#telldontshow

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#intothenight : un drôle de mélange entre un #blockbuster #actionmovie #fun à l’américaine et un scénario à la francaise, basé entièrement sur les dialogues tout pourris #telldontshow https://www.instagram.com/p/CIa7iYsBZFW/?igshid=20j5v5clktfl

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Jon Has Read a Book - Tigerman by Nick Harkaway

This is the first tentative post in a new web-feature called Jon/Joe Has Read a Book. Much like personal reading logs that some people keep, we'll write up blurbs of books we've read. Not as much as a review, as it would be our thoughts on it.

As I've mentioned on the show, I've been thinking a lot lately about books/stories/whatever that have the trappings of genre or commercial fiction, but are universally lauded as what I like to call "Capital L Literature." You know the type: basically everything written by Vonnegut, or things like The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. Stuff that toys with genre convention while maintaining maturity, the end result bringing in critical acclaim.

Tigerman, the third novel by Nick Harkaway, I would argue fits the classification as well. Given the zeitgeist of our time, it appropriately tackles the idea of superheroes as symbols for greater ideals, and why we tend to look up to them. It's a great read, with a lot of deft handling of language and interesting questions raised.

I won't go that far into the story, in case you'd like to read it yourself. I will say that it is an interesting take on real-life superheroes (which I know is a thing, but is not the approach used in the book), and the setting of a tropical island about to explode (really) is an unusual yet fitting backdrop for this type of plot.

Given the volatile nature of the island of Mancreu, it has become a place of instability which, of course, leads to a healthy dose of international crime and intrigue. Lester Ferris, an old soldier left out to pasture, is dragged into fighting the evils that have cropped up, mainly to impress an island youth that he looks upon as a son. This leads him to taking on the mantle of the hero persona "Tigerman" as a guise to protect himself and impress the boy.

The story looks upon popular culture, fatherhood, crime, and many things in an interesting light, but being a writer, the main thing I'm left with is wondering how Harkaway has married the world of "serious" and "genre" together. This was a feat accomplished by his father, John le Carre of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but the mixture is different in this case and creates a different result.

Harkaway has only a nodding acquaintance with so-called "realism," which is quite the departure from his father's work. But often is the case with this sort of genre-turned-literature type of book. Stories like Slaughterhouse Five or Sirens of Titan will literally take us to other worlds, but they've been pretentious lit nerd fodder for years.

Reading Tigerman here, and Sirens of Titan last year, makes me wonder if I can do something like that. I feel like it's in me somewhere, but I don't quite know how to reach it. Makes me wonder if it's just something that occurs to a lucky few, as flawed an idea as that is.

Bottom line, did you like the book?

Yeah, I really liked it, and I think you should read it if you're into that sort of thing like I am.

Some review, I know, but I don't like to gild the lilly.

If you like what you read, subscribe to the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or bluburry. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Have something you’d like to say to us? Drop us an email.

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Lines that Show up Everywhere

1. Once upon a time... 2. We're out of options 3. We're doing the best we can 4. There's no time! 5. The lines on paper, but not printing paper, just the normal people paper

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Visit Original Link

In this short episode for Thanksgiving Week, Jon and Joe share the ONE secret every writer needs. Not that things like Terry Pratchett's Night Watch, John le Carre, or the creative heights of Hugh Laurie don't come into play, but that's just gravy.

Tell Don’t Show by Jon and Joe is an audio podcast that serves as an Open and Honest Discussion on Creativity.

“BugaBlue" was composed by Craig Fraedrich and is used by permission. The performance by the US Army Blues Band is in the public domain, and freely available from their website.

If you like what you heard, subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, or bluburry. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Have something you’d like to say to us? Drop us an email.

[telldontshow]

Visit Original Link

On this episode, which you can now listen to on Stitcher Radio for the very first time (gasp!), Jon and Joe review some books for you, which somehow segues into a talk about the death of the science fiction comedy.

Tell Don’t Show by Jon and Joe is an audio podcast that serves as an Open and Honest Discussion on Creativity.

“BugaBlue" was composed by Craig Fraedrich and is used by permission. The performance by the  US Army Blues Band is in the public domain, and freely available from their website.

[telldontshow]

Visit Original Link

After trying out a new format for the show, the boys talk about types of stories and types of media, and how they can be mismatched.

Tell Don’t Show by Jon and Joe is an audio podcast that serves as an Open and Honest Discussion on Creativity.

“BugaBlue" was composed by Craig Fraedrich and is used by permission. The performance by the  US Army Blues Band is in the public domain, and freely available from their website.

"Bicycle Horn" by AntumDeluge is licensed under CC0 1.0.

"jawharp_boing.wav" by plingativator is licensed under CC0 BY 3.0.

"drumroll" by adriann is licensed under CC0 1.0.

"party noise maker" by soundstack is licensed under CC0 1.0.

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Writing Prompt - A Story

For this week's writing prompt, I want you to focus on writing a story. Start with just the seed of an idea, and then use your words to expound upon that seed. Use details such as characters, settings, and events to depict a narrative that, to go back to our metaphor, grows from that seed. What I think you'll find, is that you now have a story, in which things are described and maybe even happen! This is what we in the biz' call the "general basic idea of what writing is." Hope this helps. You're welcome.

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Writing Workshop

Character Prompt:

Consumerism, branding, and material wealth are all integral to how we identify ourselves and each other. It allows us to take our broad cultural understanding and apply it on the individual level, making our social interactions a little more in line with the norm, a little easier to navigate, and overall less of a hassle. When the rules are followed, we know what to expect.

Some people will say that things like empathy, understanding, and context are key to creating a real and relatable character. Bulldinkies, I say! Throw ‘em out. You don’t need ‘em. Not today.

For this exercise I want you to focus on a character’s clothing in as broad of terms as possible, and decide how that defines that character’s personality and habits, again, in heavily generalized terms.

What I think you’ll find is a brand new character that both you and your reader already know, and perhaps even love. What this means, of course, is that you won’t need to spend as much space on your page trying to make that happen organically or whatever. Ergo, your writing is now easier. You’re welcome.

- Joe