Writing 101

Sometimes a thought will hit you like lightening and produce a whole litter of ideas, which turn into a brilliant page or two. Other times, you have to toil and sweat over every word, each phrase.

I began writing a story about a month ago, and have not made it past the first page. The problem is that the moment of lightening genius is exactly that, a moment. Where do I take the story from that point? Who are the characters, what is interesting about their lives? Why would they have something important to say, or a job that requires attention? I suppose my best bet at this point is to do some serious brainstorming. With the demands of life staring blankly into your face 24 hours a day, however, it can be difficult to sit and ponder an unreal world that carries no actual consequences.

What do you suggest for moving beyond that lightening moment?

P.S. New! For You!
I've added a few more links and whatnot, so feel free to click away! Or if you have any suggestions on how Pseudo Profundities and Other Laments can be improved please submit them in the comments section.

Thanks!

Blogger Book Club

Hope everyone is enjoying "Hard Times," by Charles Dickens. It is interesting to note that compared to current vernacular, Dickens' works can be challenging to read and comprehend. Yet, at the time he was writing Dickens was one of the most popular writers in England. Many of his classic works were first written as series for magazines, which hooked people into the storyline by only giving them a tidbit at a time.

If you have questions or comments please feel free to post them in the comments section. Also, if you have any additional guiding questions you would like to add to our current list, please submit them.

A Memoriam

The anniversary of the 9/11/01 tragedies brings with it a flood of memories. That day is indelibly stamped in my mind like a fingerprint that can never be erased, and it shouldn't be.

I was in a math class, my freshman year of college, when the first airplane was guided by terrorists into the World Trade Center tower. No one came to the classroom to bring the news of the tragedies, most likely everyone in the building was similarly unaware or glued to their television screens in utter disbelief of what their eyes beheld. After that class, I walked to my car and dialed the radio to a favorite station of mine. What I heard wasn't the usual rhythmic beats or soothing voices, I heard panic. It was still early at this point and reports were confused, no one seemed to have a clear picture of what was taking place. During the ten minute drive home, I started to think that the radio broadcast was a sketch, similar to Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds." When I arrived home, however, I found my Mother in front of the television, crying, trying to process the hideous scene that unfolded before the world.

As the hours trudged on and more speculations were being offered as facts, I could hardly tear myself away long enough to attend my health class. Once in class one could immediately sense a different mood in the lecture hall than was normal. Several young men declared their intentions to be a part of the battle against Osama Bin Laden and his evil minions. Their safety, security and sense of innocence was lost in that one tragic morning. I have no way of knowing if any of them actually fulfilled their hastily made promises, but I know that many men and women did honor their promises.

Now six years later, I still have a hard time believing it wasn't all part of some nightmarish radio broadcast. America changed that day and hasn't been quite the same since...we've lost family and friends, we've lost our feeling of isolation from the dangers of the world, and we've lost our naive belief that America is big enough to keep us all safe.

I am immensely grateful to live in this country and enjoy the freedoms that accompany citizenship. But, I don't put my hope in the elusive idea of a country or a governing body. Instead, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that through Jesus Christ alone can we find ultimate peace and freedom.

Cue the Trumpets!

Ladies and gentlefolk, we have a winner! The official name of our Book Club is Blogger Book Club. If you are just joining us, we are in the process of reading "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens. If you do not own a copy, you can download it free (and legally) if you follow the link for the novel listed under "favorite books." It has a bit of a different flavor than most Dickens works, but is still concerned primarily with social justice issues: poverty, disparity of wealth and power between the classes, and prejudice.

On another note, I have recently created (or more accurately, one has been created for me) a myspace page. I will occasionally transfer posts over there as well. Be sure to check back regularly for updates! My myspace address is
http://www.myspace.com/profoundnovice.

Somedays You Just Don't Want To

We all have those occasional days where we just don't want to write, or go to work, or go to school, or whatever it is that's required of us. A kind of melancholy feeling sets in, and the world seems too big to take on that day. Staying in and hiding under the covers sounds infinitely more do-able than living up to the demands and pressures that hound us day in and day out.

Of course, it is those very demands and pressures that lead us to live life, seize the day, do more than simply exist. I am in the process of making some decisions about where to go next in life. I've had many days recently where I thought it would be easier not to deal with any of it, but ultimately I would feel about as useful as a toothache if I didn't have some stress upon my shoulders. I hope that these feelings of uncertainty, trepidation, and excitement spur me on to write more, and write well.

I will keep you updated as developments occur.

P.S. Don't forget to submit a name idea for our Book Club!

New

New stuff for You!
I added some new songs and websites that I find interesting. I'll try to keep those updated fairly often.

Busy, busy, busy...

It's incredible how one moment you feel like you have nothing to do, and the next you can barely "hold on to your hat" for everything you have to do!

Since Kelly is the only one who voted, we will be reading "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens. This is one of Dickens' shorter works, but no less profound or progressive. It is a neat juxtaposition of the plight of the poor and working class against a backdrop of comfort and financial stability. As you read consider the following questions as a guide, but also look for themes and ideas others may have missed. We will continue to discuss the book at least once a week until it is finished.

Questions:
1) "Hard Facts" are the teaching of the day, but how does this philosophy play out in the lives of the main characters? Do they benefit, are they harmed?

2) Emotion, on the other hand, is downplayed as unimportant--the poor man's way of coping with the world. In what ways and to what extent are the characters moved by emotion, or devoid of it? What other conclusions can be inferred from their choices?

3) What motivates the characters to act, think, and feel in certain ways?

4) What do the characters' names say about Dickens' view of their character and purpose?

If you have other questions please submit them in the comments section, as well as any observations you have about the book. Enjoy!

Notes

Just thought I would point out that most of the information/lists on the right side of the screen include links: just click away and find some interesting sites.

Also, if you want to be a part of the Book Club please do two things in the comment section.

1) Submit the name of a book you would most like to read and discuss
2) Submit your idea for a jazzy book club name (the most interesting and unique will win!)

Thanks!

Musings

From the comments on yesterday's post several thoughts arose: 1) writing about your passions and inspirations is certainly a good starting point, but 2) writing about only those topics with which you are comfortable does not challenge your imagination or your talent. Obviously a good research ethic is important to presenting a taught and viable plot; however, there is much to be said for permitting the creative "juices" to flow in the direction that seems most organic to a particular story. I firmly believe that it is often sheer laziness that drives authors to a formulaic or oft-used plot point, rather than stretching the bounds of their originality and ingenuity. (Of course one could also argue that societal myths and values dictate the flow of a fictional piece, but that is another post). Let me know your thoughts, arguments, viewpoints, etc.