Travis Thrasher's Blog, page 41

Top 100: #66

(This group has done a lot more than just the 80's songs you remember so well. Google this song--it's beautiful)
"Me And My Big Ideas" by Tears For Fears
Me and my big ideas
Won't wash away your tears
No one else seems to mind
That I'm not that kind

Go get a volunteer
We'll pay him well my dear
He will see inside your mind
Because he is that kind

It's a southern kind of heat
The shadows crack and start to creep
Conversation drag its feet
I wish we'd both been more discreet
Like light that it caught between night and day
You're stuck between me and my

Me and my big ideas
Won't wash away your tears
No one else seems to mind
That I'm not that kind

Well they love you when you're weak
Bet they hate you to see this winning streak
It's that thing we call control
There's a deep frustration
Black thoughts
That are stuck between someone's ears
Like me and my big idea

So many strings to your bow
Why not let one go

In a way this dream is over
Blown away our four leaf clover

There's no reason why
There's just me and my

Me and my big ideas
Won't wash away your tears
No one else seems to mind
That I'm not that kind

Writing Tip #71

Take a bad habit of yours and turn it on its head.
I'll share an example. One of my bad habits in writing is the tendency to fill a character with too much angst. Especially if that character is a lot like me. Check out my post on that here.
This morning I was adding to a story map for a future idea and I came to a character who in many ways resembles someone like me. I thought, How do I make this guy who's going through the most intense and dramatic thing in his life someone we won't get tired of but rather root for?
As I was "casting actors" for their roles in this story, I thought that I needed to change things up with this part. So who did I cast?
Will Ferrell.
Everything suddenly changed when it came to this character in my story.
His character arc and journey will be the same. But imagining Will Ferrell as the character changes things entirely.
No, I'm not going to make it out to be like a Saturday Night Live skit. No, the character is not going to randomly say things like "I need more cowbell."
The thing with Will Ferrell is that you can't help but love the guy. You can't help but smile at him, even when he's being serious. Maybe it's because he's been so funny 95% of the time. But having Will Ferrell in mind when it comes to this character gives it a whole new breath of fresh air.
The tendency to go full-on angst is suddenly gone. Now the tendency will be to go full-on funny (something I've never done). I'll say right now, this won't happen, especiallly not with the journey this poor guy is about to go on. But having some levity in the midst of the darkness--that's something that will be necessary for a story like this and a character like that.
We'll see if Will Ferrell shows up when its time to actually start filming (writing). I hope he does.
So why Will Ferrell? Well, someone once said I reminded them of Will. I still don't know if that was a compliment or not . . .

Writing Tip #70

Nike lies.
While their slogan "Just Do It" might be the best three words marketing has ever seen, it's still just hollow advice. Because at the end of the day, we can't just do it. Not when it comes to sports.
Sorry, but to quote another well-known slogan by Gatorade, we all can't "Be Like Mike."
Sports first and foremost requires talent. It requires God-given abilities that you're either born with or you're not. Things like your height and weight, your stamina, your flexibility, your eye-hand coordination--I could go on but you know what I'm talking about. You can JUST DO IT until you're heaving over puking and you still might not even make the JV basketball team.
Encouraging post, huh?
No, here's the encouragement. And I've said this time and time again.
When it comes to writing, you can improve.
Nike's ad should be for writers.
Because you can work on your voice and your style and your craft. You can become a better writer over time.
I love this slogan because it reminds me to do what I've always done. To just go for it. To try for something big and then try again. And to keep trying.
I'll be the first to tell you that I still feel like I have a long ways to go. But 40 is the new 27 so I'm doing well, right? And I'm going to keep at this thing. I'm going to keep doing it over and over and over again.
I was reminded of this again today. I began working on something big and ambitious and potentially unwieldy. It was time so I started it.
Yet for a little while, I began having doubts and second-thoughts. This is the start and it has to be great, especially for this. The thoughts went around and around until I saw the Nike swoosh in my head.
Just do it, Trav. Like you've done time and time again.
So I did.
It didn't hurt. I didn't bleed anywhere. That Nike slogan takes the pressure off me to just go ahead and write. I can always throw the writing away or cut and chop away at it. But it's a start. It's not everything, those first few pages. It's just several pages at the start of a story.
This is the mindset you need. The writing can be brilliant or it could bomb. Don't worry about that now. If you're worrying and waiting and wondering, remember the Nike ad.
Then keep remembering it for another 300 or 400 pages.

Endorsements for Letters From War

Here is the list of endorsements for Letters From War that releases September 6, 2011:
"Mark Schultz has touched millions with his song, 'Letters from War.' Now Mark's novel will take you deeper into the story, grabbing your imagination and taking you on an unforgettable journey of the heart."
—Karen Kingsbury, New York Times bestselling author of Unlocked and Leaving

"The first time I heard Mark Schultz's song, 'Letters from War,' I was speechless. Now, seeing the heart of that message poured into a full-length novel, I'm not just speechless, but amazed at the sacrifice our men and women in uniform—and their families—so willingly make to protect our freedom. Thanks, Mark, for reminding us all of the cost of liberty."

—Dave Ramsey, host of The Dave Ramsey Show, bestselling author of The Total Money Makeover

"A compelling story of the love a mom, dad, and bride have for their soldier. Letters from War graphically reminds us of the price our soldiers and their families pay to protect our nation. You'll not be able to put this book down."

—Dr. Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife

"The first time I met Mark Schultz I heard him sing in Estes Park. He closed out his set with 'Letters from War' accompanied by a very moving music video. I wept when I listened and watched the story unfold. What makes Mark special is that he is an advocate through song and story for the forgotten people of this world. He causes us to see our story in theirs, uniting through brokenness and hope. Letters from War is a must read."

—Sandi Patty, Women of Faith speaker, most awarded female vocalist in Christian music history

"As Americans we understand and admire the courage and strength of our military, but now Mark Schultz has taken us into the hearts of these freedom fighters. We, as the reader, can almost feel the love, worry, and pain that they and their families experience during their service."

—Lee Greenwood, multi-platinum-selling recording artist, Grammy Award winner, composer/singer of "God Bless the USA"

"As a friend and a fan of Mark Schultz, I have always been amazed at his ability to tell a great story through his songs. With his new book, Letters from War, Mark shows that his storytelling extends far beyond his music. Once again, Mark tells a compelling story that is going to touch the hearts of those who read it."

—Matthew West, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter

"Mark Schultz is the ultimate storyteller. Through his music and now his book, Letters from War touches our hearts, lifts our spirits, and honors our country."

—Tommy Spaulding, New York Times bestsellling author of It's Not Just Who You Know

The World's Coolest Office

I just moved offices to get a little more space. I'm in a planning and story-mapping phase right now (along with a marketing and selling phase for my novels just releasing). I thought of this pic so I looked it up. I was reminded how cool I thought this office was. Really, it's only cool because of the show it represents.
I miss Lost.
Makes me want to go and foolishly try to make my own version of this story.
The walls surrounding me are empty. For now.
Just waiting to be decorated with large Post-It notes.

An Encouraging Reader Note

I rarely share reader letters coming to me but wanted to share this one. It's about Every Breath You Take, the book I self-published back in December of 2009. I've posted a bunch about that little love story on my blog if you're curious. It was one of those emails that refills my writing tank and keeps me going. I asked her if I could share it.
"I just finished reading Every Breath You Take and I loved it. I must admit, I was nervous to read it. My dad died in a hot air balloon accident when I was 7 and I was afraid I would sob through the entire thing. I won't lie - I cried. But because I think you did a beautiful job of conveying how a daughter really feels who has lost her father.

And not having my dad here to dance with me at my wedding is one of the major moments in life that I am sad I didn't get to experience. But I guarantee that dance will be one if the first things I ask for when I get to heaven. :-)

You told a precious and important story - thank you."

Time For Some New Goals

Found This Today In A Writing Journal From 2002:


"What I'm Striving For In Writing"

--For readers to be moved

--For readers to be surprised

--Variety

--To continue to grow, improve, evolve as a writer

--To convey message of hope & redemption

--To remember the story

--To not repeat myself


"What I'm Striving For In Writing Career"

--Develop faithful readership that will follow me wherever I go

--To write fulltime

--To publish one book every year, maybe more

--To take risks, to change styles and voices, to try things

--To have books that stay in print

--To occasionally hit a home run

--To never lose passion to create or drive to succeed

--To never run out of ideas

40 Snippet #8

(Here's the last little snippet cut from 40 that I wanted to share.)
Chapter 101. Dance Yrself Clean

This is the prologue to something more.

Either we believe that or we don't.

Either this is all we got or there's something more.

Either it's all about us or about something else.

We can argue about everything except death.

It's the light that's so hard to take.

The darkness comes easy but the light is a little more difficult.

Black is for the strong and light for the weak.

Take it like a man and don't wince.

Take it like a man and don't flinch.

Happily ever afters are for children.

Where are you going and who are you traveling with?

What's on the horizon and why are you running?

The sun is going to set and you have no idea when.

If you did, what would you do with the time left?

What would you do with those moments, those seconds, that time?

Top 100: #65

"Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk
Baby,
life's what you make it
Can't escape it

Baby,
yesterday's favourite
Don't you hate it

(Everything's All Right)
life's what you make it
(Everything's All Right)

Baby,
life's what you make it
Don't backdate it

Baby,
Don't try to shade it
Beauty is naked

(Everything's all right)
life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)
Life's What You Make It

Baby,
life's what you make it
Celebrate it
Anticipate it
Yesterday's faded
Nothing can change it
Life's what you make it

(Everything's all right)
life's what you make it
(Everything's all right)
Life's What You Make It
(Everything's all right)
yeah yeah
(Everything's all right)

Wonder What's Inside?