Tag: thoughts on writing

Writing for an audience of one (writing craft)

guardiandoggLeave a comment

Real talk my dude. I write on this blog for an audience of one. Not me though I do enjoy my shit. I mean why would anyone do anything for free if you didn’t get some gain out of it.

The reader.

The dude that reads all my shit and is critical of it but in a constructive way as to add food for the conversation.

I pour all my heart and might into lyrical three throws and masterful worthsmithing. I don’t do this shit for my ego. I do it for the reader’s delight. I got to make bread but beyond that I have to connect with others and spread the joy and life of reading.

I’m commited to the shit. I love the shit. That’s why beyond my bullshiting and silly whit I am serious about my shit.

It’s a lesson in what I’m saying. We as writers as poets want to connect with the reader. Want to engage their interest or spark delight or that treasured moment when they are surprised and burst out into laughter.

It’s the good kind of magic that isn’t magic because if you apply yourself and practice in terms of ten years time of getting better then you were yesterday well, then it’s really more of a science then anything else.

Warm Regards,

Guardiandogg

Stephen King is a crazy son of bitch but knows his shit about writing. (Book nerd shit) On writing a memoir of the craft

guardiandoggLeave a comment

Holy shit.

Now for starters I didn’t really read his books before I read his on writing book. I saw his movies and knew of him but I didn’t know him or at least an idea of how crazy this fucker is.

I read his book long long long time ago. One of the few books I had on writing at the time that my mother gave me and I had asked for.

Holy shit.

Anyway, just getting the book and reading was an experience. I had never read anything like it before. The book is mostly Flashpoint memories of his childhood into the moments he became a writer onward to his first stories. The second half being when he gets around to explaining the on writing stuff or the tool box of writing.

Holy shit. That shit was a shocker. It was a fun house theater for the mind. The weirdest shit my dude. It did teach me a lesson I had buried in the back of my head.

You got to have thick skin as a writer and it’s always good to have a side gig on side to pay the bills while your working on your craft.

That son of a bitch laid it all out. His drunkenness and his idiotic moments and the moments when brilliance meets you on the street when your out wandering and flashes you her tits.

The tool box section from the edition I read was basicly a short list of books to read and minor advice. I read the books. One of them I found was the real book on writing every writer should read.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.

Just get that book and you can skip his book entirely if you wish. Elements of Style is the shit. It’s straightforward and a easy how to guide if you don’t already know the dos and what the fuck?

My advice. For whatever the hell it’s worth to you.

There is nothing new. But your voice is unique to you. You have to have a personality. You have to have an edge and drive to push on past rejection and find some enemy to fight against and believe in yourself but be realistic at the same time. You got to eat.

True geniuses of writing are few. For the rest of us it takes time and consent practice and reading.

But you really have to enjoy writing. Enjoy reading. Enjoy words. Enjoy the learning of the craft and respect the ones that have come before you.

I got respect for King for teaching me that bit and leading me to books that deleveloped me as a writer.

One last note. Cut the bullshit out of your shit. Be honest and edit the shit down or cut out shit you’ve said more then once in your piece.

Warm Regards,

Guardiandogg

There is no such thing as an original idea…but a piece of old great ideas reflecting different directions (craft of writing)

guardiandoggLeave a comment

I know long title but go with me on my rambling journey. In my post about Farscape today it came to me. How did the writers do it?

How did they take something as simple as a old idea of fish out of water story and surprise the viewers time and time again.

It’s because it wasn’t just one idea. It was pieces of ideas woven together with care and patience. Piece by piece with living and breathing charecters with strong actors breathing life into complicated flawed charecters. Let the dialog and story proceed in it’s natural conclusion. Let the themes remain.

It’s something to learn from that. A true lesson in the craft.

George Lucas first vision of star wars wasn’t star wars. It was Flash Gordon. It was ancient stories of the hero’s journey. It was the drama of life and politics of culture and and family and it was honest at first and geniune.

We are a species of storytellers. It’s in the very blood that flows in our mortal bodies. It is a language in encoded in our genetics.

I’m not speaking on poetic bent. I’m serious. You know it. I know it. In our heart of hearts we know when a story harkens back to the original thread and when it is utter bullshit marketing.

It’s not magic. It’s a language we know without knowing.

I leave you with this. There was this one scene from one season finally episode in Farscape that felt so genuine and amazing it left me laughing my ass off off as intended and waiting for the next episode of the show.

John Crichton is about to be frozen in a statue like state for centuries. His quest to get home is gone. His love affair with his girl is lost. His friend Dargo can only offer him one bit of good news.

Dargo is having amazing sex with his girlfriend.

You see John laugh in wild amusement and Dargo smiles as he brings laughter to his friend who is about to lose everything he values.

That’s life sometimes. There was truth in that moment. No long boring up lifting speech of encouragement. Just a moment when you have to accept the laughter or dark humor of the moment.

Holy shit. The writers just left you wanting to know what the fuck happens next?

Get the series and find out for yourself. I ain’t telling you shit.

Warm Regards,

Guardiandogg