White Lightning Productions

July Novel Writing Month (JulNoWriMo) rapidly approaches. I have an idea for a story; an autobiography about fictional punk rock star Tyler Mrauz, a character that I created in "Rock Band". The story is called Little Punk: The Life of Tyler Mrauz.

Our hero is the titular Tyler. He's a punk rocker through and through, loud, extroverted, hyperactive, bitter, and a general live wire. He has a unique qualm, however: he looks considerably younger than he actually is. He's about 22 in the story, but looks 15 or 16, so it's difficult for him to be taken that seriously, so he knows he's gotta be extra-crazy to really tear the roof off!

Raised on such musical figures as the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones and Captain Beefheart, Tyler wants to sing loud, and sing proud. He forms his own post-punk outfit, "The Lost Munchkins" (a half-nod at his diminutive stature). His guitarist is the mysterious "Ghost", an unusual, silver-haired woman that seems to have little to do with the world. I haven't figured out who the rest of the bandmates are.

Tyler also has a brother named Gavin, who looks his age and is considerably handsomer, but markedly less talented. He too wants to be a musician, but takes a much different path from Gavin. He seems to embrace the more prepackaged ideal of modern punk, in genres like hardcore and emo. He is Tyler's antithesis, and represents the "dark side of punk."

What do you think? Is there anything you'd suggest?

just my 2 cents.

drop the dark side of punk thing. real punk is all dark side. i've been in a few punk bands and i know the scene. research the scene. go see someone like bad religion or social distortion play a live show. research a lot of the other genres as well. musicians as a whole tend to be biased toward their own style so it's important to have an eclectic catalog of musical tastes. you don't have to like it but it is important to acknowledge the talent/skill or lack thereof. a good example of a more modern true punk band would be NOFX. the other side of that is the prepackaged, vending machine, band of the month that you could find on the cover of alternative press. usually a one hit wonder(as in i wonder how they ever got signed) that has a gimmick.

and for the record - emo, hardcore, screamo - it's the same thing. a pile of shit by any other name would still stink.

do with it what you like.