Where have you been?!

It's been a very long time since I've been in this space. It doesn't mean that I have not written anything. The last few years have been a writing frenzy for me. Everything from academic research work to writing projects with friends and acquaintances. It has been quite a while, though, and I do feel bad for neglecting this wonderful space of mine. I have started actively working on my stories again, now that I have graduated (and as I remain unemployed), I have an overabundance of time which has gone straight into editing and reviewing my previous work.

My mission this year, 2016 is to publish or drown in printer ink while trying!

As a treat, I'll be uploading certain opinion pieces I wrote in the last few years, and may even begin writing a weekly article on a current event. Methinks a tribute to Alan Rickman is in order for the upcoming week.

Stay tuned, my silence.

- J. Fenix

Writing Project

I feel as if I have abandoned this space, I have not used it in over a year. What a waste, don’t you think? I always try to come back and make another post filled with intrigue…but I fail to do so and for that I feel that I must apologize. I am not one to disappear, or fly away, but I do have some news you might be delighted to hear.

For the last few months I have embarked on a journey, and though it is one trip that has deviated my arrival to my initial goal, I am very excited about it. You see, I am currently writing a book. This book was a request by a few personal friends of mine. It is based on the adventures of their characters through a span of 50-something years. I was once a part of this group of collaborating writers so it is very exciting for me to be the one putting the pieces together. I have to admit, however, that it is very time consuming!

For the most part, I have to deal with temporal inconsistencies. By that I mean there are conflicts of occurrence in a timeline, for example: when laid out on a timeline…one particular moment in time would be the date during which two major (and very different) events occur. I would attempt to break it down further, but I fear I may have a mental break down haha.

Just know, please, I have not abandoned you. Even if my words are echoes in an infinite void, a virtual flint…I’m still here, and if I’m not updating this space, it is usually for a good reason. As you know now, I am writing. It’s kept me busy. I’m not even halfway through planning. But…I do have a treat for you…

That, ladies and gentlemen, would be the base of operations. It looks much more organized, and that is because I had been adding my notes on the very handy Microsoft OneNote. I still have a lot of paperwork to go through, and yes, all of those notes are plot notes and re-defined plot notions and reminders about changes.

Well then, I’ll see you…hopefully before I finish. I hope I get to write you a summer note before June comes around, but it all depends on how busy this story will have me.

Remember to be careful! Get loads of rest, get loads of sleep, but more importantly…get loads of reading, writing, and family time. Happy (late) St. Patrick’s Day do you all! I hope your festivities were better than my own, but that’s a story for another time, for now I must go.

Your writer,

J. Fenix

The Silence

Well, where does this one letter start...?

I've been doing a lot of new things, trying out new things, opening myself to new things...can't say I've been busy, but I can't honestly say I've had a mind to string up more than a couple of sentences in the last few months. I did not wish you a Happy New Year, or a Happy Christmas. If you've felt abandoned, that's my fault, and my fault only. I've been out and about, I've had a few dates (very good dates, might I add). I've just been thinking, doing, but not writing, which is probably the flaw in all of this selfish Me-time. I just have not felt like I could write, not with the academia bombarding me--it likes to do that. I have not written anything, I'm re-stating this, but that does not mean I have not thought about anything. It is all just marinating in my head, like good wine, it needs to age a bit before it really tastes like it belongs in a palate.

I have thought about ideas of how to work with this blog, I have been reading dictionaries (like always, in my free time...get me the Oxford!) But, I have not talked to any agents, I am giving that some more time...not sure how long, I just don't think it's my time. Recently, I played a writing game, I did not invent it...I don't know if anyone else plays it, I'm sure some smart folks have. It starts with me...building sentence, the start of a story, then someone else has to write the second sentence, then a third person...but here's the thing, it all has to be pertinent to the story, so in a way, it's like a whole bunch of us are writing as one. What makes the game fun is the distinct difference in writing styles: different syntax, vocabulary, and tone.

I've had a bad weekend despite the good things; not terrible, but enough to bother me. Enough to disrupt my flow of ideas, but we all have those days -- it gets better (that's what I tell myself, even when that little voice says oh no, it never does...that little voice does nothing for me, and neither does it do anything productive for you so don't ever listen to it.) I'll be spending most of this week trying to fix what this weekend ruined, trying to mend whatever bridges I've broken, trying to write all those things that were left unwritten, and say those things I was just too scared to say. Don't ever be silent. Don't give someone else silence, because silence is painful. If you are quiet, no one will hear you -- you will be ignored, you will be hurt. If you give silence, you are hurting someone else. That is just something to think about.

J.F.

I’m Back But…."Preacher says world will actually end in October" - Yahoo! News

 

Good day to you all,

First let me apologize  for my long absence without giving a reason why, the Academia required a lot more of my attention than I thought. Now that the summer is on, I am trying not to occupy myself as much in order to have more time for the pen and paper. Now I want to discuss this fellow because I just want you to see exactly what he is looking after.

How come this man holds a ministry that is worth millions of dollars and still believes there is an Apocalypse coming? What would you do if you had millions and you were certain the end of days was at hand? Wouldn’t you spend it on yourself to make your last days and that of your loved ones better? Would you throw a party? Or make the final days easier for a less fortunate family?

In which case, why is this man receiving so much money? Why encourage the donation of millions of dollars when you are not going to need it after you are gone? But he put it best when he said he still had a home and drove a car because what use would it be to others once Judgment Day arrived…to me that just sounds like he is going to make a tomb for himself and is last will and testament will proclaim that he is to be buried with his home, car, and money. That sounds like something only a Pharaoh would do.

So October 21st will be the end of days? Really? Well to all of those out there wondering whether you should be out there preparing for Halloween or rapture, I say, go with Halloween, as far as I’m concerned, Halloween will be far more important this year. I’d rather have fun than start planning what I’m supposed to be doing with the five months of life on Earth that remain.

But perhaps it was this Anonymous user who put it best when he wrote:

It has changed its name indeed. It is now called, Admit You Are Human Mr. Camping Day. It is the human desire to want more than he or she already has that has driven fanatics of religion to constantly predict these end of the world scenarios. If there is a God, he knows better than to intervene in the mortal realm.

Now I just want to leave you with a thought, something Mr. Camping ought to try and think about. Meditate, do not sign away your life to a belief, religion is best to keep it at home, it is a part of your personal life. Do not let someone criticize you because of your beliefs, and do not instigate them by trying to prove him or her wrong. It is because of that want to seem better than anyone else that we have created a path of corrupt competition instead of progressive achievements.

Remember to meditate, and also, accept your human condition. I know some of us may have some more trouble coping with that thought than others, but alas, it is inevitable.

I’ll see you all next time,

Your writer,

James Fenix

Follow Me On Facebook! - Twitter Coming Soon!

Happy New Year 2011!

 

Happy New Year everyone!

I have been absent, pardon me for that; however, I have been awfully busy, let me catch my breath first, then I’ll share what’s been of my life the past month and half.

I just want to make a quick announcement: the blog will change a little bit more, I will start personalizing it a bit more just to give you a better look at the life of an aspiring author as opposed to just playing the wait-and-see game online.

Until next time,

James Fenix

Words of a Phoenix

Happy Thanksgiving Day

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  Enjoy the rest of the long weekend.

I will keep you updated with anything that goes on about “Feather Spade”. However, there may be some changes in the blog; I have decided that this blog needs to take a more personal turn. I hope this change is for the better, and you can start enjoying this space again.

James Fenix

Happy Halloween!

 

Goblins and ghouls, spirits and fools, things that go bump in the night.  Things that raise hair are looming out there to bestow upon you quite a fright.  So do watch your back if the downed branches crack, and a rustling comes from the leaves.  And always beware, for there’s evil out there on the night of All Hallows Eve...

With that, I hope you all enjoy this macabre Sunday!

Remember, if you are out trick-or-treating, don’t get close to strangers. Those masks people wear are not always that far from who they really are inside.

Don’t forget to check out the Official James Fenix Fan Page, and don’t be afraid to drop off a comment sometime.

Until next time,

James Fenix