I haven’t written a novel yet.  My friends have given up asking me if I’m working on anything creative, but the fact is, I’m always thinking about it.  Part of the problem--aside from my inherent laziness and lack of discipline--is I can’t even decide what genre to work in.  Frivolous or serious?  Fantasy or realism? I love them all.

As a result, brainstorming about a potential long-form creative writing project is extremely difficult.  Inside my head, it generally takes the form of Young Farrah Fawcett arguing with Old Farrah Fawcett, like so:

“Ha.  You know what would be cool?  A teen comedy about a nerd who finds a magic letterman jacket which gives him powers and he can make girls’ clothes disappear, and stuff.”

“That is not a worthwhile project.  Life is long, hard, and onerous.  Write a serious fiction about a family torn apart by secrets and drama.”

“Okay okay okay. How about a crazy, madcap road trip with lots of funny dialogue, breakneck action, and nakedness?  No wait--maybe it should be nudity, and not nakedness.”

“Ply your talents to achieve a pinnacle of high art.  Deliver a tragic story of a friendship ravaged by the perils of time.”

“The adventures of a bunch of hot girls recruited from the police department to go on special missions...”

“...who eventually grow old and die.”

“I guess we’re not going to resolve this right now.  Let’s go watch TV.”

“Sounds good.  Charlie’s Angels?”

“Absolutely."