This morning, while having coffee and a tosta mixta com ovo at my local cafe restaurant, I was suddenly distracted by the sound of music. I’m not talking about the 60s movie but live music. Luckily it didn’t last long and was far away. It wasn’t my kind of music t was the Hoom-pa-pa type. I sensed Carnival ( or ‘Carnaval’ as we call it ) and a cold shiver run along my spine, giving me goosebumps.
Don’t ask me why, but I never really liked Carnaval. Not even as a kid.
In The Netherlands, where I come from, it’s merely another excuse for people to act like lunatics and get wasted for a couple of days, dressing up and messing up (towns).
Long story short, the Carnivalesque music had some kind of positive effect. I was suddenly overtaken by a feeling of inspiration. I felt a story bubbling towards the surface.
I will call it ‘Carnival Apocalypse’, for now.
A little later, I sat in front of my laptop, typing. I had only just started, when I was interrupted by a phone call. After a short meetup with this guy - where I explained about my urge to continue writing - I went back to the story. I managed to write some more but felt I needed more time to think, to flesh this out. It didn’t feel like a quickie. It might in fact be the beginning of something way bigger.
At the start of this year, I set the intention to write a book. I lately started feeling that it might become a collection of short stories, probably somewhat sci-fi like, but without a lot of science. Think dystopian, taking place in a not too distant future, semi-realistic stuff with a certain amount of ( black? ) humor to it.
I’m not sure yet. Just thinking out loud. Time will tell...
I only wrote about 400 words today, many of them dialogue. But I’m really liking what I came up with so far. In fact, I’m already looking forward to continuing my writing.
I’m not sure yet where I’m gonna share my story ( and how much of the process ) I will reveal. I might even use my Patreon page that I haven’t used so far and make it Patreon only. Or just share it here so the feedback and comments keep me going.
To Be Continued...
P.S. How do you like Carnival?
P.P.S. There’s a story behind this image. A selfie that I took in February 2017 on El Hierro, Canary Islands.
While out shopping for groceries on what was apparently a festive day, adults dressed up as trolls, scared children and smeared black make-up on the faces of the people that they managed to catch.
I didn’t know all that. Just learnt about it by experience.
Not fearing trolls, I acted tough, until one of them walked up to me, started shaking my hand and then smearing black make-up over my face with his other hand.
On my walk home, loads of people laughed at me, while I kept my head up high and acted as if there was nothing much to see. I only found out how I looked, after returning home and standing in front of a mirror. I then took this selfie. Cute, right?
I realize that this could almost be a Carnival story. Hence the picture.
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Wow lol that is an awesome selfie and I think you handled the situation (the makeup smearing) in the proper fashion :) Head held high - no shame in it if trolls get you. Trolls are everywhere, apparently, and probably the real life makeup smearing kind are the most benevolent of the lot. On the topic of art and writing (and thinking to your childhood coloring post as well) I think the most important thing is the doing. Easy to get hung up on what you are doing, on what it will become in the future, on what you want it to be become, on what an audience will think about it. The benefit for the soul doesn't depend on any of that. The benefit is the doing, and so my advice to myself and everyone else is always just do it (the creative thing(s)) even if (especially if) you haven't really "figured out" what it is.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Carl! Yeah, there's trolls everywhere and I honestly think I look like a cute kind of troll here myself, haha!
(whoever wrote the slogan for ) Nike was a wise (wo)man: "Just Do It!"
Let's keep on doing things and make the world a better place in the process! :>)
Yes I was waiting for story behind the image XD LoL sounds like a amusing festivities, though I'm sure there will be some over the top SJWs all over that. RAWR XD
Your carnival story sounds like what I started out doing (sans the black humour as I'm not good at that) except I ended up 2000 years in the future and it's not so dystopic (unless you consider our current times dystopic?). Hope you're able to get it to a shareable state much much sooner than I am XD
I hate Patreon's comment systems so I kind of avoid using it as much as possible XD Though if you want to do the exclusive/unlockable thing there would be a lot better than here for obvious reasons XD
Not sure if it was your comment but I decided to forget about Patreon and just share the ( process of my ) story on here.
I feel there's humor in your stories too but I just don't know whether I would call it black or not. It might be some sort of color blindness ;>)
I myself don't even try to think 2000 years in the future but it's fun when others do and share these worlds with me.
Have an awesome weekend!
xx
I think you should seize the wave of inspiration, and write write write ! Inspiration is its own divine spirit and you should always give it room to breathe when it strikes !
Also that story about the selfie is very adorable :D What a charming photo of yourself, after being smeared with black face paint :D :D :D
You're right, I should and I did. Just wrote again and decided to share it/ yesterday's writing on here. That's one of the beautiful things of this place. That you can share ( the process ) with an audience and receive feedback. It's so inspiring and can be a huge motivation.
Thanks for calling the troll like version of me charming, haha! :>)
Great narrative! Keep writing my friend.
Cheers buddy! I hope life is treating you well :>)
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My favorite kind of fiction. And yeah, trolls "marking" people with black makeup could easily work with a Carnival story like you are describing. I look forward to hearing more about it!