A record of my education in writing, literature, creativity, and self-expression. Updated whenever I can publish a quality post.

October 21, 2008

Reading in October

has been limited because of exams and vicarious living. No complaints.

Right now? David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. Hoping to have it done by 11/1. Moving onto Stephenson's Cryptonomicon after that. Might revisit Hemingway, or even read The Sun Also Rises for once.

No work on Strunk & White. Again, I've been procrastinating.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I finished Nemirovsky and Fitzgerald. Both are gems in their different ways, and they both utilize great imagery. Cut "empty" adjectives; too many adjectives can bloat a composition.

October 14, 2008

Character Development Attempt

The logical introvert.

He uses ultimate logic as a standard of judgment. Are someones actions rational? Do they judge their own behaviors by how rational they are? Do they behave in agreement with a rigid value system?

Abstract problem-solver. Runs hypothetical situations internally. Risk averse. Fearful of confrontation, or much of social interaction. His few conversations end in judgment, criticism, or dismissal.

Possibly narcissistic. Very self-absorbed. Intelligent and arrogant about said ability, but very self-conscious in other areas. Uses online resources, lists to construct "creative" or artistic areas of personality so as to avoid criticism.

Needs to get his world fucking rocked.

Lack of absurdity in his or her life. Cliche descriptor: "plays by the rules, helped write them." What a disgusting description, but it gets the point across.

Lets make him look average. An average man who can't cope with average traits and an average, boring life. Escapist behavior results from daily monotony.

May be cliche. Based loosely off of Adam Ewing in Cloud Atlas, George Wilson (mechanic) in Gatsby, personal experiences.

October 13, 2008

Great writing is not just motivated by personal introspection. Writers have other goals in mind at times.

Examples: Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm. I'll find some more later.

Blog Archive