When I was younger, I always wanted to work in Video Games. They were something me and my able-bodied friends could participate in together equally. I wanted a job making them. Growing up taught me I didn’t have the programming aptitude. I moved on to other things. Recently I’m enjoy writing reviews for a video game site. All those old feelings have returned. I’m working in video games. Not the way I originally envisioned, but its still true. Its funny how things come full circle.
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Urban Fantasy
I enjoy Urban Fantasy, where the real world and the fantasy world mesh. I enjoy The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Harry’s snark speaks to me. He is deep with a well- realized backstory. I hope to build my characters like that. Writers need to read whatever they can to improve their craft.
Poe’s Wisdom
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view
Alone by Edgar Alan Poe
Edgar Allen Poe understood Isolation. He dealt with sickness as a child and couldn’t participate with his peers. I guess its true, when its difficult to interact with others, it forces one to look inward and become introspective. I’ve noticed that in my life too. But I think Poe knew the value of writing as therapy Writing helps me get my negative thoughts outside of myself to see if they’re valid or not? I wonder if Poe felt the same way?
The shape changing idea!
Joseph Cambell discovered the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journeyIt is a template that can be used to deconstruct every myth of every culture in the world. Heroes, villans gods, demons, these are tools used by people to construct explanations for things they don’t understand.
Shape-shifting is a common ability for mythic gods. They could change themselves to fit in any situation. Ideas can do the same thing. They can help us through any situation as long as we think clearly and with purpose.
The Story Question
Myths are parables. Myths exist to explain the unexplained, an answer the unanswerable. Central to myths are lessons. The Monolithic hero, usually has something about him which separates him from all those around him. He must go on an epic journey in order to understand why he is different He comes back with knowledge to improve his life and that those around him. Usually the story question involves learning how to accept his uniqueness and through his acceptance, solve the problem.
The story question is the foundation of the whole story. It is answered at story’s end.
Inspiration’s Cave
When Plato wrote The Republic in
514a–520a, it was to illustrate the affect of education on human beings. Plato thought that without the light education brings, people are ignorant and will only see the world as shadows on a cave wall.
Being inspired to write a story is a lot like being in a cave. At first there is absolute darkness. But if I look hard enough, there’s little points of light which will slowly light my way to a satisfying ending. I think Plato would approve of my allegory.
Mourning For A Shadow
I sometimes find myself wondering what my life would be like if I wasn’t born with Cerebral Palsy I wonder how I’d be different if I could walk, run, Drive a car, or just simply use the bloody toilet by myself.I think about how I would be different. I call this “Mourning For A Shadow” If I focus too much on what I do not have, or what cannot be done I will fall down a depressive rabbi hole from which I cannot easily extricate myself. My disability has taught me a lot about a Mindfulness and disciplining my own thoughts.
Here are some tricks that help me if I find myself focusing on the negative.
1. I stop what I’m doing.
2. Get away from the current environment.
3. Focus on one good thing that happened that day until I’m calm. Then my attitude will change over time.
What do you do if you mourn for shadows?
Happy fourth of July
Happy independence Day. I hope its fun and enjoyable.
Book Status
Over halfway done with Manuscript. Hard but worth it.
Milton’s Lessons
If one studies literature, one can learn many lessons that can be applied to daily life. They’re many lessons to be found in Milton’s 1667 poem, Paradise Lost. At its heart, this poem is about dealing with consequences and learning how to accept life. Milton says that “The mind is its own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell and a Hell of Heaven.” I think that this quote illustrates the fact that often in life, circumstances are beyond our control and all we can do is change how we think about them. A positive attitude is important. No matter how bad you think life is, things can always be worse. With the wrong attitude, things will be made worse. Attitude is important.