Just Keep Writing and Reading!

Hello blogging world. Its been a while. But frankly, thats a good thing. That means that life is taking me elsewhere other than my computer. No, stop, I'm not wanting you to stop and realize that statements means that life hasn't taken me anywhere special at this very minute. haha. Because thats not true.

There has been so many times throughout the last few weeks that I have been sitting and talking about something or experiencing something and I've thought, I should write about that. I should write a blog on this, but I found myself saying, no. Not because I didn't want to, or out of laziness but out of love for my craft.

I just recently realize how much writing that I do on a regular basis, but yet I don't find myself diving into other written materials. Whats up with that? That my friend, is laziness. As a writer/aspiring writer I find it extremely necessary to keep reading, keep watching movies, and watching the world around. If I was blind to the world around me, how would I know what to write about? How would know what is relevant to my life and others? Without watching movies how could I keep pursuing the dream of screenwriting without seeing the craft? And without reading how can I better my writing and vocabulary? I can't. If I close myself off and keep doing the same ole thing and using the same ole words, how am I growing as a writer?

So to tackle this challenge of pulling my feet out of the quicksand that I found myself in, I got a library card. As a broke young man, the library is actually an amazing place. A facility that allows me access to thousands of titles for FREE. Thats right, FREE. haha Thats what caught my attention in the midst of my penny pinching.

I walked up to the librarian asked for my library card and she gave it to me. A little card that allows me access and insight into writers/authors/historians/comedians, all better writers than I. A card that allows me to learn so much more about my English language.

So I decided to check out some of the most classic titles and I have to tell you, they changed my whole life.

I checked out great titles such as:
Great Expectations
War and Peace
The Bible
The Koran
Mein Kampf...

Ok if you thought there was something wrong with that list, then BRAVO, you were right sir/mam. I was lying. haha.

I'd love to say the first 2 books I checked out were classics that shook my world and really broadened my horizons, but to be honest, that wouldn't be true. My first 2 check outs were:

Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee- By Sarah Silverman


and

Tell All - By Chuck Palahnuik


I of course dived straight into Sarah Silverman's book. I read the whole book in a day. Its not a short book either, with a page count around 250 pages. She just kept my attention and kept me laughing, which in the end kept me reading. The book was great. I really loved it and would NOT advise it to anyone. haha. Her humor is definitely not for everyone, but I have to admit, I love her.

But the thing I loved most about her book was that it was a great kickstart back into my reading. Like most of you I'm sure, I am one of those readers who goes through phases. I go through reading spurts where I'll read like 5 to 10 books then not read again for 6 months. Its something that is very easy for me to put off and not pursue, and it takes a special book to get me back into my love for reading. Some titles that have done that for me include, Holes, The Shinning, and any and every book written by Donald Miller. I get bored easily so it takes a really good book for me to get back into the motions of reading, and it starts my love for it all over again. So if you are in that rut, I would highly advise any of those titles.

Although Silverman's book was highly enjoyable, it definitely was not the thing that inspired this blog, or inspired me the most in past few weeks. The thing that really inspired me and drove me to write this blog was forward to a screenplay that Nathan Graves brought home for me to read.

Nathan called me one night telling me of this awesome forward that Stephen King and author Frank Darabont wrote at the beginning of the printed screenplay of "Shawshank Redemption"(One of my favorite films of all time). Stephen Kings forward I found fascinating because I love his amazing talent for creating stories like no one else. But the thing that really struck a chord with me came from Frank Darabont. He wrote a little portion to aspiring writers(screenwriters in particular). The thing he said, wasn't even his quote and this wasn't the first time I had heard this but it really inspired me. He said, "The most important and beneficial thing you can do as a writer, to become a better writer, is to keep writing. Just keep writing."

I just put the book down and nodded my head. I knew in my own experience that has been true. I am not an accomplished writer or even a good one at this point. But I have potential. But thinking about this, I don't think about myself. I think about some of my other fellow writers and look back on their journeys and can't help but see this as a true fact.

I would love to briefly mention some of these writers, and if you get the chance, PLEASE check them out.

First, my buddy, Shaun Paul. Shaun actually started a blog because I pushed him into it, I believe. I'm not saying that to take credit or anything, thats not at all my motivation. I state that to say, I am so glad that I did, selfishly. He is a born writer. His blog posts have gotten so much better with every post. If you haven't checked out his blog you can select his name at the top right of this page to see his work. Please check it, he is an amazing writer with amazing heart.

Another great writer who I have watched getting better and better with the continuation of his writing is my dad. If you haven't checked out my dad's blog, stop reading here and go to the more enjoyable site, Bretpemelton.com. You want to see the real talent? It falls from his fingertips. As I have said before, I will be a lucky man, if I can amount to half the man, and have half the talent my dad has. His writing is superb. Please check him out.

And last if you haven't read anything my good friend Nathan Graves has written then, shame on you. Nathan Graves is a name that you will eventually hear. He is easily one of the most talented people I have ever met and I have the pleasure of being his friend. He is amazing in everything he takes on, Acting, Songwriting, Musicianship, Film Making, and Writing. Nathan was born with a gift. His mind automatically turns and churns out story after story. I remember reading a story that he wrote over 4 years ago that was very "Lemony Snickets: Series of Unfortunate Events" inspired. It was great, but the thing that makes my jaw drop is his last work. Nathan just wrote a short story entitled "Calm As Fire." It chronicles the last events of a mans life and his revelations that are found. It really is quite amazing, and it is so awesome that I can reference his earlier work and see that he has grown into this amazing writer through writing. He hasn't quit at his craft, he still continues to write and I know he would push out even more amazing work.

I mention these 3 because they inspire me. They inspire me to keep writing. Just as Frank Darabont's quote did. Keep up the good work! I know you guys inspire me more and more every day.

As I'm sure you all have noticed by my obnoxious over posting of our videos on facebook, you probably have seen the latest project Nathan and I are taking on. We decided to start a production team that creates videos. Why did we start this? 1) to have fun! but most importantly 2) We started it to keep us writing. We write out and script out all of our videos. We knew how important the consistency of our writing would be, so we decided to take on that challenge. And what came out of that challenge is: Take 2 Films. We are so excited about it, and are loving every second of it.

Ok, its time to wrap this convoluted blog up. I'm sorry if this post did not flow all together very nicely with a bow on it like I love to do. I take pride in not writing blogs that consist of:
"Today I took a bath. Today I ate. Today I played guitar."

I love writing about topics and issues that are really challenging me and hopefully challenging you.

So what is that challenge with this post? I hope it is pretty clear.

Don't get stuck.

If you are a writer, don't stop reading. Don't stop writing. It only betters you as a writer.

If you are a christian, don't get comfortable. Don't get to a point and stop researching and diving into your beliefs.

If you are a musician, don't ever feel you are good enough. Always pursue new methods of playing.

Don't get comfortable in whatever you are doing. We have to better ourselves in everything we submerge ourselves in.

I know that I do not ever want to stop growing, I want to learn all that I can learn and grow until I die. And I hope the same goes for you!

So don't stop.

Keep pushing on.

And if you get stuck.

Read a Sarah Silverman book! haha

Media Associated with this Post:
Song: Imaginary Enemy
Artist: Circa Survive
Album: Blue Sky Noise

All photos taken from Google Images