tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14848832654673237942024-02-19T09:19:14.523-08:00The Walker Files: An Author's JourneyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-16058948043209669642012-08-27T15:22:00.003-07:002013-02-01T12:46:18.873-08:00<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXaNkK09jQT7agOscAzGEorrQrUk86kNO9nalzexre9QvtGO8_oxFYeH1Ljo2eZQFsTWVT8x2BtcqkuXyZF1MFZsqo947vjxP1XniQpu-R7ZUPfDKk5a9nybPKOwDxitz7VODpOaEtG3l/s1600/Weary+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXaNkK09jQT7agOscAzGEorrQrUk86kNO9nalzexre9QvtGO8_oxFYeH1Ljo2eZQFsTWVT8x2BtcqkuXyZF1MFZsqo947vjxP1XniQpu-R7ZUPfDKk5a9nybPKOwDxitz7VODpOaEtG3l/s320/Weary+2.jpg" /></a><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;">Set in the future,<i> Weary Bones </i></span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;">is first the </span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;">tale of an ambitious young reporter from Ithaca, New York, whose future depends on his next scoop. Surviving on a shoestring budget in a down-slope economy, John Walden Steinberg III is about to uncover the most sacred and earth shattering account of his life: America, once known for its majestic mountains and vast plains now features scattered bones, bomb shelters, and the aftermath of earthquakes that have shifted the land towards the equator. Weary Bones is the account of how it fell to </span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0.5in;">one man, Samuel Yordy, a little known Amish minister, to lead his people on an exodus to a new future in ‘the Commons’. Treacherous and perilous, not all of his flock survive to make it to their new promised land…</span></div>
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The saga of <i>Weary Bones</i> will engage anyone interested in how religion can become the main focus and agency for strife, war, persecution, and death – and how it can then be a salvation.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-24641789258266855392012-08-20T20:13:00.002-07:002013-02-01T12:47:04.716-08:00<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-32464168719015063242012-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:002012-08-10T20:08:23.171-07:00Ian McEwan's Take on Writing Inspiration's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/o9LZfX3Y8TI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is interesting to learn the differing nuances of
writers, and the vehicles needed to get them going on the road to inspiration. Ian McEwan's views on ideas are that, "…they
just pop out of nowhere…" Comparing McEwan's mode of creativity to my own,
I mentally noted that we're not so different in the writing process. I sometimes find myself swelled with a slew of
ideas itching to spill over onto paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At other times there is total disconnect with the
world around me, and I drift into another plane of thinking. When challenged
with writers block McEwan states, "…sometimes I force an idea just by
writing the opening paragraphs…" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
my style of writing this does not work to my advantage. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Writers block for me can last for hours, days,
and oftentimes weeks on end. However,
when the burst of genius manages its way into the folds of my brain matter I take
the helm of my word document, and wear down the keys just a tad more on my
computer. I go full bore into the first,
second, and third rounds of writing before the bell rings. After my brain
settles in its corner for a pep talk I gear up for the final rounds - taking on
the agonizing blow by blow of distraction before I'm face down on the mat, and
down for the count.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I gather bits and pieces of information here and
there. Snippets of conversations or
situation in my travels are the fuel needed to write something down. From there I will deduce that, "…maybe
this situation will fit nicely into a poem, or a joke someone told while waiting
at the bus stop is agreeable for a screenplay…" These are how the wheels of my mind spin when
brewing up ideas. It's like having a bag
full of groceries, and knowing that once I return home to unpack I have a
pretty good idea of where each item will be stored for later usage. That's how my mind operates when it comes to insight,
and ideas for writing. I hope this tidbit of information is useful to writing
novices like me, and even the experts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-55047177558577502772012-08-07T16:54:00.000-07:002012-08-07T16:54:10.779-07:00Ex Nihilo<br />
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Where do ideas for stories come from? The term I like referring to is ex nihilo
which is Latin for, "<i>out of nothing</i>." The dictionary further defines it as <i>from</i> nothing. Many writers get their ideas from personal
experience born out of a tragic events
or a lifetime of nightmares that are usually converted into memoirs and are
published under the category of non-fiction. But where do ideas for <i>fictional</i> stories get there roots?
As author of the recently published narrative, "<i>Weary Bones</i>," my idea stemmed from
lots of observation and what was highly excluded from cinema. Action/thrillers, comedy, romance and so on
are a dime-a-dozen when it comes to repetitive themes. With Weary Bones, I wanted to do something exceedingly
different yet not straying too far from the norm. The Amish are a people not highly illuminated
or given a voice when it comes to the big screen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the 1985 movie Witness, a young Amish boy was a witness
to a murder and had to be protected by a Philadelphia detective played by
Harrison Ford. I wanted to go grander
than a mere bit part character. I took
my protagonist to an elevated level of importance while casting light on the
ways and lifestyle of the Amish people. The
other challenge was to write something for which I was <i>very</i> unfamiliar with and make it - familiar. It must have been sheer fate or being in the
right place at the right time when I ran into my editor who was very familiar
with the Amish culture. She was able to
point out mistakes ranging from the minor to exceedingly major flaws in my
rough draft. Overall she produced a
clean, more realistic, and culturally accurate text concerning my topic. And yes this is a shameless plug for anyone
interested in utilizing her services for their writing. I refrain from mentioning her name <i>here</i> but will put anyone in touch with her who is
interested in having their rough drafts given the once over. Now to steer back on topic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this instance, the idea for my story came from what was
not apparent in motion pictures and to me that's a big deal. My advice for
writers and readers alike is to observe what you do not see as an audience and
to further research what you would like to see in books and on film. This could be the formula for a blockbuster
novel or the makings of an impressive narrative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-80887218053997697452012-08-02T14:44:00.001-07:002012-08-02T14:44:59.858-07:00In the Beginning...<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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My writing journey began with a screenplay written back in
the late 1980’s. As a high school student I wasn’t aware that what I was fabricating
in my mind, and would later jot down on paper would be interpreted as a screenplay. I even cast actors such as Morgan Freeman and
a host of others dictating who would play certain parts. I included made up characters based off of
characteristics from close nit friendships. I guess I was wearing my director’s hat as
well. I never got around to completing it, and it’s still packed away amongst
my other belongings. My love for the craft would later come to life more than two
decades in the future. Currently I am
studying the art of screenwriting in an effort to see if my passion for cinema
is still something I’d like to pursue as a career, or if it is only a fleeting
moment of nostalgia. </div>
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</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1484883265467323794.post-37757314290816641172012-07-21T15:44:00.000-07:002012-07-21T15:44:14.525-07:00Keeping it Secret<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How can
an upcoming newbie of an author divulge information about their upcoming works
without giving away genre, character, plot, or whether or not a series will
follow? As a newbie myself this has been
a challenge. The first thing I did was
to provide my audience with the less intense writing. This provided them with a hint of my writing
style, taste, grammar and the ability to hold their interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">An
audience needs to be made privy to some degree about who the authors writing
influences are in an ongoing effort to build a fan base. In other words, ‘…show me the money’… or I’m
walking. Too much secrecy is just as
damaging as spilling the beans. Writing
is like a romance. Audiences like to be
dazzled with cliff-hangers, moments of intensity, and the element of surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One
keyword that can be used to safeguard ones work is ‘untitled.’ Untitled allows for an author to present
their works to the public via writing contests, etc. under the guise of anonymity
while registering said work with an actual title at the U.S. copyright office. Copyrighting provides the author leeway for
making revisions within a 30 day window of the initial submission date before
the window of opportunity is closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Copyright” literally means the
right to copy. Copyright is a form of protection given to the authors of
“original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical,
artistic, and certain other works. This protection is available “automatically”
to both published and unpublished works” (Literary Work).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So now that we’ve gotten the
legalities out of the way, what if fans want to know the genre? I would only answer this by stating that if
you’re a writer who is a fanatic about certain types of genre’s it would be
safe to hint to one’s audience that there might be a ‘surprise’ on the horizon
of your up and coming works. Kill them
with kindness and never ignore their concerns.
But do not let them break you.
Hold your ground. You, the
author, will be thankful later on that you did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Literary
Work</span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. U.S. Legal, n.d. Web. 20 July 2012.
<http://copyright.uslegal.com/enumerated-categories-of-copyrightable-works/copyright-for-literary-work/>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294901136468488891noreply@blogger.com0