I think every creative person should be allowed to undergo a metamorphosis at least once without seeming inconsistent and a tad flaky (unless you're The Artist Not Really Known As Madge...then I suppose you've got free license to make yourself over anytime, as many times as you want).
As springtime approaches (in the Northern Hemisphere), it's the perfect time to think about the theme of change and renewal. Whether it's change in the form of editing and rewriting, or growth and dynamism in your characters, or even your own development and improvement as a writer, change is normal, natural, and virtually always going to happen. (In your stories, it better happen! Why else are you telling the story? To show how nothing changes?)
Often a story will approach a character in a way that shows him or her growing and changing, perhaps breaking free of convention or the bonds of static friends who hold the character back. It can be just as interesting, I find, for the character to be stuck, repeating the same mistakes, as this can make a point to the reader as well. (I think we all know people who are like that, don't we? Stuck, trapped...) In The Fracture of a Dream, Dek seems to be a spectator as life -- as even nature itself -- lives and thrives around him, while he finds himself stagnant. The people around him change, but he can't seem to move on himself or alter the path his life is taking. He may think he has some semblance of agency, to drive his actions, but it doesn't get him far.
Does it make a difference in where Dek ends up?
You'll have to read to find out.
Don't "stay anything," readers! Be bold and change. :)
Ren D.
The writing blog of Ren Diller, author of literary fiction novel The Fracture of a Dream.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Crayons and a Cardboard Heart
Sometimes we pour our hearts into finding (or making) the perfect gift for someone we love. That gift may represent unspoken hopes, such as the wish to share a future together, or the desire to see a loved one find success. The gift may be a reminder, letting the recipient know the giver is present, perhaps not physically but in mind. The gift may carry a message -- "Don't forget me" or "I'm thinking of you."
Overall, gifts are a lovely notion. We enjoy giving them; we enjoy receiving them.
Unfortunately, at times gifts may be given out of obligation, guilt (apology roses don't smell as sweet, eh?), or purely as a social leverage technique, an attempt to curry favor or achieve some other end.
The latter reason is overt, and therefore, not quite as interesting to me. Gifts of obligation and guilt are fascinating, however. Is it not enough to convey "I'm sorry" or make amends via words and more meaningful actions (such as doing something that was neglected or trying not to repeat an infraction)? Do gifts smooth the road, make the recipient forget the giver's wrongdoing? Does the giver want to weigh down the recipient with a reminder of what went wrong?
Sure makes it hard to forgive and forget.
Why not eschew the obvious, why not give simple gifts that carry the same message? Being around for a person in need. Taking the time to listen to a problem or to support someone who doesn't receive a lot of caring. Remembering things that are important to your loved ones. These small actions may bring big rewards. Letting a friend or lover know that they are important, that they are special to you, these are gifts that are far-reaching.
They will be remembered, and you will be remembered, because the effort and time required for such gifts of oneself come from a place that does not take credit cards. There's no returning them, and they are one-of-a-kind, intended for just that recipient and something that can only be given by you.
What do you think? If you've been wronged, would you rather someone woo themselves back in your favor by spoiling you with a gift or two, or would you rather see redress of a more emotional or proactive nature?
And what if you're the wrongdoer? What do you do to return to someone's good graces?
Ren D.
Overall, gifts are a lovely notion. We enjoy giving them; we enjoy receiving them.
Unfortunately, at times gifts may be given out of obligation, guilt (apology roses don't smell as sweet, eh?), or purely as a social leverage technique, an attempt to curry favor or achieve some other end.
The latter reason is overt, and therefore, not quite as interesting to me. Gifts of obligation and guilt are fascinating, however. Is it not enough to convey "I'm sorry" or make amends via words and more meaningful actions (such as doing something that was neglected or trying not to repeat an infraction)? Do gifts smooth the road, make the recipient forget the giver's wrongdoing? Does the giver want to weigh down the recipient with a reminder of what went wrong?
Sure makes it hard to forgive and forget.
Why not eschew the obvious, why not give simple gifts that carry the same message? Being around for a person in need. Taking the time to listen to a problem or to support someone who doesn't receive a lot of caring. Remembering things that are important to your loved ones. These small actions may bring big rewards. Letting a friend or lover know that they are important, that they are special to you, these are gifts that are far-reaching.
They will be remembered, and you will be remembered, because the effort and time required for such gifts of oneself come from a place that does not take credit cards. There's no returning them, and they are one-of-a-kind, intended for just that recipient and something that can only be given by you.
What do you think? If you've been wronged, would you rather someone woo themselves back in your favor by spoiling you with a gift or two, or would you rather see redress of a more emotional or proactive nature?
And what if you're the wrongdoer? What do you do to return to someone's good graces?
Ren D.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Dreams & Musings on Dreams
It seems like everyone I know is writing a novel or hoping to write one someday.
What is it about writing a novel that inspires so many people to set it as a goal? How many of the people who dream of publishing a novel actually succeed?
I don't know many people who've set out to make their own films or produce their own CDs. Similarly, I don't know many people who have the goal of creating their own gallery showcase of art or putting up a public installation.
Perhaps it's that words are readily available to (almost) everyone. We all have stories; we all have experiences that others do not share. Photography is a similar undertaking. Nowadays I see more and more people with no formal photography training create photography careers for themselves with the raw materials (their natural surroundings) already available to them. With a good eye for aesthetics and composition, many laypeople can pick up the techniques as they go.
I love (and appreciate) the ability to wake up someone's imagination and take him to unknown territories, but this is one of those days when I wish I were skilled in something a little more rare and visual (e.g., filmmaking, art) or lucrative (e.g., mathematics, business).
Nevertheless, I am still a firm believer in hard work being the foundation to making a dream come true. If you want something deeply enough, you may achieve it with determination and perseverance.
Fill 2013 with your dreams!
Ren D.
What is it about writing a novel that inspires so many people to set it as a goal? How many of the people who dream of publishing a novel actually succeed?
I don't know many people who've set out to make their own films or produce their own CDs. Similarly, I don't know many people who have the goal of creating their own gallery showcase of art or putting up a public installation.
Perhaps it's that words are readily available to (almost) everyone. We all have stories; we all have experiences that others do not share. Photography is a similar undertaking. Nowadays I see more and more people with no formal photography training create photography careers for themselves with the raw materials (their natural surroundings) already available to them. With a good eye for aesthetics and composition, many laypeople can pick up the techniques as they go.
I love (and appreciate) the ability to wake up someone's imagination and take him to unknown territories, but this is one of those days when I wish I were skilled in something a little more rare and visual (e.g., filmmaking, art) or lucrative (e.g., mathematics, business).
Nevertheless, I am still a firm believer in hard work being the foundation to making a dream come true. If you want something deeply enough, you may achieve it with determination and perseverance.
Fill 2013 with your dreams!
Ren D.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Time Markers
I wish this were a post about a fantastic set of felt-tip markers that, when used, could manipulate the fabric of space and time. Sounds like a great children's independent reader series, actually. However, when devotees of art say that great art is transporting, I don't think that's what they mean.
I'm writing, of course, about the little signals that show us the passage of time in a film, TV show, or piece of writing. People talking about back-to-school shopping indicate that summer is ending (no!) and that autumn is on its way. Jack o' lanterns, cornucopias, lawn Santas, Christmas trees, and pink doily cupids give away similar clues about the time of year in which a story takes place.
When you write, and your story takes place over the course of several months (or years), how do you convey that information? Do you use the holidays? Do you simply state the day of week or time of year? Do you describe your characters' (hopefully weather-appropriate) clothing or mention the meal they are eating? If the time of day or year isn't important, do you forgo time markers completely? Human life is so inextricably linked to the passage of time that we often use time markers without even noticing or thinking about it.
Time is important to the characters of The Fracture of a Dream. It takes place mostly across a timespan of one year, so descriptions of the seasons were my method of marking the time. Dek is a character with a strong affinity for nature, so this also followed quite logically. I also wanted to avoid the assumption that my characters might celebrate any religiously linked holiday. Dek and his friends are solidly American, but they may not share all aspects of the culture that the majority of Americans consider to be a given. Trust me. With what Dek's going through in his life, remembering holidays is not high on his list of priorities.
And on that note, I wish you a happy new year, fellow readers and writers. May your 2013 be everything you dream it will be.
Ren D.
I'm writing, of course, about the little signals that show us the passage of time in a film, TV show, or piece of writing. People talking about back-to-school shopping indicate that summer is ending (no!) and that autumn is on its way. Jack o' lanterns, cornucopias, lawn Santas, Christmas trees, and pink doily cupids give away similar clues about the time of year in which a story takes place.
When you write, and your story takes place over the course of several months (or years), how do you convey that information? Do you use the holidays? Do you simply state the day of week or time of year? Do you describe your characters' (hopefully weather-appropriate) clothing or mention the meal they are eating? If the time of day or year isn't important, do you forgo time markers completely? Human life is so inextricably linked to the passage of time that we often use time markers without even noticing or thinking about it.
Time is important to the characters of The Fracture of a Dream. It takes place mostly across a timespan of one year, so descriptions of the seasons were my method of marking the time. Dek is a character with a strong affinity for nature, so this also followed quite logically. I also wanted to avoid the assumption that my characters might celebrate any religiously linked holiday. Dek and his friends are solidly American, but they may not share all aspects of the culture that the majority of Americans consider to be a given. Trust me. With what Dek's going through in his life, remembering holidays is not high on his list of priorities.
And on that note, I wish you a happy new year, fellow readers and writers. May your 2013 be everything you dream it will be.
Ren D.
Monday, November 12, 2012
What's in a Place?
Where do you go to work? Specifically, where do you go to write?
Every writer has his or her own process, and the writing environment is part of it. Reportedly, Maya Angelou owns three homes but maintains a hotel room where she goes daily to do her writing. Leo Tolstoy was rumored to lock himself away in his study while working and not come out for days or more. Zadie Smith has been heard to say that one's writing computer should not have access to the Internet (I agree! Look up words later!), which can certainly be an unseen, mental component of one's environment.
On the other hand, some research studies have suggested that a little bit of ambient noise actually fosters creativity (particularly for people who are already highly creative), so I imagine there are many writers (J.K. Rowling comes to mind as a famous example) who may do much of their writing in cafes. If you're interested in reading about that research, a shorter description is here, and a longer one is here.
Personally, I need complete silence to write. It's hard enough immersing my mind into the fictional world I am creating, especially if my environment doesn't match what I'm writing at the time (such as writing about a bitter winter in the middle of a breezeless summer), blocking out extraneous noises would require too much mental effort. At least I can comfort myself with the tidbit that Virginia Woolf herself was constantly getting distracted by the noises in her environment! I always write on my computer (longhand would be far too slow for me), and an uncluttered, unadorned space is best for my concentration. I find sitting becomes uncomfortable after several hours, so I also try changing positions when I can.
If I can dream, I believe that a secluded spot outdoors, perhaps in the forest, would probably be my dream location for writing (perhaps I'm channeling Emerson or Thoreau! I wish, right?), but having no access to such a working space, I have to content myself with writing late at night at home, when the world is (relatively) silent. I'm sure my electric company just loves the energy I burn night after night!
For fun, take a look at some images of famous writers' writing sanctuaries: here, here, and for some more contemporary writers, here. Are you jealous of those beautiful book-filled wooden studies or what? There are some other great examples here.
Ren D.
Every writer has his or her own process, and the writing environment is part of it. Reportedly, Maya Angelou owns three homes but maintains a hotel room where she goes daily to do her writing. Leo Tolstoy was rumored to lock himself away in his study while working and not come out for days or more. Zadie Smith has been heard to say that one's writing computer should not have access to the Internet (I agree! Look up words later!), which can certainly be an unseen, mental component of one's environment.
On the other hand, some research studies have suggested that a little bit of ambient noise actually fosters creativity (particularly for people who are already highly creative), so I imagine there are many writers (J.K. Rowling comes to mind as a famous example) who may do much of their writing in cafes. If you're interested in reading about that research, a shorter description is here, and a longer one is here.
Personally, I need complete silence to write. It's hard enough immersing my mind into the fictional world I am creating, especially if my environment doesn't match what I'm writing at the time (such as writing about a bitter winter in the middle of a breezeless summer), blocking out extraneous noises would require too much mental effort. At least I can comfort myself with the tidbit that Virginia Woolf herself was constantly getting distracted by the noises in her environment! I always write on my computer (longhand would be far too slow for me), and an uncluttered, unadorned space is best for my concentration. I find sitting becomes uncomfortable after several hours, so I also try changing positions when I can.
If I can dream, I believe that a secluded spot outdoors, perhaps in the forest, would probably be my dream location for writing (perhaps I'm channeling Emerson or Thoreau! I wish, right?), but having no access to such a working space, I have to content myself with writing late at night at home, when the world is (relatively) silent. I'm sure my electric company just loves the energy I burn night after night!
For fun, take a look at some images of famous writers' writing sanctuaries: here, here, and for some more contemporary writers, here. Are you jealous of those beautiful book-filled wooden studies or what? There are some other great examples here.
Ren D.
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