I hear it too
Wilson’s right, the clock is ticking,
getting louder every day.
The question is
what are you going to do about it?
I’m going to keep doing this right here.
***
Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, and, most often, writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see what’s possible.
***
NEWSish Stuff
Appearances
No upcoming bookings. This is becoming a problem! I need to get out there and say hello!
***
This Week’s Tell The Damn Story features honest, hard truths about being a Hollywood creator by Brandon Easton.
Here’s the link:
***
The Soul Screaming Pulp anthology production continues
As I continue editing the pulse-pounding adventures in The Fight Never Ends!, the fantastic Christy Aldridge continues contributes compelling interior art.
Here’s intro art for a tale starring Sally the Sleuth:
Soul screaming Pulp’s The Fight Never Ends! will be available for pre-order soon.
***
Bob & Grace
BOB: The president banned CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the White House because he doesn’t like what they are saying about him.
GRACE: If that’s the policy, he’s going to have to ban us all.
***
ON WRITING: Richard Price was right: What writing comes down to
Back when I was a feisty young reporter, I found myself sitting with author Richard Price at the 250th Anniversary of The Bronx, and we talked about what it takes to be an author. The gracious Mr. Price discussed reading widely, being aware of stories all around you, and then he delivered the ultimate truth, that writing comes down to “putting in “ass in chair” time.
He’s right. The only way to be an author is to write, to put in the time to churn out the stories. Everything else builds from there. First drafts. Research. Rewrites. Editing. Proofreading. Polishing. Researching markets. Submitting.
It all starts from committing to “ass in chair” time.
And, because this era is always more aware and complicated about everything. “ass in chair” or, these days, “feet in front of the standing desk.”
Whatever. It is about putting in the time.
And if we’re honest with ourselves and each other, sometimes that’s harder than others. So here’s a few tried and true ways to put in that time:
- What works for you? Some can do set times, or embrace daily routines, and that is a strong path to getting writing done.
- Some can’t embrace routines. Either small kids make demands on time, or job hours change from week-to-week or month-to-month. Fine. These situations still fall into patterns. Find it and fit that writing into those patterns. When our twins were babies, they woke up at 6 a.m.-ish, so I got up around 3 or 4 a.m. to get the writing in (thankfully, I was used to early hours from my reporter days). If the work schedule changes take note of the pattern as schedules tend to remain constant or alternate between a few variations, then find the writing time for each. Whether it is getting up earlier or writing during the commute to your job, the time is waiting for you to use.
- If you are staring at a blank screen or pad, telling yourself you can’t write, that is a lie. You probably need to make some decisions about your story. Grab an index card and write down three questions about your WIP (work in progress), then go vacuum, or clean the bathroom, etc., asking yourself those questions and letting your mind explore the “What if….” of that story. Make no judgments about how your mind answers, just gather ideas, take notes, amass possibilities. Then either get back to your writing space if time allows, of keep those notes with you during work or whatever and think about those ideas. Let them fight it out in your imagination, and watch which ones rose as the best of all the possibilities. You’ll be ready to write at the next writing time.
- Every twenty minutes, get up out of that chair or step away from the standing desk, and stretch. Immobility is unhealthy.
***
The locals are getting colorful
This fella got himself a big breakfast….
…and this one just needed some spiritual guidance.
***
And now for a pic of a handsome fella
Our Security Chief Sonny Mehlman couldn’t wait to show off this year’s Halloween costume.
“In brightest day, in darkest night, no doggie treat will escape my sight…”
***
Pop Culture Fuel
Books
This continues to fascinate. Ian Leslie succeeds in weaving the delicate balance between personal history, lyrical process, musical structure, studio experimentation, and spilling the tea.
Recommended for music fans. Most highly recommended for Beatles fans.
The unrelenting social media marketing campaign caught my interest, but the samples of this poet’s work pushed me to make the purchase. I am glad I did. Wilson embodies my kind of poetry: simple, honest, and clean. He’s already become an inspiration.
Highly recommended.
TV/FILM
Lanterns may prove to be the most challenging pop culture event of the year. Either you love it blindly, hate it because you are a Green Lantern purist, or watch it enjoying the clever parts and scratching your head at the weird decisions the writers room made.
But somehow, you’ll find yourself watching the next episode.
Yeah, Glorious and I saw Spider-Man Brand New Day again. You got a problem with that?
We did. It was a quiet afternoon, and we just wanted to walk away from reality for a few hours. So we went. Us and one other guy in the middle of a weekday afternoon enjoying a really good story really well told.
And for that, I am grateful.
MUSIC
Silencio is coming!
Speaking of Glorious, my beloved wife is very excited that a new U2 song is coming out this week. She loves “Street of Dreams” but “Silencio” sounds even better. In an exclusive impromptu interview, she told me, “I don’t know all the words yet, but something about the feel of it…”
Yeah, we’re going to be playing that one a lot.
And for the record, I like all of U2’s music, including everything put out last year and this. But no one can match the deep spiritual connection The Glorious One has to that band.
Also…
My buddy Roger sent me this. The Drive-by Truckers are always topical, even if their stuff came out a while ago:
Social Media
I am grateful for Poetic Outlaws on Substack. They turn me on to poets I don’t know, round out my poetry education, and many of their offerings click with my particular love for plain spoken, bluntly honest, free verse poetry. Their latest gift to me is Julia Vinograd. I throw myself on the mercy of the Poetry Courts for not knowing of her before. But I do now and am pursuing her work. And recommendations, please toss them in the comments.
***
We aren’t dating anymore, love,
we’re in the rapids now,
with life changes swirling all around us,
and our roles evolve from angry rebel
to homemade sage
who knows that being there when needed
is love, is life, is the point.
***
Feel free to share this with anyone you think would enjoy it. Thanks.
Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.
