David Berger's Blog, page 14

10 Rules for Writing by Karen Clark

‎Karen Clark, a literary friend, said I could share this list with attribution. Karen, consider yourself attributed. :) Authors, take heed: DO use words. A novel that consists entirely of punctuation marks, numbers and spaces isn't going to be read. That kind of experimentation should be left until you're an established writer.DO put those words into some kind of order. This is often overlooked by the beginner.DO have an idea before you start writing. I get my ideas from a small village in Bhutan. They're handcrafted and quite expensive, but well worth it. Cheaper ideas can be found on the internet or even, if you're desperate, broke and don't have any ambitions to sell a single copy of your book, from your own head.Characters can be quite useful. DO try to include one.DO NOT use passive sentences. You can tell a passive sentence by the inclusion of the word 'was'. Just get rid of that word, or replace it with something else and you'll be fine.SHOW DON'T TELL. This can get quite involved and time consuming, as it means visiting each of your readers in person. DO rehearse your charades before you turn up and make sure you bring a bottle of wine.DO NOT use adjectives or adverbs. This can make for some _____ _____ writing.DO use lots of graphic sex. Sex sells. Give your main character a new and exciting sexual partner at least once every page. Use the word 'thrust' a lot.DO NOT overdo the sex. Nothing turns a reader off like a promiscuous main character who either thrusts, or is thrust at a lot. DO put spaces between the words. Leaving out the spaces is a rookie mistake and one that is easily fixed by a professional and overpaid editor. Good luck with your writing and remember - if you slavishly stick to these rules you can't fail! Thank you, Karen.

Never Underestimate Your Friends

I have some truly amazing friends.  Over the past few months since my book came out, the support my friends have given me has been nothing short of stupendous and has reaffirmed my faith in people. Some have bought the novel (and some will, when finances permit), some have promoted it and me, some have been able to show up at the Author Fair at the local library as well as the Evening of Literacy Through the Arts at my school, some have helped promote my Kickstarter project, some have pledged for it, some have offered their emotional support when they couldn't pledge (and that's totally okay, too).
That list isn't even remotely complete, by the way. My friends have been that warmth that nurtures my soul and helps keep me focused on the future. And, some of these friends are people I have never, ever met in person. My online friends mean as much to me as those people whom I know in person.
So, just when I feel despondent that something I'm doing won't work, or when I have monumental writer's block, or just feel down—someone comes to my rescue. I could go on, but it would be more of the same. I'm blessed to have the people in my life that I do.  And no words in any  language could ever show my gratitude, but I'll use the ones I know will suffice:
THANK YOU.

The "C" Word

Yeah, that word—CREATIVITY. (What were you thinking?)
When I was a kid, I used to paint—little canvases or big ones, it didn't matter. Water color or acrylic. I had a sketchbook where I would go outside, sit somewhere interesting and let my graphite skip across the vellum; I did that into college, too. My grandmother used to get my sister and me small needlework kits or rugs to hook. I even crocheted for a time and did macramé. In camp, I did lanyards (gimp), among other artistic crafts. I also put together models, from Star Wars figures to cars. I later got into writing, late junior high and beyond.
Back then, I was creative in so many ways. I also had unlimited time and no responsibilities. With so many outlets for my ideas, I would just feel so good about myself that I was a multi-talented artist.
And now? I only write. And there's nothing wrong with that at all. I just wish I had time to do more creative things. Or, maybe my writing just takes the place of all those other media. Perhaps now, in lieu of painting with acrylics, I paint pictures in the mind of readers, using my language and syntax to do the same thing. The same could be said of sketching; now, my words skip through the mind of others where my graphite did that before. All that yarn and needlework? Yeah, the whole weaving metaphor comes to mind. Models, too. 
Maybe, just maybe, all the other outlets for my creativity evolved into my use of words.
Do I miss all the others? Hell yes. But, I was a different person then. I was finding my way through a labyrinth with no string to guide me out. I'd have to fight against my own minotaur all by myself, and that creature symbolizes my inner demons and monsters: being the child of divorce, battling with my sexuality, having few friends, fighting with my stepfather, and the list could go on.
Creativity was, and maybe still is, my coping mechanism. All of the ways I communicated before took the place of my ability to tell people my thoughts and feelings—now, writing tells people pretty directly.
Am I good? Well, I certainly like what I write, but my readers will have to be the judge of that. I just know that, no matter what, I will continue to mold and shape and weave and sketch my words into something that makes me feel happy.
Word of advice? Be as creative as possible in whatever way you feel you can. And don't look back.
Live THAT "C" word :)

People With Vision—Supporters!

Should the Task Force: Gaea Kickstarter project be funded, the following people (so far) would have had a hand in making this photographic graphic novel come to life:

Michael D'Alessio
Charles Rhodes
Bobbi Wellner
Samantha Allen-Turner
Sam Highfield
Phil Dear
S Price
Artie and Doe
Craig Mayers
Kelly Murphy
Viktor
Coleby Friedland
Cassandra Short
Dr. Dr. Thayer
Samantha Fagan
Elizabeth Ilson

Thank you all so much. I sincerely hope this project gets funded so I can thank you properly.

I Yearn for This.

Heroes in the world—firefighters, doctors, police, teachers... you.

I'm a teacher. It's my passion in life. I don't want to do anything else. I try to be as much of a hero to my students as I can be, to inspire them to be heroes to others.

Please take four minutes to watch this video to see why this project and heroes mean so much to me:




If that doesn't work, try this:


That was the real me.

You can sign in through Facebook (no need for a Kickstarter account!) and the minimum pledge is $5 (Rewards start at $15).

Parting Messages from My Students

Today was my last day with seniors (all my students). Here's what I found on my board:




I'll miss them, too.

Revving My Engine

Like cow paths meandering through pastures, ideas for the sequel have been moving along. I can only get so far with ideas while the school year is still in session. I get into my groove and then—WHAM—I have to grade papers or plan for a substitute while I've been proctoring AP and IB exams. The seniors finish tomorrow, and then I have until June 6 before the year ends. I hope to get into the outlining more once I can focus my attention on the details that really will make this sequel go forward. This time, I'm leaning more toward a darker, Lovecraftian tone, with elements that carry a singular resonant storyline along with a few plot lines criss-crossing at prescribed places, and now that I have established the abilities and backgrounds of the main characters, I feel confident of the foundation. But, changes will come. I like upsetting the status quo. ;)
In a utopian world, I could take a long weekend and go to a cabin on a mountaintop to write, undisturbed, until this next book is finished. Well, my current world is hardly ideal for writing, so it'll involve ekeing out a few moments here and there until June 6 to get the gears a-grinding. When school's out, I'll just lock myself away in my office. And not leave until I've generated thousands of words. That's the plan, anyway.
CTHULHUHaving this yearning to finish the sequel of Task Force: Gaea has really kept my mind revving. I feel like one of those toy cars you pull back and pull pack to wind up, and when you set it down, it speeds away. I'm ready to speed! I can see the road before me opening up, leading me just where I need to be, and the images, concepts, and plot elements just keep circulating around my mind. Soon, David, soon.
I may do a little reading while I'm writing, something about Cthulhu. Ever since I came across this Lovecraft entity back when I played Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, I've become intrigued by the mystical and primordial energy emanating from him. Now, I won't be using Cthulhu specifically, although I do like his monstrous appearance, but I want the underworld to be a much more horrific place this time. I think that's why I want this second book to be darker, more chthonic*. Once time befriends me once more, I'll go into more detail.

Reward Details—Read This!

Pledging any amount of $15 or more at Bring TASK FORCE: GAEA to Life! gets you one of the following reward packages. Help make heroes happen.
$15 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.$25 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.$35 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.Task Force: Gaea T-shirt  $50 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.Task Force: Gaea T-shirtSIGNED poster of the cover$75 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.Task Force: Gaea T-shirtSIGNED poster of the coverRecognition in the Acknowledgments in the sequel (in progress) $100 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.Task Force: Gaea T-shirt.SIGNED poster of the cover.Recognition in the Acknowledgments in the sequel (in progress).A portfolio of the photos taken of the Task Force members.$250 or more:SIGNED paperback copy of Task Force: Gaea.Your name on the Donor web page.Ebook version.Task Force: Gaea T-shirt.SIGNED poster of the cover.Recognition in the Acknowledgments in the sequel (in progress).A portfolio of the photos taken of the Task Force members.Written into the sequel as a named character.

Come Visit My Squidoo!

[image error] Hey! Come see my Squidoo for Task Force: Gaea and leave me a comment and like the page (if you do!).

What is Squidoo? Well, here ya go:

"Squidoo is the popular publishing platform and community that makes it easy for you to create "lenses" online. Lenses are pages, kind of like flyers or signposts or overview articles, that gather everything you know about your topic of interest--and snap it all into focus. Like the lens of a camera, your perspective on something. (You're looking at a lens right now)." [http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo]

Round 1: Ask Me Anything

Two posters, fire starlight and Ryu Long, were the first two to ask questions, so here we go. If you have a question you'd like to ask (about anything!), either leave it as a comment here or email me at tchrofengl@gmail.com.
firestarlight:
At what point did you begin writing Task Force: Gaea?


I began Task Force: Gaea in high school, actually (circa 1985). In English class, we had to write a creative short story, and mine was entitled “The Olympus Corps.” It encompassed heroes in starships, flying around the galaxy, encountering gods and monsters on various planets. The story evolved over the years, and I abandoned the outer space setting for a more earthbound one.
How did you come across the artist that created the cover art for Task Force: Gaea?


I met Michael Hamlett on a comic book artist website. Currently, he’s on deviantart, but since we met back in 2002, I don’t remember the actual site where I found him. I really liked his style, as it was the more realistic style that I wanted, so I asked if he could do some artwork for me. The rest is history.
Did you base any of the settings used in your book off of actual locations? If so, what locations?
Well, I tried to be as real as I could (for a fantasy novel), so I researched everything, down to street names. I wanted to make the locations as real as possible so that if a reader had been there, he or she would feel a connection. I think that, sometimes, if the world is too unfamiliar, readers don’t always picture things the way we as writers intend. When I wrote a chapter where Apollo was in Windhoek, South Africa, I found streets and locations so I could plan his journey through the city. Part of the novel takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana as well as Boston, Massachusetts—both places were researched quite well.
Even the mythological settings, like Arkadeia and Athens, have their origins in Greek myth; again, I wanted to strike upon the familiarity of the reader’s past experiences so that prior knowledge would make the reading more pleasurable.
Ryu Long:
Being a former student of yours who knows that you used to tabletop game, I'd be interested to know if you remember any of your characters. Did you have a type you liked to play, any memorable moments, basically anything in your old gaming career that stands out in our head.
As far as character names? I’m afraid not. Those are lost to time. Somewhere, in my mother’s house probably, I have my old character sheets, but they haven’t made the journey to Florida. I remember playing a few types: paladins, sorcerers, and Amazons. Like those of the character names, my memories of playing Dungeons & Dragons are vague, but I do remember playing DM (Dungeon Master) as well being a part of campaigns. These experiences, certainly, deepened my love for fantasy fiction, a love that coursed through me so much that I had to write about what I couldn’t stop thinking about.