Month: August 2020

Summer

Fallton Havenstonne

Summer is the season of travel and adventure and the outdoors. 

That season when we can spend all day hiking on trails and in the woods and explore nature up close in spite of bug bites and the blistering heat.

That time of year when the ocean waves draws us in, when the lake and rivers tempt us to jump in, and we don’t want to leave the cool waters. 

That time of year when we blast the A/C in our homes and cars and then go outside into the hot summer sun like there’s no tomorrow. 

That time of year when the birds and insects and critters roam freely from sunup until sundown, and when the greenery calls us to sightsee and relax in the shade as we delight in nature’s arms.   

Spring

Fallton Havenstonne

Spring is the season when the flowers begin to bloom, when trees begin to sprout, when the insects come out to pollinate and get some fresh air. 

That time when allergy season is in full effect, causing our to eyes itch and our noses to run and sneeze. That time when we take Benadryl or Claritin as if our life depended on them. 

That time of year when the weather warms up, but when it’s also cold, and we’re not sure what to wear outside.

That time of year when we start our plans for the summer, when the weather gets warmer week after week, when there is so much promise in the days to come. 

That time of year when the insects and critters crawl out from their burrows, when they welcome the greenery once again.

Completing a Story

Fallton Havenstonne

When I complete a story, it feels like a weight has lifted off my shoulders. The completion gives me an inner sense of peace and happiness. All of the hours of work that went into the story has finally come to fruition, and now it’s time to take a break.

To varying degrees, it’s probably the same for people that have completed an arduous project or a work of art. They’re proud of the work they created, but they also feel relieved that it’s finished. The work is an embodiment of their skill and creativity–all the hours they’ve put into it. The same is true with completing a story. It’s something to be proud–an embodiment of an author’s craft, style, and ideas.

But for me, the irony with finishing a story is that the feeling of relief doesn’t last very long. In the back of my mind, there is always the next story to write. The backlog of ideas that I’ve stowed away want to come out. They’ve been waiting in line, patiently, and now it’s their turn.

Sometimes when I complete a story, I say to myself: “No more. This is the last one.” Especially if it was a story that involved extensive edits, depleting my energy and will. At that point, I’m ready to throw in the towel. But in a few days, I’ll pick up writing again.

Hour of Writing

Fallton Havenstonne

There is an hour in which a writer writes at their most productive and creative level. Of course, they might write for several hours during the day, but I believe there is a specific hour in which they write at their best. Even if they’ve been writing for hours, it might the second hour of their session or at the end of it. Maybe it’s a specific time during the day, such as 8 a.m. or 9 p.m.

I used to write the most in the evening, but more recently, I’ve started writing in the morning. This is based on when I’m able to concentrate and write the most. It used to be in the evening, since I had put pressure on myself to create/write as much as possible before going to sleep.

But now I prefer the mornings because it sets the tone for the day. It’s a great feeling when I complete a chapter before, say, lunchtime or the afternoon. Even if I don’t write for the rest of the day, at least I had accomplished something earlier.

We’re all constrained by a schedule or work routine. This bears a great influence, since good writing can only be done when it’s uninterrupted. Perhaps a deadline puts pressure on a writer to write feverishly. A deadline can also have the opposite effect on a writer.

Another important thing is a good work environment. Having an environment that’s conducive to writing (i.e. a clean and organized desk), regardless of what time it is, let’s the imagination roam free. But if there is an hour where one writes at their best, they should stick by it.

Dystopian Fiction

Fallton Havenstonne

In dystopian fiction, we read about worlds where the new normal is something akin to survival of the fittest, when human interaction is tainted with distrust, when danger lurks around every corner. Some novels that come to mind are The Hunger Games, 1984, Anthem, and Fahrenheit 451. Each novel presents a view of society that is grim and dark, but where there is also hope in the protagonist to stand up against the darkness.

Even though we know those worlds are a far cry from our present reality, they pique our interest because they show us “what ifs”, because we’re curious with what’s unfamiliar to us. Perhaps we’re not too far from such a reality if something were to go terribly and horribly wrong in a nightmarish kind of way. 

Each author in the dystopian genre brings their own vision of such a world, where the perilous conditions can bring the worst or the best out of people. These stories remind us how fragile and delicate humanity is, and how we must choose to hold onto our own humanity as well.

Short Story: Road To Nowhere

Fallton Havenstonne

You can read my short story, Road To Nowhere, on my website now. It can also be found under the short stories tab, which is located below the header.

This short story is about two people, Locke and Martha, who wake up one evening on a desolate road. They don’t know how they got there, nor do they know what road they’re on. Road To Nowhere is a mystery story that will leave you guessing until the very end. I hope you enjoy it.

Waking Up Early or Late

Fallton Havenstonne

Waking up early or late has relative meaning based on people’s schedule. Early for some people can be 7 a.m., while that time can be late for others if they need to wake up earlier (i.e. 6 a.m.). Thus, waking up early means before one is scheduled to wake up, and waking up late is after one is scheduled to wake up.

Waking up early or late in the morning has a tremendous affect on our attitude for the rest of the day. For me, waking up early is a struggle, but once I’m awake, I have a lot more time in the day. I feel that there is less pressure to finish things, and I’m glad that I can get a head start. Overall, I start the day off positive.

When I wake up late, I’m more rested, but ironically, I have less time in the day to accomplish things. I’m more hasty in my work, rushing to get things done. And when it’s close to the afternoon, half the day is already over, and it’s a race to get anything finished. Overall, I start off the day feeling rested, but then become anxious when I realize how much there is to do.

I prefer waking up early because I like to get started on work and writing early in the morning. In the morning, it is quiet, and it’s easier to concentrate. After I drink coffee, I’m fully awake and ready to start the day. With an early start, I feel that I can get ahead in my work, and can relax and take my time with the rest of the day if I finish things early.

Finishing a Book

Fallton Havenstonne

One of the things I struggle with when reading a book is finishing it. When I begin a book, it’s fun, exciting, and new. But if the book is not captivating or if it’s not resonating with me, I’ll start to lose interest (quickly) and won’t even finish it.

Even if I return to the same book after, say, a week, it’s difficult to dive back into that world. The only way I could finish a book that’s not gripping is to read it fast–racing to the finish line.

There is a window of time where such a book can hold my interest, and if I don’t finish it within that time frame, I won’t finish it all. It’s similar to the concept of marginal utility in economics: each time you purchase and consume a product, your satisfaction with it decreases overtime. I find this to be true when reading a book that doesn’t hold my interest.

At first, the book is exciting to read (maybe it’s because of the book’s ideas or it’s because the author is well known), so I’ll read a lot on the first day. On the second day, however, I’ll read 1/2 of what I read on the first day. On the third day, I’ll read 1/2 of what I read on the second day, etc. This will continue until I won’t even pick up the book and read it anymore.

If I’m reading a book that engages me from the start, it will the opposite effect. For example, on the first day, I might read 20 pages, on the second day, 30, on the third day 40, etc. And then there are times when I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the book.

When I examine the reasons for why I finish or don’t finish a book, the first thing I notice is that it has to be a subject matter or genre that I’m interested in. The subject matter/genre is of key importance, since it determines if a reader will even want to pick up the book in the first place. It’s the same with movies, since each person has their genre preference and they wouldn’t want to watch a movie that is in a genre they’re not interested in it. If audiences raving about it and it’s recommended by their friends, that person might give it chance, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

Secondly, the writing has to be clear and engaging (even humorous). If it’s witty and clever or paints the world with ease, then the writing will pull us into the story almost effortlessly. On the contrary, if the descriptions are overly long or the vocabulary/wording is confusing and unclear, I’ll disengage quickly.

Thirdly, the story should move at an even pace and it should have good character development. On the contrary, if the characters just move from one situation to the next without anything eventful happening, the story won’t feel worthwhile to read.

To determine if I might finish a book, all I need to do is read the first few pages of it. Within those pages, I can determine by the writing style if the story is gripping/captivating or not. Does it invoke mystery or wonder, or does it meander and go nowhere?

After I finish a book that I enjoy, I’ll seek out other books by that author. Why you might ask? Because I want to experience the enjoyment of reading that author’s prose again.

If the book wasn’t rewarding by the end (i.e. if it had a disappointing ending), I won’t look any further. In fact, the experience by the end of the book will be one of relief (or a long sigh), not joy or elation.

One of the most interesting things I experienced after finishing a book is when I discovered that that book was the only one the author had written (or maybe they only wrote two). And if it’s an amazing book, it makes me wonder what happened or why the author didn’t write more books?

One book in particular that I recall where this was the case was A Canticle for Leibowitz. It was a book that won the Hugo Award for science fiction in 1961. After I read it, I discovered that the author (Walter Miller Jr.) had only written one other book, and it was published years after A Canticle for Leibowitz.

For me, this shows how strong and powerful writing can be when it really resonates with the reader. We want seek out more prose like it, and it can inspire us to write as well.

Handwriting And Typing

Fallton Havenstonne

Nowadays, I write by hand when I’m brainstorming, making notes to myself, or jotting ideas on post-its. In this sense, I don’t write short stories or novels on paper. I have written chapters on paper from time to time, but that’s the extent of my handwriting stories.

I find it indispensable, however, to record my ideas on paper when working on a project. In addition, I draw lines/arrows connecting ideas, create mind maps/diagrams, as well as underline or highlight key ideas.

Typing on the computer is advantageous for many reasons. For one, it’s easy to edit and it doesn’t take up any physical space (in terms of paper, that is). It’s also efficient given all the editing and formatting tools that are available in the writing software, such as changing the font, size, color, etc. In a word, typing is so fast, efficient, and versatile that it has become the primary means of writing.

But let’s not set aside handwriting. It’s useful when we’re writing on the fly (i.e. jotting down a spontaneous idea on, say, a napkin or post-it), writing on the margins of books, and of course, writing when there is no electronic device at hand.

When writing by hand, I put down ideas regardless if I’m making mistakes/errors. Also, when writing on paper, I can fold it or divide it into sections to organize my thoughts. You can be creative with it, even tear it up into pieces and write words on torn bits so that you can organize the ideas hierarchically or linearly or however you want.

Typing is limited in this sense, since typing is on 2 dimensions and can only be utilitzed in terms of the parameters of the software. You can, of course, draw boxes and arrows and make diagrams in the computer if you wanted to make a mind map. But it doesn’t have the same immediacy as you have on paper.

But I digress. So back to the main idea: what are the benefits of handwriting?

Many years ago, I would write essays or stories that would cover the paper(s) front to back. They were full of spelling and grammatical errors, and sometimes, parts of it weren’t even legible.

But the great thing about the process was that I never looked back as I wrote. I kept writing because unlike typing on a computer, you can’t delete what you write unless you erase it. And who has time to erase when the words are pouring out rapidly?

The beauty of handwriting was that I could pen a continuous stream of thoughts without concern for errors or doubling back to edit the piece. After a writing session was done, there’d be a pile of pages to edit, but the point was to get all of the thoughts down.

When we look back at the writers of the past, it’s incredible to think that they had written their stories by hand. How many drafts did they write until they completed their final manuscript? It took dedication and discipline; it was a labor of love.

Typing certainly makes writing easy and convenient. Handwriting can feel like it takes forever as well as tedious to convey one’s thoughts. As aforementioned, I write by hand when I’m brainstorming or jotting down ideas. But I can’t imagine not writing by hand again. Although typing is efficient, it doesn’t allow me to freely write anywhere on the page–to write beyond the confines of the margins/borders.