No, we're not the more morbid people on earth (I hope), but one of the ideas we tossed around and teased about at an early NaNo 2007 gathering was the concept of "Thirty Days of Death." I think when it was brought up I thought of an easy, lazy way to write thirty short stories where people died. Maybe they'd be connected, if I was lucky. But maybe describing some character and the manner of their death each day for thirty days would be an easy way to knock out the requisite 1,666 words per day, no?
Anyway, I've started seriously considering it and think I want to run with the idea. Not thirty disconnected stories but rather follow the "lives" of a few grim reapers, who are responsible for filling a death quota, and helping bring souls to... whatever happens after here. Each reaper has a distinct "ability" related to how they once lived - being able to influence the thoughts of the living, or manipulating the weather, or starting fires - to aid them in their, uh, killing of people. I think my story would start with the introduction of a "new" reaper, who is being oriented and is required to reap thirty souls in thirty days. Or maybe he's struck a deal somehow and will be allowed to do something (return to the world of the living, as if he were only in a coma?) if he reaps thirty souls in record time. I don't know.
Anyway, I thought I'd start a thread to throw out my initial thoughts and invite others to share ideas for their take on "Thirty Days..." whether they're using the idea, or something similar, or not. Maybe this is the worst idea ever. But I felt like sharing.
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Okt 8, 2008 - 07 43
I have been intrigued with the 30 Days of Death idea since last year. It reminded me of how much, one year, I hated my main character so much that I wanted nothing but to keep killing her off. I didn't though, but that is the direction I am heading for this year with a much more interesting crew of characters. Throw in a little "Groundhog Day" where the character dies before midnight each night and wakes up alive the next morning. She's recently been cursed - she must die each day somehow or someone close to her will die. A spoiled rich socialite who has her whole world turned upside down and the only person who knows her secret is a paparazzi photographer who hates her and has a secret of his own.
Josh, I love love love your grim reaper idea. It's crunchy and there is so much that you can do. I really like the addition of having "abilities". It sounds so much fun. Good luck with it!
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Okt 8, 2008 - 08 14
I love this idea - there's so much you guys can do with it! There must be a piano dropped on someone's head. There should always be a piano. :)
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Okt 8, 2008 - 13 10
Out of curiosity Josh... you wouldn't happen to be a fan of the show Dead Like Me, would you?
If not... check it out - it's somewhat along the lines of what you're proposing, and I still cures HBO for canceling it, although the grim reapers themselves are not the cause of people's deaths. They just deal with the aftermath.
I like the abilities idea, though. It's an interesting twist. =) I hope you don't mind that I'll probably be writing something similar myself, though I have my own ideas about what the reapers do and why they do it.
Also... Gigi: That sounds pretty cool, too! Groundhog Day from Hell. =D
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Okt 9, 2008 - 03 44
I've actually just started watching Dead Like Me. I've never had premium cable, so I stumble on shows years later on DVD or instant Netflix streaming. I'd be lying if I said my idea had nothing to do with the show at all, but I've only seen the first three episodes to date and now I'm wondering if I should wait until after NaNo to see the rest, heh.