Mearcstapas, the Media, and the Hope Thesis Podcast Trailor

I have some exciting news.

I’m releasing something.

No, I haven’t finished a book. But it does have to do with art, writing, and finding purpose in creativity, which is something I believe is an important topic to think and talk about as creatives.

It’s the (drumroll please) hOPE THESIS PODCAST.

And I’m releasing the first two interview episodes of the podcast as well as the website on April 1! But you know what is already released?

Episode 1: Trailer and Introduction. It’s up on iTunes Podcasts and Spotify!!! Check it out!!

But wait, you say. You’re hitting the return key way too much to the point where this post is starting to look like a terrible freeverse poem. Also, what the heck is the Hope Thesis Podcast about?

My Goal as a Creator: Hope Thesis + Logo Reveal

The last three months have been challenging and stressful and eventually made me want to forget everything and instead create water powered elevators in a virtual Minecraft world where physics is practically nonexistent and where the imagination is fueled with pretty blocks that do cool things.

Well, I did make the elevators. But the last few weeks of the semester, I created something that I was far more proud of, something that would carry through in my endeavors to become a graphic designer and digital creator, that carried a significance that I want to maintain in my future creations and eventually share with the world: Hope Thesis.

(not to bash Minecraft, of course. I am rather happy with those elevators.)

The Imitation Game, Alan Turing’s Legacy, and other Odds and Ends

“You just defeated Nazis with a crossword puzzle!”

I finally saw The Imitation Game. It is a masterful film and dramatization of the famous mathematician Alan Turing’s help in defeating the Nazis while paving the way for the machines we know today as computers. I loved this movie. It was inspiring, moving, and at times quite hilarious, while sad and hopeful at the same time. I personally found it a very emotional and deep experience. This post is not an attempt to analyze the movie and separate fact from fiction, and while I understand that dramatizations of such historical events are never 100% factually sound, this film inspired me to do a bit of research on Turing and consider his scientific breakthroughs and the last years of his life.

Fantasy Worldbuilding Part 2: 7 Important Elements to Consider

Last week’s post looked at worldbuilding in general and why it’s so important to have a well-developed setting as it is the foundation on which the story is built. It’s critical to have well-rounded, convincing characters, and it’s just as critical to have a developed, convincing world.  Today’s post is digging in more to take a look at the important aspects and details of worldbuilding that deserve consideration and can tend to get overlooked.

Being a Writer in a World of Instant Gratification

Most of the time, the best things take the most time.

As a writer, this statement could not be more true.

So You Want to Be a Writer? Here’s 10 Things You Need to Know

So you think you’re pretty decent with words and you enjoy telling stories, and you want to be a writer.

You should think you might want to be a writer. Here’s what you need to know about being one.

(Note: This post is mostly cynical humor as I speak out about the harsh reality of being a writer. Because in reality it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; it’s more like no sun and rainclouds––which can still be pretty cool.)

Why Taking Breaks from Writing is Important

Taking breaks is important. As mortal Earthlings, moderation with everything is vital; we can’t handle too much of anything. This is why we sleep at night. This is why we take breaks at work. This is why we take school breaks during the summer and Christmas time. And this is also why we should take breaks from creating.

Breaking the Fourth Wall: Writing, Sci-Fi, and Speculation

Ever since I decided to become a writer and publish a book, my stories have been all about breaking the fourth wall. No matter who the characters are, what the genre is, or what the story is about, the plot is centered on a main character who is seemingly trapped in reality. Leo from Netherworld is given the Knowledge that another world exists, and he does all he can to break free of the suffocating misfortunes of life on Earth and visit this planet.  Finley from Fiction’s Lie (yes, I just recently changed his name) must travel to the world he created in his fantasy novel to save his characters and reason with his hero who has gone renegade.

The “First Book You’ve Ever Read” Challenge

It’s called a “challenge” for a reason. Trying to think of the first book I’ve read really is a challenge, especially if you’re not sure what kind of “book” we’re referring to here. If it was my actual first book ever, we’d be talking Curious George or one of those Little Golden Books or “Hey Al,” but then no one would be reading this post. So I just went with what Marrok McIntyre did in his first post of the challenge and picked the first novel I read. 

By the way, Marrok is the one who tagged me and is the founder of this challenge. He is a fantasy writer and an all around awesome person, and you should definitely check out his blog!

Realism and Antirealism in Writing

As a writer, I draw upon realism to create antirealistic worlds. As a reader, I have to accept truth on different terms when I immerse myself in a book and believe in the fantastical world the story is about. Versimilitude is the appearance of being real or true. It’s important when it comes to both writing and filmmaking, and is an art that requires skill and technique to make your reader believe that what they are reading is actually true.