Well, there is a growing writing community on Twitch. There's one particular livestream that runs kinda like a workshop. It might not be as thorough as an in-person workshop, but it's an alternative, a nice place to meet and hang out with other writers and even share some work.
Even though she was knocked out her demeanor still eats at me. If someone injected a massive amount of drugs in me, let me tell you...As they are taking away the baby and I'm passing out I would be saying "You best make sure I stay knocked out because I will kill you guys in your sleep!" It's her baby!
Seriously though. That's super sweet. I will not go on the tick toks. Everyone dancing around like idiots. Seeing how my life is a complete dumpster fire right now this is a very nice place to get a laugh and bother people I have no business bothering for sport. I may be a dumpster fire but Im the cutest little dumpster fire you ever did see...Fucking tik tok.
Speaking of Tik Toks, I seen a video of a woman recording some girl sitting in her car. Her windows were rolled up and she was dancing. After several seconds, the dancing girl looked to her left and spotted the woman recording her. She looked so embarrassed LOL
Ah, the suspension of disbelief holds no power over you... Consider that the horror arises from realizing the truth and still lapsing back into a default behavior. I.e. sure, he's the devil's baby and my husband and neighbors deceived me and Satan raped me... but he's my baby, and I'll need some support in raising this rascal.
And for me it wouldn't even be about my devil baby it would be the devil baby principle. It's My devil baby. I made the devil baby with Satan and we had a deal.
And another thing...Satan was a terrible lay so why on earth does he get to step on my turf. Seriously all that build up and all that talk! Smh. Tryin' tell me he's gon' do anything is hilarious.
Wait! In the book Rosemary speaks to the departing Pope while she's TRYING TO HIDE THE FACT SHE'S HAVING AN ORGASM. So Satan must have some game. Plus, in the book Rosemary marvels over Satan's surprising "bigness" wink-wink.
Great podcast!! Listened this morning while I was sewing patches on hats for an order!! The pacing in Rosemary’s Baby was always phenomenal along with the confusion. I watched it for the first time while being sneaky at one of my many babysitter’s houses! During the film, my babysitter got in a fight and had her hoop earring ripped out of her earlobe—- blood everywhere and freaked out about the movie— I vomited on the livingroom carpet. Fun times!
Yow, the hoop earring horror. Glad you're still onboard. Hope to use Sassy pix soon. Stuck in an LA hotel. "had her loop.... seems very passive voice -- did YOU rip out the hoop. I won't judge you!
Hey! Yer never stuck when you have an imagination like yours, Sir! I can incision you now with cheeseburgers and onion rings near you while your catching up on things. Thank you for caring about Sassy. Babysitter was one of the nice ones and would let me do things I wasn’t supposed to, like eat a bunch of candy and watch “Rosemary’s Baby” on TV. She had to go outside because another woman was going to fight her because she was sleeping with her boyfriend—- so, the combo of watching the film, seeing her fight another woman knowing how sweet she was, coming in with a ripped earlobe, tons of blood dripping through her fingers and down her neck, wailing— as Rosemary is screaming on TV, I puked on the fancy area rug. I had to get a bath— and wear one of her shirts to bed. Then, my folks came to get me the next day— there was a trail of blood on the porch still and that was the last time I saw her. So, my memory of “Rosemary’s Baby” is that of an 8 year old and haven’t seen it since.
(Hangs head down, red-faced and embarrassed) Thanks, autocorrect. I thought envision was spelled with an “I.” I swear I’m an innocent casualty and well-meaning. 😑🙏🏼
Hey Chuck! I enjoyed your last interview you did with Dead Headspace. There was something I wanted to ask you.
You mentioned Ira Levin and how he said that 99.99 percent of writing fiction was about finding the perfect problem. How does a writer know they have found that perfect problem? In your experience, have you found any common traits to distinguish them from a lame problem?
I'd bet the perfect problem differs from writer to writer. To me the perfect problem is never external to the character. It always arises from an inauthenticity (a lie? or deception?) used to gain love. Or it grows from a lack of awareness of one's true nature. In 'Fight Club' the narrator lacks the awareness that he is also Tyler, and he lies to the support groups to gain their love. In 'Beautiful You' Penny has no idea who she actually is (a clone!). In 'Snuff' every man (almost) thinks he's the son of Cassie Wright. (a kind of script-flipped, reverse Medea)
In our current "personal responsibility" culture, the pure victim who's acted upon by external forces seems unrealistic. In Stephen King's work the victim is so often a child, so I imagine he's more accepting of external forces as the problem.
To further on, on an AMA you did Chuck, about finding the best metaphors that allows you to explore the problem. Forgive me if it's a simple question but, how do you find suitable metaphors?
Forgive me if I've no real answer. That discovery process varies with each book/story. What's important is that you know you need a metaphor, so as you live life you're at least partially, always on the lookout for that prize.
I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe (with tears) when I read Stuff. And it's not like I could tell most of my friends about that fact that you just jumped right into double-ended dildo etiquette. And whats funny is I was warned about that particular part from my friend and it still hit so hard I nearly fell out of bed.
I definitely need to read Rosemary’s Baby to see how Ira Levin does the dream sequences. At this point I’ve only seen the film. There have been times that I steered away from dreams because they seem challenging. I think I’ve also heard you say that you think it’s best to avoid dreams. I don’t want to put words in your mouth, so please correct me if I’m misremembering, but I think it had to do with creating real actions that the reader can relate to rather than a sort of imaginary set of events. Is there something that Ira Levin does that makes his dream sequences work really well?
A friend just told me that the film 'It Follows' first occurred to the director as a dream. I can see that. Films mimic dreams, but I wonder if dreams have evolved to mimic films by now.
My understanding, via Tom Spanbauer, is that Gordon Lish forbid his students writing dreams. He felt it was a cheat, according to Tom. In the visual medium of film they work much, much better.
If the thalidomide theory is correct, I wonder how consciously or subconsciously Levin was aware of it and how much of an influence it may have had in the development of the novel. Maybe he knew from the start or maybe he realised what he was (really) writing about later on after the book’s publication.
Also, Chuck, did you see that there was a sea lion just freely roaming the streets of Oregon a few days ago? I saw it randomly in a news article and though I’ve never been to Oregon I’m assuming that’s not an everyday occurrence. (Please feel free to correct me on my nativity of Oregon wild life. Maybe sea lions roam the sidewalks freely like pigeons.)
A sea lion? Hah! They often swim up the Columbia River to eat fish that linger below the large dams. A seal might easily flop on a beach in town. Where I live, you can hear them barking as they swim upstream.
Do you remember the controversy with "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey? I wanted to know what you thought about that memoir. Looking at it now, the tone of that book reminds me of something you would write. Minimalistic, blunt.
It's funny because I remember watching an interview with Cheryl Strayed with George Stroumboulopoulos. She talked about how you would offer suggestions for her book "Wild" and she would come back at you with "but that's not what happened."
You responded with "that doesn't matter, it's all for the story."
And it seems like James Frey took that advice and ran with it hahaha
Meeting each week with fellow writers kept me writing. And reading short stories that excited me to write.
Well, there is a growing writing community on Twitch. There's one particular livestream that runs kinda like a workshop. It might not be as thorough as an in-person workshop, but it's an alternative, a nice place to meet and hang out with other writers and even share some work.
Hell, if I let embarrassment stop me I'd never get out of bed in the morning.
Even though she was knocked out her demeanor still eats at me. If someone injected a massive amount of drugs in me, let me tell you...As they are taking away the baby and I'm passing out I would be saying "You best make sure I stay knocked out because I will kill you guys in your sleep!" It's her baby!
Candice, you're probably one of my favorite people on here. I love reading your comments.
Well I'm pissed off today so strap in Sweetheart.
Seriously though. That's super sweet. I will not go on the tick toks. Everyone dancing around like idiots. Seeing how my life is a complete dumpster fire right now this is a very nice place to get a laugh and bother people I have no business bothering for sport. I may be a dumpster fire but Im the cutest little dumpster fire you ever did see...Fucking tik tok.
You're welcome!
Speaking of Tik Toks, I seen a video of a woman recording some girl sitting in her car. Her windows were rolled up and she was dancing. After several seconds, the dancing girl looked to her left and spotted the woman recording her. She looked so embarrassed LOL
She was trying to hide her face.
And yes, she was making a dancing TIk Tok video.
Ah, the suspension of disbelief holds no power over you... Consider that the horror arises from realizing the truth and still lapsing back into a default behavior. I.e. sure, he's the devil's baby and my husband and neighbors deceived me and Satan raped me... but he's my baby, and I'll need some support in raising this rascal.
This is awesome btw. Thank you.
Thank you!
Yes, Sir!
And for me it wouldn't even be about my devil baby it would be the devil baby principle. It's My devil baby. I made the devil baby with Satan and we had a deal.
See! See! That's why she can't throw the baby from the window like she planned (in the book).
And another thing...Satan was a terrible lay so why on earth does he get to step on my turf. Seriously all that build up and all that talk! Smh. Tryin' tell me he's gon' do anything is hilarious.
Wait! In the book Rosemary speaks to the departing Pope while she's TRYING TO HIDE THE FACT SHE'S HAVING AN ORGASM. So Satan must have some game. Plus, in the book Rosemary marvels over Satan's surprising "bigness" wink-wink.
That's hilarious.
Ouch. My reply function seems to be on the fritz. I'll try again soon.
The U.I. gods...I mean really. Completely unreasonable barbarians.
Tell me about it....
Great podcast!! Listened this morning while I was sewing patches on hats for an order!! The pacing in Rosemary’s Baby was always phenomenal along with the confusion. I watched it for the first time while being sneaky at one of my many babysitter’s houses! During the film, my babysitter got in a fight and had her hoop earring ripped out of her earlobe—- blood everywhere and freaked out about the movie— I vomited on the livingroom carpet. Fun times!
Yow, the hoop earring horror. Glad you're still onboard. Hope to use Sassy pix soon. Stuck in an LA hotel. "had her loop.... seems very passive voice -- did YOU rip out the hoop. I won't judge you!
Hey! Yer never stuck when you have an imagination like yours, Sir! I can incision you now with cheeseburgers and onion rings near you while your catching up on things. Thank you for caring about Sassy. Babysitter was one of the nice ones and would let me do things I wasn’t supposed to, like eat a bunch of candy and watch “Rosemary’s Baby” on TV. She had to go outside because another woman was going to fight her because she was sleeping with her boyfriend—- so, the combo of watching the film, seeing her fight another woman knowing how sweet she was, coming in with a ripped earlobe, tons of blood dripping through her fingers and down her neck, wailing— as Rosemary is screaming on TV, I puked on the fancy area rug. I had to get a bath— and wear one of her shirts to bed. Then, my folks came to get me the next day— there was a trail of blood on the porch still and that was the last time I saw her. So, my memory of “Rosemary’s Baby” is that of an 8 year old and haven’t seen it since.
“Envision you” not “incision.” Effing autocorrect.
Dr. Freud, you slip is showing. "Incision" indeed.
(Hangs head down, red-faced and embarrassed) Thanks, autocorrect. I thought envision was spelled with an “I.” I swear I’m an innocent casualty and well-meaning. 😑🙏🏼
Yeah, now you're planning to stab me while you hold a copy of 'Catcher in the Rye.' I know this scenario.
Hey Chuck! I enjoyed your last interview you did with Dead Headspace. There was something I wanted to ask you.
You mentioned Ira Levin and how he said that 99.99 percent of writing fiction was about finding the perfect problem. How does a writer know they have found that perfect problem? In your experience, have you found any common traits to distinguish them from a lame problem?
I'd bet the perfect problem differs from writer to writer. To me the perfect problem is never external to the character. It always arises from an inauthenticity (a lie? or deception?) used to gain love. Or it grows from a lack of awareness of one's true nature. In 'Fight Club' the narrator lacks the awareness that he is also Tyler, and he lies to the support groups to gain their love. In 'Beautiful You' Penny has no idea who she actually is (a clone!). In 'Snuff' every man (almost) thinks he's the son of Cassie Wright. (a kind of script-flipped, reverse Medea)
In our current "personal responsibility" culture, the pure victim who's acted upon by external forces seems unrealistic. In Stephen King's work the victim is so often a child, so I imagine he's more accepting of external forces as the problem.
To further on, on an AMA you did Chuck, about finding the best metaphors that allows you to explore the problem. Forgive me if it's a simple question but, how do you find suitable metaphors?
Forgive me if I've no real answer. That discovery process varies with each book/story. What's important is that you know you need a metaphor, so as you live life you're at least partially, always on the lookout for that prize.
I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe (with tears) when I read Stuff. And it's not like I could tell most of my friends about that fact that you just jumped right into double-ended dildo etiquette. And whats funny is I was warned about that particular part from my friend and it still hit so hard I nearly fell out of bed.
A stranger actually told me about mistaking a de-laminating dildo for tapeworms. At such times, all I can do is smile and nod.
I'm dying right now. LOLOL
I've been daring myself to google it but its really hard to work up the courage.
I definitely need to read Rosemary’s Baby to see how Ira Levin does the dream sequences. At this point I’ve only seen the film. There have been times that I steered away from dreams because they seem challenging. I think I’ve also heard you say that you think it’s best to avoid dreams. I don’t want to put words in your mouth, so please correct me if I’m misremembering, but I think it had to do with creating real actions that the reader can relate to rather than a sort of imaginary set of events. Is there something that Ira Levin does that makes his dream sequences work really well?
Re: ‘it removed the reader from the impossibility that they might be the main character’
Yes, I think that’s what I was remembering!
I have not! Sounds worth checking out.
A friend just told me that the film 'It Follows' first occurred to the director as a dream. I can see that. Films mimic dreams, but I wonder if dreams have evolved to mimic films by now.
My understanding, via Tom Spanbauer, is that Gordon Lish forbid his students writing dreams. He felt it was a cheat, according to Tom. In the visual medium of film they work much, much better.
If the thalidomide theory is correct, I wonder how consciously or subconsciously Levin was aware of it and how much of an influence it may have had in the development of the novel. Maybe he knew from the start or maybe he realised what he was (really) writing about later on after the book’s publication.
Also, Chuck, did you see that there was a sea lion just freely roaming the streets of Oregon a few days ago? I saw it randomly in a news article and though I’ve never been to Oregon I’m assuming that’s not an everyday occurrence. (Please feel free to correct me on my nativity of Oregon wild life. Maybe sea lions roam the sidewalks freely like pigeons.)
A sea lion? Hah! They often swim up the Columbia River to eat fish that linger below the large dams. A seal might easily flop on a beach in town. Where I live, you can hear them barking as they swim upstream.
Omg— “Project Mayhem” is at it again! Check out this story from VICE. https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjbb9d/hackers-are-spamming-businesses-receipt-printers-with-antiwork-manifestos
FUCK YES! Take away the stigma that controls people. This is just lovely!
WAL-MART # 002561
( 522 ) 361 - 2552
STORE MANAGER: YOU ARE THE SAME DECAYING ORGANIC MATTER AS EVERYONE ELSE.
Do you remember the controversy with "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey? I wanted to know what you thought about that memoir. Looking at it now, the tone of that book reminds me of something you would write. Minimalistic, blunt.
It's funny because I remember watching an interview with Cheryl Strayed with George Stroumboulopoulos. She talked about how you would offer suggestions for her book "Wild" and she would come back at you with "but that's not what happened."
You responded with "that doesn't matter, it's all for the story."
And it seems like James Frey took that advice and ran with it hahaha