NaNo 2011 title and synopsis:

[katernater]

200 years into the future, medical science has progressed to the point where dreams are no longer necessary for healthy human brain activity. Sleep cycles have been reduced to three or four hours a night, with no perceivable adverse effect. For the nostalgic, however, the escape of dreams is something that can be achieved -- for a price. The ultra-rich may purchase "dream furloughs" -- periods of intense REM sleep that may last between twenty-four hours and six months -- that give them an opportunity to act out their wildest, deepest fantasies and desires, all without fear of consequences. When they awaken, they return to their normal lives.

The Dreamers are looked after by Cogzants: members of the working class who, themselves, have no hope of ever dreaming. Dreams are big business and it is the responsibility of the Cogzants to safeguard the minds and bodies of their Dreamers while they slumber. For Elliot, a young Cogzant working in the heart of the metropolis, things are not so simple. He has fallen in love with his Dreamer and has found a way to share her dreams. As their subconscious relationship deepens, Elliot discovers that his actions may have far-reaching consequences beyond the world of the dream. In a desperate race to evade capture and save the woman he loves, Elliot will plunge into the heart of a nightmare that could change the very definition of human consciousness.

So, there it is. My novel idea. This is what I will be working on for the next few months, until the writing start date in November. I'm really excited about this. I've already started to assemble a cast list in my head (Cillian Murphy is an early frontrunner for the role of Elliot) and I'm having a great deal of fun looking into the history of dream research. The (tentative) title comes from the Zhuangzi, a Taoist work from the 8th century:

'Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things.'

Because if I'm not hitting you over the head with symbolism, I'm not doing my job as an author.

I'm not sure where I am going to post updates about my NaNo project. I would post them here, of course, but given LJ's track record lately I'm reluctant to start storing things and then have to deal with the fallout of losing them when the site crashes. I've got my bulletin board and in all likelihood I'll probably just throw everything onto a flash drive and make sure that I know where that flash drive is at all times.

Whew. It feels really good getting that synopsis up there. That might have been the hardest part of the process so far.

Comments

[ceitfianna]

I"m not as exhausted as I could be as I only have one class. Though the exhaustion I do have is mainly due to having a weird work schedule that's been messing with how I sleep plus the stress of oh god, I'm almost there.

My plans are pretty simple and I actually haven't been talking about them too much. This is the helpful thing about doing a summer class, I've got a little space to breathe. I feel more prepared for looking for a job then I did in April as I've had the summer to polish my resume, LinkedIn and all that sort of thing.

I finish this grant writing course on Monday, keep working as a part time reference iibrarian at the university while I search for a youth librarian job. I"m feeling hopeful about that because a friend of mine just got one, so I know they're out there.

August is going to be this weird mixture of working at my job, no classes to plan for, job looking and then at the end of August, to California for one of my brothers' wedding.

[katernater.livejournal.com]

Would you be willing to relocate for your job? Or do you prefer to stay local, if possible?

[ceitfianna]

I'm quite willing to locate and go wherever I find something. Ann Arbor's a nice place but home for me is on the East Coast and I know I'm adaptable. I've lived abroad so I know I can adjust to a new place. Also I've got a fair bit of wanderlust in me and I enjoy finding new places to make home.

What's wonderful about this lovely community of the net is that I know that I've acquired connections all over the world and country. One thing that's made living here a lot better is that the_croupier went through this same program and knows the area, so we connected and became better friends.

My focus is on a job that will work, it might not be perfect the first go, but I think I can find something that's going in the right direction.

[katernater.livejournal.com]

Of course. And I will keep an ear to the ground about any possible openings around this neck of the woods, too. You're going to do great things. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you.

[ceitfianna]

Thanks, I feel quite hopeful underneath the tired and worry. One of the great parts of this week was I was helping out with a focus group about the library program. So I had a free dinner and heard from librarians and talked about what really worked from SI. It made me realized how much I've done and what I know.

[katernater.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you're maintaining an optimistic outlook and that you are able to participate in activities that perpetuate it. I know from personal experience that the gap between graduate school and gainful employment can be a terrifying place, but you seem to be coming at it with the right attitude.

[ceitfianna]

I think it helps that I've been in variations of that gap before and this time I have a part time job that I enjoy and pays decently. Also I have my family's support and trust that I will figure this out.

Before I went to New Zealand, I had about a year when I had an internship that didn't pay and no real good job possibilities. Then after New Zealand, I had almost a year before coming here when I was looking for administrative jobs.

This time, the sorts of jobs I'm looking for are ones I really want and feel passionate about and I feel prepared for. The difference is staggering in terms of how I feel.

[katernater.livejournal.com]

And makes all the difference, I imagine.

You will continue to write regardless, I hope?

[ceitfianna]

I don't plan on stopping that. There have been very few times in my life when I wasn't writing in one form or another and I'm sure it will be more as I actually have time.

I currently have in my google docs, a Jane post canon story, a William Evans' story and the start of a poem about librarians. I also signed up for ineedmyfics that some people on my flist are running as writing for people is one of my best inspirations.

[katernater.livejournal.com]

Hah! Brilliant and very good to hear!