Jacqueline Levine's Blog - Posts Tagged "media"

So, I'm embarking on the journey that is Nanowrimo this year. I attempted it once, about three years ago, and then life got in the way and forbid me from really investing myself. Now that I'm in a steady flow of writing daily(on the train, at home, in random places where it's okay to simply whip out my iPad and go to it), I think I can take the writing challenge head on. I'll probably get to my 50,000 word count goal too but, more than that, I'll be able to finish Twist.

I can't tell you how excited I am for this book. Spiral is and always will be my baby, but Twist has given me the chance to step out of the glittery, candy coated world of two teenagers fighting the love they feel to the theme of two people fighting to stay in love. Entering the darker parts of Jack's psyche has been a really cool adventure, and the book is only halfway completed at 76,000 words. There is so much more to be told, so much rise and fall.

In Twist, the reader follows Jack and Cherie through a year of ups and downs and, like in real life, there are a lot more downs than ups. My theory behind this was that downs are a big part of everyone's life. Everyday, people are met with challenges that test their strength, their commitment to others, and their faith in themselves. Celebrities aren't any different than regular people - their problems are just out there for the world to see and, sometimes, their problems are made worse because the public hungers to hear all about their drama. Suddenly, things that wouldn't happen or wouldn't even matter in real life are exploited and exacerbated for the sake of ratings.

My hope is that, by the end of the book, the reader will have a hard time deciding who is at fault. More than anything, I want the reader to step back and say, "Wow, there really are two sides to every story." I'm sure we have all been in the line of relationship fire before, and no matter which role you played, you can sympathize with Jack and Cherie, and all the hurdles they will have to jump through to stay together. If they stay together.

So I will be using my NanoWrimo time to finish Twist. For now, you can check out the excerpt, and take the poll. I'd love to hear your thoughts! http://spiralseries.com/2013/10/25/tw...
Spiral

Justin Bieber is totally right. He is being bullied by the media.

Okay, hear me out on this one, especially all you naysayers who hate young Hollywood...

I’m a teacher, and I regularly look out for the welfare of children, advising them when I think they are making mistakes, sabotaging their learning and friendships, or destroying their reputations. I am very worried for the young people in Hollywood who lack the benefit of a strong, positive adult presence in their lives. Instead, they receive criticism and scorn at every turn.

Many people write these celebutantes off as spoiled, arrogant brats who deserve what they get, but I disagree. I think they suffer from a fundamental lack of ethical and strict adult supervision. What happens to a 19 year old who gets caught drinking and driving and smoking weed in the real world? He has to face consequences set by his parents. And enough with the “if she’s over 18, she’s legally an adult!” nonsense. If they could be an undergrad in college, they qualify as a kid who still needs guidance.

In addition, I do feel the media is bullying them. Even Average Joes are to blame. Every person who creates an “I Hate ______” Facebook page or blogs about the weight of some starlet is doing damage to that child’s self esteem. You know what a high school or college would do to a kid who tweeted hateful things and cyber-scorned another student? True, kids like the Biebs and Miley opted not to go to school and be afforded this protection and, yes, you need a thick skin for Hollywood, but just how thick of a skin are kids 18 – 20 expected to have? Do we honestly think that, when 14 year old Justin Bieber was a twinkle in Usher’s eye, he was mentally prepared to be a huge international star that would not be allowed to follow the same path to growing up that the rest of America’s kids follow? Is this fair?

This weekend, we lost another Hollywood great to drug overdose. Poor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, God rest his soul. Drug addiction is a disease, and instead of vilifying Justin Bieber for his *supposed* abuse of drugs, shouldn't we be demanding the adult handlers in his life step up and make a difference for him before it is too late?

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now, but I just needed to vent. What are your thoughts? Are the media personalities - and us, actually - bullying celebs? Leave a comment, and let's get this conversation going!

XOXO