Adapting to the paradigm shift

Obama's victory last night has shifted realities, realities that I have to consider for the book. I've edited the prologue and should finish editing chapter one today, but as I go forward I will have to consider how to adapt to last night's events.

Do I forge ahead because, in general, people associate Washington politicians as being out of touch, above it all and out for themselves no matter what year it is? This approach, in light of recent events, I reckon would only go to show that I am the one out of touch.

Do I eliminate the element of national politics altogether because Obama is the opposite of the characters I have and because he represents a new paradigm? That would be naive, especially since he hasn't even taken office yet. That being said, I could eliminate the national perspective and simply make it a more local story. This is a viable option, but it is not a cure-all as it presents its own problems/questions.

The 2008 U.S. presidential campaign was historic for specific reasons. And while still freshly minted, the mere mention of the 2008 campaign will evoke specific memories for people. I now fear that setting the story in that year during that campaign without those players or players like them would jeopardize a certain credibility.

Now that I think about the totality of the book and how much the presidential candidates make up, I realize that when the story comes to its climax, they are on the sidelines. It is the local officials that are more front and center. So here's what I'll do: I'll keep the presidential candidates a part of the story, but I'll keep them on the sidelines. This is do-able and realistic. Cool.

That's what I like about this blog. Not only does it force me to keep making progress, but it allows me to think things through outloud, if you will, while also taking in feedback from friends and others.

Good. And now back to editing!

Amen

This blog is about the writing of a book. Last night, though, something tremendous happened. I sang the national anthem with my hand on my heart for the first time in 8 years. I also felt proud to be am American again for the first time in a looooooong time. Why? Because U.S. voters affirmed what the world wanted: Barack Obama as president. And if his presidency and the new paradigm it presents means Any Color You Want doesn't get published because its message is now dated or no longer true, well, then, I'll make that trade every single time.

To change a line from the movie Head of State, "God bless America and everywhere else." Hallelujah.

Michigan ho!

After numerous phone calls (with more to come) and inquiries, I've finally got substantive enough answers to move on. What am I talking about? I'm talking about a month-long sojourn in Dearborn during which time I'll volunteer on the Obama campaign (yes, I know McCain has withdrawn from MI, but there are few better ways to learn an area's geography and issues faster than campaign work) and, hopefully, do a stint at a local Arab bakery.

This is key as it allows me to be in the place where the story takes places when it takes place. I will also be living with a local and working with locals so I can get more local perspectives, get a feel for diction/accent and make the story truer where it needs to be.

I hope to leave October 20th at the earliest, November 1st at the latest with a return to NYC ahead of Thanksgiving.