Rich Samuels's Blog, page 13
January 9, 2014
Creating Alexander - A Writer Vents (Blogging Every Day #9)
[9] I'm just about midway through my follow-up to "My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain." If this were only a game of filling up pages with words, I'm be in good shape, but I'm creating the second volume in a series, and that means both maintaining a sense of continuity with the original book and creating a story that isn't simple a rehash of the first book. As I've written in other blogs, that also means maintaining a balance in Alexander's character between his tendency toward obsession, and a vulnerability that (most) people find appealing.
Creating Alexander is walking a tightrope. On one hand, he'd secretly love to hide under his bedcovers all day and never face the world. On the other hand, he's constantly searching for a solution to all his problems. Those solutions rarely lead him down the path he expects, but he keeps trying. He's got good friends, but his quirky nature sometimes makes him a bit hard to take - and, for this author, hard to write. Keeping that precarious balance is an ongoing challenge.
The second book was well outlined, but Alexander, in a sense, took over once I began the writing process itself. He has a tendency to constantly analyze and consider his options - naturally forcing his author to do the same. Choices that seemed reasonable in outline form were the opposite once character and environment are actually put into play. Contrary to my expectations, I'm finding the second volume more difficult than the first.
Sometimes my boy Alexander seems like
a devil child...but I love him anyway.I like to describe documentary filmmaking as putting together a jigsaw puzzle in which the shapes of the puzzle pieces are constantly changing, and the image is constantly moving...
...I think the same can be applied to writing fiction!
Creating Alexander is walking a tightrope. On one hand, he'd secretly love to hide under his bedcovers all day and never face the world. On the other hand, he's constantly searching for a solution to all his problems. Those solutions rarely lead him down the path he expects, but he keeps trying. He's got good friends, but his quirky nature sometimes makes him a bit hard to take - and, for this author, hard to write. Keeping that precarious balance is an ongoing challenge.
The second book was well outlined, but Alexander, in a sense, took over once I began the writing process itself. He has a tendency to constantly analyze and consider his options - naturally forcing his author to do the same. Choices that seemed reasonable in outline form were the opposite once character and environment are actually put into play. Contrary to my expectations, I'm finding the second volume more difficult than the first.
Sometimes my boy Alexander seems like a devil child...but I love him anyway.I like to describe documentary filmmaking as putting together a jigsaw puzzle in which the shapes of the puzzle pieces are constantly changing, and the image is constantly moving...
...I think the same can be applied to writing fiction!
January 8, 2014
Resource Rabbit Hole! (Blogging Every Day #8)
[8]
If you haven't discovered the treasure trove of public domain material available through the British Library, check it out - over a million images of all kinds from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, available for anyone to use or adapt. Here's an article about this resource, and here's a link to the Flickr photostream where it resides. It's a great place to find direct resources - or just inspiration. Some images are obscure, while others will seem quite familiar. This collection currently features images from just 46,000 books, from a collection of over 14 million - with more to come.
Just don't fall down the rabbit hole!
The first two images are from a book identified as "Sedbergh School Songs. Written and illustrated by R. St. J. Ainslie," published in 1896. A quick Google search found that Sedbergh School, founded in 1525, is still very much in business.
The rabbit image is from a book identified as "The Bashful Earthquake, and other fables and verses ... With many pictures by the author," published in 1899. It's been scanned and it available in it's entirety at the Internet Archive.
The image below is identified as "A Little Tour in Ireland. By an Oxonian, S. R. Hole ... With illustrations by J. Leech ... New edition," published in 1892. It's actually available at Amazon.
I can give you a million more examples, but you get the idea...
If you haven't discovered the treasure trove of public domain material available through the British Library, check it out - over a million images of all kinds from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, available for anyone to use or adapt. Here's an article about this resource, and here's a link to the Flickr photostream where it resides. It's a great place to find direct resources - or just inspiration. Some images are obscure, while others will seem quite familiar. This collection currently features images from just 46,000 books, from a collection of over 14 million - with more to come. Just don't fall down the rabbit hole!
The first two images are from a book identified as "Sedbergh School Songs. Written and illustrated by R. St. J. Ainslie," published in 1896. A quick Google search found that Sedbergh School, founded in 1525, is still very much in business.
The rabbit image is from a book identified as "The Bashful Earthquake, and other fables and verses ... With many pictures by the author," published in 1899. It's been scanned and it available in it's entirety at the Internet Archive.
The image below is identified as "A Little Tour in Ireland. By an Oxonian, S. R. Hole ... With illustrations by J. Leech ... New edition," published in 1892. It's actually available at Amazon.
I can give you a million more examples, but you get the idea...
January 7, 2014
Skewed Perspectives (Blogging Every Day #7)
[7] A while back, I visited the Glendale Galleria during a major facelift. Stores were still operating, but floors, walls, railings and ceilings were all being replaced or renewed to better compete with the more attractive mall just across the street.Throughout this mall, large signs commanded mall visitors to look forward to the wonders that lay ahead: "Look Forward to New Glass Hand Rails," "Look Forward to Beautiful New Flooring" and "Look Forward to a Fresh Vibe."
While we may always look forward to a fresh vibe, I'm not sure how often anyone "looks forward" to new flooring or glass hand rails (Except, perhaps, store owners who might have been losing business to the shiny competitor across the street). I'm not certain if the mall owners were trying to build excitement, or simply provide comedy relief during the disruption, but I appreciated the signs as a reminder that perspective is everything. The mall owners might call this a "Fresh New Vibe," but perhaps their competitors would see the changes as a futile attempt to regain past glory.A constant challenge in my writing process is keeping in mind the emotional/social perspectives of not only my central character, but of the others with whom he might interact. It's not enough to create a protagonist with strong opinions. Why those opinions are strong is just as important.
What sort of a person would look forward to New Glass Hand Rails?
January 6, 2014
Writing Psychotic (Blogging Every Day #6)
[6] The premise of my novel, "My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain" (find out more here) centers on thirteen year old Alexander, a boy whose skewed perspective on the world around him leaves him in abject fear of non-existent bullies and the terrible deeds they might be plotting against him. His paranoia leads him to make decisions that not only aren't in his best interest, but nearly transform him into just the kind of kid he fears the most. Half the fun of the novel (and, hopefully, the follow-up I'm working on now) is discovering Alexander's outsized reactions to otherwise mundane situations.I believe that most people - artists of all types, especially - consider themselves quirky, odd or unusual in one way or another. As readers, we identify best with the true outliers - those characters who stand apart from the norm in one way or another. We sympathize with them, cheer for them, and enjoy their victories. The best hero, in this reader's opinion, is a flawed hero.
As a writer, I'm most fascinated by critiques of my work that analyze my main protagonist in psychological terms. Kirkus Reviews, for example, stated that I risk "making Alexander unsympathetic by pushing his behavior from that of a risible obsessive to that of an outright psychotic." I love that comment, and I don't mind the "risk" if it helps achieve a measure of authenticity.
After all, what thirteen year-old hasn't felt just like that at one time or another?
We're all unstable, unpredictable creatures. Our fictional equivalents should be, too.
January 5, 2014
Mac vs. PC...Still? (Blogging Every Day #5)
[5] I use Apple devices. I have an iMac, an iPad, an iPhone, and an aging MacBook Pro. I enjoy the predictability and ease of working within the Apple universe. It simply works for me. I especially like cloud syncing, which allows my word processing, contacts and schedule to instantly update on all my platforms. With my iPad I can work on a document at Starbucks. As soon as I'm home, I simply access my iMac, and that same document appears, perfectly up to day.On the other hand, if someone asks my opinion on whether they should buy a Mac or PC, I'm certainly not an evangelist. We're at a point in computer and software technology where so much is generally equivalent. I love Apple tech, and I'm not bothered by what some call a closed, controlled world. I don't believe however, that writing a book on a Mac is dramatically different than writing a book on a PC. If a writer wishes to buy a new computer simply for writing, and is more experienced in the PC world - and has a limited budget, I don't believe that buying a Mac is worth the extra expense.
This morning, I started listening to a podcast about self-publishing in which the ages-old (it seems) Mac vs. PC debate was dredged up one again. At this point in time, the argument itself seems archaic.
I wrote My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain
on a Mac, using the Apple Pages word processing program. I used the Mac version of Microsoft Word to finish the book and predictably exchange files between both my editor and the online publishing mechanisms that prepped my book for distribution ("save as" didn't always lead to dependable results).It works for me - and that's all that counts.
January 4, 2014
My Writing Environment (Blogging Every Day #4)
[4] Suz Baldwin, my editor / proofreader, asked about my writing situation - what sort of environment do I require when writing?I wrote a large part of the first draft of "My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain," at my local Starbucks, and on hour-long train commutes to downtown Los Angeles. Required tools of the trade are my iPad and wireless bluetooth keyboard. I usually have a coffee or bottle of water nearby. General ambience - normal conversation or the rumble of the train - generally don't bother me, so I don't typically feel the need for earbuds. However, if there's abnormally loud, distracting conversation or music, I'll put on earbuds and listen to something in keeping with the mood of whatever I'm writing. This "mood music" must be instrumental - I find vocals distracting.
I've adjusted my habits a bit with the second volume of "Food Chain," as my extended time writing the first volume at Starbucks generated a larger universe of acquaintances there, and so created a more (distracting) social environment. Now, much of my writing occurs in my home office or at the kitchen table. I don't play music or watch television. On the other hand, I don't turn off my phone, close all other windows on my desktop, or otherwise enforce isolation upon myself. Allowing myself the occasional controllable distraction is an opportunity for brainstorming.
I'm not a stare-at-the-screen-for-eight-hours guy. I most often write mid-morning and late evening, but rarely in the afternoon.
How about you?
January 3, 2014
Writing and Racing (Blogging Every Day #3)
[3] Today, I took some time off from my various projects and anxieties for a bit of R&R, which included a bit of indoor kart racing....
When I'm in a writing mode, as I am now, intense experiences like racing inspire my imagination, though not always as directly as you might think. In a race (or race-like environment, in this case), senses are heightened, and the driver is more intimately connected with the world around him - other drivers, the track, the race officials, the operation of the kart itself, the fit of the helmet, or even visibility through the helmet visor.
Part of the fun I have with the writing process is creating the layers of texture that make a story truly immersive. Human beings don't live a vacuum, after all. How we proceed through out day, or interact with one another may be reflective of our personal experience, our relationship with the other person, the environment in which we are interacting, and many other factors. Discovering what those factors are, and how they might influence characters in a story is a great adventure - and can sometimes change the entire direction of a plot line.
By adding intimate detail, I'm placing characters in a real world, and seeing how they react. For this writer, that's where a tale comes alive.
When I'm in a writing mode, as I am now, intense experiences like racing inspire my imagination, though not always as directly as you might think. In a race (or race-like environment, in this case), senses are heightened, and the driver is more intimately connected with the world around him - other drivers, the track, the race officials, the operation of the kart itself, the fit of the helmet, or even visibility through the helmet visor.
Part of the fun I have with the writing process is creating the layers of texture that make a story truly immersive. Human beings don't live a vacuum, after all. How we proceed through out day, or interact with one another may be reflective of our personal experience, our relationship with the other person, the environment in which we are interacting, and many other factors. Discovering what those factors are, and how they might influence characters in a story is a great adventure - and can sometimes change the entire direction of a plot line.
By adding intimate detail, I'm placing characters in a real world, and seeing how they react. For this writer, that's where a tale comes alive.
January 2, 2014
Greatest Strengths = Weaknesses (Blogging Every Day #2)
[2] I enjoy following Gary Vaynerchuk, an entrepreneur whose insight into effectively applying social media tools in achieving personal and professional goals stands apart from many of the "get-rich-quick" style books and websites.
Too often, social media is seen only as a destination, rather than a means toward an end. We've all "liked" Facebook Pages that remain mostly static. If you're a Twitter user, you've certainly followed users that only push out content, and seem to forget the interactive aspect of the platform. Gary's the author of Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
, which I consider a primer on developing a constructive attitude toward using the ever-expanding universe of social tools. I'm currently reading his most recent book,
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
, which consists largely of case studies of businesses small and large that have failed or succeeded in using these tools.
Most importantly, thought, I enjoy Gary's perspective as an active entrepreneur (as opposed to the ever-present "social media expert"). This morning, he posted a YouTube video in which he was asked during an interview to offer an example where a one of his strengths is also his weakness. His answer - he likes to "scale the unscalable." It's a good lesson, and worth a minute of your time:
Too often, social media is seen only as a destination, rather than a means toward an end. We've all "liked" Facebook Pages that remain mostly static. If you're a Twitter user, you've certainly followed users that only push out content, and seem to forget the interactive aspect of the platform. Gary's the author of Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
, which I consider a primer on developing a constructive attitude toward using the ever-expanding universe of social tools. I'm currently reading his most recent book,
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
, which consists largely of case studies of businesses small and large that have failed or succeeded in using these tools.Most importantly, thought, I enjoy Gary's perspective as an active entrepreneur (as opposed to the ever-present "social media expert"). This morning, he posted a YouTube video in which he was asked during an interview to offer an example where a one of his strengths is also his weakness. His answer - he likes to "scale the unscalable." It's a good lesson, and worth a minute of your time:
Blogging Every Day #2: Greatest Strengths = Weaknesses
[2] I enjoy following Gary Vaynerchuk, an entrepreneur whose insight into effectively applying social media tools in achieving personal and professional goals stands apart from many of the "get-rich-quick" style books and websites.
Too often, social media is seen only as a destination, rather than a means toward an end. We've all "liked" Facebook Pages that remain mostly static. If you're a Twitter user, you've certainly followed users that only push out content, and seem to forget the interactive aspect of the platform. Gary's the author of Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
, which I consider a primer on developing a constructive attitude toward using the ever-expanding universe of social tools. I'm currently reading his most recent book,
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
, which consists largely of case studies of businesses small and large that have failed or succeeded in using these tools.
Most importantly, thought, I enjoy Gary's perspective as an active entrepreneur (as opposed to the ever-present "social media expert"). This morning, he posted a YouTube video in which he was asked during an interview to offer an example where a one of his strengths is also his weakness. His answer - he likes to "scale the unscalable." It's a good lesson, and worth a minute of your time:
Too often, social media is seen only as a destination, rather than a means toward an end. We've all "liked" Facebook Pages that remain mostly static. If you're a Twitter user, you've certainly followed users that only push out content, and seem to forget the interactive aspect of the platform. Gary's the author of Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
, which I consider a primer on developing a constructive attitude toward using the ever-expanding universe of social tools. I'm currently reading his most recent book,
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
, which consists largely of case studies of businesses small and large that have failed or succeeded in using these tools.Most importantly, thought, I enjoy Gary's perspective as an active entrepreneur (as opposed to the ever-present "social media expert"). This morning, he posted a YouTube video in which he was asked during an interview to offer an example where a one of his strengths is also his weakness. His answer - he likes to "scale the unscalable." It's a good lesson, and worth a minute of your time:
January 1, 2014
Blogging Every Day (and Why)
[1] On YouTube, there are a number of traditions (or challenges) variously called VED (Vlog Every Day) April, December (choose your month), in the name of promoting vlogging and individual YouTube channels. As I'm really not creating many YouTube videos at this point, I thought I'd give BED a chance (Blogging Every Day, though sleep is always an option!), and see what happens. For now, I'll call this BEDY - Blogging Every Day January, and see what happens from there.
Some entries will be short - others quite lengthy. At no point, however, will I create a placeholder entry just to be able to declare that I accomplished my goal. My intention is to create something interesting and readable every day during the month.
I have several objectives:
First, I'd like to revitalize my blogging activity. I've been slowly moving back toward blogging again, recognizing it as a tool to pursue my writing related goals, and let people know what I'm up to in an interesting, ongoing basis.
It's also a good central location to share videos (on the rare occasion I create them!), photos, and other social media.
This blog began as a discussion about the relationship between social media and traditional media. With the publication of my book, I'm recognizing that social media has been the primary tool and motivating factor in understanding, creating for, and reaching an audience. I hope to share what I've learned - and what I'm continuing to learn - in the days and weeks ahead.
See you tomorrow!
Some entries will be short - others quite lengthy. At no point, however, will I create a placeholder entry just to be able to declare that I accomplished my goal. My intention is to create something interesting and readable every day during the month.
I have several objectives:
First, I'd like to revitalize my blogging activity. I've been slowly moving back toward blogging again, recognizing it as a tool to pursue my writing related goals, and let people know what I'm up to in an interesting, ongoing basis.
It's also a good central location to share videos (on the rare occasion I create them!), photos, and other social media.
This blog began as a discussion about the relationship between social media and traditional media. With the publication of my book, I'm recognizing that social media has been the primary tool and motivating factor in understanding, creating for, and reaching an audience. I hope to share what I've learned - and what I'm continuing to learn - in the days and weeks ahead.
See you tomorrow!
