Bladerunner is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?!

I remember the tedium of shelving a cart full of books each morning as a library aide in high school. Shoving along, I’d pick up the next book and scan the shelves for the right range of codes and stick the book in the right place. This job became for me like stocking candy in the candy store. My job was only to stock, never to taste, because there were always more books to shelve and after that, homework to do.

But this is also where my bucket list of books began. I saw titles I knew, just knew from anywhere, and so many of them piqued my interest. A book can take you anywhere because its only limit is what can be expressed in words and thought. Where is the limit to what you can imagine? Surely, I don’t know.

Anyway, one of the books that made the list was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, a novel that certainly was nothing like I expected. First off, I learned it was made into a movie, Bladerunner, which I then found was not that movie where Wesley Snipes plays a vampire (Blade Trinity). Bladerunner has Harrison Ford and is famous for being awesome film noir, which honestly, I like in theory and hate in reality.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is to me a passing-fair post-apocalyptic book about a married bounty hunter battling despair because he hates his job and lives in a half-abandoned post-nuclear-holocaust Earth. He wears a lead codpiece to guard against sterility from the leftover radiation and owns an electric sheep because his real sheep died, and real animals have become expensive status symbols since they were almost wiped out. Does this sound like Bladerunner to you?

The basic plots are similar: chasing androids, the androids themselves, the questions and testing that are the only way to distinguish human and android…But many of the details that are kept lose their meaning because the context of the ruined world and its particulars are gone.

The book’s main point, preserved in the movie, is to question what makes us human and not machine, and some of that is accomplished quite well. But though I do love post-apocalyptic stories, film noir is not for me, and neither is its dark literary companion, absurdism. The post-apocalyptic environment of Do Androids Dream seems to force cultural practices to absurd extremes, and I find Bladerunner depressing.

Before I pronounce my last critical statements, I’d like to point out that I’m no film expert. Reading the book was a long time coming, and it took me to a whole othe world. Despite my own preferences, I still found Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? to be good fodder for that age-old debate about our humanity, and Bladerunner was very good for a dark, depressing movie.

Anyone care to weigh in on either the book or the movie? Has anyone out there even read the book? Tell us what you think.

Achieving 75% of Your Dream

I had the great privilege to help Creative Penn with her book launch by reviewing her book on the Kindle website. Hers was not a traditional book launch. Her independent/ebook/editorial process did not include a major publishing house, which makes her an independent author. And recently, she did a blog interview with Zoe Winters. Zoe is considered a long-time successful independent author–she’s sold over 40,000 copies of her paranormal series. Zoe did this without a publishing house, and that is no small feat–very impressive, as is what Joanna Penn of Creative Penn has achieved with her excellent indie novel Pentecost.

Publishing independently seems more practical at this point than what I want to do—sign with a big publisher and be on bookshelves in every Borders/Barnes and Noble/indie bookstore there is. Becoming a bestselling author with a big publishing house is perhaps as achievable as becoming a rockstar (assuming I had musical talent).

But the essence of this dream is to contribute to the dialogue between books, authors, and readers, that spans the centuries. I’ve always loved being a part of that conversation as a reader. But in order to achieve that dream, I may have to give some minor details up—the dream that authors have of complete control over their ‘baby’, the dream of traditional publishing and millions of copies sold, books translated into 42 languages or something, being studied in an English literature course.

This started me thinking—life is like that, isn’t it? Haven’t you had a dream that had a certain shape, but when you finally achieved it, your dream looked different than you first imagined? For example, when I first went to college, my dream was to become a famous, talented writer. Now, I’m not famous, (moderately talented?) and working at something completely different, but I am writing, happy, and I think I’m right on track for achieving my dream, maybe even living the beginning part of it.

But it’s hard to feel happy when your expectations aren’t met exactly, isn’t it? It’s hard to be satisfied when you didn’t get what you wanted just the way you wanted it. But you have to be prepared for that and be satisfied with achieving your dream, say 75% on target rather than being unhappy about that other 25%. I could make a significant contribution to literature without being translated into 42 languages. How about you?

What do  you think–am I right about this? Do you have an example of a mostly-achieved dream? How do you satisfy yourself with a mostly-achieved dream?

The Magic of the Public Domain

So, the public domain is a wonderful thing. The public domain, according to Wikipedia, is where all works of art or writing or inventions are that have not been or are not copyrighted or patented.

It’s called the public domain because these works are considered the property of the public. You don’t have to pay anyone if you, say, put on a play by Shakespeare or perhaps decide to write a sequel to Beowulf. The rights to public domain works are now the public’s.

The reason I think the public domain is a wonderful thing is that you can read books right off the internet. When I first started working and had nothing to do at lunch, I spent that time reading The Island of Dr. Moreau which is very different than the movie. I read it on Bartleby.com. I then graduated to The Thousand and One Nights. I’ve also downloaded books from Gutenberg.org, named after the famous Gutenberg press, but representing another level of mass market and freedom of information well beyond that first printing press.

Then recently, I discovered Audible.com and the joy of audiobooks. Audiobooks are what has kept me in clean clothes because you can do just about anything with a an IPod in your ear, and music doesn’t keep me entertained enough to want to do laundry. But Audible.com is not free, not the public domain, and when I could no longer afford the reasonably-priced subscription in my monthly budget, I found Librivox.org.

Librivox is the public domain audiobooks(!!) read by volunteers. I hit the gold mine. I listened to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Tragedy of Puddn’head Wilson and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain, and I’m now working my way through the entire, original Sherlock Holmes series.

The Sherlock Holmes recording is read by a very talented British woman-volunteer who has made it extremely entertaining. Some of the recordings are a little awkward, even some of the ones on Audible.com, and those are paid actors/voices. But the good ones are really good.

So this is why I love the public domain–the magical place where books and information are free. It’s certainly a wonderful world we live in!

More Writing Dreams

I would love to write:

1) A Great Southern Novel

2) A Sci-Fi/Fantasy Epic Novel Series

3) An article for The Fountain Magazine–something about the environment, about religion, something!

Since this is my dream, I’ve been doing some research on these. I’ve started with research on Southern novels. By ‘Southern’ I mean Southern United States. There is a distinct voice from Southern authors, and if I’m going to be one of them, I have to figure out what it is!

Examples of Southern literature:

• Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
• Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• A Painted House by John Grisham
• Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver (best known for The Poisonwood Bible)
• The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor
• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
• Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris (adapted into the TV series TrueBlood)

So you can see there’s quite a variety of possibilities for a potential Southern novelist. I could even write Southern sci-fi/fantasy! But what do these books have in common that make them Southern? What would I need to write about to write a ‘Southern novel’?

Well, according to Wikipedia (the very height of academia), just being born south of the Mason-Dixon line is not enough. You have to write about Southern themes and places and with an “ACK-sint” if you know what I mean.

Southern themes are Southern history, the significance of family and religion, community, issues of racial tension, land, social class, and Southern dialect. Okay, sounds great. I’m not sure how that compares to what other people are writing about, but I can do that.

This weekend I visited the quilt show here in town. Man, that was some research! I’ve read elsewhere that rural themes are big in Southern literature, and let me tell you–quilts and crafts like knitting and crochet are a big part of that. Nowadays, there are book series written surrounding crafts like these. Take for example The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber (not Southern, but very good!). It’s all about a woman who achieves her dream of opening a knitting store and the characters that enter her life because of it.

I love crafts. I was taught to love creating and making things by my grandmother. We did so many projects together–crochet, fabric projects, christmas ornaments and decorations–it was a great way to pass the time visiting Grandma. And it fits the rural theme of Southern literature, and me and my grandma are Southern! So, if I can, I will incorporate crafts into my Great Southern Novel.

And I promise, Wikipedia’s not the only thing I’m reading for research. More on this later…

Lord of the Rings–Movies and Books

First, let me explain–I like to read, so I read a lot of books, and I’m lucky enough that many of my favorites have been turned into movies. Well, many of you may have seen these movies or read the books. Here’s my review of the translation from book to movie for one of the classics/favorites that recently became a movie series. I think this is something I’m going to continue to do–perhaps my niche? I’ll have to see if someone’s already in this niche…Anyway, Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I read the books in high school: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The first movie, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, was released the last day of high school. I remember because I made special plans to see it. I saw all three movies in the theater, totally ecstatic. Obviously, I had not been a long-time fan, but the story is epic. And Tolkien manages to create a bittersweet nostalgia for the fellowship members, despite the fact that the fellowship only lasted 1/3 of the book. Tolkien creates a world so big and clear you could live in it.The characters are deep, lovable, always more going on than on the surface.

The books have been around for so long, a big classic trilogy in the fantasy genre with so many fans, that there was a lot of pressure to get it right. Thanks to CGI, they were able to deliver on the ‘epicness’ with the movies. The movies are beautiful, densely packed with many of the trappings of the books and the world of Middle Earth. Unlike many books-to-movies, there are no major plot differences. It’s been awhile, but I think I can say that rather comfortably. Many people missed Tom Bombadil, but he’s in the extended DVD version.

The movies were done very well, tastefully, grandly. I remember the last movie, actually, felt about 20-30 minutes too long–the end provided a bit too much closure. But it was accurate. If they’ve got the time and ability to do it with the same quality, I’d love to see the Hobbit, the prequel, and maybe even the Silmarillion, though I’ve never read the Silmarillion, so I’m not sure it would translate as well–it’s supposed to be a history.

What does it mean to be literate?

As a writer and a reader, I’ve always been passionate about advancing literacy. But what does that mean? Why does it matter if people can read?

Literacy to me, is more than being able to read. Literacy is being able to read well and easily. This is important because books, magazines, newspapers, and the internet are the key to accessing knowledge. These are tools that enable us to be our own teachers.

Everything you need for better future and success has already been written. And guess what? All you have to do is go to the library. ~Henri Frederic Amiel

But literacy is also about experience. Literate people who have read a broad range of books, fiction and non-fiction, are stronger in mind. It’s a cliche, but it’s true–you cannot live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself. And if you think of the mistakes that only you have made–is that really enough experience to make the best decisions? People with more experiences culled from books, the news, or other credible sources are more discerning, better able to keep in mind a broader perspective, the big picture.

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

And literacy is also about enriching your life. Reading, increasing your knowledge while also experiencing ‘the arts’ makes you a more whole, complete person. Literature, poetry, as well as other forms of art: music, painting, acting, etc, supplements the other experiences in our lives. Just like vitamins.

In a real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read. It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish. ~S. I. Hayakawa

Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become. ~C. S. Lewis

What’s Original Anyway?

One of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis is this:

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

(from quotationspage.com, originally from An Experiment in Criticism)

The great thing about this quote is that it lets me off the hook. As a writer, originality and the value of your work are often closely tied together...in your head. When I sit down to write, I have the completely unrealistic expectation that I will writer something that no one has ever heard or thought of before.That’s pretty much impossible. There are stories on just about everything on the planet, and stories on many things that aren’t.

What Lewis is saying, though, is that as long as the story I tell is true as I experience it, then it will be original. Yes, there are people who mimic the style of great literary authors, and few ideas are really, really original, but as long as I tell the story in my way, it will be original.

But there’s more to that. I have trouble because there are parts of me I don’t want to share with the world. Furthermore, I have parts of me I feel the world does not want to see. And this is not without reason. I have been told that works of mine were not appropriate. I have shown deeply personal works to family members and hurt them because of their semi-autobiographical nature (ie characters resembled them).

So, I have learned that some parts of me may not be appreciated in my work. Either I must show my work to only literary audiences with no connection to me or I must only write about stuff that seems to have come out of nothing, completely unrelated to my life as it is. These are both impossible. Especially if I want to become rich and famous, eventually my family will have to read my writing, and I will have to give all of myself to become great at writing.

More on this later, I guess. I love CS Lewis.

Writer’s Retreat

Picture this: it’s a beautiful day in autumn, temperatures around 75-80 degrees much like the past couple days here in Houston. So, it’s a beautiful day with perfect temperatures, and you’re in a log cabin in the woods with one land-line phone. No internet service. No TV. You’ve got lights, A/C, running water. And nature. For whatever period of time, dinner is served most evenings, and you speak only to whom you wish. All the freedom to write you could want.

 This is the writer’s retreat. Yes, all this could be yours. All for the price of one portfolio representing 2-5 years of work (I’m guessing)–writing, music, paint, sculpture, whatever. And I am completely envious of Alexis Grant who just spent two weeks at the Hambidge Center, an artist’s retreat in northern Georgia. This would be her second retreat. 

Her first trip to Hambidge was 5 weeks last year. They have several different cabins, all with studio space for whatever type of artist you are, and you apply to stay there for however long you need with your portfolio and a letter stating why you need a retreat. Alexis stayed the first time to complete her manuscript. Now she’s there to put on the very final finishing touches.

So, I’m totally envious. And currently in my career, a writer’s retreat would probably do me no good. I have no manuscript. At this point, I have the creative stamina of a tomato. Just 3 days and my mind would be squishy and tasteless. But I’ll get there. For now, there are goals and lots of envy. Alexis has become a role model for me, especially since we both hail from good, old Houston, and her blog is so accessible and friendly. Bear with me here–I’ll get to talking about someone else sooner or later.

How to Begin My Writing ‘Career’?

So, I’d like to try getting paid for my work. FYI, I am not getting paid for this blog. If I get to be popular, that may open some doors for being paid for blog posts. So, what are my options right now?

Intensive (perhaps not extensive) internet research has revealed that there are several options for beginning a writing career without losing a day job. See below.

1) Freelance writing (possible in short-term)

2) Writing contests and competitions (possible in short-term)

3) Trying to get into a paid blogging gig (possible short-term)

4) Writing a book/book proposal and shopping around for an agent (long-term)

Freelance writing could be cool because it doesn’t take much commitment and pays pretty well per-hour. Plus, there are websites where you can do it from the internet. Places like these: http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/ http://www.writerlance.com/. However, I’d need to spend some time putting together a ‘bid’ for every job I wanted to take, and for that, I’d need to put together a portfolio=lots of work.

Also, some of these ‘freelance’ sites (NOT those above, I think) probably get 99% of their business from college students looking to skip their term papers. Who goes to college with more money than brains?

Writing contests–I have no idea how much competition there is. I won a contest at school, but University of St. Thomas Houston is a small school, so it was easy to be king of the hill there. Also, I won a poetry contest at school–not short stories, which is supposed to be the genre I’m working on. There’s no money in poetry, just fun.

A paid blogging gig would require a history of blogging, perhaps? I’m working on that, but maybe it actually belongs in the category of mid-term possibilities. If I can blog 3-4 times a week, with reasonably good topics, I may be able to find someone who’ll pay me to do it. I just wonder if they’d pay me to blog about writing…Right now, I’m thinking probably not.

As for seeking a book deal, that’s like a 10-year plan. I’d need a good book, written by yours truly, for editors to chew into a little pieces and hand back. Then I’d need an agent. Then, I’ll need to hang around for another 10 years for a publisher to decide it’s the right quarter to publish said book. I’m trying to be realistic here instead of optimistic, lest I get too excited and try to publish my non-existent book tomorrow. I’ve been reading these blogs from other authors and agents to get the inside scoop: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/ and http://alexisgrant.com/ and http://www.thecreativepenn.com/.

So, that’s what I’ve been exploring to get started on my career. I’ll let you know how it goes. If you’d like to see more of the research I’ve been doing, I’ve kept most of it at my Delicious account. For those of you that don’t know what Delicious (the website) is, it’s just a place where you can keep your bookmarks and favorites online so people can see them and you can get to them everywhere there’s interweb access. Mine is: http://www.delicious.com/trillian627 .

Any other ideas? Does anyone have a good website on getting published to suggest?

All By Myself…

So, I’ve been on vacation this week. I have done a lot of sleeping and lounging around in my pajamas. Very important vacation-type stuff.

An on-going struggle for me has been my widely varying interests and intense need to pursue ALL of them. I am learning to prioritize, but on top of that, more (and by more, I mean I’ve done this a LOT) more time management. I’ve always heard and always thought it was hokey that people would ‘schedule in time for themselves’. Like, what does that mean?

For me, it is increasingly clear that means unstructured time. Time when I don’t have anything planned. I’m a planner. It’s in my job title, even, so it’s true. I have reached the limits, nay, gone beyond the limits of what Microsoft Outlook’s calendar can do for me in organizing my job, my emails, my meetings, my life.

I am structured to the max. And if I would like to continue being creative and prolific as a writer, I may have to schedule some time for myself to not do anything. I have never done this. When I am relaxing, that means I am only doing two things at once, and neither of them require my full brain juice.

Things have gotten better. I am always doing my best to improve everything, including my efficiency and time scheduling. I’m just saying I’ve got to go further. Because this vacation has been great, and I don’t want to have to wait another year before I can feel relaxed again. I’m tired of being cranky 90% of the time, and I’m running out of places to hide the bodies.