Uh-oh.

[mrissa]

Does anybody know of anything that wards off unwanted sideways half-assed sequels? Like a hat you can wear while thinking about the current book or something? I don't really like the texture of tinfoil. Maybe something folded out of parchment paper to keep things from sticking?

Comments

[guppiecat]

Tinfoil is not effective anyway

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Have we established that novel ideas come in on the radio band?

[guppiecat]

Actually, I think they're from fossilized ideas leaching out of dinosaur deposits. They enter the water supply and are absorbed via the skin.

That's why you always get the good ideas when you're in the shower.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

But I am a better winter thinker, and it's not as humid in winter. Hmmmm.

[guppiecat]

Do you take more baths/showers in the winter? Eat more soup?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Yah, it's probably the soup.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Say, what's that shiny object over there?

[stillsostrange.livejournal.com]

If you figure it out, let me know. But it needs to be properly calibrated to let the serious full-assed sequels in.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

If you work this one out, I'd really like one.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I had to read that twice, because the first time I read: "...unwanted sideways half-assed squirrels?

I'd say write the concept down someplace and hope that is enough to get it out of your head. This is what I do if I have an unwanted concept clogging up my brain space. It tricks my brain into thinking, "Okay, he wrote it down, so that makes it real and we're going to come back to it eventually. Now I can move on to other things."

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I have so far not required a hat to keep squirrels out of my head, but if it becomes a problem I will certainly consult with our local squirrel expert.

I wrote in my paper journal: "Dear John Peter Lin: You are an offstage minor younger brother character. Do not go thinking that just because you are a reckless, restless younger son called Jack, you get to have your own giant-slaying stories. This is not my oeuvre."

We will see if he listens.

[snickelish.livejournal.com]

This is not my oeuvre.

But it *could* be...

The squirrel comments had me squeaking loud, unladylike laughter.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, it could be. That's the problem.

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

As long as he's the second son, not the third, you should be safe.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

...but what about his own bean-paste sagas?

(I know, I know, so not helpful. *shuffles sheepishly back to the albatross roast*)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

You watch yourself, girly. They've got a sister named Margaret, and I'm not afraid to use her.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

You know, I've seen moon cakes that are exactly the size and shape of hockey pucks...

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Moon cakes?

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake

(On a completely tangential note, maybe that's what I should have -- a stack of a couple dozen mini moon cakes -- instead of a traditional cake at the wedding anniversary barbeque the BYM and I have vaguely discussed hosting next year. It would be oddly appropriate in a way - my mother did make moon cakes by hand for many years, and the BYM impressed the heck out of her by being the only person she ever knew who made the cakes on his own after asking for the recipe.)

(The party won't specifically be about our anniversary - it's more just that we've told various people for years that we'd hold a big shindig someday in celebration of staying married, having skipped the reception part of the getting married phase. It may well end up being more than one barbeque. Hmmm... [/thinking and scheming aloud])

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

...you are extremely useful.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

...

...Should I be beaming with delight or muttering "Oh dear"?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Probably beaming. You can find out when it's done.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Wait! I am afraid to use her! That was the whole point of this post!

...crud.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

When they are in my head keeping me awake at night, I find that Tylenol PM seems to help. Or whiskey.

Of course, that depends on which local squirrel expert you mean. You might get a very different answer from those less fond of our furry friends.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I did mean you, not my uncle Bill.

[scottjames.livejournal.com]

Peanut butter, I hear.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

I use a very large stick.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Perhaps an amulet of Saint Dogbert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saint_dogbert.JPG), with the words, "Out! Out, you demons of sequelae!"?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Alas, I am a Prot. Even a cartoon Prot.

Don't trust the monkey.

[jymdyer.livejournal.com]

=v= Sequelitis is when get the same, plus more. More explosions, add a baby, add a dog ... oh wait, wrong genre.

If Mark Twain was still around, you could ask him. Tom Sawyer was very good, but the sequel was phenomenal. (OTOH, nobody really remembers the last two Tom Sawyer books. I guess you just roll your dice and take your chances.)