A friend sent me a text asking if I’d ever read the science fiction classic ‘The Mote in God’s Eye’ by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I know I read it back when I was reading more science fiction, but the only thing I remembered about the book was the lovely title. ‘The Mote in God’s Eye’ is memorable. My friend said he was surprised by the “rampant sexism” and that characters seemed amazed whenever a woman proved capable of anything. We exchanged a few texts about how things have changed—or not changed—in the 42 years since the book was
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A Dream Within A Dream
I dreamt that I had to use my iPhone pass-code in order to have a dream. It was a strange variation on a dream within a dream (story within a story)—a classic literary gambit. Probably the most famous—and satisfying—use of this gambit is in Shakespeare’s plays: in Hamlet, “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” and the performance of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ In both instances, Shakespeare illuminates the characters and forwards the primary plot line with the imbedded play. It’s wonderful. Many years ago I was in a book club.
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Paper Files & Clippings
For years I cut articles out of newspapers and magazines. I saved articles about cults, archeological ruins, magic, uncommon medical disorders, peculiar inventions, interesting philosophers, artists, poisonous plants, little known events in history, and more. I’m gradually pruning these old files. It’s difficult, because each one of these articles sparked something—if nothing else just the instinct that ‘there’s a story here’ and often much more. But I no longer comb my old files. They just sit there taking up space in the big grey filing cabinet I inherited from the ad agency my dad & I had years ago. Now,
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Dog People/Cat People
I know that many people choose to live without a four-legged expert in shedding, but even pet-less people usually fall into the CAT or DOG columns. I like dogs. They are fun—if exhausting—but I LOVE cats and I’m not ashamed to call myself a cat person. The other day I was playing with a friend’s dogs and I kept trying to call them with the fat pigeon imitation that I use to call my cat. Needless to say, it did not work. In fiction I’ve created cat and dog people, based on observations of people in real life. I’ve also
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He Tries Too Hard
It’s much easier to write a loathsome, evil, rude and mean character than it is to write someone that is simply unlikeable. The basically nice, but annoying neighbor; the fussy, humorless office manager who gets the job done, but is boring in social settings; and the charm-free man with a hopeless crush who simply tries to hard, are everywhere. You’ll find them at work, at school, at the gym, at a bar, in government… The elements that make someone unlikeable in life are hard to recreate in fiction, because they lack drama. The unlikeable wind up as foils or pawns
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Death by Peanut Butter & Jelly
A long time ago I wrote a scene in a mystery with an attempted suicide by peanut butter & jelly sandwich. The character (a talented photographer with a depressing history—including a kidnapping and childhood sexual abuse) tries to kill herself in detention at New York’s famous Riker’s Island by eating a sandwich she knows will put her into anaphylactic shock. One of her other allergies—to latex—was one of the clues leading the cops to arrest her for a murder she did not commit and she is despondent at being arrested. As I read mysteries and watch mystery TV shows &
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Money, Love & Glory
Some economists say that self-interest is the primary motivator of people. The desire to have more and better is said to be what drives individuals. It’s true for some people, but money—and the opportunities it buys—is not the only human motivation. When creating characters, I often look around at the people I know well and figure out their principle motivation. It’s usually obvious. I know quite a few people driven by love—by love of family, by sexual desire or by the lure of romance. Some sacrifice personal gain and opportunity in order to create or maintain a family. Historically it’s
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Mysterious Keys
I was in a hurry, and my bag swung in a big arc in the small space by my door. The bag crashed into a wooden box of keys, knocking it out of place. The random keys scattered and I cursed while I picked them up. Some were loose keys, but most were held together on key rings. I identified one set as the spare for a friend in the neighborhood and a second set as the ones I give houseguests. The rest? They were mysterious keys. It’s hard to get rid of keys. Even when you have no idea
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