Comments on: story craft #4 Flashbang

By: MD

MD — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:45:52 +0000

Michael, you may have checked it out already but soma.fm also has a couple of mostly-instrumental stations that you might consider atmospheric noise:

Drone Zone – “Served best chilled, safe with most medications. Atmospheric textures with minimal beats.”

Space Station Soma – “Tune in, turn on, space out. Spaced-out ambient and mid-tempo electronica.”

By: MJG

MJG — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:32:50 +0000

Hi MD, thanks for your comment! As for writing with pen and paper, sure, that’s how I used to write, and the main result was illegibility. My letters become tiny and strung out in a line. Also I’d get frustrated that I’d still have to type everything up anyway. So I moved to PC as soon as I could.

I tried Tori Amos, both old stuff and the newer one, but it doesn’t really work for me. It’s hard to have her on and not actually listen to what she’s singing, the lyrics, which then just distracts me. I figured classical music might work, but again it’s too familiar, and simple, and pulls my head into it.

What I need is really just atmospheric noise. Post rock music may be the best, I’ll just vary it and find some that are not only super intense, also have some chilled bits. I wonder if techno music might work also. I’ll try Lush- thanks.

By: MD

MD — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:34:35 +0000

Ever wonder what the impact of handwriting with pen and paper would have on the character of your writing? What effect would the inefficiencies have on that urge to write at frantic pace?!

I like Alice’s suggestion of Tori Amos. Something chilled out but in different way: the Lush station on soma.fm, a donation-supported Internet radio station from Toronto.

By: MJG

MJG — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:36:00 +0000

Jessie- I’m not sure I can take credit for the word ‘flashbang’ used in this way, it might have originated with a writer friend of mine, also called Mike, who would generally ask me to tone my adjective-use down. “Do you really need all these words?’

Thanks for your comment, Jessie

David- This vote of confidence is great, thanks. I know there’s a balance to be found, it’s just finding it. This is probably what writers talk about when they say you have to find your voice. I have my short story voice, it’s the flashbang one. The novel voice will be that, but yeah, tempered with some careful peaks and troughs.

The teen-speak and Michael Bay comparisons were more about the fatigue too much breathless intensity can cause, but I’m glad to know my writing’s not as vapid as either

Thanks for your comment as always David!

Al- No sooner said than done, will go look it up now. Cheers!

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:35:41 +0000

Try some Tori AMos – Scarlet’s Walk album. Chilled out and gorgeous but with a backdrop of passion and a little well thought out Tori tension. You don’t wanna go comatose on us Mikey! x

By: David Meyer

David Meyer — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:05:19 +0000

I’ve never seen the word “flashbang” before, but I can see that it fits your writing style. I’m not sure you’ve picked the best examples to illustrate the term, though. For me, Michael Bay’s flashbang is sensually exhausting, but emotionally arid. “Teen-speak” is vapid. On the other hand, your writing, even when exhaustingly intense always grabs me emotionally. That’s why it hurts so (sometimes too) much.

However, judging by your short fiction that I’ve read on this site, that’s a good thing. I think your flashbang is more asset than liability. Short fiction should ideally be an intense, one-sitting experience. It may not be representative of real life, but if I wanted real life I’d put down the book and go do dishes.

I can see how the style might not play so well at novel-length, but it sounds like you give pacing its due in your total writing process.

I think the intensity of your writing is one of its charms (excepting the occassional piece that goes beyond my personal envelope of good taste). Sure, pace yourself and use it strategically when you’re writing a novel

By: Jessie Mac

Jessie Mac — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:07:16 +0000

I guess if you describe it that way, I too write in a flashbang style. Though not as intense, without the music (I think that’s the crux of the style) and not so consuming.

Thanks for the post, Michael. And for the word ‘flashbang’.