Sick of politics,
sick of politicians,
sick of negative advertising,
sick of hate as the
currency of the nation.
We used to be better than this.
We’ve quietly have been better than this.
Us. Not the politicians. US.
We are America.
We need to remind them of that fact.
Not the fringes on the left or right, We,
The Center, where the real ones
toil toward the cracked and damaged
American Dream.
Together we can rid ourselves of all
those liars who make us sick.
Let’s do this together.
***
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 (Well, not really new — these are the same pitches as last week)
Soul Scream Antholozine is Available as a Halloween Treat, and Pulp is Next
Our eighth issue “Madness Takes Its Toll” can still be at your house in time for wider audiences Halloween reading fun.
Here’s New News: One of my oldest friends (we’ve been friends the longest, not that he’s ancient) sent me a series of texts today about this issue of Soul Scream Antholozine. I’ll keep his privacy, but here’s what this extremely well read person said:
“Just finished Soul Scream. Read it slow, basically, 1 or 2 short stories at a sitting including the interviews. Well done!
“I enjoyed Teel James Glenn and Jon Frater especially, but all were worthy of print. Be proud, Bro, it’s a good thing.”
I am and I truly appreciate the feedback. Sometimes those kind words are the difference between getting the next project down and drowning oneself in Cheerios and Ritz crackers.
Thanks.
Here’s the link:
AND!!!!!
The Fight Never Ends Pulp Extravaganza Preps for Presale
With one left to add, this first foray into pulp legends is about ready for fans of fast-paced action with a soul to preorder. Stay tuned!
***
This Week’s Tell The Damn Story Dives into How to Take Risks With Your Writing —Without the Risk!
This week co-hosts Alex Simmons and I discuss ways to confidently experiment with form and structure without losing what you already had. Sometimes the story is there but it doesn’t seem like it is in the right shape. Here’s how to explore that without losing what you’ve already created…and a few examples to illustrate what we’re talking aobut.
Here a link:
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A poetry reading…
For those of you feeling overwhelmed or old, a bit of Dylan Thomas.
Here’s the link:
***
ON WRITING: Having a bad day? That is gold for writers!
What a morning.
I found a cracked pipe in my basement. Water on the floor. Boxes ruined. The cat demanding to be fed. Cat puke on a nearby rug. All within ninety seconds.
My frustration soared with each discovery, promising to ruin my morning, maybe even the day.
Yes, it all sucked (except the cat wanting to be fed) and yes, I could have exploded, but I got lucky. You may think I’ve lost it, but hear me out. I went to the basement in this predawn hour because that is the agreement I have with this cat; she gets fed before I even boil the water for my beloved Barry’s Irish tea.
As I do that each morning, I’m usually utilizing the dream-like quality of my not-quite-awake-yet state to thinking about the writing challenges of the day. And currently I have a beaut.
I am experimenting with form on this novella project, attempting to mimic the short attention span of scrolling social media as a crisis erodes the logic of said experience. I’m trying for fluid, stream-of-consciousness as it is experienced thumbing through media today.
And my question this morning was how to build tension in that experimental format.
And then the avalanche of discoveries. Just as I was about to become furious, the writer part of my brain connected all that frustrating information I had observed with my writing questions, and instead of blowing my top, I became intrigued with the opportunity to use this morning’s one-minute flood of bad news to help shape the most challenging part of my WIP.
This is a blessing of creatives: life’s challenges become creative lessons and inspirations.
Now, to call the plumber…
ON WRITING, Part 2: Do Your Homework
Sometimes, fellow creatives will recommend checking out something they see as possibly helping your WIP. Check out those recommendations. They might really inspire you past a challenge you are facing or inform you as to what has been done before so you can try to create something new. Additionally, listen to similar recommendations that come from your writers’ group.
I recently received two recommendations for my current WIP and quickly got my hands on both. Will they absolutely drive my WIP? No idea. But they will at least show me what it out there so I don’t do exactly what it already out there and then my work becomes redundant and less marketable.
The idea is always to further the conversation, contribute something more to the ongoing body of art that we all love so much.
So yeah, do your homework. You can even make it social media content. I did and got nice numbers as a result.
***
Here’s a Little Humor
***
What a Task Master Looks Like
Isabella Crumple, alleged Promotion Manager for our company, is all business as she triple checks what I’m sending out to promote the business and books. Notice the complete lack of approval from that face. I’m worried about my upcoming performance review…
***
And Now a Pic of a Handsome Fella
Here’s a possible cover for Sonny’s next album, Sonny Mehlman and the Slim Brothers – Straight Outta the Boneyard.
And here’s a rare backstage peek at Sonny getting ready…
POP CULTURE FUEL
TV – VISIONQUEST
With superb writing, performances, cinematography, and sound, Marvel’s VisionQuest is everything DC’s Lanterns wasn’t. While I enjoyed the latter, it continually fell apart under close scrutiny, defeated by questions of plot logic and character assassination. VisionQuest rewards such scrutiny, details revealing how thoroughly and satisfactorily this show has been thought out, to the smallest details.
Highly Recommended.
Books and Music –all over the place, reading a short story here, non-fiction there, articles, researching via videos, listening to a developing playlist for my WIP, so nothing new and everything, everywhere, all at once.
***
A request: If you’ve read this far, you are a real one for me, somebody who enjoys what this newsletter is trying to accomplish. If that is you, please tell me in the comments what works for you and what doesn’t about this newsletter. What’s you’re favorite feature, and your least? What would you like to see more of? Thanks.
***
Feel free to share this with anyone you think would enjoy it. Thanks.
Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.
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