Joshua Dowidat

Scary Movies: Home or Theater

Hello everyone,

Just went and saw another scary movie this last weekend with my brother and forgot how fun it was to watch a good scary movie at the theater. I have a hard time justifying going to the theaters anymore because of the costs but sometimes it’s just worth it to me. The movie we went and saw was The Conjuring 2. I really enjoyed it.

What made it enjoyable?

Well to me the theater always captures that different feeling than watching a movie at home. This is probably because of the huge screen in front of you that lets you see more details of the movie than at home. Also it was new enough that the good parts weren’t ruined for me yet.

The movie was also based on the accounts of two real life paranormal investigators and that part is enough alone to get me thrilled to Continue reading →

Another Writer’s Block

Hello Everyone,

So I know I’ve written about this before but since it hit me so hard today I wanted to address the point about the difficulties that writer’s block can sometimes create.

The Topic:

The topic that I was working on was more business related while getting ready for an interview on Monday of this week. I could not get past thinking about an answer or an example of a certain time something happened to me. The question had multiple answers that I could have gone with but I wanted to find that one, somewhere back in my memory. That golden answer that would mold it all together. The truth was they were all about the same.

The Results:

Well I skipped past the question and then went back to it after blazing through the rest. I thought that it would help free up my mind or maybe while Continue reading →

Germany’s Black Forest

Hello Everyone,

I just posted a picture from a Facebook site that I follow this week and the caption stated that the Black Forest was responsible for 15,000 missing people cases last year. I posted it, not taking into account the large number of people is and was even called out on it a little for factual information. Although I would like to do some more research into the subject my time is limited and this is what I have found out so far.

Numbers:

Some sources say that the actual number is 1,500. That would make a little more sense considering it is still an awfully lot of people to go missing. Still it doesn’t mean in any sense that they these people were ever discovered, simply missing. So that could make the number easily higher again. Think about lost kids at a store or mall. My question is, Continue reading →

Desert Music of the Cicadas

Hello Everyone,

 

Thinking about the hot desert temperatures that have already creeped up on us this summer, I would like to bring to everyone’s attention the sounds of the desert that coincide with that heat.

As I was walking through the desert the other day I was overwhelmed by the sound of the cicadas this year. Some years it seems that they are more noticeable as the dominant sound of the desert than others. I even caught one for a moment before releasing it to watch it buzz away in frustration because it flew into me and then the house, and then a car, and then the house’s window again. Each time making its little buzz of frustration louder and louder. Silly little agitated bugs. Ha!

Although this will not fit into my Eerie for Thoughts segment I feel a bit of a creepy feeling sometimes when I hear Continue reading →

Writer’s Block or Fatigue

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for checking in again. To start things off I would like to give my thanks to all of the fallen soldiers for their sacrifice to protecting our country and freedom. Those who gave all so I could be here today have my utmost respect and I would like to thank them and I give my heart out to their families as well. Thank you on this Memorial Day.

 

I often see the question come up about writer’s block or similar references to not being able to think about what a character or plot line is supposed to do next. Don’t get me wrong this happens but most often I get writer’s fatigue.

Writers Block:

Most times when I read about how other authors deal with this “block” they say they do some reading, go for a walk, watch some television, or maybe just meditate. I am Continue reading →

Desert Shadows: Characters Part 2

Hello Everyone,

Thanks again for reading and since I know some of you enjoyed the insight into my character development I thought I would share a little more.

The Tics and Peeves:

I hope I spelled that right but what I mean by this is the finer toned parts of characters when I develop their attitude or their personalities. What makes them Tic? What are their peeves? Really all those little things are what I find interesting in character development. They are the same things that make us stand out in the real world from other people. I know many of us fit into social niches of some extent but we are still separated by those things that make us, us.

When did I Start noticing this?

When I was writing Desert Shadows there were several characters that were developed more than the others. Sometimes in my random thoughts and Continue reading →

Desert Shadows: Characters Part 1

Hello Everyone,

Something people have asked me about is how I came up with the characters in my writings. Many times the characters are based on something that I envisioned when trying to capture an audience’s attention to feel a particular emotion or way about a character. Sometimes this is based on segments of my life where I felt a certain way and I try to put these feelings into words for the character for the audience to later relate too. I know, it sounds confusing but that’s the way I look at it. Sometimes certain influences can be from something I saw in my life or a way a person reacts to something. I will change it to make the character different from an actual person I met, but I keep the actions on a similar basis. Sometimes this gets tricky because I try not to mirror everyday life Continue reading →

The Difference Between Eerie and Horror

Hello Everyone,

First off the definition alone separates the two emotions, genres, moods, or whatever you are using the word to describe. Horror is an intense feeling of shock, fear, or disgust. Eerie simply means strange or frightening.

What defines the two the most?

Well, I believe this is up to the individual who is experiencing the mood. One thing that another finds as pure horror might be just enough to give another person the “creeps” or an eerie feeling. Just the other day I was in an area where the houses were few and far between. The wind was picking up tremendously and the sky was darkening. It was not getting dark out but simply getting darker form the dust that was being stirred up in the sky. For some reason this gave me and eerie feeling and made me thinking of this blog as well as two other Continue reading →

Becoming Known to an Audience

Hello Everyone,

Roadrunner Theatre Company:

Just recently on a Friday night I visited a production performed by the Roadrunner Theatre Company in East Tucson. The play was “Leading Ladies” a comedy-romance done with small props, few actors/actresses but a lot of heart and talent. I really enjoyed the play and the performance done by all the actors/actresses and the other parties involved. It reminded me of the beginnings that I am currently going through with trying to get my own name heard and people to read the book “Desert Shadows.”

Many people ask why I wrote the book:

To be honest it was purely “hobby” based. I never thought anything would come of it. After publishing was in the progress I decided to see just how far it might go. I am glad everyone is enjoying the book “Desert Shadows” so far who has read it but it has also Continue reading →

Editing, then editing, then some editing.

Hello Everyone,

Happy Earth Day first of all.

I hope everyone is trying for one day to be a little extra Earth friendly. I managed to do an okay job but will try a little harder next year.

Today I am going to address a question about my works that has been coming up a lot lately. It is about editing and the subject of word count.

My first draft that I began working with Wheatmark was around 180,000 words. This was because in my sleepless nights I would compile short stories together, journal entries from memories of my past and other random writings into one manuscript. When I decided at one point to take it to see if a publisher would want to work with me it was very long and full of repetitive details. Anyways after my first edit I got it down to just under 100,000 words. Continue reading →