The Cardboard Box

Spending Summer in a Transformation

2010-07-08T13:38:00.006-04:00

I'm already halfway done with my summer vacation, and I'm finally feeling like I've been productive. I'll be honest, I haven't written much more, but I've finally broken through on a decent plot idea.

Do you guys know how big of a deal that is for me? It's a big deal.

It's been tough for me this past year, I'll admit. And I'm a little (maybe a lot) freaked out about the year to come. I'll be done with college, I'll be on my own, and I'll have to make it by somehow. So yeah, I should probably finish this novel before I graduate.

But I feel like I'm in a sort of transformation right now. I've finished reading "The Hungry Tide" by Amitav Ghosh, and I really enjoyed it. But I think what I enjoyed more was knowing that I finally finished a book on my own terms and not for some class. I can't remember the last time I did that--must've been about a year ago--and it's really a great feeling! And you know what else? I'm already almost halfway through my next book, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." I'm beginning to transform back into the person I was, constantly reading and working on my writing, even if it's gathering ideas and data. Feels good.

I've been compiling some playlists for characters, and I have to say, they are super helpful with creating some strong personalities. Normally I just stick to drawing my characters, but I think giving them their own playlist really helps give another dimension. So if you're ever stuck on a character or you think they're too flat, I seriously recommend putting together a playlist. And don't just pick your favorite songs! Consider the songs you hate or the ones you don't think fit your personality. They fit certain people in real life, so they'll fit certain characters too.

--

I've decided that I want to hit at least 45,000 words for this novel. I've been doing on average about 300 per page on Word, so that means I need to do about 150 pages on Word to hit my goal. These are only numbers for me to attempt, but I'll definitely be happy to make it longer if I can!

So...my sorry-looking word count so far is:

519/45,000 (1%)

Ouch. But at least I've got this feeling that sort of feels like a sense of direction now. Or at least I hope that's what that feeling is.

So...forgot about this blog...

2010-06-17T22:50:00.007-04:00

Why does that always seem to happen? Anyway, yes, I've been writing. Not much, but I have. I'm really unimpressed with myself. But hey, I think I FINALLY have a start on something good. Something that has direction. Before, I thought I had something, but...no, not so much. I'm very pleased with myself so far. And do you want to know how much I've written this summer? Do you?

400 words.

But you know what? I'm very VERY proud of those 400 words. I actually am excited, because this story took a turn I didn't think it would. It's funny, because I just told my friend that it was the same story, with the same character, only she's got a makeover, the setting is slightly different, and since there was little to no plot direction to begin with last time I've got a new plot. In other words, it's a new story. Or is it? Not really. Maybe. I don't know.

But 400 words? Hell to the yes, my friends. I couldn't be happier today. My wall of writer's block is finally crumbling. REAGAN SMASH, REAGAN SMASH!

I'm going to try to update the word count on this thing as often as possible. So...for now:

400/?????? words.

TA-DAAA!

50 Words: No More, No Less

2010-01-15T04:26:00.003-05:00

I've been in Hyderabad, India, for quite some time now, and I finally got around to writing something useful. I've never been really big on posting literature on deviantART, but I saw an interesting contest with some fairly good prizes, so I figured I'd give it a go.

The contest was to create a piece of 50 words and the subject was to be about "storms." The topic was also up for interpretation, so one could write about thunderstorms or storms of a more personal nature, such as those between two fighting people or storms of the mind. You get the picture.

While writing this, I realized that I am in love with these shorter forms of writing. Sometimes I feel so bogged down with a huge idea, but I don't seem to ever find the strength to pull through. With a smaller project, however, I find that I'm much more capable at making something I'm really proud of.

Even though I'm pretty tight-lipped and protective of a lot of my work, this was made for a public contest and I want it to be for the public, so I'm going to post it here as well. Comments are highly welcome!

"Storm"

We lay huddled below, hellishly cold, drenched in shadows, dirt raining down on us from their boots as they march on the grate above. My sister cradles our baby brother—lifeless, but no longer crying. No longer a threat.

The storm is coming.

We must stay hidden. We mustn’t breathe.

India update

2009-12-24T00:51:00.003-05:00

As I've stated previously (and of course been updating on my other blog, http://hellofromhyderabad.blogspot.org), I'm leaving for India in a few days.

Here's my promise to all of you in the writing community:

I WILL WRITE WHILE IN INDIA.

I will hate myself forever if I don't. I've done almost diddly squat since the summer. That's just wrong.

So, my dear friends, if I don't ever write again, you have every right to slap nasty comments on this blog.

There's a prize out there for everyone, I suppose

2009-12-03T13:19:00.002-05:00

Just thought some fellow writers will get a kick out of this one: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34222221/ns/today-today_books/

Now let's all get cracking on our own submissions for next year!

Just in case you wanted to know....

2009-11-10T15:02:00.002-05:00

I've started a blog for my time abroad in Hyderabad, India. Feel free to bookmark this and whatnot.

--> http://hellofromhyderabad.blogspot.com/

Forms of Writing: The Novel (Part 4.5)

2009-11-09T21:06:00.003-05:00

I'm just going to make a big angry statement right now. I hate Twitter, I hate Tweeting or whatever it is, and I hate the idea of "simplifying" a classic. Also, I've been pretty run down the past two weeks, the first week due to two major papers and a black & white photography project due, this past week because I've been taking live-virus typhoid immunizations for my trip to India next semester and I feel like crap because of whatever side effects came from that. So you know what, Twitter? Screw you. Screw you and your devotees.

But I'm a better person than that. I'm going to finish these stupid Tweets if it kills me. Luckily, the assignment has changed and I only have to do 20. In a way, it's worse because it kills Melville's work more, but I'm so sick of the assignment that I prefer it instead of the original plan. But I'm going to do this because I think only one other person completed the original assignment and one the new assignment. Why I do this to myself, I have no clue. I'll feel like a better person somehow. Remember, I'm still feeling the Typhoids. That makes me awesome.

Again, screw you, Twitter.

I'm pretty sure I have to do 20 serious and 20 fun ones, but at this point I'm too bitter and tired. They're probably going to sound like a mixture of both.

1. Call me Ishmael. The ocean calls me, as it does to everyone.
2. Went to Spouter Inn, no room, so I guess I'm sharing blanky with a savage!
3. Queequeg's cool, if a bit backward. We're gonna find us a whalin' ship.
4. Father Mapple's crazy, and must like to preach a lot about Jonah and the whale.
5. Find the "Pequod." The captain's gone, but we join anyway.
6. Day we leave, some prophet warns us not to go. Crazy old man knows nothing.
6. Ahab's off his rocker. Lost his leg to Moby Dick. White whale's on the menu.
8. Ahab really does not like this white whale. Revenge or death!
9. White stuff is scary, but only when it's not holy. This whale is effing scary.
10. Mysterious men on the ship, Ahab's secret crew. Good at whaling, but we miss one.
11. Pip goes crazy after punished in ocean. Ahab's old broken leg gets replaced.
13. Queequeg's sick, but sits in his coffin with his stuff and gets better.
14. Ahab wants a super harpoon, and forges it with his harpooneers blood. Creepy.
15. Fed's prophecy - Ahab will see two hearses and will be killed by hemp.
16. Storm sweeps over ship. Crazy Ahab keeps on going strong.
17. More ships have seen Moby! Getting closer!
18. Fed killed, also prophecy. Ahab sees signs of fate, and continues on his hunt.
19. Moby Dick with Fed's body, 1st hearse. Moby sinks Pequod, the second.
20. Ahab dragged with rope caught around neck. All die, except Ish on Q's coffin.

Forms of Writing: The Novel (Part 4)

2009-10-27T01:42:00.005-04:00

Does anyone else hate Twitter as much as I do? It's just...it's just embarrassing. We're an advanced civilization. We should be learning how to perfect our language, not mutilate it. Well, if you agree with me, I'm about to make you very angry.

My next assignment for this class is that I have to shorten the chapters of Moby Dick into Tweets. At least we get to have a silly one for every serious one we do. But, that said, there are a lot of chapters.

This will be a running thing, so expect there to be edits and whatnot.

"1" will represent my serious Tweet, as "2" will be my fun one.

Chapter I

1) I’m Ishmael. Almost everyone loves water, as do I, and I find that going on nautical voyages ground me in life.
2) OMGWATER.

Chapter 2

1) I felt inclined to sail, so I travelled to New Bedford, where I would stay before going to Nantucket. I searched for a cheap hotel.
2) Got mah carpet-bag, got some cash, now lookin' for a crib in New Bedford!

Chapter 3

1) Found the Spouter-Inn. I have to sleep with another harpooneer because there's no vacancy. Queequeg the savage is a surprising roommate.
2) New room is cramped, new roomie's nuts, but things are cool now. Catch some Z's.

Chapter 4

1) Awoke and found Queequeg with arm around me. He tries to fit in, but doesn't understand enough of our customs.
2) Queequeg's pretty sweet. No homo...OR IS IT?

Chapter 5

1) All of the sailors gathered for breakfast, yet no one spoke. Queequeg ate rare steaks with harpoon.
2) Hey, isn't there all sorts of whale blood and shaving supplies/hair on that thing? Gross.

Chapter 6 (will complete these next one's later)

1)
2)

Chapter 7

1)
2)

Chapter 8

1)
2)

Chapter 9

1)
2)

Chapter 10

1)
2)

Chapter 11

1)
2)

Chapter 12

1)
2)

Chapter 13

1)
2)

Chapter 14

1)
2)

Chapter 15

1)
2)

Chapter 16

1)
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Chapter 17

1)
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Forms of Writing: The Novel (Part 3)

2009-09-20T19:56:00.007-04:00

For this post, we are to submit an excerpt of something we had written and from there make footnotes as if we are readers from centuries in the future looking back on a text. Basically, it's an interesting way to see how people might read our own work someday as we read Swift's Gulliver's Travels and the footnotes inside that tell us the relevance of things inside the story. As I am rather ashamed of most of my work that I have created out of necessity for a class, I'll post a short excerpt of something new to almost everyone. But don't be workshopping it, as I'm like the whiny sensitive artist who yells at you every time you look over their shoulder as they doodle in their sketch pad.

I'll give some background info, since I couldn't find a better spot to create an excerpt that wouldn't be ridiculously long for an exercise. This is kind of set in a "future" sort of world. No, this is not sci-fi or genre. Not really. It's complicated. I think I had a relationship very similar to this explanation. Read it and follow the footnotes for a better understanding.

Another note: I'm leaving blanks for the names right now as I'm in the process of changing this character a little bit. I figure you're all smart enough to catch on, but I'm letting you know anyway.

“‘Man shall be like a tree by the flowing water,” he mumbled quietly to himself. “Man will be ready to bring forth fruit in its season. Its foliage shall not fade but grow greener, shall not wither but unfurl in the sun. All that man does shall prosper and meet fortune.

“‘But the wicked are chaff, and the wind shall disperse them into nothingness. The wicked shall remain separate from the righteous, shall not find themselves in good judgment.’” (1)

_______ paused and stared at the text, sucking on his lower lip again, retreating to the back of his memory where he knew what he just read connected with something. His fingers tapped impatiently on the words in his hands until he patted it with his palm and quickly returned to his desk. Rifling through the pile of loose papers, he pulled out another thick book (2), also bound in leather (3) but black, and excitedly flipped through the pages.

“‘See how Ayah provides goodness through example? Goodliness is a tree with roots fixed firmly, its branches high and fresh water flowing by its roots. It gives its fruit at all times to Ayah, and Ayah sends goodness to those who remember so they may continue to remember.

“Yet evil is uprooted, an ill tree that has no stability in the earth. Ayah will keep those who believe and stand firm, and Ayah will cause those with evil in their branches to go astray.’ (4)

“Interesting,” _______ muttered, scratching his cheek lightly with his short nails. He picked up a pencil and scribbled some notes on a blank leaf of parchment. (5) Similarities between Salms and Surat Abram…tree metaphors…similar overall message of growth in belief and misfortune/desert of those who refuse the—

Howling laughter cut through the night and _______ jumped, scraping his pencil in a line against the parchment. Swearing, he rose and threw open his window. A group of older boys dressed in dark clothing ran down the alley throwing strings of firecrackers behind them. (6) The strings popped and sizzled as the boys sprinted by, the bright fizzling lights casting violent shadows against the buildings.

(1) This is believed to be an excerpt from the Bible, the book from which Christianity followed traditionally. Christianity has changed extremely from the time of the author, but still keeps a firm foundation based off of the teachings of an ancient man whom they call Jesus Christ. The author stylized a section of the Bible, specifically a passage from Psalm I.
(2) A collection of writing in which paper was evenly bound and usually was read from left to right, up and down, and each page was turned when one was done reading and wished to continue. This form of collecting information was recently discontinued, though many books are still collected and are kept as records to past information. However, they are determined to soon be not more than interesting relics as their texts are constantly being copied, updated, and annotated in the International Free Education Database.
(3) All leather as we know it today is synthetically created, while the author's notes indicate that this leather is created in its original form, using the hide of an animal, most likely that of a cow.
(4) "Ayah" is a mispronunciation (and in this context, spelling) of Allah, the name of god in the ancient religious tradition of Islam. The author's notes show that this is an attempt to integrate both a sense of Islamic tradition as well as a bilingual influence (specifically Spanish) to a future imagined for the United States of America. This specific passage is supposedly taken from Surat Abrahim, 14:24-27 in the Quran, the book from which Muslims carried their traditions, though the author has obviously stylized much of this original text as well.
(5) A pencil was a writing device used to mark words by use of the graphite middle which was surrounded by wood and tipped in order to make a sort of stylus. The other end was equipped with a bit of rubber in order to erase the graphite markings. It was less permanent than an writing tool that used ink, but was a more temporary tool in itself as once the wood was sharpened past a comfortable point to hold, it was often disposed and replaced by a new one. As shown in this excerpt, it was used on parchment, which was often considered a less desirable form of paper due to its rough texture and darker color.
(6) Firecrackers are miniature explosives and are used mainly as noise-making devices for celebration.

Ugh, I feel like that took forever. But the fact that I could annotate my own work and still not hate it makes me feel good about myself. To be honest, it kind of makes me excited. This is a big project for me, and I really want to get it right, as I'm sure you can tell I want it to say a lot.

Forms of Writing: The Novel (Part 2)

2009-09-11T12:32:00.000-04:00

Back again for more classwork, folks. Next on my assignment list is to submit four journal entries as given by our good friend, Friday. Did anyone else in class today notice the big ad for T.G.I. Friday's at the top of the website as we were working on these? Just thought I'd mention it. I'd very much like to write about his business endeavors after his time on the island, and I'd be sure to make a cannibalism joke in there somewhere, but I just want to get this assignment done.

These are four journal entries by Friday, as if he had been taught to write and recalled his past some time after the end of the novel.

1.

There had been war in my nation, and at one time I had been captured by my enemies. They had bound me for quite some time, and I had lost all hope for life until we arrived on the far away island. My enemies, like my own people, saw fit to eat their prisoners. It was a ritual of possessing the fighting power that resided within those people. Once on shore, I found that there were thick trees beyond the shore and luck had given me the small chance and quick feet to make my escape, though I would not have survived if it were not for Master.

When I first laid eyes on Master, I thought him to be a terrible spirit or even Benamuckee himself (for I had once followed what I now know to be a false idol, and Master taught me very well how to right my wrongs and follow the one True God), and when he shot my pursuers with his gun, I thought the sky itself had sent fire and thunder down to kill them.

Master had taken good care of me that day and, as I was and still am grateful for my life being saved, I knelt before him and proclaimed myself as his humble and everlasting servant.

2.

Master had me gather up the bones of past man-eating rituals and burn them in fire, so that they became ash. At first I was not sure of why he had me do so, but I knew he very much disliked the idea of eating man. After I burned the bones, Master gave me the skins of animals to wrap around my body. I felt bound and warm inside them, but I soon learned from Master to be a decent man and I became accustomed to them.

3.

Master used his gun to kill a goat, though at that time I still believed him to be a powerful spirit with a stick of fire and thunder. I was so a-feared that I felt my body as to be sure that I had not been killed. I soon learned to believe the stick a powerful tool, perhaps a spirit itself that was good to us, for it provided us with food and Master was eager to make me eat well and not hunger for man-flesh.

That night I talked to the gun, hoping to learn more about it and to plead that it would not kill us. For several days, I hoped to gain its favor, but over time I began to realize it was a tool which I did not understand, but not a spirit itself. Master eventually taught me how to use it, which I quickly learned as it reminded me of shooting an arrow, only I did not have to pull back on a string and the gun made more men fall. I am grateful for Master's trust, as we might not have won later battles if I had no gun to use.

4.

I feared at one time that Master would not want me to live on the island with him, for he knew how much I longed for my nation and said I could use the boat we had made to return. I feared this very much, for I made a promise, I committed my soul and my duty to Master. If I could not be with Master, I would rather God (whom Master taught me very much about and whom I learned to love very much) strike me down upon the sand. But Master did not force me to leave, and I believe his heart was very warmed by my devotion to him. Though we eventually left the island, I would have been happy to be there forever with Master, serving him for the rest of my life, which I would not have kept had it not been for my first meeting of him.

So, it's not my greatest work, but it'll do. I really wanted to write some journal entries in which Friday pretended to really like Crusoe but secretly plotted many ways to escape/kill him, but I figured I'd probably be devoted to some guy who saved my life. Really, four journal entries are pretty tough to put in a lot of information. I will be very honest and say that I truly have no time for more than that at this point. At least I'm ahead in the reading now, as I have already finished "Book One" of Gulliver's Travels, and I've always liked that story so my spirits have raised considerably towards this class. Not that I hated the class, I just disliked reading Crusoe.

Forms of Writing: The Novel

2009-09-08T22:20:00.005-04:00

Fitting subtitle: The Blog Author's Unfortunate Recognition of Robinson Crusoe.

For one of my current classes, I am required to make blog posts and...stuff. My assignments are probably not what you'd like to read, but I promise to make them worth it anyway as I'll most likely have some sort of rant after.

So, without further ado, my first assignment: write as Robinson Crusoe (or Daniel Defoe, if you'd be so inclined to say) would write. I was given a prompt. Here's how I would respond via the voice of dear Robin. (Brave, brave Sir Robin....)

I found need of a bookshelf in my abode upon which I could place my multitude of belongings. After working tiresomely upon a shelf (of which I, at this point working on such projects during the past four years of my seemingly infinite stay upon my island kingdom), I found it to my liking and arranged my items carefully on its planks. Of my many treasures, there were some I kept most dear: my empty cans, from which I had carefully removed their labels and polished their sides with goat lard; my many rings I had procured during my travels in Mexico as a younger man with larger ambitions that had ultimately set me on a course of destruction, far from God's Grace and then, inevitably, into the hands of Divine Providence, for the rings were reminders of my times as a gambling and unwholesome man; several etchings of jewelry which I had fixated unto thick leafs of parchment and set upon my shelf so that I could admire their pleasing form from any station of my humble abode; silver spoons that once belonged to my grandmother which my father had inherited and then passed on to me and had luckily survived as much of my wretched journey as I had, though I should think that my mother (be that she still lives and that I someday return) would wish them to perish perchance in a trade for she thought them awfully wretched and that our family would be foolish to pretend we were above our class with them in our possession like we were kings; and my coins which I had saved (despite their useless nature to me in my condition), which I had boiled in my now well-crafted pots and then later polished so as to see the faces of Brazilian royalty. Of the things I owned and had recovered at the beginning of my stay on this island, I jealously guard these items above all others and find them to be most pleasing to my eyes. However, there is not one toy or bauble I hold dearer than my rescued Bibles, and whenever I find myself looking at these objects which I placed on my new shelf which I made and growing dark with sadness at my lost past, I turn to God Almighty's Word for comfort. If not for His Divine power, I believe I would be lost and without purpose on my island.

Well, kids, there you have it. Imagine that for another 200+ pages. Yeah, it was fun to try and do here, but I'd probably kill myself if I tried to write that way for the rest of a novel. In fact, I probably didn't do enough with "how well I made my shelf" and "with what tools I made my shelf" and "what process I used to make my shelf." I think Brave Brave Sir Robinson spends far too much time explaining his arts and crafts and too little time working on how he's going to A) be rescued, B) protect himself from savages, C) occupy himself, because if you were to find me hanging around by myself on an island for 20+ years, I probably would be training my goats/wild cats/turtles to do something amazing. Anything to keep me occupied other than building three houses, a bunch of fences for food of which I already grew too much, and weaving a few score baskets.

He does kill kittens, though. Bob Barker would approve, given the time period.

What NOT to do with your writing notebook...

2009-08-20T11:14:00.006-04:00

Okay, so we all know how useful a pocket-sized (or sometimes purse-sized) notebook is for the budding writer. I used to just find a scrap of paper, but that ultimately got lost in the endless abyss I call a bag. So I bought a tiny notebook. I've been told by many to buy a Moleskine, but they're expensive in my opinion. I'm a college kid. I've got an excuse. So I found another kind just down a shelf in Borders from the rather lovely-looking Moleskines for $2-3 and it does the job. I've kept this one specially for my novel. And it's really been helpful, keeping it separate from other story ideas.

And now I lost it.

I was at the movies, watching "District 9" with a buddy, threw my purse in an empty seat which proved to be a bad idea, and left. I had noticed halfway home after searching in my bag for something that it wasn't there and neither was my planner, but I decided not to panic as I had probably left it at home for the one purpose of NOT LOSING IT AT THE THEATER. Well, it looks like I LOST IT AT THE THEATER. So I called once I had gotten home and found that neither was hanging out in their usual resting places in my trash heap of a room, but it was late and no one picked up.

Needless to say, I woke up this morning (naturally, which was a little weird) right when the theater opened and called in. The nice girl looked for it in lost and found, asked the cleaning crew, and as of right now there is no news. But she said that she would look around where we were sitting as they sometimes miss things if they were between the seats. Well, there's a movie rolling as I type, so now I play the waiting game.

Also needless to say, I am paranoid about anyone who will see the few pages on which I've scribbled some important notes, and deep in my most pessimistic mind I fear that my ideas will be stolen. They probably won't, but I'm still beating myself up over this twice as hard as I should.

So what is the lesson I want to share with you all? Don't--I repeat, DON'T--take a notebook with you if you're going to easily lose it. Keep a notebook with you whenever you can because god knows we need to as writers, but keep it close as if it were your first-born child. Because even though Cinema Center probably isn't crawling with less than honorable writers, I can't say the same for you. Again, the paranoia is pulsing through me still, but if there weren't idea-stealers out there, I wouldn't be feeling this way.

Updates will come as soon as I know more about the whereabouts of my beloved notebook. Until then, keep your fingers crossed for me.

UPDATE: I'm a moron. I left my notebooks at work. Still a bad idea anyway. Don't do it!

Time's Top 100 Novels vs. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

2009-07-28T13:29:00.003-04:00

So I've been looking for some lists of "books I just have to read," and I found two that seem fairly decent. But then I took another look, and I've formed some thoughts on the matter. Here are the two lists:

Time's Top 100 Novels
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Now, both lists are great and all, and I know I've got a lot of work to do before I come even close to finishing either (not to mention even getting halfway through), but I had some time to look over them and really analyze what is really going on here.

The lists are imperfect. I think we can all agree on that, because both lists are obviously just opinions. But that said, I have trouble understanding what happened to so many of the classics. And where is Ayn Rand? You don't have to be a follower of her philosophies to read her books. Who can deny that she has been such an impact on our society? That alone should put at least one of her books on those lists. And how is Jonathan Swift on one list and not the other? And what about the Bible? I may not be Christian, but I know that the Bible's on my list of must-reads just because of how influential it has been to the world. It's right up there with the Qu'ran. And yes, I will take the time to read them.

But as my confusion about exclusions grew (really, where's "1984" in the 1001 list? Where did Shakespeare go? Don't his plays and poetry still come in book form? "Watchmen" is a graphic novel, and a good one at that, but why does that make it a book to read and not Shakespeare?) I'm not saying that the books listed aren't worthy, but while 1001 books is a rather long list to try to tackle with so many other books that aren't on the list are on my own list for classes, while the lists are opinionated and probably exclude books that weren't personally read by the people writing the lists and therefore weren't properly examined, while all that is going on I can't help but wonder if there really is a community out there working on a list of worthy books...not just an easily manageable or rounded-out number. If anyone knows of such a list, please let me know!

All of that said, I think I've got a good way to justify reading a book. In fact, I've got a few personal criteria.

1) If it looks old, read it.
2) If it smells old, READ IT. (I'm still waiting for Axe to move on from leather to old book smell.)
3) If it's in the literature section of Borders or Barnes and Noble, read it.
4) If it's required for a class, even if it's not one you're attending, read it.
5) If it's banned somewhere, read it.
6) If it's banned in your area, read it before reading books banned elsewhere.
7) If the book pisses people off, read it.
8) If the author's famous, read it.
9) If you don't know the author but the description on the back cover intrigues you, read it.
10) If you find it at a yard sale, pay the 50 cents and read it.
11) If it's a book, read it.

Now, if you've read the book long ago, and at the time of it being opened you were younger or had not experienced in something until after it being finished, reread it. And while rereading it, throw away any biases because you might have liked it then, but it might be complete crap now that you know better. Believe me, it's happened many times to me. Being a fan girl for something at a young age is what it is, but don't let it stay that way if you learn to know better.

And as writer's we know that the only way to write better is to read more, right? I don't care how bad a book may be, give it a try, even if it's just the first page. Give it more if you can, but learn from the mistakes or successes of others. Being a writer is being an apprentice, many times without even meeting the teacher.

While those lists I mentioned may be great, they're only guidelines as far as I'm concerned. Give them a try, but don't ever hold back recommendations of your own!

Books to Movies - Good idea before, but a hinderance now?

2009-07-15T16:08:00.006-04:00

So, I went to the midnight viewing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last night, and I definitely had a blast. Now, I've been a fan of the books since I was a kid, and I do know that the movies aren't quite up to the books standards, but I think this one was the best movie of the series thus far. I was thinking about it and how well-made it was even with the missing parts, and I started to ponder the whole books-to-movies idea.

For those of you who haven't seen the movies and haven't read the books, shame on you. Also, be prepared for spoilers below.

There were a lot of things cut from the story line, but for the sake of time and it being the sixth time they've done this, I'm not too upset about it. For the most part, it seemed to flow well and make sense for the story line, and that's what really matters. I think my biggest problem was how Dumbledore explained the ring's origins and his need for obtaining it if he didn't know what Tom Riddle had asked of Slughorn in Slughorn's memory. It's very confusing to the audience, especially if they don't know of the ring's other use as a Deathly Hallow, and if there was little questioning on Harry's part. I personally think a few more trips through the Pensieve would have helped clear up its origins and whatnot, but instead I would probably have gotten lost in the plausibility of Dumbledore's actions for searching for the ring had I not read the books.

That said, there were some things that I think worked well for the movie, even without some of the scenes. As much as I would have loved to have the white tomb scene, the gathering around Dumbledore at the end was beautiful and so very sad. It was still very well done. The tomb will be seen again, and it's not difficult to quickly explain. But would I still have liked the scene there? Of course. It was necessary in the book because of flow and of closure, while in the movie the it had its own flow to worry about. It's just another scene out of many that are kept for the pages, and they're incentive to actually get a book in someone's hands.

Here's where my whole novel-to-screen opinions started to really take form. When (well, hopefully when) I am published, how would I approach a movie deal? Would I only allow only the parts I like best, even if they aren't really necessary? Let's be honest, as awesome as the funeral would have been, it wasn't necessary. Where do we as authors draw the line if given this kind of opportunity, and do we really have a say? Well, I suppose we would have a say, but only if it were necessary for the meaning of the book and explaining any sequels. And what about the ethics of going to the movies versus reading the book? I think most if not all writers will agree that the book is always better and the movie is really just a fun thing to quench the thirst of the fan base. Yes, there were some people at the theater last night who admitted to not reading the books, and I quietly stewed in my own disapproving thoughts. Are movies ruining the chances for books? Yes, a little. Kids are definitely reading less these days. But if there's more in the books than on the screen, word-of-mouth seems to still be effective. I've seen it work!

But what of the future? Will books still decline in popularity ten, twenty years down the road? I think the answer is, unfortunately, yes, but I think we have to work with the resources to really keep ourselves from becoming a dying breed. Movie deals are important, yes, so what does that say about how we visualize what we have written? Just giving descriptions is not enough. We have to tell by showing (I think we've all heard the "show, don't tell" rule enough times by now), but we must all show more than what can be physically seen. It's a learning process that I too am trying to master, but it's necessary. Otherwise, we're not doing anything more than simply having our audience imagine actions that could easily be carried out by actors on the big screen. It is imperative that we work vertically rather than horizontally, to show more than what is physically there. We need to work on getting our readers to read cognitively instead of linearly.

Think of the classics. They didn't have movies to do the imagining for them while they were written. People were used to using their imaginations. Now, TV does that for us. That's not to say that there aren't people out there who still have the ability to see the important nuances in things. We must cater to that ability. We must expand it. There will always be people who "don't really get it" when it comes to plot and character development and whatnot, but it's important to not compromise quality for the sake of quantity of readers. If you don't care about that and are only in it for the money, then just completely disregard what I have said. If you're able to cater to both kinds of readers, then more power to you because you're that much better and more able to keep those who can think within a multitude of dimensions as well as those who need to be spoon-fed every step of the way. If you can appeal to that guy with the doctorate as well as the common blue-collar worker, then you've found power within the writing community, in my opinion. But how do we get to that level within the next decade or two? How do we get there even within the next few years as books loose popularity?

I've got a few ideas of my own, but they're for me to work with, and I've decided to be selfish and keep my future trade secrets to myself (or until I'm published, because then they'll be obvious). So I'm calling for any authors, aspiring or otherwise, to seriously consider how to capture the audience of the future because otherwise we're a form of entertainment that could seriously lose our slowly crumbling ground. If you're a screen writer, you don't really have as much to fear since the movie industry is constantly growing and employing new ideas within digital media, but for those of us writing books: beware. We seriously need to assess our current situation.

______________________

Current novel progress:
+Prologue completed
+10 pages
+2,715 words

List of Random Words

2009-06-30T22:25:00.003-04:00

Well, while at work today, I started a list of random words. I just put down whatever came to mind, and this is what happened:

tempest
christening
chartreuse
asinine
egalitarian
soil
parkway
children
speedster
nova
Fibonacci
pedestrian
intellect
interact
smiling
creator
impede
brook
Milano
bindi
feathery
enamel
institutionalized
crevasse
plaid
crutch
bunting
steading
blots
intervene
weaver
warrior
casualty
indifference
naivety
Muppet
vain
unaware
stranded
singular
taupe
subtle
fallout
glassy
immobile
paralysis
sprint
candied
empty
void
telepathic
empathy
rosaries
chrysanthemum
hairline
receding
turbulence
cow
goody
scroll
linoleum
tribute
tribune
seraphim
stargazer

As simple as it was, this seemed like a good exercise. I didn't really think of the words, but instead just let them happen, and it made me feel better to just let these words flow through without any coherent sentences. Anyway, that was my writing for the day, so feel free to comment on it.

I read the "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" this summer, and I'd just like to say that we need more of that kind of literature around. My copy has the woodcarving prints on every other page, and it's just beautiful. And the writing's astounding, of course, just gorgeous. If anyone else has anything to say about it, send me a comment.

"Like the pink ones, which she wasn't..."

2009-06-30T01:09:00.003-04:00

Just thought I'd share this fun little news story I found:

http://www.popeater.com/article/screamin-seafaring-tale-wins-bad-writing/549207

It's amazing how they can hold contests like these and make them news, and yet we still have people who think that it is acceptable to write like this.

Numero Uno

2009-06-29T21:34:00.001-04:00

First post! Break out the confetti and Triscuits!

I suppose I must explain what this blog is and why it has earned the title it has. I'm a writer. Well, I guess technically I write, but I have yet to get seriously published other than the bits and pieces I've done for my campus publications. And as a writer, I've thrown around the joke that I'm destined to live in a cardboard box, fruitlessly trying to get published in such a competitive environment (or one that publishes mostly the mediocre, as the market seems wont to do). See the connection?

But I have hope. Despite how cynical I may seem at times, I do have the ability to have hope. Maybe that's the "why" behind this blog's creation. I just need a backup to see what I've done and where I've come from on this journey...and perhaps a place to just rant. I guess I'll put up helpful links and fun stuff like that for anyone who actually reads this thing. If not, then it'll just be a backup bookmarking system for myself if I ever forget my own references.

Okay, boring introduction stuff done. Here's the juicy news: I finished the prologue for my first serious novel. I mean serious, as in I seriously want it published. Maybe, if you're all good boys and girls, I'll post a snippet later. But only if you're good.

That said, I think I'll leave this post rather short and end with a link. This girl is very helpful and has put a few pointers out there for new writers. Also, this link is very pretty to look at. Just click the picture to make it a full view. Trust me, more words will show up. I promise. Here's the link: http://mree.deviantart.com/art/On-Writing-Getting-Published-29706132

Well, it's been a good day, to say the least. I feel better about myself as a writer after finishing that prologue.