I apologize for not contributing a new blog to this column in such a long time. In all honesty, I have been consumed. When the writing of my novel titled (ironically enough) The Heavenly Exile took flight over the summer, the urgency of blogging shrank until it became completely unimportant to me. The blog wasn't the only thing which I swapped from its rightful position of priority in my life; the importance of my schoolwork and grades diminished to a point where I cannot return to Lipscomb University after this semester.
These, among others, are the side effects of my fiction writing. They are the pollution of my favorite pastime. However, even knowing the consequences, I continue writing. I write because it is one of the few activities in my life I truly love.
Fiction writing, despite the preface above, has benefited me in some ways. It's been said that fiction is the closest thing we have to magic. It allows me the unrestrained freedom to express myself, it allows my imagination regular exercise, and it allows me to shamelessly answer that beloved question "What if...?" Writing has a very seductive appeal to me. Nothing else rivals the satisfaction of physically holding a completed piece of prose (especially a novel) in my hands. Even editing can be fun.
For all its cathartic intentions, there are negative sides to writing. I easily lose track of things while I labor on a story. Not only do hours disappear, but most of my life, previously regulated by reality, belongs less to me and more to my fictional fantasies. One could argue I don't really live at all while I write. I think I do live. I live through my creations: my protagonists, the fictitious worlds they inhabit, and events they experience. I pour my energy into their lives. But what is left for me afterward, in my life outside of writing? What is left of the life I neglected in the meantime? Is it possible to care about schoolwork and "loved" ones if all my emotions are now property of these parasites that do not and never will exist?
Another thing I've realized is how easily the line between my reality and my fiction can blur or vanish entirely. Any story, fiction or otherwise, requires conflict in order to maintain the audience's interest. The writer's job is to create the conflict, to imagine it in the way which makes the story as compelling as possible. I try my hardest to keep my stories fresh and interesting, but tend to romanticize my own life. I try (with only some success) to remind myself that I am not a literary character, and my life is not some epic novel. It takes even more constant reminders to recognize that people and things which get between me and my thousand-words-a-day are not scheming antagonists I must defeat in a battle of the word processor.
I love writing, even knowing the downsides. Call me a selfish bastard, but something about it brings me back again and again. It could be an addiction, I don't know, but the last thing I want to do is call it that.
I plan on beginning a new short story today. My stories are like miniature treasures. I love them so much. If people like me, or what's left of me, I hope they like them, too.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Technobabble
I have never finished a Charles Dickens novel. Not once. A Christmas Carol notwithstanding, I've never managed to do more than scratch the surface of one of his longer works. But I have seen some of the movie versions, so I guess that counts. :)
The point I'm trying to illustrate with that is I believe the way people tell stories, and the way people want them told, has changed. In my opinion, the change comes from the long-term effect of films and television on our culture. We don't approach novels and written stories the same way anymore. They've been left behind. Nowadays, it's more a question of "will the book keep my attention as well as the movie did?"
We also live in an increasingly electronic age. We have Facebook, we have cell phones, we have text messaging and, of course, internet on those cell phones. We want things faster and easier than ever before. It's all about convenience, and no one likes waiting.
Things have changed ever since movies and TV have become larger parts of our culture. Movies hand us a story, giving us easy, spoon-fed entertainment. The usually ask for nothing in return other than the cost of a movie ticket and their overpriced popcorn. As a result, the attention span of the average person has shrunk to fit the typical 1 1/2 to 2 hour film. People still expect entertainment, but now they want it in a smaller package. Here's an example: at the midnight premiere of the newest Harry Potter film, there were more people stretched around the movie theater to get a a good seat than there were in line at the midnight launch of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a few years back. Just something to think about...
Hollywood could care less. Coming up with original stories is not their aim, they want to make money. True, there is an Oscar for "Best Original Screenplay", but if you don't count based-on-a-true-story movies (which are a loophole, in my opinion), how many original fictional screenplays do Hollywood screenwriters create? They're too busy pumping out shitty sequels and remakes to bother with anything new. It may also be a matter of not taking risks, instead looking to the New York Times Bestseller List or popular superhero comics for reliable moneymaking plunder.
For many modern writers, the way they approach the craft of writing has changed since TV and movies have become larger parts of our culture. Writers today learn as much about storytelling, perhaps even more, from film instead of from reading classic novels like writers did before. I won't pretend that I'm above this. Alfred Hitchcock's films and The Twilight Zone are among my biggest influences as a writer. If you're growing up around TV and movies as a child, would you sit down and watch a Disney movie, or pick up a copy of Great Expectations? Parents even give their toddlers iPhones in checkout lines at the grocery store to keep them occupied.
Today's writers, in order to remain current, have to adapt to the demands of their audience. Movie audiences want quick, suspenseful reads, along the lines of a film. If you were to pick up any John Grisham or Dan Brown novel, you would discover after leafing through a few pages that they have made their niche, found a formula that people love. In addition, their novels read almost like screenplays, making them easily adaptable to film. This is done with a purpose. The easier a book is to translate to film, the more likely a movie version is to be made, and having a movie version means more publicity for the original writer. If I were offered a movie deal for my (currently in the works) novel, I admit I would have a hard time saying "no", provided the material would be in the right hands and not tampered with too much. Movies aren't all bad. If they are done right, they can immortalize a story. Let's face it: no writer wants to see their work become obscure and forgotten. The only risk is losing the integrity of the original story along the way. The writer's intention must be maintained. That is why I believe classic novels must be kept classic. People should be encouraged to read them.
Enough of my fear-mongering. Let's get back to checking our Facebook pages...
The point I'm trying to illustrate with that is I believe the way people tell stories, and the way people want them told, has changed. In my opinion, the change comes from the long-term effect of films and television on our culture. We don't approach novels and written stories the same way anymore. They've been left behind. Nowadays, it's more a question of "will the book keep my attention as well as the movie did?"
We also live in an increasingly electronic age. We have Facebook, we have cell phones, we have text messaging and, of course, internet on those cell phones. We want things faster and easier than ever before. It's all about convenience, and no one likes waiting.
Things have changed ever since movies and TV have become larger parts of our culture. Movies hand us a story, giving us easy, spoon-fed entertainment. The usually ask for nothing in return other than the cost of a movie ticket and their overpriced popcorn. As a result, the attention span of the average person has shrunk to fit the typical 1 1/2 to 2 hour film. People still expect entertainment, but now they want it in a smaller package. Here's an example: at the midnight premiere of the newest Harry Potter film, there were more people stretched around the movie theater to get a a good seat than there were in line at the midnight launch of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a few years back. Just something to think about...
Hollywood could care less. Coming up with original stories is not their aim, they want to make money. True, there is an Oscar for "Best Original Screenplay", but if you don't count based-on-a-true-story movies (which are a loophole, in my opinion), how many original fictional screenplays do Hollywood screenwriters create? They're too busy pumping out shitty sequels and remakes to bother with anything new. It may also be a matter of not taking risks, instead looking to the New York Times Bestseller List or popular superhero comics for reliable moneymaking plunder.
For many modern writers, the way they approach the craft of writing has changed since TV and movies have become larger parts of our culture. Writers today learn as much about storytelling, perhaps even more, from film instead of from reading classic novels like writers did before. I won't pretend that I'm above this. Alfred Hitchcock's films and The Twilight Zone are among my biggest influences as a writer. If you're growing up around TV and movies as a child, would you sit down and watch a Disney movie, or pick up a copy of Great Expectations? Parents even give their toddlers iPhones in checkout lines at the grocery store to keep them occupied.
Today's writers, in order to remain current, have to adapt to the demands of their audience. Movie audiences want quick, suspenseful reads, along the lines of a film. If you were to pick up any John Grisham or Dan Brown novel, you would discover after leafing through a few pages that they have made their niche, found a formula that people love. In addition, their novels read almost like screenplays, making them easily adaptable to film. This is done with a purpose. The easier a book is to translate to film, the more likely a movie version is to be made, and having a movie version means more publicity for the original writer. If I were offered a movie deal for my (currently in the works) novel, I admit I would have a hard time saying "no", provided the material would be in the right hands and not tampered with too much. Movies aren't all bad. If they are done right, they can immortalize a story. Let's face it: no writer wants to see their work become obscure and forgotten. The only risk is losing the integrity of the original story along the way. The writer's intention must be maintained. That is why I believe classic novels must be kept classic. People should be encouraged to read them.
Enough of my fear-mongering. Let's get back to checking our Facebook pages...
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Square One
As of today, I have finished and printed three of my stories. Having them neat and professional-looking makes me feel almost legitimate now.
The whole process from editing to printing the stories was an interesting experience, you could call it an adventure. I wrote the first drafts longhand because it's easier to edit and see how changes affect the rest of the story. Once I complete the first draft I leave that particular story alone for at least a week while I move on to new projects.
Most of the editing takes place when I type the stories. Coming back to them after a break I guess gives my subconscious time to chew on a finished story and then spit it out, as if telling me how bad (and trust me, always bad) my first draft is. In this stage, editing flows easily. One of my friends also serves as my editor. When he is doing his job I hate him, but afterward I realize how nice it is to have a second opinion. THANK YOU, LANCE!!!
What was I saying? Oh, anyway, I was typing up my stories about a month ago when suddenly the power goes out. It was the first night of typing them and I hadn't saved anything, so I think that all of my work is gone. The power outage lasted for like 1 1/2 hours, so I am left to torture myself with stress and frustration while using my cell phone as a flashlight, just waiting for the toilets and running water to stop working. Finally the electricity comes back on and I check the computer. To my relief there was file recovery, but I've learned my lesson: I don't miss the East Coast blackout from a few years back.
After that, I was able to finish my stories in a blackout-free environment. Two days ago, I sent my stories to the FedEx Office website. I had gotten as far as the payment screen before anything unusual happened. After I entered my debit card information, the website said "card authorization failure". I tried again several times, making sure everything was correct, and there was nothing wrong with the card. Developing my conspiracy theories against those idiots at the bank, I checked my account balances and discovered (against my will) that it was actually my fault. My online checking account balance had not been updated for another purchase I had made that day. The authorization failure was simply to prevent me from overdrawing. I might have freaked out just a bit over nothing. Hey, it's what I do. :)
So, my first three stories are printed and eight lucky people will receive a copy of them. Autographed copies, anyone?
The "about the author" photos:
The whole process from editing to printing the stories was an interesting experience, you could call it an adventure. I wrote the first drafts longhand because it's easier to edit and see how changes affect the rest of the story. Once I complete the first draft I leave that particular story alone for at least a week while I move on to new projects.
Most of the editing takes place when I type the stories. Coming back to them after a break I guess gives my subconscious time to chew on a finished story and then spit it out, as if telling me how bad (and trust me, always bad) my first draft is. In this stage, editing flows easily. One of my friends also serves as my editor. When he is doing his job I hate him, but afterward I realize how nice it is to have a second opinion. THANK YOU, LANCE!!!
What was I saying? Oh, anyway, I was typing up my stories about a month ago when suddenly the power goes out. It was the first night of typing them and I hadn't saved anything, so I think that all of my work is gone. The power outage lasted for like 1 1/2 hours, so I am left to torture myself with stress and frustration while using my cell phone as a flashlight, just waiting for the toilets and running water to stop working. Finally the electricity comes back on and I check the computer. To my relief there was file recovery, but I've learned my lesson: I don't miss the East Coast blackout from a few years back.
After that, I was able to finish my stories in a blackout-free environment. Two days ago, I sent my stories to the FedEx Office website. I had gotten as far as the payment screen before anything unusual happened. After I entered my debit card information, the website said "card authorization failure". I tried again several times, making sure everything was correct, and there was nothing wrong with the card. Developing my conspiracy theories against those idiots at the bank, I checked my account balances and discovered (against my will) that it was actually my fault. My online checking account balance had not been updated for another purchase I had made that day. The authorization failure was simply to prevent me from overdrawing. I might have freaked out just a bit over nothing. Hey, it's what I do. :)
So, my first three stories are printed and eight lucky people will receive a copy of them. Autographed copies, anyone?
The "about the author" photos:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Last Night
I honestly can't believe I'm turning eighteen tomorrow. It's an alien feeling to think I graduate from high school next May. In elementary school, I used to feel like graduation was years away, and it was, but back then it felt like hundreds of years. Each year of school was different, some were more difficult experiences than others, but it has been and is still a mostly worthwhile ride. Now there is one last semester to go before I cross the finish line. Then there's college: an exciting, but even weirder thought. I want to pursue creative writing because it is my passion, I know it.
I'm not superstitious or anything, but I can't help but wonder if I will feel different after I turn eighteen. Maybe as the hands of the clock click past 3:36 pm, I'll feel changed somehow. My mom certainly hopes so. Will I be just like my normal self, like I am at this moment? Or will I be different? I can't make tomorrow afternoon come any faster, so for now I am waiting anxiously to find out.
Just as a nostalgic thing, I have a couple pictures of me from so long ago. They are photos of me at my preschool graduation, circa 1998. Sorry they are overexposed, but I guess that's what happens when undeveloped film doesn't see the light of day for about ten years.
I'm not superstitious or anything, but I can't help but wonder if I will feel different after I turn eighteen. Maybe as the hands of the clock click past 3:36 pm, I'll feel changed somehow. My mom certainly hopes so. Will I be just like my normal self, like I am at this moment? Or will I be different? I can't make tomorrow afternoon come any faster, so for now I am waiting anxiously to find out.
Just as a nostalgic thing, I have a couple pictures of me from so long ago. They are photos of me at my preschool graduation, circa 1998. Sorry they are overexposed, but I guess that's what happens when undeveloped film doesn't see the light of day for about ten years.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Village
I can't understand why M. Night Shyamalan's The Village is so widely disliked. Correction: unappreciated. I love this movie. It has the feel of a Twilight Zone episode, so naturally I like it for that reason, but there is much more to admire beyond that alone.
What makes the film most terrifying is its precise manipulation of sound. The Village manages to create shock not through loud explosions, but small noises such as the crunching of leaves or twigs to make the audience wonder, "What is that?". It helped me realize just how easily scared I am. It's really fear of the unknown, a concept that Hitchcock applied to his films. Shyamalan has clearly learned from the Master. I'm relieved to know a modern director can grasp what really frightens people.
Another thing I enjoyed about the movie was the absolutely beautiful music. A James Newton Howard score, it focuses mostly on strings. The music can at one moment relax me (on par with George Winston) and then the next have my heart racing. It contributes a lot to why I like the film. The soundtrack is on my ipod, of course! :)
Also worth mentioning is Bryce Dallas Howard's performance in the lead role of Ivy Walker. Simply brilliant.
My Grandpa Knapp has been visiting us this past week for Thanksgiving. We watched The Village tonight. I was glad that he loved it and that the twists surprised him (as they did for me the first time I saw it). We both appreciate good movies and have a mutual taste for Hitchcock films, making for some pretty engaging conversations. I wish we could do this more often.
What makes the film most terrifying is its precise manipulation of sound. The Village manages to create shock not through loud explosions, but small noises such as the crunching of leaves or twigs to make the audience wonder, "What is that?". It helped me realize just how easily scared I am. It's really fear of the unknown, a concept that Hitchcock applied to his films. Shyamalan has clearly learned from the Master. I'm relieved to know a modern director can grasp what really frightens people.
Another thing I enjoyed about the movie was the absolutely beautiful music. A James Newton Howard score, it focuses mostly on strings. The music can at one moment relax me (on par with George Winston) and then the next have my heart racing. It contributes a lot to why I like the film. The soundtrack is on my ipod, of course! :)
Also worth mentioning is Bryce Dallas Howard's performance in the lead role of Ivy Walker. Simply brilliant.
My Grandpa Knapp has been visiting us this past week for Thanksgiving. We watched The Village tonight. I was glad that he loved it and that the twists surprised him (as they did for me the first time I saw it). We both appreciate good movies and have a mutual taste for Hitchcock films, making for some pretty engaging conversations. I wish we could do this more often.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Harry Potter
Just minutes ago I came back from seeing the latest Harry Potter movie. I feel like I'm wasting time with this stupid introduction, so...my reaction to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
The film is very dark and epic as I expected it would be going in. There was some humor injected here and there that helped it from being too serious, but not always. Daniel Radcliffe is a little too dramatic ("I will do this" or "We will do that"), but the performances from the leads are good enough by and large.
It's clear that JK Rowling had plenty of creative control over the production. It was an excellent decision to split the story over two films, since Deathly Hallows is certainly the most detailed book in the series. I was happily surprised at how much was kept in the film; the things that didn't make it aren't really missed. My only complaint is that the camping scenes before they break the locket drag a bit and the whole part with Ron leaving Harry and Hermione seems to have the sole purpose of adding an extra half hour to the film. To be fair, these were also problems with the book. I would always prefer an accurate adaption to an inaccurate one, so I consider it a minor quibble.
My favorite part of the film was when we learn about "The Tale of the Three Brothers". I thought the animated way of telling the story was interesting and delightfully creepy (with a very Tim Burton-inspired vibe). The whole scene where our heroes visit Luna Lovegood's dad was exactly what I envisioned just from reading the book.
I loved this movie. It's the best film adaption since Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm going to see it twice on the big screen, but I want to wait until the excitement dies down a bit. It was worth seeing on opening day, but I don't want to have to force my way through a sea of people to find a place to sit next time.
The film is very dark and epic as I expected it would be going in. There was some humor injected here and there that helped it from being too serious, but not always. Daniel Radcliffe is a little too dramatic ("I will do this" or "We will do that"), but the performances from the leads are good enough by and large.
It's clear that JK Rowling had plenty of creative control over the production. It was an excellent decision to split the story over two films, since Deathly Hallows is certainly the most detailed book in the series. I was happily surprised at how much was kept in the film; the things that didn't make it aren't really missed. My only complaint is that the camping scenes before they break the locket drag a bit and the whole part with Ron leaving Harry and Hermione seems to have the sole purpose of adding an extra half hour to the film. To be fair, these were also problems with the book. I would always prefer an accurate adaption to an inaccurate one, so I consider it a minor quibble.
My favorite part of the film was when we learn about "The Tale of the Three Brothers". I thought the animated way of telling the story was interesting and delightfully creepy (with a very Tim Burton-inspired vibe). The whole scene where our heroes visit Luna Lovegood's dad was exactly what I envisioned just from reading the book.
I loved this movie. It's the best film adaption since Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm going to see it twice on the big screen, but I want to wait until the excitement dies down a bit. It was worth seeing on opening day, but I don't want to have to force my way through a sea of people to find a place to sit next time.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Short Stories
For all of my optimism about my novel, I haven't gotten past the third chapter. Right now my progress is at a standstill. Was I a bit too ambitious? Maybe. I have put my novel in a white envelope where all of my unfinished work goes. They say that if you are unsure about your writing, the best thing to do is let it sit for a while and come back later. In the future when I review my work, hopefully I will be struck by some wave of inspiration.
I feel a bit guilty for neglecting my blog during the past month, but I have been consumed with writing my would be-novel. Now, to stay productive, I decided to begin with short stories as baby steps. Short fiction is an entirely different type of creative writing than the novel. They are shorter, obviously, which makes them easier to write in one way, but harder in another. There is very little room to write backgrounds for characters beyond what is absolutely necessary for the story itself. As much as possible has to be revealed through the actions of the characters. It's a difficult task for a new writer like me. Practice, practice, practice...but isn't that the point?
I finished my first short story last week and am very proud of it. I think of it as Twilight Zone-style science fiction. What I like about writing scifi is that you can go in pretty much any direction in terms of storyline. The genre also works well with social commentary, something I admired Twilight Zone for. I like my stories to be food for thought. I think the show's creator and primary writer, Rod Serling, was a genius. It took guts to stand behind his work and fight censorship. His writing continues to inspire me.
I started writing my next story today and I think it will be better than the first one. Although I strive to put quality over quantity, my goal is to complete four stories by December. Having a goal keeps me working.
I included an interview with Rod Serling when he had just begun Twilight Zone, before it was a huge success. I like his strong-willed attitude toward his work. I would recommend watching it.
I feel a bit guilty for neglecting my blog during the past month, but I have been consumed with writing my would be-novel. Now, to stay productive, I decided to begin with short stories as baby steps. Short fiction is an entirely different type of creative writing than the novel. They are shorter, obviously, which makes them easier to write in one way, but harder in another. There is very little room to write backgrounds for characters beyond what is absolutely necessary for the story itself. As much as possible has to be revealed through the actions of the characters. It's a difficult task for a new writer like me. Practice, practice, practice...but isn't that the point?
I finished my first short story last week and am very proud of it. I think of it as Twilight Zone-style science fiction. What I like about writing scifi is that you can go in pretty much any direction in terms of storyline. The genre also works well with social commentary, something I admired Twilight Zone for. I like my stories to be food for thought. I think the show's creator and primary writer, Rod Serling, was a genius. It took guts to stand behind his work and fight censorship. His writing continues to inspire me.
I started writing my next story today and I think it will be better than the first one. Although I strive to put quality over quantity, my goal is to complete four stories by December. Having a goal keeps me working.
I included an interview with Rod Serling when he had just begun Twilight Zone, before it was a huge success. I like his strong-willed attitude toward his work. I would recommend watching it.
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