Better Fiction: The Blog

For the moment, I'm going to believe there are three types of people in the world: Benjamin Franklins, John Adamses, and everyone else.

The John Adamses of this world find fault in everyone but themselves. Arguments are seen as won by being hard, blunt, and brutal. The Benjamin Franklins find common ground and ask Socratic questions to guide their audience to finding the right solution. Franklins are willing to compromise. Adamses are not.

Everyone else falls somewhere in between.

People who share the opinions of a John Adams admire him. People are often not sure where a Franklin stands. John Adamses often insult the opposition to the point that no one will listen to them, other than those who already share their beliefs. People listen to a Franklin and are often swayed by them.

Are you more a Franklin or an Adams?

Which would you more likely vote for?

These are not trite questions. I think there is much value in the Franklin approach, but in looking for a man to represent me, a Franklin might rise too many doubts. The Adams would ruin much with his bluntness, but I would know where he stands.

It's as if I want a man to speak to me as an Adams and to the world as a Franklin.

How about when it comes to witnessing? Should we be more the Adams or the Franklin?

I have seen many Adams insult the world in the name of Christ, thinking they do God a favor by bluntly standing up for His name. I am more a Franklin, and I think God can take care of Himself. He did not send me to protect His honor. He sent me to join in His work of wooing others to Himself.

Which leaves me with the idea of a Teddy Roosevelt witnessing style: speak softly and carry a big cross.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Wade Ogletree

Creative Brother's SF Magazine, which was set to run a story of mine, has closed its doors. Can you imagine? My foot was in that door.

CBSF focused on science fiction featuring black characters. It will be missed but not much--and not enough by half. Had it the readers to mourn it now, it'd still be in business. Don't blame yourself, though. I can do that well enough without your help.

Big Pulp will run "Daddy's Will" in August. Why don't you stop by their site now, and maybe they'll still be running come the fall. How anyone runs after a fall is beyond me.

To Be or not To Be..."Not!" That ends the question.

The to-be verbs: was, am, are, is and the like suck the life out of your writing. Search and destroy.

For example:

There was a man from Atlanta named George. He was tall and fat. His whole neighborhood was afraid of him because he would sit on his stoop and sharpen his knife collection.

Compare this to:

Tall and fat, George frightened the whole neighborhood just by sitting on his stoop, sitting and sharpening his knife collection.

Not To Be. That is the answer.

Wade

The Incredibles
Finding Nemo
Kung Fu Panda: Does this movie deserve its exalted position? Time will tell. For the moment, it's a favorite, but I admit that it could easily drop below "Beauty and the Beast", a long-time favorite.
Beauty and the Beast: Tight, wonderful writing.
Pinocchio
Cinderella
Shrek
The Iron Giant: Hard to know where to put this one. We're getting into gray areas here. Maybe "Akira" should have been above "Flushed Away". Above "Iron Giant", too?
Flushed Away
Akira
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
The Little Mermaid
Sleeping Beauty
Les Triplets de Belleville: Mybiggest problem is the inclusion of two topless scenes just to try to prove this isn't a kids' film.
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-rabbit: If I could include the sort films, they'd be further up the list.
Tarzan
The Simpson's Movie: Avoided seeing this for a long time, but I have to admit it was well done.
Spirited Away
Ice Age 2
The Nightmare Before Christmas: First (and only?) time I saw this was during its opening week in Los Angeles. Great fanfare, but I had such a roaring headache I couldn't enjoy the film.
Toy Story 2: Strangely, I've discovered that many list this as the best animated film of all time--or at least the list maker's favorite.
Aladdin
Chicken Run
Fantasia
Toy Story
Antz--First saw this on an airline. It's a better movie that way.
Ice Age
A Bug's Life--Now we're into the ho-hum level of Pixar. This and Monster's Inc. are not my favorites. Perhaps they need to farther down the list.
Monsters Inc
Lilo & Stitch--Before the semi-merge with Pixar, this looked to be that last creative effort of merit by Disney
Bolt--Disney is back
Steamboy
Coraline--Note to film-makers: we are tired of leading child characters we want to strangle.
The Lion King--Big success, horrible structure problems
Ratatouille--I can't get past the horrid voice over. It kills the opening of the picture.
Shrek 3
Cars--Why are they making a sequel?
Wall-E--I know, this is your FAVORITE. This story came in two parts, the first dragged on too long, the second was a rushed, humorless mess that made me cringe whenever it actually attempted dialog.
Madagascar
Madagascar II
Dumbo
Bambi
101 Dalmatians--Dubmo, Bambi, and Dalmatians are just about forgettable as far as I'm concerned. I know they're classics and you love them. That's fine with me.
James and The Giant Peach
The Corpse Bride--Such promise. Such a horrid ending. So little imagination.
Shark Tale--Has its high points. Maybe warrants a higher rating.
Chicken Little
Mulan
Pocahontas--During the second golden age, there were two Disney groups at work. The group responsible for Pocahontas and Mulan didn't know what it was doing.
The Rescuers
The Rescuers II
Shrek 2--Shudder
Robots--A kid's film full of sex jokes.
Happy Feet--Boring and over-the-top liberal preachiness.
The Wild--Nothing good about this horror except for the chameleons.

Continuing in this new movement of simply writing something because I want to, I'm returning again to the animated film. This time, I have in mind to begin a list, in order of merit, of animated feature films. The list will include both American films and foreign films that have entered the American mainstream. Though this will reflect my personal tastes, I will be open to suggestion as this progresses. I may have forgotten something or may even decide that I was wrong on a matter. Who knows?

Let us begin. From best to last, or from The Incredibles to The Wild.

(A work in progress)

The Incredibles
Finding Nemo
Kung Fu Panda
Beauty and the Beast
Pinocchio
Cinderella
Shrek
The Iron Giant
Flushed Away
Akira
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
The Little Mermaid
Sleeping Beauty
Les Triplets de Belleville
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-rabbit
Tarzan
The Simpson's Movie
Spirited Away
Ice Age 2
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Toy Story 2
Aladdin
Chicken Run
Fantasia
Toy Story
Antz
Ice Age
A Bug's Life
Monsters Inc
Lilo & Stitch
Bolt
Steamboy
Coraline
The Lion King
Ratatouille
Shrek 3
Cars
Wall-E
Dumbo
Bambi
101 Dalmatians
James and The Giant Peach
The Corpse Bride
Shark Tale
Chicken Little
Mulan
Pocahontas
The Rescuers
Shrek 2
Robots
Happy Feet
The Wild

Any suggestions?