A long-overdue update... and a call to join the Table!

Wow... So apparently, it's been several months since I've posted anything on the Table. As many of you know, my full-time job has been keeping me pretty busy, and to top it all off, I'm midway through the first draft of my first novel (Chapter 12 in progress!!!). So at least a valid excuse for stepping away from the table, even if it's been an extended leave of absence on my part.



All in all, things are going pretty well, and I feel like my creative side is starting to pick up the pace and finally become more productive again (hence this post). Every moment I can spare has been spent to either plugging away at my novel... which intermittently feels like it's going either great or terrible, though the end result is probably somewhere in between... or exploring some other part of creative outlet.



I've recently developed an interest in voice acting so I've been actively reading a book about that for the past couple weeks. This may surprise some of you... since it's not something I typically show off (in fact, only a handful of people outside of my family are aware of it), but I have long had a fascination with voices. Maybe that explains my fascination with animation (Family Guy, South Park, Robot Chicken, etc.). Anyway, I'm known to often bust out a movie or TV quote in character, and I considered it basically a useless skill good only to amuse others (and myself). But it's been great fun thus far to learn a little more about it.

In addition, I've been writing - albeit sporadically - for popular science fiction website AirlockAlpha.com, contributing movie and soundtrack reviews on a regular basis. Starting next week, I will also be posting weekly episodes reviews for the second season of Dollhouse, the new show from Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you haven't checked it out yet, you're missing out.

However, while I've been busy exploring other endeavors (and outlining the novella I'm going to write in November for NaNoWriMo - more on that later), my creative focus has remained locked on to the novel. I'm detemined to finish my initial 20 3,000-word chapters by the end of October, and because I know several of you are also working on novels or assorted other projects, I'm considering re-introducing the concept of The Crooked Table meetings. I'd like to get at least 5 of us to commit to at least monthly meetings so that we can discuss any issues we're having with our stories, our processes, etc... and also exchange some of our work for constructive critiques (yes, me too...).

So let me know if that's something you'd be interested in being a part of and what your schedule looks like. Ideally, we could arrange something for something in October so that we can discuss our goals for NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month for the uninitiated). Either comment here or shoot me a message at robertyaniz1983@gmail.com.

Oh, and one more thing: I'm planning on making more regular contributions to the Table and hopefully get its new home at www.thecrookedtable.com up and running in the next few months. In fact, I'm currently taking a daylong HTML course to help me develop my web design skills, like right this very minute!

So stay tuned (and stay patient), the Table is far from dead, my friends...

Happy writing,
Rob

"Life sucks no matter what so don't be fooled by location change."

I think I got that from a Daria episode....remember that show?

I used it because I've learned something very valuable.

You can't force it.

You can't force happiness.

You can't force feeling amazing.

And you sure as hell can't force writing.

I kept saying it.

"When I get to Michigan I'm going to write a book. Just wait. The muse will hit me again."

Well, I'm here.

And there is not even an inkling of effort in me to write a book.

It got me thinking.

Maybe I'm not MEANT to write a book.

Sure, I'm writing.

But have I ever done anything with writing other than for me or the small community of people I choose to share my writings with?

The answer is no.

It got me thinking.

(Seems to be the trend these days lol)

I dabbled in journalism. Guess what?

I hated it.

So that idea was thrown out the window.

I thought about selling some fiction.

But we all know that's a tough market and you usually have to HAVE money to start that process....which I don't.

Maybe being a "starving artist" isn't so bad?

I think it works for me.

I still write every day that I can. I still LOVE most of what I write.

And I get positive feedback all the time.

Do I really NEED to be a best selling author?

Is it my calling?

Wouldn't it have happened by now if it was?

Now, keep in mind, I'm not knocking anyone's writing goals/dreams/schedules at all.

I just know that they don't work for me.

Writing just works for me.

And writing about WHATEVER works for me.

If I sat here and cried every day because I've only been published in small community publications then I'd probably never pick up a pen again.

So I just enjoy it.

I enjoy reading what I write and sharing it with others.

If ONE person gets something out of what I've written....well then I feel my job is done.

And who knows?

Maybe when I'm dead someone will make a killing off of my old notebooks and whatever they find on my trusty hard drive.

Good for them.

Look at Emily Dickinson and a lot of our fallen comrades.

They didn't live to see their work go anywhere.

But I bet they're happy about it now.

Who knows?

We don't really.

So just keep doing it, fellow writers.

No matter what, if you love it....do it.

And don't give up even if it's not producing the results you want.

If it's meant to happen it'll happen.

And if not....well it was fun to try now wasn't it?

What to Look For

I'm not exactly finished with my book. Ok, I'm not even close. But I have been reading up a lot on shopping for agents and sending out queries. Here's a good blog article on what to look for in an agent. Enjoy! :)

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/04/10-things-to-expect-from-agent.html

To the 'Twilight' haters: lighten up

So, if you all haven't heard by now a young woman by the name of Stephenie Meyer has written a book series about teenage vampires in love that have sold over 25 million copies and has thus sparked a movie deal where the second installment has (I believe) just finished filming.

No?

Oh wait, Edward Cullen?

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about now, right? ;)

There isn't a person on the planet left who hasn't at least heard of the phenomenon known as Twilight and I'm sure that every one in five people on the planet knows someone who has the hots for the series' main character, everyone's favorite emo vampire: Edward Cullen.

Now, I'm a Twi-fan. I won't lie. After I saw the movie trailer for the first time I had to know what all the fuss was about. I finished the series in a week and saw the movie on New Year's Day. I wear the "Alice choker" daily and I stare at the Cullens who are hanging on my door before I go to sleep every night.

Obsessed?

Maybe.

But, I'm ok with that. :)

What I'm not ok with are what I'm going to refer to as the "Twi-haters".

Twi-haters are people (who more often than not have never given the books or the movie a chance and just hate on it for the idea itself) who just hate on Twilight because of reasons like "it's gay", "it's lame", or "those aren't real vampires."

"Those aren't real vampires" is my absolute favorite!

"Sooo....vampires are real?"

Come ON, people!

Stephenie Meyer wrote her interpretation of vampires with the target audience being 12-17 year old girls and BANKED.

Bottom line.

Anne Rice did hers. Bram Stoker did his. Etc. Etc.

And these 12-17 year old Twi-fans of today will take an interest in vampire stories and read what we consider "cool" or "real" vampires when they are older.

Am I the only one who sees it for what it is?

A book series? A very (in my opinion) well-written narrative?

(*side note: Granted, I did get a little bored with being in Bella's head through the ENTIRE series but that's another post....*)

I may be a little biased and not because I'm a Twi-fan but because I'm a kids fiction fan in general.

Yes, like Whitney Houston, I do believe that children are our future and the messages in kids fiction (especially those in the young adult category) are excellent and many authors are pushing boundaries and actually writing about reality in these books to give our kids a better world view and understanding.

It's great.

Let's break down Twilight for what it actually is, shall we?

Picture yourself as a 14 year old girl.

You're a new student. You're kind of clumsy and awkward.

The hottest boy in school who no one can get to date them seems to want to date you but you're not sure because he acts so weird around you.

You like him a lot and can't stop thinking about him.

Weird things start happening in your town.

People are getting hurt.

You're worried about your parents and often times you feel like you're the parent.

You nearly get hit by a car.

See?

Take these issues....serious issues that are tough for ANYONE to face....and throw in something dangerous and exciting to captivate their attention: forbidden love and vampires.

BAM!

Stephenie Meyer = genius who has a lot of money right now :)

(Well, maybe not genius but do you see my point?)

She had an idea. She went with it and is extremely successful doing what we all love.

I congratulate her.

And I thank her because I actually enjoy the series. :)

So, yeah....Twi-Haters, it is what it is.

And it's ok to get your little sister that Edward Cullen action figure if she really wants it.

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