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Another great film review by Oosters:

TOY STORY 3 *****5 Stars

Directed by Lee Unkrich
Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Jodi Benson, Laurie Metcalf, Blake Clark and Whoopi Goldberg

~ Film reviewed by Oosters ~

Has there ever been a film studio in history, animated or otherwise, that has even come close to the consistently brilliant output of Pixar Animation Studios? Not only are they streets ahead of their peers in the field of feature-length digital animation, they outshine the very best that filmmakers of any stripe can offer. Nobody, regardless of budget, profile or style, is making films quite as magical as theirs anywhere in the world. How they manage to achieve what they do while masquerading as kids’ cartoonists is anyone’s guess.

Their latest project is another absolute gem, awash with their usual cocktail of elaborate set-pieces, razor-sharp humour, poignant nostalgia and some kind of warm fuzzy feeling they must have on tap somewhere in their studios.

The writing is again never anything less than first-rate, the visuals are again the very best modern technology and imaginations can conjure, and the heart behind it all, the philosophy and themes and depth, are yet again completely unprecedented territory. That they delight children with every frame is quite something; that they simultaneously make adults think and feel and laugh and cry is nothing short of remarkable.

There are meditations in this film on the continuity of generations, the pain of broken relationships, nostalgic longing for the past, and the nature of loyalty. Nothing is layered on, no kid will ever for a moment think they’re being lectured. Nor is this buried beneath sound and fury – none of the above is subtext, it is the actual plot of the film.

Its predecessors were brilliant, groundbreaking stuff, but this third (and probably final) instalment strikes an emotional chord that is nigh-on unforgettable.

It’s as sweet, touching and humane a film as any there has been.

Have you seen the film?

What did you think of it?

Leave a comment. It’s good to know.

Inception – Film Review

Predators – Film Review

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Film Review

Whatever Works – Film Review

Shrek Forever After – Film Review

“You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life.”

James G. Bilkey – Author

CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)

What l have learnt:

• How Much Does a Writer Make? (via The Rejecter).
• 100 Free High Quality WordPress Themes for 2010. I’m tempted to have a revamp. But I remember how long it took to get this one running. There’s no harm looking.
• Rewriting (via Alexandra Sokoloff). This may be for screenwriting but I think it’ll help me.
• The More You Want to Write, The More Time You Have to Spend Away from Your Writing (via agent Scott Eagan). This is so true. Marketing reduces your writing time.

What I have done:

• Got my website up. I’m still working on it so it’s not prominent as it will be. You see the link to it under ‘About’. I messed around with photoshop and had a cool-looking one but it looked fine using Safari and not so much using Firefox so in end I chose to just work with Dreamweaver. It’s simple.

WORD COUNT: Night Walker 149,000 words in total.

I read Anthony Robbins’s Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! (affiliate link) a few years ago. I love this book and will not part with my scruffy copy.

Yesterday, I was reminded of the book when I pushed myself to jog again.

If you’re like me, finding exercise something of a chore, then you’d understand how I feel about the subject.

It’s not a one-time struggle. It’s an every day or every other day struggle.

Yes, it reminds me of writing.

In the book, Anthony Robbins says ‘values guide our every decision and, therefore, our destiny’ and ‘whatever your values are, they affect the direction of your life’. This is his definition of what values are:

To value something means to place importance upon it; anything that you hold dear can be called a ‘value’.

He talks about the difference between two types of values – ends and means. He gives the example of acquiring money as a means value:

‘What does money really mean to you? What does it give you?’ You might say, ‘Freedom, impact, the ability to contribute, a sense of security.’…money is merely a means to achieving a much deeper set of values, a set of emotions that you desire to experience on a consistent basis in your life.

The ends values are those that will fulfill you, make your life rich and rewarding.

Here are a list of what Robbins calls moving-toward values: love, success, freedom, intimacy, security, adventure, power, passion, comfort and health – set out in his book in that exact order.

I remember writing out my values and then re-writing them to fit my life at the time. What I don’t remember is what they were or what order they were in. But I do remember the value that was at the top of my list. My first priority. The most important thing – even more important than writing. Can you guess?

Yes, you’re right.

Health.

Why is health so important for writers?

With any other business, excluding artists and craftsman, if an employee is ill there’s always the possibility of bringing someone in who can take over. The temp (temporary employee) answers emails, phones and ‘cover’ the position until the sick employee is well enough to go back to work.

I’ve been temping for more than five years and it takes a day of training or even no training (you just ask those who are there – there’s always someone who knows how to do something – that is if the business is good at cultivating flexibility) to cover someone who is off sick.

If you’re a writer, you can’t just ask someone to write for you.

No one can take over while you’re unwell. They can’t just sit and write your novel for you.

Some established authors have assistants to help them answer fan mail, emails, return phone calls, organize their schedule etc but even those authors cannot get someone to write their novels for them. Yes, there are such writers as ghostwriters to write your book and guest bloggers to cover your blog but here, we’re talking about writers who want to write their own novels.

If you’re a writer, health should be the most important thing on your list.

And I’m not just talking about how health can help you with your writing. Without good health, you’re unlikely to have the energy to enjoy love, achieve success – all those other values on Anthony Robbins’s list.

When I talk about health, I’m not only talking about physically but also emotionally, mentally and spiritually. You’ll find – well, I find – that once you get physically healthy (and nothing else is stressing you) you become mentally and emotionally healthier as well. As writers, I’ve read, we’re the most prone to depression and mental illnesses which is another reason why we have to look after ourselves.

Is it time for you to have a health spring clean?

Is your body at it’s best? Are your emotions balanced? Is anything mentally getting you down? Is it time to take control? For me it’s time I took control. What about you?

I’m not saying it’s easy. I know it’s not easy. There’s so many other things we have to do. But we must try. I know it’s a struggle to get off your butt, off the internet and put on your jogging gear but you must force yourself. Like writing, you can’t not do it. Like writing, even when you don’t feel like it, you have to.

Here’s an idea:

Daily Routine: Decide on an exercise routine that you can do at least 3 times a week. Say, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Me? I’m jogging and stretching after.

Monthly Routine: If your body is in full working order and nothing is falling off or in need of urgent attention. Make a note of every part of your body that needs care and attention – teeth, face, skin, stomach, hair, toes, feet – especially the bits that give you trouble. And every month, see that you take care of one of those areas. Okay, take for example, teeth. You brush it every day. If you’re not, please brush your teeth every day. So if for one month your teeth is your sole concern (when nothing else is falling apart) that month you might set up an appointment to see the dentist. If you do this every year, you’re having a check up at least once a year.

(As I write this post, my brother popped his head in my room and asked me if I want to go jogging in 5 mins. I’m going to stop writing and put on my jogging gear. My health is more important than writing. So, I’ll see you when I get back.)

How is your health?

Are you looking after yourself?

What are you going to do to make it better?

Any suggestions to help other writers?

Leave a comment. It’s good to know.

Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! (affiliate link)

Cytokines, My Unknown Nemesis

“I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

Helen Keller – Author and Lecturer

CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)

What l have learnt:

• Three Ways Documentaries Inspire Fiction (via Yingle Yangle). I prefer films. Not much of a documentary lover – I might just try.
• 20 Questions to Help Improve Your Dialogue (via Yingle Yangle). Definitely going to go through this with a fine tooth comb.
• Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start a Revision by editor Kendra Levin (via Elana Johnson’s blog). Another one I need to read carefully.
• Voice by agent Elana Roth. Voice, and do I have it? I don’t know. Should I go and hide under a stone?
• 50 Ways to Woo the Web World (via Write to Done). Useful.

What I have done:

• Put up my very first affiliate link to Amazon. I’m not sure if this will work. I guess we’ll have to see.

WORD COUNT: Night Walker 149,000 words in total. Wednesday 18 August wrote 1,000 words. Thursday 19 August wrote 1,000 words.

Do You Want to Write? Then Lie (to Yourself) Written by Heather Spiva ~

Does that sound a bit extreme? Maybe even immoral? Well, it isn’t if you’re the one who wants to write and get published.

To be a writer, it boils down to a very simple action: writing. You have to actually sit down, grab a pen, or put your fingers to the keyboard, and begin. I know, harsh right?

Dreaming about being a published author has its place. If you didn’t dream, how would you know what you wanted? But fleshing the dream — making it a reality–requires discipline. A heck of a lot of discipline. And it requires the willingness to stick with your craft when the rejection letters fill your inbox more than your friends’ chit-chat.

So how do you keep with this discipline? It’s really quite simple: You lie. Here’s a very possible tête-à-tête between your will to succeed (published author: PA) and your will to dream (unpublished author: UA).

PA: “Okay, sit down. It’s time to write.”

UA: “But, I only have an hour or two at best (big sigh). Why now?”

PA: “Because you have to start somewhere! We have two whole hours. This is perfect.”

UA: (bigger sigh) “But now?”

PA: “You already asked that. Listen (smiling to self) let’s just sit down for 15 minutes and write what we can. That’s not too bad, is it? And after that, if we’re done, we’re done.

UA: “15 minutes? That’s it?” Looks at you like you’re nuts. “You sure?”

PA: “That’s it. That way we both get what we want.”

UA: “Okay (nodding in agreement and scratching chin), sounds alright. We can do that.”

Do you know what just happened?

You tricked yourself into writing for fifteen minutes. If you’re fully invested and dedicated to writing for fifteen minutes– but have a two-hour window– then the odds are good your muse will find you. And instead of giving up after a quarter of an hour, you’ll keep writing for longer.

Better yet, you’ll write for the full two hours!

You‘ve got to take what you can and work with it. And if you only write for those fifteen minutes and you’re ready to stop when your time is up, so what?

That’s 50, 100 or 500 words you didn’t have fifteen minutes ago. That’s truly remarkable.

Lie to yourself. Tell yourself you’ll only write for fifteen and see what happens. It’s plenty of time to accomplish a lot (write a part of an article or story, a chapter to a book) or nothing at all (watch TV, eat some grapes, wiggle your toes) only hoping you’ll find the gumption to write later.

By lying to yourself — or tricking your psyche– you pass the biggest hurdle of all: starting the darn thing. Without the effort, there is no book, or article or poem or story. And without that, there is no point in dreaming.

Encourage yourself. Be a dreamer, but be a doer. And most importantly, when it comes to psyching yourself out, be a liar.

Disclaimer: Not recommended for most areas of life, especially for worthwhile relationships with people. However, this philosophy is recommended for those who procrastinate their gym time. Apply, execute and repeat.

~ Thanks Heather ~

Heather Spiva is a freelance writer, from Sacramento, Ca. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. And when she’s not reading, she’s taking care of her two adorable — but rambunctious– boys.

You can find Heather at her blog A Work in Progress. Follow her on Twitter @HeatherSpiva and Facebook.

What about you?

Do you fool or trick yourself into writing?

How?

Leave a comment. It’s good to know.

[lie pic taken from CartoonStock.com]

How Writing is Like Film-making

Why Writing is a Career

I’m a Writer. Should I Get a Book-Deal, Self-Publish or Self-Distribute?

Therapy for Writers in 140 Characters or Less

Is Writing Like Football?

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.”

Ben Stein – Attorney, Author, Actor and Commentator

CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)

What l have learnt:

• So timely. I need to get out of my own way to write again (via Murderati blog).
• Lighting the Night so Your Readers Can See (via Michael Larsen’s blog). Sometimes I forget to be gentle with myself. You too. Be gentle with yourself.
• Tighten Up (via Chris Brogan’s blog). Good advice. Once you’re on top of your game. And even when you’re not. Like me. He writes about presenting. I say it works with everything else too. Yes, yes, tighten up.
• Why You Fail at Writing (via Scott Berkun’s blog). We fail because we fail at reading. Thinking well means writing well. What about thinking too much? No, that’s not the same is it? It reminds me to read more. To read more means less writing time. What I need to be skilled at is juggling. I want to be a super juggler.

What I have done:

• Reading ‘Glasgow Kiss’ by Alex Gray.
• Added Word of the Day to the blog. It will teach me too as I’m sure I’m the only one who looks at my blog pages the most. It bothers me that everyone expects me to know more words than the average person. Why? I’m not a walking dictionary. I wish I was a walking dictionary. A super dictionary juggler.
• Read all of Query Shark‘s queries in one sitting. My eyes bled after. And I’m still not sure how to write a good query. Oh, but I know not what to do when it comes to structure. Just not the words to use. I did send myself a long email of reminders. It’s marinating.

WORD COUNT: Night Walker 147,000 words in total. I have not written since Thursday 12 August. It’s been 3 writing days excluding the weekend. Yes, I feel bad even without all the analyzing. *skulks away* *skulks back* I still have today to do something about it. Today isn’t over yet. *strides away* I need to get out of my own way and yet be gentle with myself. *stops* What? *thinks*

Sit back and relax. Here’s today’s film review:

INCEPTION *****5 Stars

Directed by Christopher Nolan Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy.

~ Film reviewed by Oosters ~

It’s a pretty remarkable creative position Christopher Nolan has established.

Coming from a low-budget, independent background, he has taken those genre-challenging, structure-defying roots and kept them with each step up his career ladder, onto the broadest canvas there could possibly be.

He now makes films with the biggest budgets available in popular film, which are met with both critical acclaim and massive box office returns.

With his latest work, he has not only attempted something completely original (what was the last summer blockbuster not a sequel or based on other material?) and highly ambitious (the ideas and concepts this film is based on are far from easy to thrust onto a multiplex audience), he has even gone so far as to take his own auteur sensibility and made a huge blockbuster with what appears to be personal and self-referential intent.

The plot concerns a leader of a team who are responsible for “manufacturing dreams” (the Hollywood system has frequently been called the “dream factory”) – specifically, creating something which is a simulation of reality, something which lures us in, asks challenging questions and leaves us, on waking, scratching our heads.

With a lead character who bears a striking physical resemblance to the director himself, it’s difficult not to draw parallels to what Nolan does as a filmmaker, putting together films which are convincing enough, thoroughly entertaining yet also unafraid to ask metaphysical questions from an audience perhaps not used to hearing them.

Not that this is all some pretentious, soul-searching art film. It has moments that are visually stunning, including a bravura single-shot fight sequence down a corridor which shifts gravity four or five times without cutting, another sequence where a city street folds in on itself, and the odd moment of visual trickery that would make M.C. Escher proud.

There is emotion too, sudden and unexpected in its intensity, all the more cutting and unsettling for its truthfulness. It seems to literally take on everything it can, and somehow find something honest in them all.

Popular entertainment with cunning narrative tactics and an emotional punch.

A big blockbuster with a personal and artful message inside it.

A grand metaphor for the art of filmmaking itself.

The stuff dreams are made of, indeed.

Why aren’t there more of these?

Have you seen the film?

What did you think of it?

Leave a comment. It would be good to know.

[film photo taken from here]

Predators – Film Review

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Film Review

Whatever Works – Film Review

Shrek Forever After – Film Review

“When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear.”

Janet Attwood – Author

CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)

What l have learnt:

• Honest thoughts from an agent on the first five pages (via Neverending Page Turner).
• 15 Interesting Motivations for Villians and Heroes (via Superhero Nation).
• The difference between dedications and acknowledgments (via edittorrent).
• Don’t write your query in the POV of your character (via Query Shark). It’s good to know.

What I have done:

• Read ‘Sleepy Head’ by Mark Billingham.

WORD COUNT: Night Walker 147,000 words in total. Thursday 12 August wrote 1,000 words.