At The Risk of...Being a Proud Dad
My two daughters were working a school play tonight. At the risk of sounding like a proud dad...well the play went very, very well. It seemed anything but an amateur production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.
I recall attending some school plays when I was in high school. I don't know maybe it is hard to suspend disbelief when you are friends with some of the actors. I don't know. To me it seems the production quality is vastly superior. Maybe it is because Satellite High is a large school and they have a first class theater.
Anyway, a funny thing happened on the way to this production; Sarah and Amanda have become pretty close over the course of the last year or so. They still argue and sometimes they fight just as siblings will but they also stand up for one another, as good sisters should. I think I am proudest of that accomplishment. They have learned to work together instead of undermining one another. They are young adults. They have made some very good friends and some of their friends overlap, especially those involved with theater.
I wish I could take credit for but perhaps I am most impressed because they have done it largely on their own. I wish I could even say that they have good genes but it has more to do with their not quitting and that is something you learn in life not something you inherit. I wish I could say that I have might have inspired them but I won't go there as largely I have not.
I have had accomplishments in life and they have already begun to have theirs. Life is not about accomplishments as much as what is acquired as knowledge through the experiences. Accomplishments are markers, way stations along the course. Accomplishments should never be confused with an overall destination because life does not have an overall destination.
Destinations tend to be disappointments; it is usually more fun to travel than is ever is to arrive. We fantasize about what is ahead of us and usually it is something quite different than we ever imagine. Sometimes it is better other times it is worse, occasionally it is simply a very bizarre alternative that is neither better nor worse.
If we knew the future what would be the point to going there unless it looked like it might be fun?
I have dealt with temporal dislocations and paradoxes and all sorts of things in my books. I can honestly say that while I write I am a true believer in the bullshit that I am producing. When I revise it I read my own raw bullshit and I refine it into manure. Through further revisions it becomes fertilizer. That is how the whole creative process that goes on with me actually works. Well there is background music and an occasional butt burp but that is basically how I write.
My point is that we all deal with the same things from time to time and it is a testament to our individuality that some of us are more creative than others at dealing with the stresses of the modern world. I write. Others paint, draw, create cartoons, and perform. Others run businesses large and small, others invest or manage investments to stimulate business. Many teach, coach, motivate and inspire. Still others lead us and make decisions that cause yet others to have to fight and sometimes die for us. There are interpreters and translators, builders and destroyers, hurters and healers, farmers and shepherds, cultivators and harvesters, managers and the managed. There are some that report and others that comment. There are many that consult and others that seek consultation. Some preach; many pray while others are convinced that there is no one listening anyway. We are a diverse lot, this humanity that we are at this moment in time. I know I have no alternative but to be a member of humanity but sometimes I do not feel that I belong.
Then, one of my kids drags me back to reality. Did I wash clothes today? Did I turn on the dishwasher? Can I come to school to pick them up because it is raining? I love my kids. No only have they kept me occupied but they have also kept me rounded, focused and rational despite the sometimes insane things that go on in my world and in my writing.
Tonight I was a very proud dad of two daughters that have worked very hard to create something that succeeded in its intended goal, entertaining an audience of hundreds. That is no small feat. If you think that it is, then I ask you: when was the last time you drew a crowd like that?
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The Wolfcat Chronicles
My friend and fellow blogger Jeff posted a comment to the previous blog. Not so subtly he reminded me to post a little more often so that I might gain and maintain more readers.
Jeff knows how busy I have been since April between my day job, playing the role of dad for three teens and staying up late editing and revising all the 'wolf stuff'. Well The Wolfcat Chronicles is now completed. I am pretty happy with the storyline and I feel that I have corrected all the major flaws that I saw the first time I read through each of the ten books in order. I revisited the ending, the final battle, added in a whole 'nother chapter. The whole process resulted in a net addition of about 200 pages of text 6X9 12pt. In that format when it is all assembled into one volume with breaks between the constituent books the sum total page count is 2,263, or ten books averaging 226.3 pages each.
I mention the stats for a reason. Whenever a writer submits a manuscript to a publisher, the would-be author is pretty-much satisfied with the story, that the plot is complete and that there is at least something important and possibly even relevant that is conveyed within the pages of the book. That is not to say that the finished product when and if it is published will even remotely resemble the original manuscript. There are many variables, one of which is final copy approval which a new writer rarely ever has. Another is how many editors looked over the original. Hopefully one editor worked the entire manuscript. Behind every great author there is a competent editor.
Nowadays people are pressed for time. They want books that are clever, humorous, fast reads. That happens to be contrary to the subject matter and the way that I write. Therein lies a major hurdle that I have had to overcome. Most people want to read a book that is no more than a couple hundred pages long. I wrote a story about wolves and such and it happens to be 2,263 pages. Really there are two other plotlines I could turn into additional stories (at least) and possible another series of books. Some of that material already exists in my second series, Two: The Power of X.
One Over X was always envisioned as a series, just as Two: The Power of X was designed to complete certain plotlines from the original series of books that I wrote. What I wrote that was considered 'wolf stuff' was initially a side project. Imagine that I can actually multi-task - write a new series of books while I am revising another series of books. There were many long pauses in the progress of From The Inside To The Closer. During one of the more extended ones in the summer of 2000, I wrote the foundation piece that I referred to as the 'wolf stuff', 413 pages in rough draft. This was the infamous 'book' that some months later I emailed to the one who had inspired the character Ela'na. I wrote it for her. I had told her that I was a writer and that my first book was in the process of revision. She asked me in passing to write her a wolf story. So I did.
Upon receipt of a 413 page attachment to an email was, her response was classic, "You really are a writer!"
I have told you in previous blog posts that I suck at writing endings. I think many writers do. I also suck at beginnings. I suppose I am competent enough writing the middle parts of a book. If anyone has a need for that skill set, you know where to look. I will not hold my breath waiting for calls.
The 413 page book was 8 1/2"X 11" 12pt. After editing it a little further (during another extended delay in the process for publishing my first book) it grew of course, add here, delete there. When it was transformed into a 6X9 11pt format it was around 700 pages. I was proud enough at it to send it off as an attachment to an email to my publisher. He replied with an email that contained only a very large font question mark.
Anyway that was the origin of the 'wolf stuff'.
Inspiration comes from often unexpected places. Every writer knows this. Some have to wake up in the middle of the night and jot down the visions they have seen in a dream. Others have to tune out the world for a period of time every single day and linger uninterrupted to merge with the cosmic consciousness of the 'giver of ideas'. Me, I am weird. I hardly ever dream anymore. I haven't had a nightmare since I was in my mid-twenties. But I write something every single day and have done so for over twenty four years. So maybe I have my dreams while I am awake.
Regardless how weird that might seem, this blog serves as a way to maintain a space for that process to continue. So, yes, Jeff thanks for reminding me that the writing something every day was part of the reason that I started this blog. It takes another writer to tell me something that I already knew but had sort-of stepped back away from because I was otherwise occupied. I won't yet commit to daily blogs but several times a week is doable, I think. If nothing else there is enough inspiration in the world for a good rant or two. I will post excerpts from my more structured attempts at writing as well.
Be of good cheer, what I have been working on it worth the wait - if only I can get it published. I may have to go to another publisher with it. I have even discussed with my present publisher and he understands it. I will also publish it under my first name alone, hey I might as well as it is weird and unique enough that I might as well take advantage of it in due compensation for the misery it has caused me for a lifetime of people having no clue how to pronounce it.
People who knew me in college called me Brent. I really don't have a middle name and it is a long story which I have covered previously in this blog. Brent became an alter ego for me and I eventually used it in my writing for that purpose. Brent is the madman within me. Brent is the guy who would take the dare to jump out of a window 12 foot above the ground. Brent is the guy who would be a fitness freak and on a whim join the military.
Brent has been a large part of my life but he is the crazy side of me. Brent and I have a respectful relationship even now. Still, he thinks I am the one that is insane. Imagine that!
I stopped using Brent as a name when I was working in Asia for a few years. It was amazing to me. Brent, a perfectly normal upstanding English name when rendered into the broken English of an Asian barmaid came out as 'Blenta' or even worse 'Blenda' - which was precisely the same way they would pronounce the female name Brenda. To my overall amazement and utter chagrin, they pronounced my first name, Elgon exactly correct, even on the first try which is something no American that I have ever met has been able to do.
I grew used to using Elgon as a name in Asia so when I returned home, I continued to use it.
So, this has turned out to be a get reacquainted sort of blog. 'It is good, it is all good,' as Duke Nukem used to say.
Yeah, imagine me quoting Duke Nukem. There's a sign of the impending doom of the world as we know it.
Laugh. It probably isn't as bad as you think it is. In that is the case then you lack the imagination to really appreciate the fullest extent of just how screwed-up this world has become!
Take deep breaths, eat your veggies and be kind to kamikaze squirrels that run out in front of your car first think in the morning as you are driving the kids to school.
E
Here We Go - The Ubiquitous Cell Phone
The other day I was sitting at an intersection, stopped for oncoming traffic. An approaching SUV was too close for me to pull out in front of it, especially since it was not indicating a turn. So I waited, only to have the driver perform a right turn in front of me while continuing unabated to talk on the cell phone. Obviously the driver was too preoccupied with talk to use a turn signal. One of the driver's hands was on the wheel making the turn and the other was pressing the phone to an ear.
Two pet peeves in that instance. 1) Drivers who do not use turn signals and 2) drivers that talk on the cell phone while driving.
Turn signals can prevent accidents. That is enough of a reason to use them. If you have ever driven in Miami you will understand that the failure to use turn signals especially for lane changes frustrates and complicates the efforts of others. It is simple courtesy to other drivers. Obviously someone that is stupid enough to talk on the cell phone while driving has little concern for either safety or courtesy.
In some states it is illegal to use a cell phone while operating a car. I wish Florida was one of those states. You might as well drive with one hand tied behind your back. It is impairment, perhaps as bad as driving under the influence.
There is nothing important enough that you can't call someone back. Just in case the guy in the cell phone store didn't explain all the features to you, cell phones have voice mail and some even have text messaging. There are few situations short of emergencies that would ever require someone to answer the phone while driving. Just answering the phone might cause such an emergency. If you must answer the phone, then pull over and take the call.
Using a cell phone while driving will eventually catch up with you. It is a distraction, your mind is not on driving and regardless how much you think that you can multi-task, a human can only do so many things at one time. Break down the task of driving a car, just figure out what all you are doing and paying attention to. It is a complex skill set. Just ask anyone who just turned sixteen and slides in behind the wheel for the first time.
I guess I have a problem with cell phones in general. I never had one until about ten years ago. I hardly ever used that one except for emergencies and so there was a more recent period that I did not have a cell phone at all. In fact I went without a cell phone until a couple of years ago. I have a cell phone today only because Sarah, my daughter ran up a huge text messaging bill and we decided that she needed to mature a bit more before being given a cell phone. Yes, it has been inconvenient at times for her but most of her friends have cell phones. It is a point that she frequently brings up as justification for why she should have one. To me it means she doesn't really need one at all, as she can always borrow one in a pinch. It might be nice to call her sometimes but she is usually in school and is not allowed to use a phone during the school day. Any emergency reason I could call her sister or the school - or her mother.
Do I use the cell phone? Yes, but it is mainly because I got so mad at the phone company that I had the land line disconnected. Do you know that even if you have a private number, the phone company can sell your phone number as a active line to solicitors? Sheesh!
So if you try to reach me you must have my cell phone number. That means work, the school, my family and my friends call me whenever they need to. No one else in the world calls me except if it is wrong number. Those friends who have called me have heard my away message. I think it is pretty clear that if I don't know you well enough for you to leave me a message without a return phone number (because you are already in my contacts list) then you shouldn't be calling me. You can still leave a message but please do not expect a return call.
I am not saying that cell phones aren't useful and convenient. I am only saying to restrict the use. Ask yourself is it a necessity to talk to someone on the phone at the precise moment or could it wait? What did you do in the past when you had to drive to the store to pick up some milk and toilet paper? You told your best friend, hey, "I gotta run to the store. I'll be back in a few," and you hung up the phone. Your friend understood it. They also had a life; life goes on!
I do not like someone having 24/7/365 carte blanc to interrupt my life. I don't know about you but there are times when I will not answer the phone:
Foremost, never when I am using the facilities. Way too much potential for embarrassment. And what if I accidentally dropped the phone into the bowl?
I never answer the phone at night unless it is the alarm company that monitors the store where I work. My phone is on. If it rings it awakens me and I check the display to see who it is. If it is urgent whoever it is knows me well enough to call me back immediately. Then I know it is an issue. There are only a few exceptions. My kids can call me anytime. My best friend is allowed to wake me up as well. There is a three hour time difference and sometimes we awaken one another. Oh well.
I will not answer when the return number is blocked or it is an 8XX number.
I will not answer when I am driving.
I will not answer when I am at work on the sales floor and talking to a customer - this is also common courtesy. Sometimes the customer is understanding and will ask if I need to answer that phone but I mute it at that point and respond that whatever it is can wait.
I don't know when or where the rules of common courtesy changed but it is obvious that as technology had advanced we all have become a little ruder. The technology that is intended to simplify our lives with greater convenience drives us ever forward toward a sleepless world in which we are constantly plugged in to devices to keep us occupied. It has also eroded the common decency that we used to reserve for dealing with others.
Why is it that whenever a cell phone rings, it is suddenly a 'drop everything and answer it' situation? It doesn't have to be. It is an intrusion, an interruption and it will take a friggin' message for you so let it; to paraphrase Douglas Adams, Don’t Panic!
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