An about-creativity.com interview with National Novel Writing Month's Chris Baty

Now that we've moved the creativity interviews over to about-creativity.com, my plan is to post brief excerpts here, both to share favorite bits, and to let folks know when new interviews go live.

The most recent interview was with Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month, an extraordinary site, community, and annual event that exhorts people to write a 50,000 word novel over the course of November.

Baty's been doing this for years now, and I wanted to find out what he's learned from getting hundreds of thousands of people to tackle a creative project of that scale Here's a bit of his answer:

"Part of National Novel Writing Month's success, the reason so many people keep doing it, is that it's an event. I didn't study English in college. I always loved books. I loved writing. But I'm an anthropology major, and I didn't come at this from the position of an aspiring novelist who really was frustrated by the realities in the publishing market so I made my own world. It was really just like, "Man, books are so cool, and wouldn't it be cool to write a book?" And because of that, there isn't this unnecessary stultifying reverence for the literary art form.

I see novels as an enormous, exciting puzzle or something similar to the local middle school basketball court where you can go up on Saturday with your friends and have a great day losing yourself in this game and the thrill of competition. Novel writing is the best video game on the planet, one that requires so many different aspects of your imagination and so many different aspects of your life management skills. It really takes a lot of focus and discipline. The creative side of it is just one component."

Political Twick or Tweets

Been twittering a bit more than blogging of late. Thought I'd pull together a few recent (mostly) political tweets, in the popular 140-character or less Twitter format.... Ever notice how Twitter turns people who are otherwise not even slightly Larry King into something Larry King-ly?

"Don't remember Gore, Kerry, Dukakis, or Mondale wrapping things up with a "burn it all down" play. This ain't the country-first way to lose."

"Prediction: Team Obama was very strategic with big late-stage primary endorsements. It'll happen again near e-day."

"nice lil quake tonight. was just sayin' ystrday that I haven't entertained quake-trastophe thoughts for ages. no room at the Apocalypse Inn."

"The GOP's intent on blaming Freddie/Fannie. They hope folks'll personalize this. 'Don't blame the GOP. It's those jerks Freddie & Fannie!'"

"'you will know their names' John McCain shares this with President Carter -- his admin. would go to DC filled with disdain for congress."

"another thing McCain has in common with Carter: neither of them will be elected president this year."

Dyngus among us

I'm so happy. The world is purring today. And I'll tell you why: Dyngus Day.

Eskimo (not Inuit) Rock n Roll Recall

Back in the 90s, there was an SF band I loved called "Eskimo." They had one song in particular I was so sure was gonna be an alt-rock super-smash. We'd go to the shows and this tune ("Dado Peru") would kick in and the crowd would start to sway....

Well, Dado never broke out the way I expected it to. And I kinda sorta forgot about it until this past weekend, when it showed up on my ipod. I played it for my 10-year-old daughter, who agreed that it was the most-est. And we drove down Franklin in Oakland, raising our arms in the air, swaying like we just didn't care....

When I got home I started thinking, golly, I know it's against the law, but wouldn't it be great if I could rip that tune and put it up on Cecil to share with the world, without going to jail?

Lo and also behold -- the world wide web has saved me from a life of crime. Turns out the band was kind of enough to post the tune right here. May I recommend that you crank the speakers?

For Bay Area folks who share fond Eskimo memories, that very same site contains eight (8!) Eskimo tunes I've never before heard. I just downloaded them and will, yes, get to swaying momentarily.

Yiba ho!

Monkey Vortex (Flash)back Theater

From 2004 to 2006 I was part of a loose cabal of audio-oriented miscreants known as Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. Between us, we produced around 35 or so short bits of MP3 whackiness. Yes, and it's hard to imagine a time when we had the brainwidth to produce 35 or so short bits of MP3 whackiness. But there was such a time.

Anyways, somewhere along the line a very nice fellow named Hank offered to make a Flash animation out of our theme sound-bit and one of our cartoon mascots. But -- the shame! -- I never got around to putting it up on the site or even plugging it here on ye olde Cecil.

Well that smudge on my conscience gets watered down today with this very link. Enjoy! And thanks "so-called Hank," wherever you are.

x-post: Future fantasy headline happiness

MSBC.com and I are feeling bullish about the start of the new congress -- read all about it over on edgewise.

Karen Dalton and the beauty

My better half gifted me with a lovely re-release of a lost gem -- In My Own Time by Karen Dalton. Billie Holiday-influenced folk blues complete with three fingers of whiskey in the vocals. All covers -- just more evidence pointing toward the Grand Unified "it's the singer, not the song" Theory of Reality.

It turns out there's a YouTube of a Dalton track. It's so beautiful, soooo beautiful, I had to share it. Prepare for the beauty. OK, ready? Alright then.

Here it is.

x-post: East Bay Exhortation Sensation

I've had a great time phone banking for moveon.org in their Oakland office the last two nights. Read all about it, and get yerself good and exhorted over on edgewise.

x-post: Happy Birthday to The Philter

Finally, So-Callled Bill has posted his Annual Report -- an excellent summary of the first year of his work over at The Philter. The market's are responding favorably. And I think you will too.

-Cecil

x-post: and the honey and the warm and the vortex of it all

Brand new Monkey Vortex Radio Theater mayhem, now available for your free and easy downloading funtime. This week: Warm Honey.

x-post: and the robot and the Reggie and the monkey of it all

You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll take your Baby Robots out of their hermetically sealed, lead-lined vaults and give them a hug. This week on Monkey Vortex Radio Theater: "I, Baby Robot," written by, er, um, me. And starring the likes of Jeff Green, Heather Gottschalk, Christian Crumlish, EB, Hans van Boetzelaerlaan, and M. Smith. Now playing right here.

x-post: And the Monkey and the Vortex and the Radio Theater of it all

After nine months in the cooler, those nefarious Monkey Vortex Radio Theater-types are back with The Phone Call, Part I arguably their most sinister free-audio-download yet. Now available for your easy downloading good-times right here.

x-post: Brer Osama

So let's see: Iran has a new democractically elected leader that, well, he's not nice. Iraq is in the process of putting together a new government that's likely to end up far more pro-Iran and pro-fundamentalism than the Bathists, and now Gaza and the West Bank have elected Hamas as their majority party.

I can just hear Brer Osama Bin Laden saying to Brer George W. Bush: "wow, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's your democratic way of life. Please, Brer Mr. President, whatever you do, don't throw me into that democracy patch."

For more reactionary mutterings, click your Brer-self on over to Edgewise....

x-post: Fox Vent

The thing about Fox is, they're not subtle. And neither is this micro-rant.

x-post: and the quiet and comfortable vortex of it all

Don't look now -- Monkey Vortex Radio Theater is back with an all-new featurette. This time out, it's Quiet and Comfortable, a short short story, with words and music by, well, me. And starring Robert Birnbach. Enjoy! -CV.

x-post: The Hillside

I recently got to add some keys to a lovely country trance number by Yaniv Soha (formerly of "Yaniv Soha and the Bear"). The resulting tune -- The Hillside -- is now live and available for free and easy downloading in the popular MP3 format over on Yaniv Soha.com.

x-post: Reactionary Dander

All this prurient Pynchon appears to have nudged me into a reactionary dander. Read the results ("The Mainstreaming of Vice") over on the mighty, the mighty, the mighty Edgewise. Unless you're intimidated by my clear-thinking, straight-shooting, uninhibited sense of moral superiority. In which case, you know. It's cool.

x-post: and the poem and the second line and the Nada Gordon of it all

After a longish, hard-drive induced hiatus, Monkey Vortex Radio Theater is back with our first new piece in about a month. This week: it's a Koeneke/Soha transcontinental guitar/poem spectacular. I love it. My four-year-old loves it. And if you're still the way I remember you being, and I'm pretty sure you are, you'll love it too. Bop over and check it out: Poem with Its Second Line by Nada Gordon.

x-post: and the Ridley Scott and the monkey and the Monday of it all

We're getting back into the weekly swing of things over on Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. This Monkey Vortex Monday, it's Letters, an insta-parody produced by our rapid reponse team, and featuring Eileen Dahl, Bleu Smith, K. Smith, and yers truly.

x-post: and the Bobba Bebba of the monkey

After nearly a month on hiatus, Monkey Vortex Radio Theater is back with Bobba Bebba, our most ambitious piece involving an alien watching earth TV from their spaceship yet! With script by yers truly.... Give it a listen and let us know whatcha think.

And the monkey and the good friend and the wine tasting of it all

More Monkey Vortex madness. From the folks what brought you Clowney, it's: The Good Friend, written by eb, with keys and voice by, er, well...me. Enjoy! -CV

x-post: and the lumpy and the wampum and the monkey of it all

Since last I hyped, two new episodes of Monkey Vortex have gone live. Now ready for your listening pleasure: Eerie Wampum, a colloborative poem/guitararchestra experience, brought to you by Rodney K. and Yaniv Soha. Plus, the third episode of Lucky Liver Lumps Minute Murder Mysteries, written and produced by Tony Jonick. Enjoy! -CV

x-post: Lumpy Monkey and the Vortex of it all

More Monkey Vortex madness. This week, Tony Jonick goes for two, with another episode of his Minute Murder Mysteries. .

x-post: and the monkey and the murder and the minute mystery of it all

More Monday, more Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. This week: Tony Jonick busts it 1930s-style with what some say may well be the greatest piece of recorded entertainment since Edison invented tiny, pocket-sized people who remember what you say and then repeat it back to you whenever you press on their head!

It's a little number we like to call Caught in the Trap. Featuring the considerable voice talents (and auspicious MVRT debuts) of Robin Brady and Jerry Williams!

x-post: And the Vortex and the poetry and the east coast of it all

Another week, another episode of Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. This week: an all-new spoken word spectacular from east coast letter-chef (that's right -- "letter chef!") Lee Kaye, featuring beats by west coast stick-sensation (!) Shoeless Adams plus guest voicework from the stars of UPN's "Anarchists for Hire!": Eileen Dahl and Shonny Vortex! (All sewn together by yers truly.)

Well don't just sit there reading these very words that you are reading right now at this very particular moment in time that is currently happening! Click on over and hear it for yourself!

x-post: and the vortex and the John. And the Paul, George, Ringo of it all.

Welcome to another Monkey Vortex Monday. Congratulations on getting here. And most especially, on evading the many traps I set before you these past seven days. Particularly the thing with the stick. And the one with the swinging gate. And the bottle of rum, half-reflected in a shallow pool of just-fallen rain water. Did you stoop to quench your thirst, old friend? Of course you did.

Now, to your reward: the answer to a pair of age-old questions. Questions about John Kerry. About George W. Bush. About the remaining Beatles. And about the thin line what separates the two. The four, I mean. The two pairs of two, I guess. Is what I mean. Anyways, it's all based on a wee radioplay penned by yours truly, with voices by me also, plus Benson Hurst, John Kerry, and the aforementioned GWB. And you can play it for yourself right here.

x-post: Victory is nigh, baby

The Angry Liberal reminds us how the polls looked in late October, 2000. Read all about it in all-new Edgewise post.

x-post: hereafter today, gone tomorrow

A thought or three about one of the many subtexts of Tuesday's vote, now up on Edgewise.

x-post: and the monkey, and the POTA, and the pathos of it all

It's another Monkey Vortex Monday. Now playing: two minutes and twenty seconds inside the mind of the most powerful human being on the face of the earth. It's a Bill Cassel / Christian Crumlish script, starring the aforementioned Christian Crumlish, plus Eileen Dahl and the infamous M. Smith. And it all adds up to an all-free, all-mp3 experience the kids call: Sympathy for the W.

x-post: and the debate and the dancing to the rhythm of the beat

Bonus MVRT episode this week -- a few highlights from the third presidential debate set to drums n keys. It's a little number we like to call "You Be the Judge (Oh Yeah)" -- now playing....

x-post: and the Wetumpka. Sweet Wetumpka. Of it all.

It's Monkey Vortex Monday. In today's installment, Croatian malcontent Rodney K. puts our longstanding feud aside for one minute and 45 seconds -- just barely enough time to bust it Poet-Makes-a-House-Call style with: Welcome to the City of Wetumpka -- another all-new, all-free, all-MP3 MVRT experience, brought to you by the good people at BackMan. BackMan: equipping the backs of our Presidents with noticeable, rectangular objects for more than thirty years.

x-post: pre-debate shpiel

Reality catches up with the President. Get the skizoop, here.

x-post: door to door volunteering in the presidential campaign

In the next two weeks I'll be making the (fairly freaky styling) leap to door-to-door political volunteering in my hometown and in a battleground state. If you've the itch your own self, and you're curious how to look into that sort of thing, take a stroll over to edgewise, and read all about it.

x-post: And the Shonny and the Wally and the sequence of it all

If it's Monday, it must be Monkey Vortex Radio Theater -- back with an all-new segment: The Sequence of Things. With script and music by yers truly and starring Bee Nisbet and M "'n M" Smith. Plus: the MVRT debut of featured backup vocalist Shonny Vortex!

And there's funk too. Oh yes, there's funk.

x-post: Debateshpiel

Some pithy debate shpiel, here. Quite literally. Packed with pith.

x-post: And speaking of outrage...

Whatever you do, don't read this. It's...it's horrible.

x-post: he should ask for a second opinion

A little shpiel about our wide-eyed President and how he maybe trusts just a little too much, here.

x-post: And the hell, and the so-called "Poppins" of it all

Monkey Vortex Radio Theater is back with an all-new segment: Hell's a Poppins! Featuring the MVRT script debut of Eileen Dahl and the MVRT acting debut of Heather Gottschalk plus, the inspirational return of Bill "King" Cassel in this, his most challenging role yet. You will believe a boy can fly!

Note: Although that last part -- the part about you? believing a boy can fly? -- although it doesn't really have much to do with Hell's a Poppins, nonetheless, I think it's true.

Which is weird. Of you.
To believe.

Such a thing.

x-post: reflections on the President's speech

Another day at the RNC, and another post over on Edgewise. Today's topic: how George Bush gave the greatest speech of his life. And how he's still gonna lose. Read all about it, here

x-post: still yet more politics, for yea, it is the season of gnashed teeth

Over on Edgewise, a pair of reactions to last night's RNC festivities:

• A somewhat strained attempt to explain away the unusual behavior of one Zell Miller, here
• Meanwhile, it's Mr. Happy Head!, here
  

x-post: more politics / RNC quick takes

Some thoughts about Tuesday night's Republican Nation Convention (with micro-commentary on Arnold, the twins, Laura, and GWB's cameo), all found on ye olde Edgewise, right over here.

x-post: And the chipmunks, and the vortex, and the amusement park of it all

Something tells me it's all happening at Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. That's right. A brand new segment of genuine Monkey Vortex Creep-edy™.

We call this one Not Cool. Written by yers truly, it clocks in at less than 2 megs / 2 minutes, and features the estimable voice talents of Christian Crumlish, Eileen Dahl, Bee Nisbet, and M. "Butterfly" Smith. Enjoy! -CV

x-post: all swift boat vets, all the time

Been yearning for a rant about how much air time those darn Swift Boat Vets for Truth have been getting? Well yearn no more. You'll find one: here.

x-post: And the lotus eaters, and the poetry, and the monkey of it all

Are you like me? Love spoken word poetry? But maybe not so crazy about hanging out with, you know, poets? Well fear not -- help is on the way! Monkey Vortex Radio Theater had folks just like you and me in mind when they created Poet Makes a House Call -- in which real live poets record their actual poetry and then transmit those poems into your brains. Using electricity.

Today's sampling: The Lotus Eaters, written and performed by Dan Mummert, and backed by a trio of faux hep cats. Enjoy! -CV

x-post: And the monkey, and the vortex, and the money of it all

There's an all-new audio-fun episode ready for your easy-downloading goodtimes over at ye olde Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. Drop by and check out The Winsor McCay Sketchbook: Money, written by Tony "King" Jonick and starring Bill "also King" Cassel" and Alana "Lady-King" Guy Dill. And remember: "It's the most fun you can legally pack into a 2.2 MB mp3!"

x-post: Meet the Brando

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and the late-great Marlon Brando all are hanging out over at Monkey Vortex Radio Theater. You know, just kinda...kickin' it. Shouldn't you?

Listen in on their private conversation in the latest MVRT episode, appropriately enough entitled John, Paul, and Brando. Plus: John, Paul, and Brando, "Tangy Brie" Remix!

x-post: and the bar and the clowney of it all

A new episode is now available for easy-downloading good times, over at MVRT. Clowney marks a bit of a milestone in two ways:

It's our 10th segment, so to all those doubters who said "they'll never have 10 segments," I say: hah! look! 10 segments!

It's also our shortest piece yet, clocking in at just around one minute/one meg, offering bite-sized audio entertainment, just right for today's on-the-go monkey. This one's written by someone claiming to be named "Cecil Vortex" and it stars the redoubtable EB. Belly up to the bar, here.

x-post: MVRT - and the marriage and the sketchbook of it all

New episode up on today's MVRT Marriage is part of a continuing series from writer, illustrator, publisher, and dimensional contortionist Tony Jonick. Take yourself a two-minute 29 second journey to the icy border between East and West here.

x-post: MVRT - the money, and the love, and the everybody

A brand-new episode is now up on ye olde Monkey Vortex Radio Theater: Everybody Loves Money. This four-minute phantastical was first written in Ubby-Dubby and then meticulously translated over to English by Bill "Mr." Cassel. It features the voice talents of Christian "Mr." Crumlish, Jeff "Mr." Green, Bee "Ms." Nisbet, Jolene "Mr." Phelps, and Eric "eeeeee-rock!" Stone. But don't take my word for it -- hear for yourself at MVRT.

x-post: Stack of Mitts up on MVRT

2 minutes and 17 seconds of all-new audio-fun adventure await you up on MVRT: Stack of Mitts, scripted by Cecil V. and starring Rodney K., M. Smith., and Lisa Bush.

Stack of Mitts, now playing on Monkey Vortex Radio Theater.

x-post: more MVRT madness

To say today's MVRT is in bad taste would be a little like saying BJ and the Bear were in a TV show called "BJ and the Bear." They weren't in the show. They were the show!

Abu Ghraib: The Untold Story, now playing on Monkey Vortex Radio Theater.

x-post: Two new segments up on Monkey Vortex Radio Theater

Two new audio-fun segments now ready for psychic absorption on ye olde Monkey Vortex Radio Theater: The World is Loud, a poem written and performed by Rodney K., and The Birth of Cheese -- a thick stew of fear, loathing, and dairy products, scripted by Jolene Phelps.

Monkey Vortex Radio Theater

Shhhhhh. Monkey Vortex Radio Theater, now on the air. Take it for a spin (and let me know whatcha find confusing and/or broken), here.

x-post: Zogby late to the party, calls election for Kerry 24-hours after Vortex

Political aside: 24 hours after my all-imprudent edgewise post, below, big-time pollster John Zogby arrives late to the dinner party. But wait: we're wearing identical sports goggles! Confused? Engraged? Perhaps a little...peckish? You should be. Read more about it here.

x-post: Vortex loses all historical perspective, calls election in May

Political aside: New all-imprudent edgewise post in which I manage to forget 8 out of 9 key Lessons of Dukakis and declare this the week GWB lost the election, here.

x-post: The devolution of Sean Hannity's mind (with poll)

Political aside: New dailykos post, including a sub-scientific but partly binding poll on the scope, speed, nature, and intensity of Sean Hannity's directional decay, here.

x-post: Monkey Man one-liner of the day

Political aside: New edgewise post featuring a genuine, imported Monkey Man quip, here.

x-post: The real John Kerry

Political aside: New edgewise post on the real John Kerry, here.