Patrick Locke's Blog

More time to write?

You would think that I would have more time to write during the winter, but there always seems to be something to do. Today I am missing the Sun! If I did not know any better I would think that the lack of vitamin D is starting to sap my strength.

Feeling annoyed.

Hello everyone! After spending many hours behind the keyboard in November for Nanowrimo I have stepped back for a bit so that I can get things set up for the winter weather that has come upon us. I hope that everyone has had a great start to the beginning of their holiday season. Let’s all try to ignore the continued push to make the season solely about capitalism and materialism. Those of you that know me, know that I’m not a shopper. I cringe anytime I have to go buy anything other than groceries, and would never go anywhere on Black Friday. Or as I like to call it, “that day were people go to Walmart and fight over crap they don’t need and often can’t afford”.

However, this year, I found myself in a conundrum. I needed a new laptop but have stubbornly worked with the floundering old machine that I had used for years. Its screen was cracked earlier this spring when our cats, brothers Tom Petty and Christopher Walken, decided to try and wrestle on it. To add to the necessity for a shopping trip, the screen on Laurie’s six-month-old laptop was destroyed one night as she sat on the couch. Victimized by our 1 ½ year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Rainy, as she spun around in circles with her leash in her mouth. When the metal end met the screen, it equaled a machine that is permanently connected to the TV now and is only used to watch Netflix and the like.

I knew that if I wanted to be absolutely happy with my purchase I should drive into town, and buy the machines. But because I not relish the drive or the whole shopping process I procrastinated. While working on Cyber Monday a Dell add caught my eye and I decided to bite the bullet. From the Dell website, I ordered a new laptop for Laurie and a much needed one for myself. I even paid the extra money to expedite shipping. Four days later Laurie’s new laptop showed up as promised. Mine? It’s been sixteen days and it has still not shipped. And of course, I only have myself to blame. Laptops on a self at the local store means I will have a computer that day. Cyber Monday on the other hand is a chance for companies to take orders even if they do not have the merchandize on hand. They over sold the laptop that I ordered but still took my money and now I have to wait for their inventory to show up from the manufacture. Ok, they got me. Lesson learned. What’s the old saying, “A bird in the hand is better than two in a bush?”

How important is it to have a good portrait for your author platform?

A bit of self-disclosure. I am an outdoor adventure kind of guy.

I have spent most of my life hiking, climbing, playing sand volleyball, cycling, and skiing. And the truth is, the list goes on and on. Besides my outdoor lifestyle I am also a writer, a reader and a musician. And even though I have been in the military, worked as a behavior therapist, and project managed multi-million dollar projects for a Fortune 100 company, my other pursuits have almost always taken precedence over what I do for a living.

I tell you this just to let you know that I spend far more time in a pair of board shorts and a t-shirt than I do in proper dress clothes.

But what does this have to do with my author picture you ask? Good question.

The truth is, it’s all about perception. And just to show that I don’t even heed my own advice most times, the picture that I use now is not very suitable. But I love it because the last time I was across the pond, I was rowing a boat on Loch Oich in Scotland.

The next picture below was taken on a night when (while drinking copious amounts of tequila) we decided to play dress up and make me look like the studious, intellectual that most people think of when you say that you’re a writer. The last picture is of me in my most normal attire.

Now, we have all heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But the truth is, humans are always judged in some way by how they appear. It doesn’t matter so much if they are attractive or not, but more so if they appear authentic to what they are trying to portray. A sea captain dressed like a fashion model might make people think twice about getting on his boat. So hopefully when you do readings or book signings you present yourself as an author in an authentic way.

I meet people when I am out and about all of the time, and for me there is a direct correlation between how much a person takes me seriously when I say I am a writer and what I am wearing that day. If I am sitting at a bar waiting for a table in slacks and a dress shirt they tend to take my word for it. But when, as often is the case, I am sitting there in shorts and a t-shirt they are more critical and often surprised when I prove it by showing them my author platform.

So back to your portrait and why it’s more important in this day and age than ever before. The way that fellow authors, and perspective readers, perceive you can of course affect whether or not they think that you are indeed a legitimate writer. Often times if they learn of you online, then your portrait is going to be an important way to influence their opinion of you at first glance. We all know that a book cover can sell a book, but a good portrait can sell you as an author.

So, what do you think? Have you had similar experiences when you’re out in public?

Cheers!

 

Why strong female characters?

Several months ago I was at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, Washington for a book signing. Having grown up in the surrounding area with family members who still live there, the group that showed up that day was unusually large and laughingly related.

At the end of the reading for my book Conscripts: The first book of The Off World Trilogy, the floor was opened up for questions and discussion. The topic of strong female characters was brought up and I was asked if I could talk about why I write them.

I admit that I had to pause for a second to think about it, even though I knew the question would be asked. I looked out into the crowd, smiled and then replied. Because all of the women in my life are strong women.

Since that day I have been asked that same question many times, and I think I now have a better and more complete answer.

First off, while growing up in the country there were no wilting flowers, facially-contorted vacillators, or weak-minded broken vessels. There were no girlie girls, doe-eyed attention seekers, or perpetually surprised starlets who fainted every time someone leaked nude photos of them. Disclaimer: I’m not trying to slam anyone that has these qualities; it’s just these weren’t common where I grew up.

The women I grew up around learned to be independent, strong, and able to stand on their own two feet. They learned this from their parents, their peers, and just the reality of not everything being easy for them. They had chores, did sports, worked hard when the family worked, and played just as hard when there was time for it.

Often I see things in our media that make me cringe and I have to ask myself. Do people really want their daughters to grow up like that? To constantly have to pretend that they need someone to take care of them, or to do things for them. Or to teach them, and this is one of my biggest frustrations, learned helplessness. Don’t they want them to be capable, independent, and respected?

When put that way, I think most genuinely want that, yet what is portrayed and inadvertently taught is often times very different.

When I was younger I looked for not only someone to love, but someone that I could respect. Not just a girlfriend, but a partner. Someone that didn’t need me, but wanted me. And not just so that I could carry things for her and agree with her.

The other thing about my characters is that I don’t set out to create a female character that fits some strong female typecast. At least not the Hollywood version.

I see few ‘strong’ female characters being portrayed by actresses who look like they are actually strong. Sure they can do some kung-fu moves or shoot a bow and arrow but these things don’t make someone strong. That’s very one dimensional. (And don’t get me wrong, I like a good martial-arts fight scene or a woman who knows her way around a sword.)

It’s just that to me, strong female characters should be so much more than that.

Strong can be all kinds of things. Strong is capable. Strong can be wise. Strong can be funny. But that doesn’t mean that strong can’t be flawed or have quirks. We all have our moments. That’s what makes us complex. That’s what makes us interesting. And frankly, isn’t that what keeps us reading?

As writers I think sometimes we have a unique opportunity to present people as we see them, or as we want to see them. To present, yes sometimes flawed but, characters that others would respect, want to be friends with, would want to emulate.

If even one of my characters could ever influence someone to be strong, to earn respect, and to be independent then, even without any other accolades, I would consider myself a success.

Has our police force become over militarized or are the Starship Troopers here?

Is anyone else concerned that the police from Baton Rouge, LA look like Rico’s Rangers from the movie Starship Troopers? The director of Starship Troopers Paul Verhoeven said that his satirical use of irony and hyperbole was “playing with fascism or fascist imagery to point out certain aspects of American society… of course, the movie is about ‘Let’s all go to war and let’s all die.'”

I used Wikipedia for this bit of information on the movie.

Reposted. Sci-Fi and Fantasy: These often grouped together genre are not truly related.

I have reposted this post because I have a new RSS feed. As a jack of at least several trades and an always writer, I tend to rant a lot. And my editor, unfortunately for her, always has to listen to my tedious and sometimes bombastic sermons.

One of my favorite verbal assaults is based on how annoyed I get with the accepted reasoning of why we always seem to place Fantasy and Science Fiction in the same category. I love both genres of literature, but they are innately different and I always seem to bellow my annoyance in the same way.

Fantasy is based on unproven or undiscovered magic. And while I wish we lived in a world where magic existed and we could all use it to fulfill our dreams and aspirations, we do not. Nor, does it seem, can we. At this point it is a faith-based wish or belief, and until I see actual magic with my own eyes it will remain so. When I see a poor person who is able to feed their family, or an amputee grow their limb back, through spells, I will change my stance.

Science fiction however is based on a much more reason-based set of universally known scientific rules. But I like to break my opinion down into two different categories: the possible and the probable.

The Possible are ideas that we can firmly base on the scientific knowledge that we have at this time. Stem cell research seems to be leading towards cures for certain diseases.

The Probable are ideas that we extrapolate based on reason and science-based assumptions that we can make based on what we know about the laws of science at this time. In the future, gravity-driven pulpolsion might be possible.

Or in other words, fantasy is true fiction, and science fiction is often at least in part, possible non-fiction. And as tight as sci-fi and fantasy might have become over the years, brothers from another mother will just never have the same connection as blood brothers.

So, what do you think? Does anyone else feel this way too or am I way overthinking this?

Do you ever get tired of self-righteous people?

Hello darkness my old friend! It is time to join the dark side.

The student in this article about his new A.I. beating hu...

The student in this article about his new A.I. beating human pilots in flight simulators, like most Americans, has never seen the box office bomb, Stealth. ‪#‎Scifi‬, ‪#‎Movie

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technol...

HomeTownReads.com

I’ve placed my book Conscripts on http://hometownreads.com/city/spokane/ a website that helps people find local authors to enjoy.

Are you unable to push yourself to write?

I often find myself in this situation and find that a good run is always best to clear my head. Or perhaps a nice bike ride?