Re: Story

[ABLE1 <somebody@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 11/8/2022 1:15 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
> On Monday, November 7, 2022 at 1:40:30 PM UTC-5, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> On 11/7/2022 11:08 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>> Snipped all that...
>>>
>>> I honestly believe that good writing only requires a moderate
>>> intelligence, and some creativity.  The ability to see relationships.
>>> Not just boy girl, but between places things sights smells people
>>> feelings mores society culture... and you don't have to have a complete
>>> picture.  You can create your own.
>>>
>>> I think basic writing is a skill that can be learned.  Having a frame
>>> work (the skill) helps with everything else.  At first you stick to the
>>> rules.  Like in music where you practice your scales and learn to keep
>>> time, but changes in time and weird gangs of notes can show artistry.
>>> ie.  Learning when to break the rules.  I believe few musicians who show
>>> some artistry don't know the basic frame work of music.  Some have
>>> learned it by rote and some studied music, but they have the basic
>>> framework.  They know how to follow a beat, and that CDG is Rock & Roll.
>>>   Even if they don't know those notes are call CD&G.
>>>
>>> This applies to many things.  I had the opportunity to see the Picasso
>>> exhibit (in Las Vegas I think) some years ago.  It was interesting to me
>>> that he did realism or stylized realism in much of his early work.  He
>>> learned the skills and then went nuts with it.  Even if art is not your
>>> thing you should see the exhibit if you have the opportunity.
>>>
>>> Thank you for the compliment, and I do believe that I could become a
>>> commercial writer.  In the end I fear that if I tried to monetize my
>>> ability to write (such as it is) that it might take all the enjoyment
>>> out of it for me.  I already experienced that once to a limited degree
>>> in my experience with that nameless and now bankrupt outdoor magazine. I
>>> had to FORCE myself to write for a long time after that.
>>>
>>> I could certainly do formula work.  Anybody with basic writing skills
>>> could follow the formula and write a romance novel.  With only
>>> marginally more talent they could write an installment or two of a soap
>>> opera.  Perry Rhodan was a never ending science fiction soap opera.  I
>>> would hate it, although I admit I used some soap opera tricks in the
>>> story.  I would hate it.  Not the story.  I might enjoy it.  Mindless
>>> drivel is often entertaining.  I would hate writing it.
>>>
>>> In the end the desire and the drive may be more important than the
>>> skills or the talent. Ambition will get you the skills, and talent isn't
>>> all talent.  Some of it is drive and some of it is skill.  There is an
>>> old cliche along these lines,  "Success is 1 percent inspiration and 99%
>>> perspiration."  That is a hackneyed old saw, but its more true than many
>>> people believe.  You have to put in the work.
>>>
>> I suppose I should add that in retrospect I realize that may sound a bit
>> arrogant. I am not comparing myself to Joe Satriana or Pablo Picasso.
>> I am saying they too put in the time and did the work to gain the skills
>> before becoming great in their field. I am not saying everybody can
>> become great and truly unique in their desired field. I am saying that
>> anybody who is not truly handicapped by debilitating acts of God or
>> nature can be a part of their chosen field if they put in the work and
>> learn the skills. If they have the drive, put in the work, and are even
>> modestly intelligent they can be good at it. Drive can even overcome an
>> amazing degree of handicap.
>>
>> Drive doesn't mean you have an inherent force of nature in your soul.
>> Drive means you get out of bed when you feel shitty and you make
>> yourself work just as hard as the days when you don't. That when you
>> are stuck in a pile of shit you pick up a shovel and keep swinging.
>> When you are backed into a corner by thugs you don't shrivel up in a
>> corner and let them kill you. You step in and keep swinging. Drive
>> means no matter how overwhelming that pile of rocks in the road seems to
>> be you step in and keep swinging. Admittedly this may not get you as
>> far as you want to go, but the whole world will be a little better place
>> in atleast a small way if you do what you can. This may still not get
>> you where you want to be... you will be a little bit closer.
>> --
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>
>
>
> Bob, as I read your posts, Iâ??m reminded of the Movie â?? A Bronx Taleâ??
> .
> Chazz Palminerri â??Sonnyâ?? = Gangster
> Robert De Nero â??Lorenzoâ?? = Father
> Lillo Brancato, Jr.â??Calogero â?? = Son
> .
> About a young man Calogero (or â??Câ?? ) who is torn between the values of his father and the gangster.
> .
> There are two things I always remember from this movie: ( that I think are apropos to THIS conversation )
> .
> Lorenzo tells his son:
> â??You want to see a real hero? Look at a guy who gets up in the morning and goes off to work and supports his family. That's heroism.â??
> .
> And, what in real life turns out to be the most ironic.
> .
>   In the movie, Lorenzo says to C,
>    "Nothing is more tragic than a wasted talent."
> .
> This is said a number of times through the movie.
> .
> The actor, Lillo Brancato was an untrained actor who ( I think) did a fantastic job in the movie. A natural and at the time was being mentored and promoted by both De Nero and Palminerri. Could have gone on to do great things.
> .
> The movie wasnâ??t a great hit but what is striking about it is this follow up real life ironic story. :
> .
> Brancato was arrested on December 10, 2005, in the Bronx for the murder of police officer Daniel Enchautegui, who was at home and off-duty at the time of his death, during a botched burglary. Brancato was charged with second-degree murder, and his trial began on November 17, 2008. On December 22, 2008, a jury found him not guilty of murder, but found him guilty of first-degree attempted burglary. On January 9, 2009, a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison. On December 31, 2013, he was released on parole.
> .
> Talk about wasted talent. Afterwards, I think he played a bit part in the â??Sopranosâ?? and thatâ??s it.
> .
> If you havenâ??t seen the movie, give it a try. Iâ??ve watched it a bunch of times.
> .
> So Bob, Iâ??m not suggesting that you would or wouldnâ??t shoot anyone. Just the part about
> .
>   "Nothing is more tragic than a wasted talent."
> .


Ok Jim,

You have peaked my interest.

I am on the search for "A Bronx Tale".

Sounds a bit familiar.

Thanks,

Les