Developing Ideas: Notes & Observations

Awkward Assumptions and Mistaken Sexuality

There's been a lot of stuff in my walk through life that I've been mistaken for because of my looks and mannerisms. 

I've been thought to be Indian, Cuban, some sort of Pacific Islander, or something or other. But those don't usually come about as often as a certain one does. 

For more times than I can remember, I've been assumed to be gay...a lot of times.

The first time it happened was when I was at work helping a woman with finding some CDs.

About two hours into my shift at work, a woman approached me asking me for help looking for a CD. She had on a deep purple blouse accompanied by a black button-up cardigan. Her shoulder-length hair bobbed with anxious energy as her head craned from left to right in search of something. As per my salesman script, I asked what type she was looking for and she replied in hushed tones “I’m a little embarrassed to say this;” she then leaned in closer the, almost whispering “I’m looking for… Broadway musicals.”

I waved my hand as if to shoo away her concerns. “Oh no worries,” I said “I listen to everything from Wu-Tang to Dolly Parton, so you have nothing to worry about.” We then shared a little chortle as I led her to the music section.

As I was searching for her CD she said “Oh look.” To the right of us was a line-up of Dolly Parton’s albums. The first in line depicted Dolly in a tight Pepto-Bismol-pink colored dress that was so tight it looked painted on. She was reclining on what looked like a bale of hay. Her hair took up three quarters of the album art. Her bosoms handled the rest.

We both stared at this case for only a moment – no more than two seconds when this woman chimed in:

 “Look at this, you must have loved this one since you’re gay.”

“What?”

“You know, you’re gay, right?”

“Actually no, I’m… I’m not.”

“Oh…”

After this exchange a great silence fell. Her eyes held a plaintive wideness as if she was waiting for me to say “Just kidding, I am gay!” and she could breathe a sigh of relief. But it did not come. And then each muscle in her face went slack one fiber at a time. As if the realization of her folly was weighing down on her cheeks and crow’s feet. 

In that fleeting silence that lasted forever, I wonder what might have caused her to think it. Was it that I liked Dolly Parton? My black thick-rimmed glasses? My mannerisms? Or was it the lisp? Something had to be done to break the tension.

I slowly turned around and picked up the complete musical adaption of Phantom of the Opera from the rack and offered it to her with a guileless smile.

“Is this what you were looking for?”

She replied with a hasty jumble of syllables that I could not make out, and quickly made her exit 

Honestly, that was the first of many times that people thought I was gay and I can't truly grasp why. I suppose, it may come from me being a good dresser? I'm well spoken? I can dance with some resemblance of rhythm?

All these things are at best, the stereotypical facets of homosexuality, but if that is the components that people based their assumptions of me, does that mean - at least in a dichotomy sense - that straight men are a mass of poorly dressed neanderthals?

While it doesn't happen every day, it has occurred in a startlingly quick rate. 

I think it's a matter of the times. In older time periods, in the time of the dandy gentleman, I would be considered pretty friggin' manly with my sweet capes and hats. 

Thoughts and observations: Slash and Burn

I didn't go into college with the aim of being a journalist. My major was English. I read all the classics: Shakespeare, Dickens, Sinclair. My writing was largely influenced by their huge sweeping prose. When I wrote, my hands flew all over the keys like a drug-addled bird. Word count? What is that? Run-on sentences? I'll put whatever I want for however long I want! I was mad with power. 

Then I started writing for my college's newspaper. I still remember the first article I sent to the editor. He took it and in about fifteen minutes, I got it back with a over half of the damned thing covered in red ink. Whole grafs wiped out. Sentences, cut off at the knees. 

But after the initial shock and gnashing of teeth, I realized something -- the article got a lot better.

The reading followed that same discipline to a greater degree. What was most fascinating, was the sheer amount of information she had. Mountains of notebooks, notes, interviews, research, and more transcripts I could barely fathom. Amassing such a trove of information is both inspiring and absolutely horrifying when you realize you actually have to make sense of all that stuff afterwards. 

A lesson in organization is a key method for any journalist. Not only does it help make things easier to sort, but also subconsciously sorts it all out in your head. Slowly but surely, it all comes down to the twofold "about." What is the story about? and what is the story really about. Anything you include, anything you write or fashion should be towards making that core of the story come to light. Anything that impedes that light you must ruthlessly cut away. Show no mercy to fluff or extra wordage. 

Your writing will be the better for it. 

"I am a writer because writing is the thing I do best." -Flannery O'Connor

(Belated) Weekend Update: Beginning of the End

Everything is coming together for us this coming week. But also everything is drawing to a huge close. It's sort of like the ships in Star Trek being pulled into the black hole and there's nothing that can be done to escape its pull. 

That's what the end of the semester feels like. 

The video piece is well on its way and should be wrapped up in the next day or two. In addition, the article is also coming along. In time, it should all come together. 

I think the key is to make sure you manage the time you have. Putting things off will not solve anything. Because no matter what you may think or want, those deadlines will still be on their way. So just do yourself a favor and get your stuff done!

Be a dear and check me and many other fine writers out at Game Podunk! 

Current Events, Tribulations, and All that Jazz

After a long bout of delays, we finally got our subject for our 5 min video interview! He was pretty nervous at first but after talking with him for a bit, he warmed up considerably (though to be fair, I get nervous before every interview I do anyway). We got A-Roll done along with some B-Roll and we plan to do some more this coming Monday. Overall, a huge weight feels lifted from our heads now that we got this part all settled. The rest shall fall into place smoothly enough (hopefully anyway).

Coming Events: Otaku/Geek Extravaganza!

Next week is going to be a busy day for geeky, anime, and gaming enthusiast. In what can only be explained as proper alignment of the planets, both Pax East and Anime Boston --the biggest expos for gaming and anime on the east coast respectively. 

And yours truly will be attending them both. Expect Twitter commentary on the sights and sounds of both events as they unfold next weekend from April 6 to 8. 

(my resulting collapse from exhaustion may or not be documented).

follow me on twitter at @dimanched1

Thoughts and Observations: Aim for the Heart chpts. 4-5

The opening gambit is most important in all walks of life. First impressions are the first line of knowledge people get of you. And in relation to writing, this is all the more apparent. 

In Tompkins, the opening line or the "hook" is seen to the audience as "the invitation to stay or the temptation to leave." What makes the reader want to stay and read on? What makes them mindlessly just give a sigh and skip to another story or flip the channel? The answer is motivation and relation. 

If the story can grab the reader and make them feel connected to the subject to the story as a whole, then that feeling will keep them to page. It's essentially a courtship between the reader and story: the initial contact, the sense of wanting to know more, and eventually entering into a private and personal world. Once you hook them however, is only the first part, the rest of the job comes in trying to keep them hooked throughout the end. 

This can be done by keeping the writing interesting and solid. Maintain a fluid and action-laden pace. This doesn't mean you have to make a Diehard movie in word form, but you should have a strong narrative that flows from scene to scene, action to reaction, character to character. As you form that network of characters and feeling, the audience will have no choice but to stick with you.

A Journalist's Progress: Vid Interview (part deux)

This past Friday marked a couple major advancements for our project. We finally nabbed our second interview session with our subject and even better he said "I'm used to the camera now." Which was true from his whole demeanor throughout the session. He was more natural and fluid, not as conscious of the machinery recording him and focused more on us. His quotes and the pics he provided were very deep and interesting to have.

It always amazes me how much a person can get used to people over such a short time period. Considering how shy and awkward I am at almost any given moment in my life, the act of talking to a stranger about some of the most personal stuff you can get into with someone is an act of insanity as far as I'm concerned.

I think it has to do with being able to watch the slow transformation from strangers to acquaintanceship -- that delicate and steady progression as we talk like normal people and not a good cop bad cop scenario or interrogation. Despite the initial horror I feel at every outset, being able to bear witness to that shift makes it worth it. Every single time.  

Saturday Updates: What's going on thus far...

As of now, not much has come to pass. I have finally found my topic for capstone. Focusing on war veterans having to adjust to civilian life and all the challenges that entails: psychological, economical, social - all these things intertwine with one another. Overall, this makes for a subject that can touch a broad range of topics and themes. 

I'm embarking on the report packet as we speak. It looks to be a daunting task but it's a necessary process to undertake. 

The core facets I need will definitely be a wide range of experts: possibly those in the psych field, rehabilitation disciplines, or most importantly returning veterans. 

The final subject may be the most challenging for obvious reasons. But I think if I and my partner can approach it in the right light, we can definitely make some headway. 

That's the latest and greatest for now. Stay tuned next week for another exciting installment of Saturday updates.