LJI S9.0, Introduction

[muchtooarrogant]

When confronted with the necessity of writing an introduction about yourself, do you ever think, "H'm, which version of me should I describe?"

That was what my personal muse suggested after I read Gary's week zero topic.

Personal Muse: You know, most people are probably just going to produce something drab and unexciting based around that old three letter chat inquiry, A/S/L. (Age, sex, location.)

Dan: Well, it's the week zero topic where the voting results don't count, and the main idea is really to let the other players know who you are.

Personal Muse: (Scoffs) Ha, he says it isn't going to count, and if you believe anything he says, I have some ocean front property in Arizona I has been savin' for just the right person. He'll probably bring in an outside panel of "experts" to eliminate the bottom fifty introductions, and unless you make like Emeril and "kick it up a notch," one of those will be you.

(See how my personal muse has no hesitation about stabbing me in the back and then twisting the knife? The scenario above mirrors how I was eliminated in season eight.)

Dan: (Sighing) And you, of course, have some sort of ingenious plan to avoid week zero gatekeeper elimination?

Personal Muse: (rubbing hands together) But of course. Would you agree that your strengths as a writer are character creation and dialogue?

Dan: Um, sure.

Personal Muse: So, what you do is gather a group of all the different versions of Dan together, and have them interact with each other.

Dan: All the different versions? Your brilliant plan has me splitting into Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Personal Muse: Well, for you, it'd be more like Norman Bates.

Dan: Shut up!

Personal Muse: No, this is good, just think of all the possibilities from your past. You could introduce everyone to the kid who was so afraid of water slides and swimming that, when pushed into going down a slide by his sister, he decided that the best course of action was to jump over the side. How many stitches did they have to put in your forehead after that?

Dan: (Getting into bed) You should feel free to keep talking for as long as you like, but I have to get up at 6:00 am tomorrow, so...

Personal Muse: Oh, oh, and then there was the dude after your divorce, the one who thought it was a good idea to start dating with the restrictions of "No kids, no cats, and no Disney," for prospective females. That should really endear you to all the lady contestants out there.

Dan: (Mutters) Listening to you is why I never had any dates in high school. If you're going to talk about past versions of me, why not the one who created a very successful business in adaptive technology training?

Personal Muse: H'm, pretty dead dull boring, but I suppose we could keep that one as sort of a fill in character.

Dan: Nice. I know I'm going to regret asking, but what happens once we've convened the doppelganger convention?

Personal Muse: Ah, the best part, then you put them in an interactive situation. Maybe they're playing cards, and discussing who gets to write in future LJI weeks. Or, perhaps a sort of Family Feud, "Give your top answer to the following LJI prompt."

Dan: (Yawns) I'm cool with the Family Feud thing, just so long as I don't have to kiss Richard Dawson.

Personal Muse: In this game, Gary probably gets all the kisses.

Dan: Definitely not Family Feud then. Anyway, your brilliant idea has a fatal flaw.

Personal Muse: What's that?

Dan: Identification. How am I supposed to make each version of me stand out to the reader?

Personal Muse: Nah, that's simple. Think about how many nicknames you've had throughout your life. What's that your kids used to call you, MDD, Mean Daddy Dan? You're not looking at a fatal flaw here, boyo, but a treasure trove of possibilities. Family members, teachers, business colleagues, even past girlfriends--I bet they all had special names for you.

Dan: Past girlfriends?

Personal Muse: Well yeah, probably not what they were calling you at the end of the relationship, but...

Dan: I'm going to sleep!

After careful consideration, I believe I'm going to send my personal muse back to Mount Helicon, or where ever it was he came from.

Dan

Comments

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. *nods* Yes, there are so many variations....

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yup, I never know which one's going to show up when it's time to write something. *grin*

Dan

[amberdawnpullin.livejournal.com]

Hi, Dan!

I loved the way you wrote this entry. I've done something similar in the past with my "speaking for my self" posts and I find it brings out a difference voice from me and makes for an interesting conversation with myself at times. I haven't done that in forever but reading this makes me think I should give it a go again. I like how yours is your "Personal Muse" and of all that you managed to share without doing it by the a/s/l method. I'm intrigued!

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed my little conversation. *grin* I did actually consider trying to write about some collection of Dan's interacting with each other, but the situations kept getting more and more fanciful, until I realized that writing about the brainstorming method might be just as fun. In the end, I think it turned out okay.

Dan

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

Too true, there are always so many different versions of ourselves, and with writing you have the chance to choose, to some degree, who you want to be, or who you want to share with people anyway.

[kagomeshuko.livejournal.com]

There are too many versions of myself to pick just one!

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

I hear ya. *grin*

Thanks for stopping by and reading.

Dan

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

That's definitely one of my favorite aspects to writing, the great escape where you can do and say anything you like.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Dan

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

so very a muse ing. But yes to character creation! So very crucial. I look forward to seeing the other sides.

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

"a muse ing?" Oh no, you're one of those awful punsters! *Takes out wet noodle* Prepare to die!

Thanks for reading and commenting! :)

Dan

[teddyescher.livejournal.com]

This made me laugh aloud. Bickering with your muse seems to be a common trait amongst writers. Very nicely done. Really enjoyed your post. :)

[missbinary.livejournal.com]

That was nice. This dialogue made me smile and made me think about my personal muse and the things it sometimes brings to my mind.

[swirlsofblue.livejournal.com]

Absolutely love what you did here, a brilliant idea and a very witty, amusing piece :).

If it doesn't hurt too much to answer, I ask with the curious trepidation of a first time LJ-idoler still slightly wondering what I've let myself in for: what happened in season 8?

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you liked it.

Nah, there's no pain left. *grin* During LJI, Gary can decree several different methods for entries to accumulate votes, and, of course, for bottom performers to be eliminated. The most common one is by allowing a mass vote, where you, your family, your friends, and anyone else you can rope into it are allowed to vote for your entry. At other times, only subscribed members of the group can vote, and occasionally only current contestants can vote. During week twenty of season eight, Gary set up a round of what he called Gatekeepers, a group of people he had assembled, who would decide who moved forward and who didn't. My entry was Y2K, and A Civil Campaign. (http://muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com/119683.html)

The funny thing about Idol is, often the entries that you slave over the longest and love the best don't do as well in the competition. Still, however far you get, I think you'll love the experience. It's an amazing ride. :)

Dan

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yeah, you gotta watch those muse critters. Sometimes their ideas are just whacked!

Dan

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes you really can't tell if the craziest sounding ideas might actually work until you give them a whirl, but then there are the times when you do try for a bit and say, "This is insane! Why did you tell me to do that?" Or, maybe that's just me. LOL

Dan

[swirlsofblue.livejournal.com]

Thanks for explaining, I am as excited as I am scared about all these twists, but yeah it sounds like a lot of fun :)

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that and about regular posts on my journal. The ones I put the most work into get the least amount of attention.

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed your introduction.

Gary is evil. I can see the winners of introductions being given a special power. He loves to keep everyone on their toes.

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, a special introductory power for winners in the zero week? Yes, you're correct, that'd be right up Gary's alley.

Thank you for stopping by and commenting, and I'm glad you liked my introduction.

dan

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

It's an evil truth, isn't it? Sort've encourages the thoughtless spouting of ill-conceived storylines, characters, and ideas, except for the fact that I also write for my own enjoyment. If I don't believe in it, then what's the point?

Dan

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I have three versions of me, and I have more fun with the two online identities than the one RL person. ;-)

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

LOL Yeah, the online personalities can be a lot of fun, just so long as they don't get too out of control and make the r/l one completely disappear.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Dan

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

Interesting!! Looking forward to your entries!!...:)..Good Luck!

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think this season will be a lot of fun.

Dan