Why I Don't Like Tony Stark

"Characters do not change.  Opinions alter, but characters are only developed," -Benjamin Disraeli

Tony Stark, brilliant mastermind.  Playboy turned superhero. While the character was created for the specific purpose of making an unlikable person a likable character, I do not find him very likable past tolerance and the occasional chuckle at his wit. And there's one key reason why. 

Tony's only redeeming qualities are his wit, his ability to make someone laugh.  His sense of humor is enjoyable, 'only-funny-because-it's-true' kind of thing, while being self-deprecating. His quick, deadpan responses make him an enthralling watch, my own mind racing to catch up to the challenge. But the reason that he's not a deep, beautiful, and complex character is because he shows no vulnerability. 

We attach to the characters we do because of a deep human need to be understood, to empathize and overcome. Steve Rogers is a relatable character because we see the greatness in him, and realize that we have the potential to be just as great.  And despite all of the amazing things Steve can do, he is irrevocably and humbly human. His reaction to Bucky's 'death' is much like anyone else's grief of a death.  And the horror and shock of Bucky's return is felt on a deep level, resounding with every once of betrayal we've felt. Natasha Romanoff is strong and resillient, yet is ultimately taking a path well tread of redemption.  Because that is all we aspire to be.  Natasha is relatable because her journey of hard-earned redemption, turning from bad to good, is one we all can relate to on some level. 

But again, almost nothing about Stark is relatable.  He's a billionare, which 99 percent of the population can only dream of that kind of money. He's a genius, which on some level is an appointed title, but, really, how many geniuses do you know?  Sure, an awful part of us wishes we had all that money and alcohol and girls, but is that gluttony and lust something to aspire to?  Characters are supposed to relate to us and lift us up at the same time.  Tony Stark does none of this. 

Tony Stark seems the least human out of all of the Avengers.  Even Thor, a god, whose human side was displayed beautifully in his first movie, has tapped into his human potential more than the actual homosapien Stark has. The reason Stark has nothing of value to offer as a character is because we never become personal with him.  We never sympathize with him because he just seems to perfect and sassy all of the time.  We never cheer for him because the stakes never seem high enough. We never can develop a personal character to receiver relationship (yes, that's a thing) because he is never emotionally or physically vulnerable, making him not a strong or likable in terms of any definition of the word 'character'. 

#SorryNotSorry

~The WordShaker

More

"The scariest moment is always just before you start," -Stephen King

I was meant for more.  I was meant for more than just a 9 to 5 office job.  I was meant for more than to be bound by the alarm clock and my evening drink. I was made for more.  I was built and crafted by the hands of God for more than just this measly, bottom line life where I work just to live nicely and save up for retirement. 

I was meant to live dangerously.  Extremely.  Exuberantly.  Joyfully and thoughtfully and richly. Knowing my purpose and future has given me so much to live for.  Knowing that I have a husband and children and career and ministry of my dreams waiting for me is the voltage that keeps me surviving on the hardest, coldest days. Knowing God's plan for your life is so crucial, because once you know that, everything else will fall into place.  

I was meant for more.  I was destined for greatness only God can bestow upon his children.  And when I get distracted by the fuss of live and discouraged by everything everyone else is doing, I have to keep in mind that this is my story, this is my life and no one else's except for God's. 

We all were meant for more. We are all meant for God's greatness and beauty and love, but we must tap into these riches by following the path he has laid in front of us.  It might not always be pretty or nice or easy on the feet or eyes. 

But hope.  Hope for the future, that things will always end up right because God is leading us stray sheep along. 

I was meant for so much more than this.  And so were you. 

Much love,

~The WordShaker

4 Reasons Why Storytelling is Superior to Poetry

"The telling of stories creates the real world," -Alberto Manguel 

Remember, that this is all my opinion.  But also remember, if you disagree: 

;)

Stories are essential to human life and survival.  Sure, people might think that it's natural selection, survival of the fittest stuff that keeps us around, but really, it's stories that enrich our lives and allow us to keep moving on as a species. 

Aside from the melodrama, stories still are a crucial part of our history and culture - less specifically, writing is - but stories, they are far superior to poetry.  So, if you don't get anything else out of this post, remember this:  

stories > poetry

And here are four reasons why. 

1. Storytelling is more elusive and drawn out
Something powerful about stories that poetry doesn't have is that we are able to push across subtle themes by utilizing the vehicle we all know - through people, through emotions, through events. Poetry, however, most times has to be stated or hinted at, which isn't always as effective.  Sure, we've read a lot of poems - ones we like or love, surely, but what do we ask most people when getting to know them?  (Hint: the answer is "What's your favorite book?")  Because the ultimate power in stories is limitless.  Stories stay with us forever.  They are imprinted into our minds and hearts with the gritty characters and perfect delivery. Stories teach us, they guide us.  

2. It takes more loyalty and perseverance to write a novel
I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't take you years to write poems. I'm not saying that writing poetry is easy, but people have no idea how much time and grueling effort that goes into creating something from nothing. 

I've heard many writers - who mostly write poetry, that they've had a few story ideas, and they've even gone as far as to start writing.  Many of them express shame that they have never been able to stick with a novel because it's such a grueling project.  This shows that it takes much more dedication to write a 100,000 word novel with characters and settings and themes and everything that goes along with it.  Writing a poem and writing a novel are like writing a sentence compared to a ten page paper. Yes, I am aware that some people just aren't storytellers - and some people are natural poets, but the amount of dedication required to start and finish a story is mountainous.  Unbreakably strong ties are made between an author and their characters and even the story itself - incomparable to the cathartic ramblings of poetry. Writing a story is like childbirth, and nothing is comparable to the function that gives life to all. 

3. Stories are what defines us as a race and society

Civilizations are not remembered by the average worker bee.  They are not remembered by the man who went to school, followed the rules, got married, got a job, saved up for retirement, and died content. Civilizations are known for their art - for the stories they told.  The stories of the Bible tell us of everything from the Babylonian empire  to the reign of the Romans. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey defined Ancient Greece for us. Shakespeare is the head of the Renaissance of writers.  When all else slips away, the stories of the people remain. The written word is eternal and powerful. 

Moving on, poetry only occasionally makes it into the collection of stories, and even then, it is usually a story in poem form. Stories, everything from folklore to scripts to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, are intensely studied and make for the building blocks for cultures and society. 

4. Storytelling is a part of human nature
If you were a human child, which, I assume you were since you're reading this, you probably played with some kind of toys.  I don't mean to be stereotypical, but if you were a girl, you probably had baby dolls or Barbies or dress-up or played house. If you were a boy, you probably had Nerf guns and action figures and race cars. Even video games are immersing oneself, creating a character for yourself and going through a mission. But what do all of these things have in common?  Why are they related to storytelling?  Because all of these mundane, childhood activities have to do with one thing: playing pretend. Pretending that you are a professional chef, pretending that you were the only fairy that could save the fairy land, pretending you were fighting evil aliens off with your best friends.  The pretending opportunities are endless. And by pretending, you are creating characters and worlds and a story from which there is none. Without realizing it, every child is a storyteller at heart, but it is the novelists who just take this task along with them into adulthood. Storytelling is innate and crucial to our survival. 

This kind of turned out to be more of a praise on storytelling but oh well.  I hope you enjoyed this and have a fresh, lovely take on the art of storytelling. 

Never stop writing,

~The WordShaker

The Cooper Kids Adventure Series by Frank Peretti: My Experience

"Better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self," -Cyril Connolly

Growing up in a Christian school and being an avid reader, my beloved elementary library was packed to the brim with good (and bad) Christian fiction.  From about second to fourth grade, I was obsessed with the Cooper Kids series by Frank Peretti.  If you weren't a nineties Christian kid, these books are about Jay and Lila Cooper and their dad.  The 8 books focus on their adventures and the mysteries they solve across the globe, with an appropriate dose of evangelical faith.

I remember falling in love with this series, determined to get my hands on all 8 books.  I was enthralled by the clever, descriptive writing, hooked by the intensity and action, amazed by the complexity and mystery, in awe of the characters' perseverance and faith. Little did I know, however, that these stories would shape me into the writer I am today.

The Cooper Kids series has been described as 'Indiana Jones mixed with Stephen king with a good dose of religion', which, I realize, is a good descriptor for my writing - from the mere flittings of ideas I have to my short stories to my full-length novels. Like this series, my writing is not afraid to push the envelope in terms of content.  Many Christian books don't even want to approach the invisible line between Christian fiction and secular fiction. Peretti, however, addresses the secular and the Christian, and, ultimately, has the motive to convert.  For example, my current novel is about two teenagers who get in a plane crash, and all this weird stuff starts happening.  But under that, it is a story from lost to found, of hope and redemption, of pain and strife, all via Jesus Christ.  On that note, the Coopers meet many people along their adventures, some who come to the light and some who reject it.  Realism in a realistic world - mostly.

These books tackle the paranormal in a supernatural way.  In a dark way.  The Cooper Kids Adventure Series are dark and edgy, but always contain the power and hope of Jesus Christ - which is all I aim to write about. All that I want - all that I need - to write about is the gritty realistic truth. The dark, the dirty, the hard-to-swallow, while never taking the focus off of the beaming hope of salvation.

I highly recommend the Cooper Kids series by Frank Peretti for any kid you know - or for the adventurous child inside you.

~The WordShaker

My WIP: A Cactus In the Valley

"As a writer, you ask yourself to dream while awake," -Aimee Bender

I'm going to do a little bit of self-promotion and give you all a preview of my book. I am going to do this in a list/category format so you can get the whole overview.

This story is Copyright 2015 by Olivia J - all rights reserved.

Title: A Cactus In the Valley

Plot in One Sentence: Two teens are stranded via a plane crash in the middle of the desert and have to survive together.

Genres: young adult fiction, contemporary fiction, action/adventure, drama

Back Cover Synopsis: When withdrawn Terra Lombardi wakes up in a smoking airplane in the middle of the remote Arizona desert, she realizes the only other survivor is the arrogant Wyatt Hartman.

Clouded with the uncertainty of how they crashed, the two strangers head west in pursuit of civilization. Amidst the environment and dangerous animals against them, they must band together to survive and even thrive in the rocky, sun-drenched Southwest. However, the elements force them to confront their inner demons.

Told through dual points-of-view and intermittent flashbacks, teenagers Wyatt and Terra brave the sun and sand alone. But it is through the hardest times in which we grow the most.

~

WARNING: There is some suggestive content in this book. Language, violence, emotional intensity, an instance of rape and drug use is included in this book.

Contact me at oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing this novel - coming this September!

Follow me on Instagram at @olivia.j.the.wordshaker

~The WordShaker

Poem: Equality Parts 1&2, and an Update on Mobile Orchestra

"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words,"

-Edgar Allen Poe

A list of small facts about yours truly:

1. I am a bad, pathetic poet.

2. Please refer to #1.

But I was feeling inspired, so here's something I whipped up.

Equality by Olivia J

I.

Somehow, we have this idea

That we could all be the same in this area

But it's not hard to see that we're not all the same

Even though this causes much bane.

In this world,

I have been told

that equality is the answer

when our selfish desires are the romancer.

However, I am not trying to say

that malice is okay

because everyone deserves some basic human respect

but we must remember that diversity makes our world flecked.

The only point I desire to get across,

And I'll make sure not to gloss,

over the fact that human nature

is quite evil, and we should only denature

By the grace of Jesus Christ

because I know that my heart has been a heist.

II.

Equality can never be obtained

unless we are drained

of our imperfections

by the perfect one.

But what is equality, anyways?

Just a rouse to keep our insecurities at bay?

Accept and love yourself.

We shouldn't care about anyone on the lonely shelf.

If you're angry at society,

If this is a source of anxiety,

Why is it any of your business

that your peers make progress?

Even if you don't agree,

why can't we live in harmony?

Because harmony means different notes

and then, we could finally float.

And remember, that variety is the spice of life;

So, if I may ask, could we let go of the strife?

Lastly, I would like to give an update on my review of Owl City's Mobile Orchestra.  Like most of his music, it grew on me.  I like Can't Live Without You much more now.  I realize why Mobile Orchestra is so all-over-the-place, so to speak.  This quote, found on the Owl City website, explains it all.

“Mobile Orchestra is all about variety,” he asserts. “In the past, I’ve set out to make albums that were designed to be a singular listening experience, flowing from track to track. This time around, the songs are like ten rabbit holes that go off in different directions. I had never approached a record like this. I wanted to clear the slate and forget what I knew in order to create a new experience. I spent two years working on it, and it had the time to grow in between every idea. That’s why there’s so much going on.”

I understand the concept behind what Adam is saying here, I just don't know that I like it.  Again, it took me a while to get used to the blend of old and new sounds found on this album, but overall, I really do like it.

Peace, Love and Never Stop Writing,

~The WordShaker

My Review of Owl City's Mobile Orchestra

"Don't be afraid to write crap because crap makes good fertilizer," - Jessica Brody

Sorry for the lack of post last week. I have been on vacation and still am. Posting this now because I'm going to be traveling this weekend, and I don't know when I will have internet access to post. 

So, I am a huge Owl City fan.  I have loved him from the beginning.  Actually, probably not the beginning with Of June, but sometime between the Fireflies debut and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

But anyways, Owl City will forever be my core music.  Even if Adam Young changes, even if other music I like will come and go, there will always be Owl City.

Anyways, on to Mobile Orchestra.

1. Verge (feat. Aloe Blacc)

Star Rating: 2/5

Why I Chose this Rating: *deep sigh* This is kind of like Good Time, in the sense that it's a marketing campaign and just the purpose of being a single. Formulaic. Aloe Blacc has a nice voice, but again, he doesn't mesh well with Adam's voice.  I wish he'd go back to using Matthew Thiessen, Lights, and Breanne Duren as his backing vocals, because their voices were perfect for OC's sound and his voice. I don't have much else to say about this thing, other than the intro is stolen from Shooting Star and the bridge is from Wolf Bite.

Favorite Lyric: I ain't too sure what I believe in / But I believe in what I see / And when I close my eyes / I see my whole life ahead of me

2. I Found Love

Star Rating: 4/5

Why I Chose this Rating: I love this song, if Bird with a Broken Wing wasn't on here, this would probably be my favorite. I love this song, mostly because it reminds me of one of my characters and his almost-death and his love for my female main character.  It definitely rings true with his attitude, because he knows that his death is near.  This reminds me of TMS: Acoustic, which I like, with the strings and synths.  It's not amazing or mind-blowing, but it is sweet and reverent and desperate and bright and hopeful all at the same time.  I can definitely feel the love.

Favorite Lyric: I'm not afraid / Because your love / It falls like rain / It burns like fire

3. Thunderstruck (feat. Sarah Russell)

Star Rating: 4/5

Why I Chose this Rating: LOVE the EDM vibe here.  I love electronic music, so this is amazing.  It is complex, and dreamy in a more mature way that feels like lights are streaking by around you and you could jump up and dance and couple dance at the same time. I have never been in love, so it's harder for me to connect to his love songs, but I still like this one.  I still can rock out to it.  And Sarah Russell, who I have never heard of as well, is one of the only collab. artists whose voice meshes well with Adam's voice. Overall, awesome, but it will probably be better when I'm not as single as a sock after a cycle through the laundry.

Favorite Lyric: I chase the phantoms down the hall / I watch the floorboards rise and fall / I lost and never loved at all

4. My Everything

Star Rating: 3.5/5

Why I Chose this Rating: This is probably my favorite explicitly Christian songs Adam has made of late.  It seems to have more life and spunk than the other direct songs he's been putting out.  I can sing to it nicely and feel the reverence he has.

Favorite Lyric: And I sing, Hallelujah / My almighty God divine / Hallelujah / I am yours and you are mine / This is all I know I how to say / Hallelujah

5. Unbelievable (feat. Hanson)

Star Rating: 4/5

Why I Chose this Rating: This is such a fun song, and even though a lot of people dislike it because of it's simplicity, I am a child of the nineties, so this strikes my nostalgic vein.  This song is so happy-go-lucky, I can't help but smile, which is one of the qualities I always look for in an Owl City song. Hanson is a nice touch, even though I've never heard of them. It's a nice, bubbly change of pace in the midst of a darker album.

Favorite Lyric: It’s unbelievable / When I think back, I'm amazed / It’s unbelievable / Cause baby those were the days / It’s unbelievable / It ruled in so many ways / It’s unbelievable

6. Bird With a Broken Wing

Star Rating: 5/5

Why I Chose this Rating: This is by far my favorite song off of this album.  It's not as beautifully lyrical as his old stuff, but this song shows that he's still got the touch inside of him.  This is the classic Owl City sound: darkly encouraging. It shows Adam Young's will to survive, and his pure passion.  It goes back to his feeling of a misfit and a survivor in this hard life, which I connect with greatly. This song is just amazing in every way - from the lyrics to the pounding electric guitar to the hopeful darkness that lingers. I can't even.

Favorite Lyric: I'm an astronaut / On the ocean floor and basically the whole chorus.  Actually, the whole song.

7. Back Home (feat. Jake Owens)

Star Rating: 3.5/5

Why I Chose this Rating: Even though I hate hate hate country with a burning passion, I like this song.  It has a nice vibe, and it reminds me of small-town fun that I grew up and still experience.  It reminds me of late summer nights and snowball fights and wading through the river and fireworks and just everything small-town and humble.  Even though I usually dislike living in the small town midwest, this gives me perspective about how cool it is, regardless. The guitars are nice, but my only real critique of this song is that I just wish that it was only Adam singing.  Jake Owen's voice is okay, but it clashes and doesn't mix well with Adam's. This song would have gotten a four if it was 100% Adam Young.

Favorite Lyric: Personally, I love the entire chorus of this song: I'm saying goodbye to the skyline / Hello to the sweet pines / Gonna see you later street lights / I'm headed back to tree lines / To free time and starry nights / To bonfires and fire flies / Pack your bags it's time to go / Cause we got brighter lights back home

8. Can't Live Without You

Star Rating: 2.5/5

Why I Chose this Rating: I wish Adam would start writing songs like Galaxies, Meteor Shower, Tidal Wave, and Dreams and Disasters, songs where you would have to listen to them three or four times to know that they were about God. Unfortunately, all that's coming out is Christian contemporary run through the Owl City filter. That's what I loved about Owl City, is that he didn't bang you over the head with it. And yes, people and things change, but I personally liked the previous style better. This song, however, is unimpressive and lackluster.  He steals the hook melody from Wolf Bite, and the background synths are directly from Wolf Bite too.  It has a nice melody and aesthetic, but I'd like it much better if it had original background music and more creative and elusive lyrics.  It just doesn't seem as creative or original as the other songs on the album. But I feel like this is one of those songs that's going to grow on me. It, however, has a nice beat.

Favorite Lyric: When I trip and I fall / I collapse like a tidal wave

9&10. You're Not Alone (feat. Britt Nicole) and This Isn't the End

I will not be reviewing You're Not Alone and This Isn't the End, mostly because I'm a bit disappointed in Adam just tagging these two songs onto the end to make the album longer.  It shows . . . laziness.   And personally, I feel like he should have added Tokyo and Beautiful Times on.

Back to Mobile Orchestra, I have some last concluding thoughts. It struck some truly great notes (Bird With a Broken Wing, I Found Love, Thunderstruck, Back Home), but there were places that it went very wrong (Verge, the two tacked on songs at the end, all of the collaborations). Overall though, this album doesn't have much direction.  With all of the other Owl City albums, they had a common aesthetic and sound that made it an album, not just a collection of songs. There will be songs like Bird With a Broken Wing that I will always listen to for ages to come, but songs that I will definitely skip over.  Mobile Orchestra is a haystack, and it has some needles that need to be found.

However, I am afraid to say that I am quite disappointed with Owl City/Adam Young at the moment. Maybe it's not him.  Maybe it's his record company and his managers, but it seems that he's lost his focus, or is focusing on the wrong things, yet they keep making him pump out music. Which is wrong.

Maybe it will grow on me like The Midsummer Station did.

~The WordShaker