My novel, The Audacity of Dope, is about a reluctant hero, Riley Mansfield, who is not without his vices.
I believe in reality, or at least the pursuit of it. The belief is functional in my writing. It’s easy for me to describe things exactly as I see them. Conforming to the expectations of others is difficult.
During my NASCAR career, I always agonized over stories for souvenir programs and the like. Many of my colleagues, I suspect, trotted those types of stories out with ease. When I had to weigh every sentence for acceptability, and for conveying “the right image,” I had a hard time.
Lots of times, when readers comment on social-media posts, I feel like replying, “You see, ma’am, what I wrote was what I thought,” or, “I had no way of knowing what you thought, sir, so I just went with my view.” Occasionally, I actually do reply in such a fashion.
Lots of articles I read mystify ms. For instance, the news often includes stories that strike me as one-sided. They dwell on too much of something in movies, music, TV, etc. There’s allegedly too much drugs, or too much smoking, or too much drinking, or too much violence, or too much sex.
I never understand why the director, for instance, when asked why there is, say, smoking in his movies, doesn’t simply say, “Because people smoke.”
The idea is to depict reality, not affect it. At least I feel that’s my mission.
I don’t begrudge artists the right to be inspirational or to exert a positive impact on society. In general, though, that’s not my niche. It doesn’t come naturally. I try, and sometimes fail, to depict the world as I see it, not the way I want it to be.
Truth!Love your writing!
Sir – as near as I can tell with what current news agencies will let me see – Monte Python ain’t yelling at people and said a thing or two Nascar was tired of.
(And that’s a cheap assumption on my part.)
My question is why you can’t – if not won’t – write freelance articles for people. It’s needed, necessary, and after all the crap you’ve been through, now you can say your piece. Worst case, you’re back where you started.
My semi-in-between generation is sick and tired of this crap – ads, what we should do “We’ll get right on that when you get bought out by someone…” well, if you have nothing to lose – then write, intelligently and forcefully, and let the bastards fall where they may.
Cronkite did it. Hell, he raced too. Do your thing.
What happened to honesty in packaging, marketing, bullshit, ads, etc?
I’m not asking you to be some activist, but be honest.
Will leave you with this:
http://www.chemico.co.uk/
Haven’t changed much, masturbated over market share, been around for 100 years, and frighteningly, it’s a surprise to the rest of us.
This whole shebang sucks.
It isn’t fun to fend off family members, criticism, etc – write freelance, and offer up some healthy portion of your book so that the rest of us can read it.
I gotta check on my email so I can make about 4 different book covers outta spluh and bullshit.
You’re good at writing. So – keep writing, and sell it to someone.
If not, can I have 1k per article for writing what I’ve seen?
I’m doing most of what you mentioned. Free lance? The market has collapsed. I’m writing daily blogs. I’ve always called it the way I see it. I’ve got one novel out, a second at the publisher and a third in progress. I’m very busy, and I’m trying to make it the way I want. I am honest. I write it the way I see it. Always have.