Pet Peeves In Writing

I love this video. It's not just because it's fracking hilarious, which it is, but it makes a good point. There are things in writing(and of course, screenwriting) that are way overdone. Some of those things don't even make any sense. For example:

Brad was knocked to the ground by a wicked blow to the back of the head. He reached up and felt the warm and sticky blood as it matted in his hair. Suddenly Rick took a step forward and pressed the barrel of the gun to his forehead.
"Time to say goodbye," he said dryly.
Rick thumbed back the hammer. Brad swallowed. It was not supposed to end like this. He had a wife, a son, back at home in bed. He was supposed to be there too, but he had offered to do his boss a favor, and this was his reward.

OK, so some of that was pretty corny but that was kinda the point. But the part I'm really talking about is where he "thumbs back the hammer" on the gun. This drives me nuts. I understand where it comes from, of course. You see, many of the guns they used to use required one to pull back the hammer. But unless your using one of those guns for your book/story/screenplay, you should just be able to pull the trigger. If you've ever shot a modern handgun you should know that you can pull back the hammer, but it accomplishes nothing.

I suspect my opinion on this will go largely ignored, and that's OK. Some of my favorite authors do it regularly, and I still like their work. It's just one of those things that I think is funny, much like the above video.

So, what are some things that you think are overdone? What gets under your skin because it either is done ad nauseum or doesn't make sense or both?

Using Symbolism Effectively

We've all heard about it. Symbolism, when combined with an already-strong story can make that story into a classic. It can take a great plot with great characters and give it meaning. Conversely, the same is true if you were to take it away from a story, because part of the magic would go with it. (Imagine Les Miserables without symbolism, and suddenly it turns into a really drawn-out action story)

So, using symbols in your writing is important. But how do you go about doing it?

If you've ever read the book On Writing by Stephen King you'll remember where he talks about it. He uses the example of his first book, Carrie, about a girl who has telekinetic powers and kills the whole school when they pull a prank on her at a school dance. (To be honest, not his best work, and he even says that he doesn't really like it, but that's not the point).

In each of the important scenes of the book Stephen King discovered that there was blood. Blood itself can be very symbolic, so he decided to play with it. He did, and the story is the result. By making the symbolism powerful he turned what in my opinion would have been a typical horror story into a story that has resonance with the reader. It will be remembered, when others that were similar but lacked that symbolic nature fall by the wayside.

Symbols are fun to play with. Dan Brown has all but made his career out of playing with them in the context of stories, and seeing what he can come up with. True, that's not exactly what I'm talking about doing with writing, but part of the reason that his work has enjoyed so much success is due to the symbols he works with and what they mean to his audience.

One of the best examples of using symbolism in movies that I can think of is the 1999 flick Varsity Blues. (Please note, I didn't say it was the best movie ever, but I like it because it's so easy to see how they used symbolism).

The story is about a high school football team in a small town in Texas. A coach, played by Jon Voight, rules the town with an iron fist. A small band of the best players must decide through the course of the movie if they are going to save their own possible futures in football or sacrifice them to end the long chain of abuses and get rid of the coach.

Several things stand out. First, Lance Harbor, the star quarterback and golden child of the town wears the number seven, the number of perfection. The entire team wears blue jerseys, blue being a color that indicates loyalty. The main character, Jonathan Moxon or "The Mox"(which makes him sound more like a disease one might acquire while swimming the Nile in Africa) wears the number four. Four is associated with 4F. 4 and F both represent failure, rejection, and not fitting into the requirements. Even the team mascot, the coyotes, lends itself to a feeling that in this town they are on their own, cut off from the rest of the world like the rogue scavengers are themselves.

In all these examples, however, story comes first. Symbolism can effectively add to your story, but you've got to make the story work in the first place. Characters have to be strong. The plot has to feel organic. If you're able to do these things, then sit down and read through it, and see if anything stands out to you. Maybe something you can emphasize more. If not, oh well, you've still got a great story. But if so, play with it and see what you can come up with.

The Goosebumps Phenomenon

Those of you who went through grade school in the early nineties will no doubt remember the Goosebumps series by R.L.Stine. I don't think there was a single person at my school who at some time didn't pick up one of those books. I ran a library for them out of my desk until the teacher shut me down. (That's the "Man" for ya, always pushing around the little guy) I never understood why the teacher was so opposed to the books, at one point going so far as banning them from class and any reading lists. (Which, by the way, only made them more popular in my opinion, and so, I bite my thumb at you sir!)

Anyway, the thing I wanted to talk about today was just how great a series they were for me at the time. I love fantasy/sci-fi/horror and when I was growing up these books were a huge influence on me. Now, I'm not saying that they were great literature, capable of standing the test of time. But seriously, do you remember how popular they were? I did a little research and discovered that they have sold over 350 million copies worldwide in 35 languages. They were addictive. I remember waiting for the next one and buying it the day it came out, then reading it in that same day. I read many of them over and over again.

I really don't know what could compare with them. Harry Potter was another series that had the popularity, but it was only seven books. We really haven't seen anything like it since then. But what made it so popular? Was it the short format? The subject matter? Or was it simply the right series at the right time?

As for me, the teacher did finally force me to choose something else to read, at least for school reports. In at least one regard I am grateful for that. The teacher had other ideas about what I should read, like Tom Sawyer(yawn) or Indian in the Cupboard(which I liked). But, ever the rebel, I had to branch out and choose something else on my own. Much to the dismay of my teacher that something that I chose was the smash hit Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton. And my reading would never be the same again....

Book Review: Into The Storm

I've been working on the restructuring of this blog(Please, Pardon Our Dust) and decided that henceforth every Thursday shall be known as...wait for it...Book Review Day!
And in keeping with that very exciting change, I have selected the first victim-er, I mean book to be reviewed. Mwa-ha-ha.

Into The Storm, by Taylor Anderson, is a likely contender for a spot on "Porter's Picks." I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for a flashy cover, and what more could you want from a cover, anyway? The other books only have cooler covers, but I'll wait to show you those until I read them.
The book inside was just as gripping as the awesome artwork on the cover. Into The Storm tells the story of the USS Walker, a "four-stacker" destroyer left over from World War I. The Walker, an aging antique of a warship belongs to the infamous Asiatic Fleet. As World War II breaks out across the Pacific there is little choice but for the Walker and her fellow ships to run, trying to make a fight of it anywhere they can. Hopelessly outgunned and out-planed by the Japanese Imperial Navy, the Walker get assigned to escort a British cruiser, the HMS Exeter, to safety.
The Japanese have no intention of letting them escape. In a multi-pronged attack they hit the small flotilla again and again and again. The Exeter goes down, and just as it looks like the Walker and her sister ship Mahan will meet a similar fate at the hands of the giant Japanese cruiser Amagi they duck into a storm and find a momentary lease on life.
But when they emerge from the storm they quickly realize that something is not right. There are no Japanese planes in the air. No Japanese ships. For that matter, there are no radio contacts, even though the radio is working fine.

Taylor Anderson, Author of the Destroyermen Series

Troubled by this turn of events they make for land. But the East Indies aren't what they're supposed to be. Dinosaurs roam the land, and everywhere there seem to be creatures, both in the sea and on land that would like nothing better to eat them. As the heavy weight of the situation comes down on them they realize that not only have they passed into a alternate universe, but that there may be no return.
This book quickly goes from military historical fiction to high fantasy, and I loved it. It had all the best parts of 20,000 leagues, Lost World, and Time Machine. It was a solid four stars, and sets up the rest of the series well.
There is a little bit of language, not much, but it's there, so be aware. Crude humor is a part of it too, but honestly. The book is about a navy destroyer and its crew. What do you expect?
All in all, I was surprised by just how much I liked this book. Fans of the Temeraire series might find it a fun( and less long-winded) alternative while they wait for the next book in that series. If you like high-fantasy or adventure novels this is also a must-read.

Who Is Your Favorite Disney Hero?

Okay, let's have some fun. We all know the magic of Disney's Animated Classics. (Those of us who are parents know them a little too well) We grew up watching them and even now when we're older many of them haven't lost their charm(again, unless you're a parent and forced to watch, say, Cinderella, fourteen times a week because that's all your child wants to watch. That's why God invented parks. To give parents an option that doesn't force them to forsake their sanity)

But, all that aside, I have a question for you. Who is your favorite all-time Disney hero? This is limited to actual Disney Animated Classics, so no Shrek or other Dreamworks characters. But who would it be and why?
Mine is Hercules. He is about as much of the archetypal hero as they come. He has awesome strength, a commitment to do good and help others, and he wins the war with the Titans and saves the girl at the end. Plus, He's freakin' HERCULES. Being the son of Zeus has to count for something, right?
So, tell me what you think. Who is worthy of taking home the crown as best Disney hero of all-time?

Horror vs Whorer

I finished reading Dan Well's John Cleaver series a little while ago. Around the same time I finished watching the fourth season DVDs of Dexter. One thing occurred to me. While I liked both of them, and while they dealt with very similar topics, there was one thing that I had to give Dan credit for.
He left the crap out of his books.
By crap I mean needless sex scenes, an excess of blood and gore, etc.... Basically the checklist that most horror movies seem to use now. Now, first off, let me say that while I personally don't believe in putting those things into media, I'm not coming at this from a moral high-ground or anything. Rather I'm taking a stab at it from a literary angle.
I don't particularly like to read or watch sex scenes, but I will allow them if they make sense. For example, there were a few scenes of such nature in the Troy series by David Gemmell. I loved the books, and when those scenes popped up, they helped advance the plot. They made sense. Which is after all what writing a story is all about.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher is another such example. The point I'm trying to get at is that while these books have sex and violence they make sure to make it part of the story.
Dexter on the other hand, includes scenes and while a few of them may affect the plot, many are just bizarrely out of place. It frustrates me because Dexter is a really well written show. But it takes me out of the story whenever they splash something like that across the screen by reminding me that this is just a show and they are looking for cheap tricks to boost their ratings. The show is good enough to stand on its own, and breaking the fourth wall just because you think that you need to dedicate x amount of minutes to scenes of that nature cheapens the work in my opinion.
What I'm getting at is my own pet peeve with most horror movies. It seems that regardless of the plot, they share something in common: they all have teens, who, for lack of common sense, would rather have sex than get on with the task of saving their own lives(which I admit is theoretically true, but not every time), and they contain a ridiculous amount of just plain gross violence, that isn't really scary so much as it will make you uncomfortable. Again, I feel that this is a cheap trick. Psycho is a great example of creating suspense with good writing, and look how long it's lasted. Just my opinion, but I doubt that in 30-40 years we'll hold My Bloody Texas Friday on Elm Street with Piranhas up in the same way. My prediction is that Psycho, however, will still be around.
Storytelling is about telling the best story you know how to. If you think that you need to add things in so that it will sell better, you're doing it wrong I think. If that's part of your story, and that's the way you want it, fine. By all means, put it in. But it should feel organic, not forced like you went through in round five of revisions and added them in.

Writing Every Day: The Key To Success

There is something I've heard from just about every person who's ever spoken on the subject of writing. In order to become good at it, you must read a lot and write a lot.
I'll admit that when it comes to reading a lot I have no problem. Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes. I'll read almost anything. If I'm sitting at McDonald's, eating, my eyes will instinctively wander and read anything from the place mat to the Spanish/English signs scattered throughout the establishment. It may be boring, but my brain is just geared that way.(Usually I bring my nook and avoid reading the signs, however)
Writing is another matter altogether. In the past I've written in bursts, throwing down up to 12,000 words in a day, but then going days or dare I say it, weeks without writing. That all has changed recently however. About a month ago I made a commitment to write every day, no matter what. The amount of work I've been able to get done is amazing. And, wouldn't you know? Writer's block is not as much of a problem. See, when I go without writing for even a day I find that returning to the task is just a little more daunting than it otherwise would have been. I don't remember exactly where I was in the project I was writing, I don't feel motivated. You know. Excuses. But excuses can sometimes be enough to derail the writing train.
So now, I write everyday. About something. It doesn't matter what. If I feel writer's block for the project I'm working on, then I'll just bang away at something else, even if it makes no sense, until I feel like returning to my work-in-progress. And truthfully, having made the commitment, and putting forth the effort, it doesn't take too long for the muse to come out and start whispering. Or maybe that's one of the voices I hear in my head. (Either way, it has great ideas)
So what works for you? What is the key to keeping the literary home fires burning while you're away doing the things that life requires from all of us. (ie, job, school, family, etc....) Many of us have a limited amount of time that we can dedicate to writing. How do we make the most of it?