Harule Stokes's Blog, page 6
July 16, 2013
July 11, 2013
The Time Has Come!
Write Manuscript - Check!
Editorial Review - Check!
Line Edits - Check!
Proofread - Check!
Wife Acceptance of final product (most important) - Check!!!!!
Eeeekk!! I'm almost there! This should be the final weekend I'll be working on the actual writing of Sectors. The rest will be things like formatting the physical book and ebook, but that's all that remains.
I'm nervous! As proof, just count all of the exclamation points in this post. Way too many.
June 27, 2013
Equality is a Wonderful Thing
DOMA being smacked down was a necessary change for American society... and in my opinion, quite overdo. Whether you are for or against gay marriage, we all have to be leery of any legislation that's built on fear. DOMA, as it's core, was more about fear than about any Christian ideal of marriage. America is not a country who's Constitution is a religious text. In fact, it specifically makes reference to a separation of church and state.
Not everyone is Christian or even adheres to Christian beliefs, so it's a violation of our "God given rights" to force someone to adhere to any specific dogma. At best, you should only try to convince them to follow, and allow them to choose their own path.
If your God truly believes in freedom, let all humanity freely choose the best path for them. Let them truly be free... let us all truly be free.
June 25, 2013
Just Because I Love this Poem
Heartbreak opens onto the sunrise
For even breaking is openingAnd I am brokenI’m openBroken to the new light without pushing inOpen to the possibilities within, pushing outSee the love shine in through my cracks?See the light shine out through me?I am brokenI am openI am broken openSee the love light shining through meShining through my cracksThrough the gapsMy spirit takes journeyMy spirit takes flightCould not have risen otherwiseAnd I am not runningI’m choosingRunning is not a choice from the breakingBreaking is freeingBroken is freedomI am not brokenI’m free. ~ Spoken by Alike (Adepero Oduye) Written by Dee Rees
For even breaking is openingAnd I am brokenI’m openBroken to the new light without pushing inOpen to the possibilities within, pushing outSee the love shine in through my cracks?See the light shine out through me?I am brokenI am openI am broken openSee the love light shining through meShining through my cracksThrough the gapsMy spirit takes journeyMy spirit takes flightCould not have risen otherwiseAnd I am not runningI’m choosingRunning is not a choice from the breakingBreaking is freeingBroken is freedomI am not brokenI’m free. ~ Spoken by Alike (Adepero Oduye) Written by Dee Rees
June 20, 2013
Letting it Go
Now that I'm getting really close to publishing my book, I'm feeling more and more like the child above. Filled with both elation and dread.
I'm following my wife's advice and setting a date. June 27th, is the day I have to push the button by, and send my 3 year old project on it's way. It's all grown up now, edited and culled of many of it's father's repetitious meanderings. My baby's leaving me and I'm so proud! I'm also so scared it'll suffer a terrible fate. Shunned by people or scorned by those that took the time to listen to what it has to say. I only want the best for it!
Lots of 'what ifs' dance around in my brain, most silly and foolish, but all based on fear that I should not embrace... ever. And like the mom in the video above, my wife would says, "Silly baby."
Well deserved, because it is silly. Fear is often created under a cover of silly imagining of what could be, not what is, and that's utterly meaningless. The wife says it's fine, my best friends say it's good to go, so it's me that has to get with the program and allow what is, to be. Allow life. Allow freedom. Allow success. If you've done the work, allow the fruit of that work to manifest.
I just have to tell myself that more often and douse the crackling embers of fear with hope and the assurance that the work I put in will reap the rewards.
June 19, 2013
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Zombie Apocalypse?
Zombies are a huge draw. Everyone (specifically in the US) is interested in them... well, interested in surviving them. We have people prepping for a zombie apocalypse in the ole' US of A even as I write this. Readying themselves for the possibility that society will collapse under a horde of the undead. A world where strength of arms is more important than words. A world where a big gun and lots of ammo is what determines the winner, not brains (which zombies are drawn to more than a bag of oatmeal raisin cookies).
Why am I bringing this up? Partly because I think Americans tend to be the most ill-informed people of all the world powers. We favor strength over intelligence. We have the biggest military and the most guns of any populace (mostly in the hands of gun nuts). The other part is Fear. I think American's have a strong love affair with fear. We, as a nation, can't let go of it. If we didn't love to be fearful, we wouldn't spend so much money creating enemies to be afraid of, now would we?
Movies and books created by artists fill our minds with fear because we love it and it sells. Fear is also an emotion we all can relate to, so it's pretty easy to express that through the written word and visually. I don't want to feed into a system that promotes fear and stupidity. It's just not worth it to me right now, spiritually that is. By the way, the best media about zombies isn't about zombies at all. It's about the human spirit and the human collective. Working together for the common good in the face of overwhelming odds. That's the lesson we should push, not one of desperate survival where it's a dog eat dog world... not very different from the society many in America want to create.
June 14, 2013
Every time I hear this song, I tear up. Seriously. ...
Every time I hear this song, I tear up. Seriously. My eyes well as the verses sink in. But, is that all it is? Just words tied to music and my personal emotional connection to the ideas presented? I'd like to say no. I prefer to believe something greater is occurring. I'm going to choose door number 2 and say the song is infused with something more that fills the mind with that wonderful "something" and stirs the soul. That "something"... it's magical and meaningful and spiritual and uniquely from the artist.
I'm envious of that. I desire to bring that to my work. I want my writing to stir something within people that's more than mere words on paper or digital ink. I want people to feel my love, hate, fear, joy, etc and be better for it after having experienced it.
Now that I'm at looking at the finish line and finding it only a few more steps away, I'm feeling energized and also a bit terrified. But, getting across the finish line won't be enough I must confess. I crave that sharing I hope my work brings. Much like Stevie Wonder was able to do with the song above. I desire to share a part of my soul as he did through words and music. I just want to do it with words. I hope it's enough.
June 13, 2013
Open Your Eyes
Beautiful but toxic lagoon
Sure it looks nice, but as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. This lagoon is nearly as toxic as bleach. Knowing this, people still jumped in and took a swim in this toxic soup.
As I read the link, I thought how on earth could a person put themselves in this horror... then I saw the pics and understood. It looks inviting I have to admit! But, as with all things, we have to look beyond the surface and see it for what it is. Just because it looks nice doesn't mean it is.
Sure it looks nice, but as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. This lagoon is nearly as toxic as bleach. Knowing this, people still jumped in and took a swim in this toxic soup.
As I read the link, I thought how on earth could a person put themselves in this horror... then I saw the pics and understood. It looks inviting I have to admit! But, as with all things, we have to look beyond the surface and see it for what it is. Just because it looks nice doesn't mean it is.
August 3, 2012
Writer = Artist
The Expression of Self
I wonder if writers are aware that they are artist? If you don't know... you are. Writers are no different than a singer, a musician, a painter or a sculptor. Our medium is the symbols we use to communicate everyday. Our words are the clay which we shape and form into thoughts that reflect our feelings. The paint we struggle with to express our hearts through metphor and life situations.
I've been reading some sites that speak of writing as nothing more than a business, and our constructs as products only to be bought and sold, created only for the pleasure of others.
No... hell no.
Do we reduce any other artist to such a small-minded viewpoint? I've yet to hear a painter call their work nothing more than a product created for the sole purpose of commerce. You don't hear that because it's madness to believe it. It's a way to strip the ART out of the artwork, leaving you only with work. I refuse such a designation. I write first for myself. Once complete, I may look to sell my ART to those interested in experiencing it. Sure, the distinction is small, but it's the difference between writing empty slush devoid of the power of one's soul, and creating something meaningful and soul stirring. The difference between Disney and Studio Ghibli (for those into anime). The difference between
and
Don't let money define who you are as an artist. I won't.
I wonder if writers are aware that they are artist? If you don't know... you are. Writers are no different than a singer, a musician, a painter or a sculptor. Our medium is the symbols we use to communicate everyday. Our words are the clay which we shape and form into thoughts that reflect our feelings. The paint we struggle with to express our hearts through metphor and life situations.
I've been reading some sites that speak of writing as nothing more than a business, and our constructs as products only to be bought and sold, created only for the pleasure of others.
No... hell no.
Do we reduce any other artist to such a small-minded viewpoint? I've yet to hear a painter call their work nothing more than a product created for the sole purpose of commerce. You don't hear that because it's madness to believe it. It's a way to strip the ART out of the artwork, leaving you only with work. I refuse such a designation. I write first for myself. Once complete, I may look to sell my ART to those interested in experiencing it. Sure, the distinction is small, but it's the difference between writing empty slush devoid of the power of one's soul, and creating something meaningful and soul stirring. The difference between Disney and Studio Ghibli (for those into anime). The difference between
and
Don't let money define who you are as an artist. I won't.
July 9, 2012
The Hard Work Is Beginning
Edits - Love and Hate Relationship
As much as I love seeing the refined product my completed manuscript is turning into, it's not much fun to have someone poke holes in your work. It's like taking medicine. You love how you feel afterwards, but it's god-awful going down. My wonderful wife has been such an amazing editor, pulling no punches. I can only feel gratitude for the work she's done knocking my thoughts around in those pages.
Thank you sweetie!
I'm excited about this, really. I actually wrote a book! The ideas that have been rolling around in my brain for nearly a decade is getting put down, finally silencing the constant pecking sound they've been making in my consciousness. It's like... exhaling after holding your breath for far too long. Finally getting that thorn out of your finger after and hour of digging. Finding that lone rock in your sneaker that kept magically appear when you'd walk, but disappear when you'd take your shoe off and look inside to find it. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Maybe the end of August 2012? That's what we're shooting for. Then the beta readers take over.
As much as I love seeing the refined product my completed manuscript is turning into, it's not much fun to have someone poke holes in your work. It's like taking medicine. You love how you feel afterwards, but it's god-awful going down. My wonderful wife has been such an amazing editor, pulling no punches. I can only feel gratitude for the work she's done knocking my thoughts around in those pages.
Thank you sweetie!
I'm excited about this, really. I actually wrote a book! The ideas that have been rolling around in my brain for nearly a decade is getting put down, finally silencing the constant pecking sound they've been making in my consciousness. It's like... exhaling after holding your breath for far too long. Finally getting that thorn out of your finger after and hour of digging. Finding that lone rock in your sneaker that kept magically appear when you'd walk, but disappear when you'd take your shoe off and look inside to find it. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Maybe the end of August 2012? That's what we're shooting for. Then the beta readers take over.
