The title can't do enough justice to what's going on with me. If you think that you've got everything down when it comes to writing, you're not only ignorant, but also dishonest to yourself and the nation. Arrogance is necessary to survive the dark hole of criticism and rejection that is modern writing. However, an inflated ego will blind you from the technical and stylistic aspects of writing that are extremely important. Do not forsake the rules! I've learned the hard way that grammar and style are ridiculously essential to your livelihood as a writer. No double space after the period anymore?! What is this world coming to? Now, instead of pouring over poetry to keep my mind limber and full of drippy vocabulary, my mind is saturated in GRAMMAR RULES. I feel like I'm eternally eating a really dry chicken over and over again, each and every night. No sauce, no gravy, no moist and rich risotto.
Ugh, the horror, the horror.
Another scary phenomenon is slowly meandering into my troubled mind. Since I've pounded grammar into my brain, it's gotten slightly harder to construct sentences before I instantly start dissecting them on the page. I'm hoping that it'll wear off like a really bad rash. They don't dole out ointment for this in any classroom or creative writing seminar. Dealing with style and grammar is something you only learn by doing. You only learn by doing, but the scariest thing about anything is doing. Jumping off a cliff is difficult; flying into a wall is as well. Can you imagine never doing these things? I can't.
Makes imperfect sense.
Welcome to the Forge
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Grammar God
I've been thinking a lot about style and grammar recently. I think that's mostly because of the book I'm reading. The book's laying all sorts of eggs inside of me. The book's initial intention is to pay attention to certain grammatical rules and writing methods, specifically how they affect sentence structure. Yes, there is a lot to learn about grammar. Yes, I'll probably have to read the book at least three times. The major question I have with grammar is - who is writing the rules and who isn't?
I've always imagined some sort of grammar god locked away in a steel tower on a high and impregnable cliff. And of course, he'd be surrounded by a massive library with multiple floors and a gold brass ladder that would fly back and forth to reach the endless shelves. Of course, he or she would actually be too old and too withered to climb the ladder any longer, but it'd still be around in case some ancient comma splice still needed to be contested. I assume that the grammar god has the internet and also some high-ranking, but barely understandable role in higher education.
Who is making the rules? Is grammar and style a hidden order, like those albino monks from that Jesus book? If I continue to break these hallowed rules, will a cloaked figure step out of the shadows to strangle me with a thin piano wire? There are organizations and high councils in academia that do have meetings on the future of modern grammar. However, these organizations are as numerous and contrary as they are vague. Unless you're subscribed to various higher-education charters, you'll be left out in the dark. For the majority of the human population that tends not to be the popular reading material, there needs to be a face to grammar. A grammar rock-star. A golden idol to worship. A sacred voice to whisper dark oaths to us.
So... where are you, grammar god? Where?
I've always imagined some sort of grammar god locked away in a steel tower on a high and impregnable cliff. And of course, he'd be surrounded by a massive library with multiple floors and a gold brass ladder that would fly back and forth to reach the endless shelves. Of course, he or she would actually be too old and too withered to climb the ladder any longer, but it'd still be around in case some ancient comma splice still needed to be contested. I assume that the grammar god has the internet and also some high-ranking, but barely understandable role in higher education.
Who is making the rules? Is grammar and style a hidden order, like those albino monks from that Jesus book? If I continue to break these hallowed rules, will a cloaked figure step out of the shadows to strangle me with a thin piano wire? There are organizations and high councils in academia that do have meetings on the future of modern grammar. However, these organizations are as numerous and contrary as they are vague. Unless you're subscribed to various higher-education charters, you'll be left out in the dark. For the majority of the human population that tends not to be the popular reading material, there needs to be a face to grammar. A grammar rock-star. A golden idol to worship. A sacred voice to whisper dark oaths to us.
So... where are you, grammar god? Where?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Back to the Forge
It's been a while since I've blogged. It's been a while since I've even thought about anything to blog. And it's been a while since the blog has wanted me to write. Nonetheless, here I am in all my blogging being.
It's not like anything has not happened, things have been happening. The problem is I've been hammering away at the metal and not worrying about which tongs to grab it with. There is a finished product. My digitally composed novel called Red 39. Why do I mention the 'digitally composed' status of my novel? Because I've 'written' other novels by hand and those inscriptions lack the power of a typed novel wholeheartedly. I use to be afraid to type my writing. There was something about the sterile look of black pixels against a seemingly endless white background that made my skin crawl. After all, I had received a 'higher education' of creative writing and loved writing my entire life. Writing meant more to me than just some computer program interacting with my keystrokes.
Barf, gag and wretch!
In some fashion or another, every writer goes through this poetic conundrum. Do you uphold the beauty of writing itself and not sacrifice a single shred of artistic ingenuity for audience appeal? Do you 'sellout' and go for more commercial and profitable markets? You may read this fellow ink-mongers and think, "well, I'd never do that. My writing is so good. Everyone will understand it and like it". You're stupid. Your writing has to be somewhat approachable or you're just being selfish. That instruction and statement appear to be a motif among my blogs. Really what I meant to be writing about at the onset of this thing was that I am happy to be blogging again, specifically about writing. I've tried dabbling in other blogs, doing reviews, sports, stuff like that, but other blogs never really took hold. Even with the Forge, I seem be doing at random and sporadic moments. So that should be it for now.
Conclusion entered here.
It's not like anything has not happened, things have been happening. The problem is I've been hammering away at the metal and not worrying about which tongs to grab it with. There is a finished product. My digitally composed novel called Red 39. Why do I mention the 'digitally composed' status of my novel? Because I've 'written' other novels by hand and those inscriptions lack the power of a typed novel wholeheartedly. I use to be afraid to type my writing. There was something about the sterile look of black pixels against a seemingly endless white background that made my skin crawl. After all, I had received a 'higher education' of creative writing and loved writing my entire life. Writing meant more to me than just some computer program interacting with my keystrokes.
Barf, gag and wretch!
In some fashion or another, every writer goes through this poetic conundrum. Do you uphold the beauty of writing itself and not sacrifice a single shred of artistic ingenuity for audience appeal? Do you 'sellout' and go for more commercial and profitable markets? You may read this fellow ink-mongers and think, "well, I'd never do that. My writing is so good. Everyone will understand it and like it". You're stupid. Your writing has to be somewhat approachable or you're just being selfish. That instruction and statement appear to be a motif among my blogs. Really what I meant to be writing about at the onset of this thing was that I am happy to be blogging again, specifically about writing. I've tried dabbling in other blogs, doing reviews, sports, stuff like that, but other blogs never really took hold. Even with the Forge, I seem be doing at random and sporadic moments. So that should be it for now.
Conclusion entered here.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Get Some Friends
It's been awhile. If I had an audience, I apologize for the long absence. Since I've last posted a blog, I've completed one book, nearly a second one, and am working on another. The book I actually finished will have a better chance at publication once I have published other books. Trusting my instinct I feel like it's not a book you'd start out with. Not that there is any perfect formula for publishing or writing popular literature.
Well anyways, the book I am working on currently is going okay, and I'll leave it at that.
Moreover the reason I feel compelled to start blogging about writing is that I have so many goddamn opinions about the beast and not enough people to share them with. Simple really, a very simple reason to start blogging again. This little metaphorical diatribe about my personal life leads into my blogs discussion topic. Is writing a truly solitary activity? Can you have a small or large web of writing pals? Or is it better to simply isolate yourself from writing and work on it solely in a Gollum-like manner? Unfortunately you can't just shut yourself in a dark cave at the bottom of the Misty Mountains and hope to create a modern masterpiece of literature. You need to get somewhat of an opinion on your writing. You need to build a small audience to help improve your writing. As a writer don't lie to yourself. You're a selfish and egotistical person. Hence why you have picked the most internal and solitary art form to immerse yourself in. Writing requires so much from the author it's nearly debilitating. Workshops, as lovely and friendly as they may seem in your warm coffee shop setting, are really self-gratifying meetings where writers lovingly get other writers to focus on themselves. You create the spotlight and you point it at yourself. It's sadomasochism nearly. It's also extremely helpful for all parties involved.
You must have a workshop or group of cronies to analyze your writing. Even if it's just a few people looking over one page of your work, their comments are priceless. As writers we may think we know everything, and we might, but regardless you need the opinions of others to make your writing work with an audience. The consistent disregard for audience is rampant among modern writers and preached heavily in our creative writing education system. This whole idea of writing what you know and discovering yourself with writing is ridiculous since writing literature is an act of discovery and not realization. There's my random metaphorical tangent for you with no actual evidence. Having workshops and writing buddies is essential to acknowledging your audience. The more you understand your audience, the more likely you're going to encounter success.
So make it so. I'll do the same. Get some friends. Just remember to make sure they're not only selfish but egotistical. We've got to have some standards.
Good to be back!
Well anyways, the book I am working on currently is going okay, and I'll leave it at that.
Moreover the reason I feel compelled to start blogging about writing is that I have so many goddamn opinions about the beast and not enough people to share them with. Simple really, a very simple reason to start blogging again. This little metaphorical diatribe about my personal life leads into my blogs discussion topic. Is writing a truly solitary activity? Can you have a small or large web of writing pals? Or is it better to simply isolate yourself from writing and work on it solely in a Gollum-like manner? Unfortunately you can't just shut yourself in a dark cave at the bottom of the Misty Mountains and hope to create a modern masterpiece of literature. You need to get somewhat of an opinion on your writing. You need to build a small audience to help improve your writing. As a writer don't lie to yourself. You're a selfish and egotistical person. Hence why you have picked the most internal and solitary art form to immerse yourself in. Writing requires so much from the author it's nearly debilitating. Workshops, as lovely and friendly as they may seem in your warm coffee shop setting, are really self-gratifying meetings where writers lovingly get other writers to focus on themselves. You create the spotlight and you point it at yourself. It's sadomasochism nearly. It's also extremely helpful for all parties involved.
You must have a workshop or group of cronies to analyze your writing. Even if it's just a few people looking over one page of your work, their comments are priceless. As writers we may think we know everything, and we might, but regardless you need the opinions of others to make your writing work with an audience. The consistent disregard for audience is rampant among modern writers and preached heavily in our creative writing education system. This whole idea of writing what you know and discovering yourself with writing is ridiculous since writing literature is an act of discovery and not realization. There's my random metaphorical tangent for you with no actual evidence. Having workshops and writing buddies is essential to acknowledging your audience. The more you understand your audience, the more likely you're going to encounter success.
So make it so. I'll do the same. Get some friends. Just remember to make sure they're not only selfish but egotistical. We've got to have some standards.
Good to be back!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Get or Get lost in the Jargon
I realize that one of the trickiest things about writing science fiction and fantasy is creating a reasonable universe for your audience to understand and not to understand. As I plod on through my current novel I can't help but wonder, am I leaving crucial road signs for my audience to follow? Am I in fact leaving too many roadsigns for them? Is the experience not even that strange? Am I legitimizing my fantasy elements too much? It is possible to ruin amazing objects of fantasy by over clarifying them or making them too lucid for our imagination to bear.
There has to be that moment in fantasy and science fiction where the readers imagination takes over as author and illuminates everything from an imaginative center. It is this mechanism that makes science fiction and fantasy so alluring for me as a writer. This is where you as author, with the help of a complete strangers imagination, can create: monsters, castles, airships, spears, emblems, and claws together simultaneously. World-making becomes a subconscious webbing between author and reader. All genres do this, they borrow from the readers imagination to fill in the blanks. But no genre relies on it more then science fiction and fantasy.
So going onto my next point, what about the universe you create for your readers? How do you know when to pull back or to lay it on with detail and explanation. The answer I am finding out so far is you really don't know, it's all up in the air. You can look at your own writing from the audiences perspective, it is a worthy endeavor, but don't let it tyrannically dictate your every motive. That would get you nowhere accept into one of those cheesy lost fantasy quest video games somewhere between Squaresoft and Enix. I am really trying to aim at right now is the delicate balance of detail and universe creation in science fiction and fantasy, there must be a balance or something? I guess i'll just study the masters, and well, muddle through it all. Ah, the pleasures of being completely unproven.
There has to be that moment in fantasy and science fiction where the readers imagination takes over as author and illuminates everything from an imaginative center. It is this mechanism that makes science fiction and fantasy so alluring for me as a writer. This is where you as author, with the help of a complete strangers imagination, can create: monsters, castles, airships, spears, emblems, and claws together simultaneously. World-making becomes a subconscious webbing between author and reader. All genres do this, they borrow from the readers imagination to fill in the blanks. But no genre relies on it more then science fiction and fantasy.
So going onto my next point, what about the universe you create for your readers? How do you know when to pull back or to lay it on with detail and explanation. The answer I am finding out so far is you really don't know, it's all up in the air. You can look at your own writing from the audiences perspective, it is a worthy endeavor, but don't let it tyrannically dictate your every motive. That would get you nowhere accept into one of those cheesy lost fantasy quest video games somewhere between Squaresoft and Enix. I am really trying to aim at right now is the delicate balance of detail and universe creation in science fiction and fantasy, there must be a balance or something? I guess i'll just study the masters, and well, muddle through it all. Ah, the pleasures of being completely unproven.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Study Ourselves Before Talking About Egypt
I have to apologize first off.
I did not realize that people actually read my blog until now. Of course I was inept to the point that I could not figure out how many blog views I had achieved. I was completely unaware I was scarcely becoming successful at this venture. So because success stokes the fire oh so well, I have returned. And my first blog will be about what is occurring in Egypt currently, because as the rabid news coverage has declared, this is a big deal.
I think as an American and as people in America try and conceive what is occurring in Egypt we must remember that critical rule when thinking of international problems- what if this were occurring in our country? How would we deal with it? Now that the revolution has occurred and Mubarak's days are numbered we can talk about why something like this is so relevant, and why the media was saturated with it 24/7.
Well this revolution was taking place in Egypt their whole world literally stood still. The stock market closed, food became scarce, cash went empty, no internet, and the state run media became estranged. Until this meager resolution between protesters and Mubarak was made, the whole country was under the thumb of social unrest. In today's world with the media and technology moving us through the world at a near light speed, the idea of a country shutting down through political unrest in the modern society is nearly inconceivable.
As I listen to a wide variety of opinions about what has occurred in Egypt from those well versed in world affairs, and those who are not. I can't help see the folly in the American perception of this revolution. I see compassion from people who are so opinionated, don't get me wrong, but I think there is a fundamental ignorance in how we perceive an international event like this as Americans. That ignorance is prevalent because we have yet to experience a politically inspired inconvenience in the modern era.
Imagine being in the United States and having all of our conveniences taken away because of civil unrest. The stock market would be closed along with the banks. No internet, the mobile network would be clogged and unwieldy, people would be forced to stay home and conserve resources. Sure we're used to these inconveniences and changes when weather and the elements dictate it, but what about the human climate. Would Americans be able to maintain themselves if a political disobedience occurred of this magnitude? Think hard about our personalities, our diversities, would we be able to maintain our composure over separated ideals that would shut down our country?
Think hard.
I wish people would keep in mind their environment before they criticize and dictate others, that type of thinking is dangerous, and will undoubtedly cause a historical regression or speed bump in our societal evolution. We don't need anymore of those.
I did not realize that people actually read my blog until now. Of course I was inept to the point that I could not figure out how many blog views I had achieved. I was completely unaware I was scarcely becoming successful at this venture. So because success stokes the fire oh so well, I have returned. And my first blog will be about what is occurring in Egypt currently, because as the rabid news coverage has declared, this is a big deal.
I think as an American and as people in America try and conceive what is occurring in Egypt we must remember that critical rule when thinking of international problems- what if this were occurring in our country? How would we deal with it? Now that the revolution has occurred and Mubarak's days are numbered we can talk about why something like this is so relevant, and why the media was saturated with it 24/7.
Well this revolution was taking place in Egypt their whole world literally stood still. The stock market closed, food became scarce, cash went empty, no internet, and the state run media became estranged. Until this meager resolution between protesters and Mubarak was made, the whole country was under the thumb of social unrest. In today's world with the media and technology moving us through the world at a near light speed, the idea of a country shutting down through political unrest in the modern society is nearly inconceivable.
As I listen to a wide variety of opinions about what has occurred in Egypt from those well versed in world affairs, and those who are not. I can't help see the folly in the American perception of this revolution. I see compassion from people who are so opinionated, don't get me wrong, but I think there is a fundamental ignorance in how we perceive an international event like this as Americans. That ignorance is prevalent because we have yet to experience a politically inspired inconvenience in the modern era.
Imagine being in the United States and having all of our conveniences taken away because of civil unrest. The stock market would be closed along with the banks. No internet, the mobile network would be clogged and unwieldy, people would be forced to stay home and conserve resources. Sure we're used to these inconveniences and changes when weather and the elements dictate it, but what about the human climate. Would Americans be able to maintain themselves if a political disobedience occurred of this magnitude? Think hard about our personalities, our diversities, would we be able to maintain our composure over separated ideals that would shut down our country?
Think hard.
I wish people would keep in mind their environment before they criticize and dictate others, that type of thinking is dangerous, and will undoubtedly cause a historical regression or speed bump in our societal evolution. We don't need anymore of those.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Flash Storytelling Misleading Quality Something Stuff
The abundance of places online that can provide people entertainment quickly and relentlessly is astounding. Through one website you can find thousands of movies, television shows, or anything else visually pleasing in terms of storytelling. We are given immediate satisfaction in terms of storytelling through Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon video. This is justified by our on demand society, but it is damaging for the quality of storytelling being produced. The faster things are released the lower in quality they might appear. Despite the sheer volume of storytelling media available, the production of anything really good requires an amazingly large amount of time, specifically those quality stories that do not fall into the mesh of mediocre crap that is out there. This phenomenon can be hard to explain in terms of artists who want to produce some miracle work of art. To create any sort of art with transcendental value, you must be patient with your own abilities and realize that all the classics require a large amount of time. There are thousands of examples of this throughout literature, film, and any of the visual mediums. I don't even feel cool enough to list one off, or wait, cough, Moby Dick by Herman Melville published posthumously. Therefore a huge story that fits the mold described, taking a long time to make a classic. Not producing mediocre crap to please mediocre audiences. Of course we all want an audience, so make sacrifices where you or your editor see fit. The flash stories flying around everywhere are not as good as a long developed story that took hours, years, or days to develop. If time were currency, classics would be the most expensive of all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)