WRAPRTY

Howdy folks! It has been exactly two weeks since LeNoWriHo (Lent Novel Writing Holiday) has started, and things are going well. I've made the "No" of the acronym to actually stand for multiple things, not just a novel. They include: a pilot, some spec television scripts, a feature film, and TV reviews. Yes, there is a lot on my plate right now, but this is what I love to do. Now pray for me to finish everything I start. I want to reach that WRAPRTY.

TME 2 PRTY YLL

Side note: I have never seen so many specialized license plates since moving to Los Angeles. People here are really into customizing their plates with cool slang, broski. I'm not even kidding. It's laughably bad. I've started taking pictures every time I see one and I now have quite a collection of "fun" plates. Stay tuned for those later.

Virtual Camping is the only camping I do!

On April 1st, Camp NaNoWriMo starts. Basically it is the April version of NaNoWriMo - I will be participating this year. Instead of the strict rules of regular NaNo, during Camp NaNoWriMo you are allowed to pick your own word count, you can write things other than a novel, and you get grouped into metaphorical "cabins" to work with other similar writers. All together sounds like a fun experience. This will be my first year doing it. I've set my word count for 50,000! CAMP TIME, y'all.

WAAAAALT, what happened!?

I wonder if Damon Lindelof ever did NaNoWriMo? Oh, Damon Lindelof. I just saw him. That, my friends, is called a seamless segue way. Mel and I went to go see the LOST: 10 year Reunion at Paley Fest here in LA. Not only were creators/writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse there, but also some of the cast, including gigantic adult human-sized Malcolm David Kelley aka WAAAAALT! So crazy to think that Lost ended 10 years ago. It was a show that changed my life and made me realize that I want to work in TV and that I want to do what they did.  

Angry side note: *If you don't like LOST, just leave. I loved the controversial finale. For me, it was never about all the mysteries (that was just added fun)! It was about the characters and their journeys... which is what I am trying to emulate in my novel. It all comes full circle here, folks.

But, I have to stop myself before I go too deep into a one-sided Lost debate with myself. So, as Desmond says, "See ya in another life, brotha!"

- ben josé

This Too Shall Pass

*Warning: Overly dramatic and sensitive "life-inspiring" blog post to follow!

Currently listening to a song called "Moving On" from the "Lost" Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino and realizing that "this too shall pass." That quote harkens back to a story about a king who thought everything was going well and he wanted his council to give him advice that would help him weather any hardship. They said to him "this too shall pass." At first he didn't understand what it meant, but soon his kingdom was attacked and he had lost everything and had his back against a wall. And then he remembered those words: "This too shall pass." And he was content, for even his hardship would pass. Change is the only permanent thing in this world. Everything changes. Emotions, circumstances, hardships, joys... they are not constant.

It's been a tough few weeks for me, trying to focus on writing while also looking for a new job. Life keeps getting in the way. I'm an ambitious individual with a grand imagination and high expectations for my future. It pains me so much everyday to be stagnant and stuck. I know things will change though. This feeling of hopelessness and entrapment will pass. I just need to keep moving on and not looking back or to far forward.

Be in the present. I hope this for everyone. I stumbled upon a YouTube video entitled "Top 5 Saddest Pixar Moments" and I decided to watch it at work for some reason. [Side Note: Don't ever watch a 'sad Pixar' clip at work. You'll regret it]. Damn you, Pixar, you know how to make a grown man tear up. Perhaps the saddest story for me was that of Carl & Ellie from "Up."

If you've never seen "Up," be prepared to cry within the first ten minutes. Carl and Ellie were adventurous and fun and loved each other dearly. They had dreams of exploring the world. But life got in the way. Over and over again. And they never got to live their dreams and see the world...

One of my worst fears. Life is short... I don't want to waste it. I want to see the world, meet new people, share in experiences with the ones I love.

Sorry if this is a depressing/weird/unrelated post, (aka Dear Diary), but I just needed to get these things off my chest. I've deactivated my Facebook (or what I like to call, WasteBook) for the time being. Time to focus on the more important things in my life: my loved ones, my passions, adventure, travel, cats, nature, writing...

Adventure is out there! Don't wait...

So, everyone go out and do what you want to do. Don't be afraid, or wait, or make excuses. Life is too short to not take that risk or that chance.

This has been benjosé with your cliched inspirational post.

P.S. My book is still coming along, so don't worry, my intrepid readers. You will see it one day. I'll leave you with this: #LeNoWriHo

JaNoWriMo!

I am writing to you on December 31st, 2013. It is the last day of the year. For me, 2013 was a year of immense change. The norm of my world continually kept changing. I transitioned into a new person - an adult! (Look at my facial hair, ma!)

Aside from undertaking NaNoWriMo in November while in the middle of an overwhelming move, 2013 was a year of accomplishment. I fulfilled my lifelong wish of riding in a hot air balloon (and hot air balloons are a huge part of my novel if you didn't already know).

I attended my first Comic Con, where my girlfriend and I waited in a line for over 18 hours(!) to see a Breaking Bad panel (damn you, ambitious Doctor Whovians!) We figured we had nothing else to do, so why not wait for the best of the best, bitch? I traveled a bunch, met Damon Lindelof (and told him we have to go back, Kate!), went to a grilled cheese festival (big deal), attended a hippie/electronica fest, saw the best thing ever in the form of Clue: Live Shadowcast, and had some great times with friends and family.

If I learned one thing from 2013, it was to never stop trying and always keep moving forward. In the wise words of Robin Williams from the undisputed classic, Hook: "To live... to live would be an awfully big adventure." *If you want to throw down with me about why Hook is the best movie ever, give it a go!

I love you, Thudbutt!

So, with that in mind, I officially introduce you to JaNoWriMo. No, that is not a typo. No, your computer screen is not displaying the wrong sequence of letters. JaNoWriMo, yes. It is a word I made up. January Novel Writing Month! Isn't that clever? No? Alright, I must carry on then... as does Lady Edith after every sad moment in her life.

The admirable Lady Hedith! She's no Edith!

After finishing NaNoWriMo at the end of November, I still wanted to work on my novel. December was full of travel and moving, so I wasn't able to work on my novel as much as I wanted. I was craving the kind of demanding, time-pressing schedule that NaNoWriMo requires of you. I knew I needed something to keep me to my word when it came to finishing my novel and thus JaNoWriMo was birthed into this beautiful world.

To sum up: January 2014 - I will be continuing my journey as a novelist by dedicating the month to writing each day. My goal word count: 75,000 words. It is possible. Let's finish this bitch.

I will now bid you, adieu. Have a great end of 2013 and best of luck in the New Year. Stay tuned...

- ben josé

What I Listen To When I Write

I'm a little odd when it comes to my writing process. Basically, it not very consistent and changes everyday dependent on my mood and how "inspired" I am feeling by my novel. Sometimes I need total quiet and sometimes a funky, fresh beat is just what gets me going. I usually open up my Pandora while writing. Frequent channels of mine include: AIR, Au Revoir Simone, Moby, Arcade Fire, Broken Bells, etc. So, all of the electro-pop/rock you can get! I guess my novel is coming from a place of synthesizers and theremins (P.S. Theremins are about the coolest instruments ever!). Does that make you more or less excited to read my stuff?

AIR - Amour, Imagination, Rêve

Au Revoir Simone - a powerful feminine troika of electro pop!

My second choice of music to listen to is the soundtracks of my favorite TV shows, movies, and video games. I am constantly on the channels for "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," "Zelda", and more. Two of my favorite TV shows, "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica", have the most amazing soundtracks I have ever had the pleasure of listening too. Michael Giacchino (of "Lost") and Bear McCreary (of "Battlestar Galactica") are musical geniuses! Listen to all of their stuff, please! Honorable mention for: John Williams (no explanation needed) and Ramin Djawadi ("Game of Thrones").

Fav. song: "Passacaglia"

Fav. Song: "Life and Death"

Fav. Song: "Song of Storms"

However, Pandora feels the need to play ads in the middle of my writing jams and that can severely affect me and my continuation of writing. So, be wary of using Pandora. My alternatives include iTunes, YouTube, ya know... Check out Pogo on YouTube. You won't regret it!

One band I haven't mentioned yet but that continually inspires me is the band, Portishead. The song, "The Rip," by Portishead, was actually the song that inspired me to write my novel. As soon as I heard the haunting lyrics and saw the accompanying music video, my imagination took over and the initial images and characters of my novel came falling into my head. It was quite beautiful. Of course, the world of my novel is now so much more expanded and large, but that song stays with me every step of the way.

So, as November approaches (4 more days, y'all!), I am putting the final touches on my notes and outlines, preparing my body for 30 days of sobriety, and queuing up all my great playlists. The NaNoWriMo journey is about to begin...

- ben josé

My Top 5 Distractions from Writing (And for Drinking)

Writing a novel is no easy task, especially for someone who is easily distracted... like moi. Instead of trying to delve into the reasons of why I am the way I am, I thought it would be fun to share my top 5 excuses for not writing, which coincidentally can also be used as my top 5 excuses to drink. I'm a simple guy.

5. Los Angeles, California

Ah, the City of Angels. The city of endless possibilities–endless possibilities which don't involve sitting at a computer alone typing, and all of which involve going outside, hanging out, and drinking muchos alcohol! I moved to Los Angeles in January 2011 from Texas and never looked back. In LA, at any given moment, you are five minutes away from: the beach, the mountains, the wineries, your homeless friends, the traffic, the roads, the gross Hollywood clubs, the hiking trails, the In-N-Out drive-thru line, that celebrity you saw in that show one time but who you don't really like but will still brag about seeing to your friends, and, also, the traffic. It's all here, folks!! Not to mention: Disneyland, Joshua Tree, Catalina Island, San Diego, the Price is Right...! I could go on... In fact, the entire beautiful state of California is one big reason to procrastinate. I always think to myself: "Why am I sitting inside writing when all of this beauty and adventure awaits me outside? And, they sell liquor in CVS 24/7? Whaaat!?"

4. Weekends & Friends

This photo was taken at an event proudly called "Bootie LA" and no, this was not on Halloween.

Living in LA is hard enough, but spending my time with my friends, who are all young, fun, professional workers, who also happen to like spending their weekends having fun, is very tough. I always say each weekend that I am going to "really take it easy" and try to read or write, but the lure of going out and dancing, laughing, and making memories always seems to pull me off of the metaphorical typewriter* and into an overly stuffed car, driving down the 101 to Koreatown. Jeez, friends, be less fun. And weekends, stop coming around every 5 days!

3.  The Search for a New Place

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Luck would have it that November is going to (possibly) be my last month in my current apartment. MOVING! YAY. We have been in this apartment since May 2011, but it is time for a change and my roomie is moving out. The stress of moving and searching for a new house or apartment is always welcomed and fun. Can't wait! Feeling those happy flames on the side of my face at the thought of dealing with the classy LA realty market!

4. Netflix, Or What I like to Call the Time-Suck from Hell!

Oh, Nicholas Cage, how I loathe thee? But, seriously, Netflix! God damn you! How I wish I could quit you! Every time I try and move away, you put up my new favorite show or movie. Why yes, I do want to watch my favorite Disney movie, "Mulan" at any time. Yes, I do watch to binge watch "Orange is the New Black", "Sherlock", and "House of Cards." Think I'm done? No, I NEED to catch "Nacho Libre" and that obscure documentary about killer whales before they disappear forever into the abyss of broken Netflix dreams. For this process, I am doing the unthinkable: Staying off Netflix for all of November. Well, at least, staying off Netflix when I'm by myself and craving a weird tv binge or a class Nic Cage caper.

5. Ya Know... Life.

My Cat: Captain Daenerys Phoebs Tonks Bluth likes to contemplate life.

Look y'all, I don't have my life figured out yet. I'm still searching for that one thing I want to exactly do (besides writing). There is some quote about how life gets in the way when you are worrying about other things, or something like that. I know I totally butchered it, but I'm too lazy to actually look it up. I want to travel the world, meet people, and visit family and friends. NaNoWriMo is only 8 days away. I can't get too far ahead of myself on the big picture. Just have to keep telling myself to let the small things and little worries go.

Woah, we just got deep. I apologize. I'm gonna go watch some "Lost" on Netflix to raise my spirits. Yes, "Lost" raises my spirits. "We have to go back, Kate! We have to go back!" Gets me every time.

8 days to go.

-benjosé