Alex G. Zarate's Blog, page 8

Latest from AGZ 20171020

Another month goes by and another birthday with it.  A little age, some wisdom and unwavering passion goes a long way in this world…Zarate Creations Newsletter Begins 20171020

Latest From AGZ 20170918

Zarate Creations Newsletter Begins 20170918

One Seven

The New Year has arrived at last!  All over the world, goals have been set and resolutions have begun in abundance.  I have tried many kinds of resolutions over the years and have realized, (for me, at least) resolutions can feel impossible to maintain when the duration spans an entire year.  In the past, I’ve resolved to lose weight only to have it find me again.  I’ve resolved to spend more time writing only to spend more time surfing online.  I’ve resolved to give up coffee and found myself drinking Coke, Jolt and Mountain Dew instead, defeating the purpose altogether.  For this year, I have resolved to do something different.  My resolutions will include exercising, writing, organizing and reading.  The difference between this year and those of the past?

I will only hold myself to these resolutions for one week.

For a single seven day period I intend to accomplish each of my goals.  If I succeed, I will know the goals are possible.  Next, I will set the same goals for another week… then another… You get the gist.  It seems almost too easy but if I fail one week, I can always try again the next.  If all goes according to plan, I will never feel as if I’ve failed at my goals for the year.  I may not be able to write or exercise every day for 365 days, but I can exercise a couple of times in seven days.  I can write a few times a week and the following week try for more.  If I only exercise one day in seven, it counts.  If I only write for a single hour on Sunday, it counts.

As the weeks continue, I hope to see progress.  If I can do more, I will.  If not, as long as something is achieved, I’ll call it a win.  What will this do in the long run?  Momentum.  If my plan is a success, the weekly goals will no longer be struggles.  My resolutions will become habits.  More importantly:  What won’t I receive as a result of reducing a year to seven days?

Failure.

To dedicate a year cutting away sweets, I may feel defeat one fateful morning when I wake to the lingering taste of chocolate-covered ice-cream drumsticks on my lips.  Memories of the night before come back at that point and I will recall a fevered dream as I attacked my favorite box of nutty-buddy ice-cream drumsticks like a ravenous hyena.  The evening will have been long and the moon high at the point when I sat up in bed, stomach growling for the last time as I tossed and turned, remembering the sweet treasure calling to me from the freezer and…

But let’s not dwell on past, um… possible failures.

If such a moment comes, rather than give up because I stumbled and fell on a marathon race to year’s end, I can accept the need to have more sweets in my diet for that one day out of seven.  It can be accepted as a minor setback and when one week does not meet my goals, I can return to the starting line the following week, shaking off any discouragement and breathing deep, as I prepare to give it my all for another seven days.  One week.  Seven days.  I may struggle with a marathon of 365, but a sprint of 7 feels like fun.

I hope everyone has a great new year filled with joy and prosperity.  I will tackle 2017 with only two numbers in mind.  One and Seven.  One week.  Seven days.  The starting line is up ahead.  Another week awaits.

Ready, set, and…. Go!

Music

Among the most common questions posed to a writer pertains to what music we listen to while writing.

Music in and of itself is an art form. As a creative, it stands to reason that partaking in another form of art is beneficial when in pursuit of individual outlets. Like novel writing, music can transport us to other worlds and I am grateful when I discover a new artist who lifts me away with voice and melody.

I enjoy listening to many styles of music. However, when I am creating, I like listening to music that does not distract. For me, that means music that does not tempt me to visualize a story or sing along. I enjoy song lyrics as much as I enjoy stories, so they take me away from my own imaginings when I am in creative mode.

Therefore, the music I listen to when I am creating a story will often consist of classical works comprised of Mozart, Beethoven, Grieg and Strauss. I also listen to Jazz or movie scores when the mood strikes. (Kenny G holds a playlist all his own) I prefer the longer movie tracks rather than the shorter selections which are too brief to enjoy. Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With The Wind, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly,… to name a few.

Revising my stories is another matter. When revising or editing my works, the music I listen to is entirely different. Once the story is in place, I have no issue with words. I do not have two voices to separate in my imagination so my selections expand as I return to retrace my steps along the paths laid out.

If I don’t want to use a playlist while revising or editing, I cycle through Classic Rock favorites: Queen, Bon Jovi or Elvis (Long live the king!). If I want to work with a mood for a scene or chapter, I can go with The Doors or Pink Floyd (The Wall, of course)

Relationship scenes with dialogue or constant character interactions will be accompanied by Whitney Houston, Lenka, Sara Bareilles, or Colbie Caillat. (Again, just to name a few)

Dealing with action and the climax of a book can spread out across the spectrum. For these scenes I write with Beethoven, Queen, AC/DC, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath…and maybe some Kiss to settle back down. (Destroyer).

For the story resolutions and epilogues, I return to classical or cross with IZ (Over The Rainbow) or Louis Armstrong (What a Wonderful World).

Hopefully my list helps anyone interested in creating their own playlists or coming up with their own music preferences while the creative juices flow.

Ad – If you like music, you might also like reading my books since I listened to music as I wrote them and, of course, great minds think alike.

Time

Okay. Days, weeks and (yikes!) months have passed since my last blog and despite life’s trials and tribulations, the writing bug keeps following me. So here I am. Onwards!

As a writer, TIME is one of the elements we must be aware of as we craft our stories. (See what I did there?)

The standard concept of a story entails a beginning, middle and end. However, every story has more than just a simple plot to follow. There are sub-plots, side stories, flashbacks and many other things that shape a novel. When crafting your novel, it is imperative to know and follow your timeline carefully. This applies even more so when your story has no linear path to tell your tale. What is linear time? Linear time is simple. You start with the beginning of your story and continue to the end. This can be from the past to the present and then ending in the future.

If all stories were that simple, the limitations of writing would be painful.

As it so happens, writing a story does not have to happen in the present and move forward. It can start in the past and end in the present. Perhaps it begins in the present with your main character sitting at a park bench eating a box of chocolates before leading the reader to many adventures growing up until we arrive in the present once more to conclude the story. (Sound familiar?)

We can also start a story at the climax of the tale. Your main character might be in the middle of a boss fight, shooting bad guys, pulling out samurai swords and turning thugs into shish-kabob. Then moving back to an earlier place before the story moves forward and we can enjoy the ending where the hero beats the bad guy, finds love and grows as a person.

Throughout each story we tell, a timeline needs to be in place. We need to know what order things happen in and what order we will need to tell the story. If your story is straight-forward and goes from now to later with no deviation then keeping track of events is not an issue. However, if you throw in a flashback or make any reference to events that are not in the present, you need to know as much about those events as what is happening in the present. In order to keep a reader from losing their place in the story, we must guide them through the tale with as much clarity as possible. Make each shift in time relevant. Use past foreshadowing to predict the story climax.

Create a timeline for yourself to illustrate the events of your story. Make each significant event a highlight. If you use a flashback, sub-plot or foreshadow to your ending, be sure to know how and when each event takes place leading the story where you want. Keeping track of your timeline is essential, otherwise it will be the readers who find the holes in your plot or discrepancies in your timeline. As story tellers, we need to find these errors first so the tales we tell can be enjoyed rather than questioned.

Whichever direction you choose in your timeline, follow it carefully and adhere to it so your readers understand each twist and turn of the world you have created.

Happy writing!

Promo! As an added bonus to my blog, I will add a promotion for my books. I know. Who doesn’t like ads?

If your life could use more time and is filled with ups and downs then you might enjoy reading one of my books. They are filled with ups and downs, good people and bad, killers and pets… Grand things that make life worthwhile.

First Draft

Among the many nuggets of wisdom shared on writing your first draft, one is repeated on a regular basis that I do my best to agree with, but mostly see as a promotion for discouragement:

“Every first draft is crap.”

When holding a large stack of paper you’ve filled with adventures of love, hate, life, death and most of all, passion – the thought of having it called “crap” is akin to being called a failure.

I am currently revising and editing the first book I ever published. Do I think it was crap? No. Re-reading that story has made me recall a world I created with excitement. A tale that rekindled the thrill of writing for me. Was it written to the absolute best of my ability? Honestly, no. It was my first book and as such, a first step.

Writing your story is step one. If you are positive you have written a great story or are supremely confident you are a great writer, it should be known that even you have more to do. When you write “The End” no matter how well you write, it should be clear that the process you have embarked upon has just begun.

You now have a new journey to undertake. First and foremost, you need to look at your writing through another’s eyes.

These wondrous folk are known as “Alpha”, “Beta” or “First Readers” and can be friends, family or volunteers discovered through social media. Their help is typically received a chapter at a time and we writers are given valuable insight into what a typical reader will think. An Alpha reveals to us what did or did not work and once enough of them have gone through the book, you can proceed to the next step: Employing an editor.

This can start with a Line or a Copy Editor. Both are important and both need to be used. A Copy Editor will be able to tell you if the story is sound or if there are plot holes as numerous as craters on the moon. The reality of what is discovered may be painful, but also necessary. A Line Editor finds grammar, formatting and spelling errors. Sometimes both editors are listed as one so you get the best of both worlds. (Yay!)

As a writer, you must read over your book dozens or even hundreds of times, making sure you have it polished to perfection. Unfortunately, after reading your book twenty or more times, it becomes increasingly difficult to see the words on the page. You see your story after countless readings which is why having secondary readers and professional editors are essential.

Keep in mind: The stories we create are like shining gems discovered by our imagination. They fill our minds with possibilities and potential greatness. Those shimmering gems must be treated with care so the world discovers them in the best possible light.

As soon as you write “The End” on that last page, know that you have done what a mere fraction of people the world over have done. You, my friend, have written a book! That accomplishment is worthy of note and no matter what anyone will ever tell you. You have scaled a mountain few others dared to try.

So remember to scrutinize anyone who says that your first draft is “crap”.

Our first draft is a first step. At its conclusion, we know that we’ve navigated through the intricacies of story-telling, brought a hero to life, tossed in one challenge after another and faced each obstacle on the road to success. Every thread to our story has been woven with care, adjusting for every twist and turn, ensuring it works out in the end.

So even if you must later fix grammar, story or plot holes, understand this first step you’ve taken following “The End” is also the first step taken in your own great adventure as a Writer.

Names

Writing a story usually involves dreaming up a scenario or event that prompts a hero into action. Sometimes, it is a group of people who are put into a situation that forces them all to deal with their own personal demons or limitations making our stories that much more engaging and that much more enjoyable.

However…

How much importance do we place on coming up with names for our characters? Do we pick the first name that pops into our mind or do we research every possible database for just the right name to use for each and every character in our story?

There are endless books available for anyone interested in the definitions or history of names as well as web sites like: www.behindthename.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/brows... and www.babynames.com to name a few.

The advice given to writers when emphasis is to be placed on your character’s name can cover the need to have the most appropriate name to create the necessary impact for your story or even something as simple as naming a beloved pet so as to make it as endearing as possible to your audience. In the end, it is a decision for the individual writer to make.

As for me, I gave up on researching names beforehand the day I returned to writing from my brief (20+ year) sabbatical in hell. Trust me. Hell might look all cool and glamourous, but trust me, don’t stay if you can help it.

Looking at the stories I had to tell and following them on the adventures always leaves me with more than enough excitement. When the time comes to name a character, I either throw in the first name I think of or look up a list of names quickly and use the first one that catches my eye. Also, if you ever find a name you particularly like, but don’t have a use for it in your current story, just save it for another. Make a list of preferred names and when you next have a tale to tell, the prospect of naming your characters is already done

Regardless of how you find the names, use them and tell your story. Is your hero named Bill? How about Andy or Millie? If you want a name like Stephen or Conan, don’t stop to look up how many times the name has been used. Just go with it. You need to feel comfortable with your character’s name. Don’t like Jessie? Change it. If you specifically like a name, don’t let anyone else change your mind about it. Use the name that fits and get on with telling your story.

Remember, the hero isn’t made by what name is used. The hero is made by his story and how much the reader learns to love reading and (hopefully) re-reading your tale. Who would ever remember the name Sherlock Holmes if he hadn’t become such an iconic character? How about Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Hannibal Lecter, Inigo Montoya, John Galt, or even…Bond, James Bond?

The only reason those names come up quickly in any search engine is because of the stories they were in. A hero impacts the world by facing dangers and saving lives no matter the cost. Harry is a common name, but when you say Harry Potter, the name is no longer random. It is now surrounded by his story. Frodo Baggins can bring about a discussion of adventures, orcs, battles and talking dragons.

For anti-heroes few compare with Hannibal Lecter. A villain in his actions, but a hero in his own mind which we get to know all too well.

If you mention Doctor Who, fans will immediately think of their favorite incarnation and can discuss their favorite adventures without pause. Non-fans might say they either have not watched the show, read the books or ever followed The Doctor. However, it is unlikely someone will consider “Do you like Doctor Who?” as a question about your physician.

Also, who can forget the introduction of Inigo Montoya? “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

More often than not, as a writer begins a new story, it is best to concentrate on the story rather than the names. If you have the name already in mind, terrific! If not, you can always change it if you like or simply learn to love the name that came to you as the story took shape. Once your story is complete, there’s plenty of time to search for the historical significance of your choice.

In the end, tell a great story and the name will be remembered.

Favorites

Questions posed to writers range from where they get their ideas to how they became writers and everything in between. One question in particular continues to come up regularly which I find difficult to answer.

“Who is your favorite author?”

I would like to say one name, but it so happens I have four and each is a favorite for different reasons. (Understand that they all hold my number one spot, so despite the order, they are all shining brightly in my mind’s eye.)

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the first great writers I found as I was discovering my love of stories. He crafted his poems and short stories with a mastery that I will always love. His works touched me deeply and helped me respect the written word while finding both the joy and tragedy in storytelling.

The second writer is Neil Gaiman. I discovered this amazing writer at a time when I was still obsessively reading comic books and hadn’t yet discerned what good stories were until he shared a great one. It was a comic book entitled The Sandman and I only picked it up because the cover had a hidden face that glowed in the dark. I read the story that very night and have never been the same since.

The third is Dean Koontz. I first read him when I was in my thirties and, like Neil Gaiman, I picked up the book Strange Highways because the cover drew my attention. It was glossy silver and depicted the shadow of a man standing at a crossroads. The story drew me in at once and by the conclusion had me thinking seriously about second chances. I soon found the courage to pursue my passion for writing once more. I owe Dean Koontz more than I can say, for he helped me look deep inside and discover the passion I always yearned to follow.

The fourth is an especially favorite author because his inspiration was not by his writings alone. His PRESENCE impacted me like none other. I owned several books by Ray Bradbury the day I learned he was going to attend a seminar where he would speak. When I saw he would sign autographs afterwards, I rushed out to see if I could attend. It was a full house, but I made it in and by the end of the discussion I nearly forgot about the books I carried for him to sign. His passion was so overwhelming, I could feel his energy filling the room. The intensity of his words remain with me to this day. He was a true artist who followed his dreams throughout his life. If I can hold onto a fraction of that passion when I have doubled my years, I will consider it a blessing. Mr. Bradbury, I thank you. May your works and words inspire generations of writers for all time.

There are many other authors I enjoy reading and many I hope to discover in the years to come. As far as my all-time favorites go, these four are mine. I hope yours lift you up and carry you forward always.

Know

One of the most common pieces of advice I find handed out to writers who are still beginning to develop their craft is to write what you know. I have never liked it. True, it is a well-meaning piece of advice, but it is also mostly wrong. People take the term “What we know” as knowledge and experience. While both are critical to a nonfiction writer, for fiction, writing only what we know can quickly become counterproductive.

My first published book was Science Fiction. A captain and crew on a suicide mission that no one realized until it’s almost too late. Did I have experience as a spaceship captain? No. Suicide missions? Unlikely. However, I did watch plenty of science fiction flicks in my time. Star Trek, Star Wars, Serenity, 2001, Interstellar, BSG (Battlestar Galactica for those not in-the-know) And, of course, countless books such as: War of The Worlds, Ringworld, Dune, A Princess of Mars, Ender’s Game, Starship Troopers, Battlefield Earth, The Martian and many many more.

Did writing a space adventure require experience running a ship in space? Not at all, but I have enjoyed stories throughout the years in every media you can name. Written, Drawn, Animated, Recorded, Live-Acted, Movies, Television, Online, etc., etc., etc… The greatest source of experience I discovered is the best one of all: Imagined. When you write, what’s the difference between having lived a story in your imagination opposed to living it in real life?

When it comes to fiction? None.

One of my favorite scifi shows is Doctor Who. There’s a phrase you get to hear repeated throughout the series and is often said when someone first enters the TARDIS (A ship that looks like an old police box not much larger than a shower.) As a new person enters, they find themselves – not in a confined space with barely any room to move, but in a massive control room to a ship full of corridors, pathways, distant rooms…and a pool.

The phrase? “It’s bigger on the inside.”

That’s the most important thing to realize about being a writer. We’re bigger on the inside. What we imagine is vast and endless. The physical world holds a mere fraction of possibilities in comparison to what we create inside ourselves. You can take your life experiences as inspiration, but with the right spark, you can create the most amazing characters that will remain with you and your readers for years to come.

The stories you create within come from an endless universe whose moment of creation takes place the moment inspiration strikes. The spark of an idea forms behind your eyes, producing magical realms few others can fathom.

Let’s not hold in all that magic. The world outside needs it. Share the characters you love. Share the characters you love to hate. Write the adventures you see in your dreams. Feel the magic at your fingertips and let it pour out with words and passion.

So the next time you are advised to only write what you know, just smile and accept the fact that what you know expands beyond the limits of the world outside your head. Enjoy that little secret and restrain a chuckle as you take the helm of your own starship, setting course for endless adventure.

Quest

I recently rushed from my workplace to buy a book and could not believe the difficulty involved in getting there and getting home. As it so happens, the incident may have caused some lasting PTSD, but it also provided inspiration. So, without further adieu, here is my tale of adventure as told by a traumatized psyche and one too many salutes along lovely California roads…

My quest began immediately after departing from a daily dose of balancing calm with calamity which others refer to as “employment”. I tossed a few meager belongings upon my faithful ebon steed and ventured forth into the chaos of ogres, orcs, trolls and other adversaries intent on barring my righteous path. The harsh roads were filled with furious roars as mechanical monstrosities attempted to close in on me. I poured everything I had into lunges, dodges and occasional grunts of unintelligible words no child should be exposed to lest their ears shrivel up and fall off.

I dutifully ignored any wailing horns and waved off an upraised finger here and there in salute of my keen navigation skills. My lovely companion and navigator attempted to offer alternate routes but invariably gave up as my keen senses led me towards my quarry via back roads and hidden avenues. Siri’s constant insistence to remain with the horde of churning metal and mental instability became tiresome and I gestured defiantly, following the ancient laws of touch which sent her into blissful slumber.

Before long, I parked my steed near the cave of wonders and charged the entrance, waving my mystical Costco card which mesmerized the entrance guard long enough for me to enter uninhibited. I was at once accosted by magical flat-screen window merchants offering to entice me with glimpses into realms beyond of no less than three dimensions.

For a moment I knew temptation.

I quickly averted my eyes, knowing their power would drag me to my doom and I dove past the silver-tongued merchants. Another one with sparkling eyes and blinding white teeth presented me with a means of gathering the power of lightening from the light of day using panels of my choosing. I side-stepped the merchant of lightning and found another mystical merchant. This one offered me glowing rectangular shards he claimed to be made from a fruit of highest quality, but I knew all too well of the forbidden magic my Siri originated.

I held fast to my quest and before long spotted my destination. In the center of the mighty cave of wonders lay the tomes of wisdom and scrolls of other worlds imagined… waiting for my arrival. Each possessing adventures galore and easily accessible knowledge without the need for lightning or accessories to produce the magic within. Truly a gift for generations!

Without warning, an irrational fear came over me.

Perhaps my prize is not here. I thought. Perhaps it will not be mine this day and when I return to my castle, only failure will be my reward! My fears slowed my approach as I studied each title and image with growing anxiety. A glimmer of light caught my eye and the unmistakable cover art called to me. I drew closer, eager to take my prize when a frog-faced wizard nearly collided with me. I could not help but stare at his large eyes as he stole my forward momentum in an instant. I staggered as he approached the cache of wisdom ahead of me and I nearly tripped over his trailing tyrannical oxygen tank.

Coming to my senses, I drew back and prepared for battle. He clearly realized my prowess was beyond his ancient skill as he removed his spectacles and asked a nearby merchant for assistance in locating something called an O’Reilly book of Killing or something of the sort.

He would not find a means of killing me this day! I quickly snatched up the prize to make my escape and turned. I was face to face with towering twin bears looking down at me with malice. Each fluffy giant was at least four times my size and I leapt towards a mass of young goblins, who wanted to befriend the two towering monstrosities. They closed on me as I forged ahead. Only my reflexes and lifetime of consumerism-magics allowed me to escape with my life.

The path outside was in my sights and I knew departing would prove more difficult, requiring not only the mesmerizing Costco card, but also a second, which raised the Visa-spirits to my side. All obstacles fell away and I attained safe passage through the cave exit.

My steed waited patiently and together we turned towards home and started fighting the current of wild-eyed maniacs and ravenous shopaholics. Into the fray I went, leaving the tamer parking structure conflicts and battling rage-maddened demons yet again. Horns and fingers raised in celebration as I vanquished one adversary after another until finally my castle lay in the horizon.

I returned home beaten, tired and hungry… but triumphant!

And so my quest ends alongside the fading light of day and my battle scars are worn with pride. On the morrow I shall begin a trek through the pages of my prize and a new adventure shall begin.

Gratefully, I shall not require more than a comfortable chair and light to read by.