Back on Track....or something like that.

So...I haven't posted in a little while. Almost 3 months. Fortunately, it does not mean that I've stopped writing. I've been quite busy lately, and when that happens, something always has to give. For the last 10 weeks, it was this blog.

My friend (& main character) Gero is alive and well, I'm happy to report. Struggling to survive against all odds. Defying death. All that amazing cool exciting adventurous stuff. I'm trying to get him through a prison break. I'm nearly at the moment where it all goes down, and then the story is really going to open up. It's very exciting, and I find myself playing with the tension and suspense of every moment.

At times I sit back and wonder, though, will people enjoy the story? Will anyone enjoy the story for that matter? I certainly hope that they do. And then I remember that I do, and that's enough. Although I'm writing this story to be read and enjoyed by other people, I'm really doing it for myself. Completing my first novel, in itself, will be a great success for me. Anything in addition to that is icing on the cake.

Gero's been in prison for a while now. All he gets to eat is gooey slop for every meal. I bet he wouldn't mind some cake. Maybe he'll find some on the outside. Who knows?

Speaking of cake....



Happy writing....

Escape the (sometimes) Dull Reality

I think most people would agree with the idea that reality is just boring sometimes. Too much of reality isn't what us humans are about. Says who? Says I! We've got dreams, and we aspire to make them come true. If we're lucky, we may come close. Watching (or making!) a movie, reading (or writing!) a book, or even listening to (or playing!) music can help us escape reality and reconnect to those dreams. Then again, if we get lost in our dreams, we risk destroying any opportunities we may come along to realize them. I'm not sure what the prognosis is for too much reality, but I imagine (hah!) striking an even balance of some kind is the healthy way to go.

If we're not dreaming, we're not living. So I like to put aside some time in my day to connect with my dreams. I like to be reminded about why I do what I do. Even if it's mindless entertainment, I find escaping reality for a little while refreshes my mind and even improves the quality of the time in my life that I spend in reality. Either that, or I'm still 12 and I don't want to grow up.

There are some great stories out there. Get unrealistic.

And with that I would like to leave you with this (possibly wise) piece of wisdom from one of my favorite characters in the world of B-movie horror cinema:

"Dry hair is for squids."
                                            - Jack Death (Trancers, 1985)


Happy writing....

The Importance Of Being Outlined?

I'm going to put this right out there: I don't like outlines. Yes, I understand how useful they can be. Outlines help you organize your thoughts...yada yada yada. Yes, I completely get the potential benefits of having an outline.

But, I just plain don't like 'em. When the outline smiles at me, I do not smile back. Whenever I start an outline it feels like I am locking myself in some sort of mental cage while simultaneously telling myself to 'think outside the box'.

Okay, Okay. So, for some people they really do work. And, I'll admit they have helped me organize my thoughts in the past. But this is different. This is not some essay I'm submitting to be reviewed and graded. More so, this is a free-form writing exercise, if you will. I write as I go and go as I write. This seems to work for me. No doubt, editing will help. But that will come later. Right now, it's time to enjoy this process of just writing. No editing, no proof-reading. All I need to do is just get my character from point A to point B. That's it.

For now:)

Happy writing....

Keeping The Faith

This writing of the first novel thing is no joke. It's not easy. In fact, it's downright difficult at times. Writing every day requires a lot of discipline. I have missed a few days recently, but I'm determined to keep at it, even though I may not be able to write every single day consecutively. As they say, in writing, keeping a regular schedule is very important. Setting and achieving small goals is a great way to ensure timely completion and reinforce one's resolve to finish. I very much want to tell this story, and I will. It isn't since my last real short film project that I have felt so strongly about something.

Completing my first novel by the end of the year is a reasonable goal (skeptics feel free to chime in here). It presents me with a challenge, but it is a reachable goal as opposed to one that is too far-fetched. I'm really excited at the thought of publishing my first novel, and I feel really motivated to get it done. I know it won't be perfect, but I'll get it done and move on to the next book in the series.

I don't put a lot of stock in religion, but faith has undoubtedly a power to move mountains. And so, I continue my journey. No matter how overwhelmed or discouraged I might feel, I'll surely keep the faith and trek on.

Happy writing...

Navigating the Desert

So I'm driving through New Mexico and Arizona, on my way into California, when I realize I'm driving through a major setting for my novel. I'm thinking: This is where my story begins. Much like my cool pictures of the week, my main character Gero begins his journey in this barren wasteland of rock and sand. It was invigorating to be driving through this area, and it generated some ideas I have of where I might take the story. There's something really visually striking about this type of environment. Almost other-worldly. There is very litte life as it's a unforgiving environment. It exudes danger and a low chance of survival...the perfect environment for Gero to start out in.

If you've never driven across the United States, you might consider making the plans. It's quite a unique experience to see this beautiful country first-hand. I found it quite inspiring...and a little inspiration never hurts:)

Happy writing...

Keeping Up The Pace

Well, I just finished another 600 words today. I've discovered it really helps me keep my momentum going if I don't force myself to write everything on that day itself. Leaving the next scene to the next day really gives me something to think about even on a subconscious level. I find myself ready and excited to write my next entry into this story that I'm creating. Some writing days are harder than others, and this technique really seems to help me keep up the pace.

Today I was writing a fight scene mostly. It's a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I did my best to keep it interesting and in step with the characters. Of course, when I get into the rewrite later on in my process, it may change significantly. Who knows at this point? The cool thing is, I don't have to know. I know if I get to wrapped up in the details and getting it perfect now, I may never finish this. And not finishing is not an option!

Enjoy the rest of the week. And....Happy Writing!

Revisiting Star Trek

There is something about paper cut-out sets and aluminum foil glued on cardboard that makes for a classic spaceship control room. Seriously, those old Enterprise control rooms from the 1960's Television show are ancient now. Who would have thought that such hammy over-the-top production would be the spawning of a world of content supported by generations of loyal followers? When pondering this Star Trek phenomenon, you might be asking yourself...why?...how?...huh?


The answer, I believe, lies in the genre, and the charm of a handful of unlikely heroes defying odds all over the galaxy. Let's be quite clear about something. A story without identifiable characters cannot be a good story. Captain James T. Kirk is a house-hold name, as is Spock, his pointy-eared friend and colleague. Their characters' celebrity is not by coincidence. By the genre, I'm referring to science-fiction. 


I think science-fiction isn't given enough credit as a genre. I would argue that science-fiction has paved the way for many progressive leaps and bounds in storytelling. Somehow, because it is, in fact, fiction, we are not as afraid as we otherwise might be when depicting other races and cultures in the worlds we create. It's an exciting world, because it has not happened, yet. We can hypothesize. We can envision a possible future where the problems of today are long gone, where humans have evolved and we've become better as a people. This is what science-fiction is about. Where is there a more liberating place to study and, in effect, perpetuate the human condition? It's a place where reality has only the power we allow it have. This is the appeal of Star Trek, and you don't have to be a science geek to enjoy the experience. 


Whoa...might have gone a little too deep there for a moment. Anyhoo....


So, I had seen the latest film in theaters and it was fantastic. I was just having another look at it on Blu-Ray, and it looks stunning. It was just as enjoyable if not more so the second time I saw it. The film was a great success in large part because it re-established the characters we know so well. Of course, it didn't hurt to have mind-blowing visuals here and there. I don't think the chairs were made out of cardboard, either.

Unpredictable

I love a good adventure story as much as the next person. Every story starts with a good character. Of course, good doesn't mean the character has to be 'good' or 'moral.' In fact, some of the best characters are quite the opposite.

Last night, I watched a film called Bad Lieutentant Port of Call New Orleans. I'm still thinking about whether or not I'd call it a good movie. However, it was certainly entertaining. Most importantly, it had an interesting character played by Nicolas Cage, who fearlessly jumps into this deeply troubled police detective's shoes. The character is immensely flawed, extremely unpredictable, and charming all at the same time.

In writing Gero, I'm constantly thinking about what makes him so interesting to me. One of his signature traits, much like Nic Cage's character in Bad Lieutentant, is that he is unpredictable and this trait often gets him out of hairy situations.

It was fun to see Nic Cage trying something different. He is a fearless actor and underrated. No doubt playing the character was an adventure in itself.

Escape from Earth continues....happy writing

The Beginning

Folks, this is my first entry for what I hope to be just the beginning of a great experience. I've started writing my first novel. I've always wanted to write a novel. It's already been a lot of hard work so far, and I'm determined to finish it by the end of the year.

Hopefully, this novel will be the first of many novels chronicling the adventures of a new character, Gero. My imagination is enjoying wandering the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure. These are genres that I generally enjoy reading, and I think I can offer other followers of the genres some exciting entertainment.

If you're also starting your first novel, like me, or if you're a veteran and you have some pointers for us newbies, I'd love to hear from you. I'm also a film lover, and I'm trained as a film director. Maybe you wanna talk Predators, or Avatar, or Inception, or anything else science fiction, give me a shout.

To all of you out there....be safe, enjoy life...see you around!