Thursday, November 1, 2012

Notes on Comtois at Halftime

Halftime

First of all, if you're reading this now then you've probably been reading my story up to this point, so thank you.  It has been fun to finally figure out how I wanted to tell it after all of these years.  It took me a long, long time to decide how I wanted to lay it out.  I started and stopped many times since it happened and starting this blog and deciding to write again got me inspired to put some serious thought into how I should construct all of the layers to the events of March 2002 and beyond. 

I had always thought that the story in it's entirety would be maybe just a few pages, akin to a long article in a magazine.  Quite frankly, I'm shocked at how long it is up to this point. I really had no idea until I got to part IV or so how detailed and intricate it could be.  In telling the story verbally for all of these years I always realized that I could go on and on with the details that really make this story interesting, but instead I've always glazed over some portions to spare whoever was listening the time.  I hadn't really thought much about what happened in this much detail since right after it happened and I'm kind of shocked at how much of it has come back vividly.  I had actually forgotten some of the "fun" stuff until after I got into it on here. 

Without giving anything away for those who have no idea where this is going, I will tell you just a few things of interest that you need to keep in mind as you read.  I know I mentioned a few of these in the "forward," but some are worth repeating.  First, most of the names are real.  My friends, former co-workers, my lawyer (Dave) and Ice Cube.  I decided to change other names since I have this out in the open and wanted to be sensitive to the officals (police) and my good buddy "Jerry."  Also, out of respect I changed "Kira's" name for a multitude of reasons that may or may not come out as I move forward.  Some of you have ventured guesses to her identity and all have been wrong up to this point.  If it doesn't come out in the coming chapters I'll make sure to explain more after. 

I also think that you should know that I post these without much editing.  When I have time to go back and re-read a part I may edit a few typos or grammar errors but I haven't had the time to do much in that regard.  When this is complete I plan on going back through it extensively and editing.  Not for content as much as grammar and punctuation.  I know my style sometimes can be a little out of bounds in the grammatical field but I'm trying to write this as I'd tell it to you if you were sitting here with me.  The one blatant thing that stands out for me at this point is the fact that Part I should probably be Part II.  When I'm done I plan on writing a new chapter to start the story and then the story will continue with what is now Part I. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed delving back into what I went through way back right after I moved here.  Everything you have read and will read is true.  As crazy as it all sounds, this was how it all went down.  I couldn't even make this stuff up. 

I've heard from multiple people that I should try to get this published.  Maybe.  It was never my intent but the more I get into this the more I think I might try.  If any of you have knowledge on where to start I'd be more than happy to take a look, but I'm just looking forward to seeing what else comes out as I move forward with the story.  I've always wanted to write about this for two reasons:
1.  It's a good story
2.  I like to write
That's it.  If something else comes from it, great, but that was never the point. 

So, thanks for taking the time to read it, but also feel free to read the other posts on this blog that I wrote before getting into this monster.  I kind of feel a little saddled now that I'm so deep into it that I can't take a break and write some other stuff before getting back to it.  I've even been told to take some time off of work so I can finish the damn thing since I've apparently sucked a few of you in.  I wish I could.  I have two small children at home and life is very busy.  If you look at the posting times for most of the parts you'll know that most of my writing comes after everyone has gone to bed.  Writing this thing has put me back into the same sleep deprivation that you've read about when I was sitting in my cell.  Now, however, it's the story keeping me up, not the dread of staying in prison forever.  (Some of you are probably even pissed now that I've wasted some "valuable" time in writing this.  Sorry.).

I do think that I'm probably half way finished.  There is so much more to come and I get excited trying to formulate my thoughts on how I want the next part to go.  Every time I've been running recently I spend the entirety thinking of what direction I want this to head in.  Even I'm shocked at how much there really is to tell.

Please feel free to comment as we go.  I'd love to hear some feedback.  For those of you I see or talk to, I appreciate hearing what you've had to say.  It helps hearing what others think and it gives me ideas of how to structure future chapters.  Point out typos or grammar if you want.  It'll help me when I finally get to the editing stage.

OK, enough of this.  My kids are sleeping and my wife is getting home in a few minutes, so I should probably at least give the appearance that I accomplished something when she was gone. 

Irwin M. Fletcher

PS Have a nice day

1 comment:

  1. Fletch this is great. I love that you are writing and that you have this totally absurd story to tell. You should publish it someday, and I bet you have lots more stories where this came from. :) Keep up the great work friend. Glad you are not currently rotting away in prison!

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