Stretching the Tension in Writing

To all of my fellow writers out there, how many times have you heard from writing instructors and the like, that you should stretch out the tension point in your writing. How many of you have heard that you can’t give the reader what they want right away. For example, a novice might write a sentence like so:


    The cow jumped over the moon and as it streaked back to earth, landed in the shoot of a meat processing plant.


Whereas an expert would stretch this sentence out more and make the reader wait for the “punch-line” at the end when the cow meets its fate. For example:


    The cow streaked into the air, looking left and right while wearing goggles for eye protection. The cow marveled at its surrounding while the earth grew smaller below its hooves. Birds casually flew through the air and doing a double take at the sight of a cow in their territory. It was such an odd sight that the flying creatures began to circle the cow as it flew through the air. The birds flew until they could fly no longer. The cow ascended further and further, up in and through the earth’s atmosphere until the bovine creature found itself looking down on the moon which was far underneath its rudders and nipples. Terror did not reach the cows eyes until it found itself falling like a rock back down to earth. As the cow neared the earth and what was directly underneath it, the cow began flapping its four legs frantically in an attempt to avoid its eventual fate. Alas, the cow’s desperate act at salvation were unrewarded. The cow plopped down into the shoot of a meat processing plant. Before the grinding blades took the creatures life, the cow had smiled at the thought that it had seem something no other cows could ever imagine.


As you can see, my example runs a little long but I think you get the idea: to build up the tension as much as possible before you give the reader their payoff for continuing to read. The age old adage that I have heard from many a published writer is that, if you show a gun on the dresser in act one, the gun should be fired by act three.
While I do like this rule and understand the meaning behind it, I also try not to overuse it. I guess its like they say: everything in moderation, including moderation. At the same time, while I do utilize this rule, I also feel as though this technique can be utterly frustrating, especially as the reader. Sometimes, with certain writers, it can get to the point where the writer describes every little detail from how the wind feels blowing against the grass to every piece of food on a table, its origins and down to how it was cooked, by who and even what that person was wearing with in depth detail down to the underwear. Okay, I admit that I am exaggerating a bit but you get the idea. The practice of delaying the gratitude in order to squeeze more tension out of a scene and keep a reader on the edge of their seat until they fall off can be overdone. It is possible to fill a scene with so much detail that it bogs down the paragraph or chapter. I feel as though this technique, if overused, can put off a reader and force them to put down your book which is the last thing any writer wants.

The Effects of War

In light of the revelations that the Syrian government has allegedly used chemical weapons on its own people, I feel as though I must speak to this issue of war and Weapons of Mass Destruction. The reason why I feel as though I should speak to this subject is the fact that in my novel Heaven’s Fate, the humans came under attack by the Orcs. The Orcs rush the human’s eastern shoreline and fight their way inland before finally being repelled. I think the reason why this issue is worth talking about is because in real life and in the stories that we read, too often the civilian side of war is left untold.

The chaos, destruction and desolation brought by war effects the civilian populace just as much, if not more than the military and government sections of society. With the invent of WMD’s, the world has become smaller and more dangerous. When even terrorist organizations can acquire weapons that cause casualties on an untold scale, these weapons need to be monitored and protected closely by concerned parties that have the capability to protect those weapons.

Civilians are the backbone that keeps the rest of society moving forward. If civilians are treated as no more than collateral damage then we will never break this cycle of unending wars. The reason I say this is because of a new generation of children growing up surrounded by war. Who is to say that those children will not grow into adults who are bitter at having their childhood stolen and want revenge? They may want revenge on those groups of people that they feel did not help them in their time of need. They may want revenge on the elite rulers, the government and politicians that should have the peoples best interest in mind yet have treated them as if they were cattle. Growing up in a refugee camp is no way for a child to live. It has been proven in studies before that for a child to fully develop into productive adults, they need two parents and a stable, loving environment. I have never been to a refugee camp but I am almost certain that these temporary hovels and tents do not provide the protection and state of mind that is conducive to positive thinking and growth.

If what can be said about Syria using chemical weapons on its own people is true then it is beyond unthinkable and reprehensible beyond belief. These actions should be condemned by global leaders. However, in order to initiate change we must do as Michael Jackson said and look at the man in the mirror. Each of us has probably asked the question, what can I do, I am only one person. Sometimes, one person is all there needs to be in order to effect great change.

I do not advocate violence, however, I will not sit here and act like I am some goody-too-shoes. In my younger years, and even to this day, I am infatuated with martial arts. I have practiced Tae Kwon Do and Aikido. I have undergone weapons training for semi-automatic pistols and hand to hand weapons combat. I am glad that I have this training in my arsenal but at this age I feel as though there should always be another option besides fighting. But with that being said I feel as though everyone has the right to defend themselves if they come under attack.

Let us stop the never ending attacks, the never ending wars, the never ending cycle of creating a generation of war torn, disassociated youth that never had a chance at a real childhood. The only way to stop violence is peace, not more violence. Elevate your mind and transcend the talking points of politicians that seek to divide us. Instead, let each and every single civilian bring to light and exemplify the similarities that each and every human being possesses in order to bring us together.

Writing Apology

I must apologize for not putting anything up here in so long. A friend of mine challenged me to create as much content in thirty days as possible. So with that being said, it was time to “man-up” and accept the challenge and get to writing. 

If you’re a writer then get to writing because only writing does writing. The words won’t appear out of thin air and onto the page (unless you have some special skill, if so, I NEED IT). I have so many ideas about stories that I want to write that it is hard to find time to do all of the little things that need to be done. But in preparation for a new short story series titled “The Power Array Saga” (download Part One from the EVapor ENT company website – link below) I have been trying to stay within a certain state of mind. 

When I say that, I do not mean that I am trying to stay intoxicated for the entire day from some foreign or toxic substance but I do want to try and stay intoxicated with writing. It is very difficult to put myself into the “writer-mode” and rip off over a thousand words without being distracted by something. People have real lives which intrude upon the inner worlds that we have created. 

To all the writers out there, my advice to you is to try and stay intoxicated off the fantasy worlds and interesting characters that you have created. Not everyone has the skill that some of us science fiction, fantasy writers have so be thankful for you gift and get back to writing.

~ Andre Alan

www.evaporent.com

Race, Relation, & Relevance

Earlier this month I watched a program called Open Court on NBA TV. They were doing a Black History Month Special. On a panel of ten people, eight were black and former basketball players while the other two people in the room were white, Steve Kerr who once played in the league and the moderator of the debate. One of the things that I found interesting about this panel, despite the lack of diversity, was the perspective from Steve Kerr. During the debate, he made an interesting comment, (this is me paraphrasing) “at least black people have a month; white people didn’t get anything.” Which was in response to Charles Barkley saying the joke, does Steve feel guilty that black people were given the shortest month. This statement triggered my train of thought down the following path.

I have always wondered how white people feel when they see something like Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr Day, and the Black Entertainment Television (BET) channel. Because what is interesting to me – this is a story that I have never told anyone else – but while working at a department store I overheard two of my white co-workers talking as I walked by the television department and one of them said, “if white people had a channel like that (similar to BET, I guess a WET) then other races would be up in arms.” Although I did not say anything and kept on walking, that conversation has always remained in the back of my mind (this happened ten plus years ago).

I think that if white people had a WET or a white appreciation month it would not be perceived well, to say the least. Without a doubt, other races would scream bloody murder. Hispanics, blacks, and Asians would probably feel as though their worst nightmares are coming true because these races perceive that the world is already dominated by the white man. If we look throughout history, Caucasians have basically taken whatever they wanted and claimed it as their own; they already have the twelve months of the year and they own the history books.

What I don’t understand is how white people see the world. White people, I think as a collective group doesn’t realize the fact that – although some of them may not be Warren Buffet or Bill Gates – they still have an upper hand on every other race, especially black people, and especially in America. I think, white people don’t understand that by being born white, they are given the benefit of the doubt and that is something a black man never has. I’m not sure what the first thought is that a white person has when they see a black man but I am almost certain that it is more closely associated with a negative image rather than a positive one.

With that being said, I know for a fact that some black people look at other black people and they will think something negative first as opposed to opening welcome arms to your brother; but don’t get me started on black on black racism because I feel as though that is a much larger problem and a topic for another day. I mean seriously, how can we expect other races to take us seriously when we break our backs to perpetuate stereotypes and continue the “crab-in-a-bucket” mentality. I believe that part of the reason for this is because white people have controlled the narrative and the headlines for so long that black people have taken the stance of “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” which throughout history has been someone with white skin. Therefore, black people will put down other black people just to have a seat at the white mans table. How can we combat this, for one stop looking up to celebrities as if they are the saviors of the world. Secondly, the African American community needs more positive role models besides seeing the same tired images of black people on television. Thirdly, we need to value education more, which is easier said than done.

Lastly, as a side note, when are we going to stop idolizing celebrities and entertainers and start valuing the hard working business man or the quality teacher or the two parents that are still together and putting their child through college? When are we going to give regular people a chance to tell their story? Everyone has a unique tale to tell, not just sports heroes.

New Years Resolution

               A midnight kiss draws near and with every passing second the smell of alcohol assaults your senses while the person standing several millimeters in front of you puckers. Instead maybe you are the person sitting on a cushioned wooden bench with head bowed and hands clasped tightly together. Different cultures share one thing in common when it comes to the New Year, which is a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year. In this post I would like to take a closer look at the New Year’s Resolutions phenomenon and celebrations that come with the passing of a year.

The definition of the word ‘Resolution’ according to Dictionary.com: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. This is the right definition to encompass what our New Year’s Resolution is…, but wait, what exactly is this thing called a New Year’s Resolution and where did it come from. According to Wikipedia.com, a New Year’s Resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults made New Year’s resolutions. At the start of the 21^st century, about 40% did. Now why is that? Why such a large jump in participation? Let us go back to the origins for a moment.

               January gets its name from Janus, the two-faced Roman god who could look back on the previous year and past events as well as forward to the future and the New Year. Janus was also the patron and protector of arches, gates, doors, doorways, bridges, endings and beginnings. When the Roman Empire took Christianity as its official state religion in the 4^th century, they no longer made resolutions that worshiped and gave offerings to Janus. Instead, they were replaced with resolutions that strived to be good to your fellow man and by praying and fasting. Christians were reluctant to participate in some of the New Year practices affiliated with the idolization and worship of the pagan god Janus. In contrast, the Puritans urged their children to skip the revelry and instead spend their time reflecting on the year past and contemplating the year to come. In this way they adopted again the old custom of making resolutions. 

               Now in today’s world of the fast paced, all digital 21^st century, how did the New Year’s Resolution become wrapped up into drunken debauchery when the clock strikes midnight. I cannot in good conscience sit here and try to act ‘holier-than-thou’ because I have, in the past, participated in unsavory activities as the year began anew then woken up with a headache for the ages. But that still begs the question, where do we draw the line. Moderation is easier said than done. How do we celebrate the past and also give thanks for the future? How do we strive to be better human beings and help our fellow man yet also rejoice in the moment?

              

               It is a fine tight-rope that we must walk as human beings. If we stray too far to the left or right then we face ridicule and annihilation. If we live our lives according to our own moral compass then we run the risk of falling over the edge of the map and into the abyss.

               *** Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ~ Mathew 7:14 ***

Doomsday

It seems like this topic is on everyone’s mind as 12/21/2012 approaches. As this infamous date draws near, we are inundated with television programs and other writings that state this date will be the beginning of the end. I believe that this is all a result of mass media, mass hysteria and a misinterpretation of ancient prophetic texts. People routinely point to the fact that several cultures separated by miles and centuries have similar world ending catastrophes.

Personally I believe that the earth will keep on spinning, on 12/22 just the same as before. Also, being as that I am a Christian, the Mayan prophecy is intriguing but at the same time the bible states that no man will know the time and date.

However there are a lot of once in a lifetime celestial events occurring in the year 2012 and with mass media it seems like more natural and un-natural disasters are happening more frequently. We are living in a golden age of information. Never before on earth has information traveled from remote locations in other continents and spread to the masses.

The focus on 2012 has given humanity the opportunity to re-examine itself. With the birth of the industrial age, the human population has exploded like never before and we have tipped the scale in our favor. With that being said, what happens to the other side of the scale? We have entered the realm of the Gods with the ability to alter life and potentially create artificial life and human clones. We are in uncharted territory and with the human exploration space age approaching, I think it is time for humanity to seriously consider leaving our home world if we truly want to survive. Threats from asteroids, comets, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and even killer planets could destroy everything that the human race has built.

Therefore, in the face of annihilation, can the human race truly come together and cooperate to save ourselves. Can we put aside or differences, whether they be religious, territorial, racial, etc in order to build a better life for future generations in the stars?

I Am

I am an artist
I am a writer
I am the creative juice that oozes through the pores of late night dreams
I am an after thought at the end of the story
I am strong, yet humble, powerful and graceful
I am the legal owner, the elite protector
I am the sun in the dark
I am a wink and a kiss on the cheek
I am a nerd, a geek
I am the secret you quietly keep
I know who I am
I am a man
Yes, the A man, the B man, the C man, even the X man
I am the next man, the best man, the He man, the Ice man, the Super man
I am the it man
I am the sh!t man

By Andre Alan