New Blog!

Hi Guys,

I know that for the past few months it's been radio silence on this blog, but that's because I have been very busy. I've taken a break from writing and have actually been narrating other people's books on Audible.com.

By the end of 2015, I hope to have reached 100 narrated titles.

I wanted to list them but I wanted to give that it's own blog.

So, if you are curious as to what audio book you should listen to next, just go here:

Firstpersonnarration.wordpress.com



Titles updated as they go live.



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Let Me Just Give You The Highlights

Alright. I know I haven't blogged in a while. But these days my life is just about filled to the brim with endless tasks. As a wise man once said, "Life is what happens when you try to make plans." So instead of droning on and on about my life, I figured on just giving you the highlights.

1. As far as new eBook titles go, production has come to a halt. I'm not quitting writing or anything. I have several projects on the back burner. It will just be a while before I publish them. Maybe by the end of the year I'll have a new title up. Who knows?
2. On the writing front, I've got a stock pile of words. To date I've written 467,018 words of fiction. (That's the equivalent of 9 full-length novels) 
3. The last time I wrote a word of fiction was April 6th of this year. Currently 26,000 words into my crime fiction book. I've been debating whether I should stick to my quota of 500 words a day or bump it up to a chapter a day. By the way, this is the first novel I'm writing that has a first person narrative.
4. We had to ditch one of our cars. The green Kia Optima. The thing was ten years old and fully paid off but it just kept on stalling on us so we had to cash it in and get rid of it. Now we are down to our red Ford Focus. It's been in one accident but hasn't broke down on us yet.
5. Our little girl, Sophia, just turned one. And you know what that means...
6. We're moving. Yes, we loved our current apartment and have enjoyed ourselves daily on the sights and activities within the complex. But we just need more space. If all goes well, by the end of June, we will be all moved out and into a two-bedroom apartment. It's a bit farther from my day job but it will definitely give me peace of mind having all that space.
7. For the longest time, people have told me I have a voice for radio. I've tried sending samples to various places but no one was biting. So, in an effort to blend the best of both worlds, I've decided to narrate audio books on audible through ACX. So far I had two auditions that fell through but I have my eye on ten audio books that I will audition for.
8. As far as blogging goes, I will continue to blog from time to time. I've been thinking of continuing my "Writing with Cinematic Style" series because I have a lot to say about the subject. Other than that, I may just turn this thing into a journal, chronicling my strange life and observations.

That's all for now. In the meantime, KEEP WRITING!!!



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Writing With Cinematic Style Part I

Before I was a writer, I was a filmmaker. But the problems that I faced were always budget. Granted, with a reasonable budget, you can make a decent film. And that's if you have that cinematic eye. Which, sadly, not many people have but continue to make films. 

So when I stashed all my ideas in a box, I let them sit.

Then I got the idea of adapting one of them into a short story.

Then I began on a novel.

Now, whenever I adapt one of my ideas into a book, I feel like I am working with unlimited sets and billions of dollars in budget.

So for this series, I figured on showing you how you can take your film-making skills and adapt them to novel writing.

Let's start with the first chapter.

Think of the first chapter as your first scene or a cold open. This is your first impression. Your first chance to win the audience. You have to hook em. In order to hook em you have to toy around with thier emotions, make the scene visceral and cause an emotion. Because if the audience feels nothing, why would they continue with the rest? Your 1st chapter or prologue is what comes before the title credits. And in that short amount of time you have to establish the following:

SETTING, TIME PERIOD, CHARACTERS, GENRE, THEME, CONFLICT, HISTORY, RELATIONSHIPS, MOOD, DIALOGUE, NARRATIVE VOICE, PACING, IMAGERY, DIRECTION, STRUCTURE, SURPRISES, ETC.

It's a lot to set up in a short amount of time, but if you have a clear view of what the story will look like and the direction it will take, then you will succeed in transporting the reader there.

I tend to focus on imagery the most. My wife and my in-laws have told me that I write with a cinematic style and, knowing that, I have a better understanding on not only how to write but how to keep the audience engaged.

Even though writing can be a solitary venture on just using words to tell your story, it is a very visual medium.

So start your first chapter today.

Take us to another world.

The world of your imagination.

Is There A God?

These days I'm more inclined to speak my mind on a variety of topics. The one that often pops up is the question of God. Is there a supreme being who is controlling it all?

Well, from a writer's standpoint, I'd say there is a God.

Now, I know there is a rancorous debate on whether there is or there isn't but if you take a step back and look at it all, you'll find some interesting things concerning this topic.

When my parents told me that there was a God, I saw it as a chance to question belief. The ball was in my court, so to speak. As a lover of science and the arts, I've lived my life digesting all that I could on why we are here. Where did we come from?

Growing up, I'd take both sides in from an objective standpoint. If we were to start at the concept of no God, how does everything weigh out?

Here's why I believe there is a God, a creator of it all. Look at our planet. We live in a world of perfect systems. We have oxygen, water, food, sun - the very things we need to sustain ourselves. We have plants that continually convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for us while at the same time providing us food. If we want more, all we have to do is plant another one. It is a well-oiled machine in which sustainability is constantly recycled. We have gravity which holds us to the planet's surface without barreling off into space. We have an atmosphere and an ozone layer that protects us from any foreign rays or bacteria that could harm us. We have planetary magnetism. The earth orbits the sun in a constant circle.

Take a look at the human body. We are encased in skin which heals itself when harmed. We have a bone structure to keep us upright and stable. An immune system to build up our strength and resistance to things. We are born with information already in us from an equal amount of chromosomes from each parent. Inside the womb we automatically know to receive sustenance from the placenta. How perfect is that?

And what about the human eyes. Now those are two of the most complex organs, wouldn't you say? Yet they are contained in our heads and give us the ability to see.

Everything seems to be created just right.

What is holding all of this together?

When you add it up, there are too many perfect systems in our world for there not to be a God. How can anything be that perfect, you ask? Well, in order for something to be perfect it must first be perfected, yes? Something somewhere had to get something just right in order for us to live.

So why then, is it unbelievable, for there to be a creator for the creation? Whenever we create something, we are commended for our creativity and are dubbed a creator of something in some respect. But the idea of there being no God at all and we are all just here by random chance, somehow inhabiting perfect systems? That's a puzzling concept. That's like a book with no writer behind it. Or a statue with no builder. A painting with no painter? And yet don't things need to be written? Aren't some things molded? Isn't there evidence of a few brushstrokes here and there, a record of something painting a picture for us?


What's important to realize is that science, in itself, is not responsible for creating earth and humans. Science is recording or charting data over long periods. Hypothesis, observation, conclusion.

That being said, I was first told about God around three years old and have always found ways to ask more questions and read all I can on the subject. So, you could say, I've been researching for twenty-six years.


Now, I am by no means a rocket scientist. I graduated high school, took some college and have worked a variety of blue-collar jobs. But I continued to read and continued to explore this question. I'm always open to talk about the subject but people, I find, seem too heated to even discuss it and dismiss it. Some would write me off as dope, fool, imbecile, mark, or a man who is easily swayed. My question is: how is believing in God a detriment to one's mental stability?


What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

:)



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What is Your Pursuit of Happiness?

If you had to choose a path to follow, which one would you choose? What motivates you to push it further, think outside the box? What do you want to accomplish?

If you're smart, you should focus on your passion. And how do you focus? What with financial issues and bills to pay, how do you mitigate through all that muck? What would you do if you did not have to worry about bills? Would you become an artist? A sculptor? Painter? A poet?

Well just pretend for a minute that all your bills, all your worries do not exist.

By all means, continue to pay them and be responsible. But for you, you need to focus. Find your room. This room should not be filled with anything that reminds you of your worries. It could be the basement, where you feel it is most quiet. It could be the library, where you feel more calm. It could be your favorite table or chair in a coffee house, where you feel more relaxed. Wherever that room is, go there.

Because all artists need a place to experiment.

I've written some of my best work in all three settings and, in the long run, it helped a great deal. Mind you, I wasn't the most financially sound in those times. At one point I owed my bank $700 dollars and had a crummy job that gave me 8 bucks an hour. But I hunkered down, focused on the work and somehow paid off that debt.

Just because you are struggling it does not mean that your work should stop.

It should be your pursuit of happiness. For the thrill of the pursuit gives a whole new meaning to whatever you create.




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Man Of Steel, Remakes, and The Downfall of Comic Book Movies

About a week ago, a sudden urge took over on my way back from taking a drive and I decided to rent Man of Steel. My wife and I both watched it. It was a good movie but had its flaws. Particularly, the score didn't resonate with me and there seemed to be a lack of joy in it. It's being presented as the darker side of Superman. I tweeted about it later on.

Man of Steel? It was good. A bit darker than I expected. I suspect they recycled some ideas from the Tim Burton script. 4/5 stars.
— Roberto Scarlato (@robertoscarlato) January 21, 2014

Then my wife and I started a conversation about comic book movies. I had mentioned that their making a Batman vs Superman movie. Eventually we both arrived to the conclusion that we are tired of super hero movies. To the point that we have established this ultimatum for Hollywood:

EITHER CREATE A BRAND NEW SUPER HERO OR BRING IN A SUPER HERO

WHO HAS NEVER GOTTEN HIS/HER SHOT ON THE BIG SCREEN

(Caution: Spoilers Ahead!!!)

Think about it. How many Spider-man movies are there? Doesn't that seem like a big number? A little excessive maybe.

Well, I've figured out why.

Superhero/comic book adaptations are a sure thing. They are the quintessential cash cow of Hollywood. How much did Iron Man make? How about The Dark Knight Trilogy? Were they good movies? Yes, but how long before they are rebooted, revamped, reshaped, remolded, or whatever the hell else they plan to do it?

You'd think we'd get tired of it. I know I am. But apparently Hollywood doesn't think so.

Comic Book Writer Grant Morrison said, according to Wikipedia, that "The Incredible Hulk Reboot was proof that the audience will forgive you if you reboot the franchise..."

Well, if that didn't open the flood gates, I don't know what did. These days I feel bombarded with superheros I am already familiar with, grew up with in fact, being re-casted or redone.

I feel like after Batman Begins, all the studios wanted to capitalize on rebooting a popular super hero franchise. 

Since we started with Superman, let's take a look at him first. I associate Superman with a pureness. A hero who is friendly, calm but also strong. A hero who stood for Truth, Justice and The American Way. And I feel like the person who embodied that the best was naturally, Christopher Reeve. Made 4 movies from 1978 to 1987. Yes, the last two movies were lacking in both budget, effects and story, but Reeve was a hundred percent committed to the character.

Superman had style, and he was funny and made you happy just watching him fly. But he could also be intense, filled with a righteous burden of holding the reigns of mankind. To keep things in balance and to watch over everyone. 

I mean, as far as acting goes, Christopher Reeve brought it. Remember this iconic scene?

But it was also remarkable to see him riff, pull out a one-liner of wit here and there? I was hoping for something to that effect in man of steel. I mean, all I would need is a little boy asking the last son of krypton, "Hey, Superman. How can I grow up to be big and strong like you?"

"DRINK MIIIIILLLLLK!!!!"

I mean the movie made you feel helpless. Yes, they raised the stakes from Superman Returns (which I think the grand plan was boiled down to krypton real estate wheras Man of Steel hiked it up to terraforming Earth for Krypton) but at least Superman Returns had some joy in it. Yes, it was long and in some spots boring, but how can ya beat that recognizable score. I know they wanted Man of Steel to be a separate movie but, can you imagine if it had John Williams included?

"By God...I'm on Mars."

But, in a way, Hollywood has tried with little success. You know how much Green Lantern made Worldwide? $219 Million...and it is considered a flop.

John Carter, a movie I actually like, made $284 Million and is considered a flop. But why. It's different, its fun and it has a little mystery and a lot of heart. It boggles my mind how movies that made so much can still flop.

And now I hear they are starting Ant-Man, which looks interesting and, mor importantly, different. But when are we gonna have The Flash? The Midnighter? Shazzam? The Phantom Stranger? Moon Knight? The Maxx?

When is Hollywood going to take a risk and be original?

(P.S. If you could have only one super power, what would it be?)

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Sherlock Holmes and The Dreaded Case of Public Domain

So it's finally happened. What we all feared. Well, maybe some of us. According to a Chicago Judge, Sherlock Holmes is apparently in the public domain.

For some this is a travesty. How can such a limitless character with hundreds of stories be shoved in the public domain?

For others, it really isn't that big of a deal. Sherlock Holmes still holds his weight in relevance today. Why else would we continue to depict him in tv shows as well as movies? There are many books that you can get on Kindle which are public domain which are still classics.

I guess the only thing I hope would happen is that whoever reads whatever stories get put up under public domain will walk into a bookshop and buy a physcial copy of the book to contribute to the Doyle Estate. After all, they carried this character through over a hundred years. I think they deserve some compensation for their efforts.

And who knows? What with the advent of streaming television shows, I deduce (see what I did there) that a whole new generation of Sherlock fans will emerge. I mean, take a look at the BBC and what they've done to utilize the character in modern day London. If you listen closely, you will find that a good eighty percent of the dialogue they use from that show are pulled straight from the stories themselves.

So go forth, my young lad and pick up a copy of this bloke's adventures.

The game is afoot...and you're sure to be Sherlocked. ;)

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The Following or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb

In 2008 I was toying around with the idea of writing a short story collection. It began with a handlful of objects. Toothpicks, pennies, paperclips. I tried to weave a story around these items. Some of them were more prominent in the story than others. 

But one story I really enjoyed writing was The Graveyard Shifters, a tale of two misfits who stumbled upon a gothic device that somehow transports the consciousness into a corpse. What's more, it is later revealed that the device belonged to Edgar Allen Poe. Before this story, I didn't know much about him. I read some of his stories but it wasn't until I read a biograpghy of him that the seed of my short story really began to develop.

That was then.

Now I feel like everyone is shoving Poe down my throat.

It's gotten to the point of saturation. I hear the name so much, that I get annoyed when someone wants to educate me on Poe.

It was bad enough that I was burned by watching 2011's The Raven. Granted, I don't fault the actors. They did the best with what they had. I blame the script. They fudged some facts, tied in a serial-killer/Saw angle, dressed up the villian in the same wardrobe of V for Vendetta, with a Sai for a weapon, I might add. And there you have it. Now EVERYONE  and their brother thinks they know what's what with Poe.

At first, my wife and I were excited to see the show seeing as how we hardly heard anything about it. So we were going in with somewhat hopeful expectations.

Good Grief.

You know you're watching a bad movie/tv show when you start rewriting things in your head.

So here are a few scenes that really irked me and made me realize that I was watching a terrible show.

A killer in the show is obssessed with Poe, to the point that he has built a following of people, like Charles Manson. 

1. It's All Been Done Before

So, at the begining we have a setup that could work, had it been excuted with a little originality in place. But instead we get formulaic, predictable story points which aren't even points, really. Joe Carroll, the killer is a literature professor who has had many students who he has mentored and in this instance, he was caught by Kevin Bacon's character, via a whole Hannibal Lecter/ Will Grahm scenerio.

Kevin Bacon is still coping with almost meeting his end by the hands of Joe Carroll. Enough so to the point that he has to hide vodka in his water bottles.

2. Scenes Play Just For Shock Value:

As Bacon and others are brought back on to the case, after Carroll escapes prison, they start calling in all the people who were connected, in some way, to the killer. One woman stands up, strips naked, revealing scribbled text over her body and stabs herself in her own eye. All I have to say, and it should be glaringly obvious, is what does this have to do with anything? It doesn't do anything to move the story forward. It's just creepy for creepy's sake. And, why would the killer be sending her as a message? Wouldn't a post-it do? Or, I dunno, maybe not warning the lead detective at all? Maybe take him by surprise? Then Keven Bacon displays what I call false genius. Somehow, he's the only one who can tell, at a glance, that all the writing on her body is by Poe. Big whoop.

3. We're Still Doing The Whole Writing In Blood On The Wall Thing?:

At one point, in a garage, the killer has written NEVERMORE in the victim's blood. Um...okay? So...what does this have to say about ANYTHING? Does this mean that the killer will nevermore murder again? Is he alluding that death is a raven that taunts you? No, it's just creepy being creepy for creepy's sake. Hey, I've been guilty of this little trope myself but I've learned from my bad writing in order to identify what bad writing looks like. And this is bad writing.

4. If You Are Going To Use Poe, Use His Other Stories:

Over the course of the first episode, Poe and a handful of his literary works are mentioned. The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. Why not use something else, huh? Like, I dunno, The Cask of Amontillado? There's a story that could be portrayed, a person being bricked in somwhere. Or Fall of The House of Usher? Or Muders at The Rue Morgue? Use anything else! Because when you only use The Raven and The Tell-tale heart, that, as a viewer, tells me that you are only using what you believe to be his greatsest hits.

5. It's Not A Plot Device, It's Just Plain Lazy:

By the end of the episode, we learn that several people, we thought we could trust, are actually underlings working for Joe Carroll. At this point, in my mind, someone should be tossing papers in the air and rolling their eyes. By this rational, anybody could be a hidden discple of Joe Carroll. Which you would think is an edgy plot device but really it's just plain lazy. Every episode could have somebody who is conveintally working for Joe Carroll. It just really spoils the show.

Anyway, I guess I'm done ranting about the show but, if anything, I've taken away a valuable lesson from this. Sometimes you have to hunker down and watch a terrible show or movie. Even if its just for a minute. Why? Becuase each story is a lesson on writing. Either you learn how not to make the same mistakes as others or you can find a different path to a story, completely wowing your intended audience in the process. After all, that's what writing is all about, isn't it? Just a constant chain of people observing what worked and what didn't and trying their hand at it. So pop in that movie with the chicken-scratch script. Because even if it is a bomb, it will teach you a valubale lesson in creativity and how to control it.

Needless to say, I won't be watching the rest of this show. Too afraid of wasting my time with it. I've already gleaned as much as I could from the first episode. I guess it couldn't be all bad. I mean, hey, at least they aren't using the stereotype of someone dressing up in Edgar Allen Poe attarie with a bobble-head paper mache face. Man, it'd be even worse if they had him throw confetti like Rip Taylor or something, right?

Oh for Pete's sake.

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Flashpoint

 

Hey gang, got another brand-spanking new title for you.

This story bubbled up into my brain about a year ago and I just couldn't shake it. So I wrote it.

Right now it's on the Kindle for 99 cents.

Just click here to buy the book.

Here's the description:

Carl has discovered something disturbing about himself. Something that makes him unlike any other human on the planet. A rare disorder which has dangerous consequences with each passing degree. Now he has to reach out to his best friend help him with one last request.

Also, another little announcement -

JANUARY 1ST TO JANUARY 31ST ALL TITLES WILL BE PRICED AT 99 CENTS