New Hobby Discovered

It’s not spelunking. It’s not photography. It’s not collecting Dove chocolate wrappers…it’s Movie Talking.

This new hobby may prove dangerous to my health. Some people greatly resent any vocalized disturbance which breaks the trance of suspended belief in a make-believe world. But honestly, if you’re going to a movie with another writer, or worse, an editor, the temptation is…titanic.

I went to see Clash of the Titans with my plot-savvy mother and thoroughly enjoyed identifying and analyzing the plot devices. (Which in this movie were obvious given the absurd premise.)   

So, if you’re in a theater and you hear…..”Ok, all his friends are going to die here, so he’ll have to be alone for the final battle.”…two rows back. It’s probably me and mom.

Or not…

One instance of Movie Talking comes to mind when I was annoyee rather than annoyer, during the classic Count of Monte Cristo no less. The lead villain could have borrowed this woman’s manaical laugh to deepen his chill factor.

In retrospect, it was fun for one time, but I will defer to my fellow theater goers and restrict my new hobby to a good ole DVD rental. Some poor writer poured  blood, sweat, and self-doubting fears, into creating an engaging story, transporting people into an imaginary world on an extraordinary adventure, and I feel like a hypocrite in defeating that purpose with a whispers of, “Well, he’s got to have somebody to love because his dad made such a point of that in the beginning,” and, “Aha, he’s reconciled his inner struggle!” and, ”What’s the point of that owl statue anyway?” (I was disappointed it didn’t turn into some kind of helpful brain washing tool.) 

Hmmm. What do you think? Are there some movies where it’s more appropriate to talk? Dramas, comedies, action flicks? Never in a theater?

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Conferences

If you’re a writer and you haven’t gone to a conference. Go to one! Then go to another one, and then another. Attending conferences in a string is like reading a well-crafted novel, characters reappear and plot threads begin to weave.

The Writing for the Soul conference in Denver, Colorado. is worth every penny. This organization is devoted to helping writers develope their craft, and more importantly, to develope a vision for their writing in line with God’s purpose. Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales spoke on Friday night, cutting to the core of who I am as a writer…an achiever with big dreams. From that point on, at nearly every meal, someone spoke about how much that particular message impacted them. I understand why. Phil was talking about abandonment to God–letting go of all the dreams God has given in pursuit of God alone.

This conference also gave each and every attendee the opportunity of three appointments with editors and agents and a bonus appointment with a mentor from the Christian Writers Guild. Do your homework before you go, and you’ll enjoy the experience very much. I met with the fiction editor from Tyndale and asked her some questions about her publishing house. My current project isn’t a good fit for their needs, but I pitched my new novel idea to her and she liked it. When I met with Rachel Zurakowski from Books and Such Literary Agency she asked me to send her the manuscript!

I just got back from Write 2 Ignite. This is an up and coming group that focuses on Christian writers for children and young adult books. This conference had great workshops and a fun atmosphere, and oodles of resources. They had a heavy emphasis on teen writers, which is absolutely terrific! I reconnected with Kim Peterson, a guild mentor I’d met back in October at the writing retreat at Ridgecrest (Great hands-on instruction on developing the writing craft.)

If you’re a writer and you’re on the fence about going to a conference…Get off the fence and go! It will challenge and encourage you to take your writing to the next level. Besides, it’s great to be around other writers who understand what you mean when you lament that you’ll have to kill your character. You’ll see the same people at a few, make new friends, and begin weaving a brand new story. What could be better?

Posted in writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Austen’s Opinion of the Novel

“‘Oh! It is only a novel!’ replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. ‘It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda’; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of it varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language.”  – Jane Austen/Northanger Abbey

Oh yes, a novel is a wonderful thing. It’s a seemingly safe place to probe the depths of motivation. To watch the decisions of others and understand, for once, why they did what they did–a priviledge rarely afforded in real life. And in this safety, you can come more easily face to face with who you are and why you do what you do. Yes, a novel is a wonderful thing.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Seize the Day or Stick to the Plan?

February 18th will be here before I know it. Jerry Jenkins’s conference for writers in Denver, Colorado promises to be a gold mine experience, if I’m prepared.

Oh, I’m preparing all right. I was ripping ancient college orientation materials out of a folder absconding it for better use…when my twenty year old brother strode into my bedroom/office and served me with this document.
Jenkins Family Ink.
MEMO
To: Lily Beatrice Jenkins
From: Joshua Caleb Jenkins
CC: The Dog (Bessie)
Date: 1/30/2010
Re: Snowball Fight

Dear Madam, you are forthwith hitherto cordially invited to participate in a deathmatch format snowball fight, commencing at your earliest convenience….activities will be followed by mac n cheese, and hot chocolate…please rsvp asap.

My Decision: I would be absolutely crazy not to.

What do you think? Should achieving goals get chucked to the side for quality fun?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Hello world!

Here comes the blog…Go comment happy!!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment