I’m working on my not-so-epic-yet WWII story.
I’ll divulge a small portion of it (as I haven’t done too much research/plotting yet).
My main character, Jim, is an RAF pilot who gets gunned down over Holland. He doesn’t speak Dutch.
Problem is, neither do I.
I want to convey the lack of understanding between he and his “captors.” My initial thought would be that they would speak in Dutch, and I wouldn’t provide a translation, so neither the reader nor Jim understands.
Hmm.
you had better name your main character “Jack.”
Seriously.
A few months ago, my friends and I noticed that a large quantity of action heroes had the name Jack. I thought I’d share an abridged list with you.
Jack Bauer, 24
Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
Jack Shepard, Lost
Jack Aubrey, Master and Commander and Aubrey-Maturin Series
Jack Ryan, The Hunt for Red October and others
Jack Harkness, Doctor Who and Torchwood
Jack O’Neill, Stargate SG-1
This is merely a brief selection of Heroes Named Jack. Save yourself the trouble of coming up with new names for your action hero. “Jack” is perfect.
I’m commencing work on The Continent now that it is WWII oriented. Alas, the first thing that got scrapped was the characters. Well, the main character and his brother, definitely. Liv’s been replaced with a kid named Jim (for now), a pilot in the RAF.
Why?
Well, first off, Liv’s name. Livius is more a sci fi/spec fic name, not that of a WWII pilot. Secondly, I hope to tell his story eventually, and I can’t have two Livs running around. It would get too confusing.
At the moment, Jim is Liv’s shadow; they are both incredibly patriotic and would gladly sacrifice themselves for their respective countries. But I’m working on making Jim very different from Liv. I think the situations Jim finds himself in will define him.
I just realized that I like short, one syllable names for my protagonists.
By the way, does anyone know any good books about WWII era RAF?
As of late, my WIP has had a bit of an identity crisis. Should I be spec fic? Should I be historical fiction? Should I be flat out space opera sci fi?
I think I’ve finally figured it out.
Historical. Historical historical historical.
What is this madness?
Well, as I’ve previously said, I’ve been researching WWII/The Resistance for said WIP, as some historical inspiration. Turns out WWII is even more fascinating once you get down into the more obscure aspects of it (okay, maybe not obscure, but definitely not what I learned in high school). There’s so much potential for my characters, and the betrayals will be much more “oh crap.”
I might keep something of a fantastical element, as my main character Liv is now an RAF pilot…gremlins galore. Or at least mentions of them.
Leslie Howard gets the nod because the circumstances surrounding his death are fascinating, and, perhaps, a subplot/novel in its own right.
I’ve been thinking lately about my current WIP, The Continent. My current reading list includes several books on espionage during WWII, and The Resistance for means of inspiration and ideas.
I’m beginning to wonder if my story would be better suited taking place during WWII. Logistically it makes a little more sense, but at the same time it would require dramatic reimagining of different characters, their relationships, etc.
I still want to keep the vaguely sci-fi, alternate universe vibe it has. But how to do it without being ridiculous? And how to write it without TC becoming just another war book?
I’m sure I’ll figure it out in time, with more thought.
Few stories have captured my imagination as The War of the Worlds. When I was in middle school, I was enamoured with the radio play. I listened to the original production; I wrote my own based on it (the big twist being that the Earthlings were invading Mars). When visiting family in Woking, I saw the monument of the Martian attack. I even purchased my copy of the book in Woking.
CC//gordontour
I failed to read it. My love affair with the tale continued. I attended live performances of the radio play. I skipped the Tom Cruise movie, preferring to let my mind be captivated with my own images of metallic Martian tripods shooting Heat-Rays.
Like Dracula, The War of the Worlds held a special place in my hear; the land of stories well loved but never read. Well, the Martians landed.
From the instant I began reading, I wished that I had my sketchbook in hand. The mental images were as vivid to me as though I were watching an animated movie or reading a graphic novel. I loved this book. Half way through I realized it. And while we all know the ending, what of the beginning and middle? These parts were as new to me as if I had never had any idea about the story.
Ned Wolfe 