Writing Limits

I'm kind of jealous right now.  I'm jealous because I need only to cast my eye as far (near?) as Heather's blog to realize how little I've been able to write the past few days.  Even Obsquatch has been a good blogger.  Ibrahim, who I've finally added to my must-see blogs in the sidebar, posted a "Not So Emo Poem" recently.

Usually, I need only turn a squinty eye at my brother's blog to find inspiration for my own writing ... but--obviously--recent events have prompted me to give him a pass.  I'm not the only one who just lost a father.  And although a similar courtesy was not extended to me, thanks to some good advice from my sister, I will remain passive and indifferent towards him.  (Quick raise of hands, though: who here has ever been accused of being a demon-possessed, religion-hating asshole the day after your dad died?  Anyone?  Anyone??  Not that the religion hating is untrue--for the most part--I suppose it would be offensive if it wasn't so goddamned amusing.  Pun intended.)

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Seriously though, there's gotta come a point when you just sit back and smile at how ridiculous it all is.  I might not be there right now, but I'm working on it.  On an interestingly positive note, I must applaud Jason for applying his writing skills (hm, abilities?) to something a little more appropriate.  Allow me to recollect a conversation I had with him when we were actually on speaking terms:

It was at dinner with the parents (the only times we ever are face-to-face) and Jason was, as ever, trying to figure out a way to make a buck on the books he writes ... without actually getting them picked up by a publisher.  I recall these moments because for so long I had been the outcast son and this was one of the first times I truly felt the tides change.  Not that either one of us had to be the outcast son, mind you, but it was memorable to have the parents--especially my dad--side with me on an argument.  It was kind of a big deal.

Anyway, my argument was simple: if you want to brand yourself on the internet, you need to write FOR the internet.  You can't just adapt a novel.  And if you want to write--truly, TRULY write as in a career--then you have to write for mediums that people embrace.  In other words, if you want to brand yourself on the internet, write for the internet.  Write videos and series for youtube, write webcomics, write blogs, write whatever people are reading.  Don't limit yourself before you even get started.

Well, at the time, Jason really wouldn't have any of it.  He said he wanted to write his books and have nothing to do with anything else.

Flash-forward to today and not only has Jason ventured into writing and producing videos for youtube, he's also managed to produce a regular webcomic.

Is this an appropriate time to say I was right?

It's like the saying goes: a writer writes.  I may not be writing much these past few days in the blog, but I have managed to pound out some new Zaphod Zombie scripts that I'm pretty happy about.

And I guess if there's a moral to the story, it's that you should never limit yourself to any medium.  Writing is literally the root of nearly all creative endeavors.  A movie can't be made, a comic can't be draw, and a song can't be sung without someone--somewhere--putting pen to paper (or finger to keys, as the case maybe).

With that in mind, think about this: stay creative.

NOTE: Do keep in mind that my commentary about my brother's PRODUCTION of comics and videos is NOT indicative of the quality of said creative work.  That being said, you only have to look at my own Comics page to see how extraordinarily shitty my own early work was.