A couple weeks ago, my movie night was revisiting Rampage, the 2018 video game adaptation starring Dwayne Johnson, Jeffery Dean Morgan, and a giant cgi gorilla. When I first saw the film in theaters, I found myself unexpectedly pleased by it, at least for what it is. Keep in mind that I saw it just … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Rampage’
On Writing
Scene Dissection: ‘Jaws’ on Dialogue Serving Multiple Purposes
Like the contents of a bug-out-bag, every detail of your story should serve a purpose, and preferably more than one. This doesn’t just apply to plot points, but ideally to the individual elements and dialogue that go to make up a scene. For instance take the introductory exchange of dialogue from the Brodys in Jaws … Continue reading Scene Dissection: ‘Jaws’ on Dialogue Serving Multiple Purposes
To Build a Fire
I sometimes visit my sister, who lives in Maine. The cabin on their land has a wood stove (fireplaces aren’t used much in Maine, since they don’t radiate heat very well), so I’ve had a fair amount of experience making up fires. You start by arranging a pile of kindling: ‘fat wood’, sticks, pieces of … Continue reading To Build a Fire
Tips On Formatting Your E-Book and Paperback for Amazon
I haven't self-published anything in a long time, and prepping Wisdom of Walt Disney for paperback and re-publication has required me to learn or relearn a lot of things. Though the experience still hasn’t been nearly the nightmare it was the first time I tried it. To make it easier on any of my fellow … Continue reading Tips On Formatting Your E-Book and Paperback for Amazon
On Bad Analogies
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks back about original novel of Bambi, by Felix Salten. The gist of the article was regarding how different the book was from the film, and in particular how the book had a strong theme of the experience of minority groups (Salten was an … Continue reading On Bad Analogies
Sympathy for George Lucas
There are a lot of mixed feelings towards George Lucas these days after three poor prequels and the ill-judged efforts at a ‘special edition’, among other things. It’s trendy to hate him. Personally, I don’t. I feel sorry for him. This is all speculation, but the way I see it, Lucas created something great, the … Continue reading Sympathy for George Lucas
Flotsam: A Hodgepodge Ending in Lovecraft
1. I try to hunt up simple, straightforward points where ideas make contact with reality in order to judge their truth or falseness. Preferably reality I can see for myself, or which is at least clear and concrete enough to be resistant to rhetoric. For instance, a question that occurred to me this week: has … Continue reading Flotsam: A Hodgepodge Ending in Lovecraft
A Disappointing Ending
I finished Cowboy Bebop this weekend, and, I have to say, I was really disappointed by the ending. I won't say what happens, except that's it's ambiguous and the writer has explicitly said that he wants people to make their own minds about it. Well, I can do that. In fact, I might end up … Continue reading A Disappointing Ending
Thought of the Day: A Realization
While cooking dinner tonight, I suddenly realized something. You know that episode of The Simpson, 'You Only Move Twice', where Homer gets a dream job with a boss who turns out to be a Bond villain ("My department is way ahead of the lasers and germ warfare divisions!"), only for the rest of the family … Continue reading Thought of the Day: A Realization
Flotsam: New Apartment, No Internet, and Rabbits
1. Last week I realized a nearly five-year goal and finally moved back out into my own apartment. I've been too busy setting up to settle in yet, but already I feel the enormous relief and joy of having my own space once again. 2. The chief downside, at present, is that I don't have … Continue reading Flotsam: New Apartment, No Internet, and Rabbits
Serpent's Den 