Minecraft, Jewelcraft, Warcraft, all crafts

My oldest daughter is obsessed with Minecraft. She watches videos of people playing sessions, or just goofing around, or maybe they're creating incredibly detailed versions of Grecian coastlines. I have no idea what the appeal is, though I've played with Legos quite a lot and I love building things. The really incredible thing is just how addictive it clearly is. It's amazing.

Good natured ribbing aside, I am amazed such simple ideas catch on and tickle the fancies of people all around the world. It's marvelous. Such things are impossible to predict, though I'm sure lots of people try all the time. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if there are entire companies whose only purpose is to predict market fads and what should be the next big thing.

Of course, Minecraft isn't the only blistering fad out there. I think there was one about Jewels, then there's Warcraft, and the wonderfully hilarious Angry Birds. What I appreciate is the variety, the non-stop creativity, and the fact that we humans never tire of playing around with toys. Being a writer myself, I'm very grateful for that aspect, because it also means people won't tire of stories either.

I wonder what the spiritual sequel to Minecraft will be? Seems hard to follow something that takes everything to the most basic level and then turns the user loose to have fun. I do remember something called A-Life (Artificial Life) which let the user create electronic life of sorts, which usually just ended up making interesting patterns. It would be neat to see that return in some fashion.

- M

Voiceovers, and how they lift drab fare into engaging tidbits... in moderation

I've become a huge fan of the beginning voiceover (such as the brilliant one in The Fellowship of the Ring which supplies everything you must know to understand the rest of the movie). Even during a movie, the voiceover can make pure magic happen as the audience is directly told what it needs to know. Of course, this in books is usually frowned upon as pointless narration. However, there are times in the visual medium of movies where it just has to be told, and visuals would take too long. Done well they are dynamite.

More and more, when a movie begins with a voiceover I actually find myself perking up. It's like the storyteller is keen on providing a broader world that what's seen, and I'm just as keen to find out everything I can. Plus, there are certain voices that have such incredible tonality to them that they could read their shopping list and make it sound like Hamlet. But even without having someone of that degree, the voiceovers go over pretty well.

Voiceovers provide a glimpse of something greater, and that's especially hard to pull of within a medium as visual as movies. But, like anything else, overdoing it makes it awful. The best times I've seen voiceovers used are at the beginning, or when a major early development takes place. After the movie is well into its runtime, the voiceover just gets in the way. Modern movies seem to be pulling it off very well, and I'm always eagerly anticipating the next step into something larger and greater than what I see right before me.

- M

Merry Christmas! and Joy to the World!

I love ending my year by embracing the meaning of Christmas and all it entails. Could there be anything finer to add to your life? It does the heart good to reflect on such things, and the soul blossoms and grows with the watering.

My own Christmas has also included two wonderful presents, with my wife passing her RN school (she now only needs her nursing boards to be a bright and shiny RN officially), and I've had one of my knees totally replaced--the other gets the treatment as soon as possible. More than that, though, I have my children and family to be grateful for. They are jewels, all of them. Precious things that could never be replaced.

Life is like that, full of things that we have so much of, and then just a few things that actually, really, truly, matter. It's amazing how hard it is to notice the difference some times. I know that I either forget/get distracted/or simply don't look in the right spots most of the time. My desire is to do better. I wager that if my eyes were on the things that do matter, rather than the things that don't, that my life would be much better for it. It's not a New Year's Resolution, it's a Lifetime Resolution.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

- M

Surprises, in exptectedly curious places you don't see coming

I'll bet we all like surprises, especially in stories. There's many places these can happen, though being a "surprise," it generally isn't something you were ready for. However, there are those marvelous times when a surprise comes out and says, "Okay, here I come. Get ready." You get all set to receive the promised surprise and whammo, get stunned by the surprise anyway.

Take Star Wars for example. In the actual first one (Episode 4, "A New Hope"), I doubt anyone didn't expect Ben Kenobi to die in that lightsaber fight with Vader. When he closed his eyes, lifted his sword, and calmly waited, I knew what was coming. Seeing his body vanish and only his clothes hit the floor was a neat touch--very mystical and satisfying. But, then we get his disembodied voice speaking to Luke not 30 seconds later. Whammo! Surprised ya! I love those moments. Perhaps I could have expected it, and probably some did, but I never saw it coming after the expected death. I figured it was just like every other apprentice-to-the-great-master story segments, where the master dies and the apprentice must now step up and carry on anyway. That one part of storytelling remains a highlight for me because my emotions whirl around it.

A corollary to this is when someone surprises and then uses that surprise to do something evil. Like when the wicked witch in Sleeping Beauty gives the innocent Snow White the wonderfully tasty apple and doesn't demand money for it. The gift is a known surprise for the audience, but not necessarily that it is poisoned (yet even that poison isn't fatal, but is rather a sleeping potion--so, really, this is a three part surprise). Done well, these surprises can provide solid framework for very imaginative stories.

- M

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug ... my thoughts

I took my entire family to see the new Hobbit movie. We loved it. It was entertaining, well done and engaging. As a singular story, it works well. Source material aside, the journey from beginning to end was well thought out, though some of the cuts to the secondary story are a bit jarring. Of course, the highlight of the movie is the dragon Smaug. The scene with Bilbo is changed quite a lot, but I think in a good way. Smaug is mighty, not only in physical power, but mental power. His verbal sparring match with Bilbo is decidedly one-sided and the dragon relishes his position.

Overall, I loved the movie and look forward to owning it on DVD.

Now, on to what I imagine most reviewers will be complaining about. The differences between source material and movie. Yes, there are a lot. Major changes (such as wood elves, with Legolas and company) and confusing changes (such as Smaug chasing the dwarves under the mountain). My guideline has always been if the movie works well on its own. The source should be used, but only to the extent that it makes a good movie. This is, after all, a visual medium and needs to be treated as such. That said, I wish more of the restraint of the book had made it into the movie--especially the part where Smaug pursues the dwarves in the halls of Erebor. It felt almost like the movie was showing off how incredible it was; flamboyantly so. That wasn't necessary.

However, I much enjoyed it. Legolas is a fan favorite, and made sense to make an appearance here (though probably not as a main-ish character). I loved how Peter Jackson was the first person on screen, even briefly, and it was a fun cameo. Mirkwood was incredibly tense, well realized, and awfully dangerous. The dwarves were better this time than before, and were a tightly knit group of characters. Bilbo continues demonstrating a level of courage that is amazing to behold, and feels completely right.

I absolutely recommend The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Get out right now and see it. You'll be glad you did.

- M

Desperation

There are lots of ways for a character to drop into desperation, such as when a loved one is in peril or financial chaos burns through. Being in desperation makes someone unsure, reckless, willing to take greater risks than any other time, and also creates a sort of spontaneous frenzy all around. Desperation makes us crazy.

Now, using that desperation is another challenge. Villains are wonderful when they are in these situations, because they can cut loose and throw everything at the hero without worry or care. Heroes, on the other hand, sometimes stop being heroic and do bad things, or maybe become cowards. Of course, emotions like this don't have to be stereotypical. What this does is allow the author the leeway to run crazy with the plot and place events that wouldn't normally happen. It's a lot of fun to do that, and see how the characters will react.

Naturally, these are my views and I'm sure there are lots of other ones on this subject. However desperation is handled, I believe it works powerfully in stories. Especially stories where the characters are deep and sympathetic (even if you don't like them). When the audience gets involved at a sincere level, then the story grows beyond itself. It's a tremendous experience for both sides. Well worth the effort.

- M

The Flash, my personal favorite hero of all time. Mark Waid rocks!

I absolutely adore the Fastest Man Alive. The Scarlet Speedster isn't necessarily the most powerful of the super-powered heroes, but he sure has dynamic stories. While I enjoy all of them, my particular favorite is Wally West--and more specifically the "Terminal Velocity" storyline by Mark Waid. In that story, the Flash (Wally) is shown a vision of his future, and spends the rest of the book trying to avert it. His speed becomes his greatest enemy, causes solitude, and ultimately is his finest gift.

What strikes me isn't how fast everything is, but how intensely personal the Flash stories are. In a lot of the superhero stories I've read, the hero is really an unstoppable force of nature. Superhero stories swirl around the hero, but don't especially impact them personally. Not so with the Flash. You get to see the poor guy pounded, mashed, his loved ones hurt, and place wrecked. It's visceral, understood, and touching. I love the Flash.

There was a brief series on television The Flash (but, it didn't do well) and I see that the new television show Arrow is bringing him back in the Barry Allen form. Hopefully he's better received this time. I'd love to see a new show based on him, and there probably will if he's popular. So, get out there and cheer him on.

Go, Flash, go!

- M

The Journey of a Lifetime

What does it mean to make a journey? To undertake one? To set your focus on a path and follow through? How about just getting started?

Most of our lives, we ask what we want to do and what we want to happen in the future. It's normal to wonder. This is one aspect that I wish I saw more of within stories. I think it creates a tremendous amount of depth in a very short time, simply because the audience understands what the journey is. After all, that's why we ask ourselves those questions. Once we know where we're heading, it's easy to see our progress along the way.

And, once the journey starts, there are usually pretty obvious landmarks to guide us. However, if the journey's goal isn't all that clear, it can make for a very interesting journey. And, that's what stories are all about, since if there isn't interest then there isn't much of a use for the story. And it doesn't even have to be in the form of a quest, or something painfully obvious. It could be something as simple as rediscovering a passion for painting, or finding the name of a song, or even apologizing for a misdeed.

There are many sayings about how the joy is in the journey, and there's a ton of truth to that. But, it also is true that the journey is interesting and worthy of telling within the bounds of a story. I love going along for the ride, as a character runs along the path, for good or ill. It's exciting, interesting, and hopefully fulfilling. I doubt I'll ever tire of it.

- M

Family, and the ties that bind us so very closely together

There are few relationships in life as close as family. We normally don't get to choose our family, but it hardly matters. The connections we form are powerful and long lasting. Many people define their entire lives through family--certainly the stereotypical mob does. But, there's more to those connections than simple blood. Family is tied together most powerfully by commitment to each other, and that commitment often doesn't even need to be expressed because it's understood at such a deep level.

During Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, we Americans tend to gather with family and feast and carry on with all sorts of revelry. It's important to us to maintain those connections. Those of us with family at far flung distances are sad when we can't share those times of togetherness, but we still share the connections despite the separation. It makes for a strange happy and sad time all mixed up in a boiling stew of emotion.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Hug your loved ones close, and whisper in their ears that you care and don't mind their silliness the rest of the year. We all have our blemishes. Find the time to forget them and enjoy each other's company.

- M

Titles, conventions, and how to capture the casual eye

I'll admit it first: I'm terrible with titles. I've never understood how book titles are chosen, or why one movie title is better than any other. There's tons of science behind it, I'll bet, but it hasn't made much sense to me. For some reason our minds latch on to one thing and not another. It's very confusing.

There are a few books I've skimmed on the subject (sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to reading entire books on it), and picked up a few curious tidbits. One mentioned that titles with "The" or starting with particular letters weren't well received. I don't remember why not, but they had charts and graphs showing it all. Another nugget was how single word titles were lousy, and they also had statistics proving the idea.

My opinion is that if it sounds good, then go for it. It's all subjective, isn't it? We have peculiar tastes, and how can such things be quantified? For instance, one of my favorite books is Icefire. That's a single word title and it works just fine. Or how about The Lord of the Rings. That one has "The" in it twice. Well, it's a theory. I'm sure it wouldn't have worked as "Sauron" or "Hobbits, Fight or Flight."

Yes, I'm being silly. I'd love to know how to make better titles, or even halfway decent ones. Until then, I'll muddle along doing the best I can. Hopefully nobody will pout because my titles weren't better. I pray they'll read my books anyway. The stories always have my focus, and I'll let them speak for me any and all times.

- M

Daughter's new blogs

I'm very proud that my daughter has jumped into the web and is posting her own stuff now. Check out her new blogs: Where Percy Jackson Fans and Fashionistas Come and her new one, Anything Good? Yes? No? Maybe? Come over here and find out!

A very talented young lady. Yes, I'm bursting with pride!

- M

Avengers assemble! Modern superheroes and lots of fun

I'm a complete sucker for modern superhero movies. The Avengers is a great movie with tons of fun for everyone. Sure, it may not be the deepest story, but who cares? The fun of superhero movies is we get to see humans doing unbelievable things, in an unbelievable way, in unbelievable environments. Does anyone really think about how much destruction any of these fights causes? Nah. Where's the fun in that?

I really doubt there's any superhero movie I haven't seen and enjoyed. Sure, there are degrees of enjoyment, and a few I won't watch again. However, I'm happy to see so many new stories all through our culture. We are in the midst of a wellspring of superhero tales, and the public is drinking it all in with gusto.

Of course, not all superheroes are made equal. I've absolutely no idea why some are popular and some aren't. Like why is Superman more popular than the Blue Beetle? I'm sure there's some psychological multi-syllable words that explain it, but I don't know any. What I do know is we love superheroes and can't get enough right now. So, get out there and take your best shot. Maybe your story will be the very next to shout out, "Avengers, assemble!"

- M

Things that stalk the night

What is it about darkness that terrifies us so much? It's more than not being able to see, or not knowing for sure. After all, we know our own rooms, yet turn off the lights and it's easy to let imagination run away with our senses and conjure all manner of things for us to fear. Whatever the reason, darkness is used to great effect in movies and stories of all kinds. There's something primal about it. Moving shadows can make us jump from our seats and hug someone close. A hallway suddenly going dark can yank the hairs up on the back of your neck faster than a creepy howl ever could.

The really interesting thing is how stories (which by their very nature are harmless to the audience) can generate such intense emotions by throwing darkness around. Mysteries, horror, drama, fantasy, science fiction, even romance, all use the lack of light in some way or another. We all know darkness, the feel and smell of it, and how it affects things and us. We spend a lot of time without light, slumbering behind closed eyelids. I think that's why stories can use it effectively, because we understand it.

I've heard many people philosophizing about darkness and light, and the purposes of both. That's all well and good, but the truth is that darkness scares us. Maybe with reason, maybe with none. It covers and hides, shudders away whatever is inside. It's the closed box with an unlocked lid. What's inside? Is it bad? Is it good? Should I look? Should I leave it alone? The only way to find out is either turn on a light, or step inside. Do you really want to know?

Amazingly creepy.

- M

Holiday stories, and what inspires us

This time of year is amazing to me. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. So much happening so very quickly. But, it's also a fantastic time for stories. Some of my absolutely favorite movies are holiday ones, and of course there are timeless stories like A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. They are stories that show us for what we are and still lift us up.

It's funny how so much of the time we tend to let ourselves see only the troubles at our feet, and not the splendors ahead. Sure, times are tough, as they often are, but we must look past all that. Things do get better, if we will only push doggedly ahead and keep trying. Great advice, and I wish I followed it more than I normally do.

Also, this time of year is a time of gathering. Families come together, friends visit, churches have potlucks, and schools are doing fundraisers. There's much to celebrate. Listen to the stories, engage in them, and let the life around you penetrate more than it usually does. We never were meant to be solitary creatures.

God bless us all!

- M

Doctor Who, what a fantastic show!

I've loved Doctor Who since I was a child, watching it in black and white. Especially the funny old man with the hat and huge scarf who was probably the most popular doctor ever (at least of the old series). The show was incredible, mind-blowing, and intensely entertaining. I loved everything about it. I am so grateful that it has continued on.

What's really amazing to me is that my family has all come to enjoy it as well. Even my wife loves it, and actually did a Doctor Who marathon a while back where she watched all seven season of the current Doctor Who episodes. It's incredible to pass along enjoyment from one person to another. Even my children enjoy the show, maybe even more than I do.

What's especially amazing about Doctor Who is that this is a hero who doesn't fight. At least, not in the traditional sense. His greatest weapon is his knowledge, and his ability to use it. The show doesn't even have any big over-arching plot. Sure, each season has some things that are mysteries throughout and eventually get solved. Not even the River Song/Silence arcs were that large. I think that's a big reason the show is so successful. It's accessible to anyone just getting started.

Most of all, the show is science fiction that never really takes itself seriously. There's always a side of fun that never quite escapes into the complexities of what goes on. Despite grave danger, incredible odds, and overwhelming adversaries, the show takes it all in stride and giggles at itself. I hope it stays around for another ten seasons, I really do.

- M

JFK Assassination, the day after

One of the legendary points in American history is the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy. Everyone who lived during that time knows precisely where they were when they heard the news. People are like that when big events happen. I'm that way with the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia explosion, or the Twin Towers crashing down. Anyway, what I find really interesting is how the country reacted on the next day.

Despite political views, the country was shocked and dismayed  People everywhere were outraged that anyone would do such a thing, and a cry for justice went out. I wasn't there, but I suspect that this united outcry joined the country in a way that never would have happened otherwise. It was a seminal event, which created a legendary martyr. I've talked with many people about it, and they all tell me of anger and togetherness, of a nation brought together by tragedy. It's inspiring, really.

Of course, afterward is the rise of conspiracy. Ballistic evidence says one thing, visual evidence another, auditory still more, and human memory many other variations. Maybe we know what happened, maybe not. I'm not a judge. But, one thing I do know is that this was a moment in history that won't ever be forgotten. It spawned a whole fleet of legends, myths, and outright foolishness. Whatever your thoughts about this event, I'm sure you know about it and probably even a few conspiracy stories. I dearly hope we never again see assassinations.

- M

The amazing beauty of swords, far beyond their use

Swords are a lifelong love of mine. They are the symbol of romantic medieval periods. Of course, they are weapons of war, and designed to kill and maim. However, there's something majestic about these long bladed knives. What's really fascinating to me is how attached people became to these weapons, far more than other things like hammers. I'm not aware of knights naming their swords (though I wouldn't be surprised), but Vikings commonly did and so did Asian cultures. Anything that is worthy of a name is mighty important.

Many swords are beautifully detailed, with inscriptions, carvings, special materials, and all sorts of love put into the designs. I'm not exactly sure why three foot long blades are so enticing, but they just are. One of the most iconic weapons in cinema is the lightsaber, which is basically a futuristic sword. It doesn't matter that they're short range weapons. They're neat.

Amazingly, the art of sword fighting has been badly lost and misrepresented. One of the biggest myths is that fighters banged the edges together as they parried and attacked. Remember, these swords were meant to be used for a long time. If you wonder what happens when you take two thin, sharp, edges and bang them together then take a couple of knives and do it. Result: a nick, possibly deep, that ruins the edge and might cause the blade to break. Not a bright thing to do.

I love swords, and own quite a few myself. One thing that guests to my house enjoy is going out to the back yard and cutting potatoes in the air. I'll do an underhanded lob and they'll have at it. It's wonderful, magical, and enlightening. There's nothing quite like slicing a potato out of the air, watching it part by your own effort, and marveling at how easy it all was. It's all part of the mystery of swords.

- M

The Princess Bride movie and book

If there's anyone out there who hasn't seen The Princess Bride movie, I highly recommend it. To those who have seen the movie, I highly recommend the actual book. The book is flat out phenomenal. All the humor of the movie is really in the book, plus a whole lot more. Certain things make a lot more sense, especially the war that always seems to be somewhere in the fringes in the movie.

The Princess Bride book has a huge amount of details that never made it into the movie, as is the case with most book adaptations. But, one scene actually got rewritten to exclude my absolute favorite scene. When the heroes go into the Pit of Despair, the movie shows them finding the entrance and skips right down to the interior. However, in the book, there is a wonderful scene as the heroes go through the front entrance and through a series of traps. The final trap is so marvelous that it's tough to describe how much I wanted to see it realized on screen. Read it, and you'll understand.

I think there's something magical that happens between audiences who love movies and books together. Think of the recent storm of books into movies: Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, and the upcoming Divergent. There's a sort of fairy dust that covers such things, and I believe it's because the audience is embracing their imaginations. There's more life to these things because of it. I hope and pray that the magic never ends.

- M

Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe, and the amazing things people do

I've been a long time watcher of a neat program called Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. The premise of the show is the host goes to a place where people get dirty while doing their jobs. At least, that's the hook. More often than not, the host discovers people who are happy and satisfied with what they do--despite getting messy. I'm always amazed by the fulfillment these people have; it's inspiring.

Of course, the host is witty, intelligent, and well spoken, but there is a true satisfaction in what goes on. It's also pretty funny. My favorite episode is when he goes to help with a lady who does research on the Lake Eerie water snakes. Watching Mike Rowe hilariously complaining about getting bit (all while the lady is doing the same job, and laughing as she does) is wonderful. The education a viewer receives is even more powerful because of the relatability of the host and everyone he works with.

When I first saw the show, I think I was curious to see people doing what I thought were awful jobs that nobody wanted. I was wrong. Sure, there's discomfort, but the jobs are needed, desired, and fulfilling in ways I never expected. These are jobs that people absolutely want to do, and enjoy doing. These aren't the pushed down, bottom-of-the-barrel positions I imagined; they're worthwhile. I'm impressed actually, and without the show, Dirty Jobs, I'd never have known.

- M

Heroes, part 2

Speaking generally, what makes someone a hero? Is it outward, or inward? Is it something someone just is, or something that's an assigned quality? Does the world say so, or can the world get stuffed? And, if the world doesn't notice, what remains? What is the composition of a hero?

Well, my answer is pretty much implied by the questions. I believe a hero comes from within. Perhaps their actions are noticed by the world at large, but probably not. Heroism isn't shy of the light, but it doesn't seek it either. I'd say most heroes never receive any recognition of any sort. Naturally, in stories they tend to be the focus, but in general life they aren't. That's a huge difference in how stories treat them and how we normally see them.

I don't think that celebrities are heroes specifically, though some may be. I don't think having fame is any sort of qualification. Heroes lift up greatness, demonstrate virtue, encourage productivity, and show us how fantastic we can be if we would only try a bit harder. In my mind, a hero is someone to model, to be like, and to admire for their quality in life. Not, simply because they play a game well, or look good on television. Heroes matter, they matter a lot.

Who are your heroes? Why? Can you put down actual reasons? I challenge you all to take the time to list them.

- M

Illness, being ill, and getting sick

Like most adults, I absolutely hate getting the flu. Can't work, can't read, can't do much of anything but sleep and drink 7-Up. The worst are these crummy stomach flus where it feels like I'm about to have a gallon of rocks burst out of my belly. It's all horrid, and I wish it could just go away and leave me alone.

Now that I think about it, I don't remember many stories actually delving into illness for more than just a very brief period. Of course, I'm not thinking all that clearly right now, so I'm probably missing some, but the omission makes complete sense. This state is so irritating and uncomfortable that audiences just don't want to be dragged through it anymore than necessary. Also, from a tactical point of view, characters don't behave normally when they are ill, which may be good, or probably bad, for the story.

So, my heart goes out to all the rest of our world who are ill at the moment. Hope you all get better soon.

- M

Loss, unfairness, reduction, and a phoenix rising.

One thing that always makes me upset is a character I love being treated unfairly, especially when it means losing their special abilities. I love seeing characters excel, and it honks me off when they get dumped in the gutter. Of course, it's necessary in a story, and I know that, but I still get upset when it happens. Perhaps that's one reason why I read as much as I do, because that takes me through endless character development and I see the tragic hero rise like a phoenix many times.

The recent trend of superhero movies really shows this to grand effect. The superhero genre thrives on taking their burly thugs and making them rob the heroes of their special stuff. Bane did it to Batman, the Mandarin did it to Iron Man, Red Skull did it to Captain America. It's grand, it's tragic, it's great theater. I think it's built into human dna to root for the underdog.

On the other hand, there is a kind of story where a fairly normal person excels and just keeps right on excelling. I've never been able to write a story like that myself, but I've read a number of them and I'll admit there's a special kind of magic about them. It's like the joy of it is simply watching a mythical progression that never ends. I haven't read many like that, and they have all been short stories, so I do wonder how long such a concept could work.

Let's give it up for the underdog! Eat a hot dog!

- M

Top Gear, especially Top Gear challenges

Cars are huge business, and Top Gear (the BBC version) is a massively successful show which talks about cars. I'll admit I've never been all too keen on cars, though I do greatly appreciate them moving me from one place to another. Yet, the Top Gear show is totally riveting to me. I have no idea why, but the banter between the show's hots is gripping. Also, the hosts know so much about cars that it completely astounds me.

But, the thing that really get me are their specials, where they go on crazy challenges and try to survive everything thrown at them. All the while they poke fun at each other, the cars, and generally have a fabulous time. I can't say I learn much from those challenges (except maybe the one where they tried to fire a care into space, a fantastic challenge that nearly worked). What gets me is just how much these guys love cars. It's gripping, and infectious. People who utterly love something spread their enthusiasm in all directions, it's inevitable.

Apart from the challenges, I also enjoy the humor throughout the show. Sure, they have a bit of childish potty humor, but there is a great deal of ribbing, kidding, pranks, and general goofiness. I love it. I'm glad the show is successful. It deserves to be. Well done, guys. Do carry on.

- M

Pure, wonderful, laughter: The Red-Green Show

I love to laugh. I love to joke, and goof around. There's this crazy Canadian show called The Red Green Show. It's this absolutely nuts gentleman who is the leader of the local Possum Lodge, and he loves to invent things (using duct tape almost exclusively, since nothing else would make sense of course). Every episode has some small story going on, but there are recurrent features that are a blast to watch.

Sometimes I like to just take my brain out and set it aside, so I can enjoy pure laughter for its own sake. That's what this tv show does for me. I can sit for half an hour and giggle myself silly, watching a grown man try to make an RV out of duct tape and refrigerator doors (really, it's an episode). The amazing thing is that many of his inventions do work, they just aren't very practical. Also, the actors all thoroughly enjoy the jokes and don't take any of what they are doing very seriously. I appreciate that aspect, and love seeing what these crazies will come up with next.

I think we grow as people when we can take a step back and laugh at ourselves. Humans are strange creatures, they deserve a good prodding every now and then.

- M

Ender's Game, movie review

Translating books into movies is tricky business; there's lots of ways they go wrong and fail. But, they also come with well developed plots and tons of detail that can be sorted through to make a 2 hour film. Of course, you can't include everything, so picking the right parts is the art I imagine.

Anyway, Ender's Game is now a movie, to the delight of science fiction fans everywhere. I've loved the story since it was a novella, and even more when it was made into a book. It's a great story about a boy far beyond his years in attitude, skill, and tactical ability. And now a movie, watched on a huge screen at the local theater.

How did it translate? I'd say the director was a big fan of the book, because most everything I wanted to see was in the movie. Naturally, the extensive subplot of Valentine and Peter taking over the world was dropped, and the battleschool combats were stripped to the bone, but the content was there and the overall plot is intact. Ender's struggle to be a leader is the plot (and no, I'm not giving away any part of the ending). Overall, the movie is very faithful to the source material.

So, what did I think? I loved it. Really, truly, loved it. So did my son, who is also a fan of the book. Harrison Ford as Col. Graft was gripping, tough, and perfect. Ender, played by Asa Butterfield, was exactly right. In the scenes of bullying, it really is incredible that this little twit of a kid comes out on top every time. And the space combat was incredible, doing what movies do best and displaying everything for your eyes to drink in.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys science fiction, and when you're done watching then go out and buy the book. Both are worth your time.

- M

Villains, part 2

As I continue to study heroes and villains, I'm struck by how particular villains are. Generally, they are the ones five steps ahead of everyone else, infinitely adaptable, and capable of nearly anything. What's sometimes frustrating to me is that because of the huge setup that makes the villain all powerful, there has to be some weakness (usually a silly item like water against the Wicked Witch, or kryptonite, or maybe popcorn). It seems a bit foolish to spend so much time showing the power of a villain, and then let him get offed because he had a bag of grapes tossed his way (no, that wasn't a specific example).

The villains that are making my list of all-time top bad guys are not treated this way. For a current example, think of Voldemort. If there's any specific weakness he has, it's pride/arrogance. Yes, there is the wierd way that he can't kill Harry Potter, but good enough reasons are given for those that it doesn't come off as weakness. More importantly, he doesn't suddenly act foolishly at the end just to make the plot work out. He continues acting to complete his purposes throughout, it's just that he doesn't win.

On the other hand, think of Lex Luthor. He is a brilliant mastermind who always comes up with incredible designs and schemes, yet nearly always does something dumb and that's what allows Superman to win. It drives me nuts. Allow the hero to succeed without dropping the villain's IQ, or suddenly neutralizing their power. The reader feels cheated.

My absolute favorite villain is the Evil Queen, Maleficent, from Disney's old animated Sleeping Beauty. She is fantastic: powerful, smart, completely wicked. She died because the hero got in a lucky throw with his sword, yet even as she died she nearly killed him anyway. It's wonderful, scary, and gives the audience no reason to believe the villain won't succeed. A truly brilliant villain.

- M

Shark! Sharks!

I'm fascinated by sharks; always have been. They are incredible eating machines, but also one of the most graceful creatures on our little blue planet. Even their skin as aggressive, apparently as abrasive as sandpaper (which some tropical natives actually do use in that way). All in all, they are marvel of technology, precisely designed to be the best at what they do.

The movie, Jaws, stirred a big craze in sharks--mostly fear, but then that is what a horror story is supposed to do, right? Since that movie came out, lots of people viewed sharks as a man-munching machine of destruction. Naturally, that's not really true, but it did get a lot of interest in the area of shark research and probably was a good thing in general terms. I won't discuss the politics of it all, but predators do as predators do and it's best to make sure that's understood when you're in their environment. Humans just stink at moving through water, but we weren't designed to do it well anyway so why should we be surprised.

What is impressive though, is how little we still know about sharks. With all the money poured into research, and all the time spent on it, we don't know much more about them than we did 50 years ago. I find that incredible. One program I watched on the Discovery Channel mentioned that if we could actually see through the ocean clearly (like a pane of glass) that we would freak out because of all the stuff living in it. And, I'm sure that would include all the predators swimming around as we enjoy the ocean surf.

- M

Trilogies and series stories

The first trilogy I ever read was The Lord of the Rings. I loved the continuing story, greater than one single story. I've read many trilogies since then, and I still enjoy stories that span multiple volumns. There's just something wonderful when a tale takes hold and keeps on going through book after book. You get to see characters grow and change, the setting usually alters due to the characters moving through it, and even the plot itself flows and adapts. It's neat to see.

Maybe the greatest thing about a lengthy story is how deep the characters become. You get to know them very well (hopefully that's a good thing), and understand their motivations. Before long, the world of the story becomes part of yourself and it's easy to see yourself within the story as well. I love that feeling. I realize my own imagination is very strong, but I can't believe that I'm the only one who gets lost inside a world of stories. I think it's the biggest reason we read fiction.

Also, there is the reason of the three part story. Act 1 brings us the characters and sets up the villain and the troubles, Act 2 tears down the heroes and gives victory to the villains, Act 3 grants the heroes overall victory and punishes the villains. Not all trilogies follow this pattern, but it's fairly common. And, it works. I look forward to seeing how it's handled. I suppose that's why "bad" endings are not typical (because it's jarring, and unexpected).

Enjoy a good book, settle down for a comfortable nights entertainment watching a movie series, or listen to family talk about their strange old uncles. Take the time to go on an adventure.

- M

Time to move, time to play, time to watch, and time skip?

It's curious how time is handled in stories. In movies, probably the great majority, time flows in a pretty tight linear stream from one thing to another. However, in other mediums (notably books) time can flow in really disjointed ways--skipping around like a frog on a highway. It's amazing we humans have so little trouble following time jumps like that, but they're common and so we apparently don't mind. Flashbacks are a great example, since they yank us out of the present and throw us to some point in the past.

There are a number of movies that employ time as a major theme (actually, now that I really think about it, I'd have a pretty long list if I started naming them). I think it's because we live time from moment to moment, but remember time as much more than the progression of events and more like a flow of experience that doesn't necessarily go from one to the other but rather connects together in the wibbly fabric of our thoughts. Time is only an element of a greater whole.

Perhaps another example is the detective story, since quite a lot of those require the audience to remember all sorts of past events and pull them into the present. There don't seem to be any particular genres that utilize this more than others (except maybe science fiction and it's time travel stories). Jumping around the timeline is so normal that I don't give it much thought, until later.

- M

Jumping to conclusions

Why do we always jump ahead of things and then get disappointed when we didn't guess correctly? How many times have you read a book, or watched a movie, and figured out the entire story in your head? Naturally those guesses turn out wrong, maybe not every time but a majority probably. The reason? We all think differently, so what we expect isn't the same. Sure, there are times when stories are painfully obvious and you can guess those. I like stories that take me by surprise, take interesting twists, and throw me to the wind to watch me twirl.

Truly original stories are worth any sort of trouble to obtain. They take us in new directions, give us new options, and help us jump out of the ruts we so commonly fall into. It's like getting a helping hand to punch us in the face when we're being stupid. Sometimes we need that.

Of course, this is just my opinion. Every story has its own sense of originality, since a completely unique person created it. Like the movie, Field of Dreams, says, "If you build it, they will come." I believe, so let them come.

- M

Fads, fans, and other air conditioning

What makes something catch on so quickly it turns into a fad? What further makes that fad into a worldwide fad? Recent examples are the Harry Potter Series, Twilight, and even the 50 Shades of Gray. Quality never seems like it matters--think about the pet rock phenomenon (though the real treat was the little booklet that came with it, and the wonderful writing it had). I've twisted my brain around it, and have come to the conclusion that fads are some wierd kind of fruit that magically appears wonderful for whatever reason. Yup, I've got no idea. We humans are a strange lot.

Looking at the question from another angle, what about the fans? Why are they fans? Like many things, we all like what we like and don't like what we don't like. I've tried explaining it to my kids many times, but it really comes down to a gut feeling and nothing else. So, no, I don't expect fans to really put voice to why they like it, because they just do. More power to them! Enjoy the passion of enjoyment, and don't let anyone tell you differently.

I'm sure we've all imagined what it would be like to be the center of such a fad. I look at it like being in front of window air conditioning. It's great while you're in front of it, but not nearly as enjoyable when you aren't in the same room. Fame is a tough position, with all those eyes on you it can be pretty intimidating. I tip my hat to those who handle it with dignity and selflessness.

- M

Big, really big, just hugely vastly big

I love jokes. Puns, little stories, punchlines. All sorts. Humor is the lifeblood of what it means to be human. Well, maybe not that grand, but it's a great thing. Enjoying a good joke keeps you young, loosens your mind, and makes you take life a little less seriously. Why not enjoy it?

I grew up with comedians, and not just in my own house. Recordings, radio, movies. Comedy came in from all areas. It hasn't stopped. For that, I'm very glad. I'm richer for it, not just a sense of humor, but a sense of life. All that from laughter. Amazing.

Just how big can jokes be? I doubt anyone knows, but we have comedy movies and plays, books and operas. I really doubt there has been any part of human history without jokes. I wouldn't be surprised if the first thing Adam said to Eve was a knock-knock joke.

- M

Friendship

Throughout our lives we form many friendships. Most are people we really don't know well, some we know a bit, a few we now closely, and a handful who are very close friends, and maybe we are fortunate enough to form a select number of lifelong friends. It's amazing to me how this works, and I never tire of watching the wonder of friendship around me.

Entire stories can be fashioned around this concept, and many successful one have. But, just like anything with true value, it goes beyond the pages and permeates our lives. Friendship is something we humans treasure, long for, and will sacrifice for. Think about your own close friends and ask yourself, "What would I give up to maintain this friendship?" I'd bet it's a lot, especially for the deep, true friends who will care for you no matter what.

Love is born of friendship. But, it is also born of vulnerability. To open yourself up so far that someone sees all your flaws and weaknesses, alongside your strengths and glories, is difficult at best. This dynamic infused into stories makes them very powerful, because we can all relate to the experience. It's wonderful to experience works where great friends drive the narrative, but I'm a sucker for character driven stories anyway.

Friends. Cherish them.

- M

Sacrifice

Rummaging my own memories, it seems like all heroes (and even villains) sacrifice. Sacrifice their hopes, their dreams, people, relationships, money, whatever is of value to them. I suspect it's because the act of sacrificing something important carries tremendous emotional weight. Doing so gives the audience reason to care, and that's the point.

The supreme sacrifice of death makes heroes/villains far more dynamic. When they are willing to do so, they step into the realm of absolutes. Of course, if that happens all the time even that becomes boring. Anything done too much does that. But, to see the hero go into a building, knowing there is a bomb inside, then seeing the building explode... well, it causes a lot of tension. Part of it comes from hoping the hero comes back out, but what if they don't? Both tensions are good, and create interest. If the motivations are believable, then the audience is hooked until the tension is resolved.

I'm a sucker for a good sacrificial story. Daylight with Sylvester Stallone is an example that springs to mind. He's a firefighter captain, a New York tunnel collapses (naturally an underwater stretch), and he makes his way inside. His heroics are "manly" of course, but he constantly puts himself in jeapardy to save others. It's a good movie, maybe not great, but very watchable and I highly recommend it.

- M

Goofiness and fun with words

I love good wordplay, especially when it is all kinda goofy. Maybe that's why I like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy so much. There's a lot of fun there, and yet it does make a kind of sense. You just have to let your mind roam free to enjoy it. The only trouble is that I find the style of it worming it's way into my own writing when I read it too often.

Goofiness is fine though. People like having their brains tickled and watching as things jump around willy nilly. Maybe not all people, but those with a good sense of humor do. I love reading books that have their own style twisted around, unexpected and surprising. It makes the story even more pleasurable than it would be otherwise, because just reading brings pleasure.

Mostly though, I like when authors become a little goofy because it means they aren't taking themselves overly seriously. Not that I mind a serious book, but I find them normally stale and dull--fine for a textbook, but not for most fiction.

- M

Forward to the Future

When I was a kid, the future was practically paved with golden streets. There wasn't any dream too small, and everyone expected to be hoping into flying cars and tearing around the skies. Walt Disney's Epcot Center wasn't just imagination, but a glimpse of our adulthood. It was entrancing, enticing, bombastic, and positive.

What happened to it? Maybe I'm just not in the right places anymore, but it seems like the future has turned into those sinister dark places they show in movies (Blade Runner, for example). I want the uncompromising optimism again. I want to see a world filled with hopeful people, driving ahead because they're glad to see how things are going. Actually, I just want a revival of hope for what's in store. No more dark futures, give me gleaming stainless steel robots!

I've often wondered about a phrase I heard from the movie, "Amadeus." Mozart is complaining about writing operas about Hercules and so on, saying that he thinks they are too lofty and stale. He wants something more realistic. The answer he is given is fantastic: "They represent the best in us all." (sorry, not a direct quote, but I hope it's pretty close)

Bring back the best, show me what to look forward to, and give me back the future of my dreams!

- M

Without words, yet still enchanting.

I absolutely love pure music. No words. Nothing to break the enchantment of listening and letting the tune burrow into your soul. I'm sure everyone reacts differently to music, but I'll bet there are times when every one of us craves pure music alone. It's instincual, primeval, a base desire we all share. Music like that always puts me in a contemplative mood, but it's powerful and seemingly opens my mind to greater possibilities.

Actually, I'm in awe of composers. The skill it takes to put music together amazes me. I've tried doing it, and frankly failed miserably. That luscious ability is beyond me, which makes me even more impressed when I listen. Music is a divine tapestry which weaves in and out of our lives, hopefully making us better for it.

It's hard not to think of music as a magical creation. It's mysterious, lovely, and wonderous all at the same time. I hesitate to imagine a world without music (though it makes for a great story plot), and I am ever grateful to those of you who create it.

Thank you, musicians and composers. You've made our world a better place with your talents.

- M

All time favorites, or at least a bunch of stuff I love

When someone asks me what my favorite something is, it's nearly impossible to pin down just one thing. I usually give a list of my top five or so. Take movies for example, if I was asked to name my top movie, I'd be at a complete loss to pick only one--although if it was by number of times viewed, then Star Wars (Episode 4, A New Hope) would definitely win hands down. My favorites change all the time, which is why I never pick a security question asking my favorite anything, because a year down the line it'll likely be different.

A friend of mine has a book filled with past major hits in books, and the funny thing is that I've generally never heard of both the book and the author. Amazing that such top sellers could be so easily forgotten only a couple decades later. But, we humans are a fickle lot, so I shouldn't be surprised. This is actually the reason I've studied the classics so much, because I am deeply interested in knowing what it is about these things that have captured the attention of so many for so long.

I wonder what would happen if someone sets out to make a "classic" using the techniques they've learned. Would it be celebrated, misunderstood, or ignored? It's a good question, and I'm sure people have tried it. I'd love to know of ones that are successful.

- M

Revenge!

Funny how strong an emotion revenge is. It's also a powerful motivator, and reasonably understandable by the audience as well. Taking a likeable character and then doing awful things to them, only so they can have a story of revenge is a pretty solid plot. Think of The Count of Monte Cristo, which is probably the greatest story of complete revenge ever set down. The framework offers strong themes, possibly even redemption, and is easily manipulated.

Of course, trying to make it all somehow a good thing is much harder. I suppose it depends on how far that revenge goes. Either way, the power of payback is a force to be reckoned with. I think we all have a tremendous desire to see the bad guy get what's coming to them, especially bullies. It's especially hard to see the bully get away with anything at the end, which is a good plot twist by the way.

We all have a sense of fair play, and that's what revenge plays against. How far should it go? Should it even be done? What about forgiveness?

Stories allow us to sort out these feelings in a safe way, and life vicariously through others. But, I think stories can also illustrate the rights and wrongs about certain things, such as revenge. Stories teach. The best stories teach without preaching, and we learn even when we aren't aware of it.

- M

It depends on your point of view

Somehow, the viewpoint the story comes from dicates much of how the audience receives the story. For instance, imagine how different the story would be if the villain were telling it as opposed to the hero? It makes all the difference, and even moreso it dictates where the audience spends the majority of their time. Pick carefully, and for good reasons.

At the same time, though, authors can have lots of fun taking audiences in wildly varied places they wouldn't normally go. Using curious viewpoints (like having Watson narrate, rather than Sherlock Holmes) forces the audience to play catch up instead of knowing everything--which is more typical. Or, giving a narrator which tells the audience and not the characters. Anyway, it's fun to mess around with and guess how stories could be different by just changing the viewpoint.

It all comes down to point of view. It's pretty easy to make the audience like/dislike whoever you want, but the cherry on top is the way you cast the story and how it gets served to the audience. My guess is we all like twists to some degree, but it doesn't have to be big and using viewpoint is a wonderful way to do it. Battle: Los Angeles is a recent example from the movies that I think does a good job by telling a smaller story within a much larger one.

- M

What's old is new, and what's new is old.

The funny thing about cliches are that sometimes they're true. It's definitely true for "tried and true." For some reason, stories go out of favor and then right back in. One day it's mysteries, then fantasies, and then back to mysteries. Who can guess what the next swing will be? And then there are the fads that blast out of nowhere, explode all over the universe, then go back into hiding. Those are the drops of miracle that every writer wants to capture. I love to see it happen, and dance when it does.

I've studied the classics, and great theater, oratories, and speeches. What's been great in the past most definitely will continue being great. But, how do you know what's truly great? Like the cliche says, "Time will tell." Time really is the greatest judge, even though the thought is trite it doesn't make it any less true. Scooping a bit of that greatness into your own work isn't a bad idea, instead it hopefully shows that the old is understood enough to make it new again.

That brings up the concept of re-makes. What's the best way of dealing with them? My guess is it's inevitable that re-makes will happen, so may as well go along for the ride. Perhaps like the new Star Trek movies, where the stories have the same characters but near totally different development. Sure they have controversy, but what about the attempt at taking a classic and making it new again? Was it worth the try?

I think it's always worthwhile.

- M

Quotable, favorite, wonderful, lines that tickle the mind

Most writing teachers, and probably most writers, will say that the first things edited out of a manuscript are their "favorite lines." Yet, the audience usually grabs onto them with passion and they become part of the culture. Like, "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." (apparently ad-libbed by the actor on the spot) Or, how about, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (was supposed to be "for A man" but it's still understood that way I'm sure) So, one line came on the spur of the moment, and the other probably had committee hearings to get it right.

I love looking through history and finding things like this. It's pretty obvious in our American culture that many of our lines come from movies and song lyrics, probably because those are most easily put into little sound bites or quick snaps... "I'll be back." Hee hee, Arnold had some wonderful lines--though I suspect it was mostly the way he said things that made them memorable.

Anyway, so when I'm editing I usually wipe out my favorite, pet, lines because they just aren't any good. However, there are times I wonder about it. I wonder how many quotable lines have drifted to the trash can? I wonder how many good lines never made it to the page? And, I wonder if wondering about wondering is too much.

Yeah, okay, that last line wasn't good. But, was it memorable?

- M

ps. No, didn't think so either.

Wow, that was smart, but it sure ended dumb.

I wonder how many stories are out there that start with a fantastic premise, but end with a yawn? The phrase, "It's not the destination, but the journey that matters," describes my feelings on it. There seem to be a lot of them coming out from Hollywood recently (their dismal box-office returns this year so far demonstate that). What happened? I'm sure many talented people worked on the projects, and I doubt anyone planned on making something boring. Too much red tape? Too many hands twisting the story this way and that?

What grabs me in a story are the events the likeable characters go through that lead up to the ending. The story is a natural progression, guided by the author, that allows readers/viewers to guess what's coming up. I think that's a lot of the fun of stories, where we get to play along and try to see ahead to the end. It's exciting when the story twists away and leaves us surprised, not because it didn't make sense within it's own story rules but because we didn't guess right.

I'm sure we all have experienced the ending where we roll our eyes and holler, "Excuse me, but how does that make sense?" So, the question is, what can writers do about that? I'm sure the biggest thing is having an overall designer, and design. Outline, storyboard, whatever you need to give the big picture at a glance. Even if it isn't written down, have some idea where it's all going. Do that and I'll bet the rest falls into place.

- M

Ode to The Outer Limits

One of the science fiction shows that I grew up with was The Outer Limits. It was black and white, very low budget, but the stories were absolutely dynamite! One of my favorite episodes dealt with a shack out in the middle of a dusty valley, visited by a couple with a broken down car of course. And, the big baddie was?... wait for it ... tumbleweeds! Yup, I'm not kidding. Attacking tumbleweeds. I won't spoil it, but the end result was fantastic. Probably the dumbest story idea I've ever witnessed, but done brilliantly by the quality of writing. That's what made The Outer Limits so incredible.

The show had a wonderful revival in the 90s that lasted 7 seasons. Like the original, the focus was on quality of writing and, because of that, there were only a few episodes that weren't good. Really, the whole set of shows were fantastic.

I do miss having such shows around. Shows were every episode stands alone--anthology shows I think they used to be called. They didn't stress your brain much, like short stories for the television. Anyway, there's certainly a place for them. Actually, I wouldn't mind dumping a few reality shows so we could get back to more story driven shows.

So, check out The Outer Limits, the original series and the new series.

- M

Immersion, jaw grabbing, and heart tugging.

There are some movies/books/songs/paintings that contain the entire world within them. I can hear the song, "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers and be instantly transported to another world. It takes seconds, and my heart beats faster, my mind remembers and I'm somewhere else. The song became popular a second time with the release of the movie, Ghost. I went with my father to see it--one of the many times we went to do something together. Anyway, when we left the theatre we both had the same feeling, but he described it better when he said, "It's like I just left the world back inside there."

What creates that incredible feeling that so very few stories manage? Sure, it's a lot about how we relate to the characters and the setting, but somehow there are stories that go far beyond that and penetrate deep into our consciousness, imbedding themselves so thoroughly that we will never forget them. It's magic in a bottle. I've always wondered how it happens, but maybe that's part of the magic? These things come on the whispers of angels and dazzle us beyond words.

I'm blessed that I've witnessed many of these, and seek them out constantly. I've told my children that there certainly is magic in the world, but never the sort you expect. It's all in how you define it, I think. Keep your eyes and heart open. Find those little bits of wonder around you.

You'll be all the better for it.

- M

Images, setting, and showing off.

Movies, let's face it, are all about images. It's so easy to get a sense of place within seconds, and not only that but you are prodded emotionally with the images as well. Dark and moody, or bright and clinical, movies get the viewers in the mood almost instantly. And then there are directors who load up each visual with such detail (like Del Toro is famously known for) that it all just leaps off the screen with reality; bammo, the stage is set.

Writers of books have a much harder time, since through description readers create the settings out of their own imaginations. We all have varying levels of ability, and probably varying levels of interest in creating those settings, but the writer can focus and direct the reader's attention with complete authority. Dropping in a detail, without putting focus on it, is a favorite method of mystery writers. Movies can't really do this, because it's up to the viewer to see or not see.

I love that the two mediums have such different ways of getting a setting in front of the audience. At the same time, the writers certainly need to be aware of that fact and adjust accordingly. But, don't feel bad for them, because they picked the job and so did the viewer. Like a magic act, both parties are intimately involved in creating the experience, and I believe both also want very much for it all to work out with awe and wonder.

When it really comes down to it, the audience want a good experience--despite any deficiencies. I'll bet it's always been that way: audience and story combine together, for the wonder of all.

- M

Tea. Luscious, glorious, wonderful tea.

I sit down, a hot cup of tea in my hands, and close my eyes. The aroma is sweet, beckoning; a lifetime of memories in a single whiff. Bursting through my mind come images of my childhood, of warm summers, glistening snows, and lilting breezes. With a tender sip, I drink in more than a carefully chosen concoction of herbs and leaves, but a lifetime of happiness.

Admit it, there's something more to tea (or coffee) than a simple drink. The smells tickles our brains, trigging a love that never ends. It's incredible that whole industries revolve around making nothing more than flavored water. All because we can't get enough of it. Maybe it isn't something we absolutely need, but when has that ever stopped us?

Smells and emotional memories are linked beyond knowing. Maybe it's a primal need, or just our subconcious playing games with us. Whatever the reasons, aromas of all kinds are powerful things that deserve as much attention as they get.

- M

How to Win Friends and Influence People

My apologies to Dale Carnegie for the title, but that really is what people in stories do, isn't it? After all, if characters aren't somehow relatable then who wants to spend time with them, especially over the course of a book, or even a movie. So, what's the key to it all? How do characters become favorites, or even celebrities?

Well, my opinion is that nobody really knows for sure. Why is Han Solo so much more likable than Luke Skywalker? Why is Hermione Granger more fun than Snape? Right there I'm sure there are many people who disagree with me, and rightly so. This is all based on feelings and opinions. I suppose there aren't any real guidelines to it all, other than create what you like and others might just like it too.

There is one other aspect, and it comes from that wonderful world of when people like it and tell other people. Word of mouth. Sometimes, magically, the story takes on a life of its own and people just can't stop talking about it. When that happens, one of the wonders of the modern world occurs--the story goes nuclear and explodes all over the world. I've seen it several times in my life, and I can't help but be impressed every time.

What am I getting at this time? I'm saying that if you have a story idea, then get out there and make it happen. Who knows. Maybe yours will become the next wonder that fills our world with fresh imagination!

- M

Death and Survival, or when Characters achieve Immortality.

Everyone dies, but that's not necessarily true in stories is it? What I find interesting is that in most movies the viewer has no fear that the main character(s) will die. Of course, that's party due to the fact that people generally like having the hero survive. At the same time though, it makes the tension of death less visceral and makes the trials of the story seem less personal. I'm a big fan of never letting the audience off the hook, and letting them know in no uncertain terms that the main character is up for elimination like everyone else.

Literature tends to be a bit harsher on characters than movies, but maybe it's because the audience tends to spend a lot more time with the characters and so are more capable of absorbing character death than someone watching a 2 hour movie. Look at the death of Gandolf in The Lord of the Rings. In the book the reader had already spent a considerable amount of time with the character, and his death was a huge shock, but the story itself plowed on. In the recent movie version, it occurs at somewhere around the 2 hour mark. That gives the viewer only 2 hours to form an attachment and then it is savagly sliced away. I imagine it stunned many people, especially the ones who haven't read the books.

There are genres where character death is expected (horror for instance). In those, the audience is actually looking forward with eagerness, only waiting for the actual event. But, the "hero" is still not expected to die, thus is granted immortality and is untouchable.

The question is, when is it okay for the story to cross the imaginary line and wipe out the untouchables?

- M

Sounds and soundtracks

I'm a huge fan of movie soundtracks, especially when the music and the soundtracks blend together to make the movie even better. Of course, there's also the sounds that make your heart skip a few beats and shorten your life at the same time. There have been so many great movie themes, that it's even spawned its own genre of music.

Music seems to have its own interior story--probably not all music, but a lot of it does. I'm sure that has to do with harmonies and counter-rhythms and other such things. Whatever the real reason, I enjoy closing my eyes and letting the music create scenes in my head and making my own personal daydream. What is the old saying? "Music is food for the soul." Or, something like that.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting.

Now for those movie sounds. There's jump-scare sounds, and folly sounds (noises they make after the movie has been shot, to make the heels on concrete or a punch and so on). Weather sounds, and background noises. Funny how horror/scary movies become much less so simply by turning off the sound. Let's face it, the sounds make up a huge portion of the experience of a movie. Bad sounds can make a movie lousy, just as much as good sound can lift up a movie.

I guess that's my random thought for now. Until next time...

- M

Prequels, or doing it all over from the beginning

There's a current fad of doing prequels to successful movies/stories. I find it extremely interesting, especially in how the story gets told. Often, it seems that the big draw of the successful movie oddly becomes the focus of the prequel (the Star Wars movies are a prime example, with the newest trilogy spending nearly all its time on Darth Vader). While it's understandable that the most popular character is what audiences want more of, the story should still be well thought out.

I recently saw a movie called "Oz, the Great and Powerful." It's a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, detailing how the Wizard got to Oz in the first place. What's interesting is that the main characters from the famous story aren't really much in the movie at all. Naturally Dorothy isn't in it, or the Tin Man, and so on. But the wicked witches don't appear as much as you'd expect. With the Wizard being a practically unseen character from the classic, this prequel centers around him. And, in this case, it works very well. The story is well designed, thoughtful, and entertaining.

Doing prequels seems to be a frightfully hard process. As a writer, they scare the soup right out of me. To take already popular characters and describe them when they weren't popular (and doing perhaps what won't make them popular) is terrifying. I've looked at my own stories and can't imagine doing prequels to them, since I picked the spot in the overall story that I felt was the best suited to be written so why would I choose a time prior to it? So, I tip my hat to those who've done it successfully. Well done!

- M

Victory at all costs

So, the hero has trudged through certain defeat and the gates of death, won through and succeeded against all odds. Yippee! Good guys won, bad guys ate dirt. All is well with the world, and the story closes as the hero gallops into the sunset with a lady on his arm and stars in his eys. Not just a happy ending, but vindication of the entire journey.

When I find a movie that manages such a feat, it sticks with me for a very, very, very long time. I'd point to Ever After (a retold Cinderella story) as a fine example. It takes what normally is a pretty typical fairy tale when the hunky hero saves the fragile as glass damsel and turns it into the same story but with believable characters and a strong female lead. The journey is justified at the end, with an absolutely satisfying thumping of the baddies.

I'm sure we've all heard that "the journey is it's own reward." Well, yes, to a point. But, we all want to see the end of the story, right? And I'm sure that for the most part we want to see a satisfying conclusion. Certainly there's plenty of stories that end with big question marks, or a purposely unsatisfying conclusion, but the great majority close up and end. Watching the picture form as an outside witness is unbelievably satisfying.

I applaud every storyteller able to pull it off, like a close-up magic trick. No matter how close you look, you miss the technique, but you don't care because the magic happens right before your eyes.

- M

Computer/Console gaming

I've played computer games since consumer PCs first appeared on the market (yup, I'm really old). It's fascinating to watch how things have changed, especially how stories have changed with graphics becoming ever more impressive. To begin, it was simply text and everything was very much like a book. Now it's like living inside a movie.

Some of the games I've played have touched me deeply with their storylines. I cherish those times, and even subsequent replays are fantastic. I love getting caught up in them, like I'm living the story from the inside out. Even some online games have captured that for me, but in those it seemed that I brought the story and the game provided the environment. Maybe some of the fun of the story is that it isn't restricted entirely by the authors of the games--there's freedom in a game to do what you want, some more than others but there's always at least a bit.

The funny thing is that computer/console games don't translate very well into movies. You'd think such a visual medium would move into another visual medium, but I guess not. But, I'd love to find out personally how hard it is to do such a screenplay...

- M

The long buildup...

It's interesing to see how things come full circle. In ancient times, there were epic stories that all came down to the final scenes. Since many of those were oral stories, that meant hours, if not days, of story before the finale finally came to pass. Now, it's fairly normal for television shows to have season-long stories (sometimes called "arcs"). Babylon 5 was the first one that caught my eye (it originally had a 5 year arc, then was shortened to 4, but when the 5th season was picked up the final part was tacked on).

Anyway, what I'm interested in is the emotion that's generated by such long buildups. It's incredible the power that a successful resolution can have on people. Gray's Anatomy season close (with 007, if you know what I mean), apparently caused more tears than onions. That's fascinating, because the emotional impact of that last episode is far more than the sum of the episodes before it. Somehow long buildups like that manage to pay off in huge ways.

As a writer, I strive to do just that at the end of books. I study such things, try to sort them out. Maybe the biggest mystery about the long buildup is why it works to begin with? What about the human psyche wants the delayed payoff so much that they are willing to suffer through an entire season just to find out the answer? It's amazing, and a wonderful treat.

- M

Robots, Mountains, and Kids

One book that shaped my childhood has to be: The White Mountains by John Christopher. It's the first of a trilogy. You see, Earth has been completely taken over by mechanical tripods (much like HG Wells' story). But, the story is told from a young boy about to be "capped"--which removes free will to rebell against the tripods.

The trilogy goes from that humble beginning, through a hidden rebellion, and finally out to the massive domes housing the monstrous masters. It's an exhilerating ride, and I've loved re-reading the books I have. Well, had, since my copies took a swim and fell apart. But, they are still alive in my memory and I'm all the better for it.

Science fiction is a wonderful medium for a story. I always enjoy new ideas, that somehow make sense if you stretch enough. The genre enjoys saying that all its ideas are plausible, but a lot of the time it's not much more than fantastical tales featuring technology. I don't mind. In fact, I think we need more stories like that. Take our current circumstances and extrapolate until you get ideas that ring true and real.

Check out The White Mountains. Terrific stuff. You won't be sorry.

- M

Music that makes my blood prickle through my skin

Like many writers, I listen to music as I work. But, there are certain pieces that I absolutely must stop and give full attention to. I can't get enough of songs like that. One quick example is "Empty chairs, at empty tables" from the musical Les Miserables. It sends chills up and down my spine. I adore that song (especially when Michael Ball sings it).

Music is a special kind of thing, that sometimes tells a story, and many times exists for the sake of its own rhythms. I find myself coming up with all sorts of little stories as I listen to songs, like the music is sparking some sort of creation within me. Hard to explain, but I can't get enough of it.

What I really wonder is do songs like that come about by happy accident, or is that heartstirring actually implanted by the composer? It seems so mystical and incredible to me. There's magic in songs. Undeniable, incredible, impossible magic.

I will admit that my guilty pleasure is what's called "trailer" music--as in music that's featured in movie trailers/previews. It's pounding, epic, dynamic music that hurtles past like thundering buffalo. Hard not to like it, but it does get repetitive. I don't mind. I'll listen to Posthumus for hours, and not even notice.

- M

Happy endings, sad engings, or something in between?

Most people prefer happy endings, I'm sure. However, not all endings are happy and nor should they be. Afterall, the world isn't fair, so why should stories be? And what about endings that come somewhere in the middle, where nothing is resolved or even wrapped up. How do readers feel about such things?

Well, in my view it really depends on the story. Lots of horror stories end on a bad note, or even leaving everything hanging (evil defeated, but lingering). It's expected, and those stories sell very well. Happy endings tend to be the norm, tying up all the plot threads in a neat little bow. Stories with multiple books normally keep certain plot threads unsolved, so action can continue from book to book.

Allowing things to float in the wind is a risky thing to do for an author. Readers want to know, well everything. Leaving readers not only guessing, but wanting more, can cause the worst reaction of all--they put down the book and never return, and never tell their friends. Still, the concept is seductive to writers because leaving clues/gaps in the plot puts the burden on the reader to figure it out. And, when it works, it works in a powerful way.

All that said, I prefer a complex story that doesn't wrap everything up. It's nice to know that there is more to the world than what was in the book, or movie. There's a feeling of greatness, and I love it.

- M

Oh, to be a sidekick...

I adore sidekicks. I really do. They hang out with heroes, get to take part in the fun, but don't really get all the attention or suffer the consequences. Plus, they can be as quirky and weird as they like. They're just a pleasure to have around. And, unlike heroes/villains, when things go badly they can run away to play another day. What's not to like?

Another part of sidekicks that I enjoy is that they can give the gift of exposition (explaining the story) without being out of place. It's so natural for the sidekick to explain what's going on to someone else, because the hero wouldn't do that or the villain doesn't care. It helps the reader without breaking the wall of the story and just talking to the reader themselves.

The other side of using sidekicks is that they can be wiped out, taken, killed off, usually without impacting the story to any great degree. Now, it's possible to really make this a major plot point (such as the original Robin dying to the Joker, which actually was pretty huge), but normally it doesn't matter too much. The hero gets over it and moves on.

So, kiss a sidekick today. They need love too.

- M

Sadness

Sadness is a very powerful emotion that can really work well in stories. We've all felt the emotion, can relate with it, and I think are keenly interested in why someone is sad. When characters in stories become sad it causes a flood of emotions through the reader, and, depending on how likeable the character is, the emotions will spill over to the reader themselves. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's cried through a book--or a movie for that matter.

Using that emotion to move a story ahead is another matter though. It's hard to prevent wallowing in self-pity, unless that's the goal, and it get's the story bogged down easily. My guess is that we writers enjoy expressing the wealth of emotions contained within sadness, and somewhat forget the overall picture. Whatever the case, I love to feel my heart pulled sideways as I experience a good story.

This is one of those areas where books and movies actually share a common connection. Whereas in books the emotion comes filtered through our own experiences, in movies a good actor can express those emotions vividly and powerfully. That's an incredible thing, and I believe one of the best reasons for stories to exist: to bring us all together through common feelings.

- M

Passion, Urges, and Drive

In my studying the natures of heroes and villains, I've come to realize that one thing that distinguishes them from regular characters is their passion to complete specific goals. Most people don't have one defining goal that consumes their lives. However, most villains, and even many heroes, do have such a passion. They want something more than anything else on the scene.

Taken within the framework of the story, such passions drive the plot forward unrelentingly. If other characters deviate from the goal, then the one with the passion pushes them back. It naturally is the villain doing this many times, but the hero sure can do it as well. And the conflict within the story probably is because of the goal being blocked or stymied in some way.

I've always enjoyed seeing such urgency in stories, because it gives me something as the reader/viewer to latch onto. I can understand it, and immediately want to see it happen, or not if it's the villain's goal. It creates immersion within the reader. Of course, if the goal is absurd it's harder to connect with (like wanting to be the first human to live inside a giant jelly donut). But, nothing's impossible so long as the characters want it badly enough.

- M

Free stuff

In a small departure from my regular postings, I'm doing a promotion right now for my first book. Check it out on Amazon.com:
TO SAVE A KINGDOM

Here's a short description:
"We all start somewhere, but for Karl, Mindy, Clyde and Ashley, it begins with everyone disappearing. Even the chickens. Well, not exactly. At the center of their village, they find a wizard cackling about destroying the King before vanishing in a swirl of light.

Rushing to the next village, the siblings find it emptied as well—only a philosophical sheep remains, and he is more interested in pebbles than anything else. Desperate to find their family, the group rushes to tell the King what happened and ask for help.

But, the kingdom teeters on the edge of war and barren villages are just a dramatic test. Happy to help, but unable to divert his own forces, the King sends the children on a quest into the wizard's lair in a desperate plan to save the kingdom. Dreading imminent attack, the kingdom prepares for all out war."

Check it out, it's free until Sunday evening. And, if you like it, feel free to post a review; maybe even check out the other book I've written: THE FAERIE LEGACY

Twists and Turns

What just happened? Was that real? Wow, I can't believe what just went on!

Yup, I'm talking about twists, surprise endings, completely out of the blue occurences that take your shoes off and slap you over the head with them, and then make you smell your own socks. It's those incredible times when you miss entirely what's coming and gape at the page in utter shock. I think we all can agree that those times are fun beyond belief.

Of course, there are other twists that fall very flat; mainly because we had absolutely no reason to see anything coming. Having a twist should have some purpose, or reason, for it to exist. Without that purpose, it's just a way to confuse readers. I always remember watching Perry Mason with my parents, and I hated the way that good 'ole Perry would inevitably get some mysterious note, make a curious face, and then at the end of the trial he pulls a rabbit out of a hat that makes everything work. It frustrated me that it was practically impossible to guess the ending mainly because of that.

But, take a look at a fantastic twist, like the one in the Sixth Sense. Everything leading up to the ending is plain to see in the movie itself, but a first-time viewer is unlikely to notice any of them. It's brilliant. I especially like how the ending reveals itself with clips from what you've just witnessed. Wonderful. Timeless. Incredible.

I wish I'd written it.

- M

Watching others have fun

A very odd part of stories is that we get to watch other people have fun. I suppose it's only natural that we want to see interesting people do interesting things. But, consider for a moment that famous beach volleyball scene from Top Gun. Why is it so enjoyable to watch these guys (beefy I suppose, ripped for sure) smash around a ball?

I think it's because they look better doing it. Sure, it's vain, but then why not make even fun an escapist fantasy? Isn't it part of the viewing experience to watch someone have even more fun that you can possibly have? I'd say that it certainly is.

Knowing that, I'm thinking that I really need to make use of that and put scenes of absolute joy into my books. I'd think that making the story a little addicting by adding some pointless fun is all kinds of good. Why not? It sure doesn't hurt anything, and pampers the reader/viewer. And, a little pampering goes a very long way.

- M

Teasing/Poking/Proding

I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker about teasing readers. The idea came up because she was reading a mystery book and there was an object that kept making a curious appearance, but there didn't seem to be any actual importance to it. My guess is that the writer was only using the object as a way of giving a personality quirk.

So, when does such a thing go from a simple quirk and morph into a tease for the reader? Well, whenever something keeps getting mentioned, it necessarily draws attention to itself. Of course it does, you might say. There are wonderful times to do this, especially for foreshadowing, red herrings, or simply to give the reader insights that aren't otherwise obvious.

But, this can also be a not-too-subtle way of poking the reader in all the wrong places. In the mentioned mystery, my co-worker kept trying to assign importance to this object, but failed to find anything at all. Now the reader is frustrated, searching for something that isn't happening at all.

As a writer, that revelation gave me pause. I love to give my characters some sort of quirk, but repeated mention drives the story away from story and into details that probably have nothing to do with what I want to say. I think I'll do better knowing to watch out for that as I edit.

- M

Ready, Set, Oops!

Admit it, we all love to see the big guys blow it. And I don't mean just dropping their sword, but flipping up, head over heels, and slapping into the ground like a boned fish. It doesn't matter what the situation is, but when the big hero, or threat, completely goofs up and has his pants around his ankles it throws everything up into the air and makes stuff exciting.

Indiana Jones has many such scenes in his movies. The iconic scene from The Temple of Doom where he goes for his gun and finds it missing comes to mind. But, even the first movie within the very first few minutes has several: the idol dropping after his trademark smile of success, or him grabbing the vine after leaping over the pit only to have it suddenly drop him another few feet. Such things are exciting and stirs up the story stew. I absolutely love them.

I guess what I'm really talking about is unpredictability. There isn't enough of that these days. It's like stories drive along on railroad tracks, to a defined and definite conclusion. What gets me going is when stories whack me in the back of the head and make me look in another direction; "Where'd that come from?"

Keep me guessing, and keep me curious.

- M

Epic scale

What does it mean for something to be epic? Really long? Amazingly expensive? Extensively detailed? When does a story become more than itself and create its own mystique? And, one more question, is that done intentionally?

I doubt the answers are simple, or easy. That said, I think stories become epic of their own accord. The story moves from a simple tale into an area where it takes on a life of its own. I doubt the author even knows its happening. To me its the magic of writing, and that's a big part of it.

Certainly there are some that set out to do an epic, such as The Lord of the Rings, or the Iliad. Stuff like that started out huge and never slowed down. They also drew on massive amounts of existing mythology and legend. Creating all that from scratch takes a lot of time, years and more.

So, what's my point? It's just that trying to be epic isn't what most stories are about. They should strive to be the best story they can be, without the baggage of excess. If you can infuse a story with that without pushing too hard, then fantastic; go for it. As a reader, I enjoy an epic story, but I'm absolutely looking for simple entertainment. A good story isn't always an epic story, but an epic story isn't necessarily a good one either. Tread carefully.

- M

All about fun

When I think of stories, I think of fun. Adventure. Escape. Living vicariously through someone else. It's about escaping to somewhere else.

I told my children, when they were just starting to read, that I've flown through space, fought dragons, gone to the depths of the ocean, and zipped through time. How? Through books. I was there, if only in my imagination. But what does that matter? It happened in my mind's eye, so why not simply let it happen and enjoy it to the fullest?

Adults, for some reason, don't allow their imaginations to run free. Perhaps it's trained out of them? I've always suspected that adults maintain such a death grip on reality because imagination seems useless in the "real world." I completely disagree. What's wrong with enjoying cloud animals, or flitting about with the birds, or taking a trip down the river with Tom Sawyer? It stretches the mind, allows it to breathe, and provides inspiration.

So, pick up a book, and get to work expanding your mind!

- M

ps. And, while you're at it, check out mine too :) The Faerie Legacy

Pain

How can pain be useful in a story?

Well, there are many types of pain, many kinds. There's mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and maybe even more. We all understand pain, and we all know what it feels like. I think that's why stories with real visceral pain move us so much. Think about the recent movie "127 Hours" where the hiker had to cut off his own arm. That story was powerful simply because it was an extreme form of pain that every human being has felt, and not only that but he was alone and suffering from extremes of emotion and mental pain. A very compelling story.

What if the pain is being imposed on the focus of the story? What if the pain is used to put the reader into the pain itself? What if the main character is the one causing pain to others?

It seems to me that the conflict from many stories is because of pain. It's such an easy thing to sympathize with, and so is useful for an author in a big way. The best way, in my view, is to draw in a reader is to make them feel something definite for the characters. Do that and readers will put up with a lot of errors, just so they can continue the story to a satisfying conclusion (happy or not). I think readers love to get their emotions yanked by feeling the pain in the story.

- M

Ode to Fred Saberhagen

Fred Saberhagen is one of my all time favorite authors. Born May 18, 1930, died June 29, 2007. He was the author of the famous Berzerker series of science fiction stories, and also had a serious knack for taking established stories and giving them his own unique twist. His stories had a significant impact on my own writing, and freed my imagination from the restraints that many people place on their own imaginings.

As much as I love his Berzerker stories (regarding massive planet-sized robots fighting a nearly exterminated humanity), it was his re-imaginings of classical mythology that worked on me the greatest. The Book of Swords, the Face of the Gods, took mythology and twisted them into very nearly making complete sense in a practical way. He did the same with Dracula, giving that myth a realness that is absolutely incredible. I love how his stories came alive with a reality that I couldn't find in any other writer.

More than any other writer, Fred Saberhagen taught me how to infuse my stories with imagination. He taught me not to fear twisting perceptions and gaming the reader. I learned an enormous amount from him, and it pains me that we will never see another word from him. He was one of a kind, and I am grateful I saw him, at least a little bit, running around behind the words on the page.

- M

Remakes/Reboots

With the current flurry of Hollywood remakes going on, I wanted to consider what the reasons are for it all. There's a long history of retelling popular stories, and it's not a bad thing in my mind. After all, if a story worked before it will probably work again. Depending on who you listen to, there are a limited number of story types (as few as four, and up into the dozens). Anyway, there just aren't a whole lot of ways of telling man vs. nature for instance. But, those are just story types; the framework binding a story together.

Remaking a story usually involves modernizing, or retelling it with a different perspective. Actually, one of my favorite movies is a remake: "Ever After" the Drew Barrymore reimagining of Cinderella. Done thoughtfully, it's a great thing and can be very respectful. It comes down to taking something that worked before and making it your own. In my opinion, it's risky and requires a lot of respect for the source material.

This new trend doesn't respect it's source. Hollywood is doing it just to get more money from a concept/franchise that isn't producing anymore. I think that's why the new "Lone Ranger" film is doing so poorly. Even the new "A-Team" movie had more respect for the old show. I guess the main thing is that it's a risky choice, even with things as classic as "The Hobbit."

- M

Cats

I think the strangest animal I've ever encountered is the common house cat. They have an incredible ability to completely creep me out by walking up and staring with an intense concentration at absolutely nothing. Makes me understand why the ancient Egyptians thought cats communicated with the dead. Absolutely eerie.

Where a dog would run around, waiting to do something for its owner, cats meander about until they want something and then won't go away. They have begging down to a distinct science that even a two year old would envy. It's fantastic how guilty I feel when it's not quite feeding time and the cats are staring at me. Absolutely amazing. Puppy dog eyes have nothing on cats.

Did I mention that we have two of the critters? Twice as bad.

Maybe the Egyptians were on to something? But, cats aren't spirit creatures. They're aliens. Nothing from this great Earth could possibly tug your heartstrings while simultaneously ignoring you completely. Aliens. I swear. Maybe inter-dimensional? Still, I've never seen weirder creatures.

- M