You know those stories with the absurd concepts that are “daring to be different”. Books with plots that have potential to be something, but falls flat or those “it’s so stupid that it shouldn’t be a thing” type stories.
Example: A pirate and a samurai travel in time to the wild west to meet cowboys then learn about an alien race trying to enslave humanity before eldritch gods get there first.
or
Example 2: Two crime syndicates battling against each other to claim a legendary item, learn that there’s a bigger threat along with realizing they’ve been tricked into stealing an ancient item belonging to some mighty precursor race that never disappeared and is hungry for blood and revenge.
Sounds super ridiculous, right? Now, can you execute an interesting readable story with this odd concept?
Can it be done in the hands of the RIGHT author? Let’s face it, nobody genuinely wants this type of story as a published series, unless there is something deeper about it.
Honestly, do you think people are going to buy a book such as the example’s concept/plot in book stores or online shops? No, but this is a crazy story to keep to yourself and only yourself, unless you take out some stuff in the example.
So, if you could save this example from the embarrassment of being a bizarre story that will go nowhere, how would you do it? Let’s not scrap the whole thing entirely, how can you make it work?
Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with those kinds of concepts at all, it just takes a good writer to make them work. Because in the end, it’s not the basic concept that makes or breaks a story, it’s the characters, relationships, and plot themes and messages that make or break it. Concept can be absolutely ridiculous, but if it’s executed well, that makes the concept seem entirely reasonable. Same goes for the opposite.
Also, fun fact, samurai, pirates, and cowboys did all exist within the same time frame. It’s entirely plausible for them to have met without time traveling. You’d just have to get the sweet spot when they all converged. But that sweet spot did exist in reality. It’s more a matter of physical distance than time.
Who would have thought “Cowboys and Aliens” would have worked?.. I would not, but it is a good bit of fun… Just like “Iron Sky” Nazi’s who have been hiding on the moon and after 70 years or so decide to re-take Earth… Crazy concept, but a good little “Daft” film that I found a total hoot for what it was…
Sometimes the dafter it is, the better it becomes… Unlike the “Twilight Trilogy”… That was just shit, just shit… Daft, but shit…
