1000 Days

http://www.tford.info/reflective/

When I see illustration like this the first thing that comes to mind is that the artist had to slow down. Had to describe to himself what he was seeing. Had to listen to what he said. And then, and only then, used the description and not the vision to compose the result.

“Tell me what you see.” The recently stretched canvas demands in a tone that echoes my Mother’s when admonishing me to ask, “Please.”

I dip the brush into red and brush a circle.

“Oy! Again with what you thought you saw.”

Word count: 93
Day 195

0 views

(No Ratings Yet)

For some this may be NSFW.

The trip to Stillwater last evening was bookended with Kid Rock’s “Cocky” set on repeat play. One of the characters from my unwritten fantasy novel is based on Kid Rock as evidenced by this album–specifically the title track. He needs work.

I stumbled on my desire to do a literal translation of Kid Rock into a traditional fantasy character. In much the same way that minerals replace organic material to fossilize a bone or petrify wood I proceeded to replace Kid Rock’s traits with appropriate ones from my nascent [pause to confirm I know what nascent meant] world.

Rapping became a style of knife fighting never officially called ‘trapping’. I probably could pull that graceless term off in the context of the story but still, not pretty.

Then I got stuck on replacing the lyrics. I didn’t plan of Stet singing or speaking while he was ‘trapping’ but I did want his normal demeanor to include the poetic vulgarity that I assume permeates Kid Rock’s persona. I’ve never seen a single author translate curse words into their world in a believably offensive way. “Pussy and blow. You know how I live. Can’t say that Kid. Fuck off, I just did,” just doesn’t stand up to speculative word replacement for the shock and awe it imposes on a reader. So now I’m left to use language in a book that I’ve never read in a novel and I doubt is super-great for getting published. Place derailed and abandoned train here.

Maybe I need to embrace my inner sailor and just write it with all the offensive language and womanizing. Maybe my fantasy doesn’t get to have sensitive princes and doting wizards. Maybe I get middle fingers and potty mouths.

Word count: 284
Day 194

0 views

(No Ratings Yet)

I had big plans for today’s writing.  I even tested a few thoughts out at 5 in the morning while I was awake after feeding my daughter.  It’s funny that I even plan things anymore.

My brain isn’t in the sharp focus I’d like it to be in order to write short dialogue.  I’m not interested in working it up to that lather this late in the evening.  Instead, I’ll prolong the mellow with a book.

Day 193

0 views

(No Ratings Yet)