems via Deus ex Machina. It's really quite weird.
Also, I gave a dead extra in my regular story a flagrantly red shirt.

submitted by Emily L.
(December 30, 2011 - 11:09 pm)

I probably will, because the idea fascinates me so much. It may take the form of a script though, it seems like it would be easier to do as a play.

Also, that storyline sounds completely awesome and you should totally write it. 

submitted by TNÖ, age 18, Deep Space
(December 31, 2011 - 1:59 am)

Seen Stranger than Fiction?  Read Sophie's World?  Actually I am obsessed with this idea and half believe it (as in the fact that we are dangling on the strings of someone else's marionette).  Which as you know may become a problem.  By all means go ahead.  I've been reading through some of your stories (I'm new here) and am virtually going to march to your door and demand you post some of this. 

 

What makes your idea different is that the protagonist is you...Now I'm thinking that eventually they might realize that they are the author.  This might result in some confusion about who is who.  Who do you mean to be that onminiscient controlling narrator?

 

I think it is definitely viable as a story.  What else were you thinking about it, in terms of where this is set, etc?

submitted by Naomi P., age 14
(January 5, 2012 - 9:02 pm)

I did see Stranger than Fiction a very long time ago... quite interesting. 

Oh and welcome to the CB 8)

[[really random: I love how Evita has this lovely consistent sarcastic tone to it... and then suddenly Buenos Aires. xD /completely off topic]]

As far as setting, it'd probably end up being in a slightly post-minor-apocalyptic grungy psuedo-urban fantasy... thing. That's usually what happens when I'm not writing straight fantasy.

I'm not a fan so much of omniscent controlling narrators; the "author me" would only be a character insofar as the self-insert me would learn of author me's existence. It's also probably going to be a script format, thus told through no particular POV.  

submitted by TNÖ, age 18, Deep Space
(January 5, 2012 - 10:42 pm)

Evita?  maybe I'm out of it, but I don't know what that is :)

"post-minor-apocalyptic grungy psuedo-urban fantasy...thing" Take a deep breath.  I'd really like to see how this is going to work.  I'm not saying it's not possible--just--what is that?

Ok...so how will the "self-insert" you learn about the existence of the author?  Hearing a voice in the air will only work so far as comedy (and that goes for extremely excessive compulsive tooth brushing accountants as well), and I get the feeling this isn't going to be comedy.

Anyway.  Sophie's World is a book mainly about philosophy.  I read it when I was...like eleven, and my then high-school age brother was supposed to be reading it.  I skipped most of the philosophy parts :) but then I went back and read it last year.  It is a book within a book within a book...possibly within a book.

 

Evita is a musical about Evita Peron written by Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

Admin

submitted by Naomi P., age 14
(January 6, 2012 - 5:20 pm)

Note on Evita: It's also ALW's best show.

re: post-minor-apocalyptic-grungy-psuedo-urban fantasy... thing: I know, I fail at genre description >_< But basically it means that it's taking place Ten Minutes Into the Future, in a smallish rundown town which has a 90% chance of being called Ashfall for reasons we won't discuss here, some years after an Event of undefined not-goodness happened an the fallout from this Event is still a major concern. And that's what that means.

As far as the self-insert learning about the existence of the author, it wouldn't be the voice-in-the-air concept. It's more like... a gaslighting sort of thing. Which is partly why she starts to go insane, because gaslighting... drives people crazy, that's the whole point. Anyway that would likely lead to obsessive notetaking and noticing minor inconsistencies with the continuity of the town itself, "plot holes," etc., gradually creating this theory that she is, in fact, in a story. 

submitted by TNÖ, age 18, Deep Space
(January 10, 2012 - 12:25 pm)