Kenneth A. Baldwin's Blog, page 3
July 31, 2020
The Silver Currant
In just a few days, The Silver Currant, sequel to The Crimson Inkwell will be available to readers. It has been a wild ride.
Second installments of trilogies have a longstanding tradition of being lame. There are exceptions, of course. I tried to study my favorite second children out there to see how they kept the pace, energy, and interest barrelling ever forward. I looked at the structure of films like The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, and Catching Fire to see keeps the story of a hero interesting. I
More than anything, I hope this book rewards those who fell in love with the characters in its predecessors. There are new friends, new adventures, and a lot more magic.
I’m also surprised by how connected I feel to this little world. I’ve always balked at writers who fall in love with their own process and creations. I don’t think I’m in love with the material, but it kept me up at nights in ways the first one did not. I’m afraid I’ve put some very raw parts of myself into the story.
As beta readers have provided feedback, it’s been so rewarding to see which people cheer for which characters. People have written back to me to say they hate–not dislike but hate–certainly individuals in the story. They can’t understand the characters’ motivation. I’ve others write to me about how much they connected with those same characters.
This makes me happy. I think we would despise a lot of people if we listened to their thoughts all day long. I’ve always believed stories are meant to redeem the faults we see in others. Some of my very favorite characters in literature taught me what I consider to be life’s greatest lesson.
Will you love Luella by the end of the book? Will you love the people around her?
If you get a chance to pick up a copy, I hope you enjoy the second installment.
May 12, 2020
Should We Be Excited for Midnight Sun?
Midnight Sun on Amazon: http://kennethabaldwin.com/recommends…
Stephanie Meyers recently announced a new addition to the Twilight Saga, Midnight Sun. She joins a host of other authors who have attempted to add to their popular works years after their original success. So, today Instead of Writing we’re talking about whether or not we should be excited about the new addition.
Calling Twilight fans and critics alike, let’s talk about the new Twilight.
May 8, 2020
From Your Politically Moderate Friend on FB
The term “echo chamber” is enough to send chills down your spine. I know I just got goosebumps thinking about it.
When I was kid, I saw The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey. If you haven’t seen it, the show’s premise is pretty simple. Jim Carrey plays a man whose entire life is a reality television show. The catch is that the man has no idea. He lives inside an enormous bubble, and every person he’s interacted with, every object he’s interacted with, is part of a big television production.
One day, the man starts to discover his world is a lie.
The movie was very frightening for me as a kid, because I realized I couldn’t prove that my life was not also fabricated. Sure, it was incredibly unlikely, but I couldn’t prove it definitively.
An echo chamber is not unlike the Truman Show. It happens when we surround ourselves with confirmation bias. In 2016, most mainstream media channels were absolutely shocked when Donald Trump was elected president. It seemed impossible that he’d be able to win the presidency over Hilary Clinton. But, as electorates came in, echo chambers everywhere started fracturing. The truth was, of all the different forums of public discourse out there, few of them gave Trump any chance of winning. But, if so many people believed it was impossible for Donald Trump to become president (not just unlikely–laughably implausible), how did he win an election in a democratic republic?
This is what puzzled big media personalities. Despite all of the messaging in the mainstream media, at the polls, the Donald got the votes.
Enter Truman Show syndrome for many Americans.
But, for some people, the echo chamber effect online isn’t as polarizing. I recently discovered that many of my left-leaning friends consider me a right-wing thinker. However, it turns out my right-leaning friends think I’m a left-winger. This happens because of an evil thing inside of myself. I play devil’s advocate with everybody, and I don’t just do it to rile people up. I’m not trying to find little meaningless loopholes, I actually see value in arguments on both sides of an issue.
I’m not alone. There are dozens of us.
But, online, we’re all but invisible. This forbearance from commenting on Facebook posts or sharing political content is the very thing that helps to shield us from echo chambers. Facebook’s algorithm has a more difficult time identifying the political content it thinks we may like.
I know what you’re thinking. “Heh, this guy thinks he’s immune from the echo chamber effect.” Good for you. That’s an intelligent thing to think.
That being said, political moderates sit back and silently read the heated discussions between others, not participating, but fearing that media illiteracy and people defensively digging into their position despite its valid weaknesses will destroy America’s political viability. Phew. I need a Coke after that sentence.
America has a long history of heated political discourse. Our past is littered with absolutely savage retorts back and forth over party lines. It’s the American way. But, I highly doubt anyone will be in a history book thirty or three hundred years from now by using the term “truth bomb” or from flatly denying valid points.
Can you imagine if Abe Lincoln had published the Gettysburg Address on his Facebook page? The comments section would be an absolute dumpster fire.
So who cares? Why write this blog post? Is it just to let you know that your politically moderate friends are there, hidden, watching, and judging your online activity?
Yes, partly.
But, in a more idealistic way, recognizing that the people who lean toward the poles are the ones making the most noise brings a great deal of comfort. Ambiguity can be scary, but knowing that most issues have merit on both sides is liberating (not liberal or libertarian, but actually liberating!). The most valuable political discourse is not in proving the other side is patently false, it’s debating over how we must prioritize the hierarchy of values surrounding an issue.
Once during the Kavanaugh hearing, my friend and I had an in-depth conversation about allegations of sexual harassment and assault. We recognized the following statements are both true at the same time.
Some people falsely accuse others of committing sexual harassment or abuse for a myriad of reason
Many people don’t report true instances of sexual harassment or abuse for a myriad of reasons
Then, we went forward discussing which of the following outcomes we would prefer:
Jail more innocent people for instances of sexual harassment or abuse
Jail fewer people guilty of instances of sexual harassment or abuse
There are big considerations on both sides. Taking away a person’s freedom and incarcerating them for a crime that didn’t happen goes against the fabric of U.S. due process. You’ve heard of innocent until guilty I’m sure.
On the other hand, failing to catch true criminals and administer justice for victims could stimulate more sexual assault. It could also send a clear message to other victims that they have a reputation and social standing to lose by bringing their stories forward.
He and I disagreed, but I respect where his conclusion came from, and as my understanding of the issue grows, I wouldn’t be surprised if we eventually switched places.
While your politically polarized friends were arguing about whether Kavanaugh “did it” or not, your politically moderate friends were having conversations like the one above.
If you believe you’re living in the Truman Show, I can’t help you. Clearly, this blog post was not written by a well-meaning guy of his own accord in between bites of his homemade burrito. I must be part of the production crew.
That’d be crazy. But, if I am part of the production crew, you better believe we got nice hats and get sushi in the evenings without you.
April 9, 2020
How to Write Better Dialogue
A lot of writers struggle with writing good dialogue, especially when it comes to humor. I’ve got four suggestions to improve your dialogue significantly.
Dialogue is great because it’s an aspect of writing you can be really meticulous about getting correct and see results for your efforts. It’s not as nebulous as first pages, opening scenes, characterization, or other slippery writing topics.
Just ask these four questions about every line of dialogue you have and see what is needful and what is not. I’m sharing my dialogue writing secrets.
April 6, 2020
Virtual Book Tour: The Crimson Inkwell
I’m really excited to share that I’m going on a virtual book tour with my book, The Crimson Inkwell, ahead of the release of The Silver Currant later this year. The virtual tour will last all of April. During the month, I’ll be doing guest blog posts and sharing features from other bloggers that will be spotlighting the book.
Plus, for this month, you can get a free digital copy of The Crimson Inkwell by heading over to one of the articles on the tour. I hope you get a chance to check some of them out. I’ve posted the schedule below:
April 6 Fang-tastic Books
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
April 6 Simply Kelina
http://simplykelina.blogspot.com
April 7 Paranormalists
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/
April 7 Books Dreams Life
https://booksdreamslife0623.blogspot.com
April 8 Roxanne’s Realm
http://www.roxannerhoads.com/
April 8 Dark Whimsical Art
www.darkwhimsicalart.com/blogs/news
April 9 The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/
April 10 Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
http://mommasaystoreadornottoread.blogspot.com/
April 13 The Book Junkie Reads
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com/
April 14 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!
http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
April 14 Kay Phoenix
http://kayphoenix.blogspot.com/
April 15 T’s Stuff
http://www.tsstuff.net
April 16 Supernatural Central
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com
April 17 I Smell Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/
April 17 Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/
April 20 Sapphyria’s Books
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/
April 20 JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com
April 20 Horror Made
www.HorrorMade.com
March 27, 2020
Board Games for Book Lovers: Jane Austen
You may find yourself with ample time on your hands. Even if you love books and not interacting with other human beings, eventually the call for companionship emerges and even us most bookish, introverted people need some social interaction. But how to do it?
Well, it turns out there is a whole series of board games for book lovers. Today instead of writing, I’m sharing three board and card games inspired by the one and only Jane Austen.
These are perfect for you to get together for afternoon tea with a bookish friend or two and geek out over the wonderful worlds created by Jane. (It turns out we’re on a first-name basis, Jane and I). I hope you enjoy it, and I hope one of these can help you out in a tricky time.
March 18, 2020
The Hidden Meaning in The Princess Bride
I’ve been a fan of The Princess Bride since I was a child. Something about the daring rescue, the high stakes, and the quasi-magical setting had me hook, line, and sinker.
When I first read the book by William Goldman, I didn’t understand why there were all the modern-day interludes in there. (I was young, give me a break). I thought S. Morgenstern was a real author. I believed all of that. Such is the beauty of fairy tales, though.
Today, I want to break down the classic film to demonstrate how the contemporary cutaways are not only appropriate, they are vital to communicating the deeper meaning found in the story.
We’re talking symbolism, we’re talking thematic elements, we’re talking dramatic question. We’re talking secret messages. We’re talking hidden meanings. We’re explaining why there’s a prologue.
Oh yeah, it’s storytime.
Should You Read Red Rising by Pierce Brown?
Red Rising by Pierce Brown is the start of an intense series where Hunger Games meets Ender’s Game meets Julius Ceaser.
With a lot of sci-fi/dystopian stuff already out there, is this book worth the hype or worth a walk-by? Well today, I’m breaking down whether or not this book would be a good fit for you.
If you like military sci-fi, old-fashioned Shakespearean political dramas, or Roman conquest, buckle up for a fun read.
February 27, 2020
Is The Devil in the White City Really About a Serial Killer?
I’m here to tell you that it isn’t true. It’s much more interesting than that. The tale that Erik Larsen weaves about the utter transformation of Chicago and America’s try at hosting a world fair is weirdly suspenseful. In some ways, the two storylines at play in this book feel disconnected. In others, it does a great job showing what can be accomplished when a dedicated human being devotes all of their time and energy into something, be those things terrifying or awesome.
Today instead of writing, here’s my review of The Devil in the White City and what made this title rise above the sea of other true crime stories into something I consider a must-read for American history.
February 24, 2020
Should You Read Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere?
It took me a while to dig in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. It came out in 1996. But I’m glad I finally picked up a copy.
An urban fantasy set in a magical world below contemporary London, the book has a lot to offer, and it delivers in true, witty Neil Gaiman fashion.
If you haven’t read any books by Neil Gaiman, this really isn’t a bad one to start with.
Here are three reasons to love Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.
