I've been trying to focus more and more of my energies on writing things lately. Not just that, but writing things that I'd be willing to show beyond the dark corners of the Internet or one or two friends before hiding them in a drawer forever. It's been slow going so far -- the problem … Continue reading The Clarion Write-A-Thon 2012
Who I Am is What I Do
It's been tough to write about self-improvement these past few years, largely because I've moved out of the contemplative phase of it. Through a great deal of my 20s I was still figuring things out -- what it means to be a good person, the fundamental nature of humanity, how society works and how it … Continue reading Who I Am is What I Do
The AFI Top 100 Movies: MASH (#56)
MASH (1970) Starring Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould and Tom Skerritt Directed by Robert Altman Written by Ring Lardner Jr. (screenplay) and Richard Hooker (novel) MASH is not a friendly movie. Even though you know you're watching a comedy, the opening title credits throw you off -- the theme song is the legendary "Suicide is Painless," … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Movies: MASH (#56)
The AFI Top 100 Movies: The Third Man (#57)
The Third Man (1949) Starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli and Orson Welles Directed by Carol Reed Written by Graham Greene Part-film noir, part-European murder mystery, The Third Man isn't something I've ever seen before. The protagonist, a writer visiting a friend in war-torn Vienna, isn't as hard-boiled as your standard detective. The femme fatale isn't … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Movies: The Third Man (#57)
The Perils of Protagonism
I'd like to clarify my ideas on victimization now. What do I mean when I say that people want to make themselves victims? How do these "self-described" victims differ from an "actual" victim? Where do you draw the line between the two? How can you discuss this without pissing everyone off? I realize I'm getting … Continue reading The Perils of Protagonism
We’re All Victims Here
On February 26th, 2012, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin. Trayvon was walking from the convenience store to his father's house inside a gated community, and George was the member of the neighborhood watch patrolling that night. George claims that the shooting was in self-defense; that was good enough for the police, and no charges … Continue reading We’re All Victims Here
The AFI Top 100 Movies: Rebel Without a Cause (#59)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood Directed by Nicholas Ray Written by Stewart Stern (screenplay), Irving Shulman (adaptation) and Nicholas Ray (story) At first glance, Rebel Without a Cause is one of those old 50s-era melodramas that don't age too well. If you look past the over-acting common to dramas of … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Movies: Rebel Without a Cause (#59)
A Part of the Problem
I had given up on being in a relationship, around ten or eleven years ago. I was living in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the time and all of my previous boyfriends never worked out for one reason or another. I had gotten out of another relationship, and after thinking on it for a few months I … Continue reading A Part of the Problem
Writing as a Shark (or an Artisan)
Earlier I made an analogy that I've been trying to keep in mind when thinking about my writing practice. As an artist, you have to keep moving -- it does you no good to sit back on your laurels and admire the work you've completed. I mean, sure, some looking back is good for self-awareness, … Continue reading Writing as a Shark (or an Artisan)
The Writing Desk Mission Statement
I fell in love with stories as soon as I learned how to read them. As I was growing up, most of time after school was spent in the library looking for books that would catch my interest. There were a lot of authors I fell in love with immediately: Kenneth Grahame, Anne McCaffrey, C.S. … Continue reading The Writing Desk Mission Statement
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 