Posted on

What Are You Writing For: Fun, Business, or Satisfaction

Hello again, true believers!

Stopping to think about, that’s kinda a weird way to start a comic book. What was Stan going for with that? Eh, I digress.

Today, let’s talk about WHY you’re writing, WHY I’m writing, and WHY anyone ever has written. It’s a short topic and we’ll get entirely done with it in 600 words or less 😉

Seriously though, while there are umpteen inspirations that have gotten people writing, the real reason for any writer falls into one of these 3 categories that reflect, in some way, what the person hopes to get out of the effort. Now, up front, I want to note that this is not a “One is the best and the rest suck” or “This one is terrible but the others are OK” post. That accomplishes nothing, and each person needs to do their own thing. Frankly, most people have hybrid motivations of these three types, anyway, which I think is for the better.

As rule 3 states: “You do you, girl.”

Instead, I just want to talk about each type, it’s strengths and weaknesses, and leave this as a foundation for future, more in-depth discussions. So…

FUN

This is hands down the easiest one to explain: these people write for fun. Wow, such brain. Much analysis. More specifically, however, these individuals write for the personal fun of it. The act of creation brings them an innate pleasure from which they derive personal joy.

At its most pure, these folks require noone to ever read their work―it’s neat if someone does but not required. Their joy comes from having written at all. In many ways, this is writing at its purest. It does not need to take into account the thoughts, feelings, or expectations of others to serve its purpose. It succeeds by existing.

That said, writing of this type can become so esoteric within the thoughts and ideas of its creator that the narrative is unintelligible to anyone else. Additionally, this type of writing can run into brick walls that outside input would help overcome.


BUSINESS

Next easiest to explain is writing for “business,” by which I mean writing specifically to serve as a career. I will clarify that I mean creative writing as a career, not the million forms of corporate writing that exist (and that I do!). That’s a different kind of writing for business.

No, the folks I’m talking about here, write creatively because they feel that it is their most secure career path. They’ve found success (or are seeking it) and have a knack for writing pieces that hit the appetite of their desired audience. Generally, these writers are keenly attuned to the needs of readers and the wider publishing community, making them experts in navigating those complex waters. Additionally, they often have a knack for taking the observations they’ve made of the market and writing to meet them, which can be far more challenging than you would think.

That said, writing of this type can seem formulaic as it is catered toward the specific interests of a targeted audience. Additionally, business-minded writers can run into creative blocks when their go-to sources of inspiration become clouded or the market becomes less easily analyzed.

SATISFACTION

Writers being driven by the goal of satisfaction are often harder to succinctly describe. Of course, I could say “They write to be satisfied!” like a dingus, but that would tell us nothing. What, specifically, are they seeking to satisfy? I could easily argue that Fun and Business are two “satisfiers” in and of themselves, making this entire blog post pointless…but I won’t do that.

Instead, I’ll say that I mean “Satisfaction” in the sense of those who right for reasons outside of business or fun. These individuals are seeking to accomplish something else with their work, often related to an internal need. For some, it may be therapeutic (i.e. writing autobiographically about a difficult life experience), while for others it may be an obligation (i.e. helping a family member with a memoir). Ultimately, the self-satisfaction of writing is what drives these individuals.

That said, they can run into problems if the external source shifts in such a way as to make getting that satisfaction more difficult (i.e. memory is too difficult to write about, family member no longer wants help, etc.).

IN THE END

It doesn’t really matter which of the above you most identify with. It might be all of them equally or one strongly. What matters, at least in my mind, is that you write. Over the course of your life, motivations shift and change because we all are constantly adapting to what’s happening around and within us.

Let me know which of these you most identify with or if there’s another that you think I should have included!

Like I said, this will be a foundation for more conversations in the future, so don’t fret if you wanted to hear more. It’s coming.

Thanks for reading! If you want more content, check HERE.

See you next time!

Posted on

Cause and (Mass) Effect

Welcome back to another Monocled Gamer! Today, I want to talk about my favorite game: Mass Effect 2. Yes, 2. Not 1 and definitely not 3. 4 is right out.

More specifically than just raving over why Mass Effect 2 is one of the greatest games ever made (which I could do for hours), I want to compare it to the new-in-2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda and why one succeeded as compared to the other.

Even more specifically than that, I want to have this discussion solely based on the WRITING of the games. This post is meant to be a snapshot of comparison, not a comprehensive analysis.

So Mass Effect 2

Vs.

Mass Effect Andromeda

I feel that this comparison can be broken down into two major factors:

  1. Characters That Are More Like People Than Facsimiles (See previous entries on character writing for more thoughts on this)
  2. Focused Narrative

Characters

Ultimately, the characters of any story are the most direct means through which we learn. Their interactions teach us about each being’s values as well as where they fit in the world. Their observations and histories inform our own. Especially in games, such as much of the Bioware catalog, where the player creates their own avatar in game, characters are the core bridge to narrative engagement.

Among myriad other effects, this also means that players will often feel out-of-place character moments more quickly than any other story inconsistencies. It’s why the precise choices of Captain America and Iron Man in Marvel’s Civil War event (movie or comic book) often don’t quite add up when you stop to think about them.

Mass Effect 2 delights in tightly told, restrained interactions with each character whether primary, secondary, or tertiary. While some characters are more cardboard than others―Jacob and Miranda, for example―every significant individual in ME:2’s story experiences some amount of growth. Unless you skip all personal quests, in which case YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.

Each of these individuals has likes, dislikes, families, histories and events that drive their actions. Some are consistently resentful but when you learn why, you can at least understand. Some are eternally optimistic, in spite of their lives. Others become dismal realists in the face of galactic terror. The evolution and decision making of characters drives the narrative forward meaningfully.

On this count, Mass Effect Andromeda still does a great many things right. Characters are varied, if considerably more cardboard overall, and share elements of themselves over time quite effectively. When an intense moment of character development arrives, you engage with it…but may wind up feeling like the payoff was lesser than anticipated. The first reason for this is that characters in ME:A rely on their cardboard characteristics―those infallible traits that you would use to describe them in 2-4 words (i.e., lifelong mercenary for hire; human asari commando; repentant, religious assassin; bookish scientist turned super spy)―more than they should. The second is a problem of…

Narrative Focus

To be blunt, ME:A lacks narrative focus. It attempts to tell many stories and in so doing, dilutes them all. This is a common element of early story drafts. When in the midst of storyboarding or worldstorming, countless ideas will come to mind. What’s most important (after embracing these ideas) is finding the ones that are the most vital to the core narrative you’re trying to tell, and removing the rest.

During my time as a managing editor, I’ve come up with a name for this rule: “Neat but Unnecessary” or NUN for short (NBU is a cruddy acronym to remember).

Mass Effect Andromeda has a lot of cool story moments, but every single one is buried under heaps of NUN Rule violators. By contrast, Mass Effect 2 is a shark of storytelling―it is lean, fast, and muscles you from point to point.

Narrative revelations in Mass Effect 2, either character-driven or plot-driven, happen continuously. Events roll from one to another rapidly but smoothly. Narrative revelations in Mass Effect Andromeda wind up dragging along the baggage of things you missed or forgot in the umpteen other things that have happened since the last revelation. It’s not that you don’t care for the story (at least at first), it’s that so much happens without really mattering that you can’t be bothered to care once something does.

At the end of the day, a story can (and should) be as long as it needs to be. It can be easy to cram it full of extra details, but those details need to add cohesively to the narrative rather than distracting or, worse still, creating brand new questions that may not be answered (*cough*Quarian Ark*cough*).

So as you go on and write whatever it is you’re writing, take time to think about NUNs. Not these

https://giphy.com/gifs/hayley-mills-the-trouble-with-angels-AqlX1TY49hTS8

but those details that are Neat…but UNncessary. Unless you’re writing about actual nuns. In that case, have at it!

For more content, head to the main page HERE.

Make sure to let me know what you think in the comments or on Twitter!

Thanks for reading and see you next time.

Posted on

Don’t Let Writer’s Block Slow You Down

Ah, writer’s block. Bane of all creatives, everywhere. Most people are familiar with this term, regardless of whether or not they do any writing, predominantly as it’s endemic to the creative arts. We who toil with paper and pen (or typety-typing and LEDs) do not have a monopoly on lulls of inspiration, but I feel like we complain about it the most. Therefore, this unfortunate state has been named after us.

Today I want to discuss how I approach writer’s block. Ultimately, when we use that term we’re referring to a lack of motivation, inspiration, or insight regarding our creative process that leads to (what we feel to be) suboptimal quality of work. It can be brought on by emotional shifts, recent events, general malaise, or nothing at all.

Most writers, in my experience, stop writing when they feel they’re under the influence of this potent force. Superstitions may come into effect (lucky underwear, fancy pants, special music or food, etc.) or Internet tip sheets may be referenced. There are likely as many tactics to overcome writer’s block as there are writers. Ultimately, however, I want to share a sad truth with you…

Most of them don’t work, or if they do, they don’t work consistently (in my opinion).

Besides writing, I also have a background in psychology (in another life I would have been a psychologist). When we’re dealing with these sorts of creative block, we tend to blame a great many things, hence the great many solutions proffered on the Interwebz. The core cause, however, can always be tracked back to something cognitive, i.e. within your own head.

This does not mean there is something wrong with you, though it may be a sign that some amount of your mind is grappling with something that you feel is wrong (but are trying to avoid). Our minds are fickle things: easily distractible, easily lured into pitfalls, and easily discouraged. Writer’s block, at least in my opinion, tends to reflect something in our minds that is actively pulling mental energy and focus away from creation. Often, it seems to root in personal insecurity, discouragement, or a lack of confidence―often spurred by some life event that you may not have even really noticed.

All of that being said, it doesn’t really matter where it comes from. What matters most is what you do about it. If you feel like your writer’s block is overwhelming, first take a moment to step back and meditate a bit on yourself and your thoughts. Ask yourself “Is anything bothering me? How do I feel right now?” And then―this is the important part―

GO BACK AND WRITE ANYWAY. CREATE ANYWAY. DO IT ANYWAY.

The only surefire way to overcome writer’s block is to keep writing regardless. It doesn’t matter that you believe the writing will be terrible (or that the writing is terrible once it’s down), what matters is that it’s there. Refusing to write/create until the block passes gives the block more power within your mind, building it up until it can seem insurmountable. By writing through it, you subvert that power and the importance of the block in your own cognition, while simultaneously continuing to lay the foundation of your success.

TL;DR – When you write during writer’s block, you teach yourself how to overcome obstacles and continue building toward your goals.

Super TL;DR – Writing through a writer’s block makes you stronger.

This isn’t just my opinion, mind you. There are quite a few terrific authors out there that stand by this approach, too. The most significant thing you must remember for this to work is that every word you write has value. Nothing is wasted. With each letter, you improve.

Don’t let the boogeyman (writer’s block) take that away from you.

What do you do when you have writer’s block? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!

For more of my thoughts, head back to the main page HERE.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Posted on

The Best Music Covers (According to Me) Part 2: (#5-1)

Welcome back! Picking up from last week, let’s talk about my five favorite cover songs! I shared 10-6 last week and will recap them here:

10. Walking on a Dream – Artist: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Album: Spotify Singles – Cover Of: Empire of the Sun
9.   I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Artist: Sleeping At Last – Album: Covers, Vol. 1 – Cover Of: The Proclaimers
8.   Land of Confusion – Artist: Disturbed – Album: Ten Thousand Fists – Cover of: Genesis
7.   Time After Time – Artist: Quietdrive – Album: When All That’s Left Is You – Cover of: Cyndi Lauper
6.   What Is Love – Artist: Kiesza – Album: Sound of a Woman – Cover Of: Haddaway

For the most part, I enjoy finding covers that are somewhat outside of the “mainstream.” Nonetheless, some are simply so astoundingly wonderful that they needed be on this list. Most of this top 5 qualifies. Let’s get into it!

  1. Say Something – Artist: Pentatonix – Single – Cover Of: A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera

Ah, Pentatonix. I watched every season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, and Pentatonix was easily the best group to compete within those auspices. I’ve also had the opportunity to see them live, and they’re every bit as good as their studio recordings. The quality of their harmonies, the passion they bring to each performance, and their arrangements are top notch. Ultimately, however, some of their arrangements are much better than others. This one is the best. It makes wonderful use of each vocalist and truly carries the emotional angst of the lyrics through the performance. The only Pentatonix song that I would even consider as better arranged is their rendition of “Dog Days Are Over” from The Sing-Off. But I like this one more.

  1. The Sound of Silence – Artist: Disturbed – Album: Immortalized – Cover Of: Simon & Garfunkel

Alright, so this is the second time that Disturbed has shown up in this list. In all honesty, I am barely familiar with the band, being able to name one original song (the ubiquitous “Down With the Sickness”) outside of these two covers. But here’s the thing. “The Sound of Silence” is a brilliant and brutal condemnation of a society losing its way. Sound at all familiar? What surprised me the first time I listened to this cover, and honestly gives me chills, is how singer David Draiman uses grunge/metal-inspired inflection to amplify the eeriest lyrics. Seriously, listen to this track and tell me you don’t feel something when he sings the words “And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made.” I bet you can’t honestly. That’s kudos to the original songwriters (much kudos) and kudos to David’s performance.

  1. Kids – Artist: Lady Danville – Single – Cover Of: MGMT

Some of these songs I found by specifically looking for covers of songs I was not otherwise fond of. This is not one of those. While it’s not a favorite, the original track by MGMT is uniquely enjoyable, and the lyrics are terrific. When I found this cover featuring acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonizing vocals…well, just listen to it. Yes, I like it more than the original.

  1. Little Lion Man – Artist: Tonight Alive – Album: Punk Goes Pop 4 – Cover Of: Mumford & Sons

I know, I know. Number 2 on the list is from one of those compilation albums they sell at Kohl’s. But have you listened to this song?! I cannot even convey how blown away I was the first time I heard this. I was chewing through all of the cover compilation albums I could find while curating my Covers playlist, generally listening to the first 30-45 seconds and moving on. And then I hit this track 4 albums in. I don’t even. I LOVE the intersection of her voice with the heavy instrumentation. I love the way they mimic banjo and mandolin plucking with electric guitar squeedilies (technical term).

I adore this track. It somehow utterly re-envisions the original and remains true to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCyxbf85SXY

  1. Hurt – Artist: Johnny Cash – Album: Unearthed – Cover Of: Nine Inch Nails

No other song could be at the top of this list or any other list of the best cover songs. There is no other. I would challenge you to find a better cover, but you can’t. This is it. The pain, emotion, and regret that made the song so poignant for songwriter Trent Reznor reaches an unbelievable new level when taken up by Johnny Cash. Yeah, I put a Spotify link, but watch the Youtube video if you can. Watch Johnny’s eyes. Watch his wife’s. This is the best cover ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc

Conclusion

Well, this list got a little intense at the end, there. But you appear to have survived whatever feels may have rolled your way. Make sure to tell me if you agree or disagree with my rankings here! And if you disagree, you HAVE to tell me what you would put where. It’s a rule. Look it up.

For the first half of this list, in case you missed it, check HERE.

For more posts about, well, everything, check HERE.

For my full Covers playlist (30+ tracks), click HERE.

And, as always, thanks for reading!

 

Posted on

What’s In A Name?

Call me Ishmael. (Don’t actually. That was just for dramatic effect.)

Names are such important things. We take our own very seriously, and I’ve yet to meet a writer who takes their character names less seriously than that. Nonetheless, a character name is an altogether different thing. Most of us, like and use the name we were given. The most choice we had in the matter was whether to use a nickname. For example, I was Chris for many years until I realized that there are way too many Chris…s (Chrisii? Chrises?).

Character names, on the other hand, we have to choose. (Word of advice: Never leave a character name up to chance.) The issue, then, is how to make that choice. Many writers will tell you that they select names of significance either to the story or to them personally. Others go for referential names that allude to parallel events, secret origins, myths, legends, or jokes.

Regardless of the option you choose, what matters most—at least in my mind—is ensuring that the character name makes sense for the universe in which it will be used. To paraphrase the fine folks of How Did This Get Made?, the name must fit the setting. Tyrion, Tywin, Cersei, and…Kevan? Feels a little odd. Having a character born and raised in ancient China named Nigel, would also be frowned upon. If Gandalf’s true name happened to be Bob, we would call foul. It’s not that Kevan, Hank, and Bob are bad names in general. They simply do not fit the universe in which we’re using them.

One of the best parts of writing is the absolute control we wield over our worlds. The power is ours to create and destroy, dub and redub. I call that out because you CAN name your book’s Gandalf “Bob,” if you want. Just have a reason for it. In universe, not merely in your head. If the pronunciation is more like “boba” and follows the etymology of a forgotten native tongue of the fae, awesome. Just make sure the reader knows that.

It’s far too easy to get wrapped up in being clever and forget that you’re actually not explaining anything to anyone.

A final note on fantasy/science fiction character naming. In my opinion, these are the most fun names to conceive as they can, by all rights, be insane, quirky, or clever without fault. That said, beware of your name quirk. I’ve found that many writers have certain types of names or name sounds that they really enjoy, thus they use them often. I know I have a name quirk like this (and no, I won’t tell you what it is—though you’re welcome to guess). Because fantasy and sci-fi allow us to move beyond “normal” names with impunity, it can be very easy to feed your name quirk.

I had an early novel concept whose character names were all oddly similar until I realized I was doing this. Pro tip: don’t make everyone’s names include the same vowel sound.

What do you do when you’re coming up with character names? What other tips or tricks would you like to share? What name quirks do you know you have bubbling deep inside? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

For more thoughts on writing, music, and more, check out the main page.

Posted on

The Best Music Covers (According to Me) Part 1: (#10-6)

Welcome to another Top 10 List! I really enjoyed putting together the last one, so I thought I would do another. I did learn several things, though, such as splitting the post in half so that it isn’t the longest thing ever conceived. Thus, I give you today’s post on:

Christopher’s Top 10 Music Covers (#10-6)

Covers. When executed poorly, you’re back in high school watching that terrible band (you know the one) playing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs with too much energy and too little talent. When executed well, however, you have a piece of art being reinterpreted by another artist to amplify some part of the composition. As a crazy person that enjoys endlessly curating music playlists, I have spent many hours listening to covers. I once spent three hours listening to the first 45 seconds of every “Chandelier” (by Sia) cover I could find, hoping to discover one (JUST ONE) person who could do her chorus justice. And I eventually did! My point is that I have listened to a lot of covers in the search for ones that are truly good (and that does not mean that the originals are bad).

What does good mean in this case? A few possibilities:

  • First, it must be a musically sound composition and arrangement.
  • Second, it must be transformative. The best covers—in my mind—are those that display the artistic intent and talent of the creator by adapting the original piece into something else. Countless folks do exact covers (or as close as they can get), but these rarely move me. I can be impressed with your ability to play and/or sing, but what I really want to hear is how the song would have been had you written it. This list takes that into consideration.
  • Third, it must be fun. Fun can mean three things in this usage that I will quickly set out.
    • A: Make the song more beautiful/impactful
    • B: Make the true meaning of the song clearer, more distinct, or more poetic
    • C: Make the song more entertaining or amusing

That all said (thanks for trucking through), I give you one final caveat: these are full lyrical covers. There are TONS of terrific instrumental covers of songs, but this list isn’t for them. If there’s enough interest, I can do a separate list to cover my Top 10 Instrumental Covers. Just throw that in the comments or on Twitter.

Alright, let’s go!

  1. Walking on a Dream – Artist: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Album: Spotify Singles – Cover Of: Empire of the Sun

There are a few songs on this list that I honestly had never truly listened to until I heard the cover, and this is one of them. I am a softy: a hopeless romantic, a shipper, a lover of love. The lyrics and heart of this song are wonderful, but the original never really conveyed them to me meaningfully. I kid you not: I never understood the lyrics until I came across this cover. Those who read my Top 10 Songs to Write To have likely deduced that I love piano, which this version satisfies in spades. It remains referential to the original melodically but gives better emphasis on the heart of the song: its lyrics. Also, I just enjoy Andrew McMahon’s style (“Dark Blue” by Jack’s Mannequin is an old favorite of mine).

  1. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Artist: Sleeping At Last – Album: Covers, Vol. 1 – Cover Of: The Proclaimers

Sleeping At Last, if you aren’t familiar with him, is a terrific artist with a gift for considering the heart of a song and getting right to it. Everyone has heard the original version of this song. Everyone. The funny thing is that upon hearing this cover for the first time, I did not recognize it at all. Not because the instrumentation had changed so dramatically (though it had) but because I could not believe the original was so sweet of a song. Stripping out the over produced synth of the ‘80s, we get a quiet, emphatic declaration of love and dedication. Still can’t believe this is what that song was always about.

  1. Land of Confusion – Artist: Disturbed – Album: Ten Thousand Fists – Cover of: Genesis

I’ve known about this cover for a long time but still can’t get over it. Honestly, I think “Land of Confusion” was written to be a metal song. It’s so perfect. Replacing the ‘80s synth with heavy electric guitar, using metal drum rhythms instead of an electro-drum kit, and slightly retooling to fit the vocal style Disturbed utilizes could not have worked out better. Given what this song is about (and how it’s suddenly become incredibly appropriate again), the metal edge helps to push its indignant, righteous anger and message forward. Also, it’s simply fun to listen to.

  1. Time After Time – Artist: Quietdrive – Album: When All That’s Left Is You – Cover of: Cyndi Lauper

While I am not what anyone would call a metal fan, I definitely enjoy the style from time to time (heh). I, like many people,

really enjoy this song. Taking it in more of a punk metal direction gives me the opportunity to crank the volume and feel like the song is all around me, a sensation I adore. It’s a fairly straight cover otherwise, but the instrumentation changes make it unique enough to be transformative. Plus it’s executed well, which is always good.

  1. What Is Love – Artist: Kiesza – Album: Sound of a Woman – Cover Of: Haddaway

I love that this exists. The original, a seminal one-hit-wonder, thrummed with synth and bass, driving SO MANY DANCE FLOORS YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW. And, actually, neither do I since I was 4 when this song released. I actually prefer one of the later Haddaway remixes to the original, and I prefer this cover to that. Imagine grabbing a song that we, as a culture, have made into a joke

and taking it really, really seriously. What if, instead of a recursive dance motivator, the question was asked honestly? What if synths became strings and echoed male vocals transmuted to a pensive woman’s crooning? You get this song, that’s what.

—

And there we have the first half of my Top 10 Music Covers. If you liked these, make sure to check back next week for the second half! Leave your favorite covers in the comments below, and see if you can guess my Top 5!

For more of my thoughts on music (or just more Top 10 lists), check out my Top 10 Songs to Write To! For other posts about everything else, check out the main page HERE.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on

Don’t Go Undrafted, Part 2

And we’re back! I guess that’s a royal “we,” since there’s only me typing here. Last week I shared a few quick thoughts on single and sandwich drafting. Today, I want to dive into two others: multi and confetti. I know what you’re probably thinking: “Who is this guy?” That question is better answered on the main page or in the “Introductions…” post. If you’re wondering what confetti drafting is, good. It’s weird. We’ll talk about it in a bit. But first:

Multi Drafting

On the other side of the spectrum from single drafters, we have those who generally craft several drafts of a thing before they consider it ready for editing. For these folks, the growth of ideas, flow, and structure often develop through each subsequent draft rather than before drafting begins. I consider this practice just as venerable as single drafting, though it does have its own flaw. If single drafting can facilitate people who want to skip steps and just throw their “final” writing out into the world, multi drafting does the opposite. For those prone to procrastination or perfectionism, multi drafting can become an Escher Vault of endless versions that never culminate in an outside editorial because it’s “not quite right.”

At some point, if your goal is to share your writing with others, you have to share it with others. Even if you feel it isn’t perfect. I’ve known a few multi drafters that would cycle endlessly, lost in self-doubt that the work isn’t good enough. Honestly, even if it really isn’t, sometimes it takes an outside perspective to help you see what’s missing. Endlessly iterating on the same thing forever isn’t a good plan. That way lies madness.

TL;DR – Multi drafting involves building ideas, concepts, and styles through iterative drafts of the same content. It is not an excuse, however, to avoid showing your work to anyone else because it “isn’t there yet.”

Confetti Drafting

Finally, the much alluded to confetti drafting. I’ve only met one person that did this, and I cannot attest to its effectiveness in any way shape or form. Evidently, this type of drafter writes independent sentences, paragraphs, or ideas without any order or form. They just plop it onto the page as it occurs to them. Once they feel that they’ve written enough of those, they simply drag and drop them into an order, adding transitions where necessary. It seems akin to an index card outlining methodology if one applied a little extra chaos to it.

I don’t get this one at all. It is anathema to my single drafter brain. I have no idea how it would work well, and I can definitely see places where it would get weird. That said, I am sure that it works for some people. I just am not one of them!

If you do this, please tell me about your process. I really, really want to know. Like really. This is a mystery to me.

Tl;DR – ?????????

Conclusion

There are many more forms of drafting than the 4 I’ve discussed in the last two posts. Honestly, I believe they all can work when executed well and all can fail when executed poorly. I recommend finding others that draft like you to learn from their habits and best practices. Then, find folks who draft differently and learn from theirs. Your goal shouldn’t be to draft like everyone else, but to fine tune your practices until they are as refined as your manuscripts/papers/poems/messages in a bottle.

The only bad kind of drafter is one who refuses to learn.

In the comments, let me know what kind of drafter you are, what styles you’ve run into aside from the above, or if you like Warehouse 13. That last one is just because I like talking to people about that awesome show. Or tweet that stuff at me.

For more content on this site, you can visit the main page HERE.

Thanks for reading!

 

Posted on

Don’t Go Undrafted, Part 1

Single, Multi, Sandwich, Confetti. Each of these terms is used to describe a style of drafting, and I wanted to talk a little about them. Side note: if you haven’t heard of the last two, it’s because I coined them. In my time as the research director and managing editor for an international team of professional writers, I quickly learned that nothing guarantees people stick to the 2 most common drafting forms.

I want to start by discussing two of these styles this week (single and sandwich) with the other two (multi and confetti) coming next week!

Single Drafting

I will be upfront and announce that I am a single drafter. I do most of the legwork in writing before I put finger to key (or pen to paper (or will to thought interface)), and the rest is handled as I type each word. Initial revisions get made as I’m still drafting, and I’ll often iterate on an idea for a bit before I’m satisfied and move on. Once that draft is complete, I consider it ready for thorough editorial and revision.

Stop, please, and reread that last sentence. In my experience, people too often write off (Puns! Woo!) single drafters as folk who do not edit. I blame sub par single drafters for tainting an otherwise venerable practice. There are single drafters, and I recall many from my days as a master tutor of reading and writing, who believe that once they’ve completed that draft, they are done. Excerpt of real conversations I’ve had:

Student: “Christopher, here’s the paper I wrote for English 305.”

Christopher: “Great, let’s read through it and discuss revisions.”

Frustrating Student: “No, it’s done.”

Frustrated Christopher: “What? You went through and revised it with someone else?”

Irritating Student: “No. I’m a single drafter. I don’t need to edit.”

Irritated Christopher: “That is not how that works.”

Baffling Student: “Sure it is. I only write one draft. It doesn’t need edits.”

Baffled Christopher: “THEN WHY DID YOU BRING IT TO A WRITING TUTOR?!”

Student Comically Missing the Point: “Teacher told me to.”

Christopher:

That was a dramatic reenactment of far too many real life conversations I’ve had. To all you single drafters out there, your single draft is exactly that. A draft. It is not a final product or deliverable. It is not a polished manuscript. Once you’re satisfied with a draft, it’s time to edit and revise yourself, followed by editing and review by others with experience. Writing is an art of refinement and calling yourself a “single drafter” doesn’t get you out of that.

/endsoapbox

TL;DR – Single drafting involves refinement of vision and concepts pre-drafting, but IS NOT an excuse for skipping editing and revisions. Essentially, single drafters do a lot of the logistical prep for writing before they ever sit down to write.

Sandwich Drafting

So now we get into one of the weird ones that I coined because I needed terminology to make sense of them. Sandwich drafting refers to the practice of drafting the content first, and only writing the introduction and conclusion once the content is complete. Essentially, these folks put together the meat, cheese, veggies, condiments, and then slap a piece of bread on either side.

Sandwich drafting is odd to me. I see no issues with it if it’s done well, but I feel like drafting the intro and conclusion last can lead to some oddities in the flow of a chapter, paper, etc. I can also see it running into the potential issue of procrastination (which I’ll talk about in a little more detail next week with multi drafting). If you don’t write the beginning or end until you’ve finished the middle, and you’re the kind of person who’s prone to insecurity, you may find yourself endlessly rewriting the body without addressing the head or feet. At some point–unless you’re writing only for yourself–your words have to get out in front of readers. Anxiety can make that transition difficult, and I can see how this writing style could facilitate such nervous procrastination.

TL;DR – Sandwich drafters finish the middle before writing the beginning and end. It can work, but it can also lead to odd disconnects in flow or endlessly cycling through content without completing the rest.

Intermission

Those are the two forms I wanted to talk about this week. Come back next week to read about multi drafting and the odd practice I’ve dubbed confetti drafting! The most important thing to remember: THE ONLY TRULY WRONG WAY TO DRAFT IS TO NOT DRAFT AT ALL. As long as you approach your style openly and remain honest in your efforts to refine yourself and your skills, most anything can work.

If you use one of these (or any other style), tell me what you think on Twitter or in the comments below!

Posted on

Cheerio and Characters in Persona 5

So, today, I want to introduce you to something I used to do. It was not a famous or popular thing, but I enjoyed doing it for the brief time I could. You see, I really like video games. After writing, they are my favorite hobby both to relax with and to explore through. While not all great games have great stories (or even good ones), those that do are often my very favorite titles to play and replay. Because of this, six or so years ago, I became…

…the MONOCLED GAMER.


“Yes, yes. Good show and all that.”

Yeah, dumb title, I know. The point of the channel, though, was to talk about games old or new, forgotten or celebrated, that pushed storytelling in the medium forward. While I have no intention of making it “a thing” again, I think it’s important for you folks to have an idea of who I am and what motivates me. So, from time to time, you’ll see a post in a folder called “Monocled Gamer” that will extol or decry something video game story-related. In a similar fashion, posts about music, movies, and such will intermittently make themselves known—but always with an eye toward the process of writing or storytelling.

For example, by way of introduction, let’s chat for just a minute about Persona 5: a game developed by Atlus that I had no interest in playing.

For the diehard fans out there, I apologize. I am known to sometimes love a good JRPG (Japanese Role Playing Game for those not in “the know”), I just never played any of the earlier games in this series and, therefore, had no interest. The point is that I knew the game was coming out, knew that it had taken many years to make, and knew that it was a JRPG a lot of fangirls and fanboys were desperate to get their hands on.

To celebrate a work achievement, since the reviews were SO good, I picked up Persona 5, content with the idea of selling it online if I didn’t like it. Since then, I’ve put 200+ hours into the game (I know, right?!): 140 in my first playthrough and the rest on a New Game+.  All of this led me to question what I am so enamored with, intrigued by, and excited about regarding Persona 5. And I use “what” conspicuously. There are parts of the game I’m not overly fond of; nothing’s perfect after all. Nonetheless, in spite of those things, Persona 5 ranks within my favorite games of all time.

A lot of factors play into that, of course; the insane attention to detail, the terrific style, the bumpin’ soundtrack, etc. But the two things that most pull me in are core elements of the story. The first, and biggest, is that it tells an incredibly ambitious tale (the things it pulls off are impressive) built around a simple conceit—the world isn’t fair, crappy people often succeed most, but you have the power to change those people and the world for the better.

That concept is not original to this game or franchise, and I know it. However, the unbridled optimism with which the game tackles it, encourages players to feel a bit of that optimism themselves. It is a game that, when played with an open heart and mind, will leave you smiling at the end—even though you’ll be sad that it’s over.

All of that is great, truly, but it wouldn’t work without the second and, I would say, most important piece: characters that feel pretty friggin’ real. Throughout the game, you engage with and can choose to develop deeper relationships (romantic or not) with dozens of characters. Some want to help you, some want to use you, and some want to harm you. Going back to something I said in a previous post on this site, these characters motivations never really come off as plot-driven. They have their own problems caused by past decisions they’ve made or unfortunate turns of events in the world around them. If you choose to help them, you’ll inevitably learn more about them that maybe you wanted to know…or maybe you didn’t.


“Futaba is the best. If you disagree, you’re mistaken.”

That is what is remarkable about this game to me. While I was engaged in the main story, I am so much more engaged in these little vignettes and quiet, personal moments that occurred between friends, family, and enemies on the street each day. Yes, of course, there are tropes and stereotypes and the occasional “I can’t believe that just happened” moments, but those largely fail to take away from the realism of the relationships that develop.

If you’re the type of gamer, reader, or writer that enjoys interpersonal relationships developing over time, check this game out. You’ll thank me later.

And if you’re the type of storyteller that enjoys video games, keep an eye out for more Monocled Gamer posts in the future!

Posted on

Life Needs a Soundtrack (and so do my stories)

The Internet loves “Top 10 Lists,” and depending on the topic, so do I. Given this state of affairs, I thought I would make some of my own and share them here from time to time. Thus, without further ado, I give you…

Christopher’s Top 10 Songs to Write To!
(At Least Right Now)

I adore music.

I listen to loads of it everyday, create tons of playlists, and curate them weekly (if not daily). Moreover, I’ve been a percussionist since I was 11—I’ve been a concert snare drummer, a drumline leader, and part of a band for years. While drumming, my nickname is Animal, in case you were curious.

My point is that I always have music on my mind. It’s a vital element of my creative process, and though I can go without if I’m really in flow, music often brings out my best.

With my love of curating music, it was only natural that I would start building tons of playlists full of songs to write to. (Thanks for fueling an addiction, Spotify.) Inevitably, those initial lists lead to more refined versions of songs I really like to write to, and then I finally burn off the chaff to get the songs I really like to write to. Naturally, these change over time; I have yet to meet someone who has had the same favorite song for their entire life. (If you are that person, please comment what song it is and why! I would truly love to know.) For right now, here are my Top 10 Favorite Songs to Write To and, just so you know going in, all 10 songs are instrumental:

(Note: If a Spotify play button isn’t working, try closing your Spotify and then clicking the button again. Seems to fix it! If you don’t have Spotify, I put in Youtube links where possible 🙂 )

  1. Interstellar Space – Artist: Adam Young – Album: Voyager 1
    Yes, this is the Adam Young also known as Owl City. Each month in 2016, Adam put out a soundtrack inspired by a major historical event. Naturally, as the title would suggest, this one commemorates the launch of the Voyager 1 satellite, which is neat in and of itself. That said, as a science fiction writer, I love the way this song makes me think of deep space through synthesizers, soaring melodies, and the ebb and flow of discovery. Consider each lull the gap between systems or cosmic objects, and each burst of strings the horizon of a new world.

  1. To Me – Artist: Jizue – Album: Story

I’ve only recently discovered Jizue, a Japanese quartet whose style ranges from jazz to experimental to post-rock to math-rock to electronica. It took about 8 seconds for me to become enamored with them. Like a good story (What an aptly named album!), the song builds layers into an ever more beautiful whole. My favorite Jizue tracks have a complex piano melody at their core, and “To Me” is no exception. Also, resonant piano bass lines just make me happy.

  1. CSM-LM Docking – Artist: Adam Young – Album: Apollo 11

Adam Young is back! Apollo 11 is actually the first historical soundtrack that he composed, and this track is the first I discovered. While the entire album does a remarkable job at conveying each step of the Apollo 11 mission, this track remains my favorite. A steady, recurring bass line drives forward the importance of the effort while overarching bells, guitar, and strings build the excitement as a technological marvel takes place. I particularly like listening on loop while writing about a character trying to handle some intense task.

  1. Sister – Artist: Jizue – Album: Bookshelf

I swear this list is not just songs by Adam Young and Jizue! They just so happen to be the first four. And also, they are really good, so you have no reason to be upset. Another terrific track from another awesomely named album. A beautiful piano melody frolics through the core of this song with jazz percussion building throughout. When the long crescendo finally peaks, the resulting melodies intertwine into something captivating. If you close your eyes to listen, you can make out the silhouette of two characters that have overcome much and look now upon the future laid out before them. Well, at least that’s what I see.

  1. Believe in the Kingdom – Artist: King Arthur – Album: Believe in the Kingdom

A strong piano riff starts this one off as further layers are added to elevate the composition into something hopeful. You could play this song as Aragorn recognizes Gandalf at the top of the ridge in Helm’s Deep, flanked by Éomer and his men. It’s that cool of a song.

  1. To Take …To Hold – Artist: Yanni – Album: Love Songs (Also 4 or 5 others)

Fun Fact: When I was a wee lad, my mom showed me a video of Yanni performing live at the Acropolis with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. I had never been exposed to music of that type and composition before, and I became obsessed with it. I decided then and there to take up playing an instrument, which led to me becoming a percussionist (Thanks, Charlie Adams!) and teaching myself to play piano as well. Though I hold many Yanni songs in high esteem, this one will always be my favorite. I like to put it on while I work on close emotional scenes between characters, especially in affectionate moments. The soft melody conveys care and love to me, better inspiring me to write such feeling into my creations.

  1. Old Story – Artist: Jizue – Album: Story

Alright, this is the last song by Jizue in this list, I swear. Also from Story (Have I mentioned how great an album this is?), this track has everything. It builds out of two interconnected piano melodies with terrific percussion amplifying the ebb and flow. As the song hits each crescendo, cymbals and toms come to the fore, driving things forward. And then, halfway through, everything drops. Just piano remains. From this point of quiet, the song rebuilds itself, gorgeously, into soaring melodies and harmonies with guitar, percussion, and piano each vital in holding it all aloft. I adore this song, and love writing to it. Especially when I’m drafting scenes of redemption. Finally, starting at around 5:45 there is a small piano run that gives me goosebumps with how perfectly it breaks from and meshes into everything else.

  1. Song for Bob – Artist: Nick Cave, Warren Ellis – Album: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks (Feel free to ask if you ever want suggestions for good ones!), to find songs like this. “Song for Bob” has been in my “Favorite Songs to Write To” lists since I started writing novels. It is mournful, pained, and lovely. As it grows, I feel emotion transitioning from solely defeat or loss into introspection and, eventually, hope. Ironically, I’ve never watched the film this is from, but I almost feel like that’s better. The song isn’t connected to a specific character in my mind, though I assume something unfortunate befell poor Bob, and so I put this on whenever I want to dive into difficult emotional scenes where characters are grappling with themselves. Several of the most intense moments of Conduit were written to this track on repeat.

  1. Captain Edward Smith – Artist: Adam Young – Album: RMS Titanic

And here we have the last Adam Young entry on this list. Named for the captain of the most fateful voyage ever, this track comes before any hardships and, through sound alone, introduces the dignity, experience, and intensity of its titular individual. When the piano comes in after a few seconds, it always soothes me. “Captain Edward Smith” speaks to me of honor, patience, and reserved dignity. I can see someone looking out over the bow of a historic ship, with only clear waters ahead. That sentiment has wound its way into several of my works over time, and I am glad for it. Fair warning, however: unlike the other Adam Young albums mentioned in this list, RMS Titanic gets predictably intense. I would not recommend its entirety for writing or relaxing purposes. Icebergs, you know?

  1. Lotus Land – Artist: Philter – Album: The Legend of Iya (Original Game Score)

I could listen to this song forever. Seriously. While it is not my favorite song of all time, it has been my favorite song for writing over the entirety of Conduit’s drafting. The melodic piano intro that breaks into deep, resonant strings speaks of mystery and exploration. Harmonizing vocals use the voice as an instrument without words; conveying that sensation of the unknown and titillating the senses. More than once have I listened to this 3-minute track on repeat for over an hour while drafting. It seamlessly helps me slide into flow, where I lose myself completely in the world and characters I’m creating. Philter, well done. This song is superb, and if I ever put together a list that represents Conduit, I want this track on it.



So there you go! My Top 10 Favorite Songs To Write To (right now)! As times change, I’ll update this list in new articles, so you can see where I’m going, musically speaking. If you’d like to hear all of these songs and a few others that I particularly enjoy for writing purposes, check out the Power Writing list on my Spotify here:

Definitely leave your thoughts and your favorite songs to write to in the comments here or tweet them to me using @Dreamertide. I want to know what gets you into the flow of writing!

Finally, for more articles about writing, the world, and my take on them, you can head back to this site’s homepage HERE.

Thanks for reading, and good listening to you!