I’ve been feeling
my mortality lately. I suspect it has to do with reaching a certain milestone
birthday (don’t ask).
As a result, I
started thinking about all the people I know who have created bucket lists.
These lists include everything from jumping out of airplanes (are you nuts?),
to swimming with sharks (ain’t gonna happen) to taking on a younger lover
(well, maybe).
Should I have a
bucket list? What on Earth could I possibly put on it? I’ve kind of done the things
I really wanted to do. Except for going to Ireland and I’ll be going in the
spring. But there’s a whole lot I haven’t done in the writing department.
Stories that would challenge me and definitely pull me out of my comfort zone.
Before I die, I would love to write:
An amazing western. I grew up reading
Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour. I loved the delineation between the good guys and
the bad guys, the clear stakes, the sense of honour. I’d love to write a story
that would make the reader feel the way I felt when I read westerns.
A great love story. Everyone knows
I’m no romantic, but I think I’ve got one great romantic story in me. A cross
between Wuthering Heights (Oh, Heathcliff…) and Casablanca (Play it, Sam). I
don’t see how it can end well, but man will it make ‘em cry!
A thriller. This goes against
my grain as a writer. I write quiet, character-driven stories. But just once,
I’d love to write a story that keeps the reader up way too late, heart beating
fast, nails bitten to the quick.
A scary book. It could be
psychological suspense, I suppose, but I’m thinking full-blown horror, just
because that stuff scares the bejeezus out of me. Imagine: being scared by a
story you’ve written! I may chicken out on this one. I can’t help but think
there are places in your subconscious you shouldn’t visit…
Maybe once I’ve taken those on, I’ll
come up with another list, but these will keep me busy for a while. How about
you? What’s on your writer’s bucket list?
