Tag: amwriting

The courtyard and the man.

 

I dreamt of an estate in Italy, at least that’s where my gut tells me it was. I’ve never been to Italy, but somehow I’m certain of the location. In the estate was a courtyard, and I saw me in it, wearing a violet and tangerine dress. Yes, this sounds like a terrible combination of colors, but I can assure you, it was a beautiful dress. Delicate and rich, like nothing I’ve ever own.

In the dream I loved the courtyard. There were raised gardens around the edges, and everything was made of old red bricks and gray stones. That place made me happy, but I wasn’t there anymore. I knew it wasn’t really me.

When I saw it, in my travels, I knew it was once mine. Just like I knew when I saw him, he was once mine, too. And he was perfect, and beautiful, and he made me happy.

But now he wasn’t there, and the courtyard was worn. Another woman owned it, and she didn’t like me being there. She didn’t like me remembering him. She wanted me to leave, but I couldn’t. Not without proof. Not without something tangible that showed I wasn’t insane.

When I found it, a book–leather bound, and falling apart, I knew my proof was on those brittle pages. As I reached for it–he was beside me. He reached with me, helping me pull it from the pigeon gray splintered shelf. The dry leather barely held the biding in place, and the pages were askew. One hand rested on my hip, his other on my arm.

And when he kissed me, I cried–because I knew it would never happen again. He left after that and I asked another man for help to find ‘him.’ We took a boat on the Mediterranean, but he was gone, and I was alone.

I’m not even sure why I’m sharing this, but I was online and I found an image of the courtyard. As I stared at it, all I could think, was, “Who was he?”

I guess I’ll never know.

(ps-I would have posted the photo but it wouldn’t let me)

xxoo-A

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Writing {Prompt} ~mission to mars~

Happy Wednesday, ladies and gents!!

Here’s a little bit about me. If you don’t know me, I have a child. Said child is currently 8 years old and his subject of choice is science. ANYTHING science. So, this weeks prompt comes from me reading (watching) and experiencing science. So the ‘prompt’ is a video (just over 6 minutes) about a 15 year old girl who wants to go to Mars.

What would it be like to spend your childhood preparing to leave Earth knowing if you go, you may never return?

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The West Wing–Friday in Review

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THE WEST WING, clockwise from top left: Janel Moloney, Stockard Channing, John Spencer, Dule Hill, B

Happy Friday! This week I wanted to review dialogue, and what a better way than looking at THE WEST WING.

The series aired from 1999-2006 and told the story of the White House Staff of fictitious President Jed Bartlet–a democrat that no one really liked (even thought they should.)

I’m not so much *reviewing* this show as I am pointing it out as a wonderful resource and example of how to write compelling dialogue. If you’ve never tuned in to an episode, this series is very much a character driven show. Any current television show that revolves around cameras following  the cast at a panicked pace as they talk at, over, and around each other–well, THE WEST WING is the show to thank for that.

More specifically–Arron Sorkin is the man behind the show.

It’s very easy when writing dialogue to get caught in the back and forth of a written conversation. He said, she said–each line complete with the perfect punctuation, but in reality people talk over each other. We cut each other off. One of my flaws comes out when I’m tired or distracted. In the middle of a conversation I will just stop talking.

Example: “Yes, I’ll pick up some bananas when I…”

I know I do it. It drives my husband batty. I don’t mean to do it–but such is life. I am human, flawed like the rest of the world. Just as our characters are human–flawed as they must be. Unless their Spock, but even he has fallen prey to that 1/2 human side of his makeup.

If you have Netflix, the entire series is on there ready to stream. You can tune in, choose a specific episode, and go from there. All emotions are touched on, and Sorkin’s dialogue mixed with a very talented cast, is a fantastic resource for those who don’t want to go to the ball and watch crowds to see how they interact. Josh is a fan favorite of mine. He has a lot of compulsive mannerisms that make up his character. This show is very much worth your time (no matter what you’re politics are.)

Happy watching!! xxoo-A

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Halloween Writing Prompt!

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This weeks prompt:

Write about the terror that has no name.

In 1966 Truman Capote published, IN COLD BLOOD, not the first true-crime novel–but by far one of the most influential ever written.

When I think, “Write about the terror that has no name,” my first reactions go to this book. While there is a lot of ‘scary’ in the world–nothing is more scary to me than the idea of someone I don’t know killing me.

The scenario plays out in my head, usually on nights when I’m alone. And I have escape plans–none of them that great. But I’ll try–I hope. I pray I’ll try.

What do you think the ‘terror that has no name’ is? Please tell! (So I can be even more afraid of the night.)

Happy writing! xxoo-A

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The Laugh

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There is a man in my building, I’ll call him Mike. That is not his name, but it will do for this story. He is a short man, round in size. Actually, he’s shaped more like an egg than a basketball–but that’s not what sets him apart from the rest of those living in my urban paradise.

His hair is black, naturally straight as a spade–but he perms it. It’s his ‘thing.’ Once again–not that defining factor (even thought it probably should be.)

What sets Mike apart from the rest of my block is his laugh. He has the laugh of a 1970’s villain’s sidekick. You know the character. He’s the guy who accidentally takes a rake to the chest because he wasn’t paying attention and stepped on the handle as he ran away from the hero of the story. When I hear the piercing sound of his punctuated howl, I nearly always pause for Luther to say, “Warriors, come out to play-i-ay!” even though I’m not in the subway and no where close to New York City.

Testing 1, 2, 3 the warriors can you dig it movie 1970s

Once, a long time ago when I first moved into my apartment, Mike wanted to be my friend. He would joke with me, and I would smile and look interested–rarely did I know what he was talking about. He’s about eleven shy of a dozen… I would like to make it clear, this wasn’t some sort of hiccup due to language barrier, Mike is just an odd man. Plus, my poker face stinks.

Now, Mike doesn’t acknowledge me at all. Not even a nod or a simple hello. It was after this courtyard dismissal I became privy to the laugh (that is normally mixed with techno and tighty whities.) He’s in a class all his own, and with our non-existent relationship–I have no way to record this chuckle. None that are legal anyway.

Alas, dear friends. What am I do do? As a writer I NEED to record it! I need to post the track on here!! I need to add it to my current WIP, or at least something I write in my life.

All of Mike needs to be in a book. All five-foot-five-inches of him, with his ovoid shaped frame, and even he jet black spiral perm. I see him perched on the edge of his antique folding tattered lawn chair, seated behind his Audi (it’s a mystery how he upgraded from a white battered gremlin to this luxury hatchback–but that’s a whole other post), with the car’s stereo speaker blaring, as he listens to his earbuds.

Mike is a character that belongs in a book–and not cackling under my bedroom window for many reasons. Most of which would keep me sane. The only reason I don’t slam my music and turn on my own music is that laugh you may never hear…

[This is how I find characters for my stories. Some fit in perfect, others I dissect and keep the part I’ve grown to love (or loath). Mike is a very real person. Almost too real. My theory as to why he’s in my life is it keeps me from being to serious all the time. Life is too short not to find a hyena laugh hilarious.]

 

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How to make it better–Transparent review

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Welcome to a television review. I would prefer to only review books, but I feel when you find a good, even great, story–it’s worth a watch.

If you are unfamiliar with TRANSPARENT, here is the synopsis from IMDB:

“An L.A. family with serious boundary issues have their past and future unravel when a dramatic admission causes everyone’s secrets to spill out.”

Honestly, this doesn’t clear much up, so I’ll tell you this. After living a lifetime in confines of a mans world, Mort Pfefferman comes out as a transsexual named Maura. Set here in Los Angeles, the Pfefferman’s live in a world that most would be envious of. They have the house, the bank account, the two cat in the yard–but no one is happy.

TRANSPARENT first aired on Amazon Prime in 2014, and let me tell you, season one wowed me. This is a topic you don’t see on television. Maybe more now, but not when it first touched the airwaves. As a writer I love how complex the roles are. The cast of characters are all slightly crazy, living lie after lie. One by one the socially acceptable words they built around themselves crumble leaving each character in a hot mess of their own making.

I like this show, BUT I actually didn’t care for season 2. Firstly, I didn’t hate it–but the story lines for each character turned me against them. What feeling I had build for them in season 1 dwindled away by the season finale of season 2.

Season 3 is what brings me here today. Turning a reader or viewer around is hard as a writer/creator. A lot of times the reader/viewer will simply walk away. There are thousands of books to read and thousands of television shows to watch–but I went back, and I’m glad I did.

My contempt for Ali–the youngest and possibly the most messed up Pfefferman–transformed into compassion. That actually happened for all of the children of Mort/Maura. Their selfish nature’s that forced me to condemn them last season turned me on my heels this season and turned me into a total mom.

“It’ll be okay, honey. Just eat this and come sit for a while.”

As a writer, what I learned from TRANSPARENT Season 3, is forgiveness. Humans are fallible, we all know this–but displaying true navel deep vulnerability will bring your characters to life. This makes them relatable–even when they’re life is nothing like yours, because deep down inside all of us is that flicker of insecurity we have to master, daily.

If you haven’t had a chance to see TRANSPARENT, all three season are available on Amazon Prime for your streaming pleasure. Created by Jill Soloway and staring Jeffery Tambor, Gabby Hoffman, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass, and Judith Light–it’s the best 24 minutes you’ll treat yourself.

PS–Judith Light really should get a nomination for her role as Shelly Pfefferman this year. If my two cents counts, please make that a thing.

Happy watching! xxoo-A

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Wednesday Words–Angels & Demons

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angel-writing-prompt

I picked this prompt because I feel like it forces your hand. You these this sentence and automatically think, ‘fallen angel who runs amuck messing up, royally.’

But what if that’s not it at all. What if it’s a backhanded comment? Like:

“Did you hear about Kara?”

“I did. What a shame…”

“Yeah, I guess you never expect an angel to set the world on fire.”

–or–

Maybe it’s a ‘thing’ a character says.

“You really screwed up this time, Mary.”

“Maybe I have, but you know what they say–no one expects and angel to set the world on fire!”

Words. Words. Words. Love ’em or hate ’em–but they affect all of us. Even the none writing people in our lives (or in this world.)

I like the latter of the two. I like the ‘catch phrase,’ for lack of a better term.

“Life’s too short, man. And you know what they say…”

Happy writing! xxoo-A

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Wednesdays Words–Speak to me…

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dialogue-prompt

This week is a little dialogue fun! The best way to improve your writing, is to keep writing both in and outside of your comfort zone. Here’s my take on the conversation:

Ron stared at me hard. And I don’t mean that mild crap your mother throws at you when you did something wrong–I mean he really stared. Like, strait down into my god damn soul. 

“I expected you to do you job,” he said, voice as chilly as midnight in Siberia during a blizzard. He cupped his hand around the back of my neck, dragging me five feet across the garage to a corner cursed with perpetual shadows. “I expected you to be the god damn profession I thought I hired. That’s what I expected.”

His gaze darted to the trunk of my Monte Carlo before locking on my eyes again. 

“Carla ain’t gonna like this,” he said, shoving me away–hard. “And I won’t be taking the fall for your fuck up, Danny. Not this time. Not ever.”

I tend to read all over the place, but have a love of science fiction and fantasy. I’m not necessary talking Arthur C. Clarke & Tolkien, but I love them as much as I love–say, Cassandra Clare and Ray Bradbury. (And I love Margaret Atwood. Just in general. She’s awesome.) But when I write I find interests weaving and flowing through the world around me. I pick up inspiration in the LA Times, or from something I’ve seen on Twitter/Facebook.

And I find inspiration in writing prompts that force me to think in situations I normally wouldn’t put my characters.

What do you see/feel when you read the prompt? Where does it take you? Please feel free to leave a comment below.

Happy writing! xxoo-A

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When it feels like an impossible situation…

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I’ve gotten to the point where I’d love to start a query like this:

Dear Jane/John Doe,

I’m emailing you today because I think you’re photo is rad.

–or–

I’m sending you this query, because why the hell not? I mean, seriously, you seem like a nice lady/fells. You tweet. You facebook. What do you think? Let’s do this!

Obviously, I won’t–but it makes me giggle when I think about doing it. It also helps  to have these obscure thoughts when I’m feeling hopeless. You know, remove the pedestal and all that.

No matter how many times I go out and query, it never seems to get any easier…

 

Never give up! Never surrender… but maybe nap and have a cookie.

xxoo-A

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Friday in Review — Six of Crows

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A little over a month ago I began the #BooksWithFriends Challenge with my crit partner Michelle Bond–and look! I finally finished!

In my defense, I get my books from the library–and the waiting list was long… The title Michelle choose for me was SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo.

I’m going to steal a page from Michelle’s playbook and post the general description from GoodReads.com on here for you to aquatint yourself with the title–if you don’t already know it.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

The ambiance of this novel reminded me of THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA by Scott Lynch, and maybe even a little bit of THE BLADE ITSELF by Joe Abercrombie. There is a grit to these titles, just as there is grit to THE SIX OF CROWS. Now, no one likes an antihero who had a soft life. Where does the hate come from? Where is their drive for vengeance if not born from trials, tribulations, and an inherent need to survive. Okay, maybe more Locke Lamora than The Blade Itself–but the ambiance… read them all and you’ll see what I mean.

SIX OF CROWS is a longer book–running over 400 pages–but there is a lot of of world building and back story that is intergral to the plot. You need to travel those first 250 pages to float through the rest of the novel. It’s worth the work–I promise you that.

Each character presented was relatable and likable (in their own warped way.) Yes, they aren’t Mother Teresa, but you felt for them. You rooted for them. You wanted them to win.

But here is my complaint.

Above I’ve listed three books. All three of these titles are series. THE LIE OF LOCKE LAMORA is book #1 in the Gentleman’s Bastards Series. THE BLADE ITSELF  is book #1 in the First Law series. SIX OF CROWS is book #1 in it’s own series as well. Book two–CROOKED KINGDOM–was released on September 27th.

Now–what they have in common are:

  • great characters
  • general ambiance
  • epic fantasy

What they don’t–both Locke Lamora and The Blade Itself are stand alone books, and The Six of Crows is not.

I am not a fan of this. I just am not. I don’t like the feeling I’m being bullied into a series. When I arrived at the cliff hanger of an ending it immediately squashed the excitement I had for this title. I wanted a conclusion to this adventure. Does that mean that there can’t be a sequel–absolutely not. Let’s use Star Wars as an example.

I’ve come to notice this seems to be a YA thing. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are Adult titles out there that have open ended finales so you’ll ‘tune in next week’ for the new title–whenever that will be. Over all, I find it disappointing.

It may be my age, but I look at series like this–J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t have to do this to make me move on to the next title. Neither did J.K. Rowling.

I’m not going to say, “don’t read this book,” because I really did enjoy Bardugo’s writing style, and the world, characters, relationships, magic, etc.–but that doesn’t change the hit of disappointment lingers like a bad taste in my mouth.

I wish this trend would go away. I think we would all be better if it did.

 

 

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