Summer Reading

Happy Memorial Day!!!

Summer begins today and that means it's time for summer reading. Of course, NPR has a few suggestions and so do I. As if you magically have more time to read over the summer. You know if you have a job that allows you to have more time off during the summer then here are NPR's suggestions.

But, if those books sound a little drab then here are my suggestions.


A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid

A small book about the huge impact of the tourism industry.  Poetic verses will guide you through Antigua.


Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

I read this book back in high school. It steered me away from acid. But, more importantly it showed the harsh reality of the mid to late 60's. It is a heavy tome. Yet, a surprisingly quick read. It's Wolfe's rhythm that keeps the bus moving at a easy pace.

Pet Cemetery by Stephen King

Read this one outside, under a tree, and jump at the sight of your own shadow.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Just read it. 


The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide by Douglas Adams

You have two choices here. Either buy just the first book or you can buy the whole series in one massive collection. Either way, you are going to laugh so hard you'll remember why; it's important to always bring your towel.  I know it's part of my personal reading goal this year to re-read the first book and then the rest of the series.


Fables by Bill Willingham, Art by Lan Medina

If you ever wondered what your favorite heroins from your childhood are up to now. Well you might be surprised. Make sure to pick up this scandalous continuing series. Because, what's summer reading without a little scandal?


The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Welles

There's a number of books you can download for your Kindle for free and this is one of them. A spooky little read that actually had me terrified at some points.

Carnage Road: A Zombie Novella by Gregory Lamberson

Support Buffalo author, director, and colleague by purchasing this fun little novella.

My big summer reading goal is to finish reading The Forever War, read the corresponding season in Stephen King's Different Seasons. The summer story is Apt Pupil. Then I'll figure it out from there. I'm on a real King kick so we'll see what that brings me too. My fiance suggested I read Huckleberry Finn. There is a also a large collection of free books stacking up on my kindle.  So we'll see and  I will keep you posted on my summer reading and writing.

As they always say "You have to read to write."

Also, keep looking here for some more exciting short stories by ME. There is one coming soon. I promise!

Thank you!

-PV

Rough Edges

What a lovely night and such a perfect time to write.

I have a preference for hand pressed paper. I never write on it; I just like the way it feels. I may have my writing rituals and a specific kind of paper is not one of them. But, I do like to tear the paper when I'm anxious or filled with thoughts. I like thinking how the paper will never truly be whole again. Since, all of those little particles of paper collected on my desk in dusty trails. I look at the edges and I imagine the landscape of my setting. I think about a character who's either rough around the edges or lives out there on the edge.

Although, it's a little late I want you to tear a piece of paper and write on the pieces. Just a simple free writing exercise. But, stare at the edges first and really think. I did this and ended up writing a really heartfelt letter to my friend on a quarter sheet of paper. He wrote back on a half sheet. I think next time I'll write one on a three quarters of a sheet.

So... I'm going to write now. Not on a small quarter sheet of paper. But in a word processing program. I'll leave you to your writings. Please comment and tell me of your results.


-PV

Also, don't forget coming soon my blog on Editing and After Effects and another short story or chapter of something.  It's been a hectic two weeks, trust me. Anyhow, look for something soon.

Death! Goodbyes! Unrequited Love!

Hello, tonight's post is sad. 

Since, 2005 I have lost a few close friends and I think about them daily. I think about the way they died and never being able to say a proper goodbye.  I think about what I would have said or maybe even should have said. I think about how my life has been a series of good-byes since I graduated from high school in 2005. Always thinking each goodbye wouldn't be the last one. But, the last one for awhile. Until, we meet again and that one wouldn't be the last goodbye, either. I always hoped there will be years of "Goodbye for now, I hope I get to see you again soon. You should come visit sometime. Just drop me a line." But, as the concept of living 3,000 miles away from my hometown becomes more of a reality. I begin to think about the number of goodbyes, I have left in me. How many more can I handle before, I start to breakdown every time I drive to the Fly-Away or the airport. Will I say goodbye so many times that I just become desensitized to the whole process and I can say my goodbyes without any tears; let alone a blink. The only thing I dread about my wedding in June is saying goodbye to everyone, at once. It's going to be a huge sucker punch no matter how much I brace myself for it. I hope I can handle it.

The other thing I think about when I think of my friends who have passed is, unrequited love. I will never be able to express the amount of love I truly felt for them and all that I want to thank them for.  Then I think about who they loved and who they carried a flame for. Did that person ever know my friend loved them madly? Point being, if you love someone let them know. Your car could overheat on a busy highway and catch fire; and you will never see that person again.

When you're writing tonight or tomorrow or in the near future think about this. But, make that phone call and tell someone, every secret you don't intend on taking to the grave with you.

In the meantime... I hope you live long enough to at least read my next post. But, if you're on your death bed please have someone push it to the top of a steep hill and ride it down. Shit, you only live once. Might as well have some fun.

Thank for reading.

-PV

In case you need cheering up.

The Walter Murch Exerience

Hello followers,

I think writing in bed was a true success. I wrote about 11 pages and drew a doodle of a puppy. Which, will roughly translate into five typed pages. Including the puppy doodle, of course. The thing I loved most about this method was the maximum comfort which really helped the creative juices flow between my fingers and my pen.

Needless to say, My Words Per Minute do not match my thoughts per minute.  My pen moves much more swiftly than my chubby fingers that get tripped up contently on the keys. Writing and editing at the speed of thought. With my pen to the paper, it becomes more of a associative writing experience that expands the world I'm creating. When it comes time to type this out my hand writing will be a pain to read. But, I will have the ability to make revisions as I type this story out, making a stronger second draft.

If I had more time to write today. I think I would have written a lot more. But, sadly I have a closet to clean and a tomato sauce to make.

I'll see you later.

Here's some St.Vincent to write to. 

P.S. The lying down method is a great way to pass gas.

The Walter Murch Method

Hello followers,

I have been doing some research on Editor, Sound Designer, and Writer; Walter Murch. I have a picture of him hanging from my rear view mirror, he is that amazing.  He's acclaimed book In the Blink of an Eye, got me through college. When I think about the pacing of a scene I think about the pacing of his editing and the pacing of a few other editors. Which is one of the many ways I set up a scene and the story.
In a documentary I watch in college about editing he has many scenes of him editing Blue Mountain. In these scenes he is editing while standing up.  He's even claimed that editing is both "conducting, brain surgery and short-order cooking." This idea has always intrigued me and I think it about it contently, at work.  So, I have decided I'm going to start standing up at work after hours, for now. I'll keep you up with my progress. On, my upcoming editing and After Effects blog.

HERE COMES THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Walter Murch as I found out recently is also a man who likes to lay down when he writes.  For he see's writing as a more relaxed process. Thus allowing him  to separate his editing mind from his creating mind.  So, today I will try writing while lying down. I will probably fall asleep with a pen in mouth. But, I will post the results later, tonight.

I will see you all when I'm done writing. 

Here's a link starring, R. L. Stine!

Coming Soon: 

Editing and After Effects blog and AMAZING ADVENTURES!!! Look for them, this week on your interwebs!

Unrequited Love

Unrequited love is a major theme and plot device of my writings. That unfulfilled desire can drive a character to do as much as they can and experience a whole range of emotions in the process. Love by itself will push anyone as hard as they can. But, a love that is not returned can push a person beyond their limits of control. Unrequited love, has applications far beyond human and human relationships. I may love my car and buy it the best tires and oil. But, he has rarely showed interest in me. Infact, he broke down for the last time yesterday.  So, when you or your character needs motivation, think about something or someone for whom your love is unrequited.

Also, make sure to check out My American Kundiman by Patrick Rosal. It is a excellent book of poetry filled with poems about unrequited love. I had the pleasure of meeting him and listen to him read some of his poetry. He's quite amazing.

Thank you for reading.

Now, here's a clue for something I just started writing tonight.

A Teaser of Sorts

The latest thing that I'm re-writing is the dramatic adventure The Night Tom Ran Away.

Here are a few clues:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7aVLMZvNEQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3j8q6x-gE0

and here is some music to write to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1zWZ7jl_pg

and just to sabotage your writing plans here's a little ditty to get stuck in your head.

Thank you. Look for another exciting post later today.

Cause it's a Tuesday

I haven't written anything real since Saturday. But, I have been a marathon editor and motion graphics marathon runner in the past 36 or so hours. I feel as though that is worth blogging about. But, that's it I worked nine hours yesterday to create a one minute ad. I powered though completely forgetting to eat lunch and al I know is people like it. I hope people buy the magazine or at least check out it's website because of my efforts. But, point being I'll make out my invoice and a week later I'll have a ass load of cash to that I can buy really nice craft beers with. But, I feel like I decided to writ tonight with another reason. And that reason is to talk about habits and such.

The concept of method acting has been around for sometime now. But, what about method writing? Every piece I write I find it important to drink and eat, what my character might drink and eat.  Take for instance Lionel was written with a bottle of cheap whiskey.  I'm not one of those writers that needs to be under the influence to write. But, I do need to be in the characters mindset. Although, I do not write in the first person that often, I feel the need to in my characters mind.

As I am writing this science fiction piece my bed has transformed from the bridge of the ship to the ships exterior. Because, not only do I write out scenes; I act them out. I live the characters I write. Which is why I only write on the weekends. Because, I can't be a space cadet at work. It just wouldn't fly. But, with the play I'm writing for my father's acting troupe back East, I've taken the roll of the audience. When one is pandering this is the best view one can take. I start thinking like these 50+ year olds and I start drinking what they would drink and eat what the would eat. This is when I begin to wonder if I'm losing track of the characters and if this is the right perspective to take while writing. 

So, that's where I am right now. I hope you have an opinion. Should, I stay in the perspective of the characters or should I switch it up for this play and be the audience? But, is being the audience the essence of pandering?'

Thank you.

-PV