Writer's-Prologue

Writers Write the Darnest Things.

2009-10-30T14:43:00.002-04:00

Having concluded the literary masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I have concluded that a man, in possession of a brown bess, or other such weapon, must be in want to slay some zombies. This simply proves that a book, no matter how great in concept it is, can still be greatly improved by yet another rewrite, or a gimmicky addition, to increase sales. Plus, it helps that in this edition, Lizzie would most certainly lay the smack down on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Of course, no amount of editing or supplementation can erase the original author's horrible abuses to the usual rules of writing.

Jane Austen is guilty of continually TELLING the reader what is/has happened, rather than SHOWING it. This, by today's tough market, would probably prevent the publication of her manuscript (even with the zombies. And given the casual and un-intrusive addition of the undead into the book, one wonders if Austen meant for them to be present in the original narrative). I am sure I am trifling some feelings here, for I am sure some find her prose poetic. Feel free to inform me of my wrongness. But if I do not answer, it is because an unmentionable has feasted upon my cauliflower brains . . .

Never Take a Weekend Off To Look at Pirhanna Plants

2009-10-25T15:06:00.003-04:00

So, I took a weekend off. It was nice, relaxing, and I didn't write anything at all. Unfortunately, that was two weekends ago. Oops. And I still haven't gotten back into my writing project yet. Hopefully, Monday will put me back on my regular routine, but for the past couple weeks, writing's been a bit of an anathema to me. Good thing I'm not trying to do this for a living, or to make any money off it.

Oh, wait a tick, that's right. Well, nevermind then.

Since I'm still battling against the villainy that is writing, I'll be short today and and just leave you with this thought: What do vegetarians think of plants that eat animals?

A Time To Kill

2009-10-08T17:32:00.003-04:00

My magazine article is finished, after a sloppy first draft, a careful rewrite, some review, another rewrite, and then a final polish by a caffeinated chimpanzee on a straight six-pack of 5 hour energy; I think that's how Shakespeare did it anyway. I'd mail it off Monday, if I could. But, we all need to stop and celebrate Christopher Columbus that day. It's the day he apparently discovered the Caribbean, thus enabling Disney to make a movie about Captain Jack Sparrow.

So, I'm back to working on my main project. But, since I've resolved to relax this weekend (as much as a father can) and don't want to get back to it lest I lose the weekend to it, I've picked up a book to read. Nothing fancy. Just Pride and Prejudice. And Zombies. Cause, Mr. Darcy is one bad mother *ahem* gentleman. I also picked up Sense and Sensibility. And Seamonsters.

My biggest complaint: I am royally upset for not thinking of this first. Really, really upset. It's not like I didn't marry someone who eats Jane Austen for breakfast to inspire me to write about Zombies who might have.

Did I mention writing is all about contrast?

Switching Gears

2009-10-01T16:08:00.002-04:00

I'm going to try something else. I'm going to try and write an unsolicited article for a magazine. Actually, let me rephrase. I am going to write something for a magazine. What I am going to try to do is to get it published for profit. People who pay for articles are way too picky. It's almost like they are deluged with thousands of pages of reading material, to go sleepless nights sorting it all, only to have a bunch more crap delivered, un-asked for, the next day. Good thing I'm at this end of the sort-pile. I only have to read the crap I wrote.

Anyways, when my fool-proof plan succeeds, and I'm ready to publish my current fictional project, I can be all *hey, I'm the guy who wrote that one article in that one magazine, yo!* and I can be placed in the reject pile a bit closer to the top. Er, bottom. Whatever is closer to that 'maybe/second look' pile. Anyways, the point is, I will succeed, and victory will be mine! Or at least a check for $39.99

I, Comma

2009-09-24T22:45:00.003-04:00

I am never going to learn English. Properly, anyway. I'm simply shooting to be able to order basic menu items and to ask where the bathroom is. Actually, I have failed that last bit twice, having asked whilst in England where both the 'bathroom' and 'restroom' were located. Luckily, a sign that read: 'water closet' announced the information I desperately needed. Fortunately, here in the States, we don't take our language all that seriously. Just ask any bleached blonde from the San Fernando Valley. But, she likely isn't looking to get published (although it might make for an interesting read).

One of the most common writing infractions, made up by me, is the misuse of the comma. I've noticed that people either tend to use it when in doubt, or they simply chose not use it at all. I myself belong to the former group. However, a misplaced comma can change the intention of a sentence entirely. The most famous example, (again, according to me) comes from the joke, and subsequent book title, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. While this is apparently a simple mistaken use of a serial comma, the result gives the title a bit of ambiguity. The extraneous punctuation implies that there is a verb at work here instead of a noun. Comma's suck.

My personal issue with commas is with the use of sentence structure. I would much rather say, "Once out of bed, he made himself some coffee, poured it, and sat down to read his newspaper," then to say, "He sat down to read his newspaper once he made and poured his coffee after he got out of bed." However, I have no idea where the commas go in the first example. I don't even know where they all go in this here blog post. I guess, as I assume most people do, they get placed where they sound right. Grammatically speaking however, there is a precise way of knowing. So, back to studying, go I.

Their, There, Its alright.

2009-09-22T14:15:00.004-04:00

There. Their. Its. It's. Alright and All right. Most of us know when to use what word when, like Know vs. No. But typing hurriedly, or in casual places such as forums or texting, leads to common word swappage that bypasses the best of spell checker program and quick manual gloss-overs. The best bet is for us all to get English degrees and not make mistakes in the first place. Wait a minute while I consider if I meant that as a joke.

Kidding aside, a needless grammar mistake can kill your publishing attempt dead. A simple grammar mistake to a professional editor is glaring, and is going to get you thrown into the reject pile. Don't make the mistake in assuming that your story is so great and novel, that any mistakes will be corrected thanklessly for you in the publishing process.

Also, casual word swapping on the 'net needs to just die. Could we just stop using 'Teh' in place of 'The'? That would be great, thanks!

It's Good Grammar That We Speak Of

2009-09-18T12:37:00.002-04:00

I hate me some Grammar. It's bad enough that we have to spel properli. Then do'nt we have to puncuate properly, as, well. Most of us can get by with only the minimum mistakes in either. But, grammar kills us deader than dead. Not only can it be obtrusive in stylized writing, it can kill an otherwise well meant story. Bad grammar is equivalent to swimming through muddy water. Clear concepts can be caused some confusion.

I have horrible grammar. Always have. Don't know how I made it through Grammar school. I've been reading up on it and trying to improve. For the next few blog posts, we'll explore some of the most common mistakes, or mistakes that we commonly make. Mine is sentence and paragraph structure. What are yours?

A Character With Character

2009-09-14T14:12:00.004-04:00

I like alternate history. Stories that tell a 'what if?' have a strong appeal to me. It's a great way to analyze what could have been, but to also better understand the why and how things happened the way they did.

When writing alternative history, or counterfactuals in the parlance of the subgenre, there are certain difficulties when it comes to writing an established character. Whether you are writing Marvel Comics' What If? a story about Spiderman, or writing an opus about the extended life of General Custer had he not succumbed at Little Big Horn, it seems imperative that you DO NOT change the character of that person. In other words, using a bad analogy, characters in What If stories are akin to subjects of a hypnotist. You can have them cluck like a chicken onstage, but you cannot have them do something that they would not otherwise be predisposed to do.

So, how to reconcile character growth of a historical character? People naturally change over time. People can change who they are. It is necessary for a character to arc, to change from point a to b. But it seems wrong to write that General Custer, learning to curb his impulsive-self after barely surviving the ambush, then lived a life of solemnity to a ripe old age.

It goes against his character.

What do you think?

Routine Anarchy

2009-09-10T14:35:00.004-04:00

A change in routine can have profound consequences. One thing changes and everything else falls out of place. In this case, my daughter is outgrowing 'naptime'. Life hasn't been the same since. No more TV breaks for the afternoon repeat of the Daily Show and Colbert Report, no time for treadmilling around, and certainly no time for blogging. I have to change my routine completely. Last night, I started writing again for the first time in two weeks, except that I feel asleep while doing so. It's time to invest in caffeine and some sort of contraption that will keep my hyper-active almost three-year old at bay for two hours. Any suggestions out there?

A Good Day

2009-08-23T20:06:00.002-04:00

Friday was a good day. Sometimes its nice just to have a good day, sit back and enjoy it. Saw a flick (Inglorious B@sterds, it's good only if you like Tarantino's odd storytelling. I do.) Played some casual tennis. Got a much awaited for package, which contained the first new Heroclix figure printed in almost a year. Played some Heroclix that night with some friends, pulled off a couple of cool moves, and traded for a figure I've been after for awhile. And then spent some quality time with the family.
Everyone deserves a good day.

Except for you. Now get back to work!

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

2009-08-17T11:17:00.003-04:00

Forget Millo Jovovich. In case you were worried about the dead rising and feasting on your brains, several mathematicians have come to your rescue. Models for epidemiological outbreaks have never before included those diseases that may cause the undead to rise. Fortunately, thanks to this article in Wired, the oversight has now been corrected. So get out your survival gear: shovels, shotguns, gumball machines and your old LP collections, because in a population of 500,000 you got to get rid of all those pesky zombies within 72 hours -- or you become the menu.

Contrast

2009-08-14T15:14:00.002-04:00

Writing is all about contrasts. In simplified terms, it is the switching up of the usual. It is hard to do and when done poorly is easy to spot and ruinous to the story. Consider Michael Bay's use of contrast in Transformer's 2. The comedy, spliced against the action, failed spectacularly (the college brownie mom, for instance). When it is done correctly, contrast is compelling, adds depth, and forces the viewer/reader into the story. Consider the following:

She cried as she saw the wreck. The car that held her family now only held memories.

He laughed maniacally as he saw the wreck. The car that held his family now only held his hollow laughter.

Both of these examples each tell a story. But which story is more compelling?

Don't Rip Up Your Gym Card Just Yet

2009-08-12T12:30:00.002-04:00

The last thing overweight Americans need to hear is that exercise won't help you lose weight. Though this article makes a compelling argument, don't take up sofa-bound needlework just yet. The article is clear that exercise is healthy. Okay. But, to say that exercise can actually make you gain more weight, is jumping the shark. Sure, muscle-bound gym-aholics in the weight room are looking to pack on some size. The guy hitting the gym with a gut might end up weighing more than when he started as the gut disappears -- since muscle weighs more than fat. But that will eventually equalize as more body fat is expended.

Sure, I've worked for the health supplements industry for a little bit, so I'm gonna naturally be bias against this sort of article. When people have asked me how to lose weight, I generally get a little frustrated when they are chowing down a Cinnabon. The answer for the author's frustration -- why he can't lose weight, is right there in his article. Of course you have to watch what you eat. Just because you work-out doesn't give one cart-blanche to eat what you want. Cut out calories from your diet: eat less and burn more. Don't eat that muffin after you run. Protein immediately after working out is the best way to go, so long that you account for those calories (protein helps repair and build muscle, and is a natural appetite suppressant). Hit the gym, and enjoy the multitude of benefits from a good workout -- including weight loss.

Lastly: don't take advice from biased aspiring writers with a blog.

I Got Conned at Chik-Fil-A

2009-08-07T14:38:00.003-04:00

Yep. Of all the places to fall prey to a con. It happened while I was taking my 2 year old to lunch at a place where she can also burn off some of that energy. But, that's how they bring you in. Then, when you get to the counter, the con comes to play: Would you like that meal value-sized? Sure, of course. I love value. Who am I to argue with saving a few pennies? Afterall, my concentration is a bit split between you, and my daughter who is discovering that fries on the floor are extra tasty. Don't eat that. Here's my hard earned cash. Thank you.

Imagine my surprise when I got my diet Dr. Pepper. It was huge! My fry box was also Gi-normous! Do'oh! Value-size is codeword for the largest portion of food you can stuff down your throat! Shhh! Don't tell anyone!!!.

I took it. And they happily took my money. I didn't want to waste the extra food, and I didn't complain as I got exactly what I ordered. I just thought value also meant small. I guess the extra calories I consumed just makes my stomach more 'valuable'.

Tabula Rasa

2009-08-05T14:53:00.006-04:00

A blank page is menacing. Every time we sit at our desktop to write something new, that empty whiteness stares wide, its solitary cursor laughing with each and every blink. The only way to quiet that mockery is to fill the blank slate with our ideals, thoughts, anecdotes overheard at Applebee's, and characters that we knew from high school creative writing. Ultimately we betray ourselves. Writing tells us much about the writer as the world they envision tells us what to beware. Read George Orwell's Animal Farm, but read it after his Homage to Catalonia. Watch Joss Whedon's Dollhouse and see what happens when a human mind can be filled with both everything and nothingness. Stories of dystopia are the norm, as they serve to guide, warn and map paths that could otherwise lead to insanity. Dystopia offers something fearful to the reader -- a future to avoid.

As a writer, one could look to fill that blank page with fears, regrets and emotions. Happiness and bunnies are cute, but what purpose do they serve the audience? What are you most afraid of?

For Whom do you Write?

2009-08-03T13:49:00.003-04:00

In addition to writing what you know, you should also know to who you are writing. Simply stated: know your audience. Shakespeare wrote a couple plays for Queen Elizabeth. Do you think he tailored those for the common, unwashed masses? Good public speakers can often change their speeches based on their audience, even down to a specific member. There is an anecdote that I heard, don't know if it's true, that the rock band, The Who, were pitching Tommy, and found out that the guy they were pitching too was a huge fan of pinball, hence the song, Pinball Wizard.

Lately, I've been in a writing rut. I did the blog, but then wouldn't dive in to my projects. In essence, I was overwhelmed, and felt I could not write what I wanted to right. The audience either wasn't there, they wouldn't be interested, or worse, that it wouldn't be any good.

I've had the recent epiphany that none of that matters. I am the audience. I am writing for myself. I am the only one who has to like it. Though my ultimate goal is to write for money, and yes, I will have to write for an audience at some point in time, I only have to write for myself for now. I just need to get the rough draft of the story out.

You guys can have the rewrite.

The Sky is the Limit

2009-07-29T12:07:00.002-04:00

Funny thing about skyscrapers. The ability to build a really tall building had existed for awhile before the first really tall skyscrapers. But the ability to do something doesn't trigger the necessity to do it. In the case of Really Tall Buildings, several things had to come together. Steel. Cheap labor. A need for such a building (mass influx of people into the cities), plumbing (try turning on the tap on the 84th floor), and ironically enough: the Elevator. Without a sufficient mode of moving people UP to the top of the building, the skyscraper could never be. Usually, its the simple, overlooked technology which propels people skyward.

I would really like civilian space travel to have been commonplace by now. I would really like my flying car, please. I want the Encyclopedia Britannica downloaded directly into my brain. In fact, I want everything I saw in Back 2 the Future 2, except for the Jaws sequel (sorry, Max).

The good news is that I remain optimistic about such novelties. Technology progresses rapidly, and as our resources dwindle, the necessity for new innovations increases. All we might actually be missing is that one little device that will skyrocket our progress.

What do you suppose that is?

Well, waddya know?

2009-07-27T12:35:00.005-04:00

I've been told numerously to, "write what you know". There are numerous examples to enumerate that advice. Usually it boils to setting and plot. John Grisham is a former law student from the South. Nelson DeMille is a Long Island inhabitant, most of his work is set in that rich eclectic enclave. Marvel Comics is based in New York City, as are almost all of its heroes. But what about fantasy writers? What world do they inhabit? Tolkien was an expert in linguistics, which is heavily interwoven into the Lord of the Rings, and the settings of that fantasy can be found in the surroundings of Oxford.

Even personal stories, characters and moods seem to be drawn from real-life experiences. The Simpsons were supposedly a distorted reflection of Matt Groening's own family. And the film Moulin Rouge, begs the question, "how do you write a love story without knowing love?"

There are few writers that can jump into diverse story after diverse story. Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle pulled it off, even writing across genres. Micheal Crichton, while mostly on the theme of techno-thrillers, also wrote very diversified narratives. To wit: compare Terminal Man, Andromeda Strain and the TV show ER to his subsequent work: Sphere, Congo, Airframe and The State of Fear.

As an aspiring writer, I would love to be able to jump from book to book, character to character, without being pigeonholed into a series, or a single character (as Doyle was stuck with the popularity of his Holmes titles to the point of resurrection). However, this requires massive amounts of research and a solid, well rounded knowledge base. Ideally, this writer should be a sort-of jack of all trades. But, can the Internet supplant personal experience and instant access to research? If I don't know it, can I google it?

Mini-Blog

2009-07-24T12:45:00.002-04:00

Ticketed for going below the Speed Limit
Regardless the outcome of this incident, people should be ticketed for going too slow. Driving slowly can be just as dangerous as driving too fast. Just go the flow of traffic!

What will a Big Mac cost you now?
The Federal minimum wage went up to $7.25. Expect to see higher prices and less workers. We are going to pay for that increase, particularly in a downturn economy, harshly. So, why are we paying higher wages to underachievers? (Note: not talking about students). We are already seeing small retail outlets go bust. Let's help 'em out more by mandating that they pay workers (ideally students) more money.

Heroclix Undead!
I play miniature games. Love 'em. But, my favorite game Heroclix, nearly died last November. Miniature games don't tend to come back after production stops. But Heroclix survives! What's even more amazing is that the new owners of the property, NECA may actually enhance the game with even more licenses (speculative of course). Imagine a miniatures game based on Twilight! (I am seriously kidding, folks). With an Axis and Allies: War at Sea expansion in September and a fall release of Heroclix, my pocketbook is the only one doing any complaining. I may need a federally mandated wage increase. You guys mind buying?

Watchmen: Watch it!

2009-07-22T12:56:00.003-04:00

Warning: spoilers below, read at your own risk.

The themes in Watchmen are as relevant today as they were when Watchmen was written over 20 years ago, despite the backdrop of the Cold War. But that is not to say that there aren't other forms of imminent destruction on our horizon. Indeed, Watchmen serves to remind us that even our own Heroes can wrought Armageddon. Although it has many themes, the one I appreciate most is it's the quintessential fall of the hero story. It's the story where Lex is the hero; Superman the villain. It's the idea that good intentions pave the way to damnation.

Warning to the squeamish or purposefully sheltered: it is Graphic. As the graphic novel pushed limitations in the 80's (it purposefully avoids the comic-code stamp of approval), the film delivers that same rawness. It is not a kids movie, nor is it the typical superhero flick. It is a skillfully crafted story of the blurry lines between good and evil. With a rockin' soundtrack.

The DVD/Blu-ray release was yesterday. Although, the faithful will have to wait another few months for an even more 'special edition' release that integrates The Black Freighter into the film. While waiting, I recommended watching the short film (purchase separately I'm afraid) before the main feature, or contenting oneself with the graphic novel and director's cut film until this Uber-compilation is released.

Smart Car: Dumb Idea?

2009-07-20T11:12:00.003-04:00

Europe has given the world many funny looking tiny clown cars. The Bubble Car. The three wheeled car, the old British Mini (not the newer German one, although the old VW could be a contender) even a single passenger covered pseudo-golf cart that might be able to attain 30 mph if pushed. Off a cliff. Now they have made the Smart Car, and it is infecting America.

While living in England, I was at first, impressed by the Smart Car. I felt its funny looking, hawkish design were only the result of its battery engine. Sometimes design has to be sacrificed for new technology. Only one problem: the Smart Car isn't electric. Rather more like an underachiever than a savant, the car still runs on petrol, and struggles with three cylinders at that. So, what's the point?

Perhaps in Europe, where $14 a gallon gas, thin windy roads are the norm, town driving is all you are likely to do, the Smart car presents an economic practicality. Perhaps for the rare American where that is also the case, the Smart car is a smart decision. But, America suffers from Urban sprawl, much more traffic, and a need for speed which also inherently causes a need for safety. If it were up to me (and not our government) and I had the economic wherewithal, I would happily get a big gas guzzling monster. If I'm in a wreck, I want my daughter as safe as possible. Are we getting peer pressured to the point where we are now willing to sacrifice peace of mind to save a few bucks at the pump?

So what about the environmental impact? Buying a Smart Car is a delaying action at best. We should be looking for alternative energy sources anyway, and not sacrificing freedom of choice, nor our safety.

Where the heck is my Mr. Fusion-powered-Flying DeLorean anyway?

Sometimes its hard to be Original

2009-07-17T12:01:00.002-04:00

I'm a Chipotle lover. Not the pepper, the fast food chain. I can inhale a 1,000 calorie Chipotle chicken Burrito as if it were Ambrosia, becoming more delicious with each bite. One of the things I like about Chipotle is its originality. It's like Subway, but with tortillia's and a funky attitude that doesn't take things to seriously (except for the food).

But then I ate at a Qdoba. Mysteriously, this seemed to be rather the same experience. Same basic food, similar layout, and groovy tunes. I did some superficial research which didn't explain the similarities between the 2 chains. See for yourself: Qdoba and Chipotle's seem to be the same.

Nearest I can tell, Chipotle's started the trend, was so sucessful, that Qdoba opened up in the same general vicinity to cash in any overflow bucks (even Mcdonald's and Burger King are more distinct). It's interesting, because while the ingredients at both places are nearly identical, it's the customers choice what you slab on your tortillia. As a result, I guess there isn't any infringement going on. Unless anyone can provide an insight.

It's hard to be original.

Pure Evil

2009-07-15T11:19:00.002-04:00

My view is that evil is unintentional. It is the misdirection of good intentions coupled with either ignorance, or a sense that ends justify the means (see Dr. Horrible for a good example). It is possible to have a stand-up hero become the antagonist quite inadvertently, and as such, is a recurring theme in comics (this theme is explored rather well in Alan Moore's Watchmen or even in something more contemporary like The Authority or even Red Son Superman). For the most part, contemporary literature/scripts have done away with the 2 dimensional evil persona (even Killer Robots now seem to have a deeper purpose for eradicating humankind).

However, where my definition fails, seems to be in the case of the truly arrogant. This is the person who is so self centered and ambitious that they do not care who is trampled underfoot (see Hamlet's uncle, or just about any history book for that matter). Is there something I am missing about this archetype that allows them to exist in such a flat manner? Or is there more depth than meets the eye?

Tpircsunam Yawa!

2009-07-13T11:15:00.002-04:00

My manuscript came back to me. It's disheartening, but not entirely unexpected. I don't expect to become an overnight success (but I wouldn't turn it down). I know the folks at Asimov's are hard working, but I would have loved to know what they were thinking when reading my manuscript. Unfortunately all I got was the customary form letter. It would be cool to know if it was the story itself, or a misplaced comma, a cliche, an extraneous line of narrative, that caused them to put it down. It could be so many things.

Well, this means that I can start sending it out elsewhere (publishers no likey simultaneous submissions). It's a slow process, but hopefully, eventually, a rewarding one.

If you've had a similar experience, please share. But more importantly, keep on writing.

Latest Transformers Film Transforms into a Wreck

2009-07-08T12:48:00.003-04:00

Most critics hated Transformers 2: Revenge of Poor Scriptwriting. I did too. It's hard to consider a film that contains so little regard for life. It's sad when every death cheapens the story instead of enhances. And what about all of the Military and civilians mindlessly slaughtered, forever dead simply because their character didn't have top billing? There are so many things wrong with this movie, that it becomes easier to write about the good stuff.

I actually enjoyed most of the first 45 minutes of the flick. In fact, with a good re-write, the first act could have been expanded and made into the whole movie. This movie would have been twice as good if it had been half as long. But, after Optimus battles the Decepticons, the movie spirals down into an unrecoverable state that begs viewers to leave the theater before the credits roll. The movie is so unfocused and chaotic, and OVER THE TOP, that it becomes unintentionally offensive. Unfortunately, I gave the film my ticket money. As did enough others that this 200 million dollar failure will probably make a tidy profit. This is why Hollywood can afford mediocrity. If you haven't paid for a ticket, then please, don't.

The Chaos Effect

2009-07-02T13:05:00.003-04:00

Normal, every day events have transpired against me. These singularities by themselves could be handled. But, combined, have succeeded in a sort of 'butterfly effect' that completely wrecked my week. Not complaining. But, have you ever stopped and realized that the week was nearly over? Monday I was all set to blog about Billy Mays' untimely passing (notice I've ignored that pop-singer guy [until now]). It will be weird watching Discovery Channel's Pitch Men, with Billy's forward looking optimism, knowing his future before his pre-recorded self does.

Chaos.

It will probably be another week before things simmer down to a point where I can write on my current project again.

Happy American Independence Day!

Beam Me Up, Scotty!

2009-06-26T09:11:00.003-04:00

Teleportation may be the answer to solving environmental and transportation problems and an end to the energy crisis. No more planes. No more cars. A teleportation station in every garage. You wouldn't even need to leave the house unless it was a Beautiful Day. As it has been pointed out to me, teleportation is the transfer of matter, and matter is energy, therefore the energy use of teleporters might be nominal (see Mr. Fusion). If this technology isn't too far off and it is found to be reliable and cheap, what type of impact would this create?

It has also been said that a great idea and a bad idea are indistinguishable to the ignorant. So, what bit of logic might be missing? Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear how wonderful and smart I am.

Holy Hell

2009-06-24T12:06:00.003-04:00

I don't pretend to understand the situation fully in Iran. What I gather, was how undemocratic Iran's recent 'election' was. The Ayatollah perhaps picked the President under the sham of a democratic election. The reaction to this, fueled mostly from Iran's youthful population is understandably one of WTH? But, the backlash from these protests sparked an evil response. The Iranian government has apparently imprisoned protesters, known reformists, those that pose a threat to the well being of tyranny.

What the hell? I am most upset because there is very little we as observers can do (sort of the measures taken by the U.S. in Iraq). If there is change, then it has to be a movement originating from the people of Iran. Hopefully, the extreme measures taken by the government against its own people serves only to undermine it. If true democratic ideals are what the people of Iran want, then I hope they are successful against tyranny.

This also serves as a counterpoint. The U.S. is indeed a free country. One is free to protest, print and publish one's thoughts, criticisms and ideas without fear of false imprisonment or death. We can march in the streets, demanding rights. We can, without fear of reprisal, openly criticize our government. We can sit in our coffee shops, surf the uncensored net and read the gamut of literature. This is what those who died for us, at our country's birth, gave us. Though our British masters were not the tyrannical dictators our history texts made them to be, particularly against the true tyrant, what birthed from our independence was to become the free-est country in the World.

Where do your Loyalties Lie?

2009-06-22T11:29:00.003-04:00

Independence Day is forthcoming. Within a Fortnight, Americans will take to their grills, pools and picnics and then crane their necks skyward to see the explosive night sky. A recurrent theme in my current project is loyalty. Despite research, intelligent conversations with intelligent individuals, and the handy dandy dictionary, I still don't have a firm grasp on the concept. Our American forbears never intended a break from the crown, a revolution, nor Independence (save for the radicals, of course). They were still loyal to the King, if not Parliament.

What then, triggered these same men, only months later, to pick up a standard, rally others behind it and declare their loyalty not to a King, but to an idea? This was a treasonous act, that by the thinnest of miracles, did not result in tragic consequences for these men. Were these men right? Was their cause righteous? More importantly, were their loyalties to themselves, their wealth, their status, or was it truly loyalty to principle, an ideal they held in higher esteem than even loyalty to the crown? And how many Americans will be thinking of this when stuffing down hotdogs and watching Fireworks?

Pro's of Prose

2009-06-19T11:42:00.002-04:00

I've mentioned before on this blog that the story is more important than how you tell it. Well, I haven't changed that opinion, but I wanted to quantify it. Some of the greatest works of literature are among those hardest to read. It takes involvement to engage oneself in those works, i.e. Melville, Dostoevsky, Poe and Tolkien (his prose is particularly harsh for a work of Fantasy). While a manuscript should not exist with one extraneous word, one superfluous thought, it may be equally true that a sentence which require multiple readings to understand is also detrimental to the unfolding of the story. Unless, of course, it's simply the reader's fault for not 'getting it'. I know that I've put down a great work simply because I didn't understand it and couldn't be bothered to put forth the effort to involve myself. Has that ever happened to you?

There needs to be a flow to the prose. It must quickly engage the reader and be hard to put down. At the same time, it must cover the essentials of a good story: plot, setting, themes, characters and development (did I miss anything?). Dialogue should be sparse and used to convey characterization, not to tell the story. The narrative should not be interrupted by bringing attention to the writing. Again, each word should add something relevant to the overall work. (Of course, this is all subjective, and shouldn't be treated as a rule).

How is it then, as readers, we fall prey to a writer's self-indulgence? J.K. Rowling admits that her characters essentially got away from her. But, she jammed those characters back into the storyline that she envisioned. And my question to her: did there really need to be half a dozen books or so to tell the story of Harry Potter? The answer to the question I pose lies within her purple prose.

Free Health Care isn't Free

2009-06-17T11:51:00.002-04:00

I really don't like the idea of the U.S. adopting any sort of Universal Health Care System. I think it is both presumptuous and arrogant of us to believe that we could enact a health care system like the U.K. or Canadian systems without any of the inherent problems and inabilities of those systems.
Even the the best model for universal healthcare, the U.S. Military medical system, would be an unlikely model to use. The military healtchare operates under ideal circumstances, but is still unable and inadequate to take to task the needs of its clients (please google Walter Reed for references, this is a blog, and I can't be bothered with facts, references or whatnot). Most military members are healthy (being as everyone is medically screened before acceptance) most workout daily, do not smoke, and eat fast food in moderation. Why then, is military medicine not better than privatized healthcare?
I am in the military (as a dependent). Under ideal circumstances, I waited 40 minutes for my doctor's appointment today. Spent 15 seconds with the doctor and was referred to a specialist. But, my visit was free. Why then, do I feel like I was robbed an hour of my life?

Manuscript Away!

2009-06-15T12:42:00.002-04:00

I submitted my first short story manuscript today to the fine folks at Asimov's Science Fiction. I eagerly await my rejection letter. It's not that I'm being hard on myself, but it would be more fantastic that an aspiring writer would be published on his first attempt. After all, if it was easy, than anyone could do it. More than likely, I'll get a form letter back with a, "thanks, but no thanks", but what I would really like is feedback from a major editor. As I hinted in my last post, there aren't necessarily any rules for writers, (grunt, grunt) but Editors like to think up a few.

Are there any rules for writers?

2009-06-12T12:39:00.002-04:00

I was at the bookstore yesterday, in a quest to find some reference material for a story. I don't normally go to the bookstore that often, as Wikipedia offers me the highest quality, accuracy and unbiased research material (The Encyclopedia Britannica are rolling in their storage boxes) found on teh internets. Of course, I didn't find the necessary reference material. It would've been under Biography, but there wasn't an actual biography section. There were a few biographies thrown into the American history section, which was surprisingly large, dwarfing the rest of History. No wonder the whole of Europe hates us.

I digress. What I did find was a rather large section devoted to the rules for writing. I wonder if there was a book on writing blogs? It was probably next to James Joyce's guide for writing stream of conscious. He would have had an excellent blog. Back on track. Writing is an art-form. While there are certainly better ways of doing things, and definite guidelines to follow if you desire to be published, I didn't actually think there were rules (my English teachers are rolling around in their storage boxes too). If so, what are these 'rules'?

Has language de-evolved, thanks to Twitters, textings and blogs like mine, to the point that grammar, sentence structure and spelling are not as important to literature, so long as the story is good, readable and makes sense?

Betrayal

2009-06-10T10:54:00.002-04:00

Could you define betrayal in purely technical terms? Or is betrayal better defined through an emotional response? Can't everyone produce an instance where they have felt betrayed? More importantly, hasn't everyone betrayed another to a certain point and simply rationalized it as something else.

I've wondered what motivates someone to betray another. I've come to the conclusion that there is something underlying the circumstance. In simple terms, the betrayer feels betrayed. Did Robert E. Lee betray the U.S. when he declined Lincolns offer to lead the Union troops? Or did he first feel betrayed by the ever-growing centralized government that lessened State's rights?

Did Benedict Arnold, hero of the American Revolution and later traitor, feel betrayed by politics, a waning fortune, and American bedding up with the French? What motivated him; is it black and white, or is there some gray? After all, wasn't it the founding fathers who betrayed the English crown?

New Terminator Flick not a Salvation for Franchise

2009-06-05T10:56:00.004-04:00

Apparently, in Hollywood, mediocrity is acceptable. Maybe there is hope for me yet. Fortunately, the new Terminator movie isn't Catwoman horrible (which, is itself a miracle, given the writing staff). But it isn't Terminator 2 good either. I actually enjoyed parts of the flick and felt it had potential. Maybe one could go back into time, pick up some street clothes, give the script a good rewrite, beg Cameron to helm, and ask Christian Bale to please play a bit part.

I really do like Christian Bale. He is a fantastic actor who really digs deep into the character he is portraying. But I felt the script didn't call for John Conner at the forefront. This story really wasn't about him, or his 'standing around doing not much' wife and staff officers. In a movie where he isn't the resistance leader, it would have been better served to have him as a background player in this first movie. It would also explain why the film failed to portray Conner as the bad-ass that Machines feared. Apparently, he hasn't developed into that character yet. So, why show him on his back, crawling away for most of the flick, and ultimately detracting from the more important storyline?

If one also forgives the bad editing, constant plot holes, gaps in logic, physics that would be pulled over for breaking the law, and the mind scratching question"What date will Conner give for Judgment day when he sends people back?" the storyline of Marcus was actually very good and could have been made into a Terminator movie.

Spoilers.

Usually, I skip over religious symbolism in film. I suppose the Christian bible is an easy source to rip off, and in public domain, so no-one has to pay any pesky royalties. But, while many flicks depict their hero as a post-apocalyptic savior (John Conner's initials are JC), not much attention is ever given to the original Savior's supporting cast. In this case, Marcus is a criminal, a cop killer, Cain and just not a nice guy. So in case you missed the plot point, the film stops for a minute so Marcus can be raised onto a cross for all the audience to see. Once the film resumes, Marcus is passed through a judgment of fire as the world is consumed by Judgment Day (which is one of the reasons I liked Terminator 3. Not many movies will actually blow everyone up). Marcus is reborn and in short order is on a quest to find John Conner and discover himself. To complete the religious parallel of the thief on the cross, it is through John Conner that Marcus will find his salvation. Too bad they didn't make a film of it. That, and an actual army of robots, a hard-core John Conner and plasma rifles (in the 40 watt range) would have made a great movie.

Gettysburg

2009-06-05T10:21:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm back from hiatus. It's always difficult for me to jump back into writing after a long break. It's nice to have this blog to start things out, but it might be more honest for me to call it Writer's procrastination. During my break, I had friends and family over, fun times, and a bunch of miserable weather. Does anyone actually chose to live in Maryland?

One of the trips during the holiday was made to Gettysburg. I'd been there before a few years ago, and was unimpressed with the dereliction and deterioration of the historic sites. Someone got their act together. There has been major work done, from the shiny new tourist center and refurbishment of the Cyclorama, to restoring the battlefield from the overgrowth that prevented a view of what a soldier in 1863 would have seen. If you live near the area, even if you've seen Gettysburg before, I strongly recommend you go out and see it. Take a tour, then drive out into the town (be sure to stop at the Dobbin House for a bite) and drive through the battlefield again and take your time.

One of the things that struck me as most profound out on the field was the Union view of Picket's charge. The union line is the only thing standing between the full frontol assualt, launched by Lee, and ultimately, Southern independence. It is not a gamble. Lee knows that the Union flanks are strong, and therfore the center must be weak, unable to hold the line against a concentrated attack. Lee uses logic and sound military doctrine to attack Meade's forces, but ultimately fails. The position the Union has is a strong one and the line does not break. Lee ultimately never recovers from the defeat, but stays loyal to the men under his command and carries on the war for another two years. Would a lesser man have defected? Did Lee betray the Union by not leading the the U.S. forces, as Lincoln wanted? Lee made a choice, but what makes a man choose to rebel?

Writing Workshop

2009-05-22T21:44:00.002-04:00

I have finally gotten my latest project into a form ready for public critiquing. It is the second revision already, but hopefully, after it is torn a part a bit, I will only have a final rewrite to go. My intention was to post it here. However, as I intend to submit it for publication (and likely rejection, as is common in this business) I can't actually print it on my blog(?).

So, if you are interested in reading my latest work, for the express purposes of workshopping/critiquing my short story (3800 words), shoot me off an email (located in my profile at the bottom right of the page, next to the sexy picture of me) and I'll get you a copy.

I'll be away from my blog for the next few days, but I'll check my email regularly.

Thanks!

Religion vs. Science in the 14th Century

2009-05-20T11:52:00.004-04:00

In 1348, the black death ravaged western Europe. At the time, there was very little scientific knowledge about disease, epidemiology and bacteria. There was very little the medical community could do. Instead, the people of Europe looked to the religious. In that, a fanaticism was born. The worse the plague got, the worse the ideology became in its vain attempts to defeat it. The most extreme of this was a group of Flagellationists who took to the streets, marching from village to village, showing their devotion to God by whipping themselves repeatedly in penance of their sins (and perhaps spreading the plague even further with their travels).

Their actions seem incomprehensible to us, because we possess a greater understanding of our surroundings, albeit incomplete. When a civilization does not understand, it seems to seek solace in religion. If the sun did not rise tomorrow, and our scientists could not understand it, would we be any different?

Politics

2009-05-18T10:56:00.002-04:00

Politics will (hopefully) not become a repetitive topic on this blog. It's too easy to discuss, and like the internet itself, full of uninformed opinions, like mine. So, unless I can attempt to offend everyone, I won't talk about the subject much and when I do, it will be entirely in oversimplified terms.

At the moment, I don't like either party.

Right now, the Democrats are completely in charge of our Federal Government. It seems the party plan is to spend lots of money, take direct control of American Business and to nationalize/socialize (both terms seem to be thrown around despite the significant difference between the two) some of our institutions like healthcare. The Democrats are perhaps modeling U.S. legislation after European socialism. Having spent time in Europe, I hope those policies do not get implemented. Healthcare is atrocious, big business are heavily regulated, and more importantly, every citizen pays heavy taxes through the nose. The sales tax alone in the U.K. is 17.5%

On the other hand, the Republican party scares the p@nts off me. It is a very hypocritical party at the moment, that has lost leadership, guidance, and is imbued with and outdated image of antiquated and stodgy old white guys who wish to legislate morality, to tell you what you can and cannot do, but decry big government. Most of this could be rectified with the exclusion of the Religious right from the party, or at least tempered and opened-mindedness from those that forget the tenant of separation of church and state. Then there is the case of late blooming republican party pseudo-affirmative action. McCain chose a female to be his running mate, (who probably was not qualified), the party chose Michael Steele to chair (who seems to be very qualified). While I see the attempt to change the perception, given the timing, it all seems quite hypo-pol-itical.

Perhaps I am wrong about everything. I don't mind. I'm certainly not an informed opinion. But, more importantly, did I succeed in riling everyone?

Time Travel Again

2009-05-15T11:48:00.002-04:00

Went back into time to rewrite my last blog only to find that my rewrite came out exactly as I originally wrote it. Don't believe me? Then read it for yourself. I'll wait.

See?

As a result of my failed attempt to alter the past, I think for my short story, I will use the method described by a friend over at this forum over here: http://jarillion.myfreeforum.org/about22.html based on Minkowski's block universe.

Essentially, you can't effect the future by changing the past, to do so would in effect create the future you were attempting to change. I liken it to inescapable fate, which is a major theme in my story. I hate the idea of fate, but there is essentially no way to prove/disprove the concept. Sounds like a future blog topic. Hmmm.

As for the time machine, I'll gloss over it, as I don't think a full technical blueprint is relevant to the story. However, I'm going to lift an idea proposed by my Father-in-law awhile back (who is by my account, extraordinary smart). I think it will appear sound just long enough to get through the story without taking the reader out of it. It will certainly be better than a contraption built from a giant clock, a wooden chair and mandatory blinking lights'.

Time Travel

2009-05-09T21:42:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a short story and want to use Time Travel as a way to tell it. The story does not revolve around time travel, but the characters will have to use it. So, how involved does one get in explaining the intricacies of something that is so thoroughly hypothetical? I've always felt that one doesn't necessarily explain the Macguffin. If a story calls for vampires, then the story takes place on a 'hellmouth', if you have to go back into time to rescue humpback whales, then you slingshot around the sun; and of course if you are Superman you can just make stuff up.

More important is to stick to a set of rules when time traveling. But what are those rules and are they universal? The Terminator can't travel through time with anything synthetic(on the outside). It's a strict rule that makes for an interesting opening. However, how in the frick does one follow the logic of what happens afterwards? (spoiler) I'm John Conner, and I sent my father back into time to sleep with my mom, get her pregnant with me and raise me to be me. Of course, I can't have actually done that, because I don't exist as of yet.

And consider this: what if the terminator DID actually kill the correct Sarah Connor? What if, as a result of her encounter with the terminator, the incorrect Sarah Conner names her son John and trains him to be a John Conner of the resistance, but not THE John Connor?

How much sense does time travel have to make, and at what point do you just start scratching your head? Consider this website on temporal anomalies in time travel that made me wonder: http://www.mjyoung.net/time/index.htm

If the story is good, can the time travel be bad?

More Geeky Stuff: Batman 3 and the difficulty of scriptwriting

2009-05-06T12:11:00.008-04:00

My last post, I was a bit harsh on the newest X-film, Wolverine. I still stand by my conviction, as it was a poorly developed movie, but I wanted to cushion those comments in a writer's context. I think it is difficult to develop a script for a comic movie. I'll put myself in a writer's shoes, but I'll try it for Batman 3.

The first step is to flesh out ideas, themes, the antagonist(s) and obstacles for the protagonist to overcome. Bruce's motivation for becoming Batman is to cleanse Gotham from corruption. The second film established The Batman's moral code or rule set for accomplishing that mission (he can't kill). In that film, the antagonist's goal was to corrupt. So, the third film shouldn't stray too far from that, and should also (perhaps) see some resolution to Gotham's rampant corruption.

What I would like to see, is the development of Batman as a detective (as opposed to the uber-CSI from the second flick), and some vindication to Bruce's decision to run around dressed as a Bat. The Riddler would be the best candidate as villain, as in this portrayal, he could be dark, narcissistic and extremely obsessed with proving his ability and intelligence over Batman. But, he is also easily manipulated. He has started off as a corrupt detective on the take, having been sharing a jail cell for the last year with a clown of a character (as homage to Heath, we will never see the Joker character again, but can still have his presence felt in the third film). This twists Edward Nigma into something more. Upon his early-release, he is recruited by a mastermind who covers his face in bandages.

Comic enthusiasts would know this character as Hush, but he would take on a different role in the movie. To tie into the first film, Hush would act like Hush from the comics for most of the movie until the reveal near the end. Once the bandages come off, he is revealed as Ra's al Ghul (plus we know Liam Neeson would look the part of Hush).

This character is necessary as a way to measure Batman and to ask of the audience essential questions. If Batman cannot kill, is it okay to allow a villain to die? Has Gotham been put on the road to salvation or is it still seething with crime and corruption? Is Batman better for Gotham, or does he bring out the clowns, costumed villains and true dark-side of human nature, just by his presence?

Throughout the film, the audience would see the transformation of the Riddler character from corrupt to anti-hero to eventual 'good guy' under the influence of those the Riddler associates himself with (the role traditionally taken on by the Catwoman character, still cliche, but with a different costume, and also as a counterpoint from Harvey Dent's transformation in the second film).

At the end of the film, Ra's al Ghul, has a chance to kill Batman, who he sees is preventing his League of assassins from carrying out their plan to destroy Gotham (he is not motivated by revenge). Ra's has to make a choice: kill Batman or not. He has seen the influence Batman has made on Gotham, through the redemption of the Riddler and he fails to kill Bruce. However, the audience is left wondering Ra's true motivation for not killing Batman (perhaps he feels that Batman himself will destroy Gotham).

For complexities sake, we could add in another minor villain, such as Talia (Ra's daughter, she knows Bruce/Batman let her father die, but does not know that he survived), who would be relevant to the film and act as a foil for all the other characters; develop Commisioner Gordon's role as an ally to Batman against his professional role (he hires the Riddler (as detective Nigma) to hunt down the Batman as a show, not taking Nigma as a serious threat to Batman) and lastly, add in the obstacles that add drama, tension and action into the movie.

My notes and ideas would then be converted into a treatment, and then a script would have to be devised. Every line, every dialogue, every scene would have to be just right and approved by the powers that be. It is one thing to come up with an idea (which as to be a pretty good one (and mine isn't) and a whole other beast to hammer that idea into a workable script. The Dark Knight was universally praised by most, critics and viewers alike. The script worked and everything flowed flawlessly from it. The script from X-Men: Wolverine was flawed. Everything else failed from that point on.

Geeky Stuff

2009-05-04T20:13:00.002-04:00

May 2nd was Free Comic Book Day. It was also the day after the release of the newest X-men film: Wolverine. Somebody planned ahead. While it was a good weekend overall, the problem though was that both events felt forced.

The popularity of Wolverine as a written character lays within his mysterious past. You can't paste that past up as a summer blockbuster without ruining some of the appeal of the character. Add to that, cliche after cliche, a failed romance story, and a wobbly ending, and the movie only comes out as a a superficial cut, as opposed to a penetrating and sharp story with some teeth and claws.

The movie is underdeveloped starting from the hurried to finish script (a possible writer's strike casualty that never got a rewrite going into actual production) to poor 3-d rendering of some key effects (Wolverine popping his newly-dipped claws in the bathroom looked like animation from The Last Starfighter).

What saves this movie from Halle Berry Catwoman catastrophe is Hugh Jackman himself. He is a good actor. Even though it is difficult for one to relate to an indestructable mutant, Jackman is sincere in his protrayal of the title character. In addition, there were a few guilty pleasures in the movie including the character of Deadpool making an appearance, the Emma Frost cameo and the stand-up performance of Patrick Stewart (despite the poor make-up attempt at making him look younger). Lastly, could it be that the old-folk harboring Logan were actually the parents of an Alpha-Flight member?

Speaking of comics, Free comic book day was a blast, but also a slight dissapointment. I took my daughter in hopes of picking up a few kiddie themed comics, while I looked around the shop, and of course picked up the comics I was interested in. There are about a dozen titles or so, that comic shops must purchase at a nominal fee to then give out for free. It is a great way to promote books, writers or storylines, while drawing in traffic into the brick and mortar comic shops.

My problem was not that most of these shops restricted you to a specified number of the free comics, the shops paid for them, and they can dish them out as they see fit. One shop I went to restricted you to one title, another three. My issue is that the more popular titles, more than likely would be picked over, while the independant writers would be left on the shelf. Wouldn't an average consumer more typically chose a mainstream title like Avengers over another lesser known work? I don't know how free comics could be distributed more evenly, unless certain title were restricted to one per, while others were not. Nevertheless, I picked up a couple I wanted, my daughter got a couple she seemed to like (she's 2, but fairly picky nevertheless) and I still spent a bunch of cash in an event that was described as free.

I love being a nerd!

Running in the Rain

2009-04-29T18:47:00.002-04:00

This morning I ran in the rain. I hate running, and I hate the rain. So I knew it was going to be a great day from the start. But, I'm trying to be healthy, and it didn't start raining until during my run, so there it was. The first drops were miserable. This was my first time running in the rain. So, I didn't know that I would come to enjoy it. And I'm glad I did it.

In terms of bad analogies, I think writing is like running in the rain. It sucks to stare at that blank page, brainstorming, waiting for that first trickle of inspiration to hit the page, and being miserable that it wasn't as brilliant as you first thought; going back and hammering it out until finally a deluge of letters fill the page. Like a torrent of rain. It feels good to write.

My First Blog Post

2009-04-28T19:04:00.002-04:00

Blogs are like rear-ends. Everyone has one. And they all stink. So here's mine. I'm not asking you to smell it, or to accept my writing as anything more than flatulent purple prose, I'm just wanting this to exist. This blog is my way of venting, voicing opinions and is a vehicle to conquer my fears. As everyone has an opinion, what really makes one opinion stand out? Since there are many mediocre writers out there, what makes one writer worthy of a published manuscript?

I bet anyone could name a few talentless hacks that have made the cut. I can't stand Stephenie Meyer. Yet she is richer, more successful and has made more of an impact on pop culture than 1,000's of these blogs combined. It's probably what spurred me to action.

Who cares that everyone has an opinion? Everyone has an idea of what the ideal life, song, book, or poem should be. What we should do is celebrate the fact that we all CAN voice our opinions and those with like minds can hang together despite their physical location.

What this blog purports is to act as my personal sounding board. I want to get to know my audience, get to know the people who might read what I have to write, and mostly to overcome my fear of being rejected for what I write. More on that subject later.

This blog will be loosely defined. I may write on a subject as a sounding board, or just if the subject seems interesting to me. Any topic is fair game. I plan on writing 2-3 days a week, or just as the mood strikes. It is my warm up for jumping into my stories. And, from time to time, I will publish here what I am working on (copyrighted of course, mimicry may be a form of flattery, but getting back to Stephenie Meyer, it's annoying when there is much better material before it).

To the reader, please feel free to comment. After all, this is our Writer's Prologue.

Thank you.