Category Archives: Uncategorized

My 9/11 Story

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I’m getting back to working on Elance.  I got a few big jobs that will keep me busy for a few weeks.  In the meantime, however, I am going to continue working on my memories.  I really enjoy working on my writing via these memories.  I will be pretty busy with work, but I can’t give up on creative writing.

Today’s memory is long overdue.  I’ve never written my memory of September 11th, 2001 on paper before.  This is my first real attempt.  As I wrote, I realized this would be one of my longest memories.  It’s difficult to tell the story without explaining the events side-by-side with how I reacted.  In the end, it turned into a long, but amazing memory.  Please feel free to share your story as well.

Day Nineteen: My 9/11 Story

 

How to Write Memories

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Getting back into the swing of writing has helped me immensely.  I love these memories more than anything right now.  I am going to make a bit of a change to the Memory Challenge…although you will not notice.  I am starting to talk about private things.  Although I am okay sharing my private memories…I don’t want to share other people’s private memories.  As a result, I am now changing all names.  Unless you know me personally…and pretty well…you should not know who I am talking about.

I spent three and half hours today talking with my favorite teacher for high school.  My mind has erupted with activity from the intelligent conversation.  She also gave me a book to read.  As soon as I’m done reading Mockingjay, this will be my next challenge.  It is Stephen King’s alternative history book about the failed assassination attempt on JFK.  I can’t wait to read it.

Day Seventeen: Losing Your Mother, Again

The Final Draft

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And, with the strong of a key, the final draft of “The Stagner Chronicle” is complete.  I’m so glad to be done and get it out for everyone to see.  I am going to order a copy today via Lulu.com to make sure the formatting is alright.  If it comes back clean, I will open the book for public sale and link it.

Four book down, a lifetime to go.

The Peace Corps

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I must apologize for my absence over the past couple weeks.  I am still editing the final draft of The Stagner Chronicle in my free time.  The thing is, my life has taken a rather dramatic turn over the last two weeks.  I am set to leave for Peace Corps service in Northern Africa in 47 days.  I am starting to spend my days preparing myself in every different manner possible.  Teaching more often.  Talking with friends about Arabic customs.  Talking with my parents about what will happen within the family over the next 27 months.  Filling out paperwork.  Following news articles about my country.  As the date approaches, I only expect the thought of service to occupy more and more of my time.

I will make one promise to my readers.  Before I leave, I will make The Stagner Chronicle available for sale via Lulu.com.  I will do my best to keep the price cheap and allow for very cheap digital copies.  The draft that I am working on is very clean.  It is ready to be published.  This is the first time I don’t want to just pocket a manuscript with the hope of future publication.  I want my fans, friends, and family to be able to read it.  I can’t wait to get it out to everybody.

With Love,
Richard

The Everyday Project: Year Six

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The Everyday project is one of my alternative creative outlets to writing.  For the past six years, I have taken a picture of my face on a daily basis.  When put in quick succession, it creates the reality of how quickly life changes while showing the slow progress of aging.  I am 23.5 years old….so this project shows 25.5% of my life.  With each passing year, this project means more and more to me.

It’s strange to watch the whole video.  I can see my high school self.  I can tell you when I became popular.  When I went to London.  When I started college.  When I lost a friendship.  Gained a relationship.  Lost a relationship.  Moved.  Became depressed.  Gained weight.  Lost weight.  It all shows itself in this video.  It’s the best way I know to lay everything on the table and take away the truth of someone’s life.  I will always be in love with this project.

Thus far, I have only been able to convince one person to do this project.  The thing is, he got someone to start the project as well.  No matter your age, this is a project I challenge you to start.  Nothing is more rewarding and challenging.  Seeing yourself age is so hard…but so eye-opening.  If you need a little more convincing, check out some of the other projects around the web here.  If you do decide to start the project, let me know.  I’ll link any Everydayer’s video with glee.

With Love,
Richard

The Bechdel Test for Novels

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The Bechdel Test was created for movies.  The whole point was to point out the inequality of the sexes on the big screen.  In order for the movie to pass, it must succeed in these three simple tests.

1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man.

It’s pretty simple.  In order for a movie to pass the test, there has to be only one part of one scene in which two women talk about something other than a man.  Unfortunately, of the 3,305 movies that The Bechdel Test Website has rated, 53% have failed.  If you did the same test for men, I can guarantee you that less than 5% would fail.  The point of the test is to point out the inequality that is seen on the big screen…and it is making a huge impact.

I want to make a vow today.  From this moment forward, I will makes sure any Novella length (or longer) writing of mine passes this simple test.  I did have this test in mind when I wrote The Stagner Chronicle–which is why it passed.  I really want to look through my first three novels and see if I fell victim to the same problem.  This type of sexual discrimination is unacceptable in my mind.  I don’t want to be a part of it.

The next time you read a book or see a movie, keep this in mind.  If you are a writer yourself, consider taking this pledge with me.

With Love,
Richard

Road Trip

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I am currently in a small town called Fairfield, Iowa.  After more than twelve hours in the car, I am exhausted.  I hope to update with some actual writing in the days ahead.  I can’t guarantee anything, though.  This month has been crazy and will only continue.  I hope to repurpose this blog once I can sit down and spend a good deal of time on it.

Thank you for your patience!

 

Staying Informed in a Globalized World

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By the time you are reading this, I should be boarding a plane back to Colorado.  This trip has been exhausting and eye opening.  As my family cycled in and out of the house where my grandparents live, I had conversations with nearly all of them.  Although the conversations usually revolve around personal FAQs, in my family the conversations often turn to politics.

Everyone wanted to talk about the Presidential Election or Gun Control.  Those are the two big topics right now.  I have strong opinions on both (that go against most my family’s beliefs).  Today’s article focuses on Minimalism in reference to economic change.  Namely in America–with regards to the Occupy Movement and The Tea Party.

Minimalist Lifestyle is Step One in Fighting Class Inequality

Looking for The Third Way

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Before you read my next article, I feel the need for a disclaimer.  I write for the sake of writing and thinking.  What I write is not always entirely what I believe.  Oftentimes, it is an exercise into the unknown.  I find that some of my best non-fiction writing takes place when i explore things that the general population refuses to talk about.  That is what I have done today.

Today’s article is about scraping the ideals of Communism and Capitalism and finding another way–one that doesn’t funnel money to the 1% at the expense of the 99%.  It is an exploration into the world of think-tanks and coming up with better ways to run our world… because we sure as Hell aren’t doing it right.

Capitalism, Communism, and The Third Way