Breathing Genius into the Spectrum of Literary Excellence: George R. R. Martin Exhales

Artist: Bryan K. Stites

Winter is coming...
Notice the stab of the stag's antler.
Ours is the Fury, still.
--

I recently begun reading Game of Thrones. As an avid fan of the HBO television series, I have been waiting to peel open the pages of the written tale and engulf myself in Martin's genius. 

I have only completed about 15% of the first book of the series, or so my Kindle says, and I can honestly state that Martin MUST be deemed one of the Greats of contemporary fiction. Before this literary adventure, there was just Tolkien and Rowling. Now, as the realms of Westeros and the Free Cities latch themselves to my heart, I find myself chanting: Tolkien, Rowling, Martin... Tolkien, Rowling, Martin...

May their words forever immortalize their worlds.

Back at It: Short Story Production

One key fact about myself is that I have commitment issues. Lets face it: my relationship history proves this, my activity on this blog proves this, and my list of completed literary works proves this.

HOWEVER! I am determined to change.

As I type away at this short story I am writing for my Black Women Writers final project, I cannot help but become saddened by the fact that I have not completed any type of fictional work since I was a child, which I wasn't able to even write independently. Each work that I have started, other than poems, have been unfinished and poorly developed.

While I understand that writing is not for everyone, as well as that it may not be for me, I believe that I need to start anew and actually finish those projects that I begin, regardless of their effectiveness or if it is deemed unworthy of publication.

Therefore, I am making a promise to myself, today and right now, that I will finish every piece of literature that I have begun in the past. I also swear to myself that I will seek out new literary endeavors and complete them successfully. Lastly, I promise to make detailed and up-to-date posts regarding my experiences, discussions, issues, and review of the work.

Starting tomorrow, my social presence will be noticed, whether for the better or worst. Until then, I shall continue to recreate, dissect, and perpetuate the messages constructed and communicated by Toni Morrison in her novel Paradise. I am sure I will be working on this assignment for the remainder of the night in addition to some time tomorrow. As soon as I am finished and have submitted the final project to my professor, a new entry will be posted both here and at A Readers Cavern 

That something great...

Remember when I said I was working on something great...
That will possibly be in french?!?!

Well ....
Here is a little snippet of my current draft.

Inspiration:
P.O.V of the Low Clergy during the French Revolution ("Les yeux du "high clergy," du "proliterate," et du bourgeoisie est tres froids.)
**Excusez-moi pour mon francais; je parle le francais un peu!**
More edits/revisions to come.

YOU SMELL THAT?! YOU SMELL THAT? That's Inspiration!

Faeries have always been a source of inspiration for me, and while reading Going Bovine, I was sincerely touched by the character Dulcie- the punk rocker angel.  And guess who is camped out in my room right now, refusing to leave?  Yeah, that's right.  Dulcie!  Well, not really Dulcie, but a faerie version of her.  She's here to bring me tons and tons of creativity, and dude, it rocks.  I mean, God only knows what she's going to help me produce.  I have my own awesome muse camped out in my room, and she doesn't want to leave. She says she's mine :). Yeahhh, baby!  I don't even know if I'd let her leave after expericing this!  She may end up like this girl:

Caleb Deveraux Photography

TRAPPED!
BUHAHAHAHAHAAH! 

The surge of creativity she has washed over my brain is otherworldly; I can't stop thinking of various photo-shoot ideas: poses, outfits, scenery, etc.  I'm plotting and planning and simply going crazy! I've been at it for hours. My mind is spitting out ideas like a huge hulking machine gun, and I am extremely excited about getting started on all of the various projects... Unicorns vs. Zombies, bedroom scenes, faeries, gothic brides, levitation, angels of death and life, country livin', various portraits, and tons more!  I can clearly see myself snapping away with my Nikon at a bunch of different angles- capturing some amazing stuff.

It's time,  guys.  It's time to begin a new path: a path that is going to lead me to the life of a photographer.  I can't wait.  I can't effin' wait!

Get ready because I will be a most formidable force.  I swear by it.

Photography: The Importance of the Art

For a length of time, I’ve always thought the main purpose of photography was simply to express oneself artistically.  This way of thinking has changed recently though.  While I still believe this is true, I now believe that photography is more importantly a means to capture the most beautiful, memorable, thought provoking, and emotionally captivating images.

My mood has not been that great these past couple of days; I have been in a rut of sorts.  Nostalgia and longing controlled me, and it wasn’t until I began looking at some of the beautiful pictures that I have taken that I realized the gravity of my entire situation.  I was upset about a situation that I truly should not have been distressed about.  Dwelling on a negative occurrence is not good at all, and I was doing just that.  My inability to look past one of my darkest moments was putting a toll on me, but after looking at the pictures, I realized (once again) that the most important things in life are the moments that make everything worth whatever hardships I have to endure.  Essentially, it's the beauty of the world.

Reveling in the beauty of the world is quite easy because I have captured it; I have made it my own; I have preserved it.  Perhaps I’m generally just a sentimental person, but every time I look at the photos, feelings of euphoria rush over me.  I tend to find beauty in a lot of different aspects of life.  I have pictures of people, landscape, cookies, cars, clothes, beer cans, memories and so much more, and all of these photos  provide me with joy.

This way of thinking about photography may be normal for most people; however, it is a new discovery for me.  I hope it is promising and works in the future.  I know I will most likely return to the rut that I was just in, but hopefully, my photography can help me through it again.  Perhaps my photography can also help others as well.  It is a dream of mine for others to see the beauty that exists in the world and to learn to appreciate it.  If my photography can positively affect at least one individual, I can die happily :D

-Caleb A. Deveraux

A Derelict Blogger

Hello!  As you can see, my name is Adrian; however, I go by Caleb Deveraux in the writing and photography world.  I say that as if I'm famous, but I'm not- yet!.  I'm actually dreadfully invisible in both of the two worlds.  Anyway, I'm just starting this blog here, even though I've had one with LiveJournal, Wordpress, and Tumblr previously (hence the title 'A Derelict Blogger').  I never seem to say with one provider for too long.  Lets hope this changes!

So, about myself.  I'm an aspiring writer and photographer.  Books are a must in my life.  Netflix makes me feel good inside.  I have a Harry Potter wand, and I play with it at least once a day.  I'm addicted to cookies like Bella Swan is addicted to self-destructive relationships with angsty supernatural boys. And! I tend to think I'm much cooler than I actually am.

-Caleb A. Deveraux