An Update On Times

     So, a couple of days ago I promised an update of what has been happening in the Michael’s household. I know that my appearances have gotten less since about the middle half of November and all the way up to the present time. To be hones t with you, things have been incredibly busy around the Michaels’ household and the burn out is running rapid. Before you panic too much after seeing that word, “burn out” I would like to explain to you a few things going forward. It’s not that I haven’t been writing, but it’s the fact that I’ve gotten too many irons in the fire and I’m having a hard time balancing them and trying to get the projects done that have become the issue. 

Collaborations 

    About a year ago (this month), I started collaborating with a now good friend of mine, his name is P.K. Woods. While he hasn’t been officially published yet (either through a publishing house or self-publish) I’ve been helping him a lot behind the scenes with his new novel, including up to writing out sections for him and I’ve recently taken on this fantasy world with a full embrace as he now wants me to help him finish writing the story. I’m blessed. PK has been truly a wonderful writer to work with, and his passionate is on the same level of mine when it comes to writing out a good story, one that’ll keep the reader engaged and hooked wanting to go to that next chapter and then the next, and then the next. His genuine interest in creating a character that is almost fleshy enough to jump off the page at you. Characters, that you can either feel pity for, or you can get real pissed off at. The world we’ve began to build started off very small, and started on an island. Currently we are expanding northwards into a continent that has just as much curious and wonder to it as the island did when we first started writing this story. However, the characters are a bit…’different’. That’s all that PK has wanted me to say at this point and the fact we agreed on it I’ll stay true to our agreement. What I can say, is that PK has helped me break away from the normal realm that I had been writing which is modern/realistic fiction. I’ve began to brainstorm some of my own ideas in the realms that we’ve created and I’ve taken lots of notes on.
     While the story itself is in the last t throws of “T’s” journey, there will still be a lot of work to be done after that when it comes to edits, book covers, copyrights, etc. So this is one of the irons I’ve got in the fire, is helping another writer brainstorm and world create which has cut into my creativity somewhat, but not completely? If that makes sense.

Charities & Non-Profits 

     Something else that I got heavily involved with, is looking at the prospects of Charities and Non-Profits. An outlet to give back to my community while doing something fun and making memories while I was at it. A friend of mine who is heavily involved with the Ghostbusters fandom invited me to join a local franchise that he had created and opened. What I didn’t know about this, is that it goes far beyond the Ghostbusters fandom and franchise itself. There are literally hundreds of franchises all over the world that are opened with the same kind of mission on their mind. All of the franchises, while they don’t bust ghosts per-say work with other non-profit organizations and help them raise money for charities such as: Relay for Life, Toys For Tots, and other types of charity events where they will show up dressed in the flight suit, and the other props that the Ghostbusters have. My friend helped me build, a ghost trap, ecto goggles, and proton pack to wear for these kinds of events after I agreed to join his franchise. The lovely missus and I will tell you; straight up, that we are nerds. Not only has it given me a break from writing and pursuing other creative outlets but it has given the wife and I much time in the shop working on the props that I feel it’s helped our marriage greatly. This hobby has also tied up a little bit of time dealing with the props, and getting everything made but it has been an incredible learning opportunity along the way. I found that I really enjoy wood working, and looked forward to getting out to the shop as much and as often I could. 

      When we were building the props. Now, we are waiting for the comic-con season to kick off so we can debut at Lilac-City comic-con come June. If you would like information on when that’s happening please don’t hesitate to ask I would be more than happy to give you the dates if you would like to meet us up there.

Mentor ship & Creative Writing 

     Just as I have made mention of helping PK get his story and book off the ground, I’ve also fanned out to quite a few others and have been helping them with their writings. While it’s not necessarily my own idea, I’ve been in the realms of helping others for a very, very long time. I love hearing back stories of other people’s characters. Origins are always fascinating to me, almost more fascinating than the present characters because that is how they are. But what makes them tick? How did they get that way? What drove them to this particular personality and attitude? I don’t think that I could ever escape writing and just say “Nope! Not doing it anymore”. It has become such a passion and escape for me I honestly think that the depression I already suffer from would become worse than it already is. Part of the reason why I chose to help PK with his new book, ‘Scars’ is because of him bouncing ideas off of me, and reading other stories by friends that are writing in the same realm. A good friend of mine, Lupe let me read a rough draft of an idea that he started almost a year ago and I fell in love with his concept, time era, weapons, etc. that I was relentless in asking questions about his particular idea. It sparked a curiosity for me, as well as getting to know his characters. About a month later; Myself, PK, and Lupe all sat down and talked about these characters. While it was a typical writer’s bullshitting session we talked a lot about character growth and development. I love helping other writer’s and hearing the lightbulb click once an idea comes together for a setting, for a plot, or for a character. Sometimes, the characters are just inclined to tell you a little bit about them. A name, or perhaps it’s what they look like but not a whole lot more.
     Sometimes thinking out loud and talking with others helps their voice get a little louder or excited about a detail that they heard. Even if it’s not my own stories I feel a great gratification in knowing that I helped someone with theirs.

Projects and Ideas On Hold 

     After I had finished OceanView, I had looked forward to starting another book series. While I had loved writing OceanView, during the editing phase and all of the corrections that had to be made to it I was incredibly burnt out on the series and needed a break from it. I know that there have been questions in regards to a relationship that was beginning to blossom in the last few chapters of the book and if I’ll ever go back and revisit it. Eventually, yes I would love to return to OceanView and pick up a few more stories going in there that had just began to talk off. But, for the foreseeable future I don’t see myself returning to OceanView just yet. The other story series that I was looking forward to and getting off the ground was that of ‘Through the eyes of a marshal’. This series was going to be dealing with the US Marshals, and for those who know Tal had recently joined them. He was going to be simply a supporting character in this new story series, and there was going to be an introduction of new characters. The possibility of one of these characters being his son was in the realms, but never fully developed. Much like OceanView, this book series was going to be presented in a series of short stories within the main novel itself. I had finished one complete novel dealing with a story that Tal was involved with. It’s done, and ready for editing but since I’ve been working with PK on this new idea and fanning some of my own flames in this new world. The Marshals series has also been put on hold for the time being until I can get to a point of which I can return back to my modern/realistic writing.

New Worlds & Concepts 

     The last year has been a bit of a different concept for me. While I’ve enjoyed my time writing realistic/modern fiction the new concepts that PK was introduced me to has gotten me excited. When I write, I create worlds. I have a hard time creating just individual stories or concepts of people. I like to know about their worlds that they live and exist in. Along this journey I’ve ventured into the realm of fantasy and honestly it’s got my full attention. The worlds’ are so much easier to build because you are not constrained to the normal, everyday mechanics that we know. The ability to create, geography, topography, different times of characters with strengths and weaknesses and then exploring those have gotten me very excited again and in front of a computer screen a lot more typing away. Recently, another good friend has joined the group, whom we will call Kiotske since I’m not sure if he wants me using his real name. I’ve got now two friends whom to bounce ideas off of, and ask for advice on wanting to take characters in a certain direction and if it seems plausible to do so. I haven’t forgotten my roots with my other stories or my real world concepts. This has made me excited again, and I’m not feeling the burn out that I had once been experiencing with OceanView, and ‘Through the eyes of a marshal.’ I knew that after I had finished the book ‘Whispers in the hallway’ I wanted to explore something else. I began looking for something a little more exciting than every day life. Looking for something to break away from the chaos that the world is so inflamed in today.
     Maybe it was a little bit of influence of the comic tv shows, movies, and other content? Maybe it’s because I felt the inclination to open my mind up a little bit more and continues to chase genres that interested me in writing as well. I look forward to everyone reading scars and the concepts that we came up with in that particular book.

In Conclusion

     So, this has been a rundown of what has been happening in the Michaels’ household. There is a lot happening, but it’s all for the positive. Again, I apologize for not being able to post as much or as often as I would like on Facebook and I thought I owed it to you to write just a quick and brief summary (If that’s what you would like to call it anyways) of what has been happening. At the current time, I have no plans to release any books for 2018, but I do look forward to continuing to mentor other writers and work with collaborations with them. Even if it’s not my own idea that I’m writing down, I like to help them out with their own ideas. I’ve also got a few writers that I’m going to help get published hopefully this next year so they can pursue that. So, I guess you could call it a mini-break even though it’s not really a mini-break? I’m just working a lot more behind the scenes and helping other writers and talents pursue their own dreams and helping them to be just as successful. Again thank you to everyone who has been patient with me, for delayed responses, no communication, and everything in between. 2017 was incredibly busy and 2018 doesn’t show any kind of sign of slowing down if not being busier.

Bleeding Through The Pen

I’ve always made it clear that I love to talk with other writers. I do believe that we all bleed through the pen a little different than the next writer, graphic novelist, screen play writer, etc. We’ve all had experiences, educated ourselves on subjects that fascinate us, and took paths in our lives that would lead us down the road to write what we do. What makes it right? What makes it wrong? Well, my friends, that would be completely up to the writer who is writing the content. There is absolutely nothing out there that says what a writer is writing is wrong! We are all entitled to our opinions, and feelings to what we put into our work. It’s been said time and time again that writers will often write what they know. For me? This is true. A major chunk of my career has been based around civil service. I know civil service. Not every aspect of it, but from the aspects that I do know I can piece together a story and weave it so that it is interesting for not only those who may have been involved with the same branches of civil service, but for those who haven’t had any experience can understand what is happening in the story. I’ve had characters that have come my way and approached me at what I like to call the bargaining table. Sometimes I know little about their backgrounds, or even when they tell me an occupation that they are interested in I don’t know one hundred percent of it.
    In the latest story I’m working on, there has been a lot more gun play as well as dealing with backgrounds and occupations like technology involving security systems, and hit men/women. I’ve had to research it all because I don’t have all the information that is required for the accuracy of the story. This was a giant step out of my comfort zone but found it thrilling and exciting. Not only for the accuracy for my current project but also getting a chance to delve into mysterious levels of unknown. I’ve had several ideas come to me while researching some of the topics above and even the lead assassin character in this story has spoken to me louder and given me a few ideas for maybe a book of her own. But the other thing that has been particularly exciting for me is getting to talk with other writers who know the ins and outs of writing a good book about assassins, hitmen, and mafia type characters. Sitting down, listening to them, and asking them questions even when I feel stupid about a subject I can see they are excited to have someone asking and talking to them about a subject they know much about or are intrigued in. Of course, some of the questions I am corrected on or told that it’s a common misconception that A and B would be related. I tend to get over zealous or excited when it comes to learning new subjects that grab my attention. I recently had the opportunity to read a story by a good friend that involved a subject I knew very little about. But he’d told me the concept of it and I was almost instantly snagged by it.
     However, after reading the story I felt I had gained some ground on the subject matter. He, himself, is very knowledgeable about sailing, eras of the time that the story is thought to exist in (which I later found out was the 1300’s off the coast of Ireland). I walked away confident in the story and knowing what exactly I had read. There was no room for speculation, and I could visually see everything in my head that I needed to. I would consider him a very valuable source if I were to begin writing in that era. The characters were very well defined, and I even began to have doubts on some of the characters and how they were presented because of their actions. I had almost instantly a thousand questions for him in regards to where the story was going to head next because it grabbed my attention and thus far has not let go of it. Low and behold? A character has come to the bargaining table and has wanted to talk with me ever since I’d read that story. It goes to show how important world building is and that as writers we need to always have open doors to other realms that we haven’t been to yet. Characters do not always present themselves as flesh and blood humans. They come in a variety of different forms, shapes, attitudes, looks, etc. I think that as a writer it would be wrong of us to listen to a character that comes to us out of the blue and begins talking to us.
     Instant example, would be that of Malakai, my wolf character in my novel In With The Pack. Malakai would not be considered a normal character. While you may incorporate wolves into a story that you are writing about, very rarely would the primary focus be on an animal. But, Malakai talked to me several times and as I sat down and began to write and explore his world with his Motley Crew pack I grew excited to see the character growth and how he expanded out from his beginnings to where he is present day. Again, wolves at the time, were not a subject that I was very educated on and began to reach out to those who were matter subject masters. They were excited to talk with me about wolves and the animal in general. I walked away more educated, and explored various traits that I could give Malakai because of the information I had gained. Of course, during writing this book I got some odd looks because it is non-traditional, and a challenge to read from the point of view of an animal. However, after I finished the book it brought me much joy, and Malakai is still one of my favorite characters who have come to the table. Though, for a while now he’s been increasingly silent.
     I think as a writer, one of the hardest things to do, and accept as a challenge for writing is writing about content or something that is out of the scope of normalcy in fear of being branded because of the content you are writing. For a long time, you would have been considered a nerd or a social outcast if chose to write about super heroes, or people with abnormal abilities like vampires, werewolves, etc. But, look at the popularity of ALL those subjects today. There is a lot of hype a lot of fans in those communities that are not afraid to express themselves as belonging to that community because there are others out there that understand. I think that is where we need to help support each other as writers. Not every writer out there is going to create, or write content that is going to be something you are interested in. I think honest feedback, and integrity in handling those works is imperative if we are asked to help beta read something or even look over a rough draft. Like I mentioned above, not all characters come to us as flesh and blood human beings. Sometimes they are creatures from other worlds, other dimensions, hell even different realms. While it might be scary or embarrassing or uncomfortable to want to reach out and let your characters go into the world, you should be proud of what you’ve created and what road you’ve started down. Past experiences or even events that you’ve encountered often work themselves into the stories I’ve written. Even ole Malakai and I have some things that we can relate to.
     I realize that I’m kind of all over the place with this blog, but what I’m really trying to reiterate is that as writers, and being a small community of those who are either trying to strike out on being published, self-published, or just doing it as a hobby with no real aspirations of wanting it to go further we need to be able to support one another. Whether it’s fan-fiction, or an original concept we will never be able to benefit from someone being over critical of every point in the story. Take suggestions in stride, and if you can offer up ideas or perceptions of what you see coming down the storyline. Even if the creator doesn’t use it, it helps with the feedback to know from an audience of which way they think that the story is going. The pirate story I read, I couldn’t quit talking about it for days because the author made so many open doorways that I had to ask him when I saw him of all the possibilities. For those writers out there that want a second opinion on what they’ve written, or are unsure of where they are going I am always willing to read and give honest feedback. Please feel free to contact me on Facebook by either private message or you can E-mail me at: AuthorGraysonMichaels@Gmail.com. While I may not be a fan of all genres of writing, I’ll always be a supporter for the writer who chose to write about the subject. It takes a lot to communicate an idea and with passion.

Reboot, Reset, Or Stand Alone? (A Ghostbusters 2016 Review)

***SPOILER ALERT***

     So, I know I’ve been saying that I was going to review this movie for quite a while now. It was released on July 16th of this year and initially going into it I was a little worried. I’d written a past blog kind of describing my feelings towards the movie in general, and what as a fan, I would’ve liked to have seen with the direction of this movie. I think that anyone who is a true Ghosthead knew the amount of negative publicity going around about this movie, including some of the stars from the movie having their social media hacked, websites hacked, etc. There is frankly no excuse for this. If you really are against the movie that much then you just need to not go and see it and just let it be. However, with that last sentence just said I think that if you don’t go and see this movie, or even rent it when it comes out then I think that you might be making a mistake on things. Sony Pictures kept throwing around the word “reboot, reboot, reboot”. That the previous two movies had nothing to do with any of the events of this third movie and in fact was going to be a completely different verse where the original Ghostbusters didn’t happen. Again, I grew worried about this fact as I had read that and began to wonder what was going to happen with the movie overall then. If we were going to be seeing the original movie, just remade and updated with a new cast and the events of Zuul and Gozer dropping into central park west and tearing up the city. That’s when Sony dropped the trailers for the new movie.
     It wasn’t quite what I expected to be honest. They give credence to the original team in the trailers’ almost immediately. One version of the trailer saying ‘Four Scientists thirty years ago saved New York City, now a new team answers the call’. The other version of that trailer said essentially all of that, but they changed the wording to ‘Four Friends’. Then Sony began to release little bonus content videos talking about the reengineering and revision of all the equipment. During those videos, they give credit to Dr. Egon Spengler for creating the first proton pack, followed up by the female lead that created the new versions of it in the movie. That’s when I had a hard time believing that this was going to be a reboot. I thought that maybe Paul Feig was preparing for the largest troll on the internet. I watched the trailers several times over, just as my inner kid started screaming and wanting to see the movie regardless of their not being an original cast mentioned anywhere in it. I tried to keep an even keel as well on the movie and the developments of everything going on behind the scenes. What I thought was actually really cool is that both Dan Ackroyd and Ivan Reitman were brought onto the projects as producers and executive producers. Ivan Reitman was quoted as saying he couldn’t do another Ghostbusters movie without Harold Ramis on the set. That, Harold gave kind’ve the push of what he wanted to see done with the movie, as well as the story progression. Harold Ramis’ daughter later confirmed that this was the end of the project once Harold passed away seeing as some of the original cast had no interest in returning or even following up with another movie.
     We DID see the Ghostbusters: The Video Game released in 2009 on various video game consoles, which many of the fans interpret as being a third movie, and at one point Dan Ackroyd was quoted as saying that essentially that game would be considered the third movie in the franchise. Finally, the big day arrived, and I was one of the first ones in the movie theater to buy tickets to go in and watch Ghostbusters 2016. Even though this isn’t exactly the way of my childhood, hearing the theme song almost immediately and wanting to sing along brought me back to my childhood. I went into this movie WITHOUT any possible theory on what it could even be about. In my own mind, as I entered the theater I went into it with a clear thought and I would judge the movie based on what the movie gave me. I had zero expectations for it like I said I would in my last blog. Walking out of the theater, my initial thoughts? ‘Man! Let’s go again!’ the movie was great. While the original cast that wanted to return to the big screen for this movie did! In fact, they made very subtle cameos throughout the entire movie. Was it a reboot? Meh, I personally didn’t think that it was a reboot. I can even give some samples of evidence to why I don’t think that the movie was a reboot. Rather, I think that this movie would make a great stand alone! It would be a good direction for the franchise to go in especially now they’ve got some ground work laid with the characters of this verse. But even if it was a stand-alone, there were things mentioned in the movie by characters or hinted at that could place this movie into the same verse as the other two movies. I know, I know some might think that I’m trying to grasp at straws defending it to the end that this isn’t going to be a reboot. But, for a moment just hear me out and let me explain a few things:

     Harold Ramis Bust Or Egon Spengler?- During one of the scenes in the movie, you see an actual golden bust of the actor or his character in the background. It would make it extremely plausible that it could be Egon seeing as where the setting is. However, it could also be that of Harold Ramis making his cameo into the movie like the rest of the original cast did as well. Since Harold is no longer with us I think that the later would make sense as he was one of the original creators to Ghostbusters, as well being in the movie. But the way that he looks on the bust is how his character looked in stripes. Big afro, with glasses and that signature smirk that he could put on his face. Once you see the movie, I’d be curious on what you think about it.

    Acknowledgement Of Ghosts Existing- As we all know about the original Ghostbusters movie, is that everyone thought they were insane, or really good con-artists just trying their damndest to rob the good people of New York of all their money. However, in this movie the city and federal government acknowledge that they’ve known about Ghosts existence for a very long time. Even one of the mayoral aids citing at one point that big events have happened, and that people will eventually begin to forget about the big things over time. Are they talking about the previous events in the first and second movies, and that’s where they already know about the existence of ghosts is after the battle in Ghostbusters II? They make mention to the girls that they have to make everything appear fraudulent that they do because it’s to protect the public at large. Just something again I noticed in the movie that they were talking about.

     Lay Line Discussion- This actually has quite a bit to do with the plot of the movie itself. They discuss Lay Lines and how the earth has them crossing over various parts and funneling energy all the time. Well, as the climax starts to happen they discover a pattern that makes a huge X over a certain part of the town. They reference a book of New York, and as they open there is already a recorded event in the book they are referencing. My mind almost instantly jumped to Dana Barrett’s apartment when Gozer and Zuul came the first time into the Ghostbuster verse. Could this be a book demonstrating that this event happened already? Again, when you watch the movie check this out and I would be curious again on what you think.

     ‘I don’t go Soho, I don’t go uptown, and I ain’t afraid of no ghost’- This is probably one of the best cameos in the movie which involves Dan Ackroyd himself. He shows up as a taxi driver in one of the scene as one of the girls is asking him to take him to where the main battle is and that he should be careful about the ghosts flying around. The cabby quickly quips about what kind of ghost it is, and the classification of it. Is this Ray Stantz at a horrible part in his life? Again, maybe stretching a bit on this one but I wondered about it.

     The acknowledgement of Egon Spangler- Again as stated above, at one point during one of the bonus clips that Sony released on Youtube leading up to the new movie being released talking about the reengineering of the proton pack Dr. Egon Spengler was given acknowledgement for being the original creator of it. Now, if we are going by some reboots standards then technically this wouldn’t be true. While it would be acknowledged in the verse that was originally created, it wouldn’t in the new. If it’s a reboot then why is Egon still being given credit for it let alone mentioned?

     So now that I’ve got my soap box out of the way on why I don’t think this movie was a reboot what was my general thoughts on it? Overall, I would say that the movie was excellent. The story was completely different than the original one panned by Harold and Dan. Ghosts were different, and we even saw the appearance of slimmer towards the end of the movie. I don’t think that the amount of hate that this movie generated is really warranted. Anyone who is a fan of DC or even Marvel Comics should know that super heroes are rebooted and recreated all of the time. Not only that, but there have been some changes made in the cinematic universes of both Comicverses that not all fans are happy with, that left them with a sour taste in their mouths. Harold Ramis’ daughter actually endorsed this new movie, and stated that her dad would’ve loved to have seen this franchise continue to grow and expand outwards. I shared that article shortly before the new movie came out, and then I shared it once after the movie was released. I think that the villain was a little weak, and watered down but they still gave a very climatic ending to the movie, as well as providing some pretty awesome special effects when it came to the ghosts. 

     I also breathed a little easier knowing that both Ivan Reitman and Dan Ackroyd were involved with the project. Just, if you go and see this movie please just keep an open mind, and even if it doesn’t live up to expectations or what you expected, you can always count it as a stand-alone right? Thanks to everyone for being so patient with me while I worked on putting this blog out. I know I’ve been saying it for a while now, but life has a funny way of getting in the way at times. I look forward to hearing your comments as well about the movie, or anything talked about above.

Passing The Torch

!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!

(This Blog Contains Spoilers)

     As I begin this blog I am going to warn you that there are spoilers entail for ‘The X-files’. In the beginning months of 2016 I have certainly experienced a very nostalgic feeling with all of the old shows, and all of the old movies beginning to reappear. It was truly exciting to hear that FOX had agreed to bring back ‘The X-files’ for a six episode run and then it was said that these six episodes were all that the fans were going to be getting. However, towards the end of this six episode run, a few different things happened. The first thing I noticed was it was only saying ‘Season Finale’ instead of what should’ve read ‘Series Finale’. This excited me to see that perhaps FOX was doing a test run to see if these six episodes were going to be enough to bring that flame back and breath some more life into the show to see if it could be completely revived. The second thing that I noticed was that there were two new agents introduced into the mix at about episode three. The agents possess very similar characteristics to both Mulder and Scully, so what is the potential here? The last episode had Mulder very close to death due to a contagion break out and a ship appearing above the car that they were driving and it slowly fades to black. So obviously FOX has more than enough intentions to bring back more episodes for another ‘partial’ season. The intention is to have the fans begin to speculate about where exactly are they taking this particular storyline? While I’m excited about the return of a Season 2.0 for the X-files I have some questions myself.

1) Most of the original actors agreed to come back for the ‘rebooting’ (and I use that term loosely) for ‘The X-files’ television show. Chris Carter the original creator and writer for ‘The X-files’ was back behind the helm again as well and why wouldn’t he be? I have a tendency to give the show a lot more merit and a little more clout when you have the original creator and writer returning to the show. This wasn’t something that was drafted by someone at the network, after taking away all of the creative rights to the show from Chris Carter and just going with it. The writer knows the characters, knows how they feel, what kind of world they live in, and can more accurately describe everything going on around them since he had done most of the world building. Not to say that any of the writers’ that are working on the show are incompetent just without Chris I think that it would’ve been a little awkward to those who didn’t fully understand his intentions or creations when he made the X-files. But my question is, are these returning characters going to stick around? Or are we only going to be seeing them for a short while to help establish another storyline for a newer generation? This is where I begin to get scared.

2) While I realize it is great to see the ‘X-files’ returning to the airwaves and to see Mulder and Scully chasing the truth around again. I would also have to say the fact the timeline has remained consistent with not only the amount of years passing by, but also because the characters are aging and have grown even without them appearing for over twenty years. Obviously the characters are not going to be as rambunctious, or as willing to be able to take the beating that they did when they were younger, so are we looking at a ‘potential cookie-cutter’ set of characters being introduced to replace them so that the X-files can continue on? I winced at the fact of how close the similarity was to Mulder and Scully and how they even looked like them. Mulder during the course of the show even broke the wall a little bit, and asks the new agents “Have we met before?” I chuckled at this because I think it was the writers’ attempting to cope with what they were trying to do. However, that is what partially killed the X-files back in the early turn of 2000 and two thousand one when the show officially was taken off the air. David Duchovny left the show, while Gillian Anderson remained in it and put Scully into a softer situation dealing with the birth of her and Mulder’s kid but the overall story was affected and changed. What it had started out being, turned into a strictly Sci-fi kind of story and it didn’t have nearly the same effect with it. Even with the changing of agents that went through the X-files it didn’t hold quite the clout with it in the shows final running. 

     I honestly don’t have a solution to this, but I think If Chris Carter provided some more world building on why Mulder and Scully pass the torch even after they’ve come back to the FBI for the short jaunt I think it would certainly help the series out instead of one of the characters just suddenly leaving and even the audience is left wondering what happened to the story. But, I think that even the characters saw the writing on the wall when it comes to a passing of the torch. The agents took under their wing the respectful agent that was most like their personality and provided them some ‘helpful advice’. Again, I won’t go too much into it but I think that if done right I think that the X-files could make a strong return chasing new conspiracies, and adding a whole new level of storyline coupled with today’s events. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The next one I was excited to see coming back was that of ‘Ghostbusters’. Now, this particular ‘reboot’ I have covered in another blog, and my thoughts and ideas on that. However, on March 3rd they introduced the trailer for the third movie. BUT! At about seven seconds in or so, they give credence to the old team thirty years ago saving New York, and now they are saying that a ‘new team’ will be responding to the call. So is this a reboot? Or is this a continuation of the story? I’m sure if you follow me regularly on Facebook you saw my post on whether or not it was a reboot and I’ve had some hearty discussions on there and I’m all for them! I love knowing others opinions and talking with others. Many discussions I’ve had with people had opened my eyes. Now, before we continue any further with the blog I’d like to clarify a couple of things. I would like to clarify ‘reboot’ and ‘soft reboot’. 

Reboot: In serial fiction, to reboot means to discard all continuity in an established series in order to recreate its characters, timeline and backstory from the beginning.[1][2] The term is used with respect to various different forms of fictional media such as comic books, television series, video games, and films among others.[1] (As defined by Wikipedia)

Soft Reboot: A soft reboot is keeping all of the continuity of the original ideas and concepts. It just makes it to where you don’t need to see the original films, books, series, etc. to understand the new plot that they are beginning at with the new production. So essentially the new ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘The X-files’ could be considered perhaps a ‘Soft Reboot.’

     I have a hard time thinking that with the ‘soft reboot’ of Ghostbusters I am expecting that with both Dan Ackroyd (Original writer and co-creator of Ghostbusters), and Ivan Reitman (Original director of both films) that this movie will not disappoint. I am also beginning to wonder if Paul Feig isn’t out to troll the rest of the internet by releasing things that he wants people to think are relevant and then blow everyone away in the theater with this movie with it possibly being a standalone or continuation in the ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise. High hopes I suspect, but in the same instance I am remaining hopeful about it. Ackroyd had commented that he wanted to build the Ghostbusters Universe similar to how Marvel built the cinematic universe revolving around all factions and stories that happen much like the comic books. So again, I can only comment that much on the new Ghostbusters since you can’t read too much into trailers since some industries and studios purposely build the trailers to deceive those who are adamantly watching to give them a false sense into what is actually going to happen. I would love to see a passing of the torch film that unites the old Ghostbusters, with the new Ghostbusters. See the boys in grey go out on top with one more world save. They could definitely build a story around the death of Egon, or even start it at the funeral where the three of them decide to close up shop because of the loss of their beloved team member. Again, it’s all speculation at this point but I remain hopeful that Ackroyd and Reitman (Being the executive producers on the film) will not let the film dive bomb. Once I see the new ‘Ghostbusters’ movie in July expect a blog on that.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     So! I haven’t lost you! That’s always a good thing! So I guess the topic I’m really trying to drive home here is a common theme. A ‘passing of the torch’ moment. When do we as writers decide when a good time is to pass the torch to other characters? Or are we going to decide on when the series will it. Are we going to kill off the main characters, are we going to eliminate the concept and everything that had to deal with the world building, or are we going to decide that the world is intriguing enough that we need to pass it off to a younger, more compatible character that is trained by the original character you designed and nurtured. I’ve had a character that I created over ten years ago in the law enforcement field. I have talked about him in a few different blogs and how much he’s meant to me. However, he is beginning to get into his mid-forties now. Don’t get me wrong, for what the character does he is still able to do his job great. However, to keep him realistic he’s began to develop health issues in relations to the field of which he is in, law enforcement. The character has whispered to me on more than one occasion that he would like to write his memoirs for his final act in my books. He has told me he would like to helm the pen of course to write them and at the end of writing them that would be it. He would be done. I agreed to this as I know a lot of the personal struggles he is beginning to have, and take on. A lot of this is covered in the new novel that I’m currently writing about him. But this also got me to thinking as well about the future for the world that I’ve spent so many years building with him. It’s hard to move on and think about forgetting everything that he had hands in with or he has touched. 

     As much fun as I would have with the introduction of a new generation, creating another cop character like Tal I don’t think I’d ever be able to capture the same essence. Tal in a lot of ways WAS me, and the way he acted made judgements early on was all a reflection on me. I wouldn’t want to create another ‘cookie-cutter’ character due to the fact of that. I wouldn’t want someone picking up a book and go ‘Wow. Tal Hunter squared’. For the amount of years that I’ve written about Tal and his adventures it’d be hard to duplicate everything he experienced and try to make another character with as much time and effort put into him. Tal has come a long ways since he was first introduced as a beat cop and I’ve explored the option of maybe going back and writing a few side stories involving him and what exactly he encountered to become the way he is. But I’m rambling. Sometimes it would pay off to start with a fresh slate, or even continue on in the verse with different characters. JK Rowling has talked about how easy it would be for her to return to the world of Harry Potter and continue on with various stories in his realm without directly using him. She had taken a break from his world and done a few other novels. What characters do you have or used that passed a torch to either ones that could accept the responsibility or was it a passing of the legacy of the name on? Or did you end the series once you got done with the character and it was truly indeed a final curtain call. Please leave a comment below and share with everyone else!

     I apologize for the length of the blog but wanted to discuss two different examples that have come up lately of passing the torch. Thank you for reading this, and have a great day!     

Writers Blocked, now What?

     I personally do not think that there is anything more frustrating than when you sit down and you blaze through several pages of a fresh story idea, only to return after taking a break or getting distracted and you do nothing but stare at the blinking cursor for hours on end because you cannot think of what to do with the story. Or you stop at a good stopping point with the idea and you come back several days later or even weeks later and you can’t seem to get onto the same page as your characters. It feels like you are meeting them all again for the very first time and you are scratching your head as they are looking at you heavily confused and even are offering up hugs because they think you’ve totally lost it and gone off the deep end. Your characters will only understand the initial intentions of where you wanted to take them, they can’t or won’t understand why you have de-railed and will begin to fight you even with the intentions of where you began to take them. You are now officially ‘Writers blocked’ and probably are frustrated beyond hell of what you want to do with the idea. I still continue to get that way. But after offering up some advice today for a friend of mine it got me to thinking, and I wanted to blog the advice in case anyone else out there maybe feels the same way.


Environment-  It always seems to me, in my experience that characters come to you during the worst possible time. They always want to talk to you while you are predisposed with something else or you are working on another character for them to interact with later on in the story line. Just like a big game predator you have to feel the top of your game and comfortable in your environment. I’ve become the biggest stickler for being comfortable and being able to write. The muse however, is pickier than I am and I will address that little minx later on in the blog. You have to be able to relax and find a comfortable place to write. I often times will struggle if I am in the same environment so many times, that everything about it begins to feel blah and the muse won’t talk to me or I can’t get comfortable enough to write. So I would suggest attempting to change up your environment. So if you are used to writing in the same kind of living room, bedroom, or kitchen arrangement, I would suggest trying to switch it up. Sometimes the change will prompt the muse to become more intuitive and courteous with your needs! Car trips, overnight stays out of town, walks, or just the quietness of the mountains will usually prompt her enough to pay attention and ideas become more fluid.      ALWAYS keep a pad and paper nearby for side notes, or possible plot lines. Sometimes characters won’t necessarily talk to you. Sometimes it’s the action of the scene or the setting that comes through the loudest. The only thing I’m ever only been able to see is black figures with no faces acting out the scene.
After some careful thought on it, then that’s when it becomes clearer and exactly to what characters I am looking at. But it never fails that the best ideas come when I have no pad or paper to write them down. That’s why I heavily believe in always being surrounded by some kind of pad and paper for ideas.


A Musical Sensation- Now with this prompt, I’m not suggesting to go out and write a musical number or a song (unless that is indeed something that you do!) but sometimes finding the right kind of music genre could play a big part into getting that mojo flowing and get the muse dancing. When I get ready to write a particular scene that seems to be particular tough I will turn to music. I think that every writer knows what I am talking about. The one scene that you’ve been dwelling on for days, weeks, or even in some cases months. It’s finally come to fruition and all you can do is look at a blinking cursor. I recently just had that happen on my most current project that I am writing on. I got to the scene that I’ve wanted to write and the muse just clams up. The characters’ clam up and all I’m staring at is a blank setting with nothing there. It helps to venture into Youtube, or into a playlist that you may have created or need to create and listen to music that could inspire that particular scene. In one of the books that I’ve written I had a situation with a shootout. I got to that scene, and nothing I could put down on paper was making it sound right. 

     I tried over, and over, and over again trying to word it right and nothing I could do was helping the situation. I got into Youtube and listened to a few various types of music (Most of it was very hard metal). Listening to it, I began to get more motivated for the scene, the muse was throwing her hand up and she was head banging right alongside me. I had the music, I had my muse on board, and now I could write the scene. The words flowed over the page and by time I got done writing the situation, it was how I had envisioned it with a little musical help in the background. I’d also used various Celtic singers, performers when I was in the process of writing ‘In With The Pack’. The music helped square the mood, and the feeling and my wolves came alive! When the tough get going, the tough surely get musical! I’ve always found that finding music to write those difficult scenes have always helped me. I used to be able to listen to the music while I wrote, sometimes that sparked the emotion needed to complete a scene. Now I can’t do that, it de-rails my train of thought way too bad. So the next thing I would like to suggest is white noise!


White Noise- So for paranormal buffs out there, that might be thinking that I’m referring to ‘White Noise’ as in doing a E.V.P. (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session this isn’t quite what I’m meaning. What I’m referring to is ‘White Noise’ as defined as noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities. I will often use white noise either before starting a fresh chapter on a book, or I will use it as a kind of decompressing after I finish writing what I wanted accomplished for the day. There are several methods of meditation; introducing ‘White Noise’ is only one of them. Most people are meditation with the stereotypes of people sitting cross legged, elbows on their knees, with their fingers clinched as if they are grabbing a dinner fork and saying “uuuuuuuuummmmmm.” Over and over again. But meditation can take several different forms including the type that was mentioned above. Meditation can be writing, it can be listening to music, or it can be used as ‘White Noise’. 

     Examples I can give that I’ve used for white noise is natural earth sounds (Rain on a tin roof, Wind blowing in the mountains, trickling streams, camp fires, etc.) Even when I was stressed out, and just couldn’t put anything on paper I turned to these various types to help calm my nerves down so I could establish something for the scene and to help the plot along. Even if it was only for a chapter or I muscled by an incredibly hard event this noise put my mind at ease. Like I mentioned above, the muse may talk stronger if I am writing something nature related and that white noise may help the circumstances.

Jealousy- When all else fails? Sometimes it’s best to go ahead and write on another project, or even if it’s some short-hand writing long-hand writing. You can ALWAYS go back to the work that you had started before. Sometimes, it takes brain storming and different ideas, locations, and times to really get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes the muse gets fussy, and gets tired of the same ole, same ole. It would be comparable I suppose to eating the same meal night after night after night. What I have found is that sometimes just letting the pen wander and the muse dance is the best for all situations. Sometimes, an idea or a particular situation with one character may work for the character in the project that you are working on currently. Or, sometimes characters will get jealous of each other and the original character that you were writing with may speak more loudly and more willing to assist you. The point I’m trying to drive home here is WRITE, WRITE, AND WRITE SOME MORE. You won’t be able to gain any headway on any project if you don’t write regardless of the subject.

     I realize that some of this might work for you, or it won’t work at all. Some will be able to piece parts of this together and make it work, and others will completely disregard this. That’s ok! I hope though that I’ll be able to help some through this blog and give some ideas, and thoughts into ways that you can get around writer’s block. Not all of these work for me all of the time, but at times it helps me clear six or seven pages in a day. You just got to be in tune with your muse, your characters, and making sure that your carrying a notepad and a pen because you never know when inspiration is going to strike!

Calendar Scratches

     Honestly, it only seemed like yesterday that I’d gotten the edits back for ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ that Spring was right around the corner and I had plenty of time to concentrate on getting these edits done. Then, you blink and we are already halfway through the summer and a little more than halfway through the year of 2015. Where has this time gone? So far, 2015 has not been the nicest of years to have dealt with as we’ve had a lot of term oil here and dealing with unwanted guests in our household. Most of my stuff is in my office, which has been quarantined for well over a month now because of these guests. The mood has been pretty low in the household as we feel as if we are prisoners in our own household. However, I’m hoping that as of Monday of this week things will begin to change. I don’t mean to start off with such a negative introduction to a blog but rather just some thoughts that have head me leading up to next years’ time line and schedule. I’d already prepped another book for editing, as well as having sent off the information for the copyright office so it could be copyrighted and my editor would be set to receive it. However, as I began to do the edits for this book, ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ I began to realize something. I am beginning to get burnt out on writing!
     For me, this is a horrible thing because for so long I’d used writing as an advantage to escape the real world, talk with my characters, and just get away from the stress of the day. But, as I’ve tried to put out a book every year I’m finding myself feeling rushed, I’m finding myself stressed about the overall content of the book, and it has begun to cut into the personal time that I have with my family. As a writer, I don’t want any of those things. I want to deliver to the readers an awesome story, I want them to enjoy the characters that I’ve introduced them to, and I don’t want something to me feeling like it’s only half cooked coming out of the creative oven. At some points it has been hard for me to work on ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ just because I’m beginning to feel completely burned out on the entire process that this takes. I feel that I could use this to my advantage, as since I’m an individual self-published writer I don’t really have to abide by any schedules or having to put out a book a year, or continuing on with a series. I am looking forward to releasing ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ over the last half of October. I really want to release it on Halloween, or maybe the day before. I’ve got another contest in mind, and am real excited about getting to meet everyone again at the signings much like I’d met everyone at the events I’ve already done this year.
     So, what are you saying Grayson? That you are going to be hanging up the towel after you release ‘Whispers In The Hallway’? Absolutely not. I’m not going to ever quit writing. It is a passion and truly a gift from above that I found early in my life. What I am thinking, and I’m sure other writers’ out there would agree with me on is that I am thinking I need to take a break. I need to make sure everything goes smoothly with ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ for its release and the contest that I have in mind for it. Take time off during the holidays to spend it with family and friends and then start sharp again after the New Year. But, for 2016 I do not plan releasing any book. Like I said, I have one US Marshals story that I’ve got finished and ready to go. I realized that there are other ideas and other genres I’d like to concentrate on first. While the marshals deserve to have their story told, and that yes IT WILL be eventually released right now, I want to introduce some other characters that have been talking to me for some time. Again, this is the reason why I like to think of myself as a multi-genre writer. I’ve been building on so many worlds, for so many years that I’ve got lots of characters that want to come through and have their stories told. A lot of the characters you’ve probably noticed do a lot of cross world appearances. Either in cameos, or they will show up for a short section in the story and leave again just as quickly. To me, it’s more fun to see characters you already know interacting with the new ones that have come to the table.
     2016 I would like to take the year off and kind of regroup my thoughts, and get in touch again with my characters. I wouldn’t have to worry about edits, I wouldn’t have to worry about meeting deadlines for book releases, and above all I would have time to do some real quality writing. Deliver a product that is well worth the wait! I’ve been asked several times about the return of Malakai and his pack and whether or not he’ll have another book. At this current time, I’ve had some new characters come through on that front and we’ve talked briefly. If I could paint a picture for you what the muse has brought to the table you’d laugh I bet. Imagine a conference room with a large oval table, the nice leather chairs all around it and not one of those chairs are empty. All of them have a particular character yelling or wanting something addressed. Then add a few more characters that didn’t come quick enough to the meeting to get a chair and now are standing at the back of the room screaming their heads off because they want attention. I think that 2016 will be an excellent year to regroup and relax. My other hope for 2016 is getting together with fellow writers in the LC-Valley. I’ve had discussions with a few local talents and their seems to be quite a few shows that will be happening next year. I plan on making as many events as I can as well as helping promote my fellow writers around me.
     The other thing that I know I’ve talked a little bit about this last year as well as my wife getting ready to put her book out. I’m very excited that Emma has been working very hard on getting her stuff ready to be sent off to be printed and into a book. She has been there every step of the way for me when it has come to publishing, marketing, and making sure everything looks great. I would like to return the favor for her as well during 2016 to help her get her book off the ground and to make sure that everything gets situated as it should be. There are certainly not enough days in the year to make everything happen as you would like it to and that is why I’ve reached this decision to do this. Maybe during this off time, I’ll use it to explore other things as well (photography, podcasting, and collaborating with other writers, musicians, etc.). The future is very bright. I would like to send out another special thank you to those who have supported Emma and I through this entire endeavor. There are a lot of people who have backed us all the way through it and I couldn’t be more thankful. Too many to list but you know who you are and I continue to thank you for your support and help through it. Being a self-published writer is definitely not the easiest endeavor that I’ve taken on, but in the end it is definitely the most worthwhile thing I’ve done other than the career I am in.
     Please continue to watch my Facebook as I will continue to updates for not only the release information for ‘Whispers In The Hallway’ but I will also be posting other information on there about new and upcoming projects. I don’t really use Twitter anymore. My website has also been updated so please look there as well for updates on events. Thank you everyone and I hope you have a wonderful summer.

 

One In The Same

    Last night, I came to a conclusion about something that I’d only thought just a few times before and dismissed it. This morning, it woke me up out of a dead sleep and I found I couldn't do anything until I got this out onto blog. I have created a lot of characters since I started writing. Characters come, characters go. But, there is one that has been with me for a long time. Very prevalent, and honestly didn't understand why he was. Why despite storylines and settings he always came back like a lion and out like a lamb. I have always enjoyed letting him tell his stories to me for well over ten years...unfortunate he has aged but his stories are solid. I look forward to telling his stories as long as he wants me to. This character has appeared in ‘OceanView’ time and time again. It’s hard to not see him on a steady basis in that book and often times he really takes the spotlight in a lot of the books dealing with first responders. Even dealing with Law Enforcement you are inclined to see him make an appearance, if nothing more than a cameo or mentioned by one of the officers. For those who have read the book, or know anything about my past there is one character that I feel particularly connected to. Whether, it’s because I created him so long ago (Around 1998 or 1999) or it’s because he has such an elaborate history in the running with my short stories he seems to come on strong at times, and then remain relatively quiet at others.

     I find that this character tends to emerge when I’m dealing with conflict in my life. As if he’s coming to my aid rather than me coming to his. For those who don’t know who I’m talking about, I am talking about my character Tal. He’s had a VERY elaborate history with not only some of the things he’s been attributed to in OceanView, but there is a world away from here where Tal has made a pretty elaborate stamp with not only his presence, but also the course of Law Enforcement within this fictional community. I’ve always kind of seen Tal as a white knight, amongst the sheep. He is a natural born leader, which will take his own path and follow intuition not assumptions. Facts, not fiction, and will base his opinion based on those things listed above. Lately, he’s been knocking at the door again as there is a lot of conflict within my life. A strong leader, and has good moral character. To those who know the character, they know how he is and what kind of person he stands for. Tal existed long before publishing, and has a VERY thorough history that hasn’t even been shared, but exists within the notebooks, shoe boxes, and vast e-mails that I’ve sent out over the course of the last fifteen years…Wow, that feels so strange to type that. How much of a light, and guidance that this particular character has been to me. But why? Why is Tal so important to me that I look up to a fictional character that doesn't exist? Maybe it’s because what Tal himself stands for. The basis of why I created him.
     His moral compass, along with the things he has seen in his life and how he has managed to stay on the straight and narrow even in situations that made him the bad guy, or turned whom he thought were friends against him. I’m not meaning to put him on a pedestal by any means, and again those who know the character or experienced him in OceanView, know that this man definitely has flaws, regrets, and scars both emotional and physical. But in the same instance we share some common bonds of things he’d dealt with in his life that I myself, have dealt with long and hard. We've both learned that hard work, and perseverance towards goals in life are the right road to travel. Regardless of what other’s tell you or suggest. Sometimes, being the lone wolf in a sea full of followers and sheep is the best course of action. Never lose sight of what your true intentions are because of other’s opinions of you or your thoughts on progression. Move forward; keep moving forward with that bright light in the distance. You are the only one who can move you closer to your goal. Choosing not to act is the only way you will fail not only yourself, but potentially those around you. The final and hardest thing we've both failed together is rejection. Whether it’s been from co-workers, friends, or family rejection is been one of the hardest blows to us. Regrets and skeletons in our closet of decisions that we both think. “You know maybe if we just caved and gave them what they wanted maybe we would have been happier about things”. Then we shake our heads no, and look at the outcomes of the decisions of making our own minds up and following our own course. A good majority of these decisions have ended in a positive light and it reminds us.
     It reminds us that it’s important to follow your own path and make your own decisions. It was once said that you are the only person you will have to live with your entire life so make the best of it. I surely think that Tal and I both agree with each other when it comes to this. Law Enforcement seemed to be such a natural calling to him as a character and has been pretty much in every role working his way up the chain to where he is today, as an active US Marshal. I don’t normally talk so much about characters in particular. As I had said above there have been many characters I've seen come, and I've seen go. All of my characters have made a lasting impression on me. Some of the characters good, some of the characters bad. But I felt compelled to write a little bit about Tal this morning after dealing with almost a year’s worth the conflict and how it’s odd how a character can give you a support system. I've thought about retiring him from the pages of my books to let him finally be, and he’s provided some hints I think that he’d like it as well. For several, several years now I've debated on whether or not to write his memoirs. It is always something that I’d considered doing because of the fact he HAS such an extensive history that only myself and him know. He feels obligated to share it with the rest of the world and to let other people in on his trials as not only what he faced as a cop, but also for his personal life.
     In Oceanview, we delved into it a little bit dealing with after his ex-wife left and some of the issues that arose there. But he’d like to tell everyone what he’s seen and experienced in his life and his fifteen years of law enforcement. Starting from a beat cop, all the way to where he’s at now. I’d like to think Tal is a respectable character I've never had any kind of complaints about him from those who have read OceanView, or had experiences with him. He’s very proud of what he does for a job and how he affects people. Has anyone out there ever had a character that influenced them in some way that no matter what has happened to them you just don’t have the heart to say a final goodbye to them? Several characters I've written about have gotten quiet enough that I’m not even sure they’d mind about never being heard from again. Other characters lie in wait, and are awaiting the perfect time to spring back up in order for their stories to be told. I hope that you've enjoyed this little insight into Tal and who exactly he is. If you have a character that you can relate to just like Tal, leave a comment below and tell us the reason why you feel so strongly connected to them!

Party Poppers & New Directions

     As soon as I had posted on my Facebook this morning in regards to asking people what they’d hoped for in the upcoming year, or what they wanted to accomplish in 2015 it got my own mind going. I’m striving towards more in 2015, I’m wanting to reach out more to those who read my books and I’m wanting to be more active with my creativity. 2014 was a hard year for me to get a lot of things accomplished on the sidelines in regards to projects, marketing the books, or meeting other writer’s mainly due to time constraints. Not to say at all though that 2014 wasn’t successful. I was incredibly blessed with the reception that ‘In With The Pack’ got back when I released it in August. I met a lot of other great people along the way and made some very close friends in the process which in itself is an automatic success. But, maybe what I’m trying to get at is I want to branch out a little more with myself. Try to dedicate more time to my projects and make them just as successful as I did with Malakai and his pack. I’ve already got another project going that will probably not be released until 2016, but that is ok. It has been slow going and even though I’m trying to put out a new book every year, it’s added a lot of stress to me as well as trying to find the time to keep up with everything else in my life. Hell, I’m an independent and self-published author I am really my own boss that decides on the when’s and where’s of things. But, in the same instance writing is something that I just can’t turn off and walk away from and decide to be done with it for a while or even take a break from.
     Just like one of those internet meme’s that I saw online the other day, ‘Writers can’t take vacations from writing because even on those vacations you are still writing’. It’s the absolute truth of the matter. But in the same instance, it’s just not that. I love to tell stories; I love to give something to someone who says ‘Wow, this was great! When’s the next one happening?’. I’m not meaning to toot my own horn here but if I can entertain someone other than myself when it comes to writing stories then I have succeeded as a writer. But at the same time, I’ve been mulling over ideas of things that I’d like to do in 2015 as well as my writing:

Meeting other local talent- For those who have met me in person, or know where I live. The Lewiston-Clarkston Valley is an extremely small community. With both populations of Lewiston and Clarkston we probably top out at close to around forty-thousand populous. So, when it comes to meeting other local writer’s or talents I am always excited to meet them. I think as writers, artists, photographers, etc. It’s important for us to stick together especially in small towns. But it’s also fun to plan events were you can have more than one person available for signings. It helps with exposure as well for them! One of the things I’d like to do in 2015 is organize more events or even some kind of a writer’s guild locally here in the valley for all of us to come together. Non-judgmental and the first meeting don’t even have to be about reviewing anything. It’s fun just to get together and talk and learn about the other various types of talent that we have here locally. Maybe even organize some events for us all to participate.

Photography- Though this is done away from both pad and paper I’ve always enjoyed photography. At the beginning of the month I shared some pictures on my Facebook with that of an old flour mill that is located just outside the city park in Asotin. When I got them home and photo shopped them a bit and posted them the response I got was very humbling. So, I was thinking of maybe also doing some kind of photography class or just doing freelance and working on what I already know to take some pictures here locally around the valley and beyond. Where I live there are lots of woods, rivers, canyons, and even some ghost towns for pictures to be taken in. That is also something else I’d like to do both with snowy weather, and sunny weather. Photos capture so much, and even with landscapes that stay vivid in your head it could lead to potential story settings. Really, it’s a win-win situation for me.

Video Productions- Though I know very little about this particular field, I had the opportunity in both 2013 and 2014 to help with video productions of a few budding directors. While the opportunities have been smaller and not as abundant as they had been, this is something that I’d still like to help in. It’s exciting to see people’s ideas jump from the paper to flesh and blood characters. How excited the entire production team is to making this the best product that they can regardless if it is a serious movie or if it’s a humorous movie. The expectations and standards that these independent film artists hold themselves to are phenomenal. It’s almost as intense as writing a book. A little more stress added when you are dealing with the actors/actresses. Where in the process of writing a story you can tell them exactly what you want them to do and you won’t get any fuss about it. With actors/actresses you may get a degree of defiance whether it’s something they don’t agree with on their character or time constraints. Either way, I enjoyed being a part of the production value and helping them realize their own dreams.
     I’d also considered doing more video blogs in the upcoming months of 2015. From what I understand blogs are kind of going on the wayside of things and that VLOGS are the most popular route to go when you are trying to reach out to subscribers. Maybe it’d be a way as well to show off the pictures that I plan on taking. Making a mini-slideshow or something with them. Something to toy around with I guess. I really never learned on how to use the video editors because by the time I graduated *cough* 2002 *cough* things like Microsoft PowerPoint, Windows Movie Maker, Excel etc. were all beginning to come into popularity with not only business professionals but also teachers. I guess my question is do people even use cardboard to make presentations anymore? Or, has it gone to this new digital format? But I digress. So, those are just some things I’d like to concentrate in the upcoming year that I’d like to branch out into. Will it happen? If I can put my head to it and get things situated anything is possible. My own indecisiveness will be my only enemy. 

     

     What do you plan on doing for 2015? Feel free to share with the others at the bottom of this blog, or you can leave a comment on my Facebook page!

Returning to old trails

     This summer has been a summer of nostalgia for me. We have really seen a surge in movie remakes, reboots, and re-conceptualizations. The one thing that stuck out the most for me this summer that I’d really like to cover and have been talking about on and off on my Facebook now for a few months is that of Ghostbusters. I was a child of the 80’s and during the 1980’s a movie came out that would be forever in grained into what and who I am. Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and it being 2014 we have crept right up on the 30th anniversary of this movie. With the movie’s anniversary coming out Sony Studios re-released it into theaters for selective showings, and completely revamped the movie putting it into a Blu-Ray format for purchase. It’s bitter sweet as the series original writer, Harold Ramis passed away earlier this year and was not able to see the 30th anniversary come to fruition. But, since the anniversaries release, and the passing of Mr. Ramis it has created a huge buzz around the Ghostbuster fan universe and forums. It was announced that Ghostbusters III may actually see the big screen as the co-writer and creator Dan Aykroyd confirmed that Ghostbusters III was going to happen. Overall, the fans of Ghostbusters have been waiting for a very long time to hear this announcement.
     But, with this announcement came the possibility o reboots, and a re conceptualization of what the Ghostbusters are all together. Aykroyd had originally confirmed that he wanted to do another story, as a kind of ‘passing of the torch’ to a new generation of Ghostbusters. Which, if they find the right actors, and can lie down the best script and story possible I think it will be great. Now, with that said I would like to clarify my position on this. Over the years, there have been many scripts that have been swung around. Harold and Dan both had another script written and ready to present. Unfortunately, that script never got off the ground, and they were in the midst of revamping It and redrafting it shortly before Ramis death. I feel, and this is only my opinion is that the script should be completely done by the co-creator(s) of the series this next movie. I think that this third movie is imperative especially since the passing of Ramis. I’m not going to be one of those fans, or writers that will go in with a closed mind to the movie either way. I just want to see justice done for the series and overall the franchise of ‘Ghostbusters’. They need to make this almost an ode to Ramis, in my humble opinion because of the fact he had been the original writer of Ghostbusters. Make it almost a tribute If we are going to do this movie right, then let’s do it right. Think of Ramis and keep him in thought. I would hope that Aykroyd would hold all creative decisions over the movie and the making of it, much like him and Harold did for the Ghostbusters video game that came out in 2009.
Now, with all of that said if Aykroyd decides on another script for the movie, and doesn’t have any actual assistance in writing it. I would hope he would stick around for the screenplay. 

     I’m not going to go completely fan boy here, but I would like to see his hand involved with the movie and the progression of the storyline. Another big rumor going around is that the reboot will feature the four original Ghostbusters replaced by four female Ghostbusters. There is a huge up-roar over this as this option is also being explored. Initially, I really didn’t know how to take it. But, after giving it some careful consideration I’ve decided on this. This could be the perfect opportunity to introduce a whole new generation to the ‘Ghostbusters’ let people be taken into their world. It would bring a whole new light to the franchise and spark a whole new interest for it. Again, if the reboot is something that they are eyeing then I would hope that Aykroyd would be involved with the project. Ghostbusters is truly what got me interested in the paranormal (ghosts, UFOs, strange happenings, etc.) I will be happy to see another movie, but my hope is that it will be done correctly.
     Now with all of this said, I would like to take on my interpretation of movies and prequels, sequels, and after thoughts. Regardless of what Dan Aykroyd decides to do with the movie when it comes to fruition I will respect whatever he decides to do with it. You can’t be mad at the creator or co-creator of something if they decide to take their series in a new direction or a new path. The biggest thing I have a problem with at times is that when things are created and does not follow the canon idea. Anything that Dan Aykroyd or Harold Ramis did, does, or are going to do is going to be completely canon for me. There were a lot of upset people with Star Wars as well when the prequels came out. People were upset on the story, how it progressed, and how badly some of the characters in the movie were. But, again in the credits it says right there, written By George Lucas. The other thing that people have to remember to is that all of those stories had been drafted while he was in college. This wasn't a new idea that he decided to just draft up a prequel to the what we would considered original trilogy (Episodes 4,5,6). Of course, you will either like the movies, or you won’t. But, again you can’t be mad at the creator when he took the story, series, etc. in a direction that you didn't want him to.
     It would be like any writer out there that would take on the challenge of either continuing his story, or releasing another part of the story that no one had any idea about. People may like the concept? People may hate the concept. But, it is what the characters wanted, and it is what the writer wanted. I’ve been approached by people telling me how much they've hated a character, or they didn’t like what I did. I ask them what they didn’t like about it. They might have thought that the character acted out of character, or it didn’t seem like it would be something that the character would do. I follow up with. But! Did it add to the story and keep you engaged. They will agree with me, and I will smile and tell them that I did my job.

Really? That’s it?

To everyone, who has been looking forward to the next blog, I apologize immensely for not being able to get it out sooner that it had. Between life, health, and other medical things it made it hard to sit down at a keyboard to get it typed up. I am confident, and hope that everyone understands this. Now? Onto the main portion of the blog.

The topic for this blog is Story length. Let me ask you this first, what exactly constitutes as proper story length? What do you feel is necessary for a story to be a story, have depth, plot, character development, all of the things that a good story needs in order to survive and attract readers? Should it be limited by only what you put into it at first, being the original plot? Or is it possible to add in more details of a story. Perhaps a sub story? I think the only thing holding a writer back IS themselves. We all know, and have delved into our imaginations. We can come up with a thousand different scenarios for our characters. Perhaps each scenario for the character is different. But is it a good idea to leave items in the story unresolved or skipped over? It’s always exciting to be writing a novel, novelette, short story, poems, and want to get it out for your readers. But what’s the proper length in which you should stop? At what point should you limit your imagination or limit the characters to what they are doing? Maybe, give them a way out of a scenario that could bring the particular piece of work to a grinding halt and make it hard for not only you, but for the character to trudge through. I will be the first to admit that in my imagination, and stories at times I get a bid wordy with ALL the characters details.

However, I know that I’m not the only writer out there that would do this. I think it’s incredibly important at times to add to the story what the characters are doing every time they are in a scene, what they are thinking, etc. However, I’ve read over some of the scenes in my upcoming novel “Whispers” and see where I have been almost too wordy with what is going on in the scene. A quick resolve, but at times it’s dropped me about a ½ or even a whole page of writing. To me? It’s irrelevant on how long a story should be. If I cut out a page or two pages of writing that drops my story to maybe twenty three or twenty five pages that is ok. To me, it’s more important to keep your idea to the point, instead of wandering off track and getting lost with something irrelevant to the story. Whenever I read scenes, and notice these wordy situations I can always imagine my readers sitting in a chair, with one hand propped against there hand. My book would be open and a sigh escaping there lips as they flip the page. The story should be enthralling, it should be riveting, it should keep them interested to the point that they are wanting to turn page and page because they are excited for what is happening in the story with the characters. Short stories are still stories. They can be entertaining, and enthralling as a thousand page novel.

But with that said, a story can be a thousand pages and full of crap. Either the plot development is horrible, slow, maybe irritating? Characters don’t click as well as they should or maybe slapped together too quickly? Editors can be a WONDERFUL help in this department and be able to tell you if you are being too wordy, or maybe not wordy enough. When is detail too much detail? That is up to the individual writer. I think the amount of detail you put into it should keep your writer enthralled and hanging on, instead of making it feel like your reading a dictionary or a quickly rushed idea that has the potential to have a ingloriously awesome idea. It’s important to listen to your muse while your in that frame of mind. Whether your sitting in a police car listening to your characters talk? Or if you are sitting at an Inn in the corner listening to various conversations amongst characters it’s easier to write all of it down as it happens and then go back and read it again later. Really, it’s no different than having a tape recorder walking out in the general public and recording what you hear. At least this way, you’ve got it all documented on the scene and what’s happening. Perhaps there are irrelevant things you can cut out along the way that doesn’t make it into the MS before it goes to editing.

Perhaps, those details can be used for another story, time, or setting. With this said, and since we are all friends here. What is one thing in your stories, poems, etc. that you tend to go on in almost too much detail that you feel? Please, post in the comments below to share with everyone!

Where does the Muse Find You?

     In the last blog, I talked about character development. This blog is taking a step back really from what I talked about last time. Before you can sit down and come up with a setting, a plot, characters, anything of that nature you have to be able to actually sit down and do it? How do you sweet talk your muse? Let’s face it, The Muse will not be completely compliant every time you sit down at your computer, your favorite chair, a writing desk, or even on the back patio. Sometimes she’s rather arrogant and blocks the process and all you can do is stare at the computer screen and admire the blinking cursor. But as you look at that cursor you scowl a bit and think to yourself The only one getting any work done here is the cursor itself blinking and making sure you know where you’re at during the time you have your processor open. Other times it takes a little bit of coaxing to talk to her. Keep in mind, that like cars not all muses are created equal and some are male? Some are female. I often describe my muse as a female, and often times as a very strict boss. It takes a lot of negotiation sometimes to sit down and try get around the wall she puts up. What do you use to get your Muse to let down those walls to allow you to step into your character’s world? Or for this instance, the ability to maybe build one? For me there are several different resources that I use to channel that inner creativity.

     Most often times, I will reflect on the scene to see what is exactly going on in it. Is the scene extreme? Is it character dialogue?, Is there something complex going on? Then I will set to work at looking for either movies, music, art, or even cruise the internet letting the Muse have her way momentarily. Typically for me being in certain settings is what allows me to find the best relaxation to write. As described earlier this week in one of my Twitter’s I talk about the Snow. It seems that the muse becomes most active during snow days, snow storms, or just even a general snow shower. But again, going back and talking about negotiations with the muse. Sometimes, the snow is nice and all but other times it requires a little bit more to be settled. It maybe other adverse weather reactions, Holidays, or Sometimes it’s a certain recliner, sometimes it’s animals present in the room. Other times it’s music turned down low. Often other times I can find inspiration in other ways. For me another huge source of Inspiration can be found through that of music. I tend to listen to the harder music of today some of the band’s including: Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Metallica, Breaking Benjamin, Skillet, and the list goes on. The music can help inspire scenes? Or it can help get me through scenes depending on what is going on with them. Now, on the counter balance of that I have listened to older music to get me through as well. Some of those bands include: Foreigner, Styx, Patsy Cline, The Highway Men, Boston, and again the list goes on from there.
  Just because you listen to one particular genre doesn't mean that you will be able to write to it. Please, I encourage you to listen to any and all kinds of music.

     What about fellow writers? Let’s venture away for a moment from scene creation. When you first picked up that pen, and you touched it to that paper and you let your imagination began to wander. Is there any particular author that stands out alone that you first started reading? That, once you started reading, grasping at the concepts of there stories, and realized the flow pattern of characters, ideas, and overall concepts that you snapped your fingers and went “A Ha! That is who I want to be like there?” Just like the music any particular concepts of other art? What about the respect of other Author’s? George Romero for his inception and creation of the Zombie and walking dead, Bram Stoker and his creation of the Vampire. Stephen King and all of the movies, tv shows, and even comics, Michael Crichton perhaps? All of those are excellent authors, Is it Shameful for anyone to admit if anyone particular writer, singer, dancer, etc. inspired someone to carry on with there dream or find a new one? I’d have to say no. Reading any of the above authors could influence you. For example, if one where to start a paranormal book about Vampires, but you really didn’t know much about them. Where could you go? Bram Stoker would be an excellent reference, What about Laurell K. Hamilton and her Anita Blake Series again. It’s all dependant on what you want to write. But I would recommend experts of the genre and maybe reference to those who created and opened the worlds for everyone else. Doing research on different genres of Vampires, Zombies, Were animals, and all of the likes.

     Who knows, maybe you will create something that will spark an interest with a fellow writer, or maybe even start them down the path of something great. Maybe your story will be like that of Bram Stoker’s and it’ll carry through generations of which everyone will know them. It just takes a little inspiration is all. I encourage everyone who reads this to leave a comment down below. What inspires you? Don’t be bashful!