Larry Niven penned a book of short stories "Playgrounds of the Mind." There is no better way I think to describe writing than to use that phrase. The art of fiction writing is a playground. The pen/typewriter/word processor is the canvas. The process of writing in and of itself is a discovery of that playground. Why do you think on stage they are called plays?
The playground though is a place to figure out a lot of different trappings of the human condition. The existence of evil, the politics of love, the dynamics of conflict, and the search for meaning are all topics of thought. The only difference is that in fiction we can have fun, mix things up, and there is no danger of repercussions. The author also gets to act in all the roles. He can dream as big or small as he wants and doesn't have to worry about a special effects budget. He can create fantastic landscapes without any CGI coding or matte paintings. He can do or say anything in character and not be locked up (within reason of course). This is the joy of writing. It is a place to create something out of words, and hopefully have other people get into it as well. To join in on the playground, run around, and have fun. And maybe, just maybe, learn something.
NOVELS
The novel for some is the ultimate expression of this playground. 200-500 pages of words that open up in detailed clarity a world that is of the writer's creation. Whether it be a world that is populated with the fantasies of youthful games of Dungeon's and Dragons, or it is rural Alabama and a family that lives on a cursed land trying to figure a way out of their dilemma.
Those of you who like novels and new writing, I have provided her a sample of some of some of the novels that I have done (and assisted with) in the past. I wrote my first novel during my years in college and found it to be an arduous and difficult experience. I had read a lot by that time, but writing and reading are two different things altogether. I had not found my voice yet either and found the voice of my novel to be a mosaic of different authors I had read in the past; from Tolkien to Stephen R. Donaldson.
SHORT STORIES
Of course the novels would not have been possible without short fiction. In the beginning of writing, they were all I did write. They were ideas that were kind of like the swing set, or the jungle gym in the playgrounds of the mind. You can't start out by envisioning the playground as a whole until you have its components worked out first. Definitely when I worked on some of these short stories I learned a lot about my limitations as a writer, and it was also a place where I could find my voice.
My first short story (now long lost) was high school fiction written about a dragon that attacked (ironically ) my high school. Since then I have not been at a loss at all of ideas for short fiction.
POETRY
Whereas novels and short stories are more in the realm of plot and storyline, poetry is all about feelings, and really it is simply the joy of delving into language itself and enjoying its meanings, double meanings, patterns, and trying to give voice to the inner musings of the heart.
To clarify: In high school I used poetry as a way to express my feelings without revealing them, or their source of that matter. It was a friend's sister I was "in love" with and I didn't want to alert him to the direction of my attraction. So I wrote of my love, but hid it as well (if that makes any sense). After all, if I had kept it inside I could have seriously damaged something internally.
BLOG
Seems like no matter where you turn nowadays, you will see a "blog." Someone has their own words and insights on the page for others to read. Well, you can join me in a list of those people. the blog is a place to journal, to add rants, musings, recipe's (not bloody likely in my case) as well as things I have learned to do that I can share with other people.
The subjects tat interest me are movies, music, why motorcycles/bicycles are given so much leeway on the highways, and anything else I can think of, but am reluctant to talk about.
Not everything tastes better with blue bonnet on it. for instance, fresh fruit doesn't.
Why do they call blogs, blogs? If its a combination of web and long would they not call them wlogs or wogs?
Seems to me that the show "The Apprentice" is more a show about innovation than business. It is about creating new products/ ad campaigns. These are usually the kind of things that are reserved for artists, and Designers. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
I was watching ER last night and a character got all bent out of shape at calling an "undocumented immigrant" an illegal alien. What's next? Are people who steal cars going to be "undocumented owners of presently owned vehicles?"
