# Ask the guy trying to write the "Just OK American Novel"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 16, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914 "2010-09-16T00:37:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914/1 "2010-09-16T00:37:20Z")

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I’m trying to write the “Just OK American Novel”, which has slowly evolved into a possible screenplay. My working title is “Rainbow Generations”. The 6 lead Charcters:

Stephanie/Amanda-Megan  
Todd/Zach-Chris Sr.

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914/2 "2010-09-16T00:48:35Z")

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Is it a ‘family drama’ kind of story? That’s what the title seems to imply.

What are your major influences as an author?

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**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914/3 "2010-09-16T01:01:15Z")

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How many words do you write a day?

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914/4 "2010-09-16T01:50:13Z")

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Yes, it’s a family epic (spans over 90 years) I originally wrote several vignettes, totally filling a 1-subject niotebook.

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-trying-to-write-the-just-ok-american-novel/553914/5 "2010-09-16T05:37:42Z")

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Derleth-Just noticed ? #2

Major influences? Well, started writing as a way to keep busy/sane in nursing home.