Standing at the Crest of a Hill

schliessmann — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:06:38 -0800

I looked down into a valley filled with stones. A light breeze rustled my hair, lifted odors of dried and freshly cut flowers to surround me with the mystery of their presence.I think life occasionally demands more than we feel have to give, filling us with doubt, stripping away encouragement leaving us soul-naked to stare into the blank blue sky and seek answers that can only be found by looking ...

Copyrights and the Internet

schliessmann — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:56:11 -0800

If you are interested in strenghening copyright protection online go here: http://www.copyrightalliance.org/index.phpEvery creative artist deserves protection and to be paid for their work. Mind numbing ideas these days, but really, does anyone work for free?

A Hilarious Double Translation of Vampire Life Part 6

schliessmann — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:38:15 -0800

This is what happens when a blog entry is translated into French and then back into English. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. ROFLIf you want to read the original English version go here: http://schliessmann.blogspot.com/Or look for it here: http://www.redroom.com/member/schliessmannvampires picturesUn blog utilisant Le Blogue du Québec Larry Schliessmann’s Marlowe Black Mysteries: ...

Vampire Life Part 7: What to do with the Ghoulish remains.

schliessmann — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:54:18 -0700

Your vampire lover has been busy, gorging himself on local, well, prime rib. Now, it's up to you to clean up; after all, no vampire worth his canines would be caught alive with leftovers on his hands, or worse under his neatly manicured mother-of-pearl fingernails.Let's face it, not every hunt ends with a convert. Often, the need to feast and the ultimate pleasure that courses through otherwise ...

What I learned from the “Wizard of Oz”

schliessmann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:11:25 -0700

1. Never, pull back a curtain without knocking first. And if you can’t knock, do not tap the floor.2. Ruby Slippers are not exactly the right footwear for Red Sox Baseball.3. The real scarecrow is a talking head on Fox News.4. Some South Carolina politicians are flying monkeys.5. The real Tin Woodsman made a side trip to Argentina.6. Dorothy and Peter Pan had a lot in common.7. Toto was the ...

Teddy Roosevelt and the 1907 New York Herald Newspaper

schliessmann — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:38:05 -0700

If you enjoy political cartoons, here is a link for two original cartoons from the 1907 New York Herald. http://ring-of-life.blogspot.com/2009/10/teddy-roosevelt-and-1907-new-york.html You might need to paste this into your browser.

Looking at the parts of Convergence, dissecting a short story.

schliessmann — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:56:18 -0700

Now that it is finished, it is time to separate the pieces, and take a look inside.First, what are the parts of a story?The most basic are opening, middle, and ending.The opening should have a hook to make the reader want more. Let the reader know enough about the central character to make the person seem real and interesting. The writer should also give the reader a glimpse of what upsets or ...

Writing a story from conception to completion: part three the conclusion

schliessmann — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:00:49 -0700

As it worked out, not knowing the end when I started this story allowed imagination to dictate conclusion. In addition, for me, writing is about imagining people, places and things, so this worked out in the best way possible.I think a story should build from an idea, a vision, a picture, or even overheard words. If I envision an ending when I begin writing, fine. I will try to reach that ending, ...

Writing a story from conception to completion, part 2.

schliessmann — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:22:33 -0700

My plan was to present the written story. Now I'm not because I cannot decide how to end it.Knowing the end is the second part of story writing, the first being the original idea.Since I failed to conceive an ending before, or soon after the plot idea gelled, the plot is dangling precariously over the precipice.Due to this, I'm presenting the story as it stands now, and will let it sit for a few ...

Vampire Life Part 6: Protecting your vampire lover.

schliessmann — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:28:44 -0700

Keep in mind that the first requirement for vampiric transformation is death. With that knowledge, one must reevaluate the title Vampire Slayer. To slay is to kill, meaning the final product of slaying is a corpse.Well of course, if you begin your slaying by killing the dead, you can understand the confusion. How does one kill what is already dead?Therefore, how do we define the efforts of those ...

Show me do not tell me - How-to

schliessmann — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:16:49 -0700

Writers hear those words frequently, but rarely will the phrase be accompanied with an example.One of my favorite sayings is "Keep it simple." I am sure you've heard it spoken.I am going to write an example of Show me, don't tell me and do my best to keep it simple.Here is my Tell me. Jonathan stood at the edge of the cliff and peered into the valley. A spark of light caught his ...

How-To-Write a story from conception to completion.

schliessmann — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:02:43 -0700

I begin with a mental image.Rule number one for me. Let the image write the story. I do not force it, or attempt to direct its flow. If I am stuck, I will stop and find something else to do. The story will usually pull me back.The following example began when a misplaced sheet of paper in my office grabbed my attention. As I walked past, I saw the color red and printed words.In my mind, this ...

Fear is not Freedom

schliessmann — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:30:54 -0700

Fear is the mind killer, Frank Herbert wrote. However, fear is but half the equation of domination. The second half is hopelessness.We saw, clearly demonstrated in the early years of this century, the ease with which fear and hopelessness saturates freedom.The insane activities of a single man ignited another's drive for revenge, which bled into the thoughts of the people. Led by his fanatic need ...

The Fundamental Red Heifer

schliessmann — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:48:24 -0700

Early yesterday, the red heifer bred by cattlemen from Mississippi and Texas, went on a rampage where the animal was housed in Jerusalem. The red heifer, which Fundamentalist Christians claim will herald in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and, with His return, the End of Time, killed all three of her keepers before escaping onto the streets of the city.Once roaming Jerusalem, the heifer, now ...

Why Choose a Vampire? Fiction and Society

schliessmann — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:54:26 -0700

Slowly, blood pooled at his feet. Stunned by the sight, he stared at the slippery liquid as it drained down his chest. The sensation felt both eerie and frightening since it reminded him of slithering snakes, and the inescapable approach of his own death. Yet, he also felt a strange elation, almost erotic attraction.Unable to speak, for seconds he mentally pleaded with his attacker, Please don't ...