The word blog sounds like vomiting, the
Internet gives Everyman a voice and he
uses it to throw up impression in our
laps, Everyman's a critic, he marks
pages in his Bible with OMGWTFBBQ
criticisms dreamed up in Sunday school
and Saturday bars and third grade
math...
Name: Travis
Username: [Mister Saint]
Location: Bronston, Kentucky, United States
Occupation: Presentation Editor
Writer/Reader/Agent/Role Player: Writer, Reader, Role Player
Sign: Scorpio / Water Dog
Tell us about yourself: I am a twenty-five-year-old man with a wavering addiction to fantasy and science fiction, an animal lover, and a journalist. I have a spectacular girlfriend, a minimal bank account, and more talent in my little finger than in all the others combined. I'm also a drummer and off-again guitarist, hobby artist, and writer of all sorts of things that should never see the light of day.
What's your favorite Music?: I like all kinds of music. Metal, rock, jazz, some classical, techno, progressive, and so forth. I particularly like Iron Maiden, Vanessa Mae, and John Williams.
Who are your favorite authors and literary works?
John Milton, Paradise Lost. In my opinion, it's the single greatest piece of writing in the English language. Despite the thick language, it was way ahead of its time as far as storytelling technique and risky material went. Besides, the epic telling of millions of angels at war is quite the head trip to imagine.
Any other favorites? Mario Puzo, screenwriter for The Godfather. It's a fantastic movie, and a brilliant piece of literature stands behind it. I also like to cook, my current favorite dish being Cream of Meep, a rice and cheese soup.
Tell us about your writings: The first serious writing I did was the book I spent three years finishing before realizing it really, really needed help. There is currently one printed copy in existence, and honestly, I'm fine with it. Writing those 285,000 words and editing them seventeen times built my patience and skills as a writer. However, right now my greatest love is screenwriting. It's a different style and, as far as entertainment culture goes, is far ahead of just about every other genre of writing.
I'm also a journalist. News writing is an entirely different beast than creative, but it has its moments, and requires a tremendous focus and sense of creativity to pull off well. If you don't believe me, read your local fish wrapper, or almost any story on the internet, and then pick up a copy of a respected paper. The differences are astounding.
Which of your writings would you recommend to a fellow member?
79.Poetry.Ginsbergism 2008. It was featured a while back, but I still tend to think of it as the most creative piece I have posted here.
Is there anything that helps you write?
Real life is the best inspiration. Watching people, paying attention to dialect, figuring out the motivations of folks who do the same things any character would.
Oh. And [Nightshadow].
Do you have any tips for members?
Develop a thick skin, and learn to take constructive criticism. If someone says something negative about you or work, assume it isn't personal and take something good from it. If it was personal, then you can just laugh about it. Drama is no good for anyone; trust me, it took a lot of growing up for me to understand that.
Would you like to promote anything?
Check out my Screenwriting Clinic Contest. Screenwriting is different and rewarding; give it a try. Also, just be more active. See that poll on the left? Vote! Also, have a look at the e-zine for this month. Seriously. Do it!
Stumble!