Comments on Do You Struggle to Accept Your Own Creative Destiny?

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Thanks, Prof Sumakel33--

No, I have not written this novel yet, but I understand what you are saying.  I just wanted some feedback, but I don't intend to post any more of this on Blogit or anywhere else on the web.

posted by Hemlocker on December 29, 2005 at 12:11 PM | link to this | reply

Very interesting.

Dear H...It seems that you have already written a novel about this..just a friendly reminder that: one might lose his 1st publication rights if your writing will be posted in a web.. I don't know what First Publication Rights mean. I guess this is also a B.S. of the publishing house which actually earns more money that the authors. The worst thing is they will sell your book on consignment: They will only pay you what they can sell...HHmmm....Jane Fonda?? did she not marry the guy T. who was on the other side?. . regards. Prof.

posted by PROF-SUMAKEL33 on December 29, 2005 at 10:45 AM | link to this | reply

Hemlocker, get thee to work

posted by Azur on December 28, 2005 at 10:36 PM | link to this | reply

ms bradrock--

Ha!  We'll see.  Thanks for the encouragement anyway.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 10:21 PM | link to this | reply

Hemlocker,

It looks to me as though you are on your way to a best-seller...

posted by ms_bradrock on December 28, 2005 at 10:13 PM | link to this | reply

mira1

Thank you very much.  I will keep up with Amelia.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 9:31 PM | link to this | reply

curator--

I think that's partly behind the relentless "stay the course" rhetoric.  Even though President Bush and his entorage don't like comparisons of the Iraq War to Viet Nam, I think in their heart of hearts, they really dread another loss.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 9:30 PM | link to this | reply

comedian--

What are we disagreeing on?  You didn't tell me.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 9:27 PM | link to this | reply

Hemlocker -- When I saw the post title,

I thought I was going to be reading something totally different.  But as it happens I'm just old enough to have met a few Vietnam vets, all of whom carried their wounds in their hearts. Even when they had to all appearances moved peaceably on with their lives, they carried terrible bitterness for having gotten wrapped into what they called "a war we couldn't win".

Is that going to happen again, I wonder?

posted by curator on December 28, 2005 at 9:18 PM | link to this | reply

Hemlocker

Thank you for your comment, if you really want to know what happened to Amelia, look at the next post. It reveals some part of the adventure with evil. I like reading your posts - and have chosen this blog as one of my favourites. Happy New Year.

posted by mira1 on December 28, 2005 at 9:08 PM | link to this | reply

Creative Destiny

I struggle. And with respect to your charaterizations of vietnam vets i think we will have to agree to disagree.  

posted by Comedian on December 28, 2005 at 7:48 PM | link to this | reply

bud--

I think leaving the reader hungering for more is a good quality for a writer.  Producing a good story is a challenge indeed.  I do think the ingredients are there.  They always have been.  Nothing harms good writing like fear.  Thanks for the encouragement.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 5:54 PM | link to this | reply

shadow--

and their families often live in poverty, and the government reduces veterans benefits or won't properly fund a range of necessary services through the Veterans Administration.  I guess things are improving for veterans, mostly because the public is more aware.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 5:51 PM | link to this | reply

You've got the different persons and the passionate scenario............

Yes these are the ingredients of a best seller/good read, the connection to a common ground, a common pain.

Think of all the great novels and their focus on individual complex character development. But many times what is missing in English literature now a days is a good story. I miss it, the Russian writers got it. Chivago, War and Peace, and many more. English has fallen out of it to an extent. I enjoy reading Ian McEwan but sometimes feel a bit gipped. Yes he tells a great little story but they always leave hungering for more. That still makes him my fave at the moment. 

posted by Bud-Oracle on December 28, 2005 at 5:34 PM | link to this | reply

Hem,

Viet Nam was a farce for sure. My father served in WWII in the Pacific. He came back a very changed man and a alcoholic. He was incapable of affection, incapable of controlling his temper, and incapable of non-abusive behavior against his family. It doesn't matter which war, what matters is that there should be programs to help our soliders accept and adjust to the normality again even if it takes long term. We as a  society selfishly demand that our men and women sacrific to keep us free, yet we demand they come home normal and well adjusted after slaughtering of both innocent and non-innocent individuals.  Shadow

posted by Keshet on December 28, 2005 at 5:23 PM | link to this | reply

mystic--

I was just thinking...Do you think your brother might be willing to talk with me about his experiences?  It could be by phone and e-mail.  So much has been done with a Viet Nam theme.  That's not really what I intend.  I'm not exactly certain what the genre will be yet, but it will not be a Viet Nam War or anti-war novel.  It will be about people in the present or recent past, who are dealing with unresolved issues mitigated by experiences with the Viet Nam War.  Thanks. 

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 4:12 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks, Jo--

And of course the underpinnings of Narnia are "Christian". 

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 4:06 PM | link to this | reply

mystic--

I appreciate that input.  There are those who will argue that many--including themselves, of course--came back and re-established their lives.  They were glad to have served their country, and while they admitted to harboring resentments against deserters and critics who they insist to this day, gave comfort to the enemy and prolonged the war, they did and are doing just fine.  I know that is not true.  On the other hand, I don't think you should have to accept boorish or abusive behavior from a man, simply because he is a Viet Nam vet.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 4:04 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks, MayB--

I guess I'm really angling shamelessly for permission to take the chance.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 3:59 PM | link to this | reply

smartdog

That's a good point which I will consider seriously.  Thanks.

posted by Hemlocker on December 28, 2005 at 3:57 PM | link to this | reply

Hi

I just went to the opening of Narnia.  Gee I was dissapointed to see a little boy thrust into a war that had nothing to do with him.

Have armour put upon him and taught how to kill and told he had become a man once he had developed that ability.

Yuk!   I am amazed that we still think that way.

Happy New Year,

Jo

 

posted by brisbane_artist on December 28, 2005 at 3:35 PM | link to this | reply

Hi Hem

...i have not met a single soul who returned form the vietnam war without a wound that never healed. If I encounter a man who behaves in an objectionable way and I find out he is a vietnam vet, I immediately excuse his behavior and forgive his actions. The world and its ways of war took normalacy from them never to return it again. I have a brother in law who was just re-hospitalized for his PTSD in October. He did 2 tours of duty and went back to vietnam as a CIA agent...he'll never be ok, and he won't be free of his demons.. until he dies. THo he is an extremely religious man , even his religion has failed to work that miracle of healing.

posted by MysticGmekeepr on December 28, 2005 at 1:40 PM | link to this | reply

Hemlocker

This sounds fascinating. It is good to draw parallels and to let the differences be observed.

posted by Azur on December 28, 2005 at 12:57 PM | link to this | reply

Hemm

This sounds like an interesting piece.  I myself am a little vietnam flashback'd out, and I find it more powerful when an author uses conditions in the present to allude to past tragedies.  But this is just my opinion.  Let me know how it all turns out.

-smartdog 

posted by smartdog_670 on December 28, 2005 at 12:32 PM | link to this | reply