Writing again.

New things coming.

Dead Oaks Chapter(s)
A New Short
Websites


I think it's the weather. And a glorious amber coloured scotch.

Honestly, I got into a horrible lapse because I thought an actual ghost hunt was going to happen, and I wanted it to happen before more Dead Oaks came into existence, but I realized I need to write while waiting for it to happen. I can always go back and change things if I have a crazy experience.

I'm also starting to read novels I've heard things about through literature lovers' gossip, things that I didn't want to read because of those very people. I'm starting with the road novels written by Kerouac. We'll see.

Trying to save money. LA at the end of the year, perhaps.

Chapter 5

... is up at Dead Oaks.

Sorry for the delay, I suck. Also, I hope it's worth it.

I've been building my own website in the spare time where some writing should be, so extra time to already missing deadlines is just a big stupid thing that happens.


Enjoy!


The new websites are coming soon! (onlythecontentmatters.com and deadoaks.com)

Chapter Four

Hello.

Chapter Four is now up over at DEAD OAKS.

Interestingly enough this is the largest chapter I've done yet, but it wasn't too late. They're coming with more frequency because I've finally got a good structure in my mind. There is one, maybe two chapters left in what I'm calling the first act of the book, Roman's childhood, with the other two acts to follow. No breaks for me on this one, I'd like to have it finished by the spring.

Probably just one chapter left, as I think about it. Chapter 5 will probably be the last we see of a young Roman.

Anywho, go read and enjoy.

B

People.

I've come to the realization that I love people. All of them. Mostly as characters, but also as real-life, breathing things that have their own stories and unique reactions and lives that they live. It's most definitely one of the reasons I love being a writer. I get to incorporate the true life people around me and shift and mold them into new beings. I want my characters to feel real, to have compelling reactions to the shit I throw them into, and see if they can make it out.

I can't do that with real people, but I can sit back and watch it happen to them. That control might be gone, but it loses none of it's compelling nature to me. This goes from the most saintly of people down to the most demonic. I might not actually love those who are evil, but I'm still interested and compelled by them and their actions. I have never gone through a single day in my life without having a reaction to something, someone, did. I'm willing to bet that you haven't either. For better or for worse.

And that's why I love writing and movies. I want to capture all that stuff that's around me. Make up new and entertaining stories for  my characters, and just watch it all happen. The best part is that nobody really gets hurt in my text or in my films, and that is the separation we all need. That's what keeps us in books and watching three hour movies. We get all of life (sometimes more than, in the case of Dead Oaks or any other science fiction piece) condensed down into awesome snippets without all the real, brutal, heartbreaking consequences.

The more real the characters though, the more we're emotionally affected by those consequences. That's our goal as creators and storytellers -- but to never breach the feeling of relief once we all realize that it wasn't real, and that everything is okay for the people playing the roles or the characters gracing those pages. We can always rewind, we can always flip back to page one.

That's something life really can't give us, is it?

I love writing. I love characters. I love people. And life is the most interesting thing I could ask for to inspire me.


B

CHAPTER THREE PART TWO

... is now up over at DEAD OAKS.



Enjoy


B

DELAYS

Sorry about the delays, guys. There are no excuses this time. I've been working hard as a gameslinger, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be keeping up with my craft. I've just been lazy.

Maybe a post on laziness tomorrow evening.

GOOD NEWS THOUGH.

Chapter Three (Part One) is now live over at DEAD OAKS.



Enjoy!


B

I'm Sorry About Your TV

Hi,

Bear with me.

You descended into my dreams night after night, waltzing in like you owned the rights to my subconscious and you just needed to check that I was using it correctly. I’ve dreamed of you so many times, I could fill books and books with the ones I remember. If I would ever have an empty night of you, I knew I would wake up in tears, missing pieces of myself.

Which is weird, because I had never met you until you moved in next door.

Strange things have been happening to me. They’re linked. I’ve dreamed of you since I was seventeen, and I’m now thirty-three. That’s more than enough time to rely on your appearance at night. Then they stopped. That’s strange thing number one.

But imagine my surprise that you had just decided to find a different way. I woke up startled and sad, the room around me looked nothing like the one I had been using for years. And then I got my coffee, and saw you climb out of a van from my window, swing around to the back, and take out a box.

You were moving in next door. And that was weird thing number two. But not the last.

The last of the odd started a few weeks ago, and is what I must apologize for. You see, I work late. So late that the only things left open are the ones stuck in 24/7 existences. So late that I wear headphones to watch TV so as not to wake up the people below me. And so late that there is nothing on TV anyway.

But that night you moved in, there was something on that idiot box. I flipped and flipped like usual, and landed on something I had never seen before. The remote battery died mid-station switch. So it stayed.

At first it was just static, you see. I tried everything I could short of pounding it with the lid of the toilet tank. Then, slowly, after about a half hour and right before I was determined to give up, it became clear. The noise went away, and there you were, dealing with giant versions of the guys who drove the big moving truck that helped you move.

You were so angry, so livid at them for breaking a clock. You kept saying, “This is an heirloom!” To which they would reply in a series of barks and grunts, growing bigger and bigger until you could barely see their eyes filled with their hatred above your new home.

And then it faded back into noise, and a loud BANG from a car backfiring sprang out in the silence of the night outside our homes. I went to sleep because the channel didn’t come back for the last half hour I was up.

I met you the next day, you were outside in your garage arranging boxes and the like and I said my hellos and my welcomes to the neighborhood. We chatted for a while, and then you told me about the movers totally destroying one of your boxes, the one that contained a clock your grandfather had made in the early years of the century. That last odd occurrence finally clicked, I heard it click in my brain like a light switch, and I knew that my TV was piping in your dreams at night. The backfire must have woken you up and kept you up for a while.

I didn’t tell you. I was nervous enough to meet the literal girl of my dreams, but more so now because of what had been happening. So I decided to write this letter.

Night after night since that day, I watched you dream from the comfort of my own couch. I’m sorry. That’s a creepy thing to do, but it becomes even shittier when I tried to use it for personal gain. You’re right. I couldn’t have really known you talked to your sister about her dog that day (or that you talked to her at all). And I’m sorry that I changed my hair because you had a dream about the pizza delivery boy. I hope that you can’t blame me, but, I fell in love with you in my own dreams over the years, and I couldn’t help but fall again in yours.

You have to listen to me. I love you.  I do. I’ve thrown my TV out the window – sorry that it landed in your driveway – so I would never be tempted to watch it again. Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up.

I’d rather have a cup of coffee, or walk down our street, or help you carry boxes. I’d rather learn more from you than what you hallucinate during REM. I’m tired of hiding in things that aren’t real, I’m tired of only really knowing you when our eyes are closed.

Even if you don’t believe me, at least this is an interesting conversation starter, right?

With Apologies,

Your Neighbor

330-555-6812

(Call Me?)

The Delay Is Over

I'm going to do a double post tomorrow.

A Dead Oaks section over at deadoaks.blogspot.com and a short story here. Depending whether or not my cousin enjoys it.


B

Yargh

Another delay.

Deadlines Are Terrible

Hello,


Deadlines should be realized as a fake idea. Especially when they're self imposed. Due to life's random bullshit, I am more than often having to resort to missing by a few days because I procrastinate in the first place, resulting in something stupid happening meaning that I've gotta push things back.


I would impose "Deadline Weeks" but what the hell will that do for me with a weekly installment project. And also, I would just procrastinate until the end of the week, blowing the "Deadline Week" anyway. This is why I need an editor, or a partner, or a paycheck to motivate me to get things in on time. So until then, if I have any readers at all, it is up to you to help me to finish on time by demanding it. 


Corey has done well so far.


That said, I'm working on tonight's submission. It should be up tonight, depending on whether or not this coffee shop gets attacked by aliens.




B

DEAD OAKS, Chapter Two

Chapter Two of DEAD OAKS is now live.

Go read it.

Now.

I'll post about my struggles with deadlines tomorrow.


B

CHAPTER 2

New DEAD OAKS section in an hour. Promise.

I've decided to split off Anna to a different blog. I'll post that if and when I decide to. At this point I'm even somewhat open to cutting her completely.

What do you think? Do you want an extra, meta-story to float above DO?


Brian

CHAPTER ONE

Haaaaay everybody.


Sorry this got off to a late start, seeing as it's technically Wednesday, but hey, I don't owe you guys anything. Right?


On that note, please start reading my new blog novel, DEAD OAKS, which was kicked off with the first, albeit short, chapter a few moments ago. BE SURE TO READ the intro post by Anna, because it's part of it all. It's right below the first Chapter. Also, I like feedback, so let me know what you think.


I'm still on track for Chapter Two to be next Monday, and it will be lengthier, I promise.




Enjoy!


EDIT: I changed the age of Roman for some reasons. If you read it when he was much older and thought it felt off, the new age is much better and more interesting.


EDIT 2: I'm thinking of splitting the Anna posts from the Novel posts, lest it gets confusing later on. Have Anna have her own blog about it, and keep the novel blog strictly novel. Anna is going to become sort of a meta-story over top of the novel. What do you think?


- B

Apologies

Tonight was my first official night at my new job, I may have to push DEAD OAKS back to tomorrow, but still keep the Monday timetable for further installments.

Sorry to those of you who were excited.


B

DEAD OAKS

Hey guys. Remember that novel/blog idea I had?


It's begun. Expect the first chapter sometime tomorrow, Monday. Here's the link: DEAD OAKS. I hope everyone will enjoy it as I work through the experience of writing it. Feedback is welcomed, and let's get you all hooked. 


HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND, GUYS.




Brian

A Story Cometh

Hello all.

It has been quite a while since I've blogged, so here are some quick updates.

1. The Secret Project has been finished. It's called "the Pairing List" and I wrote it with my fantastic author of a cousin, Corey Evans. We wrote it as a wedding gift for our cousin Erin and new cousin-in-law Dan. We wish them the best, and hope that they liked it enough to forget that we're cheap. The secrecy was so that it would be a surprise for them and the family. We'll be trying to publish soon.

2. Speaking of publishing, I'm turning a blog into a novel. I hope I can gain some followers and a fan-base this way, but if not, that's fine too. I've got some friends that might like to sit through a story, even if it's just because they don't want to offend me or because I can Punch Really Hard. I'll be writing it by section and chapter, unless that doesn't work. So, I'll make you aware of the Chapter, and then post in sections within. The sections will vary in length, but hopefully will be substantial, and will come every MONDAY NIGHT, starting when I get the first section written. I will post a link to this Novel Blog when I get it up and running. The title of the story will be the title of the blog. I hope.

3. I'll be updating this more frequently with the usual inane bullshit and tries at explaining either how awesome or stupid #2 turns out to be as I get going on it.

4. I got a new job as a game slinger at Gamestop. Time to save money and think about an actual future at some point.

5. Uncharted 2 and Brütal Legend are just so rad.

6. Zombieland was sweet, need to go see Wild Things asap. And maybe catch Paranormal Activity.

Until next time, that'll do pigs.

The End of the Tunnel

The secret project nears completion, with it's final date being this monday before the editing look-throughs. I think it's turning out even more fantastic than I had originally thought, and the idea took turns in ways I could have never imagined. It was definitely a process and a journey, and I will have a complete blog post on it when it has been revealed.

The script is well on it's way, and I'm sitting here in the coffee shop editing and polishing the first act to give to an eager producer in LA. The due date for that is next Wednesday. (Self applied by myself and my writing partner.)

I also may have cooked up another idea last night, and have been discussing it with fellow writers.

AND I want to get to my ghost story. I can't let that one slip, it's scratching to be let out of my brain-cage.

I fear a day when the idea bank runs dry. For now, though, it doesn't look like it's soon.

Now I just need to figure out how to get ****ing paid to do this stuff. The love is still strong for it, though!

Music and Writing

Do you listen to music as you write, or right before to kick-start your brain? Sometimes I can listen to music while simultaneously writing, but other times I need silence. - Corey

Good question.

I would say that 3/4 of the time that I write, I listen to music while I do so. To me it's not distracting and if I have an idea of the scene, I will actually select something that fits the mood of what I'm getting into.

That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that everything stays nice and tidy as I'm birthing words. I will more often than not stray to some other mood, or just not be digging the music, which makes me change it (the music) or what I'm writing. This is a good thing, something that I could claim I'm counting on, so as to shift what I'm writing from what I planned in to the unknown of creativity. Making those ideas flow. Y'know.

I also find inspiration in good music, which drives me to want to create things for other people to like as much as I'm liking track seven or three or twelve.

On the other hand, when I want silence, it's when I'm most focused and set in my ways on what I want to write, or that I'm in a very emotional state (I'm such a pansy) in which I don't want anything to add to or take away from it. Maybe I'm super happy and just want that to reflect in my work, or maybe something went horribly wrong and I'm writing to get it out. I need that concentration to even get me motivated to write when I'm in such a mood.

Right. Thanks for the question, Corey, it helped me update.

I was writing a bit of my secret project a few seconds ago, actually, not listening to music. Only because Allison (my sister) called and interrupted and I had to hit pause, which then led me to take a bigger break. A productive one, so thanks to Allison for this post too.

And back to writing.

Of Muffins and Coffee

Hello again.

I suppose this will serve as a warm up before I start my notes on this script once more. I've chosen again to write the notes by hand, for some reason the process of doing it that way helps me follow through. Also, I suppose, I look a bit more professional to these people occupying this coffee shop. That's a plus. I hope one day they'll ask me for a business card, and I can say, "No."

I am also currently listening to a Rayess Bek album that I bought the other day. He is pretty freaking rad, flipping between languages as he hip-hops in my brain. I wonder if it'll be conducive to good writing. Haven't tried yet, tonight will be a test.

And so I sit, with a cup of coffee and a chocolate chocolate chip muffin, ready to write.

Thanks for the company.

(I read Neil Gaiman's blog, and it seems like he has things to say all the time. Maybe it's because he gets asked questions. Ask me questions. Or maybe its because he keeps bees. Or maybe its because he is an accomplished, famous writer. Whatever.)

A Breath of Fresh Air

I've gotten second wind in my writing life. It seems like every day this week I've been off to the park or coffee shop just to write and work on things. I'm currently making notes (handwritten. that's just how I felt, and it got me going. do what it takes.) on some of my partner's section in our anti-hero script. This is long overdue, and I'm a douche bag. I get it. Better late than never, because we've got a good idea that just happens to be marketable. It's not every day you get those.

As a writer, you can't only just write things with marketing in mind. You just gotta write it down. Evict it from living in your head and make it set up shop written down somewhere. Even if it isn't complete or done, just get it out. It'll get all jumbled and overwhelming if you don't purge every once in a while and I need to get a lot better at keeping my hand on that release valve. I'm consciously aware afterwards, however, if what I've barfed onto my laptop's hard drive can be published or marketed... though, I have never really done either of those. I can just sense it. Just because I rarely go out on the limb to try and get stuff out there (YET.), doesn't mean I'm not right about feeling that stuff out. I've trusted this feeling before with other people's work to some success, so maybe that means I'm a better reader/editor/gut feeler/producer kind of guy than I am a writer.

Anywho, on the same good news front in the realm of writing: the project I'm writing with He Who Must Not Be Named (yes, that one.) is going swimmingly. After my bout of writer's block, a bit of inspiration came from an amazingly inventive and well written section by him. He single handedly kicked me in the idea factory and I ended up producing my section way before my deadline. So, thanks to him. What we're writing means a lot to me, and probably him, so whatever it ends up being, I'm sure we'll both love it and the process.

Time to flip back up to the opening thoughts of this post and talk a little about where to write. The short answer is: Wherever pushes you to fucking write.

I've rarely found that I get a lot done at home; there are too many distractions. Maybe that's just what I tell myself, but I end up surfing the web or playing videogames. Watching a movie or whatever. None of that is bad until it eclipses what I want to get done. So I leave. I may still have internet access at these places, but I am more embarrassed to check Facebook and read really nerdy things in public. Fark is okay, I can read that as a break out there in the world, but checking Gamepro religiously is just... well... unacceptable for some reason. It probably would creep others out just as it does me. I still listen to music no matter where I go though, and I can take breaks just to stop and watch people as well. If I want, order a drink and a muffin. And write write write.

I spend so much time in my room at home that the idea of Getting Out uncorks my creativity. Isn't that the basis of much imagination? To get away? For me it is.

But alas, the Grind is closing as I write this, so I will clean up my dishes and head home. Probably play xbox until tomorrow. Have a wonderful whenever-you-read-this, everyone.