Clay Mitchell's Blog
October 4, 2013
Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer afflicted the mother of the main character in "Amid the Ashes and The Dust". She was a strong woman who held her family together and fought bravely to beat the disease - at least for a time. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the author is donating 40% of his royalties from each one of his books and/or ebooks sold during the month of October. Enjoy the book and thank you for your support!
September 3, 2013
Do you appreciate those who fight for our freedom?
As our leaders banter and bloviate over whether to involve our country in another foreign "Charlie Foxtrot" of epic proportions, I can't help but feel sorry for our brave young men and women who signed up for the high ideal of furthering democracy, human dignity, freedom, rights and liberties that are granted to all men and stolen by the few.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not shy about going to war when there is a clear enemy and a clear directive, but anytime the strategy and the resulting action does not further the core mission of this country; clearly achieving results that align with our values; and definitively accomplishing change in accordance with clearly stated objectives, nothing good can come of it. Who would give their life for anything less? Who should be asked to? Who has the right to ask?
We have a dictator accused of horrendous crimes against his people being overthrown by known enemies of the United States. If we aren't engaging with the clear objective of diffusing the situation completely in the name of righteousness, and if we aren't willing to address the real problem and eliminate it, then we should stay home.
Sometimes two kids get in a fight and they are both wrong. If we aren't willing to send them both home with their tails between their legs, then we have no business getting involved, especially when both kids would just as soon kill us as look at us, and more especially as an afterthought when so much damage has already been done. Just in case we do get involved, I think it's high time we said a prayer for those who put their lives on the line to serve their country. Here is my Ode to the Warrior:
Hail to Thee Sweet Warrior
Come, lay down your sword and return your weapons to the armament.
Hang up your boots and lay your head upon the pillows of conformity.
Sleep deeply, and awake to the gentle breeze in the wood.
Listen to the songbirds as they sing your praise and welcome you to a place of peace.
You have earned a special place on the high plains of eternity.
Now, as you walk among your brethren, you must remember that you have risen above them.
You have walked in a dimension not known to the common man.
They may call you hero and try to imagine themselves that special breed, but they cannot comprehend its true meaning.
They may call you killer and despise your calling, but they know in their hearts that they could never endure the harsh reality where you not only survived but thrived.
Many know the existence of good and evil, but many prefer the fairy tale endings of their bedtime stories.
That’s okay, you saved them too.
Man walks two plains in this journey called life. Some, like you, know the real meaning of life, for they have walked the high plain where heroes prevail, martyrs fall, death looms, and the winds of glory still blow.
You have lived outside the bubble, you have guarded the gate where others fear to tread, you have overcome an enemy that others do not even know, and you have watched your brothers fall so that others may never have to know the evil over the wall.
May God forever shed his grace upon thee for the sacrifice you have made, and may your name forever be written in the book of life. For you, unlike most, have really lived life.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not shy about going to war when there is a clear enemy and a clear directive, but anytime the strategy and the resulting action does not further the core mission of this country; clearly achieving results that align with our values; and definitively accomplishing change in accordance with clearly stated objectives, nothing good can come of it. Who would give their life for anything less? Who should be asked to? Who has the right to ask?
We have a dictator accused of horrendous crimes against his people being overthrown by known enemies of the United States. If we aren't engaging with the clear objective of diffusing the situation completely in the name of righteousness, and if we aren't willing to address the real problem and eliminate it, then we should stay home.
Sometimes two kids get in a fight and they are both wrong. If we aren't willing to send them both home with their tails between their legs, then we have no business getting involved, especially when both kids would just as soon kill us as look at us, and more especially as an afterthought when so much damage has already been done. Just in case we do get involved, I think it's high time we said a prayer for those who put their lives on the line to serve their country. Here is my Ode to the Warrior:
Hail to Thee Sweet Warrior
Come, lay down your sword and return your weapons to the armament.
Hang up your boots and lay your head upon the pillows of conformity.
Sleep deeply, and awake to the gentle breeze in the wood.
Listen to the songbirds as they sing your praise and welcome you to a place of peace.
You have earned a special place on the high plains of eternity.
Now, as you walk among your brethren, you must remember that you have risen above them.
You have walked in a dimension not known to the common man.
They may call you hero and try to imagine themselves that special breed, but they cannot comprehend its true meaning.
They may call you killer and despise your calling, but they know in their hearts that they could never endure the harsh reality where you not only survived but thrived.
Many know the existence of good and evil, but many prefer the fairy tale endings of their bedtime stories.
That’s okay, you saved them too.
Man walks two plains in this journey called life. Some, like you, know the real meaning of life, for they have walked the high plain where heroes prevail, martyrs fall, death looms, and the winds of glory still blow.
You have lived outside the bubble, you have guarded the gate where others fear to tread, you have overcome an enemy that others do not even know, and you have watched your brothers fall so that others may never have to know the evil over the wall.
May God forever shed his grace upon thee for the sacrifice you have made, and may your name forever be written in the book of life. For you, unlike most, have really lived life.
August 8, 2013
Descriptive Details
Does everyone appreciate a healthy lambasting of descriptive detail in their fiction books? Are there fiction readers out there who don't want to get bogged down in the visual texture of a novel?
Personally, I love a book full of descriptive detail, but it must be used correctly. Details are like advice; there is a right place and time for it. When over-used and/or used in a place where the description doesn't benefit the story line, too much description can be a major distraction.
Your descriptions should harmonize with the flow of the scene and keep the pace of the story. You want just enough to bring texture to the scene and titillate the senses, leaving the reader aching for more as they strip away their world to crawl into yours.
Effective description helps the reader become emotionally invested in the story, so don't ask them to invest in something or someone that doesn't matter. Use your descriptive talents to gain sensory involvement in your setting and emotional involvement in your characters. Descriptive detail is also a handy device for planting seeds to be cultivated later in the story, and to create parallelism in the story line (habits, scenes that repeat, events that re-occurr later in the story, etc.). When used properly, detailed descriptions of parallel events can also be an effective device for showing change or growth in your characters.
Many writers love to get down and dirty into the descriptive details, and when used wisely, it can be the very definition of great fiction writing. Just remember, "Fiction writing is like tightrope walking, It's all about balance."
Personally, I love a book full of descriptive detail, but it must be used correctly. Details are like advice; there is a right place and time for it. When over-used and/or used in a place where the description doesn't benefit the story line, too much description can be a major distraction.
Your descriptions should harmonize with the flow of the scene and keep the pace of the story. You want just enough to bring texture to the scene and titillate the senses, leaving the reader aching for more as they strip away their world to crawl into yours.
Effective description helps the reader become emotionally invested in the story, so don't ask them to invest in something or someone that doesn't matter. Use your descriptive talents to gain sensory involvement in your setting and emotional involvement in your characters. Descriptive detail is also a handy device for planting seeds to be cultivated later in the story, and to create parallelism in the story line (habits, scenes that repeat, events that re-occurr later in the story, etc.). When used properly, detailed descriptions of parallel events can also be an effective device for showing change or growth in your characters.
Many writers love to get down and dirty into the descriptive details, and when used wisely, it can be the very definition of great fiction writing. Just remember, "Fiction writing is like tightrope walking, It's all about balance."
July 27, 2013
Can we train our creative juices to flow on demand?
There is nothing more irritating to a writer than to finally find the time to sit down and crank out some words, only to find the creative tank empty. If you are like me, you can find your greatest inspiration flowing at the most inopportune time, like when you are headed to work in the morning.
I don't know if it's the coffee tickling my right brain, or the fear of an entire day devoted to left brain activity that causes my creative engine to fire up, but it is an ugly feeling to have to deny my inspiration, then try to get pumped about going to work.
The only thing you can do when this happens to you is stop and write down some notes, hoping that it will all come back to you later.
After many months of being frustrated with interruptions from work, family, and temptations such as: beer with friends, pool, golf, fishing or a good movie, I finally learned that if I set aside the same time everyday as my writing time, my creative juices would learn to "get up for the game" so to speak. I also found that it helped discipline me. Let's face it, the world is growing more distracting day by day.
Establishing a routine for your writing is critical for busy people. If it's really important to you, it deserves allocating a time slot. If you do, your mind will come to your aid. The human brain is extremely adaptive to routine and repetition. Just like when your stomach tells you it's lunch time, your mind will begin to tell you it's writing time.
Try your best to get the support of those around you to recognize your writing time. Always keep your inspiring books, music, pictures, or movies close by, and leave this world behind for at least an hour everyday. You'll soon find your office door to be a gateway to another universe! Best of luck in your writing!
I don't know if it's the coffee tickling my right brain, or the fear of an entire day devoted to left brain activity that causes my creative engine to fire up, but it is an ugly feeling to have to deny my inspiration, then try to get pumped about going to work.
The only thing you can do when this happens to you is stop and write down some notes, hoping that it will all come back to you later.
After many months of being frustrated with interruptions from work, family, and temptations such as: beer with friends, pool, golf, fishing or a good movie, I finally learned that if I set aside the same time everyday as my writing time, my creative juices would learn to "get up for the game" so to speak. I also found that it helped discipline me. Let's face it, the world is growing more distracting day by day.
Establishing a routine for your writing is critical for busy people. If it's really important to you, it deserves allocating a time slot. If you do, your mind will come to your aid. The human brain is extremely adaptive to routine and repetition. Just like when your stomach tells you it's lunch time, your mind will begin to tell you it's writing time.
Try your best to get the support of those around you to recognize your writing time. Always keep your inspiring books, music, pictures, or movies close by, and leave this world behind for at least an hour everyday. You'll soon find your office door to be a gateway to another universe! Best of luck in your writing!
