Magna Carta I

In his book No Plot? No Problem! NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty recommends that you make a list of things you like in novels -- which he calls your novel-writing Magna Carta -- on the theory that those things will be what you write best. He also recommends you do a second list of things you don't like, on the reverse theory. Here, with some redundancy, is my first NaNoWriMo Magna Carta:

Magna Carta I: Stuff I Like

• A certain amount of angst
  
• Younger protagonists: 20 and 30 somethings (people my age)
  
• Urban or suburban settings
  
• Doomed lovers
  
• Lots of clever dialogue
  
• Beautiful women
  
• Romance/sex with beautiful women
  
• Average Joes -- the Everyman
  
• Eccentric supporting characters
  
• Armchair philosophy
  
• Literate but unpretentious vibe (sophisticated, not snobby)
  
• A certain amount of Catholicism
  
• The mysteries of God and His creation
  
• Drinking
  
• Supernatural wonder and terror (just a bit)
  
• Adultery/forbidden love
  
• Single people trying to find their way
  
• Existential confusion
  
• Music
  
• Artistic/writerly protagonists
  
• Shorter chapters
  
• Comedy and comedic situations
  
• But serious themes ultimately behind the comedy
  
• Wicked satire/critiques of modern life
  
• Lonely and misunderstood people
  
• Futuristic/alternate present dystopias
  
• Metaphysical awe and mystery

I'll post the anti-Magna Carta tomorrow.