Sonitotum Archive
Sonitotum Bonus: Interview On The Unmortem Report Podcast
My friend, author, podcaster and musician James Durham, just launched a new podcast to supplement his excellent podcast novel “FETIDUS - The Damned Heir.” The Unmortem Report is an interview and discussion show, and I’m very pleased and quite frankly honored to have been the first guest!
Now, James and I speak on the phone (or Skype or what have you) infrequently, but when we do, we tend to go on for a while. When we talked in the official capacity for this interview, that pattern held. However, the Unmortem Report is intended to be a fifteen to twenty minute podcast, and we gabbed for much longer than that.
Solution? The “edited for time” version of the interview is about twenty five minutes long and can be found at James’ site and in the feed for his podcast. This bonus episode of Sonitotum features the “director’s cut” of the interview — over seventy minutes of conversation!
We get into some fun stuff about my creative process and the creative process in general. I had a blast! You will, too, I think. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing to James Durham’s FETIDUS - The Damned Heir podcast novel and his Unmortem Report, included in the same feed.
Sonitotum Bonus: The Unmortem Report Extra Long Interview [72:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (111)Sonitotum Bonus: Interview On The Dead Robots Society Podcast
My guest appearance on episode 82 of the Dead Robots Society is the first of many planned interviews to promote my new ongoing serial fiction webzine project, “Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights.”
The Dead Robots Society is always a fun, loose show! In this episode, Justin, Terry and Ryan allow me to talk about “Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights,” serial fiction, online content, income models and a whole lot of other stuff.
Enjoy the episode, check out “Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights” for free, and subscribe to the Dead Robots Society podcast!
Sonitotum Bonus: The Dead Robots Society Interview [63:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (171)Sonitotum Episode Nineteen — Haunted
This time around, I chat about how people from my past have become supporting actors and actresses in my dreams, what it does to me, what it might mean and what I’m doing about it.
No complete songs in this episode. In my memory, certain songs and bands are connected to some of the folks I talk about in the podcast… I’d appreciate it if you would support these artists:
- Sonic Youth: Sonic Youth EP
or download the MP3s
- X: Under the Big Black Sun
- Jets To Brazil: Orange Rhyming Dictionary
or download the MP3s
- John Mellencamp: Scarecrow
or download the MP3s
Links
Not too many in this one — but here are some people, places and things that were mentioned:
- Mark Jeffrey
- Tower Records
- Borders
- Define “imply” and “infer”
Promos
I didn’t want to break up the stream-of-consciousness ramble that was my monologue this time around, so the promos are at the end. Please listen all the way through and support these fine folks and their endeavors:
Feedback
Leave a comment right here in the show notes or…
- Voice Mail for comments and to submit a Five Minute Memoir: 1-505-DIY-0FUN (1-505-349-0386)
- Send an E-Mail
- Musicians send CDs, authors send books, filmmakers send DVDs, generous kind-hearted people send gifts and money: MWS Media, PO BOX 402081 Hesperia, CA 92340-2081
Show Your Support
Please consider donating whatever you think this episode was worth, with my heartfelt thanks.
Recommended worth: $5.00
Sonitotum Bonus: Guest Essay on the Writing Thyme Podcast
I was recently offered the first guest-host slot on Jonathan Schiefer’s writing podcast, “Writing Thyme.” I gave him a choice of three different topics; he cleverly selected the one that would be trickiest (and most valuable) for me.
So I give you “Confessions of a Counter-Prolific: Why I Produce So Little; What I’m Doing About It.” I hope you enjoy the episode and subscribe to Writing Thyme!. I’d love to get your opinions on the piece, so I’ve also included the transcript of the essay right here in the hopes that you’ll comment:
Confessions of a Counter-Prolific
Why I Produce So Little; What I’m Doing About It
In late 2005, I released my first book, “Brave Men Run — A Novel of the Sovereign Era.” I’ve also had a handful of short stories published over the last ten years.
As I record this, it’s been four years and two months since “Brave Men Run” was released, and I haven’t published any other book-length works.
This bothers me.
It nags at my conscience, because for four years and two months, several times a week and sometimes several times a day in emails, chats, podcasts, blog posts and in person, people have asked me when my next book is coming out. And I got nothing.
It nags at my confidence, because since “Brave Men Run” was released I’ve seen my friends and peers release at least one more book… at least! And I got nothing.
That’s not exactly true. I’ve got… reasons that I’m not prolific as some. Excuses, if you want to be pejorative.
In fact, reasons and excuses mark me as counter-prolific. If you’re a writer who isn’t writing as much as they’d like, I bet you have lots of reasonable excuses — or excusable reasons — too. Here are some of mine… and what I’m doing to eliminate them.
- The Weight of Expectation. For me, it’s the “where’s your next book?” question. For you, it might be, “When are you going to do something with your writing?” If you’re a beginning writer, your family and friends might be saying, “When are you going to stop wasting your time with writing?”
It all amounts to the same thing. Folks expect something from you. You expect something from you. Now, maybe you’re like me and you get a slight tinge of “you can’t make me” when you’re in this position. Consider the possibility that attitude really comes from a fear that you’ll disappoint others or yourself.
How do you get around it?
Well, look — why do you write in the first place? Why did you write when no one gave a damn about your success or failure one way or another?
I bet you wrote because writing feels good. Because it satisfies something in you. Because of that moment that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls flow… when everything around you, all concerns and outside stimuli and even awareness of your own body disappears and all that’s left is the work.
That’s still there. You can still reach it.
First, though, you have to push past all the reasons other people want (or don’t want) you to write. Remember that you are the reason you write. It’s not always easy. I’m working on it, though.
- The Weight of The World. That’s your personal world, or whatever’s going on in it. I dealt with this recently. I was laid off from my job and actually felt guilty about taking the time to write — shouldn’t I be looking for work?
For me it was gainful employment, but it could be anything that takes you away from writing or convinces you that writing isn’t as important as other responsibilities.
That’s right. I said “other responsibilities.” Because writing is a responsibility — a responsibility to yourself. If you’re like me, if you’re not writing, you’re not quite yourself. If I’m not doing something creative, I get depressed, irritable and generally no fun to be around. Since I’m also a musician and a web guy, I have the added challenge of narrowing down “be creative” to “write.”
I recognized that I wasn’t doing myself, or those around me, any favors when I de-prioritized my writing. Now, I find time to write several times a week.
- I’m Bored. Well, you know what they say. If you’re bored, then you’re boring. If you’re so bored with what you’re writing that you’re no longer writing at all, there are two things you can do:
First, and perhaps obviously, take a hard look at the source of your boredom. It could be your story idea is strong and the execution is flawed — this happened with me when I first tried to write my fantasy novel “Light of the Outsider.” I had to tear that thing down to bare bones… I even removed some bones… but now it’s a better story and it’s ready to be written.
Or, it could be that the story itself is messed up. This happened to me with “Pilgrimage,” the second novel in the Sovereign Era cycle and the book people are talking about when they ask, “When’s your next one?” In fact, it happened twice with “Pilgrimage.” People want a book that features characters from “Brave Men Run,” so I tried to force a story on those characters. Twice. It wasn’t genuine. I’m taking a long hard look at that these days.
Step back from what you’re writing and see if you can discover what it is that’s boring you. Or… what is it that will make it exciting for you again?
Something else you can do if your current project doesn’t excite you is work on something else. Who says you have to write one thing at a time? The important thing is to write.
So you’ve got The Novel. Maybe there’s also The Rewrites on a short story. The Planning on another book. The First Draft of another story or novel. The Edits on anything. It’s all writing. It all counts. And while you’re working on something else, The Novel is still there, in your subconscious. Eventually it will call to you. When it does, there’s a good chance it won’t be boring any more.
Right now, I’m working on the planning and story treatment (think of it as a free-form outline, or what Steve Eley calls “draft zero.” I’m also working on an essay to accompany the chapbook edition of the next release in my short story series. I just finished re-writes and edits on that short story, “Cloak.” I’m writing, and then editing, this essay you’re reading (whoa…) Finally, I’m mentally stirring two other novels and another short story.
Today, this essay takes priority. Later, the essay for “Cloak” will get looked at. Tomorrow..?
The important thing is that I’m putting words on paper and my mind is actively engaged. Interested. Not bored.
To keep me writing, I’ve tried public word counts, peer support and arbitrary deadlines. Nothing works for long because some combination of pressure / priorities / boredom eventually derails my momentum. Let’s review these core issues and their solutions:
- People expect great things from my writing, and so do I. The real great thing about my writing is that I get to write. As much as I love that people appreciate what I do, I do it first and foremost for me.
- There are a lot of important obligations and responsibilities in my life that take time and energy. Writing is counted among them. I’m happier, more productive and a better person when I’m writing.
- I get sick and tired of what I’m writing. I can take a step back to make sure the story or execution aren’t the problem, Since I have more than one idea in my head, I can also do something else for a while: first drafts, edits, re-writing, “draft zeros,” notes, brainstorming… it’s all writing, and when one thing loses its shine something else is right there to take its place.
Am I on to something here? That will only be determined by comparing my future productivity to the past. Will these concepts work for you? You tell me. Leave comments in the show notes. Let’s see how we do.
Sonitotum Bonus: Guest Essay on the Writing Thyme Podcast [14:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (356)Sonitotum Episode Eighteen — Schemes and Machinations
What have I been up to in the last two months? What haven’t I been up to!
Music
- The Plimsouls: How Long Will It Take (Live) from the album “One Night in America”
- Karmen Michael: Takedown from the album “It’s Possible”
- Telling on Trixie: Dumb Boy from the album “Telling on Trixie”
Promos
Links
- SXSW showcase torrents
- “Reggie vs. Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf”
- Teen Poetry
- Live virtual house concert
- Web hosting (yes, in the podcast I said “2008″ and “2009″ when I meant “2007″ and “2008.” Oops.)
- Mailing list
Feedback!
I wants it. Leave a comment right here in the show notes or…
- Voice Mail for comments and to submit a Five Minute Memoir: 1-505-DIY-0FUN (1-505-349-0386)
- Send an E-Mail
- Musicians send CDs, authors send books, filmmakers send DVDs, generous kind-hearted people send gifts and money: MWS Media, PO BOX 402081 Hesperia, CA 92340-2081
Show Your Support
Please consider donating whatever you think this episode was worth, with my heartfelt thanks.
Recommended worth: $5.00
