Janitors, Zombie Children, and Crossing Premises

by Chad Morris

Before we get to subject at hand, let's talk about 

JANITORS, CHANTING, and ZOMBIE CHILDREN

These days I’m reading “Janitors” by Tyler Whitesides to my kids while they lay in bed at night. 

After each chapter they ask for more. On Monday, after I read an hour plus beyond their bedtime, I finally had to draw the line. I left the hallway with three of my children still chanting “One more chapter!”

I love it, but I stood my ground. I didn’t want to wrestle with sleep-deprived zombie children the next day.

SNOW WHITE

So I finally saw this . . .

Yeah, yeah. So all of you saw it last year some time. I’m a little behind.

I have to admit that Snow White has never been my favorite story. I even find the Disney version less enchanting that most of their other films (Though we’d all have to admit that Dopey rocks!). I also have to admit that I’m not that excited about watching Kristen Stewart for a couple hours (Sorry Twlight fans. She’s just a little too mopy for me.). But the story got me (with an assist from the special effects). It seems like a very original and creative retelling. I’m curious. Hope it lives up to the hype.

  

A FEW THOUGHTS ON PREMISE

The premise for Snow White has obviously stood the test of time. But there is no way I would be intrigued by just a normal retelling. That has been done. But coming at it from more of an epic angle changed things for me. It seems more like Snow White, crossed with Lord of the Rings, crossed with Alice in Wonderland (no surprise on this last one).

I’ve notice this is a trick that can really work. Take an existing premise and cross it with another one. I’m only 16 pages in the Hunger Games (I know. I know. I’m not going to make it before the movie comes out. We’ve got a busy weekend anyway. Maybe I’ll see it next week.) I think I’ve had a little trouble getting into it because the premise is everywhere online and in the previews. So far there hasn’t been anything to really spark me. It isn’t Collins’ fault, it’s the media’s. But it seems like a dystopian cross between The Most Dangerous Game and the Olympics. I’m sure I’ll love it once I get a little further.

I remember going to a class on queries by J. Scott Savage and James Dashner. Dashner said that he pitched Maze Runner and compared it to a cross between Ender’s Game, Lord of the Flies, and Holes. 

Need a premise idea? Maybe mix it up. Cross True Grit and The Giver. Mix King Arthur with Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Oh, and these days it seems like you can just throw Zombies into anything and it will get some attention. It just might work. Or not. Crossing The Scarlet Letter and Tron might not be the best idea. (Maybe if it had Zombies.) 

Any good mixture ideas?

Thanks for reading bloggers and blog readers, and people in India who couldn’t sleep.