Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

Allan Savory and Biomimicry

06 Mar 2013 by KRAG

Here’s my position on climate change: It’s happening.

You and I may disagree on whether or not it is anthropogenic, but if you deny that it’s happening at all, well, there’s no evidence I can provide that will convince you.

Last month, Allan Savory gave a presentation at the TED Talks, discussing climate change and the results of experiments in biomimicry. The content was astounding; so much so, that I strongly recommend everyone to devote 20 minutes to watching the video of his presentation. I came away, hopeful about our ability to address one of the contributing factors of climate change.

I first read about biomimicry back before the turn of the century (I love using that phrase) in a book by Janine Benyus entitled, appropriately, Biomimicry. The book did not address the issue of climate change–Al Gore hadn’t made a splash with it yet–but it did look at ways to solve human problems by mimicking patterns found in nature, such as the use of mixed-grain planting to mimic the prairie grasses of the Great Plains and help stop erosion and soil depletion.

What Allan Savory has done, is to mimic natural patterns and help reverse one of the four major anthropogenic contributors to climate change: desertification.

Posted in Culture | Tagged allan savory, biomimicry, climate, climate change, climate shifts, desertification, environment, evidence-based reality, janine benyus | 5 Comments »

Reaching for the Brass Ring

04 Mar 2013 by KRAG

In my years here on Earth, I have reached for the brass ring many times. Literally.

Spinning ’round the carousel, the calliope loud and manic, I rode a pole-skewered pony, my butt sliding on the polished saddle. With one hand gripping the spiraled pole, I extended my other hand, reaching out into the canvas-covered darkness, reaching, reaching, finger hooked, ready to pull, here it comes, then snatch! and I have the bracelet-sized ring of finger-thick metal. Back in the light, I see that it is not brass, but mere iron, and toss it at the clown face on the wall, the crazed calliope Dopplering as I slew past, positioning myself for another turn, another try, another chance at the brass ring.

The stuff of childhood memories, yes, but a piss-poor business model. Yet, having spent a couple of days exploring the writers’ groups over on LinkedIn, that’s exactly what I’m seeing. Writers, reaching for the brass ring, oblivious to the mechanics of the business they want to enter.

Let me put it this way: Don’t shoot the horse you’re riding. If you intend on self-publishing, be aware of the ramifications.

Posted in Writing | Tagged creative writing, ebooks, novel writing, publishing, self-publishing, the business of writing, Writing | 2 Comments »

Spring is Near

04 Mar 2013 by KRAG

First Crocus of Spring

It’s coming. Spring is coming. The geese were right, and spring is coming early after a mild maritime winter. I’m not complaining…I love spring.

Posted in Seattle | Tagged crocus, Garden, gardening, geese, photography, Seattle, spring | Leave a Comment »

Mystical Methods

04 Mar 2013 by KRAG

In prep for my next book project, I’m reading some authors whose styles I want to understand better. The first author on my list was Alice Hoffman, and my second is Julio Cortázar.

I turned to Cortázar primarily because of one story I read many years ago. “Axolotl” was a story of such unusual structure and style that it has stuck with me for decades, after only a single reading. This alone is enough do draw me back to it, in this preliminary phase, but its structure also has something I’ve been thinking about for the structure of my next book: shifting POV.

Cortázar’s prose and style is impossible to nail down. Each story in this so different from the others. At times, I thought I found an overarching method, only to find something radically different in the next story. If there is anything that does pertain to all of Cortázar’s stories here, it is density. And by density, I don’t mean that his prose is opaque and hard to understand. To the contrary, his prose is clear, but full of detail, full of depth, and (harkening back to my one recent revelation) full of history and backstory. Continue Reading »

Posted in Writing | Tagged books, creative writing, julio cortazar, novel writing, robert w chambers, Writing, writing techniques | 1 Comment »

Kitchen Gadget Purge

01 Mar 2013 by KRAG

Simple Living It’s time to make some pasta!

Why? Because if I don’t, I have to throw out my pasta maker. Them’s the rules. Yes, that’s right. I run my kitchen by Alton Brown’s “Use it or Lose it” system.

Foodies accrete clutter–That shiny new thingumbob at Sur La Table, that “People who bought that also bought this” add-on from Amazon, those stupid whatsit prezzies from well-meaning relatives. They all build up. (Some say they even multiply in the late hours of the evening, while the dishwasher is running.)

Alton’s “Use it or Lose it” system is a great way to de-clutter your kitchen and simplify your life. I strongly recommend it, if for no other reason than it provides a guilt-free excuse to get rid of all that junk. Here’s how it works.

Posted in Food | Tagged Alton Brown, cooking, Food, kitchen, kitchen gadgets, simplification, the Simple Life | 5 Comments »

The View from Here – Contest Results

01 Mar 2013 by KRAG

Time’s up!

Our “Handwritten MS” Contest is complete. And the winner is…

Posted in Writing | Tagged blogging, contest, creative writing, handwritten manuscript, novel writing, the view from here, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips | 1 Comment »

Backstory is a Harsh Mistress

28 Feb 2013 by KRAG

My recent reading has hammered it in: Backstory–a word my spellchecker hates (though it doesn’t have a problem with “spellchecker”)…I swear; it’s like being edited by a 6th grader with OCD–is absolutely crucial. I’ve known this for a long time, but I’m sort of obsessing about it, now, as I prepare for this new book. I see backstory everywhere in great writing, and it makes all the difference.

You’ve probably heard it: “Your characters aren’t born on Page One.” Meaning, our characters need a history, a reason to be the way they are, where they are, and with whom they are. Lately, I’ve also realized that this rule isn’t just for characters. Places and sometimes even objects need a backstory. The town they live in, that rocking chair in the corner, that leather-bound book there on the shelf, that old pitcher with the crack in it, the dog asleep in the corner…anything can benefit from a backstory. Problem is, I can’t put all that backstory in a book.

New writers often seem to think that, if something is not in the book, it’s not important. This may well be true, but with backstory, this attitude can lead to two major mistakes: putting backstory in the book, and not putting backstory in the book.

Posted in Writing | Tagged backstory, believable characters, character history, Characters, creative writing, novel writing, Writing, writing structure, writing techniques, writing tips | 7 Comments »

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Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

Words and Works from a Seattle Author

Allan Savory and Biomimicry

Reaching for the Brass Ring

Spring is Near

Mystical Methods

Kitchen Gadget Purge

The View from Here – Contest Results

Backstory is a Harsh Mistress

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