52 Books in 52 Weeks (2017 Edition)

Another year has gone by, another reading challenge has been completed, and another year without The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin. 2017 was at times a shitty year, but, come on George! We need GoT Book 6! We need it now more than ever!

Regardless, I am back to writing on this blog (exactly one year since I last wrote on it) to report that I have once again read 52 books in 52 weeks. It may not have been a good year for most things, but it was a good year for books. I re-read the first two books in the Harry Potter series because sometimes you just need them in your life. (Also, read a special Ravenclaw version of the Philosopher's Stone, because I'm going in on Ravenclaw this year. Thanks new Pottermore sorting quiz!)

Carrie Fisher passed away at the end of 2016, so I made sure to read everything I could that she had written. She was so wise, funny, and truthful. It hurts that someone like that is now gone.

I also continued to earn that Agatha Christie Fan Club badge as I make my way through every novel she has written.  Seven more this year. She certainly knew what she was doing, but did have some stinkers too (At Bertram's Hotel, you hot, hot mess!)

Reading has always been so fun for me and nothing is more fun in reading than LISTS. So here are some lists!

Favorite Book: S. - J.J. Abrams. ('Twas so rich, complex, and immersive! Also, this is not counting my re-readings of the first two HP novels)

Least Favorite Book: Crash and Burn - Michael Hassan. (Truly the worst!)

Longest Book: Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens (Bud needed an editor!)

Biggest Letdown: A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess (Maybe I just didn't get it.)

Favorite Character: Lisbeth Salander (The Girl in the Spider's Web), Dobby (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Lady Edgware (Lord Edgware Dies)

Least Favorite Character: All of the characters from Crash and Burn. THE WORST.

Most Read Author: Agatha Christie. Love that old broad.

Most Read Genre: Mystery / Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Favorite Author: Well, besides J.K. Rowling, Agatha Christie, and Madeleine L'Engle (the OG ladies), I'd have to say Jeffrey Eugenides.

2017 was the beginning of the world changing. Glass ceilings were broken. Hard truths were learned. And the resistance is getting fueled up. Can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for us all.

- ben fleck

52 Books in 52 Weeks (2017 Edition)

1. S - J.J. Abrams
2. As You Like It - William Shakespeare
3. A Separate Peace - John Knowles
4. The Beatrice Letters - Lemony Snicket
5. Lord Edgware Dies - Agatha Christie
6. The Princess Diarist - Carrie Fisher
7. Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher
8. Who Could That Be at This Hour? - Lemony Snicket
9. When Did You See Her Last? - Lemony Snicket
10. Once Upon a Time in the North - Philip Pullman
11. Tulip Fever - Deborah Moggach
12. A Caribbean Mystery - Agatha Christie
13. Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens
14. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography - Lemony Snicket
15. File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents - Lemony Snicket
16. A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
17. The Zookeeper's Wife - Diane Ackerman
18. Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie
19. The Lost City of Z - David Grann
20. Aenir - Garth Nix
21. Above the Veil - Garth Nix
22. The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
23. Shouldn't You Be in School? - Lemony Snicket
24. Mortal Engines - Philip Reeve
25. At Bertram's Hotel - Agatha Christie
26. The Girl in the Spider's Web - David Lagercrantz
27. Castle in the Air - Diana Wynne Jones
28. Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? - Lemony Snicket
29. Nemesis - Agatha Christie
30. My Cousin Rachel - Daphne du Maurier
31. Crash and Burn - Michael Hassan
32. Into Battle - Garth Nix
33. The Violet Keystone - Garth Nix
34. Postcards from the Edge - Carrie Fisher
35. A Ring of Endless Light - Madeleine L'Engle
36. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
37. The Taming of the Shrew - William Shakespeare
38. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling
39. Predator's Gold - Philip Reeve
40. The Price of Salt - Patricia Highsmith
41. Three Act Tragedy - Agatha Christie
42. Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn
43. Troubling a Star - Madeleine L'Engle
44. Mr. Kiss and Tell - Rob Thomas
45. Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
46. Sleeping Murder - Agatha Christie
47. Call Me by Your Name - André Aciman
48. Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan
49. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
50. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
51. Orpheus Descending - Tennessee Williams
52. Suddenly Last Summer - Tennessee Williams

52 Books in 52 Weeks - 2016 Edition

Fucked up and accidentally deleted this blog post....

10 Reasons to watch The Family on ABC

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! The Family premieres at 9/8c on ABC. This is the show I've been working on for the past 8 months! If you are wondering why you (yes, YOU!) should watch this show, I'll give you TEN great reasons! 

1. THE PLOT: 10 years ago, their youngest son disappeared. Now he's back...or is he? This show will have you on the edge of your seat every damn night. It's mysterious, scary, and heartbreaking, yet also thrilling, intense, and heartwarming (at times)! Secrets are everywhere. You will find yourself guessing over and over about what is really going on. By episode 6, you will know the truth!

2. LADY POWER: This show was created by a woman (the incredibly amazing Jenna Bans). A majority of the writers on this show are women. The show readily embraces and features strong female characters. The women on this show are badass, complex, and in CHARGE! If you like shows about strong women, this the show for you!

3. JOAN motherfucking ALLEN: Not gonna lie, Joan Allen absolutely KILLS it in the role of matriarch Claire Warren. She will tear your heart to shreds, leaving you to pick up the pieces. This Oscar nominee brings such gravitas and emotion to this role, it is almost unbelievable. If you liked her in the Contender, or The Bourne Series, or even Pleasantville, you will love her here!

4. RUPERT GRAVES: This beloved British actor plays P.I. Lestrade on BBC's Sherlock, but on this show, he brings a depth and raw emotion to the role of John Warren that is fascinatingly heartbreaking to watch. What happens after your child gets kidnapped and disappears for 10 years? In John, we all see our worst fears come true. 

5. ALISON PILL: If you weren't already blown away by her past performances in The Newsroom or Snowpiercer or any of her other roles, this will be the role to do it. Alison plays the ambitious Willa Warren, superbly peeling apart the many layers inch by inch. She is a stunning actress who you won't be able to take your eyes off of in this role.

6. The CREEP Factor: "I want the frosting. I want a big piece!" If that instantly iconic line doesn't make you shiver in fear (or separately crave a piece of cake), then I don't know what to tell you. Is Adam really Adam? What is really going on?! Every episode will leave you feeling disturbed but instantly craving more.

7. BADASS WOMEN: Oh did I already mention this? Well, let me take another moment to mention it again: BADASS LADIES!~! Outside of the Warren Family, we have the hard-nosed police detective played by Margot Bingham and the cunning and manipulative reporter played by Floriana Lima. Both of these ladies are determined to get what they want and no one will stand in their way! Step aside, haters!

8. BLAINE, er wait, ANDREW MCCARTHY: Your 80's heartthrob from Pretty in Pink is back and boy is he in trouble. He plays the complex and mysterious neighbor, Hank, who was put in jail 10 years ago for Adam's murder -- but now Adam is back. Soooo, uh sorry bro? Watch as Andrew brings depth and character to a man who lost it all.

9. ZACH GILFORD: AKA Matt Saracen aka "CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS, CAN'T LOSE!" He was our QB1 from Friday Night Lights, but now he plays the troubled older brother, Danny, who doubts Adam is really Adam. His life is falling apart, but the returned Adam gives him new reason to strive towards something. 

10. FAMILY: At it's core, this show is about a family. What happens to a family when tragedy strikes. How to live with the guilt and blame. How to cope and eventually move on. How to live with yourselves knowing one thing could've changed it all. It's hard stuff to see. It's emotional. It's necessary. In the face of such hardship, how does a family stick together or fall apart. You'll have to watch to see.

BONUS REASON: I worked on it. So, actually, that should be reason enough.  . 

BONUS REASON 2: Not since Jessica Fletcher's adventures on Murder, She Wrote has a TV show prominently been set in Maine. Let's all raise a glass to the easternmost state!

I hope that convinced you.

SO YEAH, WATCH TONIGHT. 9/8central. ABC. 

52 books in 52 weeks - 2015 Edition!

Oh, yes, I'm still blogging! It's 2016. Can everyone believe it? Because I can't. This post is more of a mini-update. I'm on the last chapter of my novel and I once again finished reading 52 books in just 52 weeks! Which means I've read 104 books in the last 2 years, which hurts my head. But, alas, it is time to update thee ol' blog again!

The first half of the year was going strong, but then in June, I got a new job and my daily readership spiked downward heavily. However, I managed to do it with only 5 hours to spare til the clock struck midnight on December 31st! Hooray! It was an interesting year for books and I didn't get to read everything I wanted. But there were some great books I read this year. Maaaan, I love reading. #NerdWinner2015.

Lists! Are! Fun! So here's some catorgorized facts about the 52 books I read this year.

Favorite Book: 

THREE WAY TIE:

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

2. Son - Lois Lowry

3. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Least Favorite Book: Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

 

Longest Book: World Without End - Ken Follett

 

Shortest Book: Burn Lake - Carrie Fountain

Biggest Letdown: The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

Favorite Character: James Sheppard (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) and Agatha Trunchbull (Matilda)

Least Favorite Character: Celeste Price (Tampa) or anyone in Catch 22.

Most Read Author: Agatha Christie, love that old broad!

Most Read Genre: Mystery & Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Favorite Author: Margaret Atwood, Roald Dahl, and, of course, Agatha Christie!

2016 should be an interesting year and I'm once again on to 52 more new exciting books. Let us all hope that The Winds of Winter is among them. COME ON, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, we are counting on you! Cheers!

- ben 

52 books in 52 weeks (2015 Edition)

1. The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith

2. The Last Command - Timothy Zahn

3. The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie

4. The Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie

5. Messenger - Lois Lowry

6. The 13 Problems - Agatha Christie

7. Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie

8. The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie

9. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

10. Son - Lois Lowry

11. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

12. A House Like a Lotus - Madeleine L'Engle

13. The Moving Finger - Agatha Christie

14. The Turn of the Screw - Henry James

15. Sabriel - Garth Nix

16. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

17. Red Rising - Pierce Brown

18. This Side of Paradise - F. Scott Fitzgerald

19. The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick

20. The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

21. World Without End - Ken Follett

22. Every Secret Thing - Laura Lippman

23. Paper Towns - John Green

24. A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie

25. Meet the Austins - Madeleine L'Engle

26. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

27. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

28. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

29. Leviathan Wakes - James S. Corey

30. The Steel Remains - Richard K. Morgan

31. Tampa - Alissa Nutting

32. The Big Four - Agatha Christie

33. The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

34. The Martian - Andy Weir

35. Room - Emma Donoghue

36. Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl

37. The Princess, The Scoundrel, & The Farm Boy - Alexandra Bracken

38. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Tennessee Williams

39. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

40. The Witches - Roald Dahl

41. The Moon by Night - Madeleine L'Engle

42. The Pearl - John Steinbeck

43. Castle - Garth Nix

44. The BFG - Roald Dahl

45. Aenir - Garth Nix

46. Burn Lake - Carrie Fountain

47. Look Back in Anger - John Osborn

48. The Stranger - Albert Camus

49. The Death Cure - James Dashner

50. Matilda - Roald Dahl

51. The Hedge Knight - George R.R. Martin

52. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline

Oh, Hello There!

I haven't forgotten about you, beloved blog. Well, er, maybe I have! But now I'm back. Cue studio applause.

No, I'm not hearing anything either...

Well, the past 7 months have been insane. I got an amazing new job with shiny new responsibilities, which has led to a major lackage of bloggage. Those are words, trust me. But if anything can get me back to blogging & writing, it's my favorite month of the year: November! Thanksgiving, fall weather, wispy winds, darker days, and, of course, NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month -- duh!).

So, because November is in two days time, I gotta get on that - like, now. And for the last (hopefully, Lord Jesus) time I will FINALLY BE FINISHING MY NOVEL, Buoyancy. The idea for this novel came to me in 2011. Cut to five years later and I'm still working on it. It has been fleshed out and changes constantly, but still I keep chugging along on it. Even though I am way more busy this November than ever before, I shall finish it once and for all! YAR!

So, stick with me as I embark on a month of no TV (I'll miss you Netflix, Hulu, HBOgo, and more...), a month of writing every day, and a month of pure, unadulterated JOY (ha!).

Together we can finish our books...

I'm gonna bring the Alabama Shakes along this year. They're my writing squad rn. Currently listening to Sound & Color. Please give your ears a happy gift and listen too.

HAPPY WRITING.
 (aka pray for me!)

Words Are Wind, or How I Learned to Stop Procrastinating and Write!

Procrastination has always troubled my mind soul. There are so many distractions in this modern day and age. (Fun fact: this first sentence took me about 3 hours to write because I kept get distracted and procrastinating! EGAD!)

Aaaand, blaming procrastination on other components (such as this modern day and age) is just ONE of the classic excuses to excuse not working or writing. In fact, I could list an almost endless list of reasons why procrastination is easier to come by in the year 2015, but making that list would, in fact, be just another sad attempt to procrastinate! It's a never ending spiral down the existential rabbit hole and before I stumble down, I am going to stop myself.

Wow, okay. So, if anyone could follow the above paragraph, I applaud you because I'm not so sure it makes sense and at this point it very much just could be a meaningless ramble of "Ben" thoughts.

It has been a little more than a month since I last updated my blog and, looking back, have I accomplished much? Eh... Once again, that was an "Eh..." I feel like every time I come to this blog it is just me, promising to write, and then failing to do so. There are lots of big events, competitions, and seminars coming up and I need to make sure the material I have (feature scripts, spec scripts, and original pilots) are polished, perfect, and ready to submit. I am the type of person who usually waits until the last possible moment to submit an assignment. One time, in college, I did just that on the end of the year paper. I pulled an all-niter, promising myself I would write this paper. Welp, I stayed up all night, yes, but didn't write anything until about 2 hours before the class. Why put myself through that torture?!? WHY?!

Well, this time, I shan't. (P.S. "Shan't" is probably one of my top 3 favorite words/contractions. It just fills me with Steampunkian joy). So aside from my novel, WHICH IS ALMOST DONE dear God yes (And by almost done, I mean the first draft. Cause, whooey, I gots to edit/rewrite/fix a lot of it. FUN.), I am currently prepping these below projects:

Feature Scripts: 11 in development.
That may sound like a lot, but some of them are nothing more than general premises/outlines. For the upcoming Nicholl Fellowship, I am planning on submitting 3 (and that's being optimistic). At least one script is my hope. "Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope..."

Spec Scripts: 3
Spec Scripts are notoriously hard for me. I feel like I am writing a fan-fic and I don't really like writing for characters that aren't mine. Unfortunately, a lot of competitions require a spec script, so gotta do it, to it. Really just gotta push this one out somehow. I have 3, okay 2.5, options going right now...so we shall see.

TV Pilot: 2
One drama, one comedy. These two are my babies and my loves. I want to make sure they are perfect and I feel very attached. I need to release them from my helicopter parent grip and get them out there because holding them close to my chest isn't making anything happen.

COMPETITIONS: 8+
There's a lot out there to submit too, which is nice, but that doesn't make things easy. The Nicholl, NBC's Writers on the Verge, ABC/Disney, WB, AFF, Script Pipeline, CBS, etc. The most important thing is to write and submit, otherwise there is no chance at success!

So, thank you for coming along on this journey of me procrastinating actually working on said scripts, but instead writing a blog post about it. Oy! And if you want to read any of my TV Recaps/Reviews on shows such as Bates Motel, Once Upon a Time, Gotham, Salem, etc. Check 'em out here at Whedonopolis.com.

K, BAI.

-ben josé

 

(W)Ash Wednesday aka Laundry Time!

Why hello you, my darling blank white void that I call the internet. It is so great to finally be catching up with you in the year 2015. Believe or not, this is my first blog post of the great year two thousand and fifteen AD.

What could I have possibly been doing for those first 49 days?!
a.) working on finishing my novel like I said I was (of course not).
b.) gorging myself on candies, cookies, and pizza (definitely not).
c.) listening to an insubordinate amount of Pogo and related movie-spliced music videos on YouTube (I can't deny it!).
d.) incessantly following every single Star Wars related news item, including the dreaded Tatiana Maslany casting fakeout (i'm not over it!).
s.) binging Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and basically any other possible streaming device allowed (guilty).
t.) losing my mind, forgetting basic math and common english, sitting on my glasses, losing my keys (ummmm).
u.) secretly hoping JK Rowling will tweet at me. She's been so generous with her tweets lately, that beautiful woman. (I have been doing this. Yes.)
v.) GETTING MY SHIT TOGETHER (whoops, no).

OKAY, I'm sorry. I haven't exactly kept up on my new years resolution or anything. Writing has been a struggle! Videoing life has been a struggle! BUT, I SHALL TURN OVER A NEW LEAF, in honor JEEEESUS, oh praise GOUDA.  

I'm not going to make any promises (publicly), but things are going well and in honor of my return to the blogosphere (is that a thing?), I shall post one of the book related things I've been working on. My world map! Because I am cheap, poor, and not skilled at photoshop, I solely created my world map on PAINT. IT'S TRUE. So, look at it in the bottom. No one knows what any of it means. Do I even know? Probs not. But there it is.

Okay, well, I guess there is nothing left to say. This post has been sort of pointless and rambly (I'm making that a word. I don't even care). So, goodbye. It's weird not to make a promise at the end of my blog (cause I usually do and then fail to follow through). Sooo, I promise to save money, invest in good opportunities, and take extra special care of my extremely needy cat. kthx, sorry, god bless, cheers.

-ben josé

 Thanks, Paint. You did me wonders. Also, NERD ALERT.