What short stories and novels share 


Other than each employing the written word (obvious, huh?), the best taking care with the words, paragraphs an phrases the writer chooses, both forms share certain things.

In my many years of writing, I think I've learned enough to speak about it. I'm still learning. A writer should always be willing to learn from writing. If not, he or she may risk becoming complacent. Or, even worse, stale. A well defined idea, and characters to bring it to life, is where the writer should begin. I say begin because I think it is advisable to have the beginning, and the characters to support it, worked out before the writing starts. If that proves difficult, try writing with your ending in mind. That way, everything, can lean to a winning conclusion, which should be the goal of every writer. Your writing can benefit by self- editing, at least to know whether a phrase,  paragraph, or passage fits your story. Don't by shy about cutting problems out, it could  be the difference between a good story or an average one. Give your character, at least you central one, a problem to solve. Your story will be better for it. Admittedly, working on these things in the short story can prove challenging, but these are among the things why I prefer the short story in my fiction writing. 

If  your writing tastes lean toward the short story, a certain mindset may take hold  of you, one that you may not want to let go of. It could be that its conciseness grabs you. Or the approach the writer takes in its creation. It may that you enjoy the challenges the short short presents. For me, the short story represents everything positive about fiction writing. 

I quickly turned away from the novel, having developed little patience for it. I thought everyone's allowed to experiment, but this one proved uncomfortably tedious. During the novel's progress, I found myself searching for an ending. The one I came up with, I  felt forced, and a forced ending is something that should never be. I went back to the short story, to where I felt I belonged. I'd rather work within the limited space the short story provides. I'm not one for great amounts of exposition. Or buildup of story. I strive to get right into the story I'm writing. What I'm saying is that, for me, the novel just doesn't cut it. The short can be just as emotionally charged as the long. That said, the short story and the novel share things in common. I'm very glad they do. It means that neither of the two forms has exclusivity over the other. 

Lists of . . . 

Music

St. James Infirmary
A Day In The Life
Hotel California 
MacArthur Park
A Town Without Pity
Louie Louie
The Great  Pretender 
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The House Of The Rising Sun 
Sherry
White Rabbit
Come Go With Me 
Take Five 
 Sing Sing Sing 

Movies

In another post, I mentioned 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange. The following are a few more. 

Pan's Labyrinth 
Catch 22 
A Field Of Dreams
Apocalypse Now
Jaws
Sling blade 
Inland Empire 
The Usual Suspects
Sunset Boulevard 
Insominia
Awakenings 
Cry Baby 
The Virgin Suicides 

And Some Television 

St. Elsewhere
Twin Peaks 
All In The Family
Northern Exposure 
The Carol Burnett Show
 SCTV
What's My Line (the black and white) 
The Mary Tyler Moore Show 
 
 

In trying to decide what I'll do in here, one thing is uppermost in my mind. That is to write about things that are of interest to me. This is the easy part. But, how should I  go about it? Should I post what essentially are articles about some of these interests, involving the knowledge I have as well as what I've learned from research? Should I  create lists of these things? Should I offer discussion and/or review? I intend this to be a personal blog, and I believe that is for  the best. A blog devoid of professionally sounding formality -- yes, I like that. Some of my interests might be shared by some of  you. I'd like that. So, welcome to my blog. 
 

In a Clockwork Orange, Alex is punished for his acts of violence by being subjected to visual and audio stimuli that not only turns him into an "upstanding citizen," but leaves him completely defenseless. The tables have been turned, and Alex is now the victim of the crimes he once perpetuated. This unintended circumstance is rectified, at film's end, allowing Alex to regain his criminal past. Thus, the question of what to do when Alex's "treatment" is seen as less than human is asked and answered, in such a controversial way. This Stanley Kubrick film ranks high on my list of cinematic enjoyments. 
 

MOVIES

I greatly admire the films of Stanley Kubrick.Perhaps  the most thought provoking, at least to me, are 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange. Thematically and stylistically, Odyssey is at the forefront. The film begins, audaciously some might say, with the Dawn Of Mankind, where discoveries are made, aided by the appearance of a Black Monolith. Eons later by -- talk about destroying time and space -- a mission in space is underway. It seems that a mysterious Black Monolith has been discovered and causing concern.  It is this that, again for me, accelerates the film's fascinations. 

A developing relationship with Hal, the ship's computer, the continued appearences of the Monolith,captured my attention. The film's ending, again featuring the Monolith, examines the stages of man in unique ways. The use of repeated themes, classical music, and lighting, Kubrick uses all go to make this a truly engaging film. 

 

I am now experimenting with  non-fiction, after years of writing  short stories. I am  enjoying this so far, and I have faith I will continue to do so. For now, this blog will  be about my interests, in movies, music, writing, baseball, and whatever else I  want to write about. I am working on  a memoir,  and I haven't yet decided if how much of it,  if any of it, I will  will include it here.

So, that's it. Now, it's  time to blog away.