My main writing project for the month of March has been a short story, Gutter Punk. This story is loosely based on a social construct of Punk Society that has existed more than fifty years. It started as a counter culture movement but has devolved to a groups of traveling teenagers that don't really fit into our current social normative world. They are gypsies, vagabonds travelers all and none of these things.
With this culture as my base. I'm left to wonder is profanity necessary to create a realistic character. I decided that linguistic tone of these characters would require a lot of rule breaking, slang and yes profanity. While I was writing it did not even enter my mind that people would find this offensive or obscene. Yet one of my first critiques said exactly that.
I set the piece aside to think about the comment. I was curious what made the use of b!tch profane. Was it the fact that one female character was calling another one, a cray-cray b!tch, is it the fact that it was a female voice using this term, or is the word itself offensive. As I pondered this thought, I was pursing facebook.
When a post popped up in my feed asking what people thought of this app, Clean Reader. I responded briefly never heard of it. I was shocked, dismayed and interested at the same time when she told me this app scrubs profanity from books.
Curiosity led me to the Clean Reader website: which touts read clean books not profanity. "Clean Reader prevents swear words in books from being displayed on your screen. You decide how clean your books should appear and Clean Reader does the rest." Digging deeper into the site, I discovered that not only does this filter (as the call it) take out profanity, but also hurtful racial terms.
Okay so my mind is spinning for a minute. Who decided what is profane, what is a hurtful racial term and what happens to literature if artists are not allowed to explore all manners of nature, culture, counter-culture. Humanity at its worst and best and everything in between.
Are we left with a vanilla world, were the past atrocity are glazed over or in the case lined through. Will we live in a world redacted of everything that offends, and if so you is the arbitrator of distressing language. Or worse will we forget the language of the past and the hard lessons it has taught and continues to teach us.
Or will art die on the vine or creativity if the idea that things that make one sad should be avoided. The creator of Clean Reader states that they designed the app because their child was sad after reading a book, would it not be better to discuss and deal with the emotional reaction than to avoid them. What happens in a world were one does everything to avoid emotional reaction, and what happens to art, as it is for the purpose of evoking emotion. See the definition of music an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.
I for one write to evoke an emotional response, from myself, and my reader. If I could paint this would also be my goal. I want people to pick up my books, and feel, sad, happy, angry. I want them to rage against the inequities I show, or love when a character achieves that which she was told was impossible, but in the world that clean readers want to create my art will lose its meaning and context as many of my worlds are formed by the enclaves of my young adult experiences. They are trying to create a world I rally against. So on that note, Fuck all to Hell, I will write as my characters and my art dictate.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Mermaids and Plots
I recently had my 37th Birthday. My present to myself was a new tattoo, I chose a mermaid design. The road to get my Mermaid was much more complicated than I had first planned. The plan: Go to the tattoo studio as soon as it open, get my tattoo, then go to work. Simple, right?
Well, plans are made to be broken, the same is true for plots. There are two types of writers; the Planners and the Pantsters; when it comes to plotting. Planners sit down and plan out each aspect of the plot, sub plot. They write out character descriptions, back story, and planning out the character's life. This group can spend months or years in the planning stage. The other group are the Pantsters. This group sees stories as found objects, something that needs to be discovered and uncovered. The Pantsters sits down and just writes, where the muse takes them. Many try to say which is the correct way to write. I say there is not one correct way to write; but I am definitely a Pantster.
When it comes to plot it doesn't matter if you are a Planner or a Pantster you should be able, at some point, to boil the plot down to about 300 words. If you can do it in a sentence or 50 words even better. For example one of my favorite books by Dean Knootz Dark Rivers of the Heart, can be boiled down to this. A scared man meets a broken woman one night at a bar, the next night he goes back only to find the woman is missing. The man goes in search of the missing woman he hopes he can save, from those hunting her. In the end the woman saves the man, and the dog. Together they bring down the men hunting the woman. Now if only I was able to do that with one of my own stories. Normally I am like a cat on catnip with a new toy.
But there is more to good plot than being able to tell your story in 50 words. I good plot also needs structure, and engine and to lack cliques. For a Pantster (like myself) the structure is what hangs me up. Idea's flow from my fingertips like ink from a pen, but making it more than just a meaningless doodle is the hard part for me. So, this month I am going to work on: boiling each of my current projects down to 100 words or less, adding in structure, and clearly stating what the engine for the story is supposed to be. I'll work on cliques later.
Today's Plot is for Gutter Punk (a short Story): Tabitha came to Portland, for a mission that she hopes will be the end of State rule. She is unaware that one of her own is no-longer loyal to the cause, but only to self-preservation. Tabitha’s mission starts to fall apart. At first, she thinks that it is because of the OSBI, but this does not seem right. As the mission deteriorates, Tabitha questions her resolve to remain in the field, and if change is possible. The mission in ruins, Tabitha has lost her friend and her lover. She faces the loss of herself, as she seeks revenge and looses sight of the mission. The engine for the story is Elena, she is the problem Tabitha has to solve.
And that brings us back to Mermaids, mythological creatures of the deep, that are as likely to sing for you, as they are to drag you down to the depth of the ocean. Both beautiful and dangerous Mermaid are everything a plot should be, but also rings of cliques from Splash to Little Mermaid. And so was the my Odyssey to get a mermaid tattoo, from a car crash, to hours waiting, to missing work, but at long last I succeeded. At least mostly, the tattoo is not done yet.
So until next time, Write madly, Live boldly and plot wildly but give it some structure.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Top 5 Places to Write in Portland
I like most Portlandiers have emerged from winter's hibernation early this year, as sunny warm days now seem the norm and not the rarity. The sun brings with it new writing challenges. Where should I write today. Portland is a Coffee Shop Mecca, besides the 1000s or so coffee shops, there're a number of other places to sit and write in Portland, Oregon--from libraries to bars and just about every place in between.
One of my favorite activities to do while trying to write is people watch, which means I try to find places with good street views and plug-ins--a necessity for any laptop wielding writer. Most people after knowing me for less than a minute realize my passion, obsession, really addiction to all things coffee, so my favorite writing locations are either near great coffee or serve great coffee.
My top five places to write in Downtown Portland.
Floyd's Coffee 118 NW Couch: Yes, that is Old Town. But it has a lot of positives. First on the weekends, the Saturday Market traffic provides plenty of people to watch, and turn into your next character. Second, they have both indoor and out door seating. Both area's have plug-ins. If you know where to look. Third, is the free WiFi. Beyond that the Baristas don't mind you sitting for hours writing. There is art work on the walls if people stop streaming in. Best of all, you get free refills on drip coffee when you order an 8oz cup of coffee for here. They use Stumptown coffee, which makes great cup of joe, or an espresso; either way you can't go wrong
Glyph Café 804 NW Couch, Yes, that is still Old Town. Though this place is in the heart of downtown you wouldn't know it looking out the windows. Or sitting at one of the side walk tables as it is right on the Park Blocks. This is a good blend of wanting to write in the park; but, still have a table for your laptop and that all important plug-in and free WiFi. They serve small reserve coffees, and a broad selection of tea (which I have not touched). They use large ice cubs, so your iced espresso based drinks don't get all watery, and melt slower in the fabulous cold brew coffee.
Coffee Time 712 NW 21st. Up to Nob Hill. I love this section of Portland for its little shops and multitude of restaurants. The neighborhood has a nice mix of Keep Portland Weird Locals, Tourists, and Hipsters to keep the people watching interesting Additionally, this is the place to go if you need an 11:00pm coffee fix and want to write in downtown. The coffee is good, but not the best in town. But who can pass up watching old men, and homeless kids arguing about playing chess. If you want a fail safe on a good cup, just order a bottle of Stumptown's cold brew which they sell.
Southeast Grind 1223 SE Powell: Okay this one is just outside of Downtown, But it's the ONLY 24 hour coffee shop even close to downtown. Also they serve a drink called the Graveyard, it is heaven, in a late night writers, cup: coffee, espresso, white chocolate, steamed milk and whip cream. How could you ask for more. Well go in at 2:00 am on a Thursday night and your people watching radar will go off the chart. They also server yummy stuff to nosh on while writing. The have free WiFi, plug-ins and a number of seating options including couches and tables,
Multnomah County Main Library 801 SW 10th. Okay. It's not a coffee shop, but it is surrounded by some of the best in town. (aka courier coffee). You started of at Floyd's, Moved on to Coffee Time, and were cutoff at Southeast Grind, its now 10:00 am. You're over caffeinated and still want to write. So head to the Library, first there are plenty of tables, the librarians are helpful. If you give them enough time, and can they find you just about anything you could desire research wise. Again there is free WiFi and people watching galore as Students, Soccer Mom's with toddlers and the Homeless all meander about.
So those are my favorite caffeine induced writing spots in and around Downtown. Do you think I forgot any? What are your favorite places to write in Portland.
For an update on my year of writing madly: After little to know writing in January and February, I came out of the March gates with a roar. I've written about 15,000 words, so far this month, Most of then for a Short Story that I'm currently working on, and if all goes as planned will be published sometime this summer.
Until next time, read, write and be happy.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Why First Drafts Suck and Why they should.
I recently read my first draft, of Close Corp for the first time in a long time. I was struck by how bad it is, which made me wonder if maybe the story was not worth the effort of a re-write. Then I remembered an article I read while in Law School; about why lawyers should never be satisfied with the first draft. The article, went on the explain, that drafts were just that drafts, a jumping off point to what you really intended.
Looking at Close Corp, I began to think about what I really want the story to say, on the macro and micro level. I looked at my plots and sub plots. Finally coming to the conclusion that I did not like the story is because it now yet what I envision.
Though it is far from my vision, what I do have is a draft, material to work with which will allow me to fill in holes, expand the story and contract the story. Though this draft is rough, looking at it as a whole I realize that it is just the starting point. And I sigh, a sigh of relief.
This process made me wonder, do all authors look at their drafts, second guess the story, the characters, the worlds they have created. Are we all displeased with our creations? Seeing them as errant children that have not lived up to your expectations. Or is this a singular thought and feeling.
To discover, my answer I did what comes naturally to me; I researched the questions. What I found is that consistently authors say that rough drafts suck, are just the beginning, the clay to build the story, the start of the creation not the end. As I read article after blog I realize that I am not in singular in this feeling. But I wonder why? Why can't the story in my mind emerge fully formed onto the page just as I imagine?
For me the answer to that is that what I want and expect of the story changes as I write. I don't start off with the crystal clear image fully formed. I start of with something like a half remembered dream that I am trying to re-create. And as the pieces come together the image is fine tuned, but at the same time perfection of creation is an every moving point, Just out of grasp.
But that is why you need drafts, to fine tune, and focus your image to a point were you might be willing to let that errant child run free, for good or ill.
So here is to all the stories that were not what the author thought, wanted, imagined, but are loved by the rest of us, even as the author looks down and shakes her head knowingly.
“Awful first drafts are fine—Agree with this.
If you don’t finish something, you’ll never get in the game. Just quell the voice in your head that says “Are you kidding? No one is going to want to read this drivel” and keep on going. You’re going to revise and revise and then revise again anyway.”
― Jamie Frevelett
Looking at Close Corp, I began to think about what I really want the story to say, on the macro and micro level. I looked at my plots and sub plots. Finally coming to the conclusion that I did not like the story is because it now yet what I envision.
Though it is far from my vision, what I do have is a draft, material to work with which will allow me to fill in holes, expand the story and contract the story. Though this draft is rough, looking at it as a whole I realize that it is just the starting point. And I sigh, a sigh of relief.
This process made me wonder, do all authors look at their drafts, second guess the story, the characters, the worlds they have created. Are we all displeased with our creations? Seeing them as errant children that have not lived up to your expectations. Or is this a singular thought and feeling.
To discover, my answer I did what comes naturally to me; I researched the questions. What I found is that consistently authors say that rough drafts suck, are just the beginning, the clay to build the story, the start of the creation not the end. As I read article after blog I realize that I am not in singular in this feeling. But I wonder why? Why can't the story in my mind emerge fully formed onto the page just as I imagine?
For me the answer to that is that what I want and expect of the story changes as I write. I don't start off with the crystal clear image fully formed. I start of with something like a half remembered dream that I am trying to re-create. And as the pieces come together the image is fine tuned, but at the same time perfection of creation is an every moving point, Just out of grasp.
But that is why you need drafts, to fine tune, and focus your image to a point were you might be willing to let that errant child run free, for good or ill.
So here is to all the stories that were not what the author thought, wanted, imagined, but are loved by the rest of us, even as the author looks down and shakes her head knowingly.
“Awful first drafts are fine—Agree with this.
If you don’t finish something, you’ll never get in the game. Just quell the voice in your head that says “Are you kidding? No one is going to want to read this drivel” and keep on going. You’re going to revise and revise and then revise again anyway.”
― Jamie Frevelett
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Getting back on the horse
After nearly two months spent bogged down studying for the
New York bar exam, the last couple days have reinvigorated me and my passion to write. Today, I spent the morning walking around NY university, and the afternoon in Chelsea with each step new plot twists filled my mind.
I cannot wait to get back to the keyboard , Tabitha,
Fred, and Amelia have no idea what
I have in store for them now.
Monday, January 5, 2015
This is how I deal with a Troll
In the last week, I have attracted a Internet Troll. My first inclination was to respond to each of his post, tit for tat. However, as I stood at work looking at what he wrote and how he wrote it, I began to wonder if that was the best way to deal with the situation. First off, I must say that I do not in fact know who this person is, but I suspect that the person is the boyfriend of a member of the online critique website that I joined in November. The fact that a writer needs to resort to such behavior is beyond me, worse is the fact that the writer seems unable or unwilling to confront me. However I will put this aside and deal directly with the commentator.
In his first comment on this Blog, he wrote "Ms. Fix Utterly sucks. Stick with the day job". I must say that I did respond to this comment. The main reason was that, if you are going to say I suck. Please at least give me one reason that you have come to that conclusion. So in my normal self deprecating manner, I responded "Hi Robert, Sorry, you think I suck so hard. But at least I put it all out there and all on the line which is more than I can say for you, who does even have a profile. So have nice day or at least offer something useful to the world."
Let us delve into this a little deeper. In retrospect it was a rude come back, but hey he said I sucked. And it goes against my nature to back down from a challenge. Also it might not have been the wisest thing to antagonize someone that felt it necessary to track me down on Tablo, Google, and Amazon and follow me on all of these sites. Personally I find this creepy, but also quite illogical. If I utterly suck. Why take the time and energy needed to track me down. It is not like I am famous, notorious, or even popular. Though I do not hide, on the Web there are a large number of Sam Fix's out there, considering that this is not even my full name. I wondered if you even had the correct person. This doubt was put to rest, in your response to my comment.
Now let me pull this comment apart a little.
Finally lets look at this last paragraph. Well, yes I have asked for feedback. I have put myself and my writing out there. I am actually writing, and getting paid for it. So wait for it, that makes me a writer. Though I consider myself an amateur author, that technically is not true. An Amateur is defined as someone that works at an art, sport, or other endeavor but has not been compensated. Think sports, college level athletes are amateurs, so are Olympians, these are uncompensated individuals. Hence since I have received compensation for my writing that makes me a professional author. Though one with a lot to learn. But any artist that says they do not have anything left to learn, has stopped growing as an artist. Writing is an artistic expression, which takes, time, energy, and hard work to improve upon. All of which I devote to my craft on a daily basis. Furthermore, what you have provided is not feedback, or a critique; it is an opinion. In particularly it is your opinion, which might have value to some people. The First Amendment protect your right to have one. No matter how or why you came to that opinion.
I also find it interesting that you contradict yourself. First by stating that by calling myself an amateur I disrespect anyone who is just beginning and with actual talent, then by going on to say that I might be a good storyteller, but no one will ever know because of my grammar. This is also contradictory to your earlier comment that "I utterly suck". Lets dig into this a little deeper. To the heart of what your problem appears to be; apparently you think I have bad grammar. Well sir, most grammar rules are not stringent rules, they are mostly guildlines and stylistic preferences. There are many correct ways to write the same sentence.
After this comment I was going to let this whole thing drop. Be the better person and all. As it was clear you have little or no life. But then you had to go and comment on my next blog entry. Now! Why did you have to do that? After reading all of these comments I have also come to wonder, if you think by writing rude, inaccurate and illogical comments on my blog that I will be dissuaded from writing. Maybe you are one to give up so easily. Since you do not appear to have published your own book, or have your own blog, or even your own tablo account. I assume giving up and lack of follow through are just ingrained in your nature. But lets not forget your latest comment.
Ms. Fix,
Your focus is all wrong. You are focusing on quantity, not quality. Writing 250 good words in one day trumps writing 1,500 words of tripe any day. How about making you goal: write well, become a better writer. That would be a much better goal that just scrambling to pump out a bunch of words. You could ask 1,000 successful writers if what you are doing is a reasonable path toward becoming a better writer, and they would say "no." It might be right for some people, but not you. Your focus needs to be on learning the art of the craft, not filling pages with words. I'd say, judging from your writing, that your most fundamental problem, and the one that will preclude you from ever being anything more than a hack, is: you don't read enough. No one ever became a good writer without being a voracious reader. I would suggest your goal should be to spend at least two hours a day deep reading good literary fiction (not genre crap), and maybe you could learn a little about the craft. You should also read some of the classic books on writing. If you don't all this other is just wheel spinning.
Robert
I will forgo the line edit of your post. Lets just look at what you say. You say my focus is all wrong. That is interesting. I for one have always found the only way to improve at anything is to work at the skill. So if, you want to be a better writer that means, you have to write. A lot. You say writing 250 word day, is better that 1500. I am sorry but you are sorely mistake. Writing a novel, is like running a marathon, or dancing the Nutcracker with the Bolshoi Ballet, you are unable to accomplish either of these task with out hours, upon hours, of practice. Where a runner will never be able to finish a marathon if all he has ever ran is around the block. A writer will never be able to finish a novel if all they are writing is the equivalent to a tweet a day.
Then you go on to say that I do not read enough. Though, I am not sure where you deduced my reading habits. I will take a minute to inform you that I read, extensively actually. Then you go on to say that I need to do deep reading good literary fiction ( not genre crap). Again you have no idea what I read, or have read. But to put your mind at easy lets look at the four books sitting on my night stand, currently. Lets see there is "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn, which is a very interesting book, in the murder mystery genre. I would not call this best selling, award winning novel, crap. Then I have "Red Joan" by Jennie Rooney, this is a cold war spy novel; interesting but not my normal taste. However I like the way she bounces between past events and being interviewed in present time. Next I have "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. I love the way he does not use dialogue in a traditional since and his imagery of the horrify events that took place the 1850s, brutality of war, and what men will do for money. Then finally, I have "Bossypants" by Tina Fey, after reading "Blood Meridian" for any length it is always nice to have something funny to read. So next time, before you start talking out of your ass about what someone does or does not read, maybe you should ask first. Just my opinion on that one. But as I said, the First Amendment protect even my right to an opinion.
So all in all Robert, I hope I have shined some light on just who you have decided to Troll. Maybe
next time you will pick someone that you might actually kowtow to your harassment. But this time you have bitten off more than you can chew.
Until next time, read a little, write a lot and get a life.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
A New Year
Well the new year as come and gone, December is behind me, and January stretches out before me like a long cold road to purgatory.
First question is did I reach my 50,000 word goal for the month of December? The answer is yes and no. Looking just at the number of words I wrote tor my novels I did not achieve the 50,000 word mark. I only wrote 38,606 words. However, if I add in: the 9943 words for my blog posts, the 2562 words for critiques I wrote for Inked Voice, and the 1500 words I wrote for a restaurant review; my grand total is 52,611.
December, did teach me a lot. I learned that critique groups are interesting and can be helpful, but not to expect every one to put in the same amount of effort. I also learned that editing, can eat up time faster then writing, and that you can learn just as much from give, critiques as from receiving them. All in all, I will say December was a successful month toward my years goal.
Second question is can I maintain this pace, while shifting focus to the Bar exam? I am going to have to say, probably not. So, I have decided that January's word goal is only going to be 25,000. I know that this means I will have to add words in another month to reach you year end goal of 600,000 words. But I truly feel that it is the only option for January.
Third question is what am I going to focus on this month as my writing goal. My goal for this month is to get both the Veil and Red Books rough drafts done. I think this is a reasonable goal as both are very close to complete.
January is going to be a crazy and hectic month, mixing work, writing and studying into a heady mix which I hope will not leave me broken in the end. To keep my self on the writing track, I think I will continue to use Inked Voice, but I am also going to join 4thewords, to see if this is a fun way to add to my word count. Additionally, I am going to try and write at least and hopefully 2 blog post every week.
So there are my goals, for the next month. Seeing them all laid out, makes me sweat but hey, if I don't try how will I ever fail.
First question is did I reach my 50,000 word goal for the month of December? The answer is yes and no. Looking just at the number of words I wrote tor my novels I did not achieve the 50,000 word mark. I only wrote 38,606 words. However, if I add in: the 9943 words for my blog posts, the 2562 words for critiques I wrote for Inked Voice, and the 1500 words I wrote for a restaurant review; my grand total is 52,611.
December, did teach me a lot. I learned that critique groups are interesting and can be helpful, but not to expect every one to put in the same amount of effort. I also learned that editing, can eat up time faster then writing, and that you can learn just as much from give, critiques as from receiving them. All in all, I will say December was a successful month toward my years goal.
Second question is can I maintain this pace, while shifting focus to the Bar exam? I am going to have to say, probably not. So, I have decided that January's word goal is only going to be 25,000. I know that this means I will have to add words in another month to reach you year end goal of 600,000 words. But I truly feel that it is the only option for January.
Third question is what am I going to focus on this month as my writing goal. My goal for this month is to get both the Veil and Red Books rough drafts done. I think this is a reasonable goal as both are very close to complete.
January is going to be a crazy and hectic month, mixing work, writing and studying into a heady mix which I hope will not leave me broken in the end. To keep my self on the writing track, I think I will continue to use Inked Voice, but I am also going to join 4thewords, to see if this is a fun way to add to my word count. Additionally, I am going to try and write at least and hopefully 2 blog post every week.
So there are my goals, for the next month. Seeing them all laid out, makes me sweat but hey, if I don't try how will I ever fail.
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You were the one who asked people for their opinion. I just gave you what you asked for. Look, stop fooling yourself. You are just wasting your time with this writing gig. Not going to happen. I read a sample of your book on Amazon. Seriously? I've read copy on the back of cereal boxes that is more compelling. Face it. You SERIOUSLY need a line editor. Have you ever even read a grammar and punctuation primer? You don't even know the basics. Calling yourself an "amateur" is doing some serious disrespect to people starting out who actually have talent. You might be a good storyteller, but no one will ever know until you learn the basics of grammar, as readers will choke on the errors before they finish the first page. You'd flunk a middle school grammar test - seriously. You probably ought to stick to the lawyering thing.