Travis Thrasher's Blog, page 21

The Cross & The Writer

If there really was a Jesus and if He really was the Son of God, then nothing else matters. I mean nothing.
I could say that years ago but it didn’t really matter. Not like it does now.
I can wrap my hands and my hope around this. There are days when I’m spent—when I have absolutely nothing left—and I seriously wonder what and when and why. But then I think of this thing called the cross.
Years ago—a lifetime ago, in a different universe—I heard about God and Jesus and the cross and saving souls almost every day. It started to lose its significance when people spoke about it and then figured out how to market it and sell it and package it in your local Christian bookstore. Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a wonderful thing.
I simply lost my vision. I forgot the wonder of the cross.
My faith—the scraps I had—started to fade away.
In the great saga of eternity, and the grand spectrum of God’s story, my place was miniscule. I wandered and lost myself. I was less than half the whole.
This writing thing—it was pretty much all about me. Oh, I wrote some hopeful hope-filled stories. I put my morsels of faith on the pages. I was learning—not just about writing but about believing. I had miles and miles to go. Half the time I didn’t even want to walk this road. I wanted to write other stories. Dynamic, dark stories that had no value in light of eternity.
God had some work to do. And yeah, he still does.
He didn’t take the words away from me. He could have. He should have. But if He could speak through a donkey He could certainly speak through me. Slowly, sometimes painfully, God has shown me that it’s not about me. Not the morning and not noontime and not night.
I’ve fought. I’ve run. I’ve held on to my little vices. I’ve looked up and looked outward and looked everywhere but have constantly been forced to look back inwards. Toward my weak faith. To my ugly self and soul.
In the moments when I’ve wondered what was next, when I spent time knocking on doors I was trying to enter, God allowed surprises to catch me from behind. Each one with a special story to tell. Each one with some kind of hope to bring. Each one allowing me to keep typing away. Except I’m no longer typing for myself.
If Easter really is about Jesus rising from the dead—and I truly believe that it really did happen, without any doubt whatsoever—then life should be about celebrating and surrendering to this very fact.
Everything pales in comparison. Every single thing.
I can say that and I can believe that, but it’s still so difficult to live life embracing that. Yet God in His love has chosen to not forget me. Rather, He’s brought amazing people into my life who remind me of His grace and His love. People who celebrate Easter because they’ve had to cling to the very hope it brings. 
The meaningless things can still wrap themselves around me. The allure of the world can still captivate me. I have so, so far to go. But these isolating, solitary years have done something beautiful inside. They’ve allowed me to look at the cross in a whole new light.
I am Peter who knows so much and have witnessed firsthand Christ’s love. Yet I’ve denied Him over and over again.
He’s a pretty good example to look up to. His journey ended pretty well, especially when you look at it in light of eternity.
Good Friday and Easter mean something. They mean everything.
God keeps reminding me. And maybe, hopefully, if I’m allowed, I can keep reminding others through whatever stories I’m able to tell.
He is risen. And yeah—that means this world and this life mean something. They mean everything to Him. Everything. 

Lucas Lane Logo

I love this logo. Love what it was used for (Every Breath You Take). And love what it's going to be used for next. Coming soon. 

Cory Brand's Playlist (from HOME RUN)

I share all the time how music influences and inspires my writing, and Home Run was no different. I only had a short amount of time to write the novel based on the screenplay, so I immediately began making a playlist for the main character named Cory Brand. 

Cory is a major league baseball All Star who's about to hit rock bottom. Not only does he have a drinking problem, but he's got major anger issues. He carries the baggage of his past around with him and doesn't even realize it. 

I always create playlists for the stories I write. I usually have an instrumental playlist and another with songs that have lyrics. I play the latter in my car, allowing me to remember and focus on the story when I'm away from the office. 

For fun, I thought I'd share Cory Brand's playlist. 

#1. "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters. 

Dave Grohl's angry lyrics and violent force served as a perfect backdrop for getting into the mind of Cory.

"The need you buried deep. The secrets that you keep are ever ready. Are you ready?" 

#2. "We Will Rock You"/"We Are The Champions" by Queen. 

Yeah, sure, this is a bit cliched, but it sure worked. How many times do you hear "We Will Rock You" during a baseball game? This was for Cory Brand the baseball player, the ultimate warrior. 

#3. "The End" by Kings of Leon. 

Another group that I could see Cory Brand listening to a lot. I love the lyric that says "This could be the end" over and over again. 

#4. "Shadow of the Sun" by Audioslave. 

This is a rocking and melancholy song that seemed perfect in categorizing Cory Brand. 

"Nothing but a hole, to live without a soul, and nothing to be learned." 

#5. "Send Her My Love" by Journey.

Come on--who DOESN'T love Journey? 

I actually hadn't heard this song in years and I imagined Cory Brand listening to it while on the road. He's thinking back to the love of his life, his sweet Emma he left back in their home town. 

#6. "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon.

Another rocking track. Didn't have any of their stuff before this so I enjoyed listening to them. 

#7. "Blow Up The Outside World" by Soundgarden.

The title alone sums up Cory. He blames everybody and everything and tries to drink away his sorrows. But it doesn't work. 

#8. "Let It Die" by Foo Fighters. 

See a theme here? "Why'd you have to go and let it die?" Anger, resentment, regret, guilt, more anger. This is an angry playlist for an angry soul. 

#9. "Another One Bites The Dust"

More Queen. Just because. 

#10. "Be Somebody" by Kings of Leon. 

I love the frantic nature of this song. "You can't get enough. Now you can't get enough." 

#11. "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty. 

One of my all-time favorite songs, this song was perfect for Cory. So much potential, so full of regret. Running away, trying not to look back. 

"And when you wake up, it's a new morning.
The sun is shining, it's a new morning. 
And you're going, you're going home."

#12. "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. 

A dark, haunting song that could be Cory Brand at his lowest. And for his journey into recovery. 

"I never opened myself this way. Life is ours, we live it our way."

#13. "Pickup Truck" by Kings of Leon. 

This has more hope in it. And it reminds me of Cory's pickup truck. (Yeah, I know--it doesn't always have to be very deep)

#14. "Walk" by Foo Fighters. 

The last song and an upbeat one. And again, fitting for this character and for his journey as the movie ends. 

"I'm learning to walk again.
I believe I've waited long enough. 
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to talk again. 
Can't you see I've waited long enough. 
Where do I begin?"

All these songs were in my head long before I ever saw the movie and heard its beautiful soundtrack. This just helped me think of Cory Brand's dark journey into finding hope and redemption. Thought it'd be fun to share! 

The movie opens April 19th and the book is available wherever books are sold!! 

Home Run Novelization Contest

The novelization for Home Run officially releases today. I was thrilled to write the novel based on the screenplay for the film that releases April 19th. In celebration of the release, I'm having a fun contest on my Facebook page.

Go to my FB page this weekend to enter! I'm simply asking this question: 

"What does the word 'HOPE' mean to you?" 

Answer and I'll pick a random winner to receive an autographed copy of Home Run. But wait. You could win more than that!  

The Home Run audiobook was done by Oasis audio and sounds great. So the winner will receive an autographed copy of the audio cd too. 

But wait . . . let's add some Home Run swag. 


Courtesy of the Home Run team, the winner will also receive an official Home Run jersey! 

Simply head over to my Facebook page and enter there! Winner will be picked on Monday. 

From Film To Novel: The Process of a Novelization

With The Academy Awards taking place tonight and the release of the novelization of Home Run next week, I wanted to share the process of making a novel out of a movie.
#1. THE CALLIn December of 2011, I received a confidential call from my publisher at David C. Cook (publisher of my teen series The Solitary Tales). He asked me about my writing schedule and I told him it looked pretty clear. He told me they were bidding on a novelization of a film about a baseball player who is forced into recovery. I joked “Yeah, I’m the one you call when you need a novel about a messed up character.” He told me the other publishers who were bidding as well. I told my family about this and prayed Cook woud get the project.
#2. THE CONFIRMATIONThe following week, I got an email from the deputy publisher at David C. Cook saying they had negotiated the deal and were thinking of me to write the novel. The film was called Home Run and they wanted me to finish the novelization by February 15 or March 1 at the latest, giving me just over a couple of months to work on it.
#3. SHOW ME THE MONEYA week later, David C. Cook and my agent negotiated how much I would be paid to write this novelization. They went back and forth and lots of cursing and heated discussions took place. I’m joking, of course. It was very cordial and the deal came together very quickly. I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me, so I really wanted this project. David C. Cook is a great publisher who I already had worked with, so everything came together nicely.
#4. THE SCRIPTEven before officially signing the contract (but after all parties agreed that I’d be the writer), I started asking for the script. I had hoped to read it over Christmas break, but publishing virtually closes the last couple of weeks of the year. I received the script via email on January 3 and started reading it right away.
#5. FIRST IMPRESSIONSAs I read the script for the first time, I made notes to myself. I had done one novelization before (ghostwriting project) so I had some experience. These notes were just thoughts on the story and the characters. Things I thought I could do, places I could improve, things I liked.
#6. STARTING WRITINGEven before I connected with the producers or signed the official contract, I started writing. I couldn’t help it. I remember writing what I called interludes that later went in between the chapters. This was just a random idea but one that worked.
#7. MEETING THE PRODUCERSI connected with Carol Mathews, primary producer of Home Run, on the phone and in email. We also arranged for me to meet with them in person. They flew me to California to attend a Celebrate Recovery One Day leadership training session. I not only met the producers but also many of the leaders of Celebrate Recovery. At this point, I was taking everything in, making notes in my notebook and in my head.
#8. GETTING THE VISIONThe main thing I wanted was to get at the heart of what the producers wanted with their film. A story is a story and can be told in a hundred ways. What were the hot buttons and the things that Carol and her team wanted out of this novel? I learned that quickly enough, and continued to learn that as I worked with them. I didn’t have a lot of time to brainstorm and think and plan—no, they needed a full-length novel written in a couple of months, so I started living and breathing both baseball and Celebrate Recovery.
#9. IMMERSION It’s not hard to imagine a character getting drunk out of his mind. I’ve had some experience with that. But I’m not a baseball guy. I quickly immersed myself in the world of baseball just so I knew the things I was supposed to know. I got half a dozen books on baseball, started watching baseball movies and documentaries. I wanted to know all the things I needed to know—what does a major league clubhouse look like, what’s the life of a professional baseball player, etc. Along with this I studied and discovered what Celebrate Recovery was all about. As I wrote, I asked Carol a lot of questions. They were always answered quickly and thoughtfully.
#10. DELIVERYMy main priority was to write a meaningful novel and deliver it on time. The great thing was I knew they were allowing me a lot of creative license. I attempted the novel in first person and then after about 15,000 words, I decided it couldn’t only be in the baseball player’s POV. I tried some different things but stuck to the story of the script. I simply expanded and enhanced it. Not because I was being lazy but rather my job was to expand and enhance. I needed the novel to serve as a literary companion to the movie. The movie was the boss—the movie informed all the other storytelling decisions I might try to make.
Thankfully, the publisher and producers were thrilled with the novel. Even though the date of the movie changed from fall 2012 to spring 2013, that didn’t impact the novel since it was already finished. I felt that compressed time worked for the novel and how it came to life.
I’m going to write a longer blog soon about how to write a novel based on a screenplay—some of the struggles and some of the fun parts of that process. The best part of this process for Home Run was all the support I’ve received, from both the publisher and also from the Home Run team. I love the movie and the people behind it. I hope and trust the movie and novel both perform well simply because of the people behind them. I got invited to this cool party and it’s been fun to be a part of it.
See Home Run when it opens April 19! And buy the novel when it releases March 1. It’s a beautiful story of redemption and hope, a story that can inspire anybody. 

The Rules of Collaboration

I'm currently working on my sixth collaboration I've been fortunate to be a part of. These include three novels I've cowritten with musicians based on their songs, two novelizations based on screenplays, and one memoir. Each project has been completely different, but they've taught me some things about partnering with people on books. The following are ten rules I have when collaborating with musicians, filmmakers, pastors, or leaders (who I will simply refer to as the "artist"): 

#1. Know what the artist wants. 

Every project is different and every person has a unique reason why they want a book written. My first goal with every collaboration is to get to the heart of what the artist truly wants (a well told story, a ministry tool, another way to expand their brand). 

#2. Communicate that this book belongs to the artist. 

It's been good to have so many of my own books under my belt, because this could be difficult if that wasn't the case. The story and the final product belong to the artist, regardless of the amount of time and energy I've put into it. 

#3. Figure out the best way to communicate with the artist. 

In all six cases of collaborations (and the others I've done preliminary work with preparing for possible collaborations), it's been obvious that every artist is different. Some want to be involved and some don't want to be involved whatsoever. Some like daily communication and some don't communicate. This might seem strange, but the people I'm working with are busy people. I always want to know the best and most effective way to work with them (what they want and what they don't want). 

#4. The artist is the boss. 

That's the bottom line. What they say goes. I might write the most beautiful and powerful chapter I've ever written in my life. If they don't like it, it gets cut. My goal is to make sure they love what I've done. 

#5. Take what the artist values and incorporate that into the book. 

One priority is to try to make sure the book reflects the artist. This can be done in obvious ways (a storyline, for instance) but also in subtle ways. Sometimes I need to dive into their world for a while and figure out what that world is like. Obviously, I pick this up when working with them, but I also do this by extensive research. This can help, regardless of whether I'm writing a novel or a memoir or a nonfiction work. 

#6. Know the artist's audience. 

Once again, this can help when working on a project. I have such a diverse range of novels that I don't ever consider my own personal audience as any one "type" of people. But with each book I've collaborated on, I've been able to see a very definitive audience for the artist. This helps me shape the kind of story I'm telling. 

#7. Don't try to do something new or different. 

This is the artist's book and not mine. My goal is to produce a book that they are proud of and that is a good representation of them. This is not my chance to try some wild, creative idea I've been wanting to do for years. This isn't about me. 

#8. Do what I do best. 

At the same time, I need to do what I do best. I was asked to work for these people for a reason. Part of that is taking chances and writing somewhat unconventional stories. Doing a unique thing with structure or voice or style. I don't want to be clever for clever's sake, but at the same time I need to give it my all. 

#9. I'm a caretaker of the artist's vision. 

Each collaboration I've done has been a great opportunity to help expand the artist's message and brand. For a novel like Paper Angels cowritten with Jimmy Wayne (pictured above), I was able to frame a story around his song while also putting some storylines and themes inside it that mean a lot to him. For a novelization like Home Run, I'm expanding the story but still remaining true to their message. 

#10. I have to respect the artist. It's impossible to put my heart and soul in a project when I don't have that. 

Every artist I've worked with has been different. Some I've gotten to know very well while others have been more of a business relationship. But each collaboration I've done, I've held a great amount of respect for the artist. A recent possible collaboration I spent half a year doing preliminary work on broke down at the end because I lost all respect for this artist. The thought of spending a year or more of my life working with them was too much. I couldn't do it. 

I still admire how Mark Schultz manages to tell heartfelt stories in his songs. Jimmy Wayne has shown me how to give back and how to be a better person while also becoming a great friend. The Home Run family (including those in Celebrate Recovery) have adopted me--I love their ministry and message. Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square are a down-to-earth couple whose hard work finally paid off. And Mac and Mary Owen--well, I love every single thing about this couple. 

I've been fortunate to have been asked to collaborate with all of these fine people. My hope is to continue with collaborations, whether it's future books with these people or ones with artists I've never even heard of. I'm a fast learner. And I feel I can tell any type of story as long as it means something to me. 

Win Win

                Wake up what are you waiting for?             Walk on and watch out.             Wear that heart on your sleeve and stop warning others about its effects.             Stop your wondering. Stop your worrying. Put away the O’s after the W’s unless you follow them with another W.             This weary soul is at war.             This wacky mind needs one big fat W.             As in Win.             As in the wind beneath my wings.             As in watch out world.             We see what we want to see.             We wage war and we keep wondering.             This whirlwind this watching this wuss of a soul.             It’s about the will isn’t it?             It’s about waxing and waning.             It’s about this world and what you’re going to do with it. How you’re going to work inside of it. When you’re going to finally, finally get started.             What do you say?             Will you start?             When will you begin?             God’s watching from above.             He’s waiting.             He wants you to stop waging your own war.              He wants your weary, wacky soul.             He’s your chance to win. 

Little Footsteps

           I know I’ll blink and you’ll both be too big to sit on my lap.           I know I’ll blink again and you’ll be far too embarrassed to even try.           I know I’ll look away then suddenly notice you’re not little babies anymore.           I know I should probably admit that you already fit that category anyway.
           I admit that I don’t stop enough and enjoy the moment with you the way I used to with your older sister.           I can come up with excuses but I won’t.           I know that daily, I feel this burst of love that comes from seeing both of you.           I know that I’d never do anything different ever because I wouldn’t want to miss out meeting either of you.           As different as the sun and the moon, as opposite as night and day, as beautiful as Saturn and Venus, as necessary as my left and my right hands.           I know God gave me both of you. Just to remind me He could. Just to show me how love can multiply.           I’ve felt the burden, and the wear and the tear, and the heaviness, and insane anxiety, and the blistering blustering baffled soul inside trying to figure out what to do now. But then I see your smiles and hear your laughs and follow your little footsteps. My weary heart is blessed. My weary soul is full.           The sun and the moon and the stars, that’s what you three girls are.            My words are never enough, like my energy, like my wisdom. I’m simply taking it a day at a time.           Each day, you change me. Even as you change.           I don’t have enough love. But I’m trying. You remind me that it’s okay. You remind me that you have enough, and that you always will. 

Maybe Solitary

Maybe I wanted to show the absolute beautiful terror of being a teenager.
The feeling of going to not one and not two and not even three high schools but four.
The feeling of telling a love goodbye and seeing another love ruin herself and hearing another died.
The mystery and the complexity and the infuriating frustration of love and loss and love renewed and lost again.
Maybe I wanted to put a little mystery in this. Mystery that lasts. Sorta like life. Sorta like being a teen. Sorta like every breathing and living day.
Maybe I didn’t want to spell things out because that’s how life is, whether you’re living in Wheaton, Illinois or Solitary, North Carolina.
Maybe I wanted to show a lot of confusion and a tiny bit of hope and a whole batch of terror.
Maybe I had a whole big ball of storylines and backstory and questions & answers and intrigue and diversions.
Maybe I have an answer for everything.
Or maybe, just maybe, I’m just a really awful writer. Awful for trying something different. Awful for trying to sum up an experience in a unique way. The experience of being a teen. The beautiful terror of the teenage experience.
Maybe sales are the only way to measure greatness. So be it. So long and so farewell.
So what.
Maybe all along I knew what I was doing. And maybe I was finally allowed to do it. And maybe, in the end, I knew I couldn’t do anything better.
Yeah.
Maybe every day of every life is full of mystery, and doesn’t follow a plan, and doesn’t fit into a box. Maybe it doesn’t end up all rosy. But maybe, possibly, God intervenes and offers some hope and some light. For those willing to wait. For those who make it to the end.
But not always.
And sometimes, even after that little bit of light, the darkness settles in again. Waiting for the critics and the cynics. Waiting for the night to fall. Waiting for all those inevitable maybes.             

The ABC's Of Hope

            Believe.             That’s right, just believe.             Shake off those shackles and start to sprint down the sidewalk. Ice and all. Clouds and all. January gloom and doom and all that. Just go and take off.             Believe.             That’s right. Feel it and take it and do something with it.             Dream the impossible.             Tell those fools to take a hike.             Take this thing God gave you and do something daring with it. Try to instill a little dose of hope and inspiration in a hopeless and uninspired world.             Put a little funk in your step and keep going.             Forget about the start of this year. The hope and the oh-no-not-that and the hope and the you-gotta-be-kidding-me and the hope and the excuse-me-for-asking.             January’s almost gone and like a bad girlfriend it’s time to start dating again.             February’s almost here and she’s looking beautiful and I hear she’s single.             There’s something about this and here’s the thing. Spring’s-a-coming. So’s summer. Forget about fall? Well, there’s always winter. But not yet. NOT YET.                         These days are a haze a blind dreary haze but standing behind this keyboard you feel like you’re playing an instrument and thank God it’s a voice but not the one you sing with in church. Another voice. Finer. Freer. Fuller. And you still got some things to say and some songs to sing and some rants to rave and some hurts to help with.             Inspiration, can you feel it?             It’s out there, tapping on the glass like the icy rain.             Nobody has to get it or get you but you get it. They don’t have to see but they can see the written word. Not ramblings like this—those midnight ramblings—but the process of story. The process of a journey. The process of something beautiful.             Breathe in.             It’s almost a new day. A new working week even though you know you’re always working. But it’s a new chance again. 37,000 words and counting, right? Story-building, right?             Heaven knows who might call this week.             God has a plan and a purpose.             Please no curly fries, God. Not yet.             God has it all figured out.             Potty-training and graduating to big-girl beds and thanks-a lot-flu-shot-failure.             It’s time to keep going. Keep dreaming. And keep believing that this is something you’re meant to do. So you start with your ABCs.             Yeah yeah yeah.             You start and you keep going.