In the vein of yesterday’s post, a story idea has been rolling around in la cabesa. This dude is skulking around a factory, on his way to assassinate the head of the company. His people have been in the thrall of the owner for ages, since before he was born. Their entire society was transplanted from the homeland to the giant factory, which as far as he can tell is in the middle of a giant city. He and his kind work the machines, toiling endlessly to make specialty foods for the decadent city-dwellers. The oldest of his fellows in slavery call the factory owner a savior, naming some long-forgotten aid he provided, but he doesn’t buy it. So, he’s on his way to kill the owner and free his people. His people being the Oompa-Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s one of those stories.
I think you can see why I’m not a writer. I have zero original ideas. If
a career could be made out of writing “but he’s really the Cowardly Lion!” stories, I’d be a wealthy man.
One reply on “Save room for later.”
Don’t you know there are no truly original ideas?
As far as I can tell, no one has ever written a novel from the Oompa point of view. I think its a great idea; plus it could make attractive movie material – a dark tale of oppression and redemption. The problem is getting Dahl’s estate to release the rights. Maybe you could sidestep them by writing about the totally unrelated poompa oompas?