Why are you doing this?
Because I'm a mad fool with something to say, and daft enough to think I might pull this off.
Why does it need to be this long?
The
length started as a mental challenge. How much would I write in a year,
if I wrote every day? Then that musing prompted me to wonder if I had
any idea that needed that much text to properly explain. When I found an
idea I'd been struggling with for years that did require such length,
and might even need more, I realized I owed it to myself to attempt the
impossible.
Why the one year deadline?
Because I know
myself well enough to know that if I don't set some stupid audacious
goal, I won't be fired up enough to work at it. I may fail to make my
deadline, but attempting will push me better than having no deadline.
This is an exercise in vanity.
It won't be art will it?
It
is absolutely an exercise in bravado, and yes, probably vanity as well.
Wouldn't you want to have an achievement by your name like 'wrote the
world's longest novel'? And unlike an achievement such as 'spent the
most time in the Amazon river on a pogo stick', this one might impress
people. Does that mean it won't be art? It might, but I hope to achieve
something truly artistic here. In fact, the novel itself will hopefully
be a comment on the nature of story itself- but that will come done to
how well I plan and how well I write.
Why release the novel into the Public Domain?
Two
reasons: one noble one selfish. If the books is public domain, anyone
can publish it without permission, and the Guinness Book of World
Records only recognizes published (not self-published) works for
inclusion. Second, since the novel I will writing is an mythopoeic
exercise in story and culture, I want people to be able to play with it
and build on it. In the public domain, I have literally given it to
everyone, and nobody (including) myself can claim the final say on how
its used or what it means. I want this novel to have a rejuvenating
effect on our cultural mythology, and to be a set of building blocks and
a tool chest that others can use. I can't very well do that if I horde
control of the work to myself.
So is this just a first draft then?
Yes, but since I am publishing it. Then its also a published work and a finished product. Although I don't imagine that any myth is finished and I will like Stephen King and George Lucas, be rebuilding this product for quite some time. But the cool thing is, if you like this story in any version, is that it is already in the public domain and you may keep or distribute or work on or with any part of this story for any reason. You don't even have to give me credit or let me know, although both would be awesome and appreciated.
What if it sucks?
Then I tried. I will have learned a lot, improved a lot, and will do better next time.
