Mar 10

A Writer’s Confessional Part Two

Self-doubt is like a disease that goes undetected, sneaks in, and metastasizes when I’m not looking. It sits like a lump in my mind. It’s awful because it can lead to depression. Creative people deal with this every day. And inevitably, when it latches on to my psyche, it leads to fear and then procrastination. Because I can’t fail at something if I don’t start it, right? But then I think of my mantra, “Failure is a bridge to success.” So, I can only keep looking forward.

The start of 2018 is a good one, even if it has been a rocky road. There have been some bumps, okay a lot of bumps, which is self-doubt. I’m still confident that my plan is manageable, which means even the days that I’m down, my goal is still in my mind. It pushes me forward with my writing and art. And I’m still using the bullet journal to see my accomplishments.

The days I wrote and didn’t paint or draw, I used a couple of Donald Maass books on writing. The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write with Emotional Power, Develop Achingly Real Characters, Move Your Readers, and Create Riveting Moral Stake, and his Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling. February was a fun, productive month in character development. The exercises will lead to a better outline and scenes that are full and beautiful with story. Each book has great lessons at the end of each section. Questions are listed so I can express the people I create in a more meaningful way. Most questions ask, how would a character react or function to inner and outer conflicts? They help define characters in a way that is more in-depth and intense. The reader will latch onto them to encourage experiencing the emotions the hero and heroines elicit. That’s what I want. It’s what my writing is missing. I even created another character that I didn’t see coming to add more tension to the story arc, which could lead to another book in the series.

There have also been places where my scenes are flat. They have no meaning to the story, or they aren’t becoming a part of who the character is, or fails to show what the place means to a character. I recently finished a chapter and shared it with my writer’s group, Deadwood Writers, for specifically this goal. I wanted the chapter to feel as if the reader was stepping into the soul of the character. That the place I was creating was a living memory of what the character experienced throughout her life and to have the main heroine understand that it was something she could/would want, or as someone put it in the writer’s group, or not. In conclusion, I decided my character isn’t ready yet to deal with what she’s feeling. So, I had to create a space that was lived in and had a good history. But at this point she must have it on pause, like a still painting in the back of her mind, ready to bring it back to life when she’s ready. I was pleased with the result. But you’ll have to wait to read it since it’s in the sequel to Hot Blacktop.

I’ve also worked on some fun projects in my art life, which I also listed in my bullet journal. I was on a mission to see where my art could fit into retail locations, and online at an Etsy store that I’ve started to create. I asked myself questions regarding starting a business along with talking with small gift shop store owners where I frequent. How can I sell my art? Where is the best place to do that? How do you choose the art you sell? Do I need a lawyer to create a business? How do I price my art? I did research online looking up other artists. I found videos, and articles, and will continue to develop what I intend to do.

Even though I stumbled in February, not working as many days as I did in January, I still made good progress. I can’t let the days of idleness get to me. I’m still doing what I love. I’m still learning. That’s all that matters.

Mar 06

Popular Video Game Series I’ve Never Played

Though I am someone who has played hundreds of video games in my lifetime, I have rarely checked out a title that was trending.  I have been very selective on what I purchase and I typically only go for games that intrigue me in some way.

Lately, I have had many conversations with other avid gamers who are shocked to learn I’ve never played a certain game – or a certain franchise for that matter.  Below is my list of ten popular video game series I’ve never personally delved into.

1)  Legend of Zelda – Easily the longest-running series on this list, Legend of Zelda got its start alll the way back in the 1980s.  It is a franchise that should be right up my alley with its fantasy setting, intriguing storylines, and loads of monsters to fight.  But for whatever reason, I never delved into any one of the installments in the series.  Out of all the games that made the list, Legend of Zelda would definitely be my first choice for a franchise to check out.

2)  Halo – A sci-fi adventure series that focuses on an interstellar war between humans and aliens, Halo is a franchise that I could easily have gotten into.  Sadly, the closest I’ve gotten to playing the actual games is an animated fan-made series called Red vs. Blue made popular on YouTube.  Though Red vs. Blue has little connection to Halo’s storyline, the former series has made me curious to discover what the games are all about.

3) Assassin’s Creed – As far as video games go, Assassin’s Creed has one of the most unique premises.  The franchise generally centers around a modern-day protagonist who uses an advanced form of virtual reality to assume the identity of one of his ancestors in different periods of history.  Each of the games in the series allows you to step into the shoes of an assassin who accepts contracts to take out certain people, interacts with real-life historical figures, and must solve a mystery lost to the ravages of time.  I’ve played games that are somewhat similar to Assassin’s Creed, and it is a series that I can definitely see myself giving a try.

4)  Doom – A first-person shooter franchise that debuted in the 1990s, Doom is a series I give props to for an innovative concept.  The original game in the franchise essentially saw colonists on Mars inadvertently open a portal to hell.  It was left to an unnamed space marine – subsequently coined as Doomguy by fans – to combat the demonic creatures that overtook the colony.  The closest I’ve gotten to playing Doom was when I delved into a separate game called Spear of Destiny that utilized the same interface.  But maybe someday…

5)  Silent Hill – An eerie video game series with a heavy emphasis on psychological horror, Silent Hill is one of those games where the player must rely more on stealth or running away instead of combat.  I don’t know how eager I am to explore a nightmarish world populated by truly-original freakish monsters, but it is a franchise I may eventually give a shot.

6)  Street Fighter – A fighting game series that dates back to 1987, Street Fighter is perhaps the most surprising franchise that I never got into.  I’m no stranger to fighting games, and I’ve played my share of a similar series, Mortal Kombat.  I’ve also delved into many games or movies featuring characters from Street Fighter, such as Super Puzzle Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Wreck-It Ralph.  It may be time I stop skating along the edges and actually give the parent series a try.

7)  World of Warcraft – One of the most popular online multiplayer game series out there, World of Warcraft is a franchise that consistently keeps coming out with new content.  I’ve never been a big fan of online gameplay, though I have delved into it.  I’ve dabbled in Everquest, but could never get into it enough to keep at it long-term.  And I’ve had some bad experiences with a large group of gamers on a lesser known online multiplayer game called Batheo.  But that doesn’t mean I won’t change my mind and check out the fantasy setting of World of Warcraft.

8)  Pokemon – Pokemon is a video game series that I might not have gotten into because it was all the rage back when it first started.  It didn’t help that I used to work in a video rental store where I had kids asking for a Pokemon game or film on a daily basis.  I feel that hearing about something too much is a good way to make you detest that particular thing.  I’ve since had an ample amount of time to distance myself from the phenomenon, and I’ve started to look at the Pokemon games as something I might be interested in.

9)  Tomb Raider – An adventure series with a self-explanatory title, Tomb Raider chronicles the story of archaeologist Lara Croft as she explores ancient ruins in search of treasure.  I can’t say why I never gave any of the Tomb Raider games a chance, but I do feel it is a premise I could sink my teeth into.

10) Five Nights at Freddy’s – Five Nights at Freddy’s is a survival horror franchise that debuted in 2014, but already has six games to its name.  Of all the series that made the list, the popularity of Five Nights at Freddy’s puzzles me the most.  I don’t see much variation between any of the installments of the series – no matter which one you start with, you’re basically playing all the games in one sitting.  Five Nights at Freddy’s may be an overrated series where you’re trying to elude living killer human-sized animatronics, but it is also one that I may check out just to say I tried it.

For someone who loves video games, it is surprising that I’ve never played some of the most popular or acclaimed franchises out there.  Each of the series on this list has such a big fanbase that it may be time for me to see what the hype is all about.   And who knows – I might just find a new favorite or two.

 

Mar 04

Writing for an Oscar

As avid movie goers, my husband and I were thrilled to have seen all nine of the movies nominated for best picture for 2018. Also, before Oscar night, we always attend a special showing of the nominated animated short films, the live action short films, and the short documentaries at the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

 

The writing for some of the full-length feature films is exceptional. Four of the movies are standouts for me.

 

  1. “Get Out,” a horror thriller with serious issues about race relations and stereotypes
  2. “The Shape of Water,” a romantic fantasy with subtle tones of discrimination
  3. “Phantom Thread,” a riveting depiction of serious control issues
  4. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” a heart wrenching story about seeking justice

 

If you’re looking for good writing, you can’t go wrong viewing these movies as well as the other five nominees:

 

  1. “Call Me by Your Name,” shows the awakening of a teenager’s unconventional romance
  2. “Darkest Hour,” tracks Prime Minister Churchill’s early fight against the Nazis
  3. “Dunkirk,” a World War II movie from the point of view of the soldiers on the beach hoping for rescue
  4. “Lady Bird,” depicts a relationship between a rebellious teen and her overly anxious mother
  5. “The Post,” the true-life story of the journalists’ need to expose the truth about the Vietnam War

 

At the time of this posting, the Oscars were already awarded. Did your favorite movie receive the coveted gold-plated statue? Do you think you could have written a better script?

Mar 01

Editor’s Log: 6+1 Traits for Writers

About 12 years ago, the Deadwood Writers did a 2-part workshop on the 6+1 Traits for Writing. The thinking was to use the language of the traits in our critique sessions, so that the feedback conversations were on point regarding author craft. Today, those conversations continue to be influenced by the Traits. Admittedly, we do need a refresher. The group membership has evolved, there is a core of stalwarts from the time of the workshop, and later established members who came on board after those sessions.

When sharing a writing piece for feedback, the writer shares questions for feedback. When based on the Traits, as the following excerpt from their site shows:

The feedback from the group is more targeted and supportive. There are always opinions to be shared. Conversations within the scope of one of these areas helps ensure that the feedback can be substantive and use text evidence from the writer’s work. This helps the writer reflect on how the feedback aligns to their work.

In posts that follow, I will take a closer look at each of these traits for how best to support the work of the Deadwood Writers, and other groups that are interested in this approach to conversations.

 

Feb 21

Beyond the Wall

I was intrigued by the title–Beyond The Wall: The Human Toll of Border Crossings. This lecture was sponsored by Wallace House and given at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

There were three speakers: Brooke Jarvis, Jason De Leon and Ann Lin.

I was especially intrigued by Brooke Jarvis, a journalist and 2017 winner of the Livingston Award for her story “Unclaimed “. It was featured in The California Sunday Magazine in 2017.

About 18 years ago, a man was found in the desert of the southwest United States. There had been some kind of accident and he was taken unconscious to the hospital. He was in very bad shape.

The man had no identification, and because he was unconscious, no one could ask him who he was. This man was kept alive for years on respirators. But, who was he? What was his name? Where did he come from? Did he have family waiting for him?

Eventually, after 18 years, a Border Patrol Agent came to see him. He was determined to find out who this man was. He ordered the man’s information put in several government databases. Within two days the man was identified and his sister located.

For families of people who try to come to the United States illegally, a source of great trauma is, if they don’t make it, how does the family find out what happened? For years these families suffer–wondering, worried and traumatized.

Our current border walls and surveillance systems in the southwest United States are quite secure. The only way left to try to cross illegally is through the desert. Many people, if not most, die because of the terrain, lack of water and the terrible heat.

Currently there are about 800 bodies in morgues in the southwest United States waiting to be identified. There are also online websites for families seeking information about their loved ones who never arrived.

Wouldn’t it be humane, once someone has died trying to cross, to let their families know? Technology has advanced so much that this could be done by the repatriation of bodies or DNA evidence.

What do you think?