Proof Worth Publishing?

Friday Freestyle
September 23, 2016

Scientific Discovery versus Human Feeling

They sat down across from each other, at this small table. A putrid smell of old coffee and Lysol filled the air. Awkward eye contact became avoided. The topic of conversation was about to rise up and they had to face it head on. Jim started first, "Dr. Schwartz, these findings... We have to share them with the public!"

Frank replied, "Dr. Weiss, you know that this would shake them to the core. The public isn't ready for this just yet. It's like the truth about a cure for cancer, no one will believe it until it's too late."

"This isn't some conspiracy or controversial topic, our findings from all the DNA testing prove something. We, as humans, are evolving! We have found the proof of it."

"It's not what we found that they don't want to know, it's what the human race is going to become that will terrify them." Frank Schwartz adjusted the mug in his hands as the sugar-dense coffee swirled inside. All this time he had spent researching and the young man points out the breakthrough. Was he jealous? He probably was, but that hasn't stopped him from sharing the truth before.

Jim Weiss sat there waiting for a stronger emotional argument to formulate in his mind. He just watched the mug rotate in Frank's hands. "You know it's the right thing to tell them Frank, we just need to talk to Megs about how to do so."

"Listen man, this is going to hit close to home for a lot of people. Especially Megs. How do you think they're going to feel? That they know their kids and all those who follow will have to deal with this?"

"Deal with it?" Jim was astonished at how Frank positioned their finding, "It's goddamn progress for us as sentient beings."

Frank scoffed, "That's just it man, we will be come less sentient! More... more... more..."

"More primitive?" Now Jim was becoming offended.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. I do agree in terms of intellect it's progress, but to lose ground on other psychological fronts, it's not exactly a win-win."

"Frank, how should we position it?"

"Jim, there's no proof of the physiological progression of humans. Yeah, we're taller on average and getting better with diseases, but that's how society's progressed. As a general populace, we are no longer developing our anatomy."

"Because we no longer have to! Technology has enabled us to become stronger through efficiency and information."

Frank slammed his left hand down, "Why should we tell them now? That we won't become any better at using our bodies or our emotions, in fact they'll both grow weaker... Just so we can sacrifice them to benefit our capacity for thought and processing." In an effort to calm himself down, a deep breath was drawn inward, held, then released outward. "As an American society, we have come to embrace the expression of the self and celebrated the arts. We've begun to teach the average child to love creativity and to only use math and logic for work."

"By telling the world, we can change the trajectory of the world now by being proactive, instead of reactivity. We should share this news!"

"Do you really think that the world is ready to be told our next step in the evolution?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure we should tell them that humans will all develop into a brood of introverted beings with trouble communicating, developing relationships, and emotional detachment?"

"I.... I'm...."

Obsessiveness & Creativity

Thursday Thought
September 22, 2016

Creating Ideal Series of Events

Internal Determination for the Perfect Plot

I enjoy writing. This blog is an example of how much I enjoy it because you don't usually just do create any fine art for free. There's something more that I appreciate better than the writing of what I hope my audience receives as inspirational and thoughtful posts, I drive such enjoyment from writing fiction. There's something about creating a story or even less than that... Thrusting a newly created character into an alternate universe sometimes eerily similar to ours. From that point you paint their backstory, giving them depth into their past and drives into their future. 

There are plenty of movies and books that have inspired me to write a whole story based off of minuscule parts... An exchange of words or glances traded or feelings felt. Where I find most inspiration for writing is within my own mind and the experiences it interprets from the world around me. Pretty vague I know, but imagine with me... I invest a piece of myself, my morals, or my experiences into certain characters, perhaps a little bit into all of them, that's how I figure out their mechanics of existence. 

When creating plots and writing fiction, I can envision a single scene with great clarity and detail. So within that single setting of time and space and within that capsule of exchange between characters, it all comes together... Where I struggle is the trajectory goes from that point forward. So bear with me as I continue to write singular scenes that may hopefully provoke numerous questions that have will little follow-up in future posts. As the writer, I ask that you please bear with me as the creation and development will not stop. Ever.

Currently, I am perfecting about three to four different stories each with what I hope to be a unique plot. Sure themes or storylines may be shared, but I hope that what they provoke from you, the reader, is much stronger and more authentic than what others may create. Enjoy with me each piece of me that I create, for those who care about me can understand the man underneath better with each excerpt and interpretation. 

I will continue to write. I am in search of those heavy-hitting scenes and powerful writing that not only provokes great feelings from the reader but also from myself when I read it again. Those chills when something strikes you deep in the heart, but it enters in the form of words fed through your eyes and processed by your brain. That heartbreak you'll feel or a great smile you'll wear or even the faces you'll make to mimic a character's expressions or feelings, that's what I pursue as a writer. I'll be damned if I don't conquer that pursuit. 

Here's to Heroes

Wednesday Wander
September 21, 2016

Who are Heroes? What's Heroic?

Merriam-Webster: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. 

There are heroes of literature, they rule in fiction and possess powers of greater magnitudes than any normal human in real life. This character-type is often idolized because we see then in portions, all of which are controlled to carry a certain savory tone that we learn to crave. Each unimaginable feat or epic deed they accomplish with us as their audience, our astonishment grows and magnifies our admiration of them while diminishing the wonderful acts of everyday humans in all kinds of situations. If we only reviewed the highlight reels of a human's life, we could portray them as this epic being who was responsible for defeating the odds and rising against much more powerful forces.

This can be you, the hero. Actually, you should be the hero in your own story.

None of us mortal human beings are perfect. It's actually what makes us so wonderfully exciting and horrifying at the same time. We might screw up or we might have tragic flaws that could end our ambitious journey, and if those blemishes on our character don't make our plot turn for the worst then it's an enchanting story to follow along with. 

Would your story be worth the read? Are you that character that a reader (such as yourself) could fall in love with? Questions worth a second of reflection and penny's thoughts. 

As you live out your own adventure, you must remember that not everything will make the cut into your memoir nor can it fit into comic panels. Those around you will always remember the big moments and the little feelings that you provided while you were on your flight path. At the recollections, those who care will turn in memories of you performing awesome or awful things, most of which won't be spoken because that would just be impolite. Wise folks advise that we should make our stories worth writing about... Our lives should be worth smiling about in reflection and warm the hearts of loved ones in any moment. 

Acting on Ambition

Tuesday Take
September 20, 2016

“To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence.”

- Steven Pressfield -

A quote from Pressfield's book Turning Pro, there are many things that he writes that I agree with, many of which are actually about writing and fighting the resistance that boils inside us. 

Now in regards to those howls from the far reaches of your soul, those cavernous halls of your core... That's the hunger, ambition, desire to do more and to strive to realize our best selves. Some have louder callings than others, unfortunately, there are others who lack any calling at all. Why do we have these secular and human feelings when in reaction to a calling so spiritually emotional? That's a tough question, perhaps it's based on the connections between the physical and the spiritual or it's just the power that the soul has. 

Nonetheless, ambition is a powerful potion and a wonderful precursor to work. If neglect of your ambition is persistent throughout life, then you shall be investing in your own decay and your life is to produce little of real meaning. Billions of people in the audience, they're all waiting with baited breath to see your great performance, whether you are ready it or not, it's going to be a spectacular display, neither you or I should miss it for the world.