Christmas Time

            Everybody seems to be getting in the Christmas spirit now. It’s not December yet, but who gives a shit...enjoy the moment. Speaking of which, my sales have been doing really well (I say sales in conjunction with the holiday because no one associates Christmas with any theological event any longer, but rather with economic growth). I have a few stories on line, and the ones present have sold nicely. They are economically priced, so stop by bn.com and search my name (oh, and my stories are horror stories; I did not writer the book with a barn on the cover. I know very little about barns save for the fact that they store shit).

            I managed to locate the files for the pics I originally used as cover images and sent them to Holly. It was harder than I thought (locating them), but I managed to get them together, save for two. They are sitting safely out west now, awaiting their artist to turn them into awesome looking covers. I can’t wait to see what they become.

            There is a Writer’s Digest short, short story competition coming up soon, and I think I am going to submit again. I entered “Death Immortal” last year (it’s for sale at bn.com), but apparently they did not like my shorts (that was their slogan last year, ‘show us your shorts’…. Don’t ask me). I have some ideas, but am always open to new suggestions. If you have a good idea and are too lazy to write it yourself, send it my way via a comment at the bottom. I could use the help, though you won’t get any royalties from the work….life sucks, what can I say. Seriously, feel free to submit a suggestion in the comments below.

            I’m going to go and buy a pizza now. Thanks for reading…

What Reading is to Us

            What are stories to you? Are they simply a way to pass time, or are they more? Can you pick up a book and truly travel, or do you simply just read about another’s adventure? With stories, we have the ability to interact and exchange with the characters involved, thus placing ourselves in the work. I am a writer; many of you know that by now. I am also, however, an avid reader and dreamer who loves the adventures of old. I am a reader, one who finds an escape in the works and world of fiction. This is what writing means to me, and below I will illustrate more.

           

            Every good book does not begin its life in such a vein. It takes months of planning and writing on the part of the author. When it is published, like any parent to a child, you hope the work is successful. We as writers have a sworn duty to see our work through to completion in accordance with the way the story desires to be told. It is nearly a sacred duty, but the story demands as much, and the readers want as much. Why, do you ask? It is because the book is such a powerful element in our time and culture. So much can come from a good read; we must always keep this as our focus when writing.

            Books, I have found over the years, have the power and ability to transport us to a place we have never been, to people we have never met and even to another body we have never experienced. When reading, you can “literally” become another person, be it adventurer, sorcerer or politician. Reading allows for a temporary shutdown of the reality factor, and a temporary resurgence of the imaginative factor. I recall traveling the hills of France on horseback with the other musketeers this past fall. Alexander Dumas set me on such a journey, I still regard it with the fondest memories. I live a nice, common life, with a good job and a good family; what I had then, however, was adventure! I was battling the Cardinal’s guards, thwarting his plans, and side-stepping Milady. Most of us live normal lives, but with books, we can live the life of Indiana Jones or D’Artagnan. This is the power of books.

            You have heard me mention my belief in escapism; I believe people want to read a book which allows them to escape the culture and society. I certainly do, hence my writing of secluded houses and desolate locations. When I sit down to read, I also want to journey to a far off place, be it the parlor of Sherlock Holmes or the decks of the Pequod. Books transport you to those locations and allow for the uncommon in the very common and natural day. Reading is like a mini-vacation, a little jaunt for the mind. When things are rough, and I am pulling 15 plus hour days, my mind is wandering through the House of the Seven Gables, remembering what it was like to visit there. I am racing across the moors with Holmes; I am stalking the monster I created with Frankenstein’s help; I am watching my youth wash away in a sea of blood while fighting with Henry in the Civil War, etc. The list goes on.

            I love to read nearly as much as I love to write. I love to escape and venture to some unknown land or uncharted island, if even for a short time. It’s a break, a sojourn for the mind. Remember this when next you sit to pen a work. People want a journey, an escape, something they will remember always. Let your work be a memory for them.

            As always, good luck writing.

The Writer's Library

            A good writer is sometimes only as good as the reference books they have in their collection. Being one who wrote academic papers for nine years, I understand wholly the value of a well-stocked library. In that same vein, I also understand the value of a well-stocked literary library. I am not merely referring to novels and such here, but non fiction books that can be used as reference works. I good story is researched accurately and presented factually. In this blog I will share some of my “horror oriented” works of reference.

           

            As most of you know by now, I am a horror/dark drama writer, so my library will sway towards the horror field. I have been collecting the books on an as-needs basis, selecting the work when I had a definite need for it (you should also keep an eye out for any bargains at the book store!). I have, for horror, a wonderful encyclopedia on ghosts and hauntings, The Element Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Hauntings, Theresa Cheung. It is a phenomenal book and alphabetically lists events, people and haunts for the past century. The book is great for research and inspiration. If you write any horror, it is a must have. While on ghosts, I also have Relax, It’s Only a Ghost, by “Ghostbuster” Echo Bodine. This little book is an easy read and covers some of her exploits in the real-life business of ghostbusting. Great for inspiration and knowledge on the supernatural, the book is also a pleasant read. The Rough Guide to Unexplained Phenomena, Bob Rickard and John Michell, is a great text for all things supernatural. It covers everything from aliens and levitation and strange rains (frogs, ect.) to various swarms and spontaneous combustion. It is great for general knowledge and inspiration. On witchcraft, the books I used were The Truth about Witchcraft Today, Scott Cunningham and The Wicca Handbook, Eileen Holland. The former was a more general book and useful for gaining a general knowledge of that faith. The latter is more detailed and takes a slightly different perspective than the former, but is also adequate for understanding Wicca. I found both very helpful in understanding spells, sacred space and Wiccan theology (Look for this info to appear later in my second novel!) Those about cover the major horror books in my library now. I do, however, keep others on hand as well.

            I have eclectic interests, and have found those interests to be of value in my writing career. For one thing, I have several books on architecture which have proven invaluable in creating scenes and structures. I sway towards gothic architecture (no surprise there!) yet often utilize Romanesque as well. I keep on hand two books on art; one is a general text book covering art through the centuries, and the other is a book dealing with Northern Renaissance art. I have a flare for knowledge and sophistication in my works and these books have been helpful. Because of the nature of some of my works, I have found the study of anatomy to be beneficial, and have an encyclopedia of the human body. Classical music terminology often appears in my writings, so I have a book on the subject. I like it, and it is a good read.

            I won’t bore you with the rest of my library; I don’t have the energy to catalogue 1500 books, and you don’t have the stamina for such an endeavor. I’m trying to develop my blog here, not destroy it! Like any good work, however, a properly written story is going to be accurate and will reveal a certain knowledge about the given material. Know your story; know your sources. Don’t put Sherman Tanks in the middle of Pickett’s Charge, and don’t give Constantine an atomic bomb! Know the history and know the fields you are writing about. I utilize witchcraft in some of my works, so I took the time to study the field and portray an accurate scene. Bleodisian dealt exclusively with blood and the cardiovascular system, so I learned about veins and arteries; a lot about veins and arteries! (I’m glad that’s done). The stories have authenticity and realism, and that is what we are striving for with our works. Aim for realism.

            As always, good luck writing.

On Literary Inspiration

            Today’s entry concerns the idea of inspiration. How does one become inspired to write, or what inspires a writer? I have heard of different methods and have even witnesses a few. I do believe, as far as prompting goes, that nothing inspires a writer to motivation quite like a deadline! What I am concerning myself with today, however, is the origin of the ideas themselves. It has been my experience that the ideas simply come to me when I least expect them.

            A writer’s mind is ever active, always pulsing and grinding through the daily routine. A tall tree, the smell of paint or a subtle comment can cause the mind to reel and turn in aggressive new ways for the writer. I have had concepts come to me when I was painting, or merely walking. Some of my best ideas appear when I take a stroll and allow my mind to wander, examining the items around me. It is also how I can solve a dilemma in my story.

            I find that old structures often give a degree of inspiration to me. I have one pending project which originated in an old hotel in South Florida. The idea of historicity always moves me; the fact that so many people, from many different time periods, have passed through a certain location always inspires me. Think of the power of their impact on the area they inhabit. Such starters as this always help to get me motivated to write. As a writer of horror, I also find cemeteries and dark forests mentally illuminating. Recently, I have turned to the swamps surrounding the area for a source of inspiration. The majority of my short stories are more location (scene) based than character based, so you may have noticed I placed a lot of emphasis on scene inspiration. Locations are wonderful, but the human experience which occurs in those scenes can be even more powerful.

            Stories of personal tragedy (or triumph) can also lead to a great story idea. It is not plagiarism to read one’s story and draw notions from it (do not simply lift their story onto your pages; that is plagiarism.) If you read about a person who lost a loved one in a drowning accident, or was finally able to marry their soldier lover, then take the underlying concept and translate it. All humanity suffers and rejoices, so take the lessons and use them for your work. On this note, I admit that some of my best ideas have come from the reading of ghost stories; they give ample detail of the area, have an element of historicity to them, and are already imbued with the scary element I so desire. These are the places and things which often inspire me; the inspiration, however can come when one least expects it.

            When an idea happens to arrive in the vaults of your mind, it is best to record it as soon as possible. I keep a book with all my story ideas recorded therein. When I write out my thoughts, I usually write all that has come to mind, neglecting nothing. Remember, you just might not be able to remember those “I will remember this” thoughts, so inscribe them for longevity. The book I keep is replete with scribbled pages and tacked on sheets of paper. I also include any information, such as flyers or maps of a particular area, if such is available. I then date the page so I can laugh when I finally get to the idea two years later! I treat all stories the same: novel and novella ideas are no different than short story ideas. They all come to mind in the same manner and they equally belong to you and to the characters.

            I will touch upon this latter subject again, but it is important to remember that the story idea, once received, belongs to both you and your character. After all, it is their story you are telling, and they must be allowed to make any changes necessary to finish the project. I understand this is a bizarre subject, but as I stated above, I will touch upon this again. I have seen with my own writings, (see Lost in the Fog, on sale at bn.com) where I had a particular ending prepared and the character took it and completely changed it, thus shifting, and certainly changing the content of the whole story. It was amazing, to say the least.

            I have only touched upon this subject in the mildest of forms. Every writer has their own avenues of inspiration and their own pools of ideas. I have shared with you some of my own. As stated above, the majority of my ideas simply come when my mind happens to be overworking a situation. I have had them appear when at work and at play, but almost always when I am preoccupied. It seems to work for me, and many of my greatest works (some of which you can find at bn.com, the link is located to the right) have come from a brisk walk or a solitary moment when employed in some task.

As always, good luck writing and be inspired!