Some writers are acutely aware of character archetypes and accordingly categorize or avoid creating characters that fit into those pigeon holes. In truth, it's much more accurate or realistic to make a character that is a mix of archetypes because human nature is complex and people are full of contradictions.
Lately, I read an article called "Spotty-Handed Villainnesses: Problems of Female Bad Behavior in the Creation of Literature" by Margaret Atwood for one of my classes. I really liked what Atwood had to say about characterization and making the characters interesting instead of catering to what might be nice, politically correct and ultimately boring. I was aware of much that she wrote about, but it's good to see someone else's take on the subject, pulling it all together much better than I would be able.
Anyway, I'm going to keep this short for today. Lots of homework, including an important forum post for my Margaret Atwood class concerning the book Cat's Eye and the article I mentioned above. Maybe I'll post it on Friday or Monday after I finish it. =)
If you're interested in perusing this article, you can find it online here.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
story time w/ Uncle Paul
I'm a literature major and language minor, so my mandatory geography course has little interest to me. However, I am fortunate enough to have a professor who often goes off on (sometimes related) tangents and tells stories. Yesterday I heard one that I would like to share. It's about moonshine and driving - two subjects that should never be combined at the same time.
Moonshine is generally made of fermented corn where the alcohol is distilled from the water to produce a highly potent and illegal beverage. Because it is so strong, people have gone blind from drinking a lot of it. But that doesn't stop a lot of people. It's illegal and people want what they can't have, even if it doesn't taste good (not that I would know).
In order to distill the water and fermented corn, moonshiners heat it up using a still and light a fire underneath to boil it. The fire is made using wood, which of course causes smoke. That's why the majority of moonshine is made in around the Appalachian mountain range, where weather conditions are frequently foggy, thus easily hiding signs of smoke.
When moonshine is delivered and sold, it is often packaged in jars instead of barrels because they are less noticeable. Yet the weight of a lot of moonshine will make a car/truck sit lower. One solution to this is to put extra springs in the vehicle to level out the weight difference. On the other hand, the vehicles will be noticeably higher when there is not heavy cargo inside the vehicle. Either way, someone's is bound to get caught, and there are often people who try to flee in their vehicles, causing many a chase.
Strangely enough, people got a huge thrill from racing the police, driving crazy fast around winding mountain roads. Car racing became very popular as a sport in those areas as well. This lead to the creation of NASCAR racing. In fact, a large portion of the top NASCAR drivers are from the Appalachian regions known prominently for moonshine.
The end!
Moonshine is generally made of fermented corn where the alcohol is distilled from the water to produce a highly potent and illegal beverage. Because it is so strong, people have gone blind from drinking a lot of it. But that doesn't stop a lot of people. It's illegal and people want what they can't have, even if it doesn't taste good (not that I would know).
In order to distill the water and fermented corn, moonshiners heat it up using a still and light a fire underneath to boil it. The fire is made using wood, which of course causes smoke. That's why the majority of moonshine is made in around the Appalachian mountain range, where weather conditions are frequently foggy, thus easily hiding signs of smoke.
When moonshine is delivered and sold, it is often packaged in jars instead of barrels because they are less noticeable. Yet the weight of a lot of moonshine will make a car/truck sit lower. One solution to this is to put extra springs in the vehicle to level out the weight difference. On the other hand, the vehicles will be noticeably higher when there is not heavy cargo inside the vehicle. Either way, someone's is bound to get caught, and there are often people who try to flee in their vehicles, causing many a chase.
Strangely enough, people got a huge thrill from racing the police, driving crazy fast around winding mountain roads. Car racing became very popular as a sport in those areas as well. This lead to the creation of NASCAR racing. In fact, a large portion of the top NASCAR drivers are from the Appalachian regions known prominently for moonshine.
The end!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Storytelling
Storytelling fascinates me, both written and verbal. I don't clearly remember preschool, but my mom has told me that I used to love going because my preschool teacher was an excellent storyteller. Besides that being part of her job as a teacher of little ones, storytelling was a side-job of hers. She got paid to tell stories because she did so in a way that caught peoples attention and catered to their emotions. That takes talent and lots of practice, just like the perfected timing, emphasis and expression used by comedians or actors/actresses.
As a kid, I used to make up stories (not lies--make-believe stories) to keep myself and my sister entertained. I loved to make up stories, and it came easily as a child living in a world of imagination and exploration. In middle school, I wrote short, fan-fiction stories with my friends. It was fun and I didn't take any of that writing seriously at age 14. Strangely enough, I did not realize that wanted to continue and pursue that skill in my adult life as an author. In fact, it did not dawn on me that I could until my mom suggested the idea. Then it clicked and felt right. From my senior year of high school, I have never doubted my desire to be a published writer.
Not so coincidentally, I love to read. I love books. However, I could not really read until the end of the 4th grade. I was one of those kids that was taken out of class a hour a day to sit with a specialist who was supposed to help me learn to read better. When I finally did learn to read, it was done with little to no influence from the reading specialists. I discovered that liked to read stories that are interesting, not the inanely boring history or social studies books we'd been forced to read in class. The first real chapter book I read was an American Girl Doll book called Patsy: Diary of a Slave Girl. Ironically, the theme of this book was about a young slave girl (Patsy) who taught herself to read because she knew that if she were educated she would have a better life. This was so much different from my own reality where teachers were always trying to force me to read. Instead, it was illegal for someone to teach Patsy and so she learned in secret. I'm not quite sure how much of an impact that had on me at the time, but it was an entertaining story that catapulted me into being a voracious bookworm.
Now, I spend thousands of dollars a year to learn how to become a great storyteller, to captivate an audience and perhaps even someday write a book that catches a young, reluctant reader's attention enough to open the door of their imagination to the infinite possibilities of books. But for the time being, I'll keep studying.
As a kid, I used to make up stories (not lies--make-believe stories) to keep myself and my sister entertained. I loved to make up stories, and it came easily as a child living in a world of imagination and exploration. In middle school, I wrote short, fan-fiction stories with my friends. It was fun and I didn't take any of that writing seriously at age 14. Strangely enough, I did not realize that wanted to continue and pursue that skill in my adult life as an author. In fact, it did not dawn on me that I could until my mom suggested the idea. Then it clicked and felt right. From my senior year of high school, I have never doubted my desire to be a published writer.
Not so coincidentally, I love to read. I love books. However, I could not really read until the end of the 4th grade. I was one of those kids that was taken out of class a hour a day to sit with a specialist who was supposed to help me learn to read better. When I finally did learn to read, it was done with little to no influence from the reading specialists. I discovered that liked to read stories that are interesting, not the inanely boring history or social studies books we'd been forced to read in class. The first real chapter book I read was an American Girl Doll book called Patsy: Diary of a Slave Girl. Ironically, the theme of this book was about a young slave girl (Patsy) who taught herself to read because she knew that if she were educated she would have a better life. This was so much different from my own reality where teachers were always trying to force me to read. Instead, it was illegal for someone to teach Patsy and so she learned in secret. I'm not quite sure how much of an impact that had on me at the time, but it was an entertaining story that catapulted me into being a voracious bookworm.
Now, I spend thousands of dollars a year to learn how to become a great storyteller, to captivate an audience and perhaps even someday write a book that catches a young, reluctant reader's attention enough to open the door of their imagination to the infinite possibilities of books. But for the time being, I'll keep studying.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Exercise: Character/Person Sketch - roommate
Tan skin with natural golden-yellow undertones. Dark brown eyes surrounded by slightly darkened circles under each eye. Her hari is dark brown, almost black, short to the nap of her neck and shaggybecause she's trying to grow it out. Right now it's held back by a crayola green, paislye bandana, leaving her face open and her ears sticking out. A few red acne bloches cover her forehead above two slightly arched eyebrows. She absently picks at a scab near her left ear but suddenly stops, concious of her action.
She's wearing a grey shirt with blue and red text that says "Wake Up AQ!" A thick metal, gold and black, torque circles her neck, separating an inch from the middle. At the ends of the necklace are 2 dragon heads, staring at each other. Her ensemble is finished by a pair of grey-green cargo pants with lots of pockets on the thighs, held up by a black leather belt. No socks or shoes. She's not wearing a watch but there's a wide, brown leather wrist cuff on the left wrist. An engagement ring sits on her left hand. It's an emerald surrounded by celtic knots and two small diamonds.
She's wearing a grey shirt with blue and red text that says "Wake Up AQ!" A thick metal, gold and black, torque circles her neck, separating an inch from the middle. At the ends of the necklace are 2 dragon heads, staring at each other. Her ensemble is finished by a pair of grey-green cargo pants with lots of pockets on the thighs, held up by a black leather belt. No socks or shoes. She's not wearing a watch but there's a wide, brown leather wrist cuff on the left wrist. An engagement ring sits on her left hand. It's an emerald surrounded by celtic knots and two small diamonds.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Exercise: Character/Person Sketch - Laura
This is a writing exercise I was introduced to in my high school creative writing class. The point is to practice writing descriptions and work on becoming more astute about surroundings and all details. The goal is to be able to get a clear mental picture of the person after reading the description.
This one in particular I jot down about my friend Laura. It's just a quick sketch. Nothing fancy or well-written. Just descriptions.
slouched over, eating a frost, meticulously scraping the bottom of the cup for the last chocolatey drop.
comfy black cotton pants and a plain black cotton t-shirt with a hint of the purple lace undershirt covering her cleavage. Sitting in a position of repose. rectangular black metal glasses sit on the slight ridge of her nose, small & straight. Pale peach skin blooms rosy on her cheeks. clear complexion. small mole on the lower left side of her jaw. full pink lips prone to a pouty moue.
when she smiles, dimples show on either side of her face. sparkly, red crescent hoop earrings. soft, square jawline tapering to a pointed chin. slightly curved dark orange eyebrows. vibrant orange-red hair that shines with health, hangs thick and straight to the shoulders with just a slight wave at the tips. Long bangs part at the crown over the right eyebrow. Hair tucked behind the ears.
brown socks with a hole where the right big toe sticks out. Black hair tie around the right wrist. No watch. Fairly large, capable hands without nail polish. Short nails with a little bit of dirt or paint underneath. A claddagh ring on her right hand with the heart pointing outward.
This one in particular I jot down about my friend Laura. It's just a quick sketch. Nothing fancy or well-written. Just descriptions.
slouched over, eating a frost, meticulously scraping the bottom of the cup for the last chocolatey drop.
comfy black cotton pants and a plain black cotton t-shirt with a hint of the purple lace undershirt covering her cleavage. Sitting in a position of repose. rectangular black metal glasses sit on the slight ridge of her nose, small & straight. Pale peach skin blooms rosy on her cheeks. clear complexion. small mole on the lower left side of her jaw. full pink lips prone to a pouty moue.
when she smiles, dimples show on either side of her face. sparkly, red crescent hoop earrings. soft, square jawline tapering to a pointed chin. slightly curved dark orange eyebrows. vibrant orange-red hair that shines with health, hangs thick and straight to the shoulders with just a slight wave at the tips. Long bangs part at the crown over the right eyebrow. Hair tucked behind the ears.
brown socks with a hole where the right big toe sticks out. Black hair tie around the right wrist. No watch. Fairly large, capable hands without nail polish. Short nails with a little bit of dirt or paint underneath. A claddagh ring on her right hand with the heart pointing outward.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Exercise: Perder el Aliento
Por algun razon, yo quiero escribir en español hoy. Si usted no supo, soy latina y puedo hablar en español más o menos bien. No he practicado en pocos meces. Además, yo nunca he escribido nada en español, pues, nada de escritura creativa. Entonces, esto es mi intento.
El cielo me robó el aliento.
¿Has visto un cielo más expresivo?
Los días tienen el matiz azul
tan radiante que los nubes
no se atreve bloquearlo.
Las mañanas iluminan poco a poco
de anaranjado a azul brillante.
Al atardecer desteñe. Amarillo.
Verde claro. Cielo azul.
Cálido anaranjado. Rosado Atrevido.
Roja caliente. Morado. Azul oscuro. Negro.
A veces en el mismo tiempo, los colores apilan
uno arriba al otro, como telas raras y preciosas.
Demasiado rápido, la visión dispersada
como vientos de fantasmas por las palmas
y todo es calma.
El cielo me robó el aliento.
¿Has visto un cielo más expresivo?
Los días tienen el matiz azul
tan radiante que los nubes
no se atreve bloquearlo.
Las mañanas iluminan poco a poco
de anaranjado a azul brillante.
Al atardecer desteñe. Amarillo.
Verde claro. Cielo azul.
Cálido anaranjado. Rosado Atrevido.
Roja caliente. Morado. Azul oscuro. Negro.
A veces en el mismo tiempo, los colores apilan
uno arriba al otro, como telas raras y preciosas.
Demasiado rápido, la visión dispersada
como vientos de fantasmas por las palmas
y todo es calma.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A Twilight Rant
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I give you the much anticipated rant about Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Series.
For better or worse, I admit that I liked reading the Twilight books. I still would read them, even though the crazy fans have killed off some of my enjoyment of the series. People take the series way too seriously.
Good parts about the series:
I like the concept of there being good and bad vampires (though it’s not original at all!) because it shows that there’s always more than one point of view. I liked the fight scenes and politics of the vampire world. Overall, I do like love stories so that was appealing to me. I liked the books better than the films because my view of the characters is not well reflected by the actors, and it’s easier to ignore the angst in the books than onscreen.
As for the rest of the series…
I’m not going to lie; it worries me how obsessed people can be about these books, especially adolescents since it is technically a young adult series. I worry because of the message the books send: If you’re lucky enough to find “true love” (with a perfect person), don’t let anything stand in your way—not death, not life, not friends or family.
I may be a hopeless romantic, I may even believe in the concept of soul mates, but I don’t think any one love is truer than the next. I think people can find different soul mates throughout their lives, people that really connect, be it for weeks, months or years. People continuously change and what someone needs in a perfect partner will change over time as well.
Going back to the message from the series, it’s obvious to see why I worry. The relationship between the 2 protagonists, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, is an unhealthy relationship. Though it’s not necessarily Edward’s fault, Bella basically cut off all ties to friends and family when she became infatuated with him. She didn’t care about anything but him. That’s not love. That’s obsession. Clearly this was dangerous to her emotions because when Edward left, she went into (6?) months of serious depression! (Even scarier, her friends and father didn’t bother to take her to a shrink to get happy pills, therapy, anything.) That’s not normal or healthy.
Also, some romantic concepts are being mixed up here. For example: Napping with boyfriend and waking up to find him watching you – this can be either romantic or awkward and slightly creepy. Napping/sleeping and finding out that some guy (no matter how cute or sexy) has been watching you sleep from the window (or even inside the bedroom). That’s called trespassing (if not breaking and entering) and stalking. It’s creepy as all get out. Not romantic. Bella should have gotten a restraining order when she found out about that, not a melting feeling in her heart! (Not that a restraining order could do much against a vampire, but if Edward were a normal human, yes, a restraining order would be good. Hell, Bella’s father is police chief and would have happily reinforced it.)
I mean, sure it has some memorable quotes, but they’re not golden. And yet, why are there so many tattoos?
People obviously don't love this series for Meyer's extraordinary writing style. It's because young adults (and many others of all ages) find the premise of the high school love interests relate-able and appealing. It's because of the vampire-werewolf part. Anyone can tell that all paranormal creatures are hot right now (or would youngsters call it "hawt" now? stupid future of America can't learn to spell harumph harumph harumph). It's just another way to make the characters cooler, more dangerous, and more sexy--an instant recipe for popularity.
I find it incredible that people, i.e. crazy fans (Twihards?), came down on Stephen King’s head when he pointed out that the books is not a literary work of art… well, King being who he is (definitely not a lovable teddy bear), he worded it a bit differently: "[J.K.] Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good." ~quote from U.S. Weekly Interview
Ouch. That’s a bona fide dis. I can understand King’s sentiment on this point, mainly because of the poor characterizations in this series. I’m all for having high expectations for a boyfriend, but Edward is an unrealistically perfect character. And Bella, though not perfect, is too much of a 1 dimensional character; she doesn’t have a lot of substance, mostly because she lacks character flaws. And being clumsy is NOT a legit character flaw. That’s a rookie mistake that Meyer should have been well aware of, having graduated with a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University.
I can only imagine the flaming comments hurled at his head by the Twihards. Fortunately, Stephen King had a wonderful rebuttal, which I highly recommend watching. Stephen King's rant on Twilight
Overall, I believe that the biggest reason this series is popular is because of the love story. Many, possibly most, of the people who read this series had never read a romance novel before so this being their first connection with a strong romance story, they flipped the lid! They think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread! *facepalm* Ugh. That’s almost as bad as people who snub the romance genre as stupid yet love to read Nicholas Sparks. Well, at least the huge popularity of the Twilight series has gotten more people to read. I’m all for a boost the literacy rate.
Fun fact: Did you know that the current literacy rate is lower than it was in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century?
If you’re wondering why, that’s mostly because of the popularity of dime novels. Since TV shows, movies (let alone video games) weren’t around back then, people read for entertainment. Dime novels were tales of adventure with moderately simple structure and vocabulary that people of all ages read and shared.
Love at first bite?
Vampires are huge! ... Not like that, you pervert. Yeesh. They're dead, so technically they should be able get it "up" anyway. Rigor mortis doesn't work like that.
*crickets chirp*
Alright, let me back track here.
Vampires are hugely popular right now—a bit too popular for my liking. I almost feel like vampires have been overdone, which makes me sad. I hate when people (crazy fans) take over a fandom that I really like and overdo it to the point that it's intolerable.
On the other hand, a person could argue that vampires have not been overdone because they have been reinvented in so many ways. I can sort of see this and agree to some extent. I mean, three of my favorite books series have are centered on vampires, but they each have 3 very different concepts of vampires or vampire-like beings. So, I'll give the opposition some credit to that. I also see that it's necessary to reinvent the vampire to keep them fresh (as fresh as the undead can get) and for the sake of originality.
The clearest reinvention of vampires has been the romanticized versions, which has been all the rage as of lately (well, not exclusively recently: Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles). I have only seen a few recent films or books that portray vampires as real monsters. These romanticized, or over-romanticized vampires, have become the protagonists in stories and movies instead of the external danger. They are made into intelligent beings with likeable traits. They have redefined badass in terms of enormously strength/powers, and they can kick ass better and faster than a zombie kung-fu master on steroids. Vampires have become sexy (which is a bit ironic since culture in North America defines beauty as having a golden tan or ethnically light brown skin tone – not the translucent white of a corpse). I also see vampires as advertising for paranormal-themed entertainment: “Become a vampire! Be forever young, gorgeous, and super smart!”
(Why are the scholars get bitten? Don’t you think the book-smart people would have read up on this or and known the signs of a vampire sighting? Or are vampires now super intelligent because is there nothing better to do than study with those extra years of longevity?)
I’d be lying if I said I did not see the appeal of this portrayal. In fact, I like reading paranormal stories that include vampires, especially romantic paranormal novels (likely the most romanticized of all). But I can't stand paranormal romance novels that treat vampirism like a fad, something that is completely idealized with barely any negative side-effects. Oh, there are many I could mention (Twilight series included), but I’m trying to keep this post as short as I can.
What the hell is that?! Honestly? Most chick lit paranormals probably don’t go that far, but I would not want to read any book that’s anything like that. People have taken the monster out of the vampire! Not cool. Much as vampires have been overdone in general, they have been overly romanticized almost beyond the recognition of nosferatu or Dracula. Where's the gore?! The angst (but not too much)? The berserker craze of blood lust that can never be satisfied? The disregard for human life?
I’m not too big into these new-age vampires. The real old school vampires were killing machines, monsters, capital E-vil capital M-onsters. Think Dracula, Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot or Ann Rice's Vampire Chronicles series. Although Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show became romanticized to an extent (ex: Angel, Spike), the premise of the show is still to kill off vampires with the generalization that all vampire are monsters, i.e. Evil.
Nowadays, there are even people who wish they were vampires. There’s a whole vampire underground subculture (freaky) that began long before Stephanie Meyer began to dream up Twilight. Of course, these people wanted the bad and good of vampires, the monsters with power and intelligence. They do not intend to become a vampire and be a perfect being. They see vampires as scary.
One of the reasons I think much of our cultural fear of vampires has abated is because of how prevalent violence and blood is in present American culture. Back in the day, vampires were terrifying because of the huge AIDS scare. Think about the associations: vampires > blood > disease > death. In a way, HIV AIDS was/is a vampiric disease; it eats away at the immune system, the body, sucking up the victims' energy, life force. The point is, blood and disease was scary business which generated much more fear and panic than worry about today's advanced viruses and diseases.
Bringing this full circle, I will leave you all on my ever pondering question of cultural impact. What has this done to American culture? And what has shaped American culture to accept the monsters/villainous characters as more likable than the heroes & heroines?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Lame-sauce
I apologize for this post. I meant to continue where I left off from my last post, but I'm wiped out from 3-4 days spent writing a paper for my Atwood seminar class. There's not much left in me to write at the moment. For now, I'm just going to get on my Paradise Lost reading assignment. Thank God for Sparknotes.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Supernatural Era
Over the past decade, American pop culture has been in an era of the fantasy and extraordinary. The fiction market has dominated with a boom of paranormal and supernatural literature, which has also been supported by movies & TV shows of the same themes. I don't think I even need to give examples for it to be understood how much of an influence these books, movies and TV shows has had on American culture.
Of course, there has been a slow buildup of attention to this that has exploded in recent years, saturating American pop culture with vampires, werewolves and zombies (oh my!). A literary leader in this era is J.K. Rowling, whose books have been popular since it first hit the New York Times Bestseller list back in 1999. Buffy the Vampire slayer was hugely popular (and still has a following); it aired from 1997 to 2003. I don't want to leave out Anne Rice either, though I'll get more into her on my next post about vampires.
Of course, this flavor of geekdom has always been around for those who seek it. They just hadn't been as popular in mainstream American culture: Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Golden Compass, Xena: Warrior Princess, etc...
Science-fiction has been on the rise as well, although it hasn't been nearly as popular in numbers. Many sci-fi shows, novels, and movies have very loyal fans but not a big enough group to keep the overall popularity up. For example, the show Serenity was a sci-fi show (and later movie) that brought the wild west and sense of manifest destiny to the untamed expanse of outer space... However it only aired for one series. =( On the other hand, Trekkies and Star Wars geeks have come out of the wood works and flourished as their fandoms have attained more national attention.
And then where do we put the zombies? Back in their graves, I know. Stupid question. But really, zombies can be categorized as fantasy/paranormal or science-fiction, depending on the theory for the zombie rising (ex: voodoo magic or a crazy pathogen).
The big question to all this is "Why now?" The answer is many faceted and will take some more research to pin down exactly, but I do have one legitimate reason. The easiest and most obvious answer (to me) is that people search out more fiction and escapist literature when they are stressed, which is most everyone during this recession. People long for something completely out of the ordinary that will not remind them of the monotony of life or any other personal crises. They want something bigger, exaggerated, incredible, which in turn makes it a multimillion dollar market (including books, movies & TV shows).
At last, my mind always circles back to one question: What is the social and cultural impact of our actions?
How much of our pop culture spreads to other countries and effects their popular cultures?
What worries me is how long this market for fantasy/paranormal/supernatural is going to last. It's been a big hit and shows no signs of slowing, but sooner or later it will. It's only an era, a fad, a thing of popularity. In my favorite author's biography, she wrote about how she began to get published and how difficult it was. She said no one wanted to publish her stories (vampire-like beings, Greek mythology, & high action) because there wasn't a market for them.
So how long will this era continue? Will the market for it still be around for me (or many other young writers highly influenced by these veins of writing) when I actually finish a manuscript & try to publish it?
Of course, there has been a slow buildup of attention to this that has exploded in recent years, saturating American pop culture with vampires, werewolves and zombies (oh my!). A literary leader in this era is J.K. Rowling, whose books have been popular since it first hit the New York Times Bestseller list back in 1999. Buffy the Vampire slayer was hugely popular (and still has a following); it aired from 1997 to 2003. I don't want to leave out Anne Rice either, though I'll get more into her on my next post about vampires.
Of course, this flavor of geekdom has always been around for those who seek it. They just hadn't been as popular in mainstream American culture: Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Golden Compass, Xena: Warrior Princess, etc...
Science-fiction has been on the rise as well, although it hasn't been nearly as popular in numbers. Many sci-fi shows, novels, and movies have very loyal fans but not a big enough group to keep the overall popularity up. For example, the show Serenity was a sci-fi show (and later movie) that brought the wild west and sense of manifest destiny to the untamed expanse of outer space... However it only aired for one series. =( On the other hand, Trekkies and Star Wars geeks have come out of the wood works and flourished as their fandoms have attained more national attention.
And then where do we put the zombies? Back in their graves, I know. Stupid question. But really, zombies can be categorized as fantasy/paranormal or science-fiction, depending on the theory for the zombie rising (ex: voodoo magic or a crazy pathogen).
The big question to all this is "Why now?" The answer is many faceted and will take some more research to pin down exactly, but I do have one legitimate reason. The easiest and most obvious answer (to me) is that people search out more fiction and escapist literature when they are stressed, which is most everyone during this recession. People long for something completely out of the ordinary that will not remind them of the monotony of life or any other personal crises. They want something bigger, exaggerated, incredible, which in turn makes it a multimillion dollar market (including books, movies & TV shows).
At last, my mind always circles back to one question: What is the social and cultural impact of our actions?
How much of our pop culture spreads to other countries and effects their popular cultures?
What worries me is how long this market for fantasy/paranormal/supernatural is going to last. It's been a big hit and shows no signs of slowing, but sooner or later it will. It's only an era, a fad, a thing of popularity. In my favorite author's biography, she wrote about how she began to get published and how difficult it was. She said no one wanted to publish her stories (vampire-like beings, Greek mythology, & high action) because there wasn't a market for them.
So how long will this era continue? Will the market for it still be around for me (or many other young writers highly influenced by these veins of writing) when I actually finish a manuscript & try to publish it?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Literature and pop culture
There have been some pretty big hit series in novels lately. They've become so big, in fact, that many scriptwriters and film-makers have forgone new and original movie scripts for the stability of turning best-selling books into movies. To list a few books: the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings series, Percy Jackson Lightening Thief, Nicolas Sparks novels, The Lovely Bones, Eragon, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (in theaters Sept. 24th!), Ramona & Beezus, The American, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Blind Side, etc..
Many comics have also been made for the big screen: Batman/Dark Knight, Hellboy, Iron Man, Sin City, Spider Man, Men in Black, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Fantastic Four, Transformers, Alien vs. Predator, Catwoman, Daredevil, Superman, X-Men, etc. The list goes on and on and on. There's been quite a few TV shows as well, but those generally aren't as popular, or simply the popular comics are made into movies instead of live action TV shows.
Here are more comics-turned-movies coming out in the next 2 years: The Green Lantern (summer 2011), Men in Black III (2012), X-Men: Firstclass (2011), Thor (2011).
[*If you'll notice, the majority of these movies, books & comics are supernatural, paranormal or fantasy in theme. Wonder why that is? Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog!]
3 new films that will soon join the ranks is Stephen King's magnum opus, the Dark Tower series! I have mixed feelings about this, though I'm mostly happy. I'm glad these are being made into movies because Stephen King's books are awesome, most especially this series. And all seven novels will be made into 3 movies and 1 TV series (neato!). On the other hand, I'm a chicken and never watch scary movies. Period. Though I'll probably make an exception for these ones. And then, there's also the worry that the people making the movie will royally mess it up.
Besides J.K.Rowling, who had a very active role in the creation of the Harry Potter movies, most authors do not or cannot have anywhere near as much say-so. And I've seen some really messed up movies. Take, for instance, my favorite childhood book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. *minor rant warning* This is a Newberry Award winning novel that was completely gutted and destroyed as a film (for which I still cannot like Anne Hathaway). The scriptwriters & film-makers changed the entire plot, removed major characters, added in a main character that never existed in the book, completely changed the personality of some of the main characters--it was a mess! On top of that, they changed some characters' personalities and completely altered the physical description of the elves from tall, slender, peace-loving, green-skinned vegetarians to Keebler elf look-alikes!
I will say that there are a few occasions when the movie comes out really good, maybe even better than the books. I thought Stardust by Neil Gaiman came out really good in film. There was a bit added to the movie, but those parts were really funny and only made it better than before. I mean, who doesn't love cross-dressing pirates? hahaha
And I'll end it there for now. Good to get this outta my system.
-----------------------------
Aha! I flatter myself that I was clever enough to split a very long blog post into 3 separate, marginally smaller entries. =) Yay!
... Kinda scary to think how long it would have been otherwise.
P.S. I didn't touch the whole Twilight stuff because that will come up in next week's blogging.
Many comics have also been made for the big screen: Batman/Dark Knight, Hellboy, Iron Man, Sin City, Spider Man, Men in Black, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Fantastic Four, Transformers, Alien vs. Predator, Catwoman, Daredevil, Superman, X-Men, etc. The list goes on and on and on. There's been quite a few TV shows as well, but those generally aren't as popular, or simply the popular comics are made into movies instead of live action TV shows.
Here are more comics-turned-movies coming out in the next 2 years: The Green Lantern (summer 2011), Men in Black III (2012), X-Men: Firstclass (2011), Thor (2011).
[*If you'll notice, the majority of these movies, books & comics are supernatural, paranormal or fantasy in theme. Wonder why that is? Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog!]
3 new films that will soon join the ranks is Stephen King's magnum opus, the Dark Tower series! I have mixed feelings about this, though I'm mostly happy. I'm glad these are being made into movies because Stephen King's books are awesome, most especially this series. And all seven novels will be made into 3 movies and 1 TV series (neato!). On the other hand, I'm a chicken and never watch scary movies. Period. Though I'll probably make an exception for these ones. And then, there's also the worry that the people making the movie will royally mess it up.
Besides J.K.Rowling, who had a very active role in the creation of the Harry Potter movies, most authors do not or cannot have anywhere near as much say-so. And I've seen some really messed up movies. Take, for instance, my favorite childhood book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. *minor rant warning* This is a Newberry Award winning novel that was completely gutted and destroyed as a film (for which I still cannot like Anne Hathaway). The scriptwriters & film-makers changed the entire plot, removed major characters, added in a main character that never existed in the book, completely changed the personality of some of the main characters--it was a mess! On top of that, they changed some characters' personalities and completely altered the physical description of the elves from tall, slender, peace-loving, green-skinned vegetarians to Keebler elf look-alikes!
I will say that there are a few occasions when the movie comes out really good, maybe even better than the books. I thought Stardust by Neil Gaiman came out really good in film. There was a bit added to the movie, but those parts were really funny and only made it better than before. I mean, who doesn't love cross-dressing pirates? hahaha
And I'll end it there for now. Good to get this outta my system.
-----------------------------
Aha! I flatter myself that I was clever enough to split a very long blog post into 3 separate, marginally smaller entries. =) Yay!
... Kinda scary to think how long it would have been otherwise.
P.S. I didn't touch the whole Twilight stuff because that will come up in next week's blogging.
random update
I woke up this morning with a strange urge to write something poetic. Unfortunately, I can't write down all my ideas while I'm in the shower, and as soon as I'm out, I gotta move move move to get to class or work on time. Anyway, I thought of 2 story ideas, both based on social issues.
One is a poem or short fiction story (maybe 55 fiction) about female body image. The other is a poem for the Words Against Hunger event coming up. I'll see if I can make a slam poem, which will take a lot of focus and editing & critiquing. I'm never a good enough critique for my poetry or much anyone else's. It's not my thing.
But this poem for Words Against Hunger will be a bit different from last year. Last year I wrote about the different type of homeless people one might see and other non-homeless people's various reactions to them. This year, I want to write more about homelessness as a growing reality (specifically because of the economy), fear of what it means to be truly without a home, and maybe a little about a changed perception of homelessness in light of the recession.
Other than that I haven't written anything much creative. Homework zaps all the energy out of me. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post the long entry I worked on today but was unable to complete. I do tend to have long entries. ^^;
One is a poem or short fiction story (maybe 55 fiction) about female body image. The other is a poem for the Words Against Hunger event coming up. I'll see if I can make a slam poem, which will take a lot of focus and editing & critiquing. I'm never a good enough critique for my poetry or much anyone else's. It's not my thing.
But this poem for Words Against Hunger will be a bit different from last year. Last year I wrote about the different type of homeless people one might see and other non-homeless people's various reactions to them. This year, I want to write more about homelessness as a growing reality (specifically because of the economy), fear of what it means to be truly without a home, and maybe a little about a changed perception of homelessness in light of the recession.
Other than that I haven't written anything much creative. Homework zaps all the energy out of me. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post the long entry I worked on today but was unable to complete. I do tend to have long entries. ^^;
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Misconceptions pt. 1: Romance vs. Romantica vs. Erotica
I'm currently reading Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood for my Atwood seminar class. In this, my professor mentioned the influence of Harlequin romances, especially for the story called "True Trash". If, for some obscure reason, you don't realize what a Harlequin romance is, you'd likely recognize it as one of those short paperback (approx. 250-300 pages long) romance novels found at any grocery store and most bookstores. There are many different lines of Harlequin romance novels, as Harlequin is the publisher (Canadian based).
Now then, in Atwood's short story "True Trash", a group of young women read a story in a magazine considered trashy romance. Indeed, I would agree that is a trashy romantic story; in the story, teenage girl (16 yrs old?) tried on a fancy dress while her mother was out, only to have someone come in the house/apartment while she was half-way undressed. The girl rushed to the door only to find that it was a beau of hers (so to speak). This guy, who is a few years older than her, proceeds to pick up the reluctant girl, and they have sex on the couch. Of course, the girl ends up pregnant (just like what happened to her mother) and the guy leaves her. But it has a "happy" ending in that another guy that liked the now-pregnant girl married her and they moved into a trailer park with the baby (+ a dog) and lived happily ever after.
Despite the skipped-over sex scene, if I read something like this that was published today, I would completely agree that it was trashy. However, I am very relieved that I've never read any romance novel like that. (I've read a couple not-so-great romance novels and one horrible one that I might sometime rant about if I'm in the mood, but that's all.) Unfortunately, many critics of the romance genre think that romance novels are still like that. WRONG!
Romance novels are about strong women who find love and support from a partner. It's not about being swept off their feet and rescued because they are weak and worthless without the men. No no no. Romance novels staunchly follow the sentiment of "In order to love others, you must first love yourself". Sounds awfully realistic for fiction, no? How about that, folks. Realistic, healthy relationships with an emphasis on a woman's security and happiness. (Now be careful with what I said there: realistic relationships. I did not say that the circumstances needed to be completely realistic, for example, as in thrill romance novels or paranormal or other fantasy romance novels.)
--Another frequent misconception about romance novels is that they're all sex scenes. Smut smut smut.
My first reaction to that is to say, if there is so much sex in the book, there can't be any room for a romantic relationship to develop. And without the romance, it's not a romance novel. Simple as that.
Second, if people say they've read stories like that, then they are likely reading them from Wanda Wannabe, not from a published romance author (print or e-book published). I.e. they are lying. I double dog dare anyone to find a romance novel without romance.
Books with many frequent, long (and often explicit or graphic) sex scenes are in a separate category called Erotica. Erotica novels might have a bit of romance involved, but the entire point of these novels is to read about sex scenes. These are what my friends would call "porn novels". The biggest difference between the Erotica and Romance genres is the mandatory HEA (happily ever after). Erotica novels are not necessarily concerned with finding a good relationship or having a couple commit to each other in some shape or form. And there are sometimes more than 2 people coupling in erotica novels. 0_o;
Furthermore, only a very small percentage of romance novels include more than 2 people in the romantic relationship & sex scenes/ love-making scenes/ whatever you want to label the dirty deed. And those that do, being more kinky, are sometimes considered Romantica. Romantica is a term used by some, connotating romance novels that are especially steamy or graphic. This category is most often found used online with romance ebook publishers. There are authors that write what I would consider Romantica and still publish in print, but these books are not differentiated from others in bookstores' romance aisles.
"Regular" romance novels novels include an average amount of sex scenes are not super kinky, graphic or frequent. There are also certain authors and even lines of Harlequin books that have the overly modest; light-petting, the bedroom door closes, use-your-own-imagination kinds are available for all the prudes out there. (Hey, the romance genre is diverse and inclusive for everyone.)
I think that's all I've got to rant about today. I'm certain there will be more to come. </end rant>
Now then, in Atwood's short story "True Trash", a group of young women read a story in a magazine considered trashy romance. Indeed, I would agree that is a trashy romantic story; in the story, teenage girl (16 yrs old?) tried on a fancy dress while her mother was out, only to have someone come in the house/apartment while she was half-way undressed. The girl rushed to the door only to find that it was a beau of hers (so to speak). This guy, who is a few years older than her, proceeds to pick up the reluctant girl, and they have sex on the couch. Of course, the girl ends up pregnant (just like what happened to her mother) and the guy leaves her. But it has a "happy" ending in that another guy that liked the now-pregnant girl married her and they moved into a trailer park with the baby (+ a dog) and lived happily ever after.
Despite the skipped-over sex scene, if I read something like this that was published today, I would completely agree that it was trashy. However, I am very relieved that I've never read any romance novel like that. (I've read a couple not-so-great romance novels and one horrible one that I might sometime rant about if I'm in the mood, but that's all.) Unfortunately, many critics of the romance genre think that romance novels are still like that. WRONG!
Romance novels are about strong women who find love and support from a partner. It's not about being swept off their feet and rescued because they are weak and worthless without the men. No no no. Romance novels staunchly follow the sentiment of "In order to love others, you must first love yourself". Sounds awfully realistic for fiction, no? How about that, folks. Realistic, healthy relationships with an emphasis on a woman's security and happiness. (Now be careful with what I said there: realistic relationships. I did not say that the circumstances needed to be completely realistic, for example, as in thrill romance novels or paranormal or other fantasy romance novels.)
--Another frequent misconception about romance novels is that they're all sex scenes. Smut smut smut.
My first reaction to that is to say, if there is so much sex in the book, there can't be any room for a romantic relationship to develop. And without the romance, it's not a romance novel. Simple as that.
Second, if people say they've read stories like that, then they are likely reading them from Wanda Wannabe, not from a published romance author (print or e-book published). I.e. they are lying. I double dog dare anyone to find a romance novel without romance.
Books with many frequent, long (and often explicit or graphic) sex scenes are in a separate category called Erotica. Erotica novels might have a bit of romance involved, but the entire point of these novels is to read about sex scenes. These are what my friends would call "porn novels". The biggest difference between the Erotica and Romance genres is the mandatory HEA (happily ever after). Erotica novels are not necessarily concerned with finding a good relationship or having a couple commit to each other in some shape or form. And there are sometimes more than 2 people coupling in erotica novels. 0_o;
Furthermore, only a very small percentage of romance novels include more than 2 people in the romantic relationship & sex scenes/ love-making scenes/ whatever you want to label the dirty deed. And those that do, being more kinky, are sometimes considered Romantica. Romantica is a term used by some, connotating romance novels that are especially steamy or graphic. This category is most often found used online with romance ebook publishers. There are authors that write what I would consider Romantica and still publish in print, but these books are not differentiated from others in bookstores' romance aisles.
"Regular" romance novels novels include an average amount of sex scenes are not super kinky, graphic or frequent. There are also certain authors and even lines of Harlequin books that have the overly modest; light-petting, the bedroom door closes, use-your-own-imagination kinds are available for all the prudes out there. (Hey, the romance genre is diverse and inclusive for everyone.)
I think that's all I've got to rant about today. I'm certain there will be more to come. </end rant>
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Hot news!
Now is a bad time to be a poor college student. TT_TT
Now is a time of excitement in the bookworm communities for paranormal romance and for horror genres.
Three days ago Sherrilyn Kenyon (my favorite author) released her newest novel in the Dark Hunter series! *happy dance*
Ten days ago, Christine Feehan (3rd favorite author) released another novel in her very long Carpathian series.
Marvel comics just released another graphic novel from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton (2nd favorite author).
And Stephen King gave the OK to Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman to direct and write the scripts to make The Dark Tower series into 3 movies and a TV show. How awesome is that? So awesome that I want to drop everything and start reading the rest of the Dark Tower series asap.
Now is a time of excitement in the bookworm communities for paranormal romance and for horror genres.
Three days ago Sherrilyn Kenyon (my favorite author) released her newest novel in the Dark Hunter series! *happy dance*
Ten days ago, Christine Feehan (3rd favorite author) released another novel in her very long Carpathian series.
Marvel comics just released another graphic novel from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton (2nd favorite author).
And Stephen King gave the OK to Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman to direct and write the scripts to make The Dark Tower series into 3 movies and a TV show. How awesome is that? So awesome that I want to drop everything and start reading the rest of the Dark Tower series asap.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Writing Common Sense
Following yesterday's thread of thought, here are some writing tips that most people should be aware of as common sense.
- Show, don't tell. Put your money where
my pocketyour mouth is. - Read your writing aloud. If it sounds choppy or slow or ridiculous, (you guessed it) it is! Fix it.
- Adjectives are the enemy. Use them sparingly, like your last storage of chocolate.
- Verbs are great! They skedaddle, mesmerize, explode, catapult over burning buildings and even do the dishes (literally... or is that figuratively?). What more can you ask for ?
- Use correct grammar! Creative license will only get you so far, depending on what you're writing. But first, make sure you can easily follow the rules so you know how to artfully break them.
- Edit your work! Don't be a lazy ass and make someone else do it. Editing is one of the most important parts of the writing process.
- This should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: avoid cliches!
- If you're writing about a character that's the opposite sex, please think twice about the dialogue and thoughts. I've critiqued writing many times where I end up saying, "(Guys/Girls) don't talk like that. Think about it. They would never say/think like that at all." Even if it's fiction, keep it real, yo.=
- Follow the rules of the world/genre. If it's sci-fi, don't go jumping outside the bounds of physics (esp. without any logical explaination). If it's fantasy, obey the law of the land; everything has limits and consequences, even magic. If it's non-fiction, don't go off into an alien space ship. You get the point?
- Research! Don't write about things as fact when you're going on assumptions. People will call you out on it.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Logic for your writing (beer for your horses?)
Today I spent a few hours completely revamping my dad's resume. He had 2 of my aunts look over it before it got sent my way. Sometimes, instead of having a little devil perched on my shoulder, I imagine a miniature mad editor, who both curses at poor grammar and spelling while simultaneously laughing with glee over fixing all the mistakes. Today, that mad little editor wanted to bang her head on the wall in frustration. Honestly, writing of any kind, be it for advertising or an essay, should be logical!
For instance, before sending out a resume: read it over several times for spelling errors, check it for typos, run a spell check, and for God's sake, make sure the information you put down is pertinent to the job you are applying for!!!
Yeesh.
For instance, before sending out a resume: read it over several times for spelling errors, check it for typos, run a spell check, and for God's sake, make sure the information you put down is pertinent to the job you are applying for!!!
Yeesh.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Genre drug of choice
I love romance novels. I would rather read them than most other genres. Here's part something I wrote a while back that I would like to share in defense of this genre which has been often snubbed as light or poorly written literature.
My challenge to many people is try reading a romance novel. A real one from the romance aisle. A good one. There are dozens of sub-genres to search through (almost every fiction genre can be found as a romance sub-genre) and many many good authors to choose from. I mostly stick with action-paranormal romance novels myself.
As for the increased interest paranormal and supernatural in all genres of books (esp. romance novels), in movies, TV and other media, I will save that for another day... maybe tomorrow.
Throughout this economic recession, the market for romance novels is increasingly successful. What is a better way to get your mind off everyday troubles than to read a nice, easy novel with a guaranteed happily-ever-after? In 2008, romance fiction in the U.S. North America , romance fiction comprises 54.5 percent of all popular fiction sold. Approximately one third of all women in the United States
Romance is women’s fiction, made by women for women. Thus, 90.5 percent of romance readers are women. The 2009 survey from the Romance Writer’s of America Assoc. reports that “the heart of the U.S.
Closet romance junkies are any number of average people seen reading, on subways or in parks, but too embarrassed to admit that they enjoy romance novels because of the genre’s bad reputation for “trashy” novels. If called out on their choice of literature, closet junkies react with quick denial and profuse embarrassment. They will go to great lengths to hide this guilty pleasure. For instance, HIDEABOOK.com is an online business which caters to romance readers. The website advertises “stylish book covers for your trashy romance novels”, which are described to “protect paperback books and keep people wondering what you’re reading”.
My pal Amanda, one of the same friends from high school who called the books “porn novels”, became a closet romance junkie after reading one from my favorite romance author— New York Times bestseller Sherrilyn Kenyon. A year or two later, I sent her another Kenyon novel as a gift. Upon receiving it, her roommate suggested that they flip through it to make fun of all the smutty parts. Later, I received a phone call from Amanda, complaining that there was too much plot because they could not readily find the sex scenes. I asked her, “What did you expect?” She said more sex scenes, though she still loved the book.
As you saw in the example of Amanda, closet romance junkies will even feign dislike or a low opinion of the genre while around non-junkies. Yet soon as they are left alone, they head straight for the bookshelf. Some junkies even have a habit of bingeing, which usually occurs after a drought of romance in their reading repertoire or an instance of emotional excess. I plead guilty to the former, though I am proudly out of the closet.
My challenge to many people is try reading a romance novel. A real one from the romance aisle. A good one. There are dozens of sub-genres to search through (almost every fiction genre can be found as a romance sub-genre) and many many good authors to choose from. I mostly stick with action-paranormal romance novels myself.
As for the increased interest paranormal and supernatural in all genres of books (esp. romance novels), in movies, TV and other media, I will save that for another day... maybe tomorrow.
Music soothes the savage beast
I've rediscovered a musician whose work I really enjoy--Yiruma. He's a pianist and composer from South Korea. Listening to his music makes me want to learn to play his songs on the piano, even though I can't play much of anything besides "Heart and Soul". I love how Yiruma conveys such beauty and emotion in a clear, uncomplicated way.
Unfortunately, I have no piano on which to practice. Thus my mind turns to other creative venues. I like listening to good music while writing. His music makes me want to bring his songs to life in writing. It reminds me of precise descriptions and breathtaking metaphors that cause you to hault and think before continuing. It reminds me to concentrate on speed or pacing, on tone and intensity. I'm not quite ready to put out any masterpiece of literature, but I'd like to reflect many things in his music into my writing.
Currently, I want to hone my writing and work on making it more pleasing to the ear. I can do this with more repetition, which will lend to the rhythm and pace, maybe add a little rhyming... oh, and keep up with using assonance, consonance and alliteration. Fun fun.
I need to work on similies and metaphores too. --__-- They are on my shit list at the moment. *sigh* Practice makes perfect.
One of my favorite Yiruma songs so far is "When the Love Falls"
Unfortunately, I have no piano on which to practice. Thus my mind turns to other creative venues. I like listening to good music while writing. His music makes me want to bring his songs to life in writing. It reminds me of precise descriptions and breathtaking metaphors that cause you to hault and think before continuing. It reminds me to concentrate on speed or pacing, on tone and intensity. I'm not quite ready to put out any masterpiece of literature, but I'd like to reflect many things in his music into my writing.
Currently, I want to hone my writing and work on making it more pleasing to the ear. I can do this with more repetition, which will lend to the rhythm and pace, maybe add a little rhyming... oh, and keep up with using assonance, consonance and alliteration. Fun fun.
I need to work on similies and metaphores too. --__-- They are on my shit list at the moment. *sigh* Practice makes perfect.
One of my favorite Yiruma songs so far is "When the Love Falls"
Saturday, September 4, 2010
55 Fiction
I'd like to share a little known style of writing called 55 Fiction. It is a very short story--exactly 55 words long--that includes setting, character(s), conflict, and resolution. Stories of 55 fiction generally end with a twist, brought on with suspense. I.e. the reader doesn't understand the story fully until the punch line, so to speak. The count of 55 words per story excludes the title.
I enjoy this style of writing because it forces me to write very concisely and efficiently. Plus, I like that there's usually an unexpected twist at the end. Ironically, structured poetry forces the style of writing to be very concise also, but I do not like poetry.
I was told about this genre of writing in my high school creative writing class. I received a packet with examples of good 55 Fiction published in the book The World's Shortest Stories, which I have still kept (example below). I own an audio book version of The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death, but I'd like the other books too.
Included here are a few that I wrote 5-6 years ago. I can do better nowadays, but I'm too lazy to do that now. Maybe another day...
I enjoy this style of writing because it forces me to write very concisely and efficiently. Plus, I like that there's usually an unexpected twist at the end. Ironically, structured poetry forces the style of writing to be very concise also, but I do not like poetry.
I was told about this genre of writing in my high school creative writing class. I received a packet with examples of good 55 Fiction published in the book The World's Shortest Stories, which I have still kept (example below). I own an audio book version of The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death, but I'd like the other books too.
Evening Surprise (by Hillary Clay)
Shimmery stockings stretched over shapely thighs--a perfect backdrop for a body-skimming cocktail dress. Glamour radiated from the ends of the diamond earrings to the tips of the spike-heeled shoes. As a shadowed eye surveyed the mirror's reflection, painted lips pursed with pleasure. Suddenly, a voice cried out from behind.
"Dad?!"
_________________________________________
Included here are a few that I wrote 5-6 years ago. I can do better nowadays, but I'm too lazy to do that now. Maybe another day...
Mafia’s Backyard
“Were you really in the mafia, Grandpa?”
“Of course not,” the old man admonished, ruffling his granddaughter’s dark curls.
“Oh. Well, okay,” she responded, slim shoulders slumping in disappointment.
Loping around the corner, the family’s German Shepard approached from the backyard, a giant, dirty bone clenched firmly in its jaws.
“Grandpa, what’s that?”
“A femur.”
_____________________________________________________________
Tale as Old as Time
“You beast!”
“Repulsive know-it-all,” the prince retaliated
Gasp. “That is it! I want a divorce.”
“Fine by me! But the castle is mine.”
“I want the library,” Belle demanded.
“You spend too much time in that damned library…”
The therapist rubbed his temples. Never a dull moment in the lifestyles of the rich and fabled.
_____________________________________________________________
A Pirate Tale
“Sorry, kiddo. Pirates don’t exist anymore.”
“Yes they do!” Jeremy persisted.
Rolling her eyes, the baby-sitter gave up.
That evening, a bearded man appeared at the door.
“Can I help you?”
“’Just deliverin’ a message. Have a nice evenin’, Ma’am.” With that said, he left her holding a paper slip containing a single black dot.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Worth for starving artists?
I love creative writing, and perhaps someday I'll continue onto grad school for that. Then again, maybe not. You never stop learning, no matter what environment you're in. Often, I feel like I learn as much from constructive feedback from peers as I do in writing class workshops.
One reason I don't plan to go to grad school any time soon (besides the economy) is because my ideal writing career is writing fantasy or romance, which is rarely taken seriously in academic settings. At college, I've generally encountered positive feedback about this ideal, maybe not for wanting to be a romance author though so much as for knowing what I want to do with my life and pursuing that goal. Then again, I've received some tongue-in-cheek responses too... not many, thank goodness.
The one that stands out in particular was a comment that was probably meant as a compliment. When I introduced myself to the class at the beginning of the semester, my professor said that I'd "be the one out there making lots of money writing romance novels while the rest of us scrap by as starving artists." What I got from that was a backhanded way of saying that if I write romance novels (which so happen to be vastly popular) in the future, at least I'll make money, whereas my fellow students are REAL artists of the word who don't sellout to popularity.
Needless to say, that didn't sit well with me. I sure as hell don't feel like I'd be selling out by writing romance novels because its what I love to do. And I don't think that my writing is any less valuable or worthwhile than my peers because of it. Secondly, no, I DON'T want to be a starving artist. I want to proudly make my living, supporting myself and my family, who've always supported me in turn. I don't want to be poor. So there.
/end rant/
One reason I don't plan to go to grad school any time soon (besides the economy) is because my ideal writing career is writing fantasy or romance, which is rarely taken seriously in academic settings. At college, I've generally encountered positive feedback about this ideal, maybe not for wanting to be a romance author though so much as for knowing what I want to do with my life and pursuing that goal. Then again, I've received some tongue-in-cheek responses too... not many, thank goodness.
The one that stands out in particular was a comment that was probably meant as a compliment. When I introduced myself to the class at the beginning of the semester, my professor said that I'd "be the one out there making lots of money writing romance novels while the rest of us scrap by as starving artists." What I got from that was a backhanded way of saying that if I write romance novels (which so happen to be vastly popular) in the future, at least I'll make money, whereas my fellow students are REAL artists of the word who don't sellout to popularity.
Needless to say, that didn't sit well with me. I sure as hell don't feel like I'd be selling out by writing romance novels because its what I love to do. And I don't think that my writing is any less valuable or worthwhile than my peers because of it. Secondly, no, I DON'T want to be a starving artist. I want to proudly make my living, supporting myself and my family, who've always supported me in turn. I don't want to be poor. So there.
/end rant/
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Excercise: This Keyboard
This is an excercise in writing. You can write about anything. It doesn't have to be poetic or beautiful. It just needs to come alive. I'm beginning this excercise using one prop, the computer keyboard at work.
During spring of 2009 the world broke out in panic over the flu. It was the swine flu, also known as N1H1 or el gripe porcina in Spanish. It was embellished and given strength. They called it Pandemic. When news first hit the airwaves on tides of rumor, gossip, TV, and radio, people followed as if unable to stop. They surfed the net and refresh MSN, CNN news for updates... every 30 seconds. Click.
The magic potion is sanitizer, bought by the bottle, the liter, the gallon. Sterilize everything! Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Don't cough on people. If you get the flu, give up your life to the sickbed: no school, socializing, shopping, or work. Stop everything! ...27, 28, 29, 30. Click.
Grocery list:
--Lunchmeat
--Bread
--sanitizing spray
--soap
--grapefruit
--chips
--Don't forget Vitamin C.
You look up and find that the OJ prices have been hacked up, but you still nab the last 3 gallons. You can't get sick. They say you could die. The older gentleman walking up the aisle opposite from you sneezes rapid fire. Just as quickly you turn right around, walking too fast in the opposite direction, the cart wheels squeaking in your wake...26, 27, 28 29 Click.
Bilboards prophesy the answer to all your ailments. "Get Vaccinated", they cry in bold letters. People flock to clinics and stand in line, waiting hour after hour for salvation. They tell their friends and family, besearching sceptics to save themselves before the sickness infects them all... 25 26 27 Click.
Type an e-mail, an assignment, a love letter, a ransome note, a blog post. You look down at these keys so often pressed without concern and you see something new. You see crumbs stuck in the board from careless co-workers. You see the grime from many different hands. You see a light sheen, which could be about any sort of bodily fluid.
You see red. Mayday! Mayday! S.O.S. Brain is going into meltdown.
Must clean. Must burn. Must rid it of impurities.
Nothing is safe. Nothing is sacred!
Click. Click until the web browser crashes from overload of too many links trying to run and refresh all at once.
Months later we became immune to the billboards cries and the flood of news articles and updates dwindled to a small but steady stream. Much research on the H1N1 vaccination shows contradicting results, some of which include mercury poisoning. Either way, life went on, and panic abated as the populace realized it was only the common influenza, changing as it always does and always will. And humans' bodies will subtly adapt over time in accordance to external changes.
*As a sidenote, I'm not germaphobic in any way. It equally amuses and worries me that people would kill off all bacteria, even the good ones, leading to an insufficient immune system and greater likeliness of contacting illness or disease.
Overall, this was a good waste of my time. =) Onward to more homework!
During spring of 2009 the world broke out in panic over the flu. It was the swine flu, also known as N1H1 or el gripe porcina in Spanish. It was embellished and given strength. They called it Pandemic. When news first hit the airwaves on tides of rumor, gossip, TV, and radio, people followed as if unable to stop. They surfed the net and refresh MSN, CNN news for updates... every 30 seconds. Click.
The magic potion is sanitizer, bought by the bottle, the liter, the gallon. Sterilize everything! Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Don't cough on people. If you get the flu, give up your life to the sickbed: no school, socializing, shopping, or work. Stop everything! ...27, 28, 29, 30. Click.
Grocery list:
--Lunchmeat
--Bread
--sanitizing spray
--soap
--grapefruit
--chips
--Don't forget Vitamin C.
You look up and find that the OJ prices have been hacked up, but you still nab the last 3 gallons. You can't get sick. They say you could die. The older gentleman walking up the aisle opposite from you sneezes rapid fire. Just as quickly you turn right around, walking too fast in the opposite direction, the cart wheels squeaking in your wake...26, 27, 28 29 Click.
Bilboards prophesy the answer to all your ailments. "Get Vaccinated", they cry in bold letters. People flock to clinics and stand in line, waiting hour after hour for salvation. They tell their friends and family, besearching sceptics to save themselves before the sickness infects them all... 25 26 27 Click.
Type an e-mail, an assignment, a love letter, a ransome note, a blog post. You look down at these keys so often pressed without concern and you see something new. You see crumbs stuck in the board from careless co-workers. You see the grime from many different hands. You see a light sheen, which could be about any sort of bodily fluid.
You see red. Mayday! Mayday! S.O.S. Brain is going into meltdown.
Must clean. Must burn. Must rid it of impurities.
Nothing is safe. Nothing is sacred!
Click. Click until the web browser crashes from overload of too many links trying to run and refresh all at once.
Months later we became immune to the billboards cries and the flood of news articles and updates dwindled to a small but steady stream. Much research on the H1N1 vaccination shows contradicting results, some of which include mercury poisoning. Either way, life went on, and panic abated as the populace realized it was only the common influenza, changing as it always does and always will. And humans' bodies will subtly adapt over time in accordance to external changes.
*As a sidenote, I'm not germaphobic in any way. It equally amuses and worries me that people would kill off all bacteria, even the good ones, leading to an insufficient immune system and greater likeliness of contacting illness or disease.
Overall, this was a good waste of my time. =) Onward to more homework!
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