randy obrien

This is an evocative, touching book. I grew up in Tennessee just a ways down the road from the hard-luck main character, Skid, offset by just a few years. Randy O’Brien knows the 70s in the South – what’s going on, the shifting attitudes, politics, being poor, and what it’s like to be a kid who’s good at some things but not others. Through the tumult of young love, misfortune and downright unfairness, Skid struggles to do the right thing – sometimes succeeding and sometimes not – while wrestling with the wild emotion of youth and self-discovery. It all builds to a climax that breaks your heart even as it holds out a bit of hope. I recommend it.

 Every writer gets rejected. It doesn't matter how many books you've written or how many you've sold. There's no way of getting around it. I remember an interview with Barbara Streisand, and she said if someone rejected her for a project, the onus was on the producers for failing to recognize her talent and ability. Paraphrasing, “What, are they nuts?” I like that. Editors and producers don’t know what they want until they see it. It’s kind of like pornography as defined by Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, “I know it when you see it.” Gatekeepers don’t know what they want until they see it. However, that doesn’t soften the sting of rejection. Dealing with rejection is a difficult skill, but it is essential. Everyone experiences rejection at some point, whether in the form of a job application not being accepted, a romantic interest was not reciprocating feelings, or a friend group excluding someone. While rejection can be painful, it is essential to remember ...

 I've been uploading videos of my dog and book reviews. The Odie videos are doing the best. Out of all of them TikTok and FB Reels, is a video I made while zipping through the French countryside.  What does it mean? I can't figure it out. 

 It was a life-long dream to experience the city of lights, made possible by my loving wife. How did I ever get so lucky?

  Jungian archetypes are universal, symbolic patterns or themes that exist in the collective unconscious of all humans. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, developed the concept of archetypes to understand the human psyche. Some examples of archetypes include the mother, the child, the hero, and the wise old man. Jung believed that the collective unconscious comprises these archetypes, expressed through symbols and imagery in myths, religious texts, and other forms of cultural expression. He thought psychologists could observe an individual's behavior, dreams, and artwork and that understanding them are essential to understanding the human experience. The concept of the collective consciousness refers to a group of people's shared beliefs, values, and customs. Jung believed that the archetypes of the collective unconscious shape the collective consciousness and that it plays a role in shaping the behavior of individuals within a society. In summary, Jungian...

 A great comedy/mystery played to the hilt by a star-studded cast. Popcorn movie and I mean that in the most positive way.

 You either have or you don't. When I was teaching, I used Aristotle's Poetics as a textbook. Here's why. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and polymath wrote about many topics, including writing. In his work "Rhetoric," he provides some advice on how to write effectively. Here are some key points from his advice: 1.      Start with a clear purpose: Before you begin writing, it's crucial to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with your writing. This will help guide your writing and keep you focused on your goals. 2.      Use an appropriate structure: According to Aristotle, the structure of your writing should be based on the purpose of your writing. He suggests using a three-part structure for persuasive writing, with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. 3.      Use clear and concise language: Aristotle advises writers to use clear, concise language that is easy to understand. This will help your...

 There are several key differences between writing a novel and writing a screenplay: Format: A novel is a long work of fiction that is typically written in prose and can be any length, whereas a screenplay is a written work that outlines the dialogue, action, and characters of a movie or television show. Scripts have a specific format that includes elements such as scene headings, character names, and dialogue. Narration: A novel allows for a wide range of narrative techniques, such as first-person or third-person point of view, and can include inner thoughts and descriptions of the environment and characters. On the other hand, a screenplay is focused on dialogue and action and does not include inner thoughts or detailed descriptions of the domain. Length: Novels can be any length, but screenplays are typically shorter, with most feature films falling between 90 and 120 pages. Audience: A novel is typically...

Beginning writers may find themselves wondering what their story is about. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes something bursts from your imagination, and you’re unsure where it came from. That said, when rewriting this first draft, it can be helpful to determine precisely your story’s theme. Literary themes are the central ideas or messages in a work of literature. These themes can be explicit, meaning they are directly stated in the text, or implicit, meaning they are implied or hinted at by the events and characters in the story. Literary themes are often universal, meaning they can be understood and related to by readers from different cultures and backgrounds. Some common literary themes include love, loss, identity, power, conflict, and coming of age. The theme of a work of literature is often closely tied to its characters, plot, and setting. For example, the theme of a love story may be the power of love to overcome obstacles and bring people together, while the theme of ...

One Way to Write Your Story    1.        Anything can be a good subject for your story. What is your passion: sports, justice, love, family? 2.        Create an extraordinary character (protagonist) who shares that same passion. What will they do if they don’t presently have it or are about to lose it? Next, create a character (antagonist) who shares an equal amount of desire and goes for the same thing as the protagonist. 3.        A plot is a series of events that explores the theme. Fate vs. Free Will. Is good stronger than evil? What makes a family? What is justice? And allows the protagonist and the antagonist to battle against each other over aspects of the theme through words or actions. 4.        Choose who will tell the story, a narrator (third person) or one of the characters (first person), and use description and dialogue to engage the reader’s mi...

I'm always glad when we make a trip to the airport. Such a rich atmosphere for people watching. Yes, I eavesdrop and push myself to be more outgoing. So much material for future projects.

George Carlin famously said, "Write stoned, edit sober." He was right. When he indulged, he accessed subconscious ideas that might not bubble to the surface when he wrote. I used to blast loud music when I wrote. Not just in the background—I'm talking about full-volume, room-filling sound. Rock, jazz, ambient electronica—whatever could drown out the chaos of the outside world and, ironically, the chaos of my thoughts. It was almost like I was trying to outpace my brain, out-shout my inner critic, by enveloping myself in noise. For a long time, this method seemed to work. The music became a kind of armor, a protective layer that allowed me to slip past distractions and into a state of focus. But over time, that need changed. My process evolved. Now, I prefer silence. A quiet writing room, sunlight pouring in through the blinds, the subtle hum of life outside—these are my companions. Where I once needed a carefully curated soundtrack to enter a creative state, now I welco...