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

LeNoWriHo! (Or how I am spending the next 40 days. Also, acronyms are fun!)

I've deactivated my Facebook, I've thrown myself into my novel, I'm writing book and TV show reviews, I'm reading more and more, and social life is taking a backseat. Why you ask? Because it is LeNoWriHo!

Why, what could LeNoWriHo possibly mean, Ben?? Let me tell you! It means: Lent Novel Writing Holiday. Yes, I came up with that all by myself. I consider myself somewhat of an acronym connoisseur.

I've got my thinking hard hat on! (No, I'm not a construction worker).

For the next forty days and forty nights, I shall write, read, blog, review, and more! My last blog post was all about seizing the moment and realizing that both good and bad moments are never permanent. So in the spirit of Catholic guilt, I shall give up the addiction to Facebook, the addiction to stress and worry, the addiction to cronuts... (er, actually, I won't be giving up cronuts, who am I kidding with that one!).

Heaven never tasted so good.

So, 

Follow me as I continue to write my novel. Things are heating up in this fake world inside my head. Only the fluorescent screen of my computer shares in the exciting drama of my novel. Soon, world, soon...

"A mind needs books, like a sword needs a whetstone."

Follow me as I compete in my first ever "52 books in 52 weeks" challenge. I kept seeing my former roommate compete in this challenge year after year and I kept telling myself I was going to do it. 2014 is the year. Check out my goodreads page and be my friend to see the stats! I'm already 10 books in. 42 more to go.

Follow me as I also compete in a "Reading Bingo" with my girlfriend. Basically, you have to read a specific book in order to cross it off the bingo sheet, such as the "second book in a series," "a forgotten classic," etc. It's a fun way to read and learn. Nerd Alert!

I'm the green one. Mel is red. She clearly needs to catch up :)

Follow me as I write book and television reviews for the website Whedonopolis.com. They write about all thing Joss Whedon and all things geek. One of the shows I review is Bates Motel, which is in its second season. If you haven't seen the first season yet, please watch it on Netflix. The show is quirky and creepy and altogether a bit psychotic!

Now... LeNoWriHo shall commence! I promise* I will stop using these obnoxious acronyms.

*by promise, I mean I don't promise. Not at all.

- 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

50,000 Words Down... and the journey continues!

Day 27
Word Count: 50,522
Mood: Ohhh yeeeeaaaaa, baby! Hear Me Roar!! [In the Lannister slogan way, not the Katy Perry way, just to be clear!]

 "A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." Wise Words, Tyrion.

I did it! 50,000 big ones written down (50,522 to be exact!). It feels great. My novel has really taken shape and developed into something that I am proud of. That being said, I still have a lot more to write to complete it. I have it planned to be around 80 chapters and I'm only around chapter 40 (crazy, I know), which means I'm only halfway there.

Just in case you are worried, my chapters are not that long, so it won't be some huge tome of a book that is never-ending. It has an ending... at least... for now... until the sequel! ;)

After validating my novel, I was greeted by this!

I am steadfast in my dedication to this book, so I plan on continuing my writing through December and until I finish this book. One of the NaNoWriMo Pep-talkers gave advice that was beautifully simple: "Write. And Just Write."

It's that simple.

So, I shall. I shall write, ye naysayers! Wait, don't exit my blog. Keep reading!

I plan on sharing more information about my novel and spotlighting my POV characters in the future. I want my many* blog readers to get to know them!

Until next time, thanks for following my NaNoWriMo dreams! Success, chyaa!

Check out this video for NaNo winners!

- ben josé

*by many, I mean maybe 2 or 3. 

Catching Wriiiiter!

Day 25
Word Count: 47,627 (which means only 2,373 words left)
Mood: Tired, but excited! I'm Tirecited!

Only 2,373 words left! A-yo, a-yo! This is the word count I reached on Friday afternoon. And that is where I am now, on Monday afternoon. I didn't write any words over the weekend and once again my reasons are: a) still in the process of moving and it rocks. November should be called Movember and not for the no-shaving thing, but for my unending process of moving all month, b) Catching Fiyyyyah!, and c) turkey on ma mind.

Johanna. Best part of C.Fiyaaah!

This weekend I spent two nights out at cool bars near my new house. Tis very difficult to have fun in a bar while sober, but I surprisingly managed to sober-dance my way to a great time. When in doubt, just start sober-dancing, it'll fix everything. I've mastered some great moves, such as the "Arm-Crutch" dance and the "White-Man Jumping" dance. Maybe I'll post a video of my moves soon.

I can't believe it is already November 25th! I feel like I barely got to explain more of my book! But, maybe I'll continue this blog after November and include some excerpts from my book or go into more detail about the world and characters. If you don't know what Steampunk is, get on it because the world of my book is all about that Steam & those punks!

Oh, here's a short synopsis of my book that is on my NaNoWriMo page:

In the once grand city of Annonay, a divide has grown between the rich and the poor. The rich prosper and party with reckless abandon up on the hills. The poor struggle to survive the harsh rule of the military police in the dilapidated streets below.

When the sinister Dr. Yann Bel Geddes brings in a naive young scientist to complete the final steps of his powerful new gravitational technology, the city will be forever changed. The sky will be ripped apart and all will float and all will fall. Only those in specialized thermal air balloons will be able to survive the horror that follows...

Adventure, Romance, Mystery, Horror, Tragedy, Hot Air Balloons.

Yeaaaah?? Thoughts?? Side note: I really like hot air balloons.

Oh, look! Ballooooons!

Five days to go!

- ben josé

Day 19 - Donkey Kong that Novel

Day 19
Word Count: 32,028
Mood: First Name Panic, Last Name Attack

Day 19! How is this possible? Time sure does fly when you are having fun (aka stressin' out & movin' & shakin'). As you can see, I only wrote about one thousand-something words since Friday. Yikes! But my excuses are real. I was moving this weekend. And you probably know that moving is not just a walk in the park. It takes a lot out of you (it took out some of the skin on my knee!).

Here are some moving pictures just in case you thought I was lying:

What is this nonsense? A backyard!

New Digs! Chyeah!

Clearly, I was helpful in driving the truck.

U better call Uhaul!

I only moved my big stuff to the new house, so am now occupying two spaces. We have our old apartment until December 3rd, so we are going to gradually move out to the house in the next eleven days because who doesn't want to drag something out until the last possible moment. (Sound familiar, NaNoWrimo?)

Oh, so, my novel. Yeah, it is coming along. I don't think I will be officially done with it when I hit 50,000 words, so lets hope I just keep up the enthusiasm past the end of November and into December so that I can actually finish it.

I've gotten a lot of advice and pep talks from friends and NaNo Coaches, so I'm feeling confident.

Hey, Wine & Beer, y'all don't scare me! No matter how sweet your smoky nectar smells, I will not drink thee!

Unrelated sidenote: I am going to call Day 19, Donkey Kong Day (the day I listened over and over to the soundtrack of Donkey Kong Country). The soundtrack is damn good and upbeat and makes me want to do my thang! DK and Diddy are my bros 4 life! My personal faves include Ice Cave Chant, Vulture Culture, and Aquatic Ambience.

Hate those damn Zingers (cool term for da bees)

Oh, also at one point this weekend, I tried to live-tweet, Mulan 2. I don't know why I shared that information. Eddie Murphy didn't even voice Mushu. Not over it.

It's official: I'm just the coolest. Ok, I should probably stop writing this blog and start writing my novel. BYE.

- ben josé