Radio Silence

I know that I have never really been good at updating this blog in a proper/timely manner.  This is something that those of you genuinely interested in what I have to say have likely noticed. I tend to deem these extended periods of time “Radio Silence,” despite the mixing of medium metaphors. Honestly, I’m not happy with these periods, would very much like them to stop, and therefore be more prompt with my writings/blogging. Whether it’s a blog published elsewhere on the web or just a general update on my work and progress, there really is no reason I cannot post more frequently… besides willing myself to get up off my ass (or sit down on it, I suppose) and actually do so.

And aside from my extended blogging in 2017 for Sideshow.com, I have not been all that productive. I’ll spare you the laundry list of lame excuses and understandable reasons. Except one…

Genre writers and storytellers are sponges.  What I mean by that is, we see the world around us, absorb it, filter it, then spit it back out as something new we can call our own.  When things are bad, we create dystopian dramas with unlikely underdogs fighting back against oppressive regimes. When things are good, we create fantastic adventures through space and time, boldly creating and discovering new wonders throughout the universe.

To put it mildly, the state of the world around us right now… isn’t good. Absorbing and viewing in the swirling garbage around us, for me personally, makes it more difficult to feel creative. But you don’t really need to hear about my general malaise at the current state of our political, social, and natural environments. You’ve seen it. You know what is happening. I’m sure you are sick of it too, and wish for some big changes.

So I blocked it all out.

I have always been hesitant to post any social or political views here. I also try to avoid it on Twitter and Facebook aside from the occasional share/retweet which, let’s be honest, is the political equivalent of saying “Yes, I agree with you, but I’m gonna do it from behind this shrubbery where the bad guys can’t see me.”

I think that needs to change.

I know many readers prefer not to have a writer’s political/social views shoved down their throats. But no matter what you are reading, chances are that is exactly what is happening whether you realize it or not. I think it would be impossible for a writer not to include at least a little of their personal beliefs in their works. Whether it is intended is another matter entirely.

Where was I going with this long ramble?  Oh… right… Basically, I need to not be afraid to state my mind. Share my opinions, even if some people may find them unpopular. I think guarding my opinions so closely has been stifling my creativity in a way, because I didn’t want to anger the limited readership I have gained because of a differing opinion.
I think that is all I wanted to say for right now. Hopefully, this will be the first of many new blogs for 2018.
Thanks for stopping by,
– DAC

Writing Prompt Wednesday – The Metamorphosis

“Gregor Samsa awoke one morning to find he’d been transformed into a gigantic cockroach… Nah, it’s too good.” – Max Bialystock – Mel Brooks’ The Producers

Another Writing Prompt Wednesday is upon us, and I think it is gonna be a fun one.

When writing, your characters undergo a certain amount of transformation as the story progresses. Sometimes the change is something physical, like the beginning of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, and other times the change is some intangible mentality, attitude, or opinion. Sometimes the character changes on the inside, like a growth of courage and strength as the adventure progresses, and sometimes its when their life is forcibly ripped away in a tragic death.

This writing prompt, I want you to take one of your characters and look at how they grew and changed through your current story.  Now start a new story, beginning with a major transformation to their status quo. Something big. It doesn’t have to be anything as drastic as turning them into a giant cockroach, but if you think that would be a cool idea, go for it.

On second thought, the cockroach thing has been done, so maybe pick a different creature.

Oswald Kafka
I turned into a rabbit.

Till next time,

DC