random, surpenting

When I was in my early twenties, I fooled around with writing different things: slam poetry, short stories, essays about the things that are important to a guy in his early twenties . . .
Soul Coughing, William Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, my friends Dave and Dave, and a bar called The Two of Clubs all combined to inspire me . . . but nothing I wrote back then was any good.
This week, I’ve been listening to far too much Soul Coughing (as if there is such a thing!) and it’s inspiring me again. I feel this mixture of inspiration and compulsion well up inside me — I actually feel it press out against the inside of my chest — and I want to write a smoky, whiskey-soaked story about a guy who gets into a lot of trouble.
Tonight, I was listening to Ruby Vroom right after I dropped Ryan at baseball practice. I drove home straight into the setting sun, and I heard this character in my head say, in an exhausted voice, “I wondered if I could drive fast enough to catch the Sun, and I didn’t mean chase it around the world. I meant drive right into the heart of that motherfucker, and melt. I looked into my rearview mirror, and pressed my foot into the floor.”
I don’t know how that guy got there, and I don’t know what the scratch mark will reveal when it traces across the surface of my mind, but it’s going to be interesting to look.

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56 thoughts on “random, surpenting”

  1. Dude, I have no real cred to tell you this other than my own writing desires – I’m a former slam poet with some wins under my belt – and I gotta say what you heard in your head struck me immediately as one of those fantastic endlines to a tale, like Kerouac’s “I think of Dean Moriarty…” from OTR or Fitzgerald’s “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” from Gatsby. Gotta run with that muse when she snatches you up by the scruff that way.

  2. Don’t you love it when the random voices start talking in your head? (Not in the ‘I’ve lost my mind’ kind of way, though. 🙂 )It sounds crazy, but some of the best dialog I’ve ever written comes to me much like that line came to you. (And what a very provocative idea the exasperated voice expressed! I’d be excited to hear more from that voice!)
    Very, very cool.
    cheers…

  3. It could also work as an amazing opening line… Why is he driving away from the sun if he wonders about driving *into* it? (and on and on) Pay attention to this voice and the smoky, whiskey-soaked slam poet the inner monologue the voice will inevitably inspire. 🙂
    Good goooooooooood stuff.

  4. anyone who listens to soul coughing is on the level. For good reading that is just as wild on character, can I also suggest Denis Johnson, Jesus’ Son. Wow.

  5. I always get reminded of my favorite SC line when I hear writers talk about the risks and thrills of writing:
    “He flicked an ash, like a wild, loose comma…”
    Sad to see them go.
    Check out MC 900 Foot Jesus if you get the chance, particularly the song “Killer inside me” from “One Step Ahead of the Spider” and “New Moon” from “Welcome to my Dream’.

  6. WOOT! Unmarked Helicopters! I really miss Soul Coughing.
    Acording to the pres. debates though, their theory of blame aparently rings true too with a small change to the lyrics: “Blame! It’s the cure cure anything pull the (runner) down pull the (runner) down. Broad! Broad latitude, pull the (runner) down pull the (runner) down. Didum didum didum dootn’ dot didum didum didum didum…”
    Yep, that is one group I wished stayed around.

  8. Alas, my little voice went away a few years ago. But I can still dig on soul coughing. Anyone near NYC can see Doughty from Soul Coughing this saturday.
    -antij
    From Doughty’s HQ:
    Just confirmed: Mike Doughty will play a special show at Fez in New York on Saturday, October 16.
    This is a rare opportunity to see Mike in a tiny club venue. The gig is part of the CMJ Music Marathon festival, so public tickets will be very limited.
    Tickets are $12.00 — Mike Doughty’s on at 10:00 PM — and you can reserve seats by calling Fez at 212.533.7000.
    For more info, see Fez’s website at http://www.feznyc.com/
    HQ

  9. Ive been to a slam poetry bar in Chicago. It was…amazing, words cant even describe how it shook me to the core and changed my life! Its an experience i know i will never forget, no matter how long i live.
    -Grace

  10. As others have pointed out upthread, Doughty (former lead singer of Soul Coughing) is doing solo work now; I like it better than I like SC’s stuff, which is saying a lot, because I really really love SC. 🙂
    Anyway, his website is mikedoughty.com and his blog is /blog.

  11. Hey Wil… don’t know if you’ve looked at the comments for the “fossilize apostle” post in the past few hours…
    Check out what was Posted by Sternel at October 14, 2004 08:28 PM
    as well as my post for Sunday, the 24th, in Arcadia. [is that happening at 3pm like an email notice I got, or 4pm like on their website???]
    Thanks much for all the great thoughts you spill outta yer brain.

  12. Wow. Could we be seeing the making of some fiction? Good line. Maybe your dude could get into a whole lot of trouble… Playing poker? Just a thought…
    However that guy got there, go with him. That was an excellent line, and sounds like either a good beginning (like setting up the story as a flashback from that point), or a killer cliffhanger ending to a continuing thing…

  15. If you’re upset about the whole Stolen Honor affair, there are a couple of things you can do. Go to http://www.goingupriver.com, then download and watch the movie.
    If you still think John Kerry betrayed his fellow vets by testifying before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in 1971, read the two latest entries in my Slashdot journal: http://slashdot.org/~richie2000/journal/ If you’re at all squeamish and/or have kids, just skip most of the “They came in the morning” entry, down to the BLOCKQUOTE commentary at the bottom.

  16. That character sounds right on. go with it. Let the character take you where you need to go.
    I look forward to hearing the results of this new muse. 😉

  17. You’ll appreciate to hear that the voice you heard sounds an awful lot like the Gunslinger of the Dark Tower series….
    I’m just saying…

  19. “I wondered if I could drive fast enough to catch the Sun…”
    Coolest. Passage. Ever. Take it and run with it – I already want to know what happens next!
    And too much Soul Coughing. Pshaw, I say.

  20. Anyone who likes Soul Coughing & They Might Be Giants is way cool!
    Mike Doughty has a new song, “Move On”, available in iTMS. I also found one he did a few years ago with DMB.

  21. Damn it Wheaton. Now I want more (because really it’s all about us – the demanding fans)
    Seriously – I love the picture that line brings up in my head – I hope it takes you someplace baeutiful.
    Also – no such thing as to much soul coughing.
    PS – I managed to get the audio and video of the gnomedex perfomance. Very cool, I’m burning and passing it out to family and friends.

  24. Wil,
    Read “Love Me” by Garrison Keillor. It’s the perfect example of an author known for his ‘one track life’ (Lake Wobegon, Lake Wobegon, Lake Wobegon) going out on a limb without straying too far from what’s ‘comfortable’. It’s also an excellent book.

  25. That voice sounds really interesting! Hearing a character like that and then trying to write it is alway an amazing process. Good luck!

  26. A character in your head? *huggles you* My friend and I have characters talk in our heads all the time, (well not literally all the time, that would drive us insane or something) and we’ve never found any one else who admits to the same ‘affliction’.

  27. Beth:
    I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I. always talked about my little voice in his voice-overs.
    Now I’m not saying that what normal people consider acceptable is effected by what’s on a mainstream TV show, but perhaps the reverse is true.

  29. Odd.
    I wrote about Soul Coughing in my blog yesterday, too. :-/
    My entry was far less interesting, however. Can’t wait to read the results of the sunset brainstorm.

  31. That’s a great hook. If you can keep that mood going for a full chapter, you should be able to sell that. Philip Marlowe, Mickey Spillane, Dashiell Hammett…

  32. Was just reading the DCC page. Anyone notice that, apart from Peter Mayhew, Wil is the only GoH that has more than one credit? Neat! Not to shortchange that illustrious list, but it’s pretty cool that Wil’s got both Star Trek and Stand By Me, whereas Dorn, Spiner and DeLancie only have TNG. We all know Brent’s done quite a few films, and Michael did Star Trek IV, as well as doing voice acting for MANY cartoon shows.
    Which makes you wonder… Maybe Darkside (or is it Darkseid? Damn me not being a comic geek) could come mess with the Teen Titans, and Aqualad could make an appearance, as well as Kallaback (again, my non-comic-geekness shows), voiced by one Michael Dorn… Wesley vs. Worf? That’d be cool…

  33. Hey Will–
    I don’t know if you’ve encountered this on your travels throughout the web, but the National Novel Writing Month might be a good outlet for any hidden writing urges you have pent up in your brain.
    It’s pretty much what one would assume– you write a novel in a month. 50,000 words in a month, or something like that. Thought that might be something you’d be interested in.

  34. That sounds like an awesome beginning to a story! I’m a writer too, and there’s nothing better than having the Muse speak to you so loud and clear. Hope you jumped in and wrote what came to mind. Sometimes the best stuff comes from spontaneous writing.

  35. “I wondered if I could drive fast enough to catch the Sun, and I didn’t mean chase it around the world. I meant drive right into the heart of that motherfucker, and melt. I looked into my rearview mirror, and pressed my foot into the floor.”
    That’s just about the COOLEST thing I have ever read, all in once neat little chunk of text.
    I gotta know more about that character.

  39. Dude, Wil… That line rocks. It’s reminiscent of another opening line to a book (series of books?) which I know you’ve read, having commented on reading the final book. It’s one of those lines that grabs you by the balls and refuses to let go, and you just want to go along for the ride. I can’t wait to see how that line develops.

  40. Craig:
    Thank you for the information, but remember something…I’m 15, I have very little knowledge of Magnum P.I. But if voices are talking and someone is talking about them, I shall have to check it out.

  41. Interesting you went there, as I am going to see Mike Doughty tomorrow in NYC.
    I am sure that I will probably get drunk and speak to the man, as I generally do so. Should I get the opportunity, I shall mention that you have given him mad props on the ‘net.
    No, no such thing as too much Soul Coughing.

  42. I’m bit slow on the take today because of a monster cold. Could someone (like Eric in PA) explain to me what the DCC page is? And what GoH is? I’ve no idea what he was talking about a few items up there.

  43. This National Novel Writing Month thing sounds really cool, I may even have ago myself!
    Oh and Wil you encouraged me to finally go out there and write my very own blog! you can have a read here

  44. Angie – I just clicked the comments link to post a rec. for MC 900ft. Jesus. Wil – I’d take that as a solid vote you check it out. I think it’s all out of print and not so easy to find, but well worth the effort.

  45. I am just amazed at the way you write. Those last two paragraphs had me looking up wistfully for the sun. But it’s dark and I have to settle for the soothing coolness of the moon. And imagining all the scars littering my mind. 😉

  47. Thanks Eric. I’ve been to one con about 10 years ago. It was a sci-fi con. I don’t think it even had a guest of honour, although there were speakers. I drank this blue stuff and don’t remember much after that. 😉

  48. Excellent opening sentence, Wil!
    I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now, but I’ve never posted here myself. I might be unusual, Trek-wise, because I was always a fan of Wesley. I’m 23 now, so when the show was originally airing, I was just a little kid, and when I saw someone on the Enterprise who was a bit older than me but not yet an adult, but working with the adults…I basically thought you were the coolest thing ever. I’m assuming that you don’t get responses about Wesley like that too often, so I wanted to let you know. Also, to prove how much of an ’80’s kid I am, I clearly remember when the cast of TNG, including you, was on a special sci-fi episode of Reading Rainbow.
    Anyway…last night I found a copy of Just a Geek in my local B&N, and bought it, since I’d been looking for it for a while. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and just wanted to tell you that I loved it: it was so open and honest and fascinating. I loved reading about your experiences, during, after, and completely unrelated to Star Trek, and I was most interested in how you demonstrated how your skills as a writer have improved by having the blog the past few years. I was glad to get such insight on the trials of being a professional actor, your joy of performing and writing, your family. Whoever wrote that nasty blurb in EW can go shove it.
    I’m looking forward to reading whatever you might publish next!

  49. Wil – Very nice feel to what you wrote. I’m picturing a black car and an early winter sunset, with steam rising from the sewer vents in the street.
    You haven’t written the story and I’m already seeing the movie in my head.

  50. Wow. That is some great writting. If i could write like that, then I would need to dance in the street for coins.

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