Week 13: When I Became a Writer...

One of the first books I recall really enjoying was Captain Underpants. Does anyone remember that? Those books were the literary equivalent of a Dickens novel. Anyway, these books were a hilarious and enjoyable read, but the highlight of them were the comic books within the actual story. The two main kids, George and Harold, would create comic books based around a superhero they made up, named Captain Underpants. They would write out these comic books, make copies using the school copier, and sell them to their fellow students.

Well, in my youth, I loved comic books. I loved to read, write and draw...so I started coming up with my own comic books. It would all be about weird-looking superheroes that consisted of my friends and I. I would do these epic stories of adventure, mystery and guns - must be a southern thing, but everyone had guns. I didn't sell them like the kids did in Captain Underpants, but I enjoyed making them and reading them. Strangely, this desire to construct comic books, and the practice thereof, stayed with me well into high school.

Of course, before high school, I enjoyed writing stories and things of that nature, but it really hit me in high school. In the most socially-awkward time in my life, I found great solace in the works of the Douglas Adams and Mark Twain, as I have previously stated. I also kept up the writing (and every now and again, the cartooning) and enjoy every minute of it. While I want to make it in the film world and write screenplays and direct films and such, I would also love to write novels and just continue my fiction writing any way I can.

The Start of Something 

Week 13 Storytelling: Death of Me

"Richard! Richard!! Where are you?"

I could hear them calling my name. It was faint and muffled, like the sound of the world above when you are under water. What had happened? I don't recall. It was dark and stuffy, and gradually warmer as I walked on, exploring the darkness. Who knows the vastness of where I had found myself. I could not see my hand in front of my face, and it was a sickening darkness. You know that feeling? Where the darkness hurts? That's what was going on. That's where I was...wherever that was.

"Where the Hell am I?"

"Exactly."

A voice from behind and it sent shivers down my spine, an icy chill despite the heat. I turned around and there was a man, standing tall and consumed by blue flame, though he did not cry out in pain. He extended his hand, and with much hesitation, I took it. He led me through the darkness, and even though his blue flame illuminated his aura, I still could not see anything around us. However, as we walked on, his flame grew brighter and the faint sounds of screaming grew louder.

"Where are we? What is this place?"

I would have stopped right then and there, if I had any willpower of my own. However, I kept walking with this demon, or angel, or chauffeur, or whatever he was. The surroundings became brighter with each step until we were in a room burning in eternal flame. It did not burn, but it definitely messed with my mind. In the center of everything was a man who wore sunglasses and a pin-striped suit. There was a briefcase at his side and, to be completely honest, he looked very much like a lawyer. He looked up at me as we walked in and stared into my soul. It felt so cold.

His grin was unsettling. "You already said it. You're in Hell."

I woke up.

The Devil, Himself

Author's Note
I read Dante's Inferno for the week. I was not able to find just one little aspect of the story that I could work with, so I decided to do a sum of the entire poem. I also thought it would be funny if Satan was a lawyer. I don't know why. It just makes me laugh.

Week 13 Reading Diary: Dante's Inferno

Oh, yeah! The Divine Comedy is one of the best stories ever conceived! I love Dante's work. The Inferno is one of the best writings that I've ever read. I absolutely love the idea of learning what Hell is when it is such a mysterious and vaguely-explained concept in the Bible and in mythology. Dante's writing just makes it that much better. His explanation for all of these unexplainable things that the majority of people (especially there in Roman Catholic Italy) believed is just sheer creativity and fantastic writing.

My personal favorite bit is the section revolved around Limbo. Now, this is a theory that I do not share, theologically, but it is an intriguing concept and definitely warrants reading and maybe some more time and attention than some other sections. I particularly love how it explains what happened to the characters in the Bible before Christ was around to bring salvation. As a kid growing up, that was always one of my biggest questions regarding Christianity. In the story, he goes into Limbo and frees all people who deserved to go to Heaven that lived before Jesus.

Getting into the second half brings out some of the best parts. I absolutely love the mix of Greek and Roman myth  and Christian theology. I think the collaboration is really great and works out so well in Dante's work. Now, don't get me wrong, I prefer to keep them separated (like The Offspring would want), but it's a new twist, you know? Something fresh (despite its age).

My absolute favorite part of the story is the description of Satan. Weird, right? I just think it is so cool to try and describe something that has been a descriptive mystery for thousands of years. Plus, I oddly love how Satan is trapped in ice caused by the deepness of his circle and the wind produced by his wings. I also really love how his existence is punishment for Judas, Cassius and Brutus - those who have betrayed those they were meant to protect and love. Great stuff.