It'll be based on a dream Georgina once told me about.
Sort of went like this, if I remember correctly.
"So I was on a boat, where there was this octopus asking me to kiss him. When I did, he transformed into this young man who became infatuated with me."
Yeah. That's it.
I'm sure there were other details, but I can flesh those out on my own. I like this idea. It's the classic Princess and the Frog story, where something ugly is made to become something unexpectedly beautiful and the transformative power of love reveals itself.
It fits in with the theme behind Goblin Under The Bed, one that I'm quite fond of.
Hmm. But a whole story around this concept.. It's basically derivative, so there's not much for originality, but at the same time, ideas aren't new. It's the execution that matters most.
So.. How would I approach this...
"The Girl & The Octopus"
I suppose I could tell this from the octopus point of view, it'll give it an interesting twist. I could project myself into the character, and have the "Girl" come along and change my world.
Fantasy mirroring life, it seems.
Hmm.
It'll be a short story, so I can't go into much depth and detail. It'll be simple, so no big words like concupiscent or garrulous in it. It'll have to be quality over quantity, and each and every word has to be in it's rightful place. Brief, punchy, illuminating, captivating.
Hmm.
I could try at it. Don't have a lot of time these days to write, but a children's story seems like something I could pick away at and eventually finish.
A lot of short sentences, though. Going to need that. And.. topical emotions. Meaning, I'll have to keep myself from being subtle and have everything on the surface.
From the octopus point of view.. Well.. that's intriguing. I can work with that.
Start off with the octopus being in the ocean, lonely, unloved, ostracized.
I'm going to have to research a little into octopuses. I know the females are a fascinating species. They will shelter and nurture their young until they die. It's the ultimate sacrifice to propagate their offspring.
Hmm. Can't do a female octopus obviously.
The Octopus & The Girl
That title almost sounds like some kind of bad hentai anime. But, it's for kids. Not like they would have minds that are picturing wayward tentacles dipping themselves into every available (human) oriphice (holy cow, I can't seem to spell that word even with a spellchecker).
It's such a thin concept though. But again, it's for kids. It doesn't have to be a novel. Just a short story.
Let's see.. ostracized octopus living in the bottom of the ocean. Alone. Hoping for love, and acceptance. The solitude gave it richness of character/spirit. It has a head full of dreams.
Maybe, the octopus doesn't feel like it should be an octopus. Maybe it wants to be something more. Or maybe.. the octopus really was a boy, and became an octopus by way of some curse, or another.
Hmm.
Got to think about this some more.
I like the idea of the octopus once being human, but it's not necessary, since it would be a fantasy tale.
The theme is basically that isolation and solitude breeds richness and depth of spirit. And that faith in the idea of love, is what every human being should aspire towards having.
Believe in the goodness of all things, no matter how ugly they may appear.
And solitude, is nothing to be ashamed of. It's an incubation chamber. It can grow a soul, and make it more appreciative of the things that most people take for granted.
Hmm.
The Lonely Octopus & The Girl With A Golden Heart
The Octopus & The Girl With The Golden Heart.
The Girl With The Golden Heart.
And the octopus.. (sighs) I like The Girl With The Golden Heart.. But not mentioning the octopus, kind of cripples the title/story/expectation.
The Girl With The Golden Heart & The Lonely Octopus.
Too long of a title.. Hmm.
The Lady & The Octopus.
That's not bad.
Reminds me of Lady & The Tramp, but that's not an easy association for most people to make I don't think.
Still, it doesn't capture the magic of the story I want to tell. The Girl With The Golden Heart, does. But not that one.
Mm, chicken soup. Homemade. Made it last week.
No octopuses in there.
Time to eat.
