Stories By Van

Hey you guys! I’m not feeling the best today, and I was just woken up from my nap by my alarm to write my blog. I have an aching headache and no idea what to write about... Here’s something: What do you all think about graphic content in fiction? Is there too much? Should it be banned from fiction? I don’t think so. I think graphic content gives a story more realness. Even if it is almost too much to read - like a horrible scene in a horror story. It’s scary because - if done right - it’s believable. Same with showing drugs or extreme language because it’s all recognizable in a strange sense. That’s one reason why I love Stephen King novels. His characters have this inner thoughts that sound perfectly natural for any real person to think. It’s incredible! To have that kind of insight on how people think and act in any situation you throw them in. We need to strive to continue pushing the envelope further with our fiction. The minute we stop is the minute we’ve lost to the enemy. ...

Hello everyone! Let's get right to it. God. you know that guy, or girl. Some people say it's read, and others disagree. I've always been fascinated with religion. Not just Christianity, but all types. The old Native American religions of the Hopi and Zuni tribes, then there's the ancient Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and so on. Religion has always interested me since I was quite young, and I even got to study world religions in college. Even took an Early European history class and learned how Catholicism basically built Europe from the ground up after the Mongolians invaded the country.  I love discussing religion with people, especially the die-hard fanatics. People get so heated and put-off when I try and discuss because I approach the subject calmly. I allow the other person to speak their mind and give their opinion. I simply listen and respond. People love to talk about what they're passionate about, and a lot of people think debates are two peop...

Concerts. We love them-some people do, at least. They're a great way to see the person who sings that song you listen to on repeat all day, every day. I was at a concert last night in Kansas City. It was amazing. A nice rock n' roll jam session. I'm tired, my body hurts, and my voice is all but gone, but it was worth it. While I was at the concert, of course I saw hundreds of people with their phones out taking videos and pictures of the event. I don't do that. In fact, I'm one of those people that turn their phone off when I walk in because I don't feel the need to show everyone where I am or what I'm doing. If someone asks what I did, I'll say I was at a concert, and when they ask why they didn't see any pictures on my social media I tell them that if they wanted to see the concert, they should've gone. It's sort of an asshole response, but I think it's funny and a good response. I also don't take any pictures-not even for mysel...

Good morning all! Well, to me it's morning because I'm writing this 9AM since I'll be in Kansas City today during the usual blogging time. But you all won't know the difference, so I could've just started this normally without having to explain my situation, but I did anyway... I guess I could also just erase all of that first paragraph including this next paragraph explaining what I should've done in the first. Alright, let's get moving. I came across this question today, "What does it mean to die well?" Interesting question (if you're into death and enjoy sitting alone thinking about all its nooks and crannies, as I do) to ponder. It reminded me of another quote that I created or maybe someone else did before me, but I didn't look it up to check), "Have a good line." Imagine a tombstone. It's got the person's name, their date of birth, and their death date. In-between birth and death there's that line. That is ...

Hey everyone, today I finished reading a book that I was really excited to read, "It Can't Happen Here." by Sinclair Lewis. It was written back in 1935, and is a somewhat-satirical novel about American culture, as well as government in general. Published during the rise of fascism in Europe, the novel describes the rise of Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, a politician who defeats Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) and is elected President of the United States, after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and "traditional" values. After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government and imposes a totalitarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force, in the manner of Adolf Hitler and the SS. The novel's plot centers on journalist Doremus Jessup's opposition to the new regime and his subsequent struggle against it as part of a liberal rebellion. I wanted to ...

Hey everyone! Thanks for the great turnout yesterday, it only makes me want to keep pushing forward. So, today I want to talk to the fellow artists that read this blog. Do you struggle finding inspiration for your next project? It can be hard sometimes; I think anyone in our field can relate to that. Those countless hours spent sitting around waiting for the inspiration to find you, but we all should know that's not going to do much. Inspiration can't find you, you have to find it. Stephen King “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” That's the attitude you need to have in this business. It's fun to sit around and imagine stories in your head. Hell, I know people that have entire series of books with complex characters and story lines, but for some reason jotting it down is impossible. I don't know the exact reason why people do this. Maybe the actual work seems too hard, maybe they don't trust their ability to write...

Alright people, I've got a doozy of a question for you all. I was doing some searching through some philosophical websites (for you guys, but also it's good to do deep thinking every once and a while) and I found a lot of interesting topics to discuss. So, I shouldn't have many more days without a topic. You're welcome. Alright, and now the question of the day: Is it possible to prove that other people besides yourself have consciousness? Sonder n.  The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own - populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness - an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you'll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. ...