I keep dreaming up stupider and stupider ideas for the ending of The Return of Flipka. My latest had her time traveling from 1978 to 2016 as a part of an FBI plot to stop the presidency of Donald Trump and yes, aliens were involved. Obviously I’m in a slump. If the weather were better I’d forget my writing gig and go down to the teahouse and paint. But the teahouse has no heat.
I write this sniveling, whiny post while listening to Rachmaninoff, someone so gifted that he could not possibly have ever suffered from writer’s block. Or so one would think.
Of course, he did. As a young man he needed therapy for a depression that plagued him for four years and came and went throughout his life. One of his most famous pieces, The Bells, was inspired by another famously depressed artist, Edgar Allen Poe.
I don’t know nearly as much about classical music as I’d like but luckily my husband once belonged to one of those CD of the month clubs. I don’t know why as most of the hundred or so CDs he received are still wrapped in plastic but his loss is my gain. So now I’m going through composer by composer and trying to learn something about each one.
First I was hooked on Bach (whose birthday is coincidentally today). His compositions aren’t as rhapsodic and soulful as Rachmaninoff but it is possible to listen to them over and over again. Try listening repeatedly to Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, I dare you. That piece is so achingly romantic it’s been used as the sound track for many a movie, including Somewhere in Time.
In this movie, for those of you who haven’t seen it, Christopher Reeve is a playwright who’s approached after his debut show by an elderly woman who hands him a pocket watch and says “come back to me.” He forgets about the incident until, while on vacation, he becomes obsessed with the portrait of a woman who lived in the early 1900s. Many plot convulsions later he manages to hypnotize himself and go back in time and meet her. Unfortunately he can’t stay back in time forever. He has to return to present day where he finds out his true love has just died of old age. After this point the plot goes into an infinite loop of past and present spinning like tops and all because of a little self-hypnotism. 
Okay, I guess my time travel idea for the Return of Flipka is not so crazy after all, is it? (yes, it is!)
Saying nothing in particular 
You probably know about Vaughn Williams and Arvo Part, but I mention them just in case. Check out “Lark Ascending” by Williams and here is a scene from “Mother Night” with Part as the soundtrack and then there is a familiar face in the crowd. Thanks. Duke
That would be something to cameo in a movie based on your book. I will check out Lark Ascending – I don’t recall seeing it.
Vaughan Williams ‘Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis’ is mind blowing. A bit random, I know, but you strike me as the kind of person who would enjoy it!
Thank you Ali. I’ll definitely check it out.
Good to embrace the weird Jan. Works for me…
Thanks Geoff…
I wouldn’t abandon the time travel idea, Jan. I mean, the angst and confusion are built in, and the plight of the Trump guy – well, you would inform and entertain us, and it would flow so naturally from you. Does Lopinsky go insane and join up with Trump? What’s going on with the mysterious Cal? Is there partial happiness in the ending somewhere? Tune in …
Oh no, Lopinsky may go insane but he’d never join up with Trump!
Haha – yes time travel could work!
Well it been done before – badly generally which is what I would worry about.
Reblogged this on glynhockey and commented:
Sounds like a good plan.
Thanks for the reblog Glyn ! So sweet of you.
Time travel probably can’t work, but it’s always a fascinating plot element – done correctly and not like Bobby in the shower on Dallas’ season opener.
Lol! Yes, doing it badly is way too easy!
A few years back we visited the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. It’s where they filmed many of the historical scenes in that movie. I wouldn’t mind using time travel to go back to that vacation because the hotel and the grounds and the food were wonderful. That being said, I don’t know if time travel will work in your book, but it’s a thought.
The scenery was one of the best things about that movie. The other was the music but I sure was confused by the ending….
I don’t even remember the ending, but I do remember the clothes. And setting. 😊
I think you are in good company with the artists of the world; fear not spring is coming!
I am not a Rachminoff fan but was pleasantly surprised to learn he wrote this piece – thanks adding the music! (My favorites, besides everyone’s favorite Mozart, are from the Baroque era like Handel, Vivaldi etc.)
I read in the newspaper that they expect a spectacular wildflower season this year. Thought of you!
Enjoyed the film and the time travel idea being somewhat different, but damn those pennies. 😀
I enjoyed the movie too but I wasn’t sure about the whole self-hypnotism bit… If it were only so easy…
Yep…if only.
Fantasy readers enjoy fantasy, so you never know! I never saw the movie, but I’ve liked a lot of time travel books and movies, maybe I’ll see if it’s streaming.
I love Rachmaninoff, too. LOVE. His work is brilliant. But yes, painfully evocative, not a light listen. Bach is amazing, but not something I choose to listen to.
I think my inspiration for time travel was waking up to the news… Gotta stop doing that.
Absolutely. Just assume it’s all shit and suckage.
Composing the end of the book is one of the hardest things an author goes through, at least it has been for me. When the teahouse warms up it will all fall together.
Thanks Jet! For some reason WP is not sending me notifications of comments so I apologize for not responding earlier.
It Stephen king can send someone back in time to stop Kennedy’s assassination, you can send someone forward in time to stop Trump! Amen.
If only! Thanks for the comment – and sorry for the delay in responding.
My ex-husband was crazy about Rachmaninoff and I am always pleased I recognize him, as I’m strictly rock n roll and I feel it classes me up to get the reference. I agree with the other comments urging you to explore the time travel idea–especially if nothing else is coming to you now. Don’t worry about an early draft being bad or good, just keep writing. You can’t fix a blank page, and sometimes just the process of writing brings new ideas.
Thank you! I believe the best rock and rollers are inspired by classical, jazz, soul and ragtime composers.
Yes please, could you sort that time travel thing out? Sounds wonderful.
I’ll let you know if I do. Ali will definitely fly with Flipka!
I loved Somewhere in Time and it made me swoon as a younger woman the first time I saw it. Thank you for telling us about your new direction for your Flipka book! You go, Jan!! 📣🎉
I did too. Not sure where Flipka’s going but thanks for the good wishes.
THIS 😍 Check me out for some space articles