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

Thank You to My Readers

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I would like to start off today with a great big thank you to all my readers.  Yesterday, I uploaded a very personal piece that I hoped would grab a few eyes.  I had no idea.  Within 15 minutes of posting the writing, it had 200 views.  I don’t know if my writing has gotten better or if I’m just becoming more honest in my writing (or both).  But it doesn’t matter.  Thank you for all your support.

Today I am starting what I hope will be a new routine.  The coffee shop I write at is 2.5 miles from my house.  It is the perfect distance to walk.  Today I made the trek and feel great.  It is the perfect way to get my mind going so I am prepared to write when I arrive.  It is also perfect practice for the Peace Corps–which is less than 150 days away now.  I hope this new routine will improve my writing, help me add some muscle, and shave off the final 30 pounds I need to lose.  Only time will tell.

With Love,
Richard

P.S.–For any of you who missed my piece yesterday, here it is: Struggle & Love

Struggle & Love

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On a whim, I decided I needed to write about something that has been plaguing my mind for the past few days.  I’ve tried to write about it a couple time before.  This time it just came out.  It is one of the more philosophical pieces I have ever written.  It also gets to the basis of what I believe in life and living.  I hope you enjoy.

Struggle & Love

Back to the Grindstone

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I’ve taken an extended break from writing the last couple weeks.  Now, as my world settles down, I am back to work.  I am preparing a new fiction story that I will likely write into a novel…simply because I need a creative outlet.  I hate  it when I finish writing novels.  It’s like being part of a play and then realizing you have nothing to do after closing night.  Luckily, I’m in control of my own writing and I have plenty of ideas that I’d like to transform into words.

I’m also slowly working away on the final draft of The Stagner Chronicle.  I will likely have copies available to general public in October through Lulu.com.  I’ll keep you updated as I make some progress.  I’m about a quarter of a way through my final read and it is still pretty clean.  I can’t wait to get it out to you guys.

 

At a Crossroads

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I am definitely at a crossroads right now.  As my closest friend prepares to leave the state and I prepare to enter the Peace Corps, everything seems different.  I’m trying to find myself a new social life.  I’m continuing to edit The Stagner Chronicle….and it is so clean that I think this will be the last edit.  I still want to edit and self-publish all four of my works before I leave for the Peace Corps.  I think I can pull it off.

My writing of late has taken a strong non-fiction turn.  I do not know if this is temporary, but I’m not going to fight it.  Whatever comes, comes.  I need to get back to a writing project, though.  I have two non-fiction ideas that I’ve started and one fiction idea.  They all seem incredible.  I think I just need to write out the basic outlines and see which ones are doable.  I’ll let you know when I figure that out.

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!

 

Free Pussy Riot and Stand Up for Freedom of Speech

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@suzanne_moore My fave things Pussy Riot are a reminder that revolution always begins in culture | Suzanne Moore http://gu.com/p/39ehk/tw@guardian
The story of Pussy Riot is a strange one.  As a writer, issues of free speech always catch my attention.  My writing always strays into the deep end.  I like exploring the world we live in by questioning every facet of that world.  For me, that is done through writing.  Through others, it is art.  For some, it is music.  So when a story like this one comes along, I cannot help but talk about it.  Freedom of Speech will only become a worldwide freedom if we continue to push it in every corner of this world.
@MotherJones Pussy Riot’s imprisonment has become a symbol of artistic struggle against political repression. Here’s how: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/what-is-pussy-riot-explained
Part of an artist’s job is to challenge their audience.  Put them in a place that they don’t feel comfortable…then make them think about it honestly and critically.  So, when Pussy Riot sang about anarchy in Russia, they knew full well that they were doing something morally right although legally wrong.  What I doubt they expected was to be in jail for months on end and semi-tortured (no official proof…yet).  Artists are the people who challenge culture and propel us forward.  Imprisoning them is nothing more than trying to stop the future from happening.
@freepussyriot Release the young women of Pussy Riot and immediately end their unjust criminal trial! http://www.causes.com/causes/787323-free-pussy-riot-now-pussy-riot/actions/1670648 #freepussyriot
The confusing part of these arrests is that backlash should be expected.  People will always love their artists more than they love their government.  When a government imprisons an artist for nothing more than to protect the government…the people will not stand for it.  That is why we are seeing large protests in Russia.  I recommend everyone follows the link below to sign the petition to free Pussy Riot.
@freepussyriot SIGN Release the young women of Pussy Riot and immediately end their unjust criminal trial! http://www.causes.com/causes/787323-free-pussy-riot-now-pussy-riot/actions/1670648 #FREEPUSSYRIOT
If the world stands behind the people of Russia as the people of Russia stand up to Vladimir Putin, we will be victorious.  Pussy Riot needs to be released.  That will not be the end of it.  The people of Russia understand the need for Free Speech.  We must help them fight for it….since protesting in Russia is still technically illegal.
@JulianSimpson1 Amnesty Intl campaign on Pussy Riot. Please RT.
@suigenerisjen #PussyRiot members ‘deprived of sleep and food’ during trial
@democracynow Members of Russian Feminist Punk Group @pussy_riot Tried for Church Protest