Mission Statement

Well, if you're reading this right now, it's probably because you saw it cross-posted on my other site in which I merely vent about whatever the hell happens to be annoying me at the time. The real reason I started my other blog, initially, was to give me a chance to practice writing. However, it has become apparent to me that while bitch sessions are fine and dandy for getting in the habit of writing, it is in the end a very poor substitute for creative writing.

Furthermore, not only is my dabbling into writing suffering but the life of a graduate student in the natural sciences takes its toll on one's ability to have much of an outside life in which to explore new and interesting phenomena. This will hopefully give me a reason to do more exploration or, at the very least, to make experiences seem a little more interesting than they actually are.

I have thus opened up this space to attempt a new creative project, one that will hopefully shake me from the block that has kept me from finishing the four plays and two screenplays that have been mildewing in the dark recesses of my mind for the past year. I will spell out what it is I intend to do, not only to remind myself in the future, but also to allow you, the reader (if you choose), to contribute in your own way.

1. With my brand spanking new digital camera, I will try to take at least one photograph every day and submit a total of 7 photographs per week on every Sunday. This part is inspired largely by my friend Michelle, who for a while was doing a weekly photojournal on her own blogspot page and was something I always thought was really neat (although she has not kept up with this for a very long time, which is a shame).

2. The Sunday after I post the 7-picture series, I will then update the post with a short story that uses the pictures as a storyboard, as though writing an extended outline for a short film. I am not sure what direction any of this will take, so chances are the stories will be disparate from week to week. However, if I end up enjoying a certain persona or storyline, I will indicate that it's a continuation within the labels once the story is submitted. It might be fun afterwards to see what kind of larger story materializes over the weeks, if any does at all.

Note: I invite other people who are inclined to writing to submit their own storyline in the "comments" section. I promise that I will not steal anybody's ideas, at least not without proper credit, and I expect others to extend me the same courtesy if for some reason any of these stories seem the least bit interesting or marketable (which I seriously doubt).

3. (optional) If I am left with any time, I will also try to post a musical selection that fits the ambience of the piece. Ideally I will include an actual audio file, if I can figure out how to do that, or at worst a youtube clip that can be played while reading through the story. However I am sure that on many occasions I will only be able to post the artist and song title, but I will try to figure out a legal way of posting actual songs.

I don't know if I'll be able to continue this with any regularity, and I'm definitely not sure if any of this will be the least bit pleasurable to read. But if any readers out there see any merit or enjoyment in this, I would love your feedback, particularly if it's more than just "I liked it" or "I hated it."

That's all I've got. I await with bated breath to see what the first week's installment brings.