Zoom Time
Concept Correspondence
[JL in brackets.]
Thank you for your reply, and apologies for the delay with my reply! I'm glad you are interested. If it's easier, I'm happy to give a call sometime. Well the basic idea I have is poking fun at the generational conflict you see so much these days. Zoomers, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers - all throwing dirt and shitting on each other. I know I am guilty of that too. I'm an older Millennial, so it's common to shit on Boomers.. which is the topic of this schlocky story idea I had. I don't even know if it's worth your time, or something you'd be interested.
The basic idea is that it's a group of 20 something gen-z kids shitting on their boomer grandparents. How they had it all, wasted it away, ruined it all for the next generations, and how they would have done better. Somehow, someway, the make or invent a time machine and are able to go back in time to the 60s to 'right the wrongs' of their grandparents. Socially inept zoomers in the wild time of the 60s. Typical fish out of water stuff. They end up hooking up, partying, having a good time. The main protagonist bangs some flower child hottie.
As time goes on, the protagonist settles down with that woman. Raises a family. Works hard and makes it. Next thing you know, we are back in the present. He's now the boomer in the modern age. That flower child hottie was his grandmother. Grandfather paradox be damned. He goes on about how the kids these days are lazy and whatnot.
Basically a play on the generational conflicts, and how most people point fingers at the other generations, but yet most are just a product of their times. Some sort of 80s teenage comedy style vibe. Maybe there is nothing there. Just some idea I had in my head, and I remember you mentioning the grandfather paradox on that podcast and how people have contacted you with ideas before.
Let me know what you think. Happy New Year, hope you are doing well, and talk later!
[Thank you.]
Hey James,
Happy to hear you like it! My pleasure on considering you. Otherwise it would never happen. Love the ideas with the short chapters broken up like that.
[My limitations are a need to write places where I have been, especially since the places will age over time.]
Lucky for me since it seems that you've been everywhere in the States.
[Maybe we make them 3 middle class suburban 20 year olds looking economic decline in the face?]
That works for me. That's essentially my background. From a typical Midwestern suburb outside of Milwaukee. Basically like any other suburb around / outside any medium to larger city I'd imagine. I suppose plenty around Baltimore that you would be familiar with as your own references?
Let me put together some more details and briefs based on what you asked (protagonist, side characters, locations, etc..) then send them your way. Thanks for sending that novel. I look forward to reading it!
[At this point i don't do works for hire anymore.]
Well then, I'm happy to send over a donation then as a thank you for this and the insight you've given on Myth.
If I give you a call, is there a general time that you prefer? Korea's country code is +82 by the way. Please don't confuse me with some North Korean or Indian scammer ;) Thank you, be safe, and talk soon!
[I take the train thru Milwaukie—love the bridge to nowhere. i can make one grandparent character based on a fellow i took the train with. When i get to writing it, i'll stay there for a night or two. i like a Midwest setting for this. the coasts feel wrong.]
[Monday Tuesday wednesday this coming week after 2:30 Pacific time. Take care, Man
j]
What followed was a fascinating phone call in which a small Wisconsin town I have wanted to stop in and use as a fiction setting, turned out to be a place where our Wisconsin Expat in Korea worked as a teenager! After a pleasant conversation we agreed to meet in that area sometime in the coming year. With long history projects occupying much time, writing short novels on location could help me maintain a novelist’s persective.
2/28/26, Portland
