R.M. Willis's Blog, page 4
August 16, 2015
Characters
I watched Jupiter Ascending today with high hopes despite what many of the critiques were saying. After all I don't generally see eye-to-eye with them so their opinion doesn't usually have any sway over me. This time however I think that they got it right.
Despite being created by a couple of cinematic geniuses, the Wachowskis, this movie fell flat. As I was watching I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong. I mean the visual effects were stunning. The action/fight sequences were on par with the Matrix movies. The plot was relatively original with the appropriate amount of twists. So why did I find my mind wondering? Why did watching this half-dog half-man fighting a 7ft winged lizard bore me?
The answer I finally came to were the characters. They were shallow. Without some sort of depth I couldn't invest myself into them nor could I care about what their conflicts and struggles were. Characters are everything to story, especially a science fiction story.
This of course is of even more profound import when you're talking about the characters in a written story. You can have a good story, with an interesting plot, and a beautifully described setting, but if you don't have profound characters that the reader can relate to then the story will fail.
I don't think anyone has ever said it better than Tim O'Brien
"The goal, I suppose, any fiction writer has, no matter what your subject, is to hit the human heart and the tear ducts and the nape of the neck and to make a person feel something about the characters are going through and to experience the moral paradoxes and struggles of being human."
That ladies and gentlemen is the truth of the matter. Without character there is no story.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I've written.
Despite being created by a couple of cinematic geniuses, the Wachowskis, this movie fell flat. As I was watching I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong. I mean the visual effects were stunning. The action/fight sequences were on par with the Matrix movies. The plot was relatively original with the appropriate amount of twists. So why did I find my mind wondering? Why did watching this half-dog half-man fighting a 7ft winged lizard bore me?
The answer I finally came to were the characters. They were shallow. Without some sort of depth I couldn't invest myself into them nor could I care about what their conflicts and struggles were. Characters are everything to story, especially a science fiction story.
This of course is of even more profound import when you're talking about the characters in a written story. You can have a good story, with an interesting plot, and a beautifully described setting, but if you don't have profound characters that the reader can relate to then the story will fail.
I don't think anyone has ever said it better than Tim O'Brien
"The goal, I suppose, any fiction writer has, no matter what your subject, is to hit the human heart and the tear ducts and the nape of the neck and to make a person feel something about the characters are going through and to experience the moral paradoxes and struggles of being human."
That ladies and gentlemen is the truth of the matter. Without character there is no story.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I've written.
August 6, 2015
Done!
Well I've finished writing the rough draft of my new science fiction novella titled "Reckoning." Now it's time to put into action the team behind the curtain who really are responsible for what makes a book possible.
The publishing house that has agreed to take on the project introduced me to the cover artist yesterday and she is very excited about the story and the ideas I have for the visual introduction to the book.
This morning I'm meeting with an old friend of mine who practices EMDR therapy (if you don't know what that is check out this link: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/) who has graciously agreed to write the forward to and explain the science behind the story.
Then later this evening I have a meeting with the editor who will help me to cut away at the unnecessary trivialities that all authors painstakingly add to their stories for no apparent reason. Oh, and she'll help me to make any corrections in spelling, grammar, punctuation etc...
Creating a new story for people to enjoy is truly one of the most joyous experiences I've ever had. It's an incredible amount of work that can only be completed by a huge team of experts each of them just as passionate about their piece of the whole and none of them capable of doing it without the others.
I hope when it comes out that everyone enjoys it half as much as they enjoyed Power Rises. I'll be honest it's very different, there is no magic, elves or dwarves. It is pure science fiction and takes a hard look at our criminal justice system and what it could truly look like 50-100 years from now.
I hope that is sparks your imaginations, and creates little moments of conversation on a quite night.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog entry.
The publishing house that has agreed to take on the project introduced me to the cover artist yesterday and she is very excited about the story and the ideas I have for the visual introduction to the book.
This morning I'm meeting with an old friend of mine who practices EMDR therapy (if you don't know what that is check out this link: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/) who has graciously agreed to write the forward to and explain the science behind the story.
Then later this evening I have a meeting with the editor who will help me to cut away at the unnecessary trivialities that all authors painstakingly add to their stories for no apparent reason. Oh, and she'll help me to make any corrections in spelling, grammar, punctuation etc...
Creating a new story for people to enjoy is truly one of the most joyous experiences I've ever had. It's an incredible amount of work that can only be completed by a huge team of experts each of them just as passionate about their piece of the whole and none of them capable of doing it without the others.
I hope when it comes out that everyone enjoys it half as much as they enjoyed Power Rises. I'll be honest it's very different, there is no magic, elves or dwarves. It is pure science fiction and takes a hard look at our criminal justice system and what it could truly look like 50-100 years from now.
I hope that is sparks your imaginations, and creates little moments of conversation on a quite night.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog entry.
July 19, 2015
A New Story
I know that most people want me to finish the sequel to Power Rises, and believe me when I say I'm working very hard on it. Unfortunately I have a small problem.
You see this other story has found its way into my head and won't go away. It keeps me from sleeping, and every single time I sit down to work on "Power Spreads" it runs interference. So I'm left with no choice. I have to write it.
I relinquished a few days ago and started working on what I'm calling "Reckoning" so far I'm 8,000 words in and still going strong. I'm not sure how long it will be in the end, I think somewhere in the novella length (between 15,000 and 40,000 words) but that is up to the characters, not me.
It's a science fiction story set about 100 years in our future. Here is what I'm thinking for the back copy, or blurb, of the book, tell me what you think:
~There are turning points in our lives; crossroads that we come to that once picked send us down a certain path. Heather Lawson’s job is to find those points in the past of societies criminals and help them to pick a different direction.
Is she ready to help Michael Cordley the first man in the solar system to be convicted of rape and murder in nearly five years? Can she put her pride aside to do what is necessary in order to bring his case to a close? Or, will she be responsible for the first failed criminal rehabilitation in more than half a century?~
The nice part is I've already got a publisher lined up to take it on which helps a ton! I'm hoping sometime in the next few months I'll have it finished so that I can get my head clear and focused again on the next book in my "Ways of Power" series.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post!
You see this other story has found its way into my head and won't go away. It keeps me from sleeping, and every single time I sit down to work on "Power Spreads" it runs interference. So I'm left with no choice. I have to write it.
I relinquished a few days ago and started working on what I'm calling "Reckoning" so far I'm 8,000 words in and still going strong. I'm not sure how long it will be in the end, I think somewhere in the novella length (between 15,000 and 40,000 words) but that is up to the characters, not me.
It's a science fiction story set about 100 years in our future. Here is what I'm thinking for the back copy, or blurb, of the book, tell me what you think:
~There are turning points in our lives; crossroads that we come to that once picked send us down a certain path. Heather Lawson’s job is to find those points in the past of societies criminals and help them to pick a different direction.
Is she ready to help Michael Cordley the first man in the solar system to be convicted of rape and murder in nearly five years? Can she put her pride aside to do what is necessary in order to bring his case to a close? Or, will she be responsible for the first failed criminal rehabilitation in more than half a century?~
The nice part is I've already got a publisher lined up to take it on which helps a ton! I'm hoping sometime in the next few months I'll have it finished so that I can get my head clear and focused again on the next book in my "Ways of Power" series.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post!
July 12, 2015
My New Website!
Hey everyone, I now have my own website. Please check it out and tell me what you think. I'll do my best to keep it up-to-date, however I'll still do all of my blogging here on Goodreads.
http://authorrmwillis.wix.com/authorpage
http://authorrmwillis.wix.com/authorpage
Camping
I took my kids, and met my grandparents on the side of a mountain for five days of camping. There is nothing quite like three vastly different generations getting in touch with nature.
I love my grandparents, I really do, they helped raise me. So in many ways I owe the man I am today to them. However they come from a different time, and their expectations particularly of children are nothing like my own.
While I was partially raised by them, I was also raised by my own parents which had a profound effect on who I am and the way I parent my children. My grandparents came from a time where children were to be seen and not heard, where women stayed in the kitchen, and men were the chief breadwinners and masters of the home.
My parents taught me to always speak my mind. This is a trait I share with my children, though I do temper it with the need to share your thoughts in a respectful manner. This fostered a relationship of trust and understanding between my parents and I and is one that I would like to see blossom as my children get older.
My grandparents nearly fainted when my daughter very politely explained why she felt that it was okay for her to drink a Pepsi before bed. Ultimately I sided with my grandparents on that one, but at least she attempted to stand up for herself in a respectful manner, and once a decision was made the argument was dropped immediately.
The damage was done however, in the eyes of my grandparents I was a terrible father and my daughter was prison bound. A ridiculous summation to be sure, but an interesting one none the less.
Another interesting thing that occurred was when my son pointed out that grandma stayed in the camper almost the entire time we were there. She never came out to sit by the fire, never came with us when we went fishing, and she waited on my grandpa like he was some sort of a king.
I had an interesting time trying to explain that it's just the way things used to be, and that I don't view his mother as anything less then my full partner and best friend and that's why she and I don't treat each other in this fashion, but it's okay that his great-grandparents did.
Besides these little quirks we had a great deal of fun. We fished everyday, (didn't catch anything) made a fire, and hid from the rain. We swam in the lake, told stories, and laughed a lot. In many ways I would say that it's camping, and not baseball that is the great American past time.
Thank you for reading.
I love my grandparents, I really do, they helped raise me. So in many ways I owe the man I am today to them. However they come from a different time, and their expectations particularly of children are nothing like my own.
While I was partially raised by them, I was also raised by my own parents which had a profound effect on who I am and the way I parent my children. My grandparents came from a time where children were to be seen and not heard, where women stayed in the kitchen, and men were the chief breadwinners and masters of the home.
My parents taught me to always speak my mind. This is a trait I share with my children, though I do temper it with the need to share your thoughts in a respectful manner. This fostered a relationship of trust and understanding between my parents and I and is one that I would like to see blossom as my children get older.
My grandparents nearly fainted when my daughter very politely explained why she felt that it was okay for her to drink a Pepsi before bed. Ultimately I sided with my grandparents on that one, but at least she attempted to stand up for herself in a respectful manner, and once a decision was made the argument was dropped immediately.
The damage was done however, in the eyes of my grandparents I was a terrible father and my daughter was prison bound. A ridiculous summation to be sure, but an interesting one none the less.
Another interesting thing that occurred was when my son pointed out that grandma stayed in the camper almost the entire time we were there. She never came out to sit by the fire, never came with us when we went fishing, and she waited on my grandpa like he was some sort of a king.
I had an interesting time trying to explain that it's just the way things used to be, and that I don't view his mother as anything less then my full partner and best friend and that's why she and I don't treat each other in this fashion, but it's okay that his great-grandparents did.
Besides these little quirks we had a great deal of fun. We fished everyday, (didn't catch anything) made a fire, and hid from the rain. We swam in the lake, told stories, and laughed a lot. In many ways I would say that it's camping, and not baseball that is the great American past time.
Thank you for reading.
June 30, 2015
First Published Short Story
Here is the link to my first published short story "First Day, Last Night", it just came out today!
**WARNING** This is a horror story and NOT for the faint of heart.
http://www.anotherealm.com/2015/ar070...
**WARNING** This is a horror story and NOT for the faint of heart.
http://www.anotherealm.com/2015/ar070...
June 29, 2015
Negative Emotions
Anger, greed, hate, pain, suffering, etc... all emotions that many wish to avoid at all costs. Besides, don't they lead to the dark side of the force? As a person who works with these emotional shadows on a daily basis I can attest to the dangers of trying to hide from them. Can they be scary? Yes, should they be avoided at all costs? No, in some cases they should even be embraced.
For me the most cathartic way of dealing with the internal turmoil is to write. As a fiction writer you sign a contract with the reader that you will honor their emotions, you will pay homage to their experiences and give them a way to escape the real world. So when I enter a dark place I hold on to that rage, or pain, and I savor ever nuance of it as I express it on the page.
If you use these moments of darkness to write the dark scenes, or give that evil character a little extra grit, then you write with authenticity. That is what I think Mark Twain really meant when he said "Write what you know". If you're happy in the moment, then write a happy scene, if you're sad, then that is the time to write about your character's anguish, when you're angry jot down that fight scene.
Not only will you be letting go of that darkness within you, but someone somewhere when they read that scene, when they hear your voice and the truth behind it, then they too will be able to let it go. We are social animals, we have to know that we are not alone, and sharing a moment of primal emotion with someone across the page is a very intimate contact. One that is not easily achieved through any other media.
So the next time you want to lash out with negativity do it, but do it on the page. Use the gift of words, and give that emotional release to yourself and someone else. Don't be afraid of it.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written.
For me the most cathartic way of dealing with the internal turmoil is to write. As a fiction writer you sign a contract with the reader that you will honor their emotions, you will pay homage to their experiences and give them a way to escape the real world. So when I enter a dark place I hold on to that rage, or pain, and I savor ever nuance of it as I express it on the page.
If you use these moments of darkness to write the dark scenes, or give that evil character a little extra grit, then you write with authenticity. That is what I think Mark Twain really meant when he said "Write what you know". If you're happy in the moment, then write a happy scene, if you're sad, then that is the time to write about your character's anguish, when you're angry jot down that fight scene.
Not only will you be letting go of that darkness within you, but someone somewhere when they read that scene, when they hear your voice and the truth behind it, then they too will be able to let it go. We are social animals, we have to know that we are not alone, and sharing a moment of primal emotion with someone across the page is a very intimate contact. One that is not easily achieved through any other media.
So the next time you want to lash out with negativity do it, but do it on the page. Use the gift of words, and give that emotional release to yourself and someone else. Don't be afraid of it.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written.
June 17, 2015
Summer Time Lemonade
Ahh, summer. For some people it's the promise of sunshine and fun outdoor activities. For others it's oppressive heat and unbearable bug bites. I generally fall into the latter category.
Don't get me wrong, it's not so much that I hate summer, I just seem to be allergic to it. Give me a cool spring morning, a colorful autumn afternoon, or best yet a crisp winter evening and I'll be a happy camper. Alas I must trudge through this season just as others must through their own least favorite times of the year.
That doesn't mean I don't make the best of it however. Robert Fulghum, said "The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you are." This is especially true in the summer time. If you don't water that grass then it's going to turn brown! So I try to not only water my lawn, but to also have fun despite the heat that makes me miserable.
I take my kids fishing, camping, and swimming. We run through the sprinklers together, and roll around in that green grass of ours. If I encounter a day that isn't too sweltering I may even take my wife to have a picnic in the shade.
The point is even if you find yourself in a situation that is less then desirable try to look for the good in it. Bring your water with you, make some lemonade and tend to that grass.
Thanks for reading.
Don't get me wrong, it's not so much that I hate summer, I just seem to be allergic to it. Give me a cool spring morning, a colorful autumn afternoon, or best yet a crisp winter evening and I'll be a happy camper. Alas I must trudge through this season just as others must through their own least favorite times of the year.
That doesn't mean I don't make the best of it however. Robert Fulghum, said "The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you are." This is especially true in the summer time. If you don't water that grass then it's going to turn brown! So I try to not only water my lawn, but to also have fun despite the heat that makes me miserable.
I take my kids fishing, camping, and swimming. We run through the sprinklers together, and roll around in that green grass of ours. If I encounter a day that isn't too sweltering I may even take my wife to have a picnic in the shade.
The point is even if you find yourself in a situation that is less then desirable try to look for the good in it. Bring your water with you, make some lemonade and tend to that grass.
Thanks for reading.
June 10, 2015
The Most Precious Resource
Time is by far the most precious resource any of us has. We are each given a finite amount to spend and the older we get the faster we burn through it. There is an interesting YouTube video put out by Michael on his Vsauce channel about time and how we perceive it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LyCC...
Until very recently I was working two full time jobs and getting an average of 3-4 hours of sleep per night. Now I only work one full time job, and even though I'm getting more sleep it still feels like I never have enough time for anything. It's so hard to slow things down, to take time for yourself, especially with a young family.
Kids demand time and attention, and they deserve every minute we can spare for them. After all they never asked to be born. They simply came into the world as innocents and it is a privilege to help them grow. Every day I'm amazed by my children. In many ways they've taught me far more then I will ever hope to teach them.
One of those things is how to efficiently multi-task. In order to be an effective, present parent, you have to have the ability to get the most out of the 23 hours 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds that we get per day.
So I read while I cook dinner, I run story ideas through my head as we play at the park, I write while sitting in traffic. I squeeze as much as possible out of every spare second I can. Sadly while actually at work there is very little I can do besides the work itself, but I can play out scenes in my mind to jot down as soon as I get home.
The point I'm making is that if something is important to you, as my writing and family are to me, then you make time for both. You intermingle them so that they can get equal amounts of your attention. There is no excuse for neglecting your family, nor is there one for neglecting your dreams. Pursue them together, they don't have to be mutually exclusive.
After all think of the great example you're setting for your kids. Don't just tell them they can be/do anything. Show them how it's done.
Thank you so much for giving of your time to read what I have written.
Until very recently I was working two full time jobs and getting an average of 3-4 hours of sleep per night. Now I only work one full time job, and even though I'm getting more sleep it still feels like I never have enough time for anything. It's so hard to slow things down, to take time for yourself, especially with a young family.
Kids demand time and attention, and they deserve every minute we can spare for them. After all they never asked to be born. They simply came into the world as innocents and it is a privilege to help them grow. Every day I'm amazed by my children. In many ways they've taught me far more then I will ever hope to teach them.
One of those things is how to efficiently multi-task. In order to be an effective, present parent, you have to have the ability to get the most out of the 23 hours 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds that we get per day.
So I read while I cook dinner, I run story ideas through my head as we play at the park, I write while sitting in traffic. I squeeze as much as possible out of every spare second I can. Sadly while actually at work there is very little I can do besides the work itself, but I can play out scenes in my mind to jot down as soon as I get home.
The point I'm making is that if something is important to you, as my writing and family are to me, then you make time for both. You intermingle them so that they can get equal amounts of your attention. There is no excuse for neglecting your family, nor is there one for neglecting your dreams. Pursue them together, they don't have to be mutually exclusive.
After all think of the great example you're setting for your kids. Don't just tell them they can be/do anything. Show them how it's done.
Thank you so much for giving of your time to read what I have written.
May 12, 2015
Stress
We all deal with stress differently. For me writing has always been the best release valve. But what happens when the thing that is supposed to be your release is the root of the problem? I'm not sure that it is at this point, but it might be.
I've had quite a bit of stress in my life recently in both my personal life and at my "day job". Unfortunately every time I sit down to try and write something I get this overwhelming feeling of anxiety. I'm not sure where it's coming from...but it's very unnerving. So I don't write, at all. This blog post is the first string of letters I've thrown on the screen in well over a week. Now that may not seem like a long time to most people, but when you're used to writing every spare minute of every day it feels like an eternity.
It's gotten so bad that I haven't even been on FaceBook or Twitter because my hands were shaking at the thought of posting. I know that there are literally thousands of people waiting for the sequel to Power Rises: The Ways of Power Book 1and I don't want to disappoint them. I think that may be part of the problem though. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I might not be able to live up to anyone's expectations, including my own.
So now what? I can't just leave Rancoth's story unfinished. Writing this right now is helping. Just seeing the words appear on the screen, feeling the keys under the tips of my fingers, hearing the clicking of the keyboard is somehow nourishing to my soul.
I too must see how the "Ways of Power" series will end. So I will hold on to this feeling I have right now and get back to work. But first, there is something that I must do.
I want to end this with a new tradition. From here on out I will always thank you. You the reader give your most precious and finite resource, time, and for that we the writers must be eternally grateful.
Thank you for giving your time to read what I have written.
I've had quite a bit of stress in my life recently in both my personal life and at my "day job". Unfortunately every time I sit down to try and write something I get this overwhelming feeling of anxiety. I'm not sure where it's coming from...but it's very unnerving. So I don't write, at all. This blog post is the first string of letters I've thrown on the screen in well over a week. Now that may not seem like a long time to most people, but when you're used to writing every spare minute of every day it feels like an eternity.
It's gotten so bad that I haven't even been on FaceBook or Twitter because my hands were shaking at the thought of posting. I know that there are literally thousands of people waiting for the sequel to Power Rises: The Ways of Power Book 1and I don't want to disappoint them. I think that may be part of the problem though. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I might not be able to live up to anyone's expectations, including my own.
So now what? I can't just leave Rancoth's story unfinished. Writing this right now is helping. Just seeing the words appear on the screen, feeling the keys under the tips of my fingers, hearing the clicking of the keyboard is somehow nourishing to my soul.
I too must see how the "Ways of Power" series will end. So I will hold on to this feeling I have right now and get back to work. But first, there is something that I must do.
I want to end this with a new tradition. From here on out I will always thank you. You the reader give your most precious and finite resource, time, and for that we the writers must be eternally grateful.
Thank you for giving your time to read what I have written.
