Bill Conrad's Blog, page 25
March 31, 2021
Carl and Jerry
In Junior High School, I had a friend named Clark Wothe. His father enjoyed amateur radio, which inspired him to start a business. Clark bought and sold old amateur radio magazines. I was getting into that hobby and purchased his damaged magazines for $0.25 each.
Clark purchased in bulk and got other magazines in the deal. Popular Electronics was one magazine that he could not sell. These came out in the '50s to '80s, and he gave them to me for free. I enjoyed reading each one and learned a lot from the articles.
Besides learning about electronics, I got a perspective on the '50s and '60s life. (The '70s and ‘80s magazines had lost their charm, and I wouldn't say I liked reading them.) Every invention was exciting, and we had the same vision. The people belonged to perfect families, had a big car and a pleasant house. We were all on the team that would get us into space, and electronics was key to being successful.
One of the contributing writers began an electronics adventure segment titled Carl and Jerry. It followed the two friends who built "gear" and had fun with their creations. The writing style was like The Hardy Boys, and every magazine had a self-contained adventure. A good example is "Tussle with a Tachometer."
https://www.rfcafe.com/references/pop...
While I enjoyed reading Carl and Jerry, that entertainment segment has faded away. If my four blog readers asked 1,000 people with electronic knowledge about Carl and Jerry, one or two old-timers would say, "I remember reading that back in the '60s."
Three years ago, I revisited the series and read them online in chronological order. This was a fun experience, and I thought it would be a good blog experience to take a critical look into yesteryear. So, I re-read a few stories this week. The structure is basic, with well-established characters. Each story contains great dialog, a rapid pace, detailed descriptions (that any reader could build) and lively adventure. The stories have a perfect single arc with an electronic focus.
Today, electronics short adventure stories have a narrow audience. Adults are too busy to bother with electronic adventure stories, and if it is not on YouTube, kids are not interested in reading about anything. How about skipping the adventure and writing about electronics? A quick internet search will show YouTube videos about building and repairing electronics. We consider this class of video to be educational-entertainment. However, there are no written or video-themed electronic adventure stories. Electronic-themed entertainment has replaced this entertainment segment.
An excellent example of this new category is a YouTube glitter bomb video. This is where somebody builds an electronic device that takes revenge on package thieves. The inventor posted a video of the incident online to the delight of millions. I suppose that kind of entertainment is like Carl and Jerry, but more entertaining and sophisticated. However, there is a big difference because the joy comes from seeing revenge and not the story behind building the device.
Sadly, we have lost the basic adventure class of entertainment. Why? I think our lives are too complex, and electronic adventures are no longer attractive. We require shock value to maintain interest. But perhaps a new generation will read this blog and enjoy an old classic. It sounds like we need to invent time travel gear in Carl and Jerry's basement.
Clark purchased in bulk and got other magazines in the deal. Popular Electronics was one magazine that he could not sell. These came out in the '50s to '80s, and he gave them to me for free. I enjoyed reading each one and learned a lot from the articles.
Besides learning about electronics, I got a perspective on the '50s and '60s life. (The '70s and ‘80s magazines had lost their charm, and I wouldn't say I liked reading them.) Every invention was exciting, and we had the same vision. The people belonged to perfect families, had a big car and a pleasant house. We were all on the team that would get us into space, and electronics was key to being successful.
One of the contributing writers began an electronics adventure segment titled Carl and Jerry. It followed the two friends who built "gear" and had fun with their creations. The writing style was like The Hardy Boys, and every magazine had a self-contained adventure. A good example is "Tussle with a Tachometer."
https://www.rfcafe.com/references/pop...
While I enjoyed reading Carl and Jerry, that entertainment segment has faded away. If my four blog readers asked 1,000 people with electronic knowledge about Carl and Jerry, one or two old-timers would say, "I remember reading that back in the '60s."
Three years ago, I revisited the series and read them online in chronological order. This was a fun experience, and I thought it would be a good blog experience to take a critical look into yesteryear. So, I re-read a few stories this week. The structure is basic, with well-established characters. Each story contains great dialog, a rapid pace, detailed descriptions (that any reader could build) and lively adventure. The stories have a perfect single arc with an electronic focus.
Today, electronics short adventure stories have a narrow audience. Adults are too busy to bother with electronic adventure stories, and if it is not on YouTube, kids are not interested in reading about anything. How about skipping the adventure and writing about electronics? A quick internet search will show YouTube videos about building and repairing electronics. We consider this class of video to be educational-entertainment. However, there are no written or video-themed electronic adventure stories. Electronic-themed entertainment has replaced this entertainment segment.
An excellent example of this new category is a YouTube glitter bomb video. This is where somebody builds an electronic device that takes revenge on package thieves. The inventor posted a video of the incident online to the delight of millions. I suppose that kind of entertainment is like Carl and Jerry, but more entertaining and sophisticated. However, there is a big difference because the joy comes from seeing revenge and not the story behind building the device.
Sadly, we have lost the basic adventure class of entertainment. Why? I think our lives are too complex, and electronic adventures are no longer attractive. We require shock value to maintain interest. But perhaps a new generation will read this blog and enjoy an old classic. It sounds like we need to invent time travel gear in Carl and Jerry's basement.
March 24, 2021
All Books Are Autobiographies
On the Cartoon Network television show Rick and Morty, Mortimer Smith Jr states, “All Writing Is Autobiographical.” This concept gave me a lot to think about and I thought it would be fun to explore.
Does this observation hold true for radical fictional works such as Spiderman or Star Wars? How about a George Washington autobiography or physics textbook? I suppose there are many ways to interpret this statement. On the one hand, an author creates every sentence, which means they put 100% of themselves into their work. On the other, the topic dictates what is being written, and the author is along for the ride.
I seem to imply that an author cannot escape themselves. Let’s examine the most extreme example, a George Washington biography. To create such a work, an author gathers facts and assembles them into a book. Many choices are made, including content, arrangement, format, theme, flow, presentation, and exclusions.
The very first choice is the subject. And there is the primary support element for the argument. It takes a particular type of person to write a George Washington biography, and the lengthy result would have to be a personal reflection.
For example, a different type of author would write skateboarder Tony Hawk’s biography. To you, the reader of this blog, a certain image forms of a skateboard author. They are young and hip. Can you imagine a skateboard author writing a George Washington biography? No way! Yet, the subjects are both famous people who lead exciting lives. One would think any competent author should be able to write about both famous people. In my mind, I cannot fathom an author (passionately) (doing a good job) (not a school-mandated book report) writing about these radically different men.
What other parts of the author hiding in their work? Let’s look at a fundamental element, the font. Does the author choose hip and progressive fonts such as Jazzy Jeff or Old Century Gothic? That simple choice makes a bold statement. Tony Hawk’s biography would probably have the words “cool” and “radical” in every paragraph. George Washington’s biography would contain words like “dignified” and “reserved.” Yet we know Tony Hawk probably had dignified and reserved moments. I suspect the author would minimize such un-radical moments
It is an intriguing concept to think that all books are autobiographies. To some extent, this concept holds a lot of merit. In my case, I put a lot of myself into everything I write, and I see myself in every paragraph.
Even this blog contains a part of me. What can we conclude about the author of this blog? He likes Rick and Morty, has a reserved personality, deep thoughts, and an intellectual outlook. Gosh, I just wrote my autobiography.
Does this observation hold true for radical fictional works such as Spiderman or Star Wars? How about a George Washington autobiography or physics textbook? I suppose there are many ways to interpret this statement. On the one hand, an author creates every sentence, which means they put 100% of themselves into their work. On the other, the topic dictates what is being written, and the author is along for the ride.
I seem to imply that an author cannot escape themselves. Let’s examine the most extreme example, a George Washington biography. To create such a work, an author gathers facts and assembles them into a book. Many choices are made, including content, arrangement, format, theme, flow, presentation, and exclusions.
The very first choice is the subject. And there is the primary support element for the argument. It takes a particular type of person to write a George Washington biography, and the lengthy result would have to be a personal reflection.
For example, a different type of author would write skateboarder Tony Hawk’s biography. To you, the reader of this blog, a certain image forms of a skateboard author. They are young and hip. Can you imagine a skateboard author writing a George Washington biography? No way! Yet, the subjects are both famous people who lead exciting lives. One would think any competent author should be able to write about both famous people. In my mind, I cannot fathom an author (passionately) (doing a good job) (not a school-mandated book report) writing about these radically different men.
What other parts of the author hiding in their work? Let’s look at a fundamental element, the font. Does the author choose hip and progressive fonts such as Jazzy Jeff or Old Century Gothic? That simple choice makes a bold statement. Tony Hawk’s biography would probably have the words “cool” and “radical” in every paragraph. George Washington’s biography would contain words like “dignified” and “reserved.” Yet we know Tony Hawk probably had dignified and reserved moments. I suspect the author would minimize such un-radical moments
It is an intriguing concept to think that all books are autobiographies. To some extent, this concept holds a lot of merit. In my case, I put a lot of myself into everything I write, and I see myself in every paragraph.
Even this blog contains a part of me. What can we conclude about the author of this blog? He likes Rick and Morty, has a reserved personality, deep thoughts, and an intellectual outlook. Gosh, I just wrote my autobiography.
March 18, 2021
The Disappearing Car
In 1994, I had been driving my red Mitsubishi Eclipse for a year. One summer evening, I was on my way home on a nearly empty freeway. At some point, I noticed a silver sedan pull into my passenger’s side blind spot. To mitigate the problem, I slowed down and sped up. Unfortunately, the driver matched my speed. Quite annoying.
Because I could not directly see the car in my mirror, I had to crane my neck around to spot their headlights. After a few twists, I developed a routine. I looked ahead for a ten count, then at my speedometer, and then craned around. This routine went on about twenty times, and then, poof! I did not see the sedan. Where did it go? There were no nearby exits, and I had enough light to see cars (even without headlights) behind me.
Four explanations could explain what occurred. The most likely is that I lost track of time, and the car exited. The second is an optical illusion or visual mistake. Another possibility is that I made this story up, dreamed it, or did not remembering it correctly.
Of course, I immediately ruled out those logical explanations. The car disappeared! Yes, the law of physics went out the window, and the car teleported away just like on Star Trek. Is this explanation logical? Of course not. Yet, I told all my friends about my fantastic event.
Did I believe this outrageous explanation? To my four blog readers, I wish to be honest. Clearly, the car did not vanish, but I 100% believed it did. Why? I think a part of me wanted something unique to happen. Another aspect of me was stunned by the sudden action and refused to accept my time tracking failure.
Was I too immature (illogical) to accept a rational explanation? I have always been a logical person and possessed the mental foundation to understand the difference between what is possible and impossible. Yet, I allowed myself to step into fantasy.
Over time, this powerful memory got replaced by logic. The first explanation is probably what occurred. Why did it take me many years to see the truth? I suppose age brings wisdom.
There is an edge between fiction and delusion. However, there is another aspect to this discussion. When readers pick up a fictional book, we know the story is not real. Yet, we turn off our logic and let our minds drift. We drift farther into the impossible. Magic, talking robots, ghosts, time travel, and dragons are all possible. This line can be blurry because authors push the envelope, use real-life events, and want their readers to dive into fantasy.
Humans have a deep desire to accept the unacceptable and genuinely want to believe. Star Wars themed weddings? Of course. I suppose the edge of reality makes fiction appealing.
Because I could not directly see the car in my mirror, I had to crane my neck around to spot their headlights. After a few twists, I developed a routine. I looked ahead for a ten count, then at my speedometer, and then craned around. This routine went on about twenty times, and then, poof! I did not see the sedan. Where did it go? There were no nearby exits, and I had enough light to see cars (even without headlights) behind me.
Four explanations could explain what occurred. The most likely is that I lost track of time, and the car exited. The second is an optical illusion or visual mistake. Another possibility is that I made this story up, dreamed it, or did not remembering it correctly.
Of course, I immediately ruled out those logical explanations. The car disappeared! Yes, the law of physics went out the window, and the car teleported away just like on Star Trek. Is this explanation logical? Of course not. Yet, I told all my friends about my fantastic event.
Did I believe this outrageous explanation? To my four blog readers, I wish to be honest. Clearly, the car did not vanish, but I 100% believed it did. Why? I think a part of me wanted something unique to happen. Another aspect of me was stunned by the sudden action and refused to accept my time tracking failure.
Was I too immature (illogical) to accept a rational explanation? I have always been a logical person and possessed the mental foundation to understand the difference between what is possible and impossible. Yet, I allowed myself to step into fantasy.
Over time, this powerful memory got replaced by logic. The first explanation is probably what occurred. Why did it take me many years to see the truth? I suppose age brings wisdom.
There is an edge between fiction and delusion. However, there is another aspect to this discussion. When readers pick up a fictional book, we know the story is not real. Yet, we turn off our logic and let our minds drift. We drift farther into the impossible. Magic, talking robots, ghosts, time travel, and dragons are all possible. This line can be blurry because authors push the envelope, use real-life events, and want their readers to dive into fantasy.
Humans have a deep desire to accept the unacceptable and genuinely want to believe. Star Wars themed weddings? Of course. I suppose the edge of reality makes fiction appealing.
March 10, 2021
Conspiracy Theories
Humans are odd creatures, and we sometimes do not accept the apparent situation. There are many reasons behind this conceptual blockage, including bias, paranoia, and lack of knowledge. A big reason for not buying the obvious is that the simple answer cannot be correct because we insist that our world must contain complex solutions. To fill in the gaps, we believe that an unseen group of people manipulate the situation. We call this activity a conspiracy, and the unlikely result is a conspiracy theory.
A good example is the fake moon landing conspiracy theory. Since ‘69, die-hard people have uncovered some deception evidence to back the theory up. This evidence includes inconsistent photographs and missing records. However, if this conspiracy took place, thousands of people would have to be involved, and ‘60s technology could not create a widespread deception.
Another conspiracy theory is that the government takes every child’s DNA sample during vaccinations. (Side note, this conspiracy theory further fuels the anti-vaccination trend.) For this conspiracy theory to be correct, over a million hospital personnel would be involved. Despite this hyper-unlikely possibility, the conspiracy theory is prevalent.
There are also silly conspiracy theories. I read that the contra virus was intentionally released to keep people inside so they could not see UFO’s. People believe the earth is flat, hollow, or a computer program. Elvis is alive! The Iranian government killed Michael Jackson. Could Prince Charles be a vampire?
Some people take deep dives into conspiracy theories, and others ignore them entirely. I put little faith in the far-out ideas, but I am aware of a few. Recently, I read about an exciting conspiracy theory concerning the last election. I believe a coordinated manipulation effort could have occurred, and this would explain some strange evidence, but I choose not to discuss or investigate this matter. If asked, I would say the concept is intriguing but not proven.
What do conspiracy theories have to do with writing? In fictional books, conspiracy theories are a tough sell.
Let’s pretend the year is 1950, and I write a future moon landing story. Our adventure begins with a space organization called NASA. They develop a rocket and send astronauts to the moon. Yet, the public is skeptical. Did they go to the moon, or did they fake everything? It turns out the astronauts were used car salespersons, and they gambled away their rocket development funds.
1950s readers would hate that plot. Why? In real life, a conspiracy theory takes time and many people’s involvement to mature. Books only last for a few hours, and readers would not believe the core concept.
The book's goal is to build the reader's interest and get them involved in the story. Sometimes, that requires a leap of faith. For example, in Star Wars, an intelligent robot (C3PO) spoke. Believing a robot could be intelligent was a small leap of faith. However, if we did not have visual or audible evidence, it would be difficult to convince viewers that an intelligent speaking robot existed. That leap effort would require an unseen element without direct explanation. The result would confuse and anger viewers.
What if the plot involved a NASA director who planned a fake moon landing from page one? Similar to a bank heist plot. This concept might be acceptable, but it would still be a tough sell. Readers would quickly lose interest because they want an engaging story and not backroom sabotage. How about a rocket failure? That plot sounds exciting.
What if there was a subcontractor that intentionally sabotaged the mission? Now, we are getting off course because the point of a rocket journey is to be successful. (Going to the moon is a good thing.) Now, if we wrote a book today about an actual 1950s rocket failure and suggested it was a subcontractor issue, then we might have something. However, that would be a conspiracy theory and not a fictional story.
I have never encountered a fictional book with a proper conspiracy theory. I find it interesting that conspiracy theories are quite popular yet impossible to incorporate into a fictional story. Of course, there are hundreds of nonfiction conspiracy theory books. It makes me wonder why our minds swallow conspiracy theories. Or is that another conspiracy theory?
A good example is the fake moon landing conspiracy theory. Since ‘69, die-hard people have uncovered some deception evidence to back the theory up. This evidence includes inconsistent photographs and missing records. However, if this conspiracy took place, thousands of people would have to be involved, and ‘60s technology could not create a widespread deception.
Another conspiracy theory is that the government takes every child’s DNA sample during vaccinations. (Side note, this conspiracy theory further fuels the anti-vaccination trend.) For this conspiracy theory to be correct, over a million hospital personnel would be involved. Despite this hyper-unlikely possibility, the conspiracy theory is prevalent.
There are also silly conspiracy theories. I read that the contra virus was intentionally released to keep people inside so they could not see UFO’s. People believe the earth is flat, hollow, or a computer program. Elvis is alive! The Iranian government killed Michael Jackson. Could Prince Charles be a vampire?
Some people take deep dives into conspiracy theories, and others ignore them entirely. I put little faith in the far-out ideas, but I am aware of a few. Recently, I read about an exciting conspiracy theory concerning the last election. I believe a coordinated manipulation effort could have occurred, and this would explain some strange evidence, but I choose not to discuss or investigate this matter. If asked, I would say the concept is intriguing but not proven.
What do conspiracy theories have to do with writing? In fictional books, conspiracy theories are a tough sell.
Let’s pretend the year is 1950, and I write a future moon landing story. Our adventure begins with a space organization called NASA. They develop a rocket and send astronauts to the moon. Yet, the public is skeptical. Did they go to the moon, or did they fake everything? It turns out the astronauts were used car salespersons, and they gambled away their rocket development funds.
1950s readers would hate that plot. Why? In real life, a conspiracy theory takes time and many people’s involvement to mature. Books only last for a few hours, and readers would not believe the core concept.
The book's goal is to build the reader's interest and get them involved in the story. Sometimes, that requires a leap of faith. For example, in Star Wars, an intelligent robot (C3PO) spoke. Believing a robot could be intelligent was a small leap of faith. However, if we did not have visual or audible evidence, it would be difficult to convince viewers that an intelligent speaking robot existed. That leap effort would require an unseen element without direct explanation. The result would confuse and anger viewers.
What if the plot involved a NASA director who planned a fake moon landing from page one? Similar to a bank heist plot. This concept might be acceptable, but it would still be a tough sell. Readers would quickly lose interest because they want an engaging story and not backroom sabotage. How about a rocket failure? That plot sounds exciting.
What if there was a subcontractor that intentionally sabotaged the mission? Now, we are getting off course because the point of a rocket journey is to be successful. (Going to the moon is a good thing.) Now, if we wrote a book today about an actual 1950s rocket failure and suggested it was a subcontractor issue, then we might have something. However, that would be a conspiracy theory and not a fictional story.
I have never encountered a fictional book with a proper conspiracy theory. I find it interesting that conspiracy theories are quite popular yet impossible to incorporate into a fictional story. Of course, there are hundreds of nonfiction conspiracy theory books. It makes me wonder why our minds swallow conspiracy theories. Or is that another conspiracy theory?
March 4, 2021
Ultimate Weapon
The movie 2001 begins with early humans discovering that bones can be used as tools. Of course, they turn their discovery into weapons. Since our furry beginnings, we have invented all kinds of weapons and harmful tactics.
Why do we inflict pain? Humans get angry and need to physically express negative emotions or defend ourselves/others. This violence can escalate so far that it involves every nation (a world war.)
What is peak violence? On 16 July 1945, the Manhattan Project Trinity test released a 22-kiloton nuclear explosion. Since that date, we have created the ultimate level of violence. What is the lowest? How about saying, “You’re mean.” With these two single acts, we have a defined aggression range. From mild words to thermonuclear bombs. As a writer and a human, this knowledge provides relief. Why? This knowledge allows us to relax because there is no greater fear. As a writer, our plots cannot go below foul language or above nuclear war. Aggression is now fully quantified.
What about biological or chemical weapons? Those destructive technologies do not contain the same fear. For example, there is no such thing as a chemical weapons shelter. How about a meteorite impact? Humans did not invent meteorites and have no control over them.
What is the difference? A nuclear bomb can only destroy one city, and if we do not live in this city, then we survive. However, we still fear a nuclear attack. A significant meteorite impact would be so destructive that worldwide existence would change. Because we have not experienced this event before, we do not fear it. IE, we have not set the destruction bar that high.
How about the scene in Star Wars when the Death Star blew up a planet? This event is fictional, but let’s pretend it is possible. I place this fear into the same category as a meteorite impact. The possibility is so remote that we do not have to think about it until somebody flies a Death Star into our solar system.
Limits provide comfort, but we are at the most risk when we are comfortable. Is now a good time to buy meteorite insurance?
Why do we inflict pain? Humans get angry and need to physically express negative emotions or defend ourselves/others. This violence can escalate so far that it involves every nation (a world war.)
What is peak violence? On 16 July 1945, the Manhattan Project Trinity test released a 22-kiloton nuclear explosion. Since that date, we have created the ultimate level of violence. What is the lowest? How about saying, “You’re mean.” With these two single acts, we have a defined aggression range. From mild words to thermonuclear bombs. As a writer and a human, this knowledge provides relief. Why? This knowledge allows us to relax because there is no greater fear. As a writer, our plots cannot go below foul language or above nuclear war. Aggression is now fully quantified.
What about biological or chemical weapons? Those destructive technologies do not contain the same fear. For example, there is no such thing as a chemical weapons shelter. How about a meteorite impact? Humans did not invent meteorites and have no control over them.
What is the difference? A nuclear bomb can only destroy one city, and if we do not live in this city, then we survive. However, we still fear a nuclear attack. A significant meteorite impact would be so destructive that worldwide existence would change. Because we have not experienced this event before, we do not fear it. IE, we have not set the destruction bar that high.
How about the scene in Star Wars when the Death Star blew up a planet? This event is fictional, but let’s pretend it is possible. I place this fear into the same category as a meteorite impact. The possibility is so remote that we do not have to think about it until somebody flies a Death Star into our solar system.
Limits provide comfort, but we are at the most risk when we are comfortable. Is now a good time to buy meteorite insurance?
February 24, 2021
Therapeutic Writing
Some comedians claim their standup comedy is mental therapy. In their routines, they joke about childhood pain and present issues. This open discussion helps them to confront and overcome their problems in their lives.
Does writing qualify as therapy? A writer often uses life events as source material, and they can create an imaginary world to inflict pain or love upon a character. This blank slate lets a writer experiment, lie, and confess. We can even change the outcome of an actual event to lessen or heighten its impact.
Some books are genuinely therapy. For example, a writer might describe a bad childhood event or critical opinion. Writing is creative, intellectual, educational, and relaxing, which certainly qualifies as therapy.
What about serious mental issues? Schizophrenia, for example. Hmm, that answer probably should get addressed on a case-by-case basis by somebody with more knowledge.
Until last year, I did not consider writing to be therapy. I knew writing allowed my mind to wander, and I explored some genuine issues. The activity also challenged me and required focus. After a good writing secession, I felt better, and I noticed improvements in my life. However, I still did not think of the activity as mentally beneficial (except for my improved English and writing skills.)
Last year, it occurred to me that writing was indeed a therapeutic activity. The stories I created came from me and reflected my inner thoughts. A chunk of my personality lives in each paragraph. To create these gems, I tugged at my deep emotions and thought a lot about life. I should note that this leap into my personal life was difficult and involved some pain.
My emotional exploration did yield solutions to some issues. Along the way, I made personal discoveries and learned a lot about people by creating characters. Another discovery is that the primary source of my mental exploration occurs within these blogs. I get to tackle any topic and say what is on my mind. An open therapeutic discussion. Hmm. Something to think about.
Am I a better person because of writing? One must first define what makes up a better person. Gahhh. It isn't easy to look into the mirror. How about this? Let’s turn the clock back five years and split Bill into two people. One will be an author while the other will not.
But there lies the problem. I know what present Bill is up to, but what would non-writer Bill be doing? I indeed would have done something productive, and it could qualify as therapy. How about yoga? Or perhaps I would have done something difficult that took a mental toll. My best guess would start a large project like a business. I suspect that effort would have been stressful, expensive, and there would be life lessons. Would alternate Bill end up in a better mental place? Tough to call. I would guess that present Bill would be more at peace.
Would I recommend writing as therapy? This question must be answered case-by-case. I never intended writing to be therapy, but I suspect writing could help others, especially those who need to confront large issues. I am going to keep writing and reaping its meager benefits. Or am I being too hard on myself? Something to discuss with my therapist. I mean my four blog readers.
Does writing qualify as therapy? A writer often uses life events as source material, and they can create an imaginary world to inflict pain or love upon a character. This blank slate lets a writer experiment, lie, and confess. We can even change the outcome of an actual event to lessen or heighten its impact.
Some books are genuinely therapy. For example, a writer might describe a bad childhood event or critical opinion. Writing is creative, intellectual, educational, and relaxing, which certainly qualifies as therapy.
What about serious mental issues? Schizophrenia, for example. Hmm, that answer probably should get addressed on a case-by-case basis by somebody with more knowledge.
Until last year, I did not consider writing to be therapy. I knew writing allowed my mind to wander, and I explored some genuine issues. The activity also challenged me and required focus. After a good writing secession, I felt better, and I noticed improvements in my life. However, I still did not think of the activity as mentally beneficial (except for my improved English and writing skills.)
Last year, it occurred to me that writing was indeed a therapeutic activity. The stories I created came from me and reflected my inner thoughts. A chunk of my personality lives in each paragraph. To create these gems, I tugged at my deep emotions and thought a lot about life. I should note that this leap into my personal life was difficult and involved some pain.
My emotional exploration did yield solutions to some issues. Along the way, I made personal discoveries and learned a lot about people by creating characters. Another discovery is that the primary source of my mental exploration occurs within these blogs. I get to tackle any topic and say what is on my mind. An open therapeutic discussion. Hmm. Something to think about.
Am I a better person because of writing? One must first define what makes up a better person. Gahhh. It isn't easy to look into the mirror. How about this? Let’s turn the clock back five years and split Bill into two people. One will be an author while the other will not.
But there lies the problem. I know what present Bill is up to, but what would non-writer Bill be doing? I indeed would have done something productive, and it could qualify as therapy. How about yoga? Or perhaps I would have done something difficult that took a mental toll. My best guess would start a large project like a business. I suspect that effort would have been stressful, expensive, and there would be life lessons. Would alternate Bill end up in a better mental place? Tough to call. I would guess that present Bill would be more at peace.
Would I recommend writing as therapy? This question must be answered case-by-case. I never intended writing to be therapy, but I suspect writing could help others, especially those who need to confront large issues. I am going to keep writing and reaping its meager benefits. Or am I being too hard on myself? Something to discuss with my therapist. I mean my four blog readers.
February 18, 2021
Choose Your Own Adventure
In a previous blog, I discussed what kinds of books are popular and where the book market was heading:
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
However, I did not predict the future of books and decided to venture forth bravely. Let’s start with the basics. Are we going to see enormous changes? No. Authors will still create books in solitude and hope people enjoy reading them.
The categories may change, but readers will still flock to the classics: fiction, romance, adult, and politics. Perhaps western books will make a comeback? Or maybe readers will tire of a core category like romance. If this unlikely event occurs, will romance books disappear? Perhaps for a few years, but it will come back into the mainstream. Bell-bottom jeans came back into fashion three years ago. Fortunately, that trend went away again.
Will books go out of favor due to better media? Reading fills a critical entertainment gap. We like it when our minds invent visual entertainment from the written word. “The red barn has a dusty window.” Pure magic!
I am sure they will develop better reading technology. I predict the next evolution will be a better book vocalizer. Perhaps this technology will assign a voice to each character. Maybe computer James Earl Jones will read Harry Potter to me in ten years.
My big prediction brings back old technology. In grade school, “choose your own adventure” books were popular. The young reader read a few paragraphs and then had to decide. “Choose left, right, or straight. For left, turn to page 20, for right page 100, for straight page 150.” This writing style allowed the reader to guide the plot and get into the action.
An alternate approach to this technology is text adventure computer games like Zork or Oregon Trail. Both entertainment genres were popular in the ‘80s. I predict interactive books will come back in a modified form. Likely writing combined with artificial intelligence.
Will books and computer games merge? I think this already occurred. Many computer games have well-written plots, and this trend will continue.
What about using artificial intelligence to write a book? Here is a story generator you can use right now:
https://app.inferkit.com/demo
The problem with artificial intelligence is that it has limited creativity and long-term strategy. Let’s consider the movie Star Wars. It had a complex plot with detailed characters. George Lucas spent many creative years developing the script. Let us also recall that Star Wars contains humor and emotional bonds. Even a talented writer would find it challenging to create a story of this magnitude, and I think this level of quality will remain impossible for artificial intelligence.
One hundred years from now, people will still get the same joy from reading Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” In that time, a new classic author might appear who is just as talented. Yet, I think interactive stories might occupy as much as 30% of future entertainment. The question is: when will a choose your own adventure book be on the New York Times Bestseller list?
http://interviewingimmortality.com/bl...
However, I did not predict the future of books and decided to venture forth bravely. Let’s start with the basics. Are we going to see enormous changes? No. Authors will still create books in solitude and hope people enjoy reading them.
The categories may change, but readers will still flock to the classics: fiction, romance, adult, and politics. Perhaps western books will make a comeback? Or maybe readers will tire of a core category like romance. If this unlikely event occurs, will romance books disappear? Perhaps for a few years, but it will come back into the mainstream. Bell-bottom jeans came back into fashion three years ago. Fortunately, that trend went away again.
Will books go out of favor due to better media? Reading fills a critical entertainment gap. We like it when our minds invent visual entertainment from the written word. “The red barn has a dusty window.” Pure magic!
I am sure they will develop better reading technology. I predict the next evolution will be a better book vocalizer. Perhaps this technology will assign a voice to each character. Maybe computer James Earl Jones will read Harry Potter to me in ten years.
My big prediction brings back old technology. In grade school, “choose your own adventure” books were popular. The young reader read a few paragraphs and then had to decide. “Choose left, right, or straight. For left, turn to page 20, for right page 100, for straight page 150.” This writing style allowed the reader to guide the plot and get into the action.
An alternate approach to this technology is text adventure computer games like Zork or Oregon Trail. Both entertainment genres were popular in the ‘80s. I predict interactive books will come back in a modified form. Likely writing combined with artificial intelligence.
Will books and computer games merge? I think this already occurred. Many computer games have well-written plots, and this trend will continue.
What about using artificial intelligence to write a book? Here is a story generator you can use right now:
https://app.inferkit.com/demo
The problem with artificial intelligence is that it has limited creativity and long-term strategy. Let’s consider the movie Star Wars. It had a complex plot with detailed characters. George Lucas spent many creative years developing the script. Let us also recall that Star Wars contains humor and emotional bonds. Even a talented writer would find it challenging to create a story of this magnitude, and I think this level of quality will remain impossible for artificial intelligence.
One hundred years from now, people will still get the same joy from reading Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” In that time, a new classic author might appear who is just as talented. Yet, I think interactive stories might occupy as much as 30% of future entertainment. The question is: when will a choose your own adventure book be on the New York Times Bestseller list?
February 10, 2021
Cursing
People have been swearing since spoken language was first used. Good parents encourage their children not to cuss, and terrible parents raise their kids in a sea of profanity. What is a cuss word? Society deems certain words to be profane, grossly insensitive or offensive. What is their purpose? A swear word should sting readers/listeners. The effect is like an exclamation point!!!
Society considers people who often curse to be crude. They have limited employment and friend options. Yet, certain social groups expect rude language.
In the past, media did not contain swear words. Only rated R movies and “adult” themed books had offensive language. Now, the airwaves, books, magazines, and the internet spew profanity at every turn. Last night, I saw a broadcast commercial that vocalized the F-word and recently saw a billboard with the S-word prominently displayed.
My parents did not encourage foul language, and I choose not to use it in my present social interactions. However, I did some research for this blog and found an article that challenged my views.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/health...
Cursing may be a sign of intelligence
Swearing may be a sign of honesty
Profanity improves pain tolerance
Cussing is a sign of creativity
A person may throw expletives instead of punches
Does profanity have a benefit? The above article illustrates some positives, and I believe some occasions require swearing. Yet, many people would argue that it is possible to achieve goals without profanity.
What about my books? I do not wish to offend the world and have only used two curse words in a book. Yet, I understand that by not cussing, I limit my characters. People expect the villain to swear and the good guy to lose it in a tirade of obscenity. Plus, all anti-heroes must cuss up a storm, or we consider them weak. While I am aware of my shortcoming, I still do not wish to cuss unless absolutely necessary.
Should I push the envelope? How about ten cuss words per book? Hmm. I will try #*$%@ harder!
Society considers people who often curse to be crude. They have limited employment and friend options. Yet, certain social groups expect rude language.
In the past, media did not contain swear words. Only rated R movies and “adult” themed books had offensive language. Now, the airwaves, books, magazines, and the internet spew profanity at every turn. Last night, I saw a broadcast commercial that vocalized the F-word and recently saw a billboard with the S-word prominently displayed.
My parents did not encourage foul language, and I choose not to use it in my present social interactions. However, I did some research for this blog and found an article that challenged my views.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/health...
Cursing may be a sign of intelligence
Swearing may be a sign of honesty
Profanity improves pain tolerance
Cussing is a sign of creativity
A person may throw expletives instead of punches
Does profanity have a benefit? The above article illustrates some positives, and I believe some occasions require swearing. Yet, many people would argue that it is possible to achieve goals without profanity.
What about my books? I do not wish to offend the world and have only used two curse words in a book. Yet, I understand that by not cussing, I limit my characters. People expect the villain to swear and the good guy to lose it in a tirade of obscenity. Plus, all anti-heroes must cuss up a storm, or we consider them weak. While I am aware of my shortcoming, I still do not wish to cuss unless absolutely necessary.
Should I push the envelope? How about ten cuss words per book? Hmm. I will try #*$%@ harder!
February 6, 2021
My First Interview
I have some exciting news. A fellow author, Joe Follansbee interviewed me! He asked me five questions and published my response on this website. This interview is my first, and I enjoyed the experience. You can see the result here:
https://jgfollansbee.com/2021/02/06/f...
PS, since my fist book is titled Interviewing Immortality, this interview is technically my second…
https://jgfollansbee.com/2021/02/06/f...
PS, since my fist book is titled Interviewing Immortality, this interview is technically my second…
February 3, 2021
Four Blog Ideas
My list of blog ideas has run dry. I have covered writing, outlines, plots, editing, other books, movies, publishing, and characters. I even rehashed old topics and studied my blogging process.
There are topics I avoided, such as family/personal life/beliefs/mistakes. Plus, I avoided the subjects I did not think my four blog readers would not enjoy. Does anybody want to discuss current sensors?
To kick start the process, I challenged myself to come up with four new ideas. I began by drawing four enormous squares on my whiteboard. When I came up with an idea, I put a red X through the box. I have used this method in the past to keep me focused and provide a mental reward.
The best time for developing an idea is during a bike ride or that magical time before sleep. The difficulty occurs when I try to remember the ideas. To help, I use the memo pad on my phone and a pad of paper next to my bed. However, my late-night ideas are hard to read and confusing.
Not all ideas make the grade. Foremost, an idea needs to be enjoyable to me. Writing should be fun. One failed example was writing a manifesto? “I am Bill. Here are my rules! Live by them or else!” For some, this writing exercise might be inspirational, but a “Bill manifesto” is not an exercise I wish to undertake. Plus, can you imagine a world following my rules? An inventor killed by his own creation? On the plus side, music from the band Rush would be on every radio station. Hmm. Perhaps I should write a manifesto?
After three days, I came up with the following four topics:
To Cuss or Not?
A New Type of Book
Is Writing My Therapy?
Ultimate Nuke
Bonus>> Conspiracy Theories
Personal goals are great for growth and focus. Besides, my four blog readers now have a preview.
There are topics I avoided, such as family/personal life/beliefs/mistakes. Plus, I avoided the subjects I did not think my four blog readers would not enjoy. Does anybody want to discuss current sensors?
To kick start the process, I challenged myself to come up with four new ideas. I began by drawing four enormous squares on my whiteboard. When I came up with an idea, I put a red X through the box. I have used this method in the past to keep me focused and provide a mental reward.
The best time for developing an idea is during a bike ride or that magical time before sleep. The difficulty occurs when I try to remember the ideas. To help, I use the memo pad on my phone and a pad of paper next to my bed. However, my late-night ideas are hard to read and confusing.
Not all ideas make the grade. Foremost, an idea needs to be enjoyable to me. Writing should be fun. One failed example was writing a manifesto? “I am Bill. Here are my rules! Live by them or else!” For some, this writing exercise might be inspirational, but a “Bill manifesto” is not an exercise I wish to undertake. Plus, can you imagine a world following my rules? An inventor killed by his own creation? On the plus side, music from the band Rush would be on every radio station. Hmm. Perhaps I should write a manifesto?
After three days, I came up with the following four topics:
To Cuss or Not?
A New Type of Book
Is Writing My Therapy?
Ultimate Nuke
Bonus>> Conspiracy Theories
Personal goals are great for growth and focus. Besides, my four blog readers now have a preview.
