R.B. Holbrook's Blog, page 20
October 31, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Horror
Demon: “Ahhhh, its my favorite time of year. All Hallow’s Eve.”
Angel: “Of course, Halloween.”
Demon: “Howling at the moon. Watching the ghouls and goblins play. And scaring the hell out of kiddies panhandling for candy. LOVE IT!”
Angel: “Oh My!”
Demon: “RB why don’t you ever write horror?”
Me: “It’s not my genre.”
Demon: “But you read vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural stuff.”
Me: “Yes, but I have no inclination to write it.”
Angel: “Maybe you should tell him the truth.”
Demon: “What? Scared of horror? Scared of the dark?”
Me: “I… Actually did try to write horror. A short story. Years ago.”
Demon: “And?”
Me: [goes to the bookshelf and pulls out an old high school notebook] “Read for yourself.”
Angel: “Are you sure you want him to read it?”
Me: “He can’t possibly say anything worse than I’ve thought.”
Demon: “Daaaaamn! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It’s scary alright. Scary anyone would write this and pass it off as horror. It’s so cheesy it’s laughable! Like a campy B-rated horror flix.”
Me: “Maybe I was wrong.”
Demon: “Wait….” the Demon wipes tears from his eyes “But you were in high school. Try again now. As you are. Maybe you can again.”
Angel: “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Me: “Maybe one day, but right now, I have far more on my plate than I can handle.”
Demon: “Good. Cause I can definitely help you write those.”
RBH
Filed under: Writing Tagged: Halloween, horror, scary stories, short story, supernatural, trick or treat, vampires, werewolves, Writing
October 29, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: No Politics
Demon: “You know what next Tuesday is, don’t you?”
Me: “Your birthday?”
Demon: “No. Think Politics.”
Angel: “Trash Day?”
Me: “Oooo, I like that.”
Angel: “Thank you.”
Demon: “And I thought you took these things seriously, RB.”
Me: “I do. But I don’t like talking politics.”
Demon: “What?! Why not?”
Me: “I respect the fact everyone has their own views and ideals. I might not agree with someone, but I respect their ideals just as I want them to respect my own beliefs and ideals. However, not everyone will see things the way I see them and will seek to argue or change my point of view. Plus, even though I take voting seriously, I dislike politics in general.”
Demon: “Why? It’s intriguing.”
Angel: “Politics can be messy, cruel, selfish, and dishonest. Often times, politicians forget about the good of the people and focus on the good of a few or just themselves.”
Demon: “Great isn’t it?!? Crooked double-talking politicians. Corroding weak governmental systems. Greedy corporations lurking in the shadows. Raging citizens ready to revolt. Greed, ambition, anger, and chaos makes a me happy. THIS IS TRUE LOVE! So who are you voting for… Hey, wait! Are you leaving? Don’t walk away from me! RB!”
Angel: “I just hope RB votes for the lesser of the two evils…”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, beliefs, corruption, greed, politics, views, voting
October 25, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Creating Life
Me: “Writing a book is almost a divine act.”
Angel: “Pardon me? You’re not insinuating…?”
Demon: “Haha! It’s about time you take your rightful throne.”
Me: “To clarify, I am the god of the many worlds I’ve created. Be it in my mind or on paper, I rule the character’s destiny. And I can be quite tyrannical.”
Demon: “Muwaha.“
Angel: “Cut that out!”
Me: “If a character wants to be born, it must first have a soul: the concept, the idea. Then it must grow a skeleton: the outline/character development. And if I am happy it lives to form muscles and all the necessary internal systems needed to survive and take its first breath: rough draft to final manuscript.
Angel: “Okay, I see where you’re going with this.”
Me: “Should a character perform to my satisfaction it will be used for a divine purpose.”
Demon: “However, if a character should disappoint your grand expectations… THE MIGHTY WRATH OF R.B. HOLBROOK WILL RAIN DOWN AND END THEE. THE END. MUWAHAHAHAHA!!!”
Me: “Exactly.”
Angel: “Don’t encourage him!”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon, Imagination, Writing Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, character development, creating worlds, divine, fantasy, Writing
October 22, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Spamicide
Me: “Demon, I need to use my computer. Get off.”
Demon: “You got two others, use one of them.”
Me: “The magic word was MY. Now off with you.”
Demon: “Fine. Fine.”
Me: [sitting down at the computer] “Demon, what were you doing? Why do I have a screen full of explicit, illicit words on my computer?”
Demon: “Emailing.”
Me: “I’m afraid to ask but… Who?”
Demon: “Spammers. All those who spam mail me, I email them back.”
Me: “WHY?“
Demon: “I feel like, if they can harass me, I have every right to harass them back.”
Me: “Just ignore them.”
Demon: “Nah, this is too much fun. I can do yours, too, if you’d like since you’ve been receiving more junk mail than normal.”
Me: “No, I’m good. My junk mail filter is working fi- Why do I see Angel’s email address under your junk mail folder?”
Demon: “I haven’t a clue of what you’re talking about.”
Angel: “Demon! Stop sending me this vulgar trash!“
Demon: “Oh. Well. Look at the time. See ya!”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon, Writing Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, dialogue, emails, junk mail, spam
October 18, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Breaking Point
Angel: “Wait… Your hero just…”
Me: “Uh huh.”
Demon: “Dude, he snapped!!”
Me: “Yep.”
Angel: “I thought he was a good guy?”
Me: “I tried to explain it to you both but you two wouldn’t stop arguing to listen.”
Demon: “Ha! Good guy with bad tendencies! That’s what I’m talking about!”
Me: “Not exactly.”
Angel: “Please explain because I’m having a hard time accepting this.”
Demon: “What’s to explain, the good guy act was just a ploy.”
Me: “Nope. He’s human. He’s prone to flaws. And like everyone mortal, he has a breaking point. I introduced that point.”
Demon: “And snap!”
Me: “Very good.”
Angel: “I see… But he’s still a good guy, right?”
Me: “Yes, Angel, he’s still good.”
Angel: *PHEW*
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon, Writing Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, breaking point, mortal, snapped, Writing
October 16, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Descent Into Darkness
Me: “Demon, I need you.”
Demon: “Of course you do. Everyone needs me.”
Angel: “Like they need a migraine.”
Demon: *sniff* “Can you smell it?” *sniff* “Is that jealousy in the air?”
Me: “I need your take on emotional pain. I want this character to turn evil based on emotional turmoil.”
Demon: “What do you have so far?”
Me: “The would be evil character becomes jaded after supposed friend no longer wants a relationship.”
Demon: [Reading the story outline] “The soon to be evil one has control issues… Good. Family problems… a plus. Large burdens… yes, that works. And to top it off other negative influences. I see why you called me now. You need to connect the dots. Goat the character. Torment her by having another character point out the flaws in this relationship. Or even better, let the so called friend point it out. Subtly. Slowly and patiently. Allow the other evils surrounding her to shape her. Begin picking apart their relationship, hint about revenge, about payback. Little tormenting things that are small at first.”
Me: “And let it escalate?”
Demon: “Of course. It’s like a stalker. At first, they test the water, to see what they can get away with. The more the victim shrugs off suspicion, the bolder the stalker gets. That’s-”
Me: “Ooo, stalking! I can use that as part of the revenge. Thanks, Demon!”
Demon: “Wait, I haven’t finished talking yet! I have more to say.”
Angel: “No. No, I think you’re done.”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon, Writing Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, evil character, friend, revenge, Stalking, torment
October 12, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: ROUND 3 – K.O. & The Winner Is…
Angel: “You know what your problem is, Demon?”
Demon: “You?”
Angel: “No. You can’t stand the fact that the good guy is celebrated more than the villain. So you just want to bring down the image of the hero.”
Demon: “Where the hell did that idea come from? No, the good guy shouldn’t be celebrated, but let’s be honest, the bad guy is fun! Being bad is fun. And your problem is you know nothing of fun!”
Angel: “I have fun all the time, but just because I don’t share your definitions of fun, you assume. And you know what they say about assumptions.”
Demon: “That you’re an ass?
Me: “ENOUGH! So tiring. You two have been fighting about this more than I can stand. Demon, I don’t care if you don’t like my hero. He’s a good guy who is going to stay good. If you don’t like it, leave.”
Demon: “Yes, fine, fine. Grouchy much?”
Me: “I got your grouchy.” Smacks him on the back of the head.
Demon: “Ouch!”
Me: “And Angel, you’re supposed to be better than him. Why are you letting him bait you?”
Angel: “My apologies. You are right.”
Me: “Of course I am. My story. My rules. Go sulk.”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, fight, hero, villains, winner, Writing
October 10, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: ROUND 2 – Watch That Left Hook!
Demon: “Grow the hell up, Angel! This hero needs an edge. He needs to be bad.”
Angel: “The hero of this story is supposed to be good. So it makes no sense for him to be bad.”
Demon: “Then change it. Give the good guy bad tendencies. Have him slap an old lady or steal some kid’s candy.”
Me: “There will be no old lady slapping or kiddy candy stealing from my good guy!”
Angel: “A good guy with bad…? That’s an oxymoron.”
Demon: “Did you just call me a moron?”
Angel: “No. I said that statement was an oxymoron, moron.”
Me: “Woah! You guys calm down. This is going too far if Angel’s calling you names.”
Demon: “I’ll show you a moron-”
Me: “Wait! No! Demon, extinguish that ball of fire!”
RBH
Filed under: Writing Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, bad guy, edge, hero, kiddy candy, old lady, oxymoron
October 8, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: ROUND 1 – Come Out Swinging!!
Demon: “Your good guy kicks ass when he’s not being totally wussy.”
Me: “Totally wussy?”
Demon: “He’s too good. He’s like a saint. Boring.”
Angel: “I think it’s refreshing.”
Me: “He has a rocky past which kind of balances-”
Demon: “Refreshing, Angel? Of course you would think so. You’re wussy, too. No one wants to read about a boy-scout.”
Me: “He’s not that nice. He has some-”
Angel: “I’m wussy? And what’s wrong with a boy-scout? You make it sound like being good is bad!”
Me: “You guys listen, he’s good for a reason-”
Demon: “Being good is annoying. He needs to be more willing to break some rules.”
Angel: “Then he’d be an anti-hero not a true hero. If it was up to you everyone would be an anti-hero.”
Demon: “Or a villain. Bad guys rock!”
Angel: “And burn in hell!”
Demon: “You got a problem with that!?”
Me: “Wow! You know… I’ll just be over here… out of the way… writing…”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, anti-hero, bad guy, fight, good guy, hero, round one
October 5, 2012
Angel vs. Demon: Wide Awake
Angel: [Rubbing sleep from her eyes] “RB, you’re up awfully early.”
Me: “Someone keeps forcing me to go to sleep, so I end up waking up earlier than normal.”
Angel: “I do it because I care. Where is Demon?”
Me: “Still sleep from his all night partying.”
Angel: “Figures. Wow, is that your new chapter?”
Me: “Yeah.”
Angel: “I like it. There’s more depth and refreshing detail.”
Me: “You think?”
Angel: “Yes. Maybe the sleep you’ve been getting is helping your creativity bloom.”
Me: “Maybe.”
Angel: “Might as well admit it. Sleep is good for your mind and your writing.”
Me: “Maybe.”
Angel: “Stubborn.”
RBH
Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, detail, health, sleep, wide awake, Writing
