Started reading Paul Tremblay’s A Head full of Ghosts whose title is based on the Bad Religion song of the same name. Heck, he even quotes the thing. It reminded me of how little I know of the history of so many authors out there in the world who’ve influenced people. Tremblay has that connection to Punk Rock, and it may resonate in aspects of his work. You see that duality in the character(s) of Knock at the Cabin Door, which is an adaptation of his novel The Cabin at the End of the World. I don’t read a lot of his stuff, but I’m about to. I feel like I am learning more and more about being an author–particularly how much it is about putting out own influences out there and those influences not being so dang mainstream.
Good writing comes from pain. I have that to spare. However, the catch is to not just preach or bleed but to drag the reader along with you so that they can feel what you feel by feeling for the characters and putting themselves in those same situations and wondering what they would do. This is about being on a journey–not so much an escape. Often that journey brings us back to where we are but with more power. That is a thing books do so well that movies do not. It takes a lot longer and a lot more investment to get there. You have to want to get there. Moreover, you have to put in the work. It cannot be passive. This is why, I think, many people don’t like to read. It isn’t passive. You have to engage and work and puzzle and feel and interpret. Some movies, the really good ones, can do some of that, but not in the way that books will force upon you.
All of this is to say I have a lot (a lot is my word of the day, obviously) of growing to do and that is meant to take me to a place where I help the readers connect with themselves.
Some Thoughts:
- There are many complexities to discuss in the ever-evolving world of sports come Wednesday. Stay Tuned!
- Noticed that there have been a few comments over the years… mostly link-backs to older posts. Odd that. Is there an AI watching?