Although not something dwelt on often, it was thrust into my consciousness recently and there it remains. I’m referring to how I speak versus how I write.
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who is also an English teacher; twice she corrected me on poor word choice. At the time I just laughed it off and continued whatever it was that I was telling her. It was later that I began to worry about it. A self-analysis began that I’m now continually addressing, even in this writing.
Maybe I should go back to the beginning. I grew up in a rural environment on the Texas South Plains where verbal communication consisted of profanity-laced and testosterone-loaded mumbles and grunts. Hanging out in the office of a cotton gin listening to farmers talk over a game of dominoes is not the best place to learn syntax and good grammar. Unfortunately, I spent many more hours as a child in that and similar environments than in classrooms. Even during the years immersed in the education system learning better, I didn’t practice verbally what I’d been taught.
Eventually, I broke into the television industry and became a news writer/reporter and so began my first foray into using our language correctly. At the time, I didn’t notice—in fact, totally blind to my habit of reverting to grammatically challenged mumbles and grunts once the red light on the camera went off.
It’s not that I’m into secular flagellation, but the cold truth is when I’m drafting a novel and my imagination is running full-bore through my fingertips the result is the print version of those mumbles and grunts. I had a high school English teacher, now long deceased, that I’m sure cringes with every other keystroke as she looks over my shoulder from her heavenly vantage point. I wager that I spend much more time editing than even the most inexperienced writers whose childhoods were spent around people speaking the language as it was intended.
Now I’m too conscious of it, correcting myself so often that the train of thought jumps track and I end up staring, unable to remember what I was saying. Grammatically challenged mumbles and grunts has evolved into conversationally challenged red faces and question marks.
We have to go with our strengths though; right? Thank God for perseverance. That’s where I shine.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Novelist
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright, Author
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Paying Attention
Writing novels has been a passion for a couple of decades transforming into a full-time endeavor eight years ago. Looking beyond the story to see the skeletal structure beneath predates both milestones by many years. Early on, I wondered: What is about a novel that will reside clearly and comfortably in the memory for years while others are forgotten shortly after the final word is read?
Once the question was asked those many years ago, so began my pursuit of story perfection. Will it ever be achieved? Of course not, but to seek it in all things, including fiction writing is a duty I will not deny. To improve from one story to the next in small but measurable ways is my goal. At some point, the novel not easily forgotten should evolve—that is the hope.
There are no new ideas; so goes the cliché, but it’s true, even biblical (Ecclesiastes 1:9): “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” This doesn’t preclude alternate uses and better ways of presenting old ideas.
Clearly, this does not promote plagiarism; instead, it should encourage us to pay attention to the world around us. Within other works lie gems to be transformed and refitted to a different use. It could be anything; a better plot direction, ways of improving dialogue flow or even an amusing or dramatic phrase or word providing the perfect device to turn a story or conclude a scene.
Do not simply scan newspaper articles, study them and every novel, movie and conversation; there are gems of wisdom waiting for you to glean. Inspiration comes to advance the search for perfection one baby step at a time. The only secret in the process is to keep taking those steps. That unforgettable novel will come together.
If it’s a brand new idea you are waiting on before you get down to business then... well, good luck with that.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Once the question was asked those many years ago, so began my pursuit of story perfection. Will it ever be achieved? Of course not, but to seek it in all things, including fiction writing is a duty I will not deny. To improve from one story to the next in small but measurable ways is my goal. At some point, the novel not easily forgotten should evolve—that is the hope.
There are no new ideas; so goes the cliché, but it’s true, even biblical (Ecclesiastes 1:9): “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” This doesn’t preclude alternate uses and better ways of presenting old ideas.
Clearly, this does not promote plagiarism; instead, it should encourage us to pay attention to the world around us. Within other works lie gems to be transformed and refitted to a different use. It could be anything; a better plot direction, ways of improving dialogue flow or even an amusing or dramatic phrase or word providing the perfect device to turn a story or conclude a scene.
Do not simply scan newspaper articles, study them and every novel, movie and conversation; there are gems of wisdom waiting for you to glean. Inspiration comes to advance the search for perfection one baby step at a time. The only secret in the process is to keep taking those steps. That unforgettable novel will come together.
If it’s a brand new idea you are waiting on before you get down to business then... well, good luck with that.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Make A Difference
I’ve seen it all over the internet for some time but it continually resonates in me: “Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the less there is and the older we get the faster it spins.” It’s simply a clever little truism, nothing profound about it.
Setting long-term goals is always changing because, with the passage of time, they’re getting closer together and my definition of long-term is under constant assault. The clock echoes louder and chances to make a mark on this world dwindle.
Is this a selfish desire? Somewhat, I suppose. Am I alone in this wish? Not at all, I’m sure. I submit that every person that has ever lived, at some point in their lives, wondered, worried and possibly agonized over the legacy they would leave behind. I am no different.
Politicians run for office to make a difference but, in the end, all they want is to be re-elected. Obviously, a politician is not what I aspire to be because they, long ago, ceased to be statesmen; all they want is to placate the right people to remain in their comfortable situations with a sense of power over people. I criticize but I fear I might be the same.
Each one of us, worldwide, must choose our battle and make a positive difference. It is up to us, as individuals. And, that is possibly the answer; do something good for someone or some group but do it quietly, just because it is the right thing to do and then urge those recipients to pay if forward.
I’m left with a desire, in my rather humble capacity on this planet, to make a positive, uplifting and forward thinking difference for the better. Should I fail at that, there’s always running for public office.
But, for now, I’m thinking Haiti.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Setting long-term goals is always changing because, with the passage of time, they’re getting closer together and my definition of long-term is under constant assault. The clock echoes louder and chances to make a mark on this world dwindle.
Is this a selfish desire? Somewhat, I suppose. Am I alone in this wish? Not at all, I’m sure. I submit that every person that has ever lived, at some point in their lives, wondered, worried and possibly agonized over the legacy they would leave behind. I am no different.
Politicians run for office to make a difference but, in the end, all they want is to be re-elected. Obviously, a politician is not what I aspire to be because they, long ago, ceased to be statesmen; all they want is to placate the right people to remain in their comfortable situations with a sense of power over people. I criticize but I fear I might be the same.
Each one of us, worldwide, must choose our battle and make a positive difference. It is up to us, as individuals. And, that is possibly the answer; do something good for someone or some group but do it quietly, just because it is the right thing to do and then urge those recipients to pay if forward.
I’m left with a desire, in my rather humble capacity on this planet, to make a positive, uplifting and forward thinking difference for the better. Should I fail at that, there’s always running for public office.
But, for now, I’m thinking Haiti.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Rabbit Died
The rabbit died!
No, no one is pregnant. The rabbit, our pet rabbit, literally died. Now for the most difficult thing to admit; it was my fault.
My wife went out of town for a few days and said, “Look after Stinky (the rabbit), would you?”
Of course I said that I would, no problem, consider it done, go have a good time.
I didn’t feed or water Stinky for three days. I refuse to offer more details than that, other than to say that his name fit the end result. I feel awful!
Newton’s third law of motion says, “To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
I learned that in elementary school but had never considered it; I mean really thought about it, until Stinky took the well-lighted tunnel to paradise. Have you ever considered it... the tiny little decisions made every day that fan into the future causing potentially catastrophic changes?
Let me set a scenario for you: I call in to work that I’m sick, just because I’m too freaking lazy to get out of bed. My project partner loses his job because I wasn’t there to help him make a deadline; his wife divorces him because he’s unemployed; he commits suicide because he loved her so much.
Don’t try to convince me that this is illogical or over-simplified because I’m now a devout believer that this happens every day in this crazy world. Granted, there may be a few more episodes between these high points and it might take years but the fact is; it happens. We just never look back to notice.
So, when your spouse asks you to feed the pet, for God’s sake, do it.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
No, no one is pregnant. The rabbit, our pet rabbit, literally died. Now for the most difficult thing to admit; it was my fault.
My wife went out of town for a few days and said, “Look after Stinky (the rabbit), would you?”
Of course I said that I would, no problem, consider it done, go have a good time.
I didn’t feed or water Stinky for three days. I refuse to offer more details than that, other than to say that his name fit the end result. I feel awful!
Newton’s third law of motion says, “To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
I learned that in elementary school but had never considered it; I mean really thought about it, until Stinky took the well-lighted tunnel to paradise. Have you ever considered it... the tiny little decisions made every day that fan into the future causing potentially catastrophic changes?
Let me set a scenario for you: I call in to work that I’m sick, just because I’m too freaking lazy to get out of bed. My project partner loses his job because I wasn’t there to help him make a deadline; his wife divorces him because he’s unemployed; he commits suicide because he loved her so much.
Don’t try to convince me that this is illogical or over-simplified because I’m now a devout believer that this happens every day in this crazy world. Granted, there may be a few more episodes between these high points and it might take years but the fact is; it happens. We just never look back to notice.
So, when your spouse asks you to feed the pet, for God’s sake, do it.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
My Muse
Where is the well from which your inspiration springs? What is your muse? Who is your muse?
Anyone interested in creating something with little more than desire and raw material floating disconnected in the mind knows well the importance of these questions. They must be answered and dealt with before a single word is written, a lone note played, the first colorful stroke of paint applied to canvas or the first chip hammered from formless marble.
I’ve asked these questions of many and have received answers that always seem to point at a single person, endeavor or situation. As examples: spouses, friends, long walks, sunsets, sunrises, fall days, spring days, holidays, stargazing, and on and on, adinfinitum. And, I always felt left out because I knew of no single person or experience that provided me with inspiration... until a few minutes ago.
It’s cold outside, so the fire in the fireplace is crackling and cozy. Cup of coffee in hand, I sat gazing into lazy flames with no particular thoughts other than appreciation for warmth on such a frigid morning. It was yesterday that I struggled with a story arc for a novel I’m working on and, after a dizzying session of mental badminton, I gave up and made stew. Not only did the conundrum return this morning, it began playing out in meticulous detail in the flames of the fire. Within the span of mere minutes, I not only had a plan for the direction of my story, I also had the answer to that elusive question: Who/what is my muse?
If you’re thinking the fireplace then you already know part of the answer, but I now know the answer is infinitely larger. My muse is not a single person or thing but, rather, it is everything and anything; it is everyone and anyone. It is whatever I’m looking at or experiencing, whomever I’m talking with and all those examples above and more—a receptive mind—eyes open and observant—ears recording the nuances of daily life.
Anyone believing that the ability to create lay without then the smolder within will suffocate.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Anyone interested in creating something with little more than desire and raw material floating disconnected in the mind knows well the importance of these questions. They must be answered and dealt with before a single word is written, a lone note played, the first colorful stroke of paint applied to canvas or the first chip hammered from formless marble.
I’ve asked these questions of many and have received answers that always seem to point at a single person, endeavor or situation. As examples: spouses, friends, long walks, sunsets, sunrises, fall days, spring days, holidays, stargazing, and on and on, adinfinitum. And, I always felt left out because I knew of no single person or experience that provided me with inspiration... until a few minutes ago.
It’s cold outside, so the fire in the fireplace is crackling and cozy. Cup of coffee in hand, I sat gazing into lazy flames with no particular thoughts other than appreciation for warmth on such a frigid morning. It was yesterday that I struggled with a story arc for a novel I’m working on and, after a dizzying session of mental badminton, I gave up and made stew. Not only did the conundrum return this morning, it began playing out in meticulous detail in the flames of the fire. Within the span of mere minutes, I not only had a plan for the direction of my story, I also had the answer to that elusive question: Who/what is my muse?
If you’re thinking the fireplace then you already know part of the answer, but I now know the answer is infinitely larger. My muse is not a single person or thing but, rather, it is everything and anything; it is everyone and anyone. It is whatever I’m looking at or experiencing, whomever I’m talking with and all those examples above and more—a receptive mind—eyes open and observant—ears recording the nuances of daily life.
Anyone believing that the ability to create lay without then the smolder within will suffocate.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Maybe Tomorrow
As the years reel by, I find that procrastination has become part of me. As a writer, I suppose it might be compared to writer’s block. But, that’s not my problem; it has nothing to do with my time devoted to the stories I write. It’s everything else; nuisance jobs and projects that seem to keep me on a treadmill.
It’s worth a mention that I’ve always had an aversion to tasks falling in the “maintenance” category.
Working until my fingers bleed and my eyes bug on things with a shelf life of decades has always been more my style—things that would fall in the creative category—writing stories, building things, woodturning, etc.
But, if it’s duties like mowing grass that will need cutting again in a week, or painting a house that will need another coat in a couple of years, or vacuuming a floor that will be dirty again by day’s end; these are the type things that seem like a waste of precious effort. This is where the adage “Life is too short” fits so well.
When life winds down and it’s my turn to see it flash before me; do I really care to see blinking images of neat lawns, clean carpets or a neatly painted house? I think not.
Now, I must go take a shower. There are a few maintenance routines I haven’t abandoned which, if I ever meet you, you’ll appreciate.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
It’s worth a mention that I’ve always had an aversion to tasks falling in the “maintenance” category.
Working until my fingers bleed and my eyes bug on things with a shelf life of decades has always been more my style—things that would fall in the creative category—writing stories, building things, woodturning, etc.
But, if it’s duties like mowing grass that will need cutting again in a week, or painting a house that will need another coat in a couple of years, or vacuuming a floor that will be dirty again by day’s end; these are the type things that seem like a waste of precious effort. This is where the adage “Life is too short” fits so well.
When life winds down and it’s my turn to see it flash before me; do I really care to see blinking images of neat lawns, clean carpets or a neatly painted house? I think not.
Now, I must go take a shower. There are a few maintenance routines I haven’t abandoned which, if I ever meet you, you’ll appreciate.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Man in The Mirror
I am a skeptic that would make a garden variety doubter drop in awe. Example: I don’t trust mirrors.
How many times have you been gazing into a mirror and saw a reflection of something you couldn’t believe was real and had to turn and see it directly before you’d believe it? Although my skepticism runs deep, I submit that this is a more common phenomenon than anyone would readily admit.
Yesterday I was doing my usual grooming shirtless in front of the mirror and, although conscious of it already, I began to examine my broadening girth—truly studying it. But, I had to look down at it before I’d believe there was twenty excess pounds my belly button punctuated that didn’t belong there.
The next time you’re at the gym, with all those mirrors around, and you’re admiring and patting yourself on the back for your appearance; you might consider getting a second opinion. I believe mirrors can reflect an ideal at one extreme and a lie at the other.
The next thing you know, I’ll be wondering if my shadow is more real than I am.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
How many times have you been gazing into a mirror and saw a reflection of something you couldn’t believe was real and had to turn and see it directly before you’d believe it? Although my skepticism runs deep, I submit that this is a more common phenomenon than anyone would readily admit.
Yesterday I was doing my usual grooming shirtless in front of the mirror and, although conscious of it already, I began to examine my broadening girth—truly studying it. But, I had to look down at it before I’d believe there was twenty excess pounds my belly button punctuated that didn’t belong there.
The next time you’re at the gym, with all those mirrors around, and you’re admiring and patting yourself on the back for your appearance; you might consider getting a second opinion. I believe mirrors can reflect an ideal at one extreme and a lie at the other.
The next thing you know, I’ll be wondering if my shadow is more real than I am.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
In The Zone
I am amazed at any novelist that can write under the stress of varied conditions; like kids running through the house, extraneous noises in the neighborhood (mowers, trucks, barking dogs, etc.) or even something as innocuous as a television droning on in another room, not even loud enough to understand a single word. I have gotten writing done on several of these occasions but the only time that I am truly prolific is when I’m in a zone and the focus tunnels to the story in front of me and my fingers crawl over the keyboard as uninterrupted thoughts are sparked and hit my fingertips at the same instant. The joy I feel when it all comes together is indescribable. My time to write is early morning; usually from about 4:30 until approximately 8:00, maybe longer if the story crescendos to an intense level and demands focused attention a while longer. After this period of my day, the ol’ brain begins picking up random thoughts of things left undone from the day before or errands that need handling; you know, all that stuff we call “life”. But every morning my goal and desire is to hit that zone and put a minimum of two thousand words in print, preferably more. Now, if I could only get my multi-tasking wife to recognize and understand the importance of that zone.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/Spring 2010
"Anne Bonny, Where Are You?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/May 2010
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