Writing a Realistic Novel 11/03/2011
Seldom do authors write a novel from whole cloth imagination. The story is usually part of their life experiences, victories or fears. Unless you are an author who has sold millions and millions of books, authors usually write what they care about. I started caring about teenagers who live on the streets many years ago when my wife and I began contributing to homeless shelters devoted to young people. Then I viewed a television documentary about kids on the street. Frankly, as a program that would air on prime time television it painted a picture less gritty than the actual situation. I didn't realize that at the time, but my interest was peaked. A few years later, I began research on the issue of runaway kids who ended up homeless on the streets. I used university and college libraries and my local libraries. I read about counseling such kids, case studies, why kids runaway, when parents lock thier kids out, and doctor's views of the phenomenon. Using my normal approach, I read but seldom took notes. My intention was to saturate my brain with the entire spectrum of runaway kids. I thought I had the subject locked-in. I finished about three-quarters of the novel believing I had captured the essence of the subject. Lucky for me, I called a homeless shelter in Florida and asked a wonderful lady if I could visit the shelter to be sure I told the correct story in my novel. She said visitors weren't actually welcomed because it might seem as if the kids were on display and cause some kids to stay away from the protection of the shelter. But . . . I could come as part of an introductory program before being a voluntary staff member and if I was ever close to the shelter perhaps I could volunteer my time. I arrived for the program almost two hours before it was scheduled to start and was allowed to sit downstairs and just observe. Later, I was briefed with the other volunteers and met counselors, van drivers, and medical personnel. I also met kids. Sat with them at lunch, listened to their conversations and enjoyed when they talked with me. I also observed and listened carefully. Then in a summary session, each of us shared our observations and conversations with the group. At the end of the day, I was letdown and at the same time elated. The book I had written was for the most part wrong. It didn't come close to what happened to the kids on the street and didn't begin to explain the language nor the defensive philosophies used by the kids. I had heard strings of four letter words put together in ways that even as an adult male I hadn't heard before. I heard a new language. Descriptions of acts committed in private that most of us would never reveal were spoken of openly and without regard for former moral codes or familiar "sins." What I heard was kids pleading for help and understanding. I re-wrote what was to become "Goodbye Maple Street." The finished novel is gritty, uses the languiage of the streets, and attempts to explain what it's like as a teenager working for a pimp on a city street corner. It's about drugs, sex, death, abuse and victory. I am hoping the story opens eyes to a tragic scenario playing out on the streets of many American cities because until good family people, who never or seldom use the language of the story read the book the savage drama will go on and our youth will continue to pay the price. 3 Comments Post Title. 10/29/2011
Big Company Profits Have you been looking carefully at the products you have purchased lately? Why? Because you are probably buying less than you used to buy without knowing it. Let me explain. The soap I use was rectangular with a uniform depth. Now each bar of soap has a carved out surface on the bottom of the bar. The result is about a third less soap for the same price. My dog's food is recommended by our Vet and formerly came in 20 pound bags. Now the bag contains only 17 pounds. Guess what? The price went up. The dog treats, also highly recommended, are each about half the size they were just months ago. Don't take my word for any of this. Check the weight of your cereal, the contents of jam jars, peanut butter--all products. The change isn't just for food products either. My family has used a brand of napkins for many years. Recently, the package proclaimed the napkins were 25% stronger. Unfortunately, the napkins are now so thin as to be about unuseable. One leading brand of jams and jellies has found a way to cut preparation costs and give us less. The preserves now have the consistency of jam. The jams have the consistency of jelly and the jellies are incredibly watery. Many companies are substituting high fructose corn syrup for more expensive sweeteners to save money as health experts debate the impact of high fructose products on our health. We are being cheated by companies who are increasing profits at our expense. They carefully hide the changes and think we are too dumb to know the difference. As wages for working Americans decrease, profits for big companies increase. Fore warned is forearmed. Bill Bonner First Post! 10/28/2011
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