What Are You NOT Using To Write?
Alex Jay Berman
to do with your writing?
(music doesn't count.)
For myself, my room (which is now not so much a bedroom as it is a
library/workcenter that just happens to have a bed and hamper in it)
has quite a few things which, in the sense of writing, have no use
whatsoever.
Atop my computer sit two Beanie babies: A bay and a skunk (a nod to
our sister group).
Behind it, leaning up against the wall against a poster for the movie
CRUMB sits a three-foot-long ONE WAY sign which tried to kill me some
years back (but that's another story); For years, it sat underneath my
window, pointing out, but I moved it; the edges were stripping the
paint off the windowsill.
On the credenza over my bed, as well as on a few shelves in my room,
stand all manner of well-sculpted comics-based action figures--I tend
to think of them not as toys, but rather as poseable statuettes. Most
are figures made by Todd McFarlane Toys--Spawn, Monsters, and
others--but my current jewels are Matt Wagner's Grendel and Marv from
Frank Miller's SIN CITY (Some of you may recognize Miller as the
writer/penciller of BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, one of the
scriptwriters of Robocop II and III, or the creator/artist of RONIN,
which PI's Darren Aronofsky will be filming soon).
So? What tchotchkes and other meaningless or meaningful items look
down on you as you work?
Alex Jay Berman
-- something of a meaningless item himself ...
Jenn Smokey
Alex Jay Berman wrote:
> ... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
> to do with your writing?
> (music doesn't count.)
My work area at the moment is in my bedroom, which looks more like a
natural disaster then a bedroom. Perching on my computer are Lucky Snap
and Scorch(ty). On the top shelf of the table I have my Castles. And on
the wall, a picture my son drew of a castle for me.
In the cd holder I have a vast collection of Video games and well, Nestle
Crunch bars.(hey they fit nicely into the slot!) The printer not only
holds paper, but makes a very handy spot to place the bag of Oreo's.
In the tower area I have some of the cats toys, car keys (that I no longer
have the car for), ticket stubs from an Aerosmith concert from 2 years
ago, paint brushes, paint and oh cool, tic tacs!!!
Under the table I have one of those wooden boxes wine comes in<shrug> (I
don't know why it's just there.) Phone books for 3 states(NY, PA & NJ,
again I know not why)
On the window shelf I've got my three bears, 4 pairs of sunglasses, nail
polish, a sketch book, a CB, and roughly 10 rolls of undeveloped film.
Then there's just a various array of crap, pictures, knick knacks,
cameras, a list of things people want me to print out, this list goes on I
won't bore you.
and of course the pictures of my the kids
~Jenn
Stan (the Man)
>
> ... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
> to do with your writing?
> (music doesn't count.)
To my left, on the floor, I see 3 soccer balls, a basketball and my
softball glove. Just a toss from there are my waders, several fly-rods
and a shotgun (haven't cleaned it yet after turkey hunting).
On my right is an antique wooden ice box that I restored. On top of that
is an old bowling pin (can't remember where I got that) and a
strap-hanger handle from a NYC subway car (I remember where I got
that...shhhh!) and two antique lanterns.
On the floor behind me are several soft-sided coolers, a roll of
telephone wire (keep quiet about that too), some old mags I tied up
about 2 yrs ago, but haven't thrown out yet and a rolled up area rug.
I just realized, my computer room is a shit-house!
--
Stan
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Wendy Chatley Green
wrote:
:... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
:to do with your writing?
:(music doesn't count.)
Well, there's the myriad of textbooks, folders, case reprints,
and all the other paraphernalia of an MBA student <g>
Add to that:
a photo of the Angry Bluebird
a Maxfield Parrish print (can't think of the name, but it has
a birch tree with a man plowing in the distance)
my Latin diploma
a crewel dragon,
a bulletin board filled with cards, photos, bumper stickers,
and my Kuk Sool Won Brown Belt certificate
a photo of the Net Ghod in a canoe
Eeyore (from before Disney turned him blue)
a handmade camouflage brontosaurus that a child outgrew
a mandela made from by quilling
a Marvin the Martian mouse pad (I don'd use a mouse)
a large bamboo wind chime
my bong, which is a long rattan stick with which I now can do
five defensive moves (see Brown Belt certificate)
My yarn stash is here, too, but it's behind me where I can't
be distracted by it.
Oh, the dog just walked in. She has little to do with
writing, except when she lays her head on my keyboard and adds some
random letters to my work.
--
Wendy Chatley Green
wcg...@cris.com
shiraz
Wendy Chatley Green wrote in message
<3734e837...@news.concentric.net>...
>For some inexplicable reasons, smeg...@erols.com (Alex Jay Berman)
>wrote:
>
>:... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
>:to do with your writing?
>:(music doesn't count.)
>
> Well, there's the myriad of textbooks, folders, case reprints,
>and all the other paraphernalia of an MBA student <g>
>
> Add to that:
<snip a long list with many charming qualities>
just let me say, as both a list maker and a procrastinator,
that i am not yet reduced to this game.
though there is this wooden buddha strung with badges
and a precious iranian inlaid box
and 3 stones from a greek island
and 2 cartoons of me plus a magritte print
oh! the africian wall hanging.
no. no. i'm not going to play.
shiraz <i must focus on the work; i must focus on the work>
SFDrake
>Atop my computer sit two Beanie babies:
>A bay and a skunk
Atop my computer screen is a conga line of several such fellows: a toucan, a
frog, a dog, a big-lipped red fish, a really goofy cow, and the bear from "Bear
in the Big Blue House." On a shelf above my desk are some signed celebrity
photos, and on my wall is a prototype of the first Star Trek: Voyager poster,
complete with printing info. I also have a great collection of geodes.
And then there's the parrot, who is shredding a wad of notebook paper right
now. SQUAWK!
-- patricia
Spoonzilla
>... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
>to do with your writing?
>(music doesn't count.)
wow... I just realized that my computer area is pretty damn boring, if you
discount all the books, papers, and other writing-related stuff. And then
you take away music!
Let's see, there's:
a calendar (photo of the California Badlands, this month)
a painting I've had since... well for as long as i can remember
a good, simple lamp
a funky ass, somewhat lethal, lamp
a MS Sidewinder gamepad
gaming software
one of those ab exerciser things sold only at night on tv (when the mind
isn't working quite right)
an unused computer, drawn and quartered
a tv
a radio
See? Pretty lame. All my cool stuff is in my bedroom. My 'posable
scultures' (thanks, Alex, I like that), my posters, scale models, easel and
other art supplies, paintings and drawings, Playstation, globe...
Rather than allow the compilation of this list to consume my whole day, I'll
leave it at that.
Gianfranco
| "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
| -Lee Iacocca
|
| >>> Spoonzilla's Niche <<<
| http://www.monmouth.com/~spoonzilla
Ari Nordstrom
wrote:
>... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
>to do with your writing?
>(music doesn't count.)
I was about to tell you about Shatner, my sheep, who's next of kin to
Woolliam but really quite different once you get to know him
(Shatner's not as outspoken as Woolliam, he's more of a thinker). Then
I realized that talking about him in this context would be unfair
since he's actually very important to my writing. He knows a lot about
structure and grammar, and always makes me laugh.
So how about my genuine (?) piece of Titanic coal right next to the
monitor?
/Ari
xena
cabins. Atop the computer are family photos, and on the wall behind it
is my fold-art painting that I did called "Thanksgiving" in acrylic. To
the right are lots of books, both writing related and just for looks, a
copper canister (the kind you put wooden spoons and such in) holding
colored pencils and my eye glasses that are missing a lens--can't
remember if it's the one with the prescription in it or not. (I gotta
get back to the eye doctor...) There's a photo of a couple of girls that
I have to do a portrait of, a giant purple geode split in half and used
as bookends to the kid's computer cds. A paper cross my daughter cut
out of notebook paper. Oooh, Spree!--under the monitor! My son's soap
carving of a fish. Penicillin, Ibuprofen, my Dilbert mousepad, and a
bowl of buttered spaghetti noodles.
To the left is the table holding my printer and scanner. There are odd
papers, two water color paintings, a book on herbs. In the corner is a
floor lamp (with my girl's white cowboy hat on top of the shade) with a
little table, with a dictionary, my son's paper mache bowl holding a
rock with leaves taped to it. More books.
It's hard to picture, but it makes an "L" and I've tried to use all the
space.
On the floor...(this could get long)...my sneakers, a box of photos that
I was looking through to scan, a big glass water cooler bottle holding
the life savings that never happened, a manual on Windows 95, more paper
stuff, and a binder with writings and notes. More paper and stuff in
the shelves in the desk.
My "office" is in the corner of the living room behind the giant
gothic-looking Sante Fe entertainment center. In the daytime, it's
USUALLY a quiet place.
Xena
Alex Jay Berman wrote:
>
> ... or, rather, what things are in your work artea that have nothing
> to do with your writing?
> (music doesn't count.)
>
Blanche Nonken
> Most
> are figures made by Todd McFarlane Toys--Spawn, Monsters, and
> others--but my current jewels are Matt Wagner's Grendel and Marv from
> Frank Miller's SIN CITY
You have good taste. Have you been reading "MAGE - The Hero
Defined"? I'll tell you, the length of time between
"...Discovered" and "...Defined" drove us BOTH up the wall.
Ajcarol1
not on the keyboard.
Carol Schmidt
Steve Pritchard
Ari Nordstrom wrote in message <37335da5...@nntpserver.swip.net>...
>So how about my genuine (?) piece of Titanic coal right next to the
>monitor?
Well, I have a peice of Gigantic cake sat next to mine at the moment
(but it is geting smaller and has more cumbs than before)
Steve Pritchard
Blanche Nonken wrote in message <37608c16...@netnews.netaxs.com>...
I was going to ask, Alex. Is the MARV doll the one done in just black/grey
and red paint job or the full colour version?
(I though the black/grey and red was really cool)
wendy...@my-dejanews.com
> to do with your writing?
> (music doesn't count.)
>
>
I've got the requisite books to depress myself with when my characters are
supposed to be thinking/saying wonderfully original things.
The million and one computer games that my children pester me with.
A stuffed woolly snowman that my daughter thinks is absolutely necessary for
mummy to have on top of the monitor.
>Surround sound speakers for when I get bored of thinks to twiddle with in
lapses of impressive ideas. Books on where to visit in the world to depress
myself with when looking out of the window at the Pennine rain. A climbing
picture of my husband on top of Mont Blanc to remind me that he's fit and I'm
not. And a nail file, as I always chew my nails when deep in thought and have
to saw them to even them out.
Wendy
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Ari Nordstrom
Mine's supposedly been around since 1912, so I wouldn't want to eat
it...
/Ari
Kathie M.
>to do with your writing?
>(music doesn't count.)
Right above and behind my computer is a window ledge with an old matchbook
from a restaurant I once worked in, a picture of the best 10 yr. old in
Pullman, my bookmark collection, a jar of Canadian money, some alphabet
blocks, a Wallace and Gromit toy from KFC, a Sunny Jim peanut butter jar for
spare change, an old Uncle Sam's register bank my dad gave me that still
works, a photo of my mom and dad, five books on friendship given to me by
friends (duh), and a wooden folk art painting of Washington State.
This is the most cluttered room in the whole house. And it's been a dumping
ground for tools, paint, and whatever else I'm using in the current house
project underway.
There are also quite a few m.w momentos. A handwritten note from Jack, a card
from Sal, Doug Wyman's business card, and books written by Jack, Pastorio,
Dinty Moore, Fred Willard, Pat Marcello, and Bill Quick.
Among a few million other things.
Kathie
..recently gave away the 2 ft. plastic clown head
Alex Jay Berman
<st...@spelbind.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Blanche Nonken wrote in message <37608c16...@netnews.netaxs.com>...
>>smeg...@erols.com (Alex Jay Berman) wrote:
>>
>>> Most are figures made by Todd McFarlane Toys--Spawn, Monsters, and
>>> others--but my current jewels are Matt Wagner's Grendel and Marv from
>>> Frank Miller's SIN CITY
>>
>>You have good taste. Have you been reading "MAGE - The Hero
>>Defined"? I'll tell you, the length of time between
>>"...Discovered" and "...Defined" drove us BOTH up the wall.
>
>I was going to ask, Alex. Is the MARV doll the one done in just black/grey
>and red paint job or the full colour version?
>
>(I though the black/grey and red was really cool)
>
Black and white, Steve. The books are in black and white (with the
occasional third color, like in "Blue Eyes" or "The Dame Wore Red", or
THAT YELLOW BASTARD--and the new one, TO HELL AND BACK, is supposed to
have a third color somewhere along the line, and perhaps more later--I
just want it to stay black and white for the most part ...), so I
wouldn't settle for a figure that was anything less.
Oh--and Blanche--yes, I AM into MAGE; in fact, I'm right this moment
wearing my favorite shirt--the new Kevin Matchstick one (black shirt;
hudge white lightning bolt with a lipstick kiss on it). The problem
is, I was so busy collecting all the old series (mainly for the
Grendel back-ups at first), that I'm only now getting to the new
books--I might just buy the TPBs.
(For those not into comics--and SHAME on you!--MAGE is a contemporary
revisiting of a reborn Arthur, although this second series seems to
encompass all the mythic heroes [Hercules, Hiawatha, et cetera]. More
than the Arthurian tale, though; it's a story of maturity; the
maturity that comes long AFTER adulthood is technically reached.
Oh, Steve--Marv is so fun--did you know the little switchblade fits
into the wound on his back? Grizzled doesn't begin to cover it ...
I swear--if they keep making figures this good, I'll be happy to
wallow in the fun of having them, just like a kid again ...
Alex Jay Berman
-- magic is green ...
Steve Pritchard
Alex Jay Berman wrote in message <37350728...@news.erols.com>...
>On Sat, 8 May 1999 12:48:06 +0100, "Steve Pritchard"
><st...@spelbind.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>Blanche Nonken wrote in message <37608c16...@netnews.netaxs.com>...
>>>smeg...@erols.com (Alex Jay Berman) wrote:
>>>
>>>> Most are figures made by Todd McFarlane Toys--Spawn, Monsters, and
>>>> others--but my current jewels are Matt Wagner's Grendel and Marv from
>>>> Frank Miller's SIN CITY
>>>
>>>You have good taste. Have you been reading "MAGE - The Hero
>>>Defined"? I'll tell you, the length of time between
>>>"...Discovered" and "...Defined" drove us BOTH up the wall.
>>
>>I was going to ask, Alex. Is the MARV doll the one done in just black/grey
>>and red paint job or the full colour version?
>>
>>(I though the black/grey and red was really cool)
>>
>Black and white, Steve. The books are in black and white (with the
>occasional third color, like in "Blue Eyes" or "The Dame Wore Red",
That's the one - "Dame Wore Red" is pure black and white with splashed of red
(lipstick, dresses, etc). Isn't Marv in that one? That's what I was thinking
of when I saw the black/grey and red doll.
>Oh, Steve--Marv is so fun--did you know the little switchblade fits
>into the wound on his back? Grizzled doesn't begin to cover it ...
>I swear--if they keep making figures this good, I'll be happy to
>wallow in the fun of having them, just like a kid again ...
Heh! When I saw the doll I didn't realise that, no. Cute though (in a
terrible sort of way)
Blanche Nonken
> Oh--and Blanche--yes, I AM into MAGE; in fact, I'm right this moment
> wearing my favorite shirt--the new Kevin Matchstick one (black shirt;
> hudge white lightning bolt with a lipstick kiss on it). The problem
> is, I was so busy collecting all the old series (mainly for the
> Grendel back-ups at first), that I'm only now getting to the new
> books--I might just buy the TPBs.
We had a friend in Southern Cal. named Mark Iennacco, who looked
EXACTLY like Kevin Matchstick. We made him a t-shirt, using a
black t, stenciling it with masking tape and paper. He wore it
to a con in the mid '80s, and told us of a confrontation in an
elevator.
The guy getting on glances at the shirt, grunts, pushes the
button for his floor, looks full at Mark, and gasps. "My god,"
he said, "the shirt looks good, and the face matches it!"
Oh, and Mark's middle name? Kevin, of course. The character is
so similar to his, personally, uncontrolled rages and all, that
he thinks Wagner may have known him in the military.
Or, it could just be another example of the Coincidence Field
that surrounds me. Anyone around me sooner or later encounters a
bizarre coincidence in his or her life, frequently involving me
or someone I know.
Alex Jay Berman
You too? Weird.
By the by, Kevin Matchstick is based wholly on Wagner himself. This is
why his hairline has steadily receded.
Also, other characters are based on Wagner's friends. Kirby Hero (a
GREAT name, considering the impact of Jack Kirby heroes on the medium)
is based on Toronto's own Bernie Mireault. I forget who Joe Phat is
based upon, but a friendly giant that the guys met early on in the
second series was based on Kevin Smith. The witches Isis, Athena, and
Magda are all based on comics professionals--one is Diana Schutz, but
I forget who the other two are. As for John Proctor, I haven't the
slightest idea.
This is not at all uncommon: Mike Allred looks just like his Red
Rocket 7 and a lot like his Madman (and his wife is the model for
FRank Einstein/Madman's loving honey, Joe). Jack Kirby based Mister
Miracle on his friend, fellow artist and former escapr artist, Jim
Steranko. Neil Gaiman based his Sandman Morpheus on some obscure (to
me, anyway) British rocker, his Delirium on a combination of Jill
Thompson and Tori Amos, and his Destruction on (I believe) Brian
Blessed. As a dig toward his sometime collaborator Geof Darrow, Frank
Miller gave, Kevin, the slim and slight serial killer in the first SIN
CITY story, an uncanny resemblance. Harlan Ellison has a ppeared as
Harlequin Ellis, a clownish bad guy, in a Silver Age-era Justice
League of America issue written by Gardner Fox.
There are many of these in both comics and in fiction.
Now, to shake away the uncomprehending stares of those not familiar
with comics, let me pose this question:
Are there any times when you've congratulated yourself on creating a
great character out of whole cloth, only to realize that you've simply
cribbed or coopted the entire being of a friend or acquaintance for
use on the page?
Conversely, have you ever tried to make up a character as a direct
hommage, only to find the character mature and grow far past the level
of the person who initially served as its basis?
Alex Jay Berman
-- had to bring it back to writing ...
Wolf Lahti
>
>Are there any times when you've congratulated yourself on creating a
>great character out of whole cloth, only to realize that you've simply
>cribbed or coopted the entire being of a friend or acquaintance for
>use on the page?
>
No.
>
>Conversely, have you ever tried to make up a character as a direct
>hommage, only to find the character mature and grow far past the level
>of the person who initially served as its basis?
>
No.
Okay, to elaborate a bit, my characters come to me fully
formed, with backgrounds, histories, and quirks I know
nothing about until I write them down. It's never as much
like creating a character as channeling one.
I have never based a character on a living person--at
least not consciously, and, in retrospect, I don't think
I've done so unconsciously either.
=======================================================
"I hate quotations!" Wolf Lahti
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson Allen, Washington
-------------------------------------------------------
wolf...@paccar.com
=======================================================
Blanche Nonken
> Are there any times when you've congratulated yourself on creating a
> great character out of whole cloth, only to realize that you've simply
> cribbed or coopted the entire being of a friend or acquaintance for
> use on the page?
>
> Conversely, have you ever tried to make up a character as a direct
> hommage, only to find the character mature and grow far past the level
> of the person who initially served as its basis?
The two stories I've been working on - one has a character that's
sort of me, only full of unresolved anger and male. Sort of. He
does and says things I don't. Then again, he's younger.
The other is a 12 year old girl who is based on my daughter,
Mariel. Only in part, though. I'm extrapolating what Mariel
would be like if she were fully autistic, rather than her current
PDD-NOS diagnosis. Her mother in the story is not me, however.
Steve Pritchard
Blanche Nonken wrote in message <373b17e6...@netnews.netaxs.com>...
>smeg...@erols.com (Alex Jay Berman) wrote:
>
>> Are there any times when you've congratulated yourself on creating a
>> great character out of whole cloth, only to realize that you've simply
>> cribbed or coopted the entire being of a friend or acquaintance for
>> use on the page?
>>
>> Conversely, have you ever tried to make up a character as a direct
>> hommage, only to find the character mature and grow far past the level
>> of the person who initially served as its basis?
>
>The two stories I've been working on - one has a character that's
>sort of me, only full of unresolved anger and male. Sort of. He
>does and says things I don't. Then again, he's younger.
I would have thought this was common, but perhaps not.
Is it just Blanche and I that do this then?.
Blanche Nonken
I do that because I don't like the way things come out when I
create them out of nothing. So, I take a bit from here, a
snippet from there, a foreskin from someone else...