Struggling Word Guy

Cost of Living

2012-02-23T18:36:00.000-08:00

COST OF LIVING from BenDavid Grabinski on Vimeo.

Seriously, why do they keep cloning werechildren?

My Other Website

2012-02-21T14:39:00.001-08:00

I'm now embroiled in an awesomeness duel with my friend Patrick Harris at my other website www.johnvspatrick.com

What does an awesomeness duel consist of you ask? Mostly posting cool things and talking smack... at least for now.

I'll be a Panelist at Condor

2012-02-20T19:55:00.000-08:00

(Kinda cross posted to my other website www.johnvspatrick.com which I'll explain tomorrow.)

In the awesome news of the day department, I've just confirmed that I'm going to be a panelist at San Diego's 'Condor' Science Fiction convention. I'm even going to be doing a solo seminar. More details as I get them... Condor 2012

Innsmouth Free Press Fungi Anthology

2012-02-17T11:24:00.000-08:00

Fungi? What a Fun Guy! High Five!

The awesome people at Innsmouth Free Press are putting together a Fungi Anthology. I actually managed to send get my entry in on time (with something like ten minutes to spare!) and eagerly await the results. Wish me luck (my story is called 'Bloom' and is more traditional horror than my usual action horror) and be sure to take a look at the Anthology when it comes out as I'm sure it will be fantastic.

Many thanks to my writer buddy John W. Oliver for letting me know about this project (his entry is awesome btw).

PS I am so, so sorry for the terrible punned caption on the picture above... when it comes to humor there isn't mushroom for error.

Scalzi on Art, Commerce and Impermanence

2012-01-31T12:49:00.000-08:00

At his awesome whatever blog, John Scalzi posted a short article about the best selling authors of 1912 and how they are basically unknown now.

Say what you want, the man can rock a tiara.

I agree with Scalzi that Writers sometimes (perhaps often) have delusions of permanence: we are -after all- still reading Shakespeare and probably will continue to do so for the conceivable future. But the reality is that we'll never hear of the vast majority of writers, even those with that achieved significant commercial or critical success in their lifetimes.

That being said, there does seem to be more surviving 'names' and 'titles' when it comes to speculative fiction in the last century. Is this just a temporary artifact because speculative fiction is still so new, or will a larger number of science fiction and fantasy authors will just simply have a longevity denied to nearly all modern 'traditional' writers? I don't have a clue, but it's interesting to think about.

Of course, for me the question immediately becomes what strategies could an author conceivably cultivate in order to help their legacy survive? Near as I can tell, authors should try and encourage others to build off, reference and remix their work to the greatest extent possible. Film and comic book adaptations probably contribute tremendously to our remembrance of genre writers. To whit, compared to the other 1912 authors, we'll probably never forget a relatively unknown (at the time) writer named H.P. Lovecraft. This is entirely because his mythos was 1) Awesome and original 2) Incredibly inspiring to other authors/artists and 3) He actively encouraged them to build off of his work. Writers interested in staying power could do a lot worse than following his example (with the writing/promoting bits anyway, the living with the aunts-social ineptitude-racism bits... not so much).

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Hello Laaaaadies

My First Gift From a Fan (updated)

2012-01-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

I wrote a story called "Blood Tusk: Lord of All he Surveys - A Child's Primer" about a vampire elephant that takes over the world. I'm currently in the process of trying to sell the thing, but in the mean time I read it to my writer's group. One of my colleagues, Tamsie, enjoyed the story so much she bought me this.

It plays a song every time you touch its foot and makes me impossibly happy. I'm going to paint the beast so he resembles Blood Tusk and someday, I'll bring him with me to signings.

Update:

And this is him painted, in action.

I'm going to show him off at my writer's group tonight.

2012-01-26T10:45:00.001-08:00

...and we're back.

Bees vs Hornets with Epic Music

2012-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

I feel so sorry for the bees, this has to feel like a freaking kaiju invasion. Can you imagine is 30 Godzillas appeared in your city?

Awesome (nonfan) Cosplay

2012-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

For a video game called Firefall.

Honestly, I'm surprised more writers who work in genre don't subsidize their fans (or do contests) for their fans to do cosplay because an awesome/interesting costume is a great way to get introduced to something new.

via Kotaku

MutantLand - Awesome Short Film

2012-01-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

MutantLand from Tippett Studio on Vimeo.

Impossibly Cute Video

2012-01-11T23:40:00.000-08:00

School Portrait (2011) from Michael Berliner on Vimeo.

Why I Write Action Horror

2012-01-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, I'm reluctant to tell people that I write horror. My problem is that -for a lot of people- 'Horror' means movies like Hostel or Saw, gleefully gory scholckfests in which the characters exist for no other reason than to murdered (or worse) horribly. The term 'torture porn' is wholly appropriate for this sort of work.

Picture above, what I don't write.

I know good people who like that sort of thing so I won't speak ill of the (sub)genre. And to be fair; I've been known to enjoy stories with violence, gore and despicable acts happening to both the innocent and guilty alike. So why split hairs?

For me, I'm interested in efficacy. I'm interested in characters who fight. Whether they live or die is immaterial; I'm interested in the struggle. And I think this struggle is often in its purest form in Action Horror.

Pictured above, the kind of book I try to write.

My most important goal in everything I write is to tell a compelling story populated by Characters the reader cares about. If there's a secondary goal, it's this: to remind readers that -no matter how f***ed up the situation they are never powerless. Things don't always work out for my Characters but that's not the point. The struggle is the point. The pushing past fear is the point.

I use horror tropes and a fixation on fear because I believe that one of the greatest challenges in modern life is mastering our fear.

George Carlin - The Male Disease

2011-12-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Supercut of All* of 2011's Studio Movies

2011-12-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

*Jack and Jill deliberately omitted because it isn't so much a movie as an exercise in sadomasochism.

Rock-afire Explosion (aka Chucky Cheese Robots) Cover Nine Inch Nails

2011-12-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

Daft Punk Charleston

2011-12-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Man I'm a sucker for these kinds of videos... these sort of mashups always make me smile, and make me appreciate both component parts more.

Virgins Share First Kiss, Making You Feel Super Awkward

2011-11-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

I've been a virgin. Hell, I'm 28 years old and I can say I was a virgin for most of my life. But I can say, unequivocally, that I was never, ever this much of a virgin.

The Devil Inside Trailer

2011-11-28T16:01:00.000-08:00

I know they're cheap thrills, but exorcism movies scare the s**t out of me. While the current dominance of the 'found footage' and "Faction" tropes seems increasingly cliche, I must say that the use of a contortionist(?) for the central posesee seems inspired. More importantly, I'm extremely grateful that these kind of films have chased torture porn out of the box office.

One Second Film Festival

2011-11-27T23:50:00.000-08:00

Seconds Of Beauty - 1st round compilation from The Beauty Of A Second on Vimeo.

Every Political Ad Ever

2011-11-24T17:00:00.001-08:00

What I'm Thankful for...

2011-11-24T16:32:00.001-08:00

My family first and foremost.
My health
Friends
My dog
Writing
My wife's photo business
Odd jobs and odd people
Skyrim, even if I've sworn off playing
My books
Internet access
Holidays
L4D2
Learning something everyday
Occupy protests
Roller derby bouts and after parties
San Diego
Bars and beer
Potlucks
My NetBook
My awesome phone
My kindle
My publications
My writers group
Cheesy movies
Awesome podcasts
Time to pursue my art
Posting down debt

And all the things I forget to mention!

Happy Turkey day everyone!

Just your Average Homeboy

2011-11-23T11:27:00.000-08:00

I found this and this thing, and then my day was over.

A Deep Psychological Analysis of what your Ninja Turtle Preference Says About You...

2011-11-22T14:40:00.001-08:00

Which Ninja Turtle Are You? Life's Most Important Question -- powered by Cracked.com

I've been Playing Skyrim so Much That This now Makes Sense...

2011-11-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

...and is utterly hilarious. Yeah, sleep deprivation is taking its toll. When you gaze into the eyes of madness what do you see? Techno Viking apparently...

Lovecraft Parody: Late Bloomer

2011-11-21T02:32:00.000-08:00