Robert Gale Ongley

Category: Uncategorized

  • BE THE ARCHITECT OF A NEW YEAR

    Who do you think you are? The victim of your environment? A pawn in the game of life? A fallen leaf blown here and there by the winds of change? Or are you the creator of your own destiny? The cause rather than the effect?

    Whatever role you play in this world, you can make it better. It may take a great deal of courage and effort if you’re under oppression. It may require incredible persistence if you’re plagued with an addiction. If it’s merely inertia that’s your great enemy, you may need to reach down deep to overcome it. We all have something holding us back. I don’t mean to minimize anyone’s challenges whether they’re internal or external ones. But almost everyone does have the capacity for improving their condition. My hope here is to give you some guideposts for making it happen.

    A Fresh Start

    You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Taking that truth to heart and applying it to your own set of circumstances can give you a clean slate–at least mentally. With the beginning of a new year, many people are inclined to make a change in their lives. These resolutions usually have to do with something they have been falling short on, something they’ve been wanting to change without success. The new year is a natural place to press restart. I mean, the old year with its imperfections is ending and a brand new year brings brand new, untainted opportunity. For the serious-minded person looking for a change, it’s a chance to start anew. They can draw on the new energy, no matter whether it’s just coming from their own imagination. A fresh start is just what’s needed for many.

    A Decision

    Every action we take begins with a decision. Without it, nothing happens. If you are to break a bad habit or make some other significant change in your life, you will have to make a decision in order to bring about the desired effect. And that decision needs to be strong, unwavering and clear.

    A Plan

    I’m primarily referring to one change at a time, but I know I’ve made several New Year’s resolutions at once for an incoming year. If that’s what you do, then make a plan for each. Of course, there can be some overlap where the same strategy type can apply to multiple resolutions. Feel free to have some repeating instructions for yourself across however many plans you’re drafting.

    Your plan should be sort of a vehicle to take you to your destination, the final goal. You should design it to your own specifications, but I’ll share a few ideas on components I think are important.

    First, your plan will likely consist of a series of steps. This is true even if the goal is simple, as in the case where you want to be a better person in some way. Let’s take the example of being more considerate to others, which may seem like a one-step process. It’s not as easy as it sounds to change your behavior. You may find that you slip right back to old habits despite deciding to operate differently. Here you are hurrying to get in line in front of the mother with a restless infant in her shopping cart full of groceries. You’re on a tight schedule, right? The steps of your plan could include a time study which helps you handle time better and makes it easier to consider others’ needs ahead of yours. If your plan helps you foresee stumbling blocks along your way, your odds of success improve.

    Forgive yourself when those stumbles do occur. Resolve to do better this day. Keep yourself moving forward, even if it’s by baby steps.

    Keep a journal of your progress. Every day, preferably at the end of the day, take stock of how you did on your plan. Recognize where you missed the mark and acknowledge your accomplishments. This will keep you on track and could give you either more determination to do better or pride in what you’ve attained.

    Stay the Course

    Never give up. The year ahead is clay in your hands. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that staying the course doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to the plan even if it turns out to be flawed. If you realize you need to do something different to advance toward your goals, don’t hesitate to tweak away. Also, if you need help with any part of the entire process, seek advice. We’re all connected and your good is their good.

  • REVIEW: “DON’T LOOK UP”

    I saw a film on Netflix last night that I just have to write about and I have to write about it now. I think it’s accurate enough to call it a dramedy but it has elements of suspense, science fiction and satire as well. The cast is outstanding, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan and others who would extend this already long sentence much too far, but who are nonetheless worthy of mention. I felt compelled to move this article to the front of the line if only because of its relevance to this particular time in our country’s and our planet’s history.

    Premise

    “Don’t Look Up” is a film that presents a doomsday scenario and explores how it might be dealt with in today’s socio-political environment. A doctorate candidate at Michigan State, played by Lawrence, is working one night in the Astronomy Department when she discovers a previously unknown comet. The professor, DiCaprio’s character, and other members of their small team are gathered to obtain more data on the comet. They soon discover its trajectory will bring it into a direct hit of Earth. Its size will result in an extinction event. Everyone on earth will die if the comet is not somehow diverted or destroyed. The authorities are alerted. Dr. Mindy (DiCaprio), Kate Dibiasky (Lawrence) and Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe of NASA (Morgan), are summoned to Washington for an urgent meeting with President Orlean (Streep).

    Stirring the Plot

    The President has her doubts about the science and her Chief of Staff who also happens to be her son, played by Hill, seems more concerned about Dibiasky’s personality than what she has to say. When the government’s scientists confirm the impending catastrophe, it’s treated as an opportunity for political gain. A show is made of taking out the comet. Dr. Mindy and Dibiasky (for whom the comet is named) are the spokespersons for the government and are low-ranking guests on a talk show where the hosts make light of the disastrous scene laid out on their mindless program. Dibiasky loses her cool, screaming everyone is going to die, for which she is ridiculed immediately and in the weeks following on social media memes.

    A plan is developed for the United States to blow the comet apart with nuclear warheads before it hurtles in close enough to cause any harm to our world. Unfortunately, a technology mogul whose business savvy is greater than his common sense determines there are trillions of dollars to be made by mining the comet and he presents a plan to break up the comet into many small pieces that would land harmlessly on our terrestrial lands. The President loves the idea and turns around the mission before the space shuttles are out of sight.

    Parody of the Bizarre

    What follows is a sequence of events involving the President and the populous both humorous and disturbing. It holds up a mirror to the state of our world in these strange times. The lure of riches as well as benefits for humanity based on optimistic but unproven technology bring euphoria to many. Doubters of the astronomical prediction which is undeniable choose to claim there is no comet. Meanwhile, the social media circus continues with its creative commentary on personalities and theories for the fringe. All the while, the citizens of Planet Earth are true to form, acting selfishly and irresponsibly in the face of extinction. A movement telling people not to look up gains traction. Denial of the truth is in full bloom.

    Performances

    In a story so serious which is treated satirically, actors are challenged to walk a fine line between the ridiculous and the sublime. DiCaprio played his role particularly well, ranging from the respected professor through the nervous messenger to the voice of calm and reason. Streep was suitably superficial as a shallow politician, self-serving and narcissistic. Lawrence transcends from the smart grad student who makes the discovery to the blunt and even frantic spokesperson whose screaming public indignation makes her the famous butt of jokes. Telling it like it is, being perhaps the most realistic character, she is given the least credibility by those she is trying to save. Hill did a great job portraying a snarky, entitled Chief of Staff who had no legitimate credentials for the post he held.

    Conclusion

    There are a few minor reasons not to like “Don’t Look Up.” I thought I was getting a pure, serious disaster movie. Additionally, It was frustrating to see the illogical polarization of today’s society in a scenario with clearly proven dire circumstances. Watching the main characters submit to disappointing behavior at times was difficult to watch. However, this film was strong because of the captivating premise, the outstanding cast and the social commentary. The title says it all really. Hide from the truth at all costs. It’s just life that’s at stake.

  • HOW TO NOURISH YOUR ARTISTIC PASSIONS

    You just want to do your art. You may be a writer, a musician, a potter or creator in any of the fine arts. A strong urge from within is calling you to bring forth a masterpiece or just some evidence of your genuine talent. Yet, you have another life calling, urging you to pay the bills or feed the children or buy a car or all of the above. You do what you have to do as the urge within wanes from lack of attention. Only problem is, it keeps surfacing. It’s like a seed that needs nourishment to sprout and grow. It could eventually wither and die, remembered in times of nostalgic reflection as to what might have been. But no, that’s now how it has to be! There’s still hope, no matter how mired you might be in a life of practical delusion. There must be many ways to stimulate and enliven your artistic passions, but here are some I would consider vital steps toward making your own creative passions grow.

    Visualize

    If you’re not active currently in your art of choice, start watering the seed by thought. Imagine what it would be like to be painting or dancing or acting in the theater–whatever your passion. Visualize yourself actually doing it, how good that would feel. See your product with as much clarity as you can muster. Allow excitement to arise and fill you with joyous anticipation. For some, that may amount to something like a feeling of accomplishment.

    Let’s say you’ve been somewhat active, but you’re not receiving the payoff you would like. Perhaps you’re not satisfied with what you’ve been able to create. Maybe the Muse hasn’t inspired the kind of objet d’art of which you know you’re capable. Well, visualization can help you, too. It’s all about imagination. Be specific in what you want to achieve or manifest in your work. Let the details blossom in your mind and let your feelings about it all develop.

    Schedule Creative Time

    It’s vital to work on your art regularly, every day if possible. If you don’t get down to business on this dream of yours when you promise to, you’ll find it easier and easier to let it slip out of your life. I would be willing to wager almost anyone reading this is in that situation now or has been at some time in the past. So, put this self-nourishing activity on your daily calendar, virtually or otherwise and acknowledge it’s firmly in your life. If you can only carve out 15 minutes per day, so be it. You can produce an amazing amount of work in 15 minutes per day, particularly when comparing it to zero minutes per day every day.

    Follow Through

    It’s one thing to say or think you’re going to do something and another to actually do it. It may seem unnecessary to include this step, but no it’s not. Make good on that promise. Do what you intend to do, especially considering you’re striving to do something you love, to express who you are, to make the world a more wonderful place. Take it from someone who knows. Following through makes you feel better about yourself. Failing to do what you committed to do makes you feel worse about yourself. It’s as simple as that. So, place your body in the exact spot at the exact time as you scheduled and start weaving or photographing or whatever it is you visualize yourself doing.

    Set Goals

    This may be the least likable of my suggestions, but if you have a distaste for such structured activity in the world of the arts, I plead with you to get over it. Goals, short and long range, provide direction and a measuring stick for your accomplishments. When you set an intention to simply work on your art for a certain amount of time per day, you set a standard you would rather meet than miss and if you take yourself seriously, you’ll do your best to live up to it. When you say you’ll write two blog posts per month and it’s the night of November 30th, you’ll feel a strong inclination to get that second one done before midnight. Thus, you produce. You make works of art and your life is just that much better than before when you merely longed to be an artist.

    Take Satisfaction

    When you complete a project, allow yourself to enjoy it. You brought an idea into physical existence. Pretty lofty stuff, right? It won’t be perfect, but it will be your own unique expression. That’s enough right there. You can improve on it and maybe uplift others with your art at some point. Try to find the sweet spot between egotistical self-aggrandizement and a humble wish to bring inspiration to others. Your artistic passion is a gift you have been granted. Nourish it and we will all be better for the sustenance you furnish the world.

  • THE VIBRATION OF CREATIVITY (PART TWO)

    Bridging from Part One of this article in which I discussed how vibration is part of the fabric of this universe and how we are all vibrating mentally as we create our reality, I want to concentrate now on how we can use this vital, fundamental data in our creative lives.

    How Emotional Levels Relate to Various Types of Art

    A piece of art is not the medium through which it is created. For example, a canvas and paint do not represent the painting. The frequency at which they vibrate is concurrent with their physical makeup. The colors will have varying frequencies, but paint and canvas themselves emit vibrations that are found in similar goop and fabric.

    The design and images in the painting communicate to the person viewing them. I think a picture of deep space with its galaxies and nebula conveys a higher frequency than a depiction of a dead, bloody body. The sculptor who assembles unrelated pieces of unappealing junk will create in the onlooker a vibration level that may rise to anxiety while they who create a meditating Buddha or a blessing Jesus may inspire emotional reactions of love and joy. Angry songs resonate most with a person at a similar emotional level.

    The effects you wish to create through your art on the people who internalize your creations in one way or another can be manifested by your own rate of brain wave frequency. This is your starting point. If you wish to instill fear, you have to come from that place within yourself to at least some degree. Creating a feel-good film will involve presenting images and situations that show us scenes of higher vibrational content. Oh, it’s good to enhance it more by putting the viewer through scenes of lower vibrating drama that resolves into times of happiness or fulfillment. That’s part of effective art, but the point is art’s effect originates in the creator’s state of mind or being.

    How Reaching Higher Vibrational States Can Elevate Creativity

    There’s a line of thought which would have us believe pain and misery are necessary for the artist to create good art. I am of the opinion that quality art can be created in spite of pain and misery. I know there are examples out there of people who produced masterpiece work from a place of deep unhappiness. I also accept the value of difficult experiences in making artistic work have depth and richness. However, being stuck in these experiences or living chronically in lower emotions makes it tougher to bring a creation to completion.

    It’s takes little imagination to fathom how an apathetic person would be stifled from starting, continuing or finishing a creative project. It can happen, but how much easier it is for an artist working from a state of joy to give birth to a project. The energy level would be higher, the ability to embrace all the pitfalls encountered would be in place and the mind would be open to a wider range of ideas as well as solutions. Those who are ranging in the 50 Hz vibrational level of apathy might be compared to someone walking through molasses whereas the joyful being could be seen as skipping like a stone over a calm lake at 540 Hz.

    Techniques

    In the article I did on binaural beats, I illustrated how they can be used for mental and physical benefit. To refresh, binaural beats are a phenomenon occurring when a person listens on headphones (usually) to a repeating tone in one ear and another tone in the other ear. They are of different frequencies and when heard cause the brain to emit waves at the frequency that is the difference between the two. Vibrating at the new frequency provides a pleasant experience for the listener, who can potentially raise their own frequency to a higher level on a permanent basis.

    Meditation is known to raise our brain wave frequency. Many people the world over can attest to the improvement of their mental/emotional state resulting from practicing meditation.

    Create. Yes, just the mere act of creating the art of your choice can bring you to a higher vibration rate. Accomplishing just about anything toward completion of a project is bound to produce dopamine in your brain naturally.

    There are so many ways to stimulate your vibrational output! To name a handful, one word at a time, here are some ideas. Nature, friendship, music, gratitude, visualization, affirmation, journal, exercise and routines.

    Vibrate

    Try to get in touch with the vibration of the universe and your own frequency. Feel it and love it. Happiness and more awaits.

  • THE VIBRATION OF CREATIVITY (PART ONE)

    Albert Einstein once said, “Everything in life is vibration.” Taking it a step further, everything in the universe is vibrating. Down to subatomic particles and probably matter we can’t even detect, it’s all vibrating. This is the essence of the universe. It’s said the very creation of this physical plane was due to vibration. It was vibrated into being. And it continues. We ourselves vibrate. Our art is a product of vibration. So, how can we in the arts use this information?

    Brain Wave Frequency

    I’ve touched on brain wave frequency in one of my previous articles here. I return to it now because of my renewed discovery of its essential importance in our lives. Our brain wave frequencies, which vary throughout each day and even from moment to moment, are indicators of our mental and physical health. It’s debatable as to whether the conditions of the mind and body ultimately affect the brain waves or whether it’s the brain waves that determine the state of the mind and body. It’s my belief that we as beings have dominion over the brain and determine ourselves the frequency at which it vibrates. Thus, in my world I’m responsible for my own mental and physical health. However, I digress.

    Our specific emotions coincide with predictable frequencies. The more desirable emotional states are resonating at the highest brain wave frequencies. They’re measured in cycles per second and are named for the person who discovered proof of the existence of electromagnetic waves. His name is Heinrich Rudolf Hertz. Examples of the brain wave frequencies of various emotional levels follow. Shame is accompanied by a frequency of 20 Hz. Apathy is at 50 Hz, fear at 100, and anger at 150. As you move up into higher emotional states, you find you’re vibrating at a higher and higher frequency. For instance, courage resonates at 200 Hz, a state of acceptance at 350, and love is humming along at 500. When we’re feeling pure peace, our brain is emitting waves at about 600 Hz. The source I found for this is a YouTube video titled “Everything is Frequency and Vibration – Emotional Frequency Chart – Brain Waves (Alpha, Beta, Gamma).” The creator of the video is identified as Engineering Made Easy. He has one more emotional level–Enlightenment, which matches a vibration frequency of 700 plus Hz.

    It’s exciting to consider we are not cursed to live at lower vibrational states. Obviously, life happens and we are not always able to master these higher states of being. As human beings, we create and are presented with challenges that can seem insurmountable. Overcoming disease, injury, addiction and our own bad decisions make life appear out of our control. But there are ways, there are paths, techniques and people who can help us raise our frequency.

    Incidentally, Planet Earth vibrates at a frequency of 7.83 Hz. It’s not surprising that a big rock would vibrate at such a low frequency. The universe’s frequency is 432 Hz, which ranges between reason and love. That seems fitting, considering reason could be equated with intelligence and love could be seen as an essential ingredient of creation. The universe is ever-changing, ever-evolving, created in a crucible of loving intelligence.

    Using Vibration in Creativity

    Assuming our brains are habitually vibrating in a certain range of frequencies, we can see the value of finding a way to raise our vibrational levels to live our lives with greater enjoyment and satisfaction. Taking that to the field of the arts, we may have the opportunity to use higher brain wave frequencies to free our thinking and artistic creation.

    An elementary example of the above is the musician who is feeling guilt over the time spent playing music. There are other obligations that may take precedence. Guilt is a palpable drag on the creative mood. Perhaps with some reorganization, the musician can raise that brain wave frequency up to desire born of the strong urge to get their music out and heard. If so, they will have increased the frequency by more than four times. Imagine the leap in productivity and quality just by lightening the vibe!

    On the Horizon

    This is a subject broad and deep in its scope. In Part Two, we’ll explore techniques used to raise brain wave frequency. We’ll look at how different emotional levels apply to various types of art and how exercising higher emotional states can elevate your creativity. Who knows? Maybe more will come to light as I discover other dimensions of the creative process through my study of the wonders of vibration.

  • THE RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

    Life is made up of a series of finish lines. We set goals, launch projects, face down deadlines and compete in games of all kinds with others and even ourselves. How we go about approaching the end determines the quality of our game and says a lot about us.

    In this post, I want to examine how individuals and groups in real-life situations handled their approach to the finish line. I will explore how our view of those people affected our lives and what takeaway we are given from their examples. The race is on, so strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

    The Sporting Life

    Obviously, we’re working from a metaphor here, but that doesn’t mean I need to exclude the most blatant connection to finish lines. Observing sports gives us the perfect reference to build our metaphorical examples. Some of the most dramatic moments in life occur when athletes battle it out for the medal or trophy.

    In what has been termed the greatest foot race of all time, Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco ran the 1500 meter event in the 2004 Olympics. One of track’s fastest runners ever, he had won world championships without ever being able to win gold in the Olympics. By 2004, he was no longer a favorite and had been ill leading up to the Games. Early on, he was relegated to the back of the pack. Taking advantage of the pace, he worked his way to the front. Eventually, he and the favorite Bernard Lagat of Kenya had pulled away from the other runners. El Guerrouj slowly accelerated throughout the contest, but Lagat was known for his late kick that would overtake his opponents. He used it this day to pass El Guerrouj, but the Moroccan would not be denied and again accelerated until he outdueled Lagat for the narrow victory. Crossing the finish line in first was a story of speed, endurance and courage. His story was inspiring to say the least.

    Even as this is being written, there is an epic pennant race going on in baseball. To be exact, it’s a division race between two old-time rivals–the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are the reigning world champions and started the season as the clear favorites to win the World Series again. The Giants were expected to finish no better than a distant third in the National League West. An assemblage of mostly average and aging star players, the Giants somehow started playing above all expectations and took over the lead back in May. They’ve held onto first place most of the time since then, but the Dodgers have been in hot pursuit all along. Now, with five games left in the season, the Giants hold a slim two-game edge. The outcome of this race will likely not be decided until the last day or two of the season. I am equally impressed with both of these teams, who through bouts with injuries and Covid-19, have maintained their will to win and their determination to outlast the other while both keep the pressure on their rivals.

    Approaches

    I didn’t want to go in the direction I’m about to take this. I’d rather stay away from politics, but if I’m looking for examples on how not to finish, this one can’t be ignored. I’m referring to the 2020 Presidential election. A sitting President started sowing seeds of discontent as he saw his “reign” coming to an end. His longstanding and consistent low approval ratings clearly showed the the majority of Americans would not like to have him get a second term. He said to anyone who would listen that if he didn’t win the election, it would be because it was rigged. As we know, he lost the election and despite his desperate efforts to overturn the election results, there was no evidence of fraud. As the wanna-be President reached his finish line, he did so in apparent denial with a complete absence of grace.

    The final finish line in our lives comes with death. There have been many heroes who have given their lives for others. Although there have been many in the history of humanity, they are relatively rare. One remarkable example involves John Robert Fox, an American Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in Sommocolonia, Italy as German forces tried to gain control of the village with a powerful attack that required the American unit to retreat. Fox was an artillery spotter. His job duties included sending radio reports to that would tell them where to deliver their payloads against enemy troops. He was hiding in a village house as the Nazis chased the Americans retreating from the village. Fox radioed his unit to give them coordinates on the Germans–the village where he was located. Despite the concern of the artillery unit for his safety, he told them to open fire because the enemy would overwhelm the village otherwise. The artillery attack enabled the American soldiers to successfully retreat, which led to their retaking of Sommocolonia soon after. His sacrifice for the greater good was an honorable end to the life of a brave man.

    The Dash

    A wonderful book titled The Dash included the title poem by Linda Ellis. I present it here to sum up what’s important in the race to the finish line.

    “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.

    He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

    For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

    For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

    So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

    To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

    If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.”

  • WHAT’S UP IN THE CAPITOL RECORDS TOWER?

    It’s been many years since I lived in Los Angeles. I pass through there now and then, but I don’t recall when I last put in-person eyes on that ever-recognizable symbol of recording studios we know so well. Movies and TV show us the Capitol Records Tower occasionally, but when my wife and I saw it depicted in a recent viewing of Lucifer, she asked what was happening there these days. “They don’t make records there now, do they?”

    I beg forgiveness from the music industry for not knowing the answer. As a songwriter and musician, I feel a responsibility for ongoing awareness of such a music landmark. I sense I’m not alone, however. I’ll go so far as to say I’ll wager at least half of all Americans don’t know whether that building still houses an active Capitol Records enterprise. So, I’ve checked into it now and I’m pleasantly surprised at what I’ve learned.

    A Brief Look Back

    The Capitol Records Tower was built in April of 1956. The British music company EMI had it constructed when they purchased Capitol Records in 1955. It stands 13 stories high and is said to be the world’s first circular office building. It’s easily seen from the Hollywood Freeway. It is also a short walk from the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine, a fact I would like to have known during my many visits to that very spot in years past.

    The design of the building resembles a stack of records, complete with a spire which looks like a spindle for the records to revolve around. There is a difference of opinion as to whether it was an intended representation. Who knows? Maybe it was an unintentional but subliminal design born in the subconscious. That may be a disservice to the architect Louis Naidorf of Welton Beckett and Associates, renown for noteworthy buildings in the L.A. area. Examples include the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, the Music Center and Cinerama Dome.

    A highly innovative feature of the recording studios is a set of echo chambers built 30 feet underground in the early years. These were designed by legendary guitarist and recording artist Les Paul. The chambers naturally produced reverberation that could continue for up to five seconds. One of the most famous songs using that capability is Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys.

    Other recording artists who recorded at Capitol Records Tower in the 1950s and 60s were Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore. Later, stellar names such as Carole King, Bob Seger, Ray Charles and Green Day created record magic at the studios.

    And in the 21st Century

    The Capitol Records Tower and adjacent properties were sold in 2006 by EMI to a developer from New York that built a condominium nearby. It was so close that the bad vibrations from heavy equipment reportedly threatened to damage the echo chambers underground. In 2012, Capitol Records was absorbed by a new parent company–Universal Music Group. In spite of all the changes, the Tower remained the headquarters of Capitol Records and their CEO took an office there. It was the same year they upgraded their mixing console to a state-of-the-art AMS Neve 88R. This was done at least in part for highly respected record producer Al Schmitt and Paul McCartney.

    One other iconic feature of the building has to do with visual art. A mural painted by Richard Wyatt, Jr. on the south exterior wall in 1990 honored famous jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and many more. It’s known as Hollywood Jazz: 1945-1972. Because it had deteriorated badly, it was refurbished in 2011 by the same artist and done in ceramic tile to ensure its excellent condition for an extended future.

    The Happenings Now

    I heard the Tower has been reduced to the standing of a mere apartment building, so I’ve checked to see what might be available for rent. I could find no verification of residential or commercial rental space being offered there. Two separate websites for commercial property rental state the site is off market and the property tenancy carries the status of Single Tenant. I have to conclude Capitol Records occupies the building exclusively.

    I did learn there are tours available to the public, so if you’re ever in the neighborhood, it would be a fascinating outing for anyone interested in the music business. Capitol Studios also offers space for small and large events in a unique and classy setting.

    As in decades past, Capitol Records has a roster of recording artists including Sir Paul, Katy Perry, Beck, Neil Diamond, Beastie Boys, award-winning R&B singer-songwriter Mabel, genre-defying Boslen and many other fresh acts of contemporary popular music.

    So, the Capitol Records Tower is still a vibrant source of music while being a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, standing tall and proud in the heart of Hollywood.

    On a Christmas season night

  • TEN ESSENTIALS TO GETTING PUBLISHED

    PART TWO

    In Part One of this post, we covered personal attributes and actions which need to be already present in or soon developed by the writer who wants to be published by a traditional publisher, magazine or some other targeted purveyor of content. This second half on the topic will again touch on some necessary qualities a writer should have, but our focus will shift more to proactive steps that enhance our prospects for publication.

    Research

    There’s hardly a genre or a project that doesn’t require at least some research. It doesn’t matter whether you’re writing non-fiction, fiction, poetry or jokes. You aren’t going to know everything you write about even if you know what you’re writing about very well. You can research before you actually start writing or you can research as you go. I like to do both. I’m currently on my third draft of a novel that contains considerable medical data. Even though I did gather information on the area of medicine involved in the story, I found I had to dig more and more as I went. I would hate to be caught short on necessary detail because I failed to do my research.

    A word of caution. Although research is made much easier with the Internet at our disposal, there’s no way we can get all we need online. I need the reliability of duly published material to ensure accuracy. Also, you may need to interview an expert to obtain a voice of experience or see for yourself what Jupiter looks like through a telescope. Make your research authentic, even if it at least means to get your online information from an impeccable source.

    Study of Publishers

    If you’re simply trying to have an article or poem or some other short piece published in a specific newspaper, journal, newsletter or such, studying a list of publishers isn’t essential. Becoming familiar with their needs and guidelines is still important. Your work will be better received when you know what they publish and how they like it to be presented.

    Making inroads into a broader publishing world means you have to subject yourself to the scrutiny of editors who are seeing high volumes of work descending on their desk throughout any given year. They know what they want, what they don’t want and what they like. You must take it upon yourself to send your creative work to only those compatible with what it is you have to pitch. I don’t know all the sources for publishing houses, magazines, record companies, etc. I find Writer’s Market gives me what I need for my search. As I prepared to market my latest book manuscript, I found almost 200 pages of book publishers listed with contact information and a summary of their needs as well as their exclusions. Out of all those listings, I found 35 I could comfortably send my query letters and/or manuscript to for consideration. Make use of this valuable resource or any other you prefer.

    Excellent Synopsis

    Should your work be long enough to require more than a quick look, a synopsis will be requested early in the process. Quite possibly, you will need to provide one on first contact. This is your big chance. If your creation is worthy of consideration, you have to make that clear in your synopsis. Take the time and put in the effort to make it explode off the page. Make the reader at the publishing house see your vision, feel your enthusiasm. And polish that synopsis until it reflects the quality of your writing prowess. It has to stand out from all the other queries received that day.

    Platform

    You have probably heard this term, but just in case I’ll give you a definition for this context. I’ve borrowed it from the website MasterClass. “An author platform refers to a writer’s ability to market their work, using their overall visibility to reach a target audience of potential readers. A writer’s platform might include the reach of their social media accounts, the connections they have with other published authors or literary influencers, and the writer’s relationship with media outlets. The strength of a writing platform is measured by the author’s ability to use their influence and reach in order to sell books and boost their writing career.”

    The writer’s platform is of huge importance to most publishers. It’s easy to see why. Selling books is what the publisher wants to do. It serves the greater purpose of getting the message of the work out to as many as possible. The platform should be high on the priority list for those seeking to have their book published.

    Patience

    A hungry writer who hasn’t tasted the publication fruit yet craves it like a starving person dreams of a feast. It’s not likely the first book submission is going to be accepted. Exceptional writing with good timing and targeting may result in an early reward, but most writers will be tested as to how much persistence they can muster. It should be understood they will not be recognized immediately. Even when their work is tabbed for publication, they will have to endure a long process of additional editing, book design on the part of the publisher and working their way to the front of the publishing line. It can take up to three years from the date of acceptance to seeing the book in print. Learn patience. You’ll need it in this business.

    Worth the Effort

    If you truly love writing, the joy and feeling of accomplishment that comes with having your creation published is definitely worth the blood, sweat and tears. Starting with an article in a local newspaper or magazine can be an easier way to break in and the satisfaction is sweet as well. At any level, the key is to savor the writing and embrace the process.

    Passion for Writing

  • TEN ESSENTIALS TO GETTING PUBLISHED

    PART ONE

    Realizing the dream of having a publisher invest in you and your work isn’t easy. There’s a lot that that goes into it and there’s fierce competition out there. That’s why a lot of authors self-publish or go with a publishing service that requires you to pay for all or part of the costs.

    In this article, I’m going to lay out 10 keys to having your book, story, opus or whatever published by someone who’s not you or who gets paid by you. There are other factors that have to be in place, but these 10 are what come to my mind as basic fundamentals to get you on the road to reaching that big, elusive goal.

    By the way, I’m thinking mostly in terms of publication of a book. However, I’ll try to keep the parameters broad enough to include all publication possibilities. If I can’t, I’ll point it out.

    Belief in Self

    Setting out to accomplish something you’ve never done before is always a daunting task. Having confidence in your ability to make it happen is the mindset to carry you through the phases of the process. A writer isn’t necessarily writing a piece to have it published, but here we’re assuming you are. Whether it’s a poem or an epic novel, you’ll have it hanging over you that your work had better be good to have it considered for publication. Believing in yourself won’t make it so, but when you get to the point when you will sell yourself and your work, your self-esteem will be your starting point.

    Willingness to Put in the Work

    Yes, it’s safe to assume you need to present quality content to see it published. If you’re writing a full book-length piece, there is a lot of planning involved. Once you have an outline or a plan of some kind, then the real work begins. Even on a short essay, the heart of it is saying what you have to say and presenting it in such a way that it’s compelling to read. Whatever the volume, it takes dedication to the cause and a strong effort to write professional sentences as well as well-constructed paragraphs. When it’s done, the part comes which many writers like least. Marketing to publishers can feel almost like punishment for having brought the ship into the bay. Letters and bios and proof of a following can all enter into it. There’s a lot for a writer to confront in this process and it’s not going to happen without a full-throttle assault on your goal.

    Skills

    Not everyone is an award-winning, bestselling author. Some major skills are needed for that level. Yet, I’ve heard it said, “Everyone’s a writer.” Lots of us think we can shine in this medium. It’s not hard to write, but it’s not easy to excel. I feel as though we’re born with certain aptitudes. We all have our talents. Writing can be one of them and it’s definitely an ingredient that puts a writer in the game when it comes to getting published. Polishing that skill is what increases your odds. Part of the skill of writing is recognizing poor writing when you’ve put it in print. Take the time to hone your work as well as your skills.

    Editing

    This brings us to editing. You can’t just bang out an article, poem or post (let alone a book) without careful proofreading and editing. I’ve read many quotes by writers who say their first draft is terrible. This is apparently a mere acceptance of reality. A writer pushes to get the manuscript completed and then goes about molding it as a sculptor would rework the wet clay into beautiful shape. Personally, I edit as I go on the first draft. Each day, I read what I did in the previous writing session and make corrections. Sometimes they’re a typo or a misuse of one word, but sometimes an overhaul of an idea or a paragraph is in order. Editing yourself is important, but most recommend that on a long work a professional be used.

    Write, Right?

    Unless you’re famous and/or rich, you won’t get a book deal without being a writer. And you won’t be a writer without writing…and writing…and writing. You learn how to be a publishable writer by writing. Learning your craft, fine tuning your craft–that’s what it takes. Love it. Immerse yourself in it.

    Wait! There’s More!

    In the next post, we’ll cover some of the tangible actions that improve your chances of having your creation chosen over the myriad that aren’t. Coming soon…Part Two.

  • THE ART OF STORYTELLING

    I was born into a family of storytellers. My father was a quiet man, but when he opened up and launched into a story involving something in his life, he could talk for a half-hour uninterrupted. My older brothers have shown the same talent for recounting an incident at length. I have a tendency to do the same, but I prefer my medium to be the written word and I like most to make stuff up. My grandmother Gertrude wrote a book of poetry titled Her Book of Memories. I would love to have heard the yarns of my line of grandparents back to England. Perhaps something in my DNA is wired into my penchant for storytelling.

    Show and Tell

    I respect the raw telling of a story by voice and memory. That’s how it was done in the beginning. Eventually, stories were written down and then printed on a press. Obviously, many classic stories have been told in writing, but I’m thinking here of storytelling in the verbal tradition. I can imagine human beings were telling about the events of the day as soon as speech was developed enough to do so. “You should have seen that sabre-tooth tiger, woman! I had him on my spear, but he bit it off and ran away.”

    By the Middle Ages, storytelling was a major form of entertainment. There were professional storytellers, many of whom were in great demand. They worked for anyone who could afford their services, whether it was an individual such as a nobleman or a village that pitched in the money. It wasn’t only entertainment. Often, there was educational or historical value in the stories that were related, passing down information that was like something you might find at a local historical society today.

    Here’s an example of a summarized tale that was told in numerous countries, handed down from generation to generation. I’ve pulled an excerpt from a website called The History Press, an article written by David Tonge called Medieval Tales from Many Lands. “Stories like the one about a foolish man who goes to a doctor in the hope of getting a medicine that will help him find his lost donkey. The doctor duly prescribes the fool a potion that makes him fart so loudly and so long that it sounds like a donkey braying and so attracts his own beast! It is a story that made many a medieval person laugh long, loud and lustily long ago and it still has the power to amuse today, especially children who love fart jokes when many a grown up does not.”

    Storytelling Today

    There has been a resurgence in the popularity of storytelling in recent years. I’ve done a little at an open mic I attend sometimes. Primarily, it’s a music night, but various art forms are encouraged and storytelling is among those.

    Maybe I’ll tell one like this at the open mic in the not too distant future. There’s not enough room to tell the whole story here, but I’ll give you a taste. In 2004, a good friend of mine and I took a road trip into Colorado. We went deep into the San Juan Range of the Rockies, then started back toward home by going along the western slope. We visited Ouray, a picturesque little town at an elevation of about 7800 feet. We headed south and found the road was full of hairpin turns. The worst part, though, was the fact that the outer lanes of the road had a shoulder no wider than a foot with no guard rails for long stretches. There was a precipitous drop of about a 1000 feet throughout. No trees or anything else to break a fall. My friend pointed out how easy it would be to go over the edge. I was driving and that sent me into a state of near-panic. I became hyper-aware of the potential for a horrible, violent death. I began shaking, even to the point of having one arm rise and fall radically. I envisioned myself succumbing to an urge to turn the wheel intentionally to the right and send us off the road and into the view. I really didn’t know if I was going to make it through this stretch of road.”

    The story goes on, but I’ll leave it there. Good drama, right? This art can touch the entire spectrum of human emotion. The campfire horror story can make it hard to fall asleep. A stand-up comic is often an excellent storyteller. Louis CK is an outstanding example who can make us laugh and cringe simultaneously. Spalding Gray was an actor who helped revive storytelling with a one-man show back in the 1980s who explored darker emotions through his tales.

    Getting Involved

    There are plenty of opportunities out there to do some storytelling or listen to others. Meetup alone has 552 storytelling groups with over 318,000 members across many countries. The rise of Zoom and other teleconferencing apps has made it clear we can organize our own storytelling groups at no cost if we can just find a few people who would have an interest.

    So, storytelling holds excellent promise for enjoyable entertainment, deep reflection and an art form to cultivate. Connect with some storytellers! Keep up the tradition.