tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83628649653869156522024-03-13T04:08:14.001-07:00Writer's BlockFor fellow writers and readers as addicted to creative stimuli (be it audio, visual, or sensory) as I am--and hopefully twice as successful at obtaining it.Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-24491593849429294782012-02-25T23:26:00.005-08:002012-02-26T00:42:44.968-08:00Playlist of Movie MusesWhile it's great to have a playlist of music to get your brainstorming or writing juices going, I've recently fallen in love with creating playlists of movie trailers. <br />
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<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E4blSrZvPhU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-74680128310872474232012-02-21T19:56:00.002-08:002012-02-21T19:56:37.742-08:00For when you're feeling noiristic<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tf7ddGcxzJ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-31596856685578285532012-02-20T21:34:00.000-08:002012-02-20T21:34:28.199-08:00The Color of Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1f_txATnPlE/T0MstxsgFVI/AAAAAAAAAGk/4Um9njZzJCA/s1600/116671446566076186_zaMFNwf5_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1f_txATnPlE/T0MstxsgFVI/AAAAAAAAAGk/4Um9njZzJCA/s320/116671446566076186_zaMFNwf5_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It was the King Color, of which all the lesser colors are merely partial and wishy-washy reflections. It was octarine, the color of magic. It was alive and glowing and vibrant and it was the undisputed pigment of the imagination, because wherever it appeared it was a sign that mere matter was a servant of the powers of the magical mind. It was enchantment itself.<br />
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But Rincewind always thought it looked like a sort of greenish purple.<br />
--The Color of MagicBreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-65346124176144238042012-02-18T22:09:00.001-08:002012-02-18T22:09:53.549-08:00Writing Music<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IaSC1jWxFV4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-60693153231702364172012-02-18T22:00:00.000-08:002012-02-18T22:05:44.518-08:00Touring through Fantasy BooksExcerpts from <i>The Tough Guide to Fantasyland</i> by Diana Wynne Jones<br />
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APOSTROPHES: Few names in Fantasyland are considered complete unless they are interrupted by an apostrophe somewhere in the middle (as in Gna'ash). The only names usually exempt from apostrophes, apart from those of most wizards, heroes, and companions on the Tour, are those of some countries. No one knows the reasons for this. Nor does anyone really know how an apostrophe should be pronounced, though there are theories.<br />
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APPRENTICES: Are people who are training for a trade or skill, which means they are usually quite young and bad at what they do. Most of the time they are like nurses during an operation being there only to hand the master his tools. They seem to have to do this for a good many years before they get to do anything interesting, and it is therefore not surprising that some of them get restless and either try to do the interesting stuff themselves or simply run away and join the Tour. The Rules state that if an Apprentice tries to do the interesting stuff on his/her own it will blow up in her/his face. If she/he runs away, she/he will learn all sorts of things very quickly and also probably prove to be the missing heir to a kingdom. <br />
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ARMY: There are strict rules about this. Only bad kings and the dark lord are allowed to raise an Army at the start of a Tour. This will always be vast in numbers. It will trample over everything and devastate the country as it marchces, and will get bigger and worse as the Tour goes on. This Army will also use magic in unfair ways. The Good are allowed to raise an to combat the bad one only when it is almost too late, and the Good will somehow avoid either trampling crops or eating off the countryside--probably because the Army of the Dark Lord has eaten it all already. The Rules also state that the two Armies are very evenly matched, although the Good Army is only about half the size of the other one. Do not worry, however, if you find your side apparently defeated. Your Army may be killed down to the last man, but Good will triumph all the same.<br />
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AVERAGE FOLK: Are any people inhabiting the continent who are not specifically mentioned in the list of peoples. They are not precisely normal all the same. Those who are not assassines, beggars, or thieves will be innkeepers, merchants or peasants, and therefore busy tyring to either rob you, rub you out, or cheat you. The rest will be fully occupied being taxed out of existence or dealing with a variety of magical nuisances. Otherwise they are rather like you, give or take a few hideous sores, gnarled hands, and suspicious scowls. Do not expect sympathy or help from any of them.Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-47602339220197500192012-02-18T20:43:00.000-08:002012-02-18T21:00:13.525-08:00Book ReviewJane Austen meets The Prestige . . . <br />
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Somehow, even after reading through all 782 pages of this book, I still forget what the actual title is. And when I do remember it, I always add "The Strange Case of . . ." at the front. Perhaps because at times the protagonists seem closely related to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, given that they all come from the same gaslamp-burning family.<br />
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This is one of the fattest books I've ever read. Not since The Host have I wondered how a book got through the publishers without a squeeze and a trim. Not to say that a pillowy book is a bad thing. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (I had to double check the title again) is a slow burn from the start, announcing in the first chapter that it is heavy on bumbling charm and airy on plot. As a result, there is a lot of page puff. Much of this puffiness is quite flavorful, and if you read it as slowly as its own pacing, the misted-alley atmosphere and Dickensian wit is easy to savor on the tongue.<br />
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This is a curl-up-on-rainy-afternoons read. You almost feel obligated to brew a cup of chocolate before dipping in. I say dip because there's not enough depth in this book for a dive. And while I truly enjoyed the candy-creamed cleverness and drily foppish humor, I wish the story could've used its witty premise as a launching pad for something greater rather than an amusement to eternally chuckle at. <br />
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Clarke's world-building is a delicious blend of absurdity and restraint. Placing magicians in a Jane Austen society is nothing short of brilliant and provides countless opportunities to explore the ettiquette and social obligations of a practical magician. It becomes hilarious when you realize most of the characters are more concerned with social decorum and scandalous reputations rather than evil forces and underworld kingdoms. The magic is witty and often humorous (one magician does a spell that makes the published works of his rival disappear--preventing him from becoming a best-selling author). But the magic never really takes on a life of its own, remaining politely decorative rather than destructively organic.<br />
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And therein lies the main problem. The conflict of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is not threatening enough. It is too underdevloped and restrained to pose any real danger to the protagonists, and when it finally does, it's too little too late. While the idea of a fairy trickster holding souls captive in an enchanted mirrorland sounds intriguing, it's portrayed as no more threatening than an obnoxious neighbor interrupting poker night. Inconvenience and annoyance ensues rather than destruction.<br />
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About halfway through the book, disappointment struck when I finally understood that nothing THAT bad was ever going to happen.<br />
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But even if the skeletal plot doesn't carry all 782 pages, some of the characters do. Mr. Norrell, Duke Wellington, Childermass, and the Gentleman are marvelously developed with delightful interactions personality flaws that you wish never end. And while Jonathan Strange remains uninteresting until he purposefully drives himself mad, he's a competent blank slate for the colorful characters to bounce off of. <br />
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But characterization is a mixed bag when you consider the horrifically one-noted Stephen Black--a character so dull that you wonder why so much page time and plot twisting is dedicated to him--as well as the nonexistent personalities of every female character, spellbound or lucid. <br />
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Yet while it meanders through the uneventful subplots of too many secondary characters, the book still succeeds with what its primary focus was in the first place: gray-skyed atmosphere, brainblowing imagery, and bumbling British humor. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell's magic sparkles in small moments, rather than the book as a whole. <br />
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Highlight: A cameo made by Lord Byron<br />
Lowlight: The Raven King<br />
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Grade: BBreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-65601955871871108452012-02-17T00:04:00.000-08:002012-02-17T00:08:06.993-08:00Curiouser and CuriouserHave you ever hated a book but then loved everything it inspired?<br />
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And of course that scene from Dogma . . .Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-5564207151503601732012-02-16T20:13:00.000-08:002012-02-16T23:38:00.628-08:00Writing and LethargyThe later the hour, the easier it is to drift into another galaxy ... and the easier it is to get tripped out by this vid. Maybe our ability to create and to become entranced come from the same place?<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gWbHrgnkRjQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The more exhausted I am, the less horrific my writing tends to be. Strange, but whenever I'm wide awake, alert, and fresh-faced (rare, but it happens), my writing is squeakily self-conscious. It meanders stiffly like locked muscles, going around and around the same laundry list and to-do chores of the hour. I can't fully plunge into fiction because my mind can't get slippery. It can't detach itself from the cares, concerns, and ticking clocks of the day and trickle down into the cracks of clandestined dimensions. The air vent is choking, the carpet crumbs are multiplying, and the deadlines are beating me over the head with umbrellas. When I'm alert, there's too much fluorescent lighting in my head. My writing becomes too polished and prickly. I become overly aware of everything I write, and I immediately backtrack, walking around the same sentence over and over and over again, 'til I'm certain it was never meant to be written in the first place.<br /><br />An hour goes by and I've produced less than a paragraph. It's a neat and prim paragraph, as crisp and sharp as my caffeinated focus. But even after I dust it off eleven more times, I read back over it and feel nothing but shame.<br /><br />But when it's two in the morning and my brain is blurry, the writing starts to flow because I'm allowed to be messy. Somehow, late at night, it's easier to channel the sloppiness of imagination. The line that divides me from my subconscious blurs and the silhouettes of my fictional world become distinctly visible, like the unveiling of stars at dusk. <br /><br />In a state of lethargy, I can let the chaos of creativity dirty the blank page. I can let my imagination be naked to the bone. What I create may end up being nothing but a tangled slush of garbage--but it'll have some color. Even if it's deleted the next morning, at least I stretched my imagination's muscle to a slight degree. Most of what spills out of my head is jumbled nonsense, but beneath all that there might be a subliminal scrap or two of something creative. Entire kingdoms we have yet to create are entombed in our subconscious. When you're exhausted and half-asleep, the portal to those worlds opens a little wider. Grab a pen, and see what subconscious pieces land on your scribbles. At the very least you're writing, accessing those swirly, liquidated cosmos that are too feathery to stain the page. Even if half of what you write is just sugary-flavored fluff. Take this blog post for example, which takes four paragraphs to say what could be said in one sentence: throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-48835274902822780492012-02-15T23:41:00.000-08:002012-02-15T23:43:17.017-08:00Everybody loves books<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9zxCCGavYw/TzyzeKDwbyI/AAAAAAAAAFE/JZCBy4yTAtQ/s1600/tumblr_lzd3waQqo51qzq7quo1_500.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9zxCCGavYw/TzyzeKDwbyI/AAAAAAAAAFE/JZCBy4yTAtQ/s320/tumblr_lzd3waQqo51qzq7quo1_500.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709635758276505378" /></a><br /><br />Reblogged from JaredGellarBreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-59098402306073855892012-02-14T18:08:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:10:27.214-08:00A Dancey Romance in AnimationHappy Valentines!<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OBk3ynRbtsw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-3366117832813261712012-02-13T22:56:00.000-08:002012-02-13T23:05:03.102-08:00A little box, the colour of heartache"The box was small and oblong and apparently made of silver and porcelain. It was a beautiful shade of blue, but then again not exactly blue, it was more like lilac. But then again, not exactly lilac either, since it had a tinge of grey in it. To be more precise, it was the colour of heartache. But fortunately neither Miss Greysteel nor Aunt Greysteel had ever been much troubled by heartache and so they did not recognize it."<br />--Jonathan Strange and Mr. NorrellBreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-65900452965565751902012-02-13T22:07:00.001-08:002012-02-13T22:56:11.457-08:00Steampunk ValentineMechanical Melancholia<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PTdzCAGH3lU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-89507367412653982952012-02-13T21:25:00.000-08:002012-02-13T21:27:20.413-08:00Audio/Visual CollageJust a little subliminal cinema to get your creative juices going.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QgTsQW9tyHg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-28901546931008477892012-02-13T21:23:00.000-08:002012-02-13T21:24:51.669-08:00What does Young Adult REALLY mean?<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NTXRt39Kuqw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-59793184802528914792012-02-09T00:37:00.001-08:002012-02-09T00:37:30.071-08:00Midnight Writing Music<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wQoL7zC82Hs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-18724330520167268432010-12-08T13:59:00.000-08:002010-12-08T14:50:28.140-08:00Your Brain on Mute<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TQAIhQtlNGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/40mS5oUZT-o/s1600/Bird_by_Bird_LR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TQAIhQtlNGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/40mS5oUZT-o/s320/Bird_by_Bird_LR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548444108435305570" /></a><br /><br /><br />If I pulled my brain out of my head and rubbed it across a blank piece of paper what sort of messy thoughts would smear the surface? Would phrases like "gas tank," "the dishes," "finish term paper," and "dentist appointment at 4:00 or 4:30?" soak through the page like a glossy grease stain?<br /><br />Life is messy. But my head feels messier. Am I to just sit down, whip out the laptop, and let my fingers dance when my head, in all its festering, garbled clutterness, is in much need of pesticide poisoning?<br /><br />Anne Lamott's book, BIRD BY BIRD, gets right to the meat of how we can begin chewing into our imagination's material when our skull's about to explode from a brain clot.<br /><br />She writes:<br /><br />"You try to sit down at approximately the same time every day. This is how you train your unconscious to kick in for you creatively. So you sit down at, say, nine every morning, or ten every night. You turn on your computer and bring up the right file, and then you stare at it for an hour or so. You look at the ceiling, and over at the clock, yawn, and stare at the paper again. <br /><br />Then, with your fingers poised on the keyboard, you squint at an image that is forming in your mind- a scene, a locale, a character, whatever- and you try to quiet your mind so you can hear what that landscape or character has to say above the other voices in your mind. <br /><br />The other voices are banshees and drunken monkeys. They are the voices of anxiety, judgment, doom, and guilt. Also, severe hypochondria. There may be a Nurse Ratched-like listing of things that must be done right this moment: foods that must come out of the freezer, appointments that must be canceled or made, hairs that must be tweezed. But you hold an imaginary gun to your head and make yourself stay at the desk. There is a vague pain at the base of your neck. It crosses your mind that you have meningitis."<br /><br /><br />The solution?<br /><br /><br />"Some days it feels like you just have to keep getting out of your own way. It is a little like when you have something difficult to discuss with someone, and as you go to do it, you hope and pray that the right words will come if only you show up and make a stab at it. <br /><br />But the bad news is that if you're at all like me, you'll probably never read over what you've written and spend the rest of the day obsessing, and praying that you do not die before you can completely rewrite or destroy what you have written, lest the eagerly waiting world learn how bad your first drafts are."<br /><br />I suppose in the end we all have busy times. Groceries. Deadlines. Visiting relatives. Until those busy times move to chaotic. Broken car. Bronchitis. Visiting relatives. Before long life is spiraling out of your hands once again with your teeth being the only glue to hold it together. Crashed car. Kitchen fire. Knee surgery. Visiting relatives. Then you finally claw some sense of order into your shredded life to keep the tide from rising above your chin. Meteor strikes. Relatives' funeral.<br /><br />Amidst this repetition between bad and worse, can we just sit down and spew all of our thoughts, and rants, and memories, and pretend castles on the Microsoft screen and pray something sticks?<br /><br />Sure! Why not.Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-66667137711615979472010-11-25T19:21:00.000-08:002010-11-25T21:32:29.453-08:00Reremix<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO85WuIHELI/AAAAAAAAADo/lzfnGDkAwuw/s1600/nightlightcover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO85WuIHELI/AAAAAAAAADo/lzfnGDkAwuw/s320/nightlightcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543712728818323634" /></a><br /><br />While working my body extra hard today to digest the hoards of feasty fabulousness, my mind became drowsy and my thoughts heavy with the random wonders of writing and remixing (whilst watching football of course, and simultaneously wondering how I could use the word, 'whilst' in my next blog post.)<br /><br />I used to detest remixes. Why? I believed remixes were corrupted/lesser versions of the original. This was back when I thought myself to be a truly deep-thinker and therefore, took all my thoughts very seriously. But wasn't a remix, thought I, something that cheaply tainted the purity of the artist's work? Remixes were certainly nothing more than glorified knock offs... gimmicks, contrived-sacrilegious-gambitious-audacities.<br /><br />But then... how could I be an art purist if one of my all time favorite films is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO8uZso9PEI/AAAAAAAAADY/hFrPj6YxM-U/s1600/romeo-and-juliet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO8uZso9PEI/AAAAAAAAADY/hFrPj6YxM-U/s320/romeo-and-juliet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543700685330922562" /></a><br /><br />In fact, with most Shakespeare adaptations, the more creative the spin, the more fascinating the production. Is it really such a defilement then, to take a piece of art, be it music, paintings, or a piece of literature, and mix in your own style to create a different take?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO8wzuHI_lI/AAAAAAAAADg/Ito-dljVHxU/s1600/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies-thumb-300x455-12050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO8wzuHI_lI/AAAAAAAAADg/Ito-dljVHxU/s320/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies-thumb-300x455-12050.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543703331425812050" /></a><br /><br />I've recently heard criticism regarding the success of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, with the criticizer stating that the book was nothing more than a gimmick that cheaply imitated Jane Austen's masterpiece right down to the original plotline and word-for-word sentences. Now I agree that Jane Austen's works are classic masterpieces, but the original "pure" versions will always remain pure. They will remain untouchable. <br /><br />But why not take content that is so timeless, addicting, and downright precious, and remix other styles, colors, and interpretations to it? The remixer may not exactly be breaking the same ground as the original, but their addition could provoke alternative perspectives, suggestions, and revelations. What does the contribution of zombies reveal within the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE realm? If one thinks about it, the character of Mrs. Bennett most likely WOULD risk Jane's dismemberment of limbs via zombie attack in order to get to Mr. Bingley's house to flaunt, flirt, and score some matrimony.<br /><br />It could be exciting for this remixing of classics and perhaps even contemporaries to continue. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO89wGKqcnI/AAAAAAAAADw/YWuhkfSJ684/s1600/Marilyn-Monroe-600pix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TO89wGKqcnI/AAAAAAAAADw/YWuhkfSJ684/s320/Marilyn-Monroe-600pix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543717562814722674" /></a><br /><br />How rich could a piece of text, music, or visual art become with the remixing of various flavors, the layering of fresh paint strokes and frosted toppings? What could remixing reveal about the work's audience, the pop culture surrounding the work, or even the work itself? Is it possible that recreating, reinterpreting, and any other re-ing actually contributes to the inspiration the original artist initially started?<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qs1bG6BIYlo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qs1bG6BIYlo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-40505706642035555802010-10-31T15:29:00.000-07:002010-10-31T15:55:02.581-07:00Happy Halloween!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3xjzSmwXI/AAAAAAAAADI/IB2gnOnOHJs/s1600/slice_let_the_right_one_in_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 120px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3xjzSmwXI/AAAAAAAAADI/IB2gnOnOHJs/s320/slice_let_the_right_one_in_01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534345114474168690" /></a><br /><br />Yay, for the day of goblins, graves, ghosts, gremlins, and gothicism! I'm sure there's more "g" words to describe Halloween but alliteration can get old after about five words...<br /><br />Time for the best of horror stories.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3uiWvVdAI/AAAAAAAAACw/I9gZFgOdMBk/s1600/fall%2520of%2520the%2520house%2520of%2520usher.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3uiWvVdAI/AAAAAAAAACw/I9gZFgOdMBk/s320/fall%2520of%2520the%2520house%2520of%2520usher.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534341791095288834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3vPcsEgvI/AAAAAAAAAC4/RDFs9VtsJ8o/s1600/the-turn-of-the-screw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3vPcsEgvI/AAAAAAAAAC4/RDFs9VtsJ8o/s320/the-turn-of-the-screw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534342565786321650" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3wIx3R0yI/AAAAAAAAADA/-88-Ick_zeY/s1600/dracula_book_cover_1902_doubleday_8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3wIx3R0yI/AAAAAAAAADA/-88-Ick_zeY/s320/dracula_book_cover_1902_doubleday_8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534343550723019554" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3zqavVTBI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Y290ceRr9Y4/s1600/image022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TM3zqavVTBI/AAAAAAAAADQ/Y290ceRr9Y4/s320/image022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534347427166112786" /></a><br /><br /><br />However, some of the best scary stories are the shortest.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="437" height="288" id="viddler"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/95e167c0/" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="flashvars" value="fake=1"/><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/95e167c0/" width="437" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="fake=1" name="viddler" ></embed></object>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-56604600369904125282010-10-17T18:09:00.000-07:002010-10-17T20:55:56.305-07:00The Query: How to Prove your Book is Made of Awesome<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLvFP25xneI/AAAAAAAAACo/ARA6TYNV5EA/s1600/ursula.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLvFP25xneI/AAAAAAAAACo/ARA6TYNV5EA/s320/ursula.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529229843753967074" /></a><br /><br />Ah yes, the infamous Query Letter. So infamous that I went so far as to inadvertently capitalize a common noun in a sudden rush of reckless abandon. <br /><br />But really, the query letter is a strange and horrifying thing. It's a three paragraph sales pitch that will make or break the future of your book. Granted, there are many hurtles that strut between you and a publishing contract, but for some reason, the query letter carries the most weight. It's a pretentious little microsoft document, one that continuously smirks up at you as if to say, "that's right, the fate of your soul lies entirely in my nonexistent hands." <br /><br />Yes, authors are always saying their characters speak to them. Well my query letters mock and verbally abuse me. <br /><br />Of course, when writing your query, your primary goal is to sell yourself. But you could also (sadistically) view it as a chance to manipulate others. Basically, you're Ursula, bouncing and singing and shimmying your voluptuous "body language" to convince Ariel (the agent) to sign a shiny gold, levitating contract (your book.) The whole sucking of the voice out of the mouth and into the shell necklance doesn't really apply to my metaphor so we'll just move on.<br /><br />I realize we're now being portrayed as the evil agent in this situation, but villains have more fun anyway, especially the ones with well-endowed, purple cleavage.<br /><br />The format of the query letter requires your contact information at above the greeting. Following the greeting, you will typically have three paragraphs which follow:<br /><br />Phone Number<br />Home Address<br />Email Address<br /><br />Dear Drusilla Von Horlacher,<br /><br />Paragraph 1: You want to begin with a hook that will seduce your agent right off the bat. I've read from several agents that a major turn on is learning as much about the main character as possible within the first few sentences. Reveal the strengths of your book that prove its originality and appeal.<br /><br />Paragraph 2: This paragraph includes the summary of your book. Try to do this in as few sentences as possible. Also be sure to include your book's genre and word length. In this paragraph you could also include that your book is perfect for this agent to represent because it's similar to books X, Y, and Z. This information is crucial in your query, so make sure you include it at some point. <br /><br />Paragraph 3: This paragraph includes a mini-resume of other works you have published. Even if you are a first-time author, you must still include some writing credentials about yourself. These can include awards you have won, clubs you are a part of, conferences you have attended, or school experience relevant to your literary work. <br /><br />Then finish your letter with a painfully polite remark. Something along the lines of "I look forward to hearing from you/ working with your agency/ being graced with your artistic genius."<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Your Name (make sure your entire letter is single-spaced, including "yours truly.")<br /><br />There are many options that can help guide you along the way to creating the perfect query letter. I'll be posting said options soon. But for now, begin constructing the basics, piecing together attention-grabbing sentences with personality, charisma, and flow. Best to just begin. I found the first sentence to be the most garment-renting. When overly-stressed, just think of Ursula. Actually, during all the times of the day, both good and ill, think of Ursula.Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-56658624007905693982010-10-17T01:02:00.000-07:002010-10-17T01:03:02.430-07:00The things you can do with a pen and a book of blank paper<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/4116727" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4116727">Noteboek</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/evelienlohbeck">Evelien Lohbeck</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-42052734480833881392010-10-17T00:30:00.001-07:002010-10-17T00:30:59.130-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLqmK62hEvI/AAAAAAAAACg/5bgKq-7LbdI/s1600/tumblr_kul1qqKyCs1qzwaddo1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLqmK62hEvI/AAAAAAAAACg/5bgKq-7LbdI/s320/tumblr_kul1qqKyCs1qzwaddo1_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528914199077524210" /></a>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-25253248177125631172010-10-16T15:49:00.001-07:002010-10-16T15:49:38.998-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLor_ASryoI/AAAAAAAAACY/o4gsknTzPJU/s1600/tumblr_kxes3ma2U01qa2txho1_500.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLor_ASryoI/AAAAAAAAACY/o4gsknTzPJU/s320/tumblr_kxes3ma2U01qa2txho1_500.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528779853960825474" /></a>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-38159510395899485722010-10-16T14:28:00.000-07:002010-10-16T14:31:23.594-07:00Writing Window<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLoZc6HeOeI/AAAAAAAAACQ/1j59Mxy_6bg/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gd3fpzjSZr4/TLoZc6HeOeI/AAAAAAAAACQ/1j59Mxy_6bg/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528759476978334178" /></a><br /><br />What is your ideal workspace window?Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-85404749117412043402010-10-16T14:26:00.001-07:002010-10-16T14:26:30.735-07:00Rainy Day Writing<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLF9BZwyn6Y?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLF9BZwyn6Y?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Breehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362864965386915652.post-14345179568677587112010-10-16T12:53:00.000-07:002010-10-16T12:55:00.516-07:00Attack by Frosting<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4JbPLItex4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4JbPLItex4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></objectBreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02327728408555219475noreply@blogger.com0