Hiking and Real Experiences

I went on a hike the other day at Newport Beach, California, and it was just nice to get out of the house. Being outdoors occasionally, and not looking at screens while being a sloth on the couch is something of a necessity. While I endorse media, and we watch media mainly on screens, unless we are reading a book or manga, sometimes the best stories are just going out there. I went with two friends on this hike and encountered a rattlesnake, hiked up until we could see the ocean, saw birds flying freely on top of the last hill and sweated up rocky hills. We talked and conversed without checking our phones every five seconds, and it was good.

In social media, we see other people’s stories. When watching a television show, movie or another type of media, we are watching ideas from a person’s mind play out in real life. As an aspiring author, that is pretty much what I am doing with my stories. I have an idea in my head, and I am actively putting it onto paper. Real experiences play a factor into this as well, and the use of real locations or individuals bring about ideas that go into stories.

As cliché as it sounds, life is one big story. Lately, it does seem like we are enthralled in someone else’s story instead of our own and watch that story play out on some sort of screen. I think that it is important to sometimes get away from someone else’s story and play out our own.

Hawkeye and Character Development

I watched Hawkeye on Disney Plus the other day, and I enjoyed it. I like some of the things that they do to humanize the character and the experience overall. There are consequences for Hawkeye, Clint Barton, to be an Avenger and save the world, good and bad. Things are not just hunky dory for the character. People on the street recognize him and want something of him whether it be a selfie, a handshake or something else. They will thank him as well. It also has a negative affect on his family, and he is relatively aloof and indifferent to it all. For me, I have always liked to focus more on characters than plot, so character development is always welcome to me in any story.

When I edited some of my stories, specifically The Mustard Prince, I had to delve into the characters a lot more. I had to think about how a character will react in a totally new situation and write it out. For example, The Mustard Prince has never been to a tavern full of people that are rough around the edges, so he cannot just enter as if he has been there before. I made the mistake on earlier drafts of him entering the tavern normally, but that does not make sense when putting some thought into it.

While that may seem obvious now, that was a lesson learned over time. It goes to show that this whole writing thing is a process and a journey of learning and discovery.

Bad News and Not Rushing

I received some bad news today (it was not regarding a life-or-death situation, thankfully), and it was tough. I put on the movie from 2008, Role Models, and it did its job in getting me out of the moment and making me laugh at times. I have seen it before, and it was better on this watch than when I first saw it years ago. I am not saying that it is some great movie or anything like that, but that as a form of entertainment, it did what it needed to do for its audience.

Editing was one of the big things that I was working on with my stories. Now, I am looking to extend my stories to make them longer. I did not realize how much that I can stretch out and expand upon with my stories. I compare it to martial arts, but when one rushes something, it leaves open mistakes and openings. I rushed my stories too quickly, and it left narrative openings. This writing thing is definitely not a sprint, but a marathon.

I always say this with my own writing, but I am not trying to reinvent the wheel with my stories. The bottom line is that I want to entertain an audience. I do not know how far my stories will reach, if ever I get published professionally, but I would like to reach as many people as I can.

Mother’s Day 2022 and Creating

I celebrated Mother’s Day with my parents today, and it was a good time. Before, it was something that I felt that I could skip, but as I got older, it is something of greater importance. Mothers give birth, nurture and raise the next generation selflessly. They are creators, obviously, as they create a new life into the world, and that is something to be celebrated. It really is something of a superpower that only mothers can do.

Making a book, novel or some other form of media is the birth of a new story. Mothers create one of the ultimate stories to be told and to be lived, of course, but the creating of a new story has its ups and downs. It can be fun at times, but also a real slog at other times. There is a battle between what is in the creator’s mind and how it needs to be written on paper. Some days, the author cannot wait to write, and other days, the author must be dragged into writing. It can be very mercurial.

Despite the hardships, we create anyways. There is always a new story to be told, and a new journey to experience. It can be tough at times, awesome at other times, but worth it in the end.

The Girl on a Bulldozer and Over-Powered Protagonists

I watched a Korean movie the other day called The Girl on a Bulldozer, and it amazes me to see the cultural differences in Asian movies as opposed to movies here. For one thing, The Girl on a Bulldozer has a very strong female lead, but she is not a “Mary Sue” character who can just do anything and is perfect. She goes into situations with anger and violence, and she is wildly ineffective in trying to solve problems in that manner. Add to that, she will face physical violence at times herself in retaliation. In movies over here, that type of assertiveness will usually win the day in movies, but not in this one or in other Asian movies that I have seen.

I personally like that more flawed character than what we have been seeing lately, even in anime. In anime, there is what is called the over-powered protagonist, but we have seen that character in Star Wars, Marvel movies and the like. Sometimes it can work when taken in interesting or comical directions, but I think the problem with the protagonist already being immensely powerful is that it pretty much defeats “the hero’s journey.”

It is more satisfying to me to see the main character work to that point instead of already being there. I think that lately, we have been seeing the opposite. In the case of comic books, the hero starts with their powers, so the adversity must be world-ending or just so overpowering. I personally like things more grounded and relatable.

The Invisible and Comfort

I read an article where a former UFC fighter, Spencer Fisher, had a private lesson with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and just all-around legend, Rickson Gracie. Gracie did not teach him crazy new moves but just a certain mentality of being always comfortable even in the worst positions and “invisible” aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As someone who is halfway to a black belt, these concepts resonate with me. The invisible aspects interest me greatly as it speaks to a higher and more spiritual approach, and I think that this can apply to things in life as well.

In writing, there are the more material aspects to it that we can all see such as the grammar, style, mechanics, etc. However, it does make me think about the invisible aspects of writing. I am just starting out, so I am a white belt with this whole writing stuff, but when we consume top-quality media and stories, there are unseen aspects that make something very good to excellent. There is something more to Lord of the Rings, for example, than just an adventure, or else it would not stand the test of time. I watch anime, and there is a distinct difference from a good anime to a great anime. Part of it is a mastery of the basics, but an ability to think beyond in complex ways and convey that in a particular media.

Right now, as a writer, I am just trying to get the basics. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel but just tell a good story. I think that is a mistake in trying to reinvent the wheel right away, as people end up just being different for the sake of being different but not telling anything of substance.

Sleeping Beauty and Simplicity

I went to the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles to watch Sleeping Beauty. It was nice watching a Disney classic on the big screen, and it really has a charm that I do not see in much media today. Maleficent is of course just an iconic character and villain in all media from her design to behavior. The story, in my opinion, is basic but done well and creatively. I can appreciate things like the art, colors and backgrounds much more now as an adult.

I subscribe to the idea of keeping it simple and not over-complicating a story. Like in Sleeping Beauty, there is a protagonist, a villain and a conflict that needs to be resolved. Writing my own fantasy stories, I generally abide by that simplicity, but in a book, I can draw out the characters and conflicts much more than in a time-constrained movie. Some writers can do twists and turns quite well, but I am just unequipped to do so.

I am still learning this writing stuff, as I am pretty much self-taught. Even after years of writing The Mustard Prince, I am improving on the story and the characters. New criticism and different media bring something that I did not see before.

Complacency and Mentality

I noticed a regression in my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lately. I was giving up bad positions, not really putting effort in advancing and electing to getting into stalled positions. After some contemplation, I realized that my mentality was negative, and it reflected in my performance. Part of it was due to complacency, and another part may have been coming back from injury. A strange thing happens in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu though, if I don’t exert a lot of effort, maybe because I don’t want to get too tired, I end up getting more tired. It is not as if my partner stops working just because I have. I end up working harder, not smarter.

I think that this mentality also transfers to writing as well (among just about everything else in life). If I get lazy, I’ll go on the internet or look at my phone more frequently, but the consequence is that less of the story gets created. I am stopping myself from reaching my goal quicker when my mentality, which is a part of discipline, is compromised. Now, I have to work harder, when it is smarter not to be lazy and subsequently distracted. It’s not like the internet will go away after I am done writing.

It is understandably a tough thing though to have a positive mentality at all times when it is needed. Under situations of stress and duress, it is easy to surrender even if it is not in one’s best interest to do so. I think that it just goes to show that in reaching goals, the biggest obstacle truly is yourself.

Opportunities and WrestleMania 2022

I sent The Mustard Prince in the Condiment Kingdom to a publisher even though they were not asking for any such content. My thought processing was simply that I have already faced a lot of rejection from Literary Agents, so I have nothing to lose and have learned to take rejection in stride. However, my friend told me that I am presenting them with something that they did not know that they wanted. It was simply an opportunity that I could not pass up, and I will wait and see what happens. It is a longshot, so I do not have much in terms of expectation anyways.

I also watched WWE WrestleMania Night 2 with some friends. Many did not know the current product but used to watch it in its heyday. I am admittedly a big fan of professional wrestling, and as I got older, I got more into the stories that are being presented. Now, we are not getting Tolkien or Shakespeare in the ring, but when done right, professional wrestling can provide entertaining stories. There is a good guy (the babyface) and the bad guy (the heel). There is a story that leads to a match between the two, and there is the story that is being told in the match itself. Despite not being current on the product, my friends seemed to enjoy themselves and had a good time.

That type of distraction and escape really is a basic tenet of any story. I make stories hopefully to entertain and create a vehicle to escape to a different world in my stories. If done well, the characters become “real,” and the audience feels a personal connection to those characters with a vested interest in their journeys, not unlike professional wrestling when it is done right.

Critiques and Introspection

I sent a Query Letter to a Literary Agent recently for my story, The Land of the Wooden Statues. I got a rejection saying that this story is far too short for a Young Adult audience. After thinking and meditating about it, this agent was absolutely correct. I started to analyze the story and realized that I pretty much rushed through so much of it. For example, in the story, a built up this evil and nasty place that the characters get thrown into, but I only gave it one chapter. The story does indeed move hurriedly, and it is a problem with my writing. This critique really made me analyze things, and I need to allow the story to breathe at times.

There is a connection here with the martial art that I practice, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rushing things in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will get me swept, out of position or submitted. Pretty much, mistakes are made when one rushes things. It applies to martial arts, and it applies just as aptly to writing a story as well. With writing, rushing things will not allow the audience to really soak in and digest any big events or battles that happen in the story. Instead, it is on to the next thing.

I have learned to take criticism a lot better with my stories and learn from them. This particular criticism turned on a light bulb for me, and it has made me look at The Mustard Prince and where things need to breathe with that story. I thought that there wasn’t much else that needed to be said in The Land of the Wooden Statues, but I was wrong about that. Hopefully, after adding a few things here and there that it will be a much stronger story.

Jujutsu Kaisen Zero and Good Stories

In my last blog, I wrote about a bad movie. Today, I watched the Jujutsu Kaisen Zero anime movie, which was in my opinion a very good movie. A new character, Yuta, was introduced as the protagonist, and we got to some him grow, become stronger and more confident. There was humor, horror, action and other things that made the story very good, along with awesome animation. The villain had a particular motivation that uses that villain logic that is not totally untrue, but morally and ethically dangerous. All in all, it was just a good story in about two hours utilizing a movie platform.

One thing that I am seeing more these days is complexity in stories that I do not feel always has to be there (that and a myriad of reboots). A villain cannot just be bad or evil, and not everything has to be in some moral gray area, for example. I am finding that simplicity in telling stories has been one of the better practices as of late, with substance over style, especially when we are seeing so much style over substance. To its credit, I think that Jujutsu Kaisen Zero blended well the substance of the story and characters with the style that the series is known for.

I suppose that it is good to watch good stories and bad stories. There is a lesson in what not to do with bad stories, and obviously, a lesson in what to emulate with good stories. Understandably, this is easier said than done as what is in my mind that I put to paper seems like a good idea, but I do not know if an audience will accept it.

Bad Stories and Expectations

I just watched a Japanese movie called The Cherry Bushido. I really did not feel that it was very good and was really disjointed at times. The movie started out well enough with some interesting ideas, but by the end, it really went off the rails. It did not help that the middle of the movie just dragged on to the point where both me and the friend that I watched the movie with fell asleep during the middle of the movie. I have a higher expectation for Asian movies in general compared to movies here in the U.S. (yes, I am an international film snob), so it was a bit disappointing how bad this movie was.

It also concerns me a bit as a writer. I question if my works become available to a wider audience if they will enjoy what I write or not. This goal of being a professionally published author has always been a gamble, and I am aware of that. I can see how the middle of the movie can drag on, as for me, the middle of a story can be something of a grind to write. It’s easy to start writing a story, but the middle part has always been the most difficult because writing it can be a bit tedious at times.

While I am confident with what I write, there is something of anxiety and anticipation presenting my works to a wider audience. I am writing something that came from my own head and putting it out there with the hope to entertain and intrigue. I can only hope that people will find reading my works will be time well spent, and not something that they will fall asleep from.

Demon Slayer and Mistakes

I bought the whole Demon Slayer manga series a few months back and finally got around to reading it. I recently finished it and enjoyed it very much. I will not spoil it, but it had action, drama, tragedy, and so many other things going for it. Personally, I like what I see from the anime a little more than the manga, which is quite rare as personally, manga in general tends to be better than the anime. When I write fantasy, I tend to model my stories more on Japanese anime, manga or JRPGs. Demon Slayer has those fantasy elements that I like to write about.

I can only hope that my stories will get out there, but I cut myself off at the knees and did not realize it. When sending query letters, many literary agents will ask for the synopsis of the story and a short biography. I did not have these items, and I still submitted The Land of the Wooden Statues to different literary agents. It was admittedly an amateurish move on my part, as it is a reflection on my professionalism not having the required items. It also does not allow the literary agent to get a full grasp of the story.

The good thing is that I now have those items and am somewhat excited to send queries to literary agents. I think that I have a worthwhile fantasy story and hope that it gets accepted.

The World and Gratitude

It is difficult to see photos, videos and whatnot of what is happening in the world right now and not feel anything. Those are situations that many of us just will not experience in our lifetimes. It makes me think of what I have and the general security that we have been afforded here. I am not fearful of losing my home forcibly over here, and the thought of it happening is almost incomprehensible. We do have it much better here, and for that, I think that we should have gratitude.

I can work a full-time job and try to reach a goal of becoming a professionally published author at the same time, but many are not afforded that opportunity. Life here can be mundane, and we take that for granted, as we do not live in fear for our livelihoods. Maybe this is a lesson to appreciate the plain, the boring, the repetitive and whatnot. While many of us are looking at our phones, laptops, televisions and other modern convenience, others are in a bunker, migrating miles to escape violence or having to protect themselves.

I suppose that this is motivation to get working towards a goal, as we are afforded an opportunity to do so. I can write in peace in a home that is not in pieces, and some cannot say that.

Presidents Day and Boredom

I had a fun three-day weekend going to Chinatown in Los Angeles and seeing the Bruce Lee statue. I cosplay as Bruce Lee at conventions wearing his signature yellow jumpsuit from Game of Death. The food also was very good (even if the service is not always of the best quality), and the prices are much cheaper than anywhere here in Orange County. Overall, it was nice to go out with friends pretty the whole Sunday and do different things.

On Monday, Presidents Day, I was actually quite bored. While I did some productive things like the laundry and went to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, for the most part, I either watched anime or read manga. It is honestly a bit uncharacteristic of me to do that on my days off, as I have conditioned myself to do chores or just get things done before I ‘veg’ out. In a sense, I felt that I played “hooky” as an adult, and I have mixed feelings about it. For one, I did need a day to just be ‘bored,’ and this three-day weekend allowed that opportunity. However, it feels unfulfilling not to get something done whether it be chores, selling items online, cleaning or something else. Also, I only got a limited amount of writing done this whole weekend.

It made me think that when I get older and retire, that I will probably start gardening or take up some sort of hobby so as not to be totally bored. I can imagine that I will keep writing, as that is always fulfilling, even if it gets tedious at times. It is strange though how things can change as an adult, where time is a precious commodity worth as much as money, yet when I have it, I feel uneasy with being idle.

Attitudes and the Super Bowl LVI

This week at work was admittedly slow. I am not a fan of slow days at work because time just seems to go by slower, and I like to generally stay productive. It was tough though because I felt that I was having a bad attitude about it, not openly but discreetly. I would look online for things to do when work is slow, but nothing really seemed to click. I also did not want to just be stuck looking at websites all day during work hours while trying not to get caught.

It was hard, but I did change my attitude at least one of those slow days. I just focused on what I could do that is productive at work or outside of work. If I am unable to be very productive at work, then what could I do after work and at home to make up for that lack of productivity? Were there any long-term things that I could do at work that would eventually need to be done? There was one day where this method of thinking changed my attitude, but I could not always replicate it.

The week was just leading to the weekend, and it was the Super Bowl on Sunday. It was fun having friends over, barbecuing and just watching the game, even though I am admittedly not an ardent football fan. The L.A. Rams ended up beating the Cincinnati Bengals, and coincidentally, the way the game went changed everyone’s attitudes. The Rams were doing well early, giving off the attitude that this was going to be a one-sided game. Then, the Bengals were up, but finally the Rams ended up winning the whole thing. In the matter of a few hours, the attitudes and perspectives started out a certain way, then changed with the game, but ultimately went back to where it began.

Time and Sacrifices

Writing, along with getting older, has made me realize the sacrifices that I have had to make. The biggest thing that I have had to give up is time, but it also makes me cherish the time that I have to myself. My weekdays consist of going to work, and then after work, I will go to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class or have something with my Church group. I have to fit writing into their, and then, whatever time that I have left, I use it to relax. Weekends are usually reserved for friends, going out and errands, but I will have a few hours of free time as well.

It has gotten to the point where I am uncomfortable just sitting around watching television or going on the computer or phone without having to accomplish something first whether it be chores, writing or something else. I always think that I wasted my time in my twenties and am now making up for it. I used to play video games, but now, I do not own any next generation consoles and really have not played video games in a while. I enjoy reading books more, and I like to think that writing is just an evolution of everything that I enjoy. Instead of being an audience member of an existing story, I am now the creator or said stories.

Once I get married, and if/when I have children, the sacrifices will pile up even more. Time will be an even more valuable commodity. It is a function though of growing up and being an adult, and it has shown to have more benefits than costs.

Readjusting and Back to Grinding

With my vacation to the Philippines over and now engaged to be married, I had to readjust to normal life. That means going back to work, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Church and of course, writing regularly. I was relatively consistent with my writing even on vacation, but now, I feel much more compelled to write and edit to get my works finished faster. I also feel that I should send query letters to Literary Agents at a more frequent clip.

It was not too difficult getting back to my usual routine with wedding plans and whatnot added to my days. My cardio and stamina for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu took a big hit, and I must get back to regularly exercising again. I have also decided to eat just a little better by not eating fast food on weekdays with cheat days on the weekends. Small adjustments need to be made after having a big event like an engagement happen and a marriage coming up.

As far as writing goes, not too much has changed except for added motivation. I read two books during the vacation, so it is always helpful to see how other authors write. There is also a sort of compare and contrast that I have been doing with other authors and my own writing lately. From that, there is still work to be done.

Philippines and Being Engaged

I have not written a blog for at least a month, as I was in the Philippines on vacation. The big thing that happened over there was that I got engaged. Being in the Philippines is so much different than the U.S. from the traffic, mosquito bites, places to go and operational systems. There were obviously many good things there too, especially the food and the price of many items and foods. However, it makes one grateful for what they have and what they can achieve here in the U.S.

Being engaged changes my perspective on things. I am now thinking more about my money, what I am spending on, my general health and the future. This, of course, includes writing. I am now more determined to become a professionally published author with the hope of it being my career that I can make money from. Ideally, I would be able to work from home, or anywhere that I want for that matter, while making a living, which would be beneficial for me and my future family. It makes me want to try harder to achieve this goal.

The engagement taught me that there are very few truly big moments in a person’s life. Most of our days tend to be quite mundane and routine. The big moments do not happen quite often, and a lot of times, it takes some level of effort, work sacrifice and risk taking to achieve them.

Friends and Writing

I am going to the Philippines in just a few days and will be there for two weeks. This weekend was the last weekend that I will be in the United States until next year. It was fun hanging out with friends, going out to eat, watching UFC fights and just shooting the breeze. Company really does make eating out that much better. Like many believe, I also believe that people are not meant to be solitary and are naturally inclined to want interactions with other people.

With writing characters, that experience is very useful. Interactions between character will vary, and how one will act around one character will be different with others. When I first started writing stories, I really did not understand dialogue very well and still need work in writing witty dialogue, but natural dialogue with less filler has been more prevalent with my writing.

I hope that I can maintain a writing schedule while on vacation. I would not be surprised if I missed a day or two. It is difficult for me to totally relax as it is, so I will most likely be compelled to write. It will be different though dealing with jet lag and not writing at the usual time that I write.