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Richard A. McCullough's Written Works (39)

A new website is for you - my fellow writers

Hello, friends and fellow writers; It's been a while since I've been able to post anything but as you'll see I've been very busy. Click here for the website I created for you - my fellow writer. http://www.write-better-fiction.com Whether you are a poet, novelist, or screenwriter, whatever genre or format - we are all storytellers and this site is for you. This site is devoted to helping writers; Write Better Fiction - faster a… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on October 13, 2009 at 1:10pm — No Compliments

6-Degrees of Separation

We’re familiar with the idea of there being only 6 people between you and anyone else in the world – and that’s a good thing. However, consider that there are countless-degrees of separation between you and reality – and that’s not such a good thing. I can hear people’s heads spinning. Let me explain. Not all that long ago a man could very easily see what he was actually doing. You pick up a saddle and stick it on a horse. One can see, feel, and smell, etc., the horse and the saddle. Not to m… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 29, 2009 at 10:09pm — 4 Comments

More on "Natural Talent"

I've received a few questions about my article "Regarding - Natural Talent" so I thought I'd clarify the point. >>The more "natural talent" an artist was "born with" and the less training they have had in the correct technology in their craft the more vulnerable they are to outside criticism and self doubt.<< Oh, I know it's a pretty sweeping statement. But being one myself and raising three others, and having talked with many others - I've found this to be fare more the case, tha… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 28, 2009 at 2:28pm — 5 Comments

A conversation with Marry Anne

Mary Anne sent me this and its worth a read But my "reply" was too long so I'm posting the whole thing here. >>Just read both the SYSTEMS and NATURAL TALENT, too bad I didn't join this circle sooner - I would have not wasted my time with Self-Publishing my first book...lesson learned for jumping the gun...the book would be two years old come this November and only made me about twenty four dollars, I'm out six grand and still have no way of knowing if the book is really selling or not.… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 27, 2009 at 7:19pm — No Compliments

Selfpublishing - The Best Game in town

Selfpublishing - the Best Game in town.pdf "Any writer working in today's environment would have to be gullible or out of his mind to turn a manuscript over to a publisher. Considering that the writer is going to have to do all the marketing and promoting anyway why settle for .86 cents a copy when you can as… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 27, 2009 at 5:24pm — 6 Comments

Regarding Natural Talent

The more "natural talent" an artist was "born with" and the less training they have had in the correct technology in their craft the more vulnerable they are to outside criticism and self doubt. Simply because, they don't know - what they know. In fact they would have to accept the idea that there was a "correct technology" for their craft before they could even come up to "not know" about it. Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 26, 2009 at 6:06pm — 2 Comments

We Need a System - to Succeed

By Richard A. McCullough Successful writing demands a system It takes several systems (not just one) to survive, let alone achieve success as authors; whether one is writing fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose. "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." ~Vincent Van Gogh If you are only writing as a "hobby" with no intention to share your creations beyond a hand full of relatives and close friends then this article isn't for… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on July 2, 2009 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

Tumbleweeds Passed By

Tumbleweeds Passed By Copyright By Richard A. McCullough All rights reserved There was a time when I laid on park benches in Detroit, LA, Boston, San Francisco, through the seasons, and it was grand, riding trains, taking my relief out the sliding doors of boxcars into the passing country. Your own private highway made of twin steel ribbons. You didn't have to pay taxes or check your mail. There was only the rhythm of the rails and the smell of packing straw. "Sam, look at that day, will ya?… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on June 30, 2009 at 3:36am — 6 Comments

The Good, Band and Ugly - of the Writing Business

The Good, Band and Ugly - of the Writing Business Copyright © Richard McCullough In the preceding article "Planet Earth - Now Hiring" we discussed the necessity of a goal, for mankind and the organizational structure necessary for achieving that goal. Based on that structure, Ideal Scenes can be envisioned and Existing Scenes can be observed for each of the Divisions. In this article we will discuss the Existing Scene for Division 1 - The Arts. With particular focus on the section devoted… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on June 26, 2009 at 2:13pm — 4 Comments

DUCHESS OF DENMARK

"The Duchess of Denmark" is an epic type poem in the tradition of the bards and minstrels that once wandered the roads of Europe. Imagine if you will - There you sit, in a dimly lit Inn on the Kings road, with a tankard of ail and wooden plate of hard bread and cheese before you. Outside the wind blows a cold rain but inside the hearth is stoked with brightly burning logs. And above the faint crackle of the fire, a haggard voice from the shadows begins to recite this tale... Duchess of Den… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on June 9, 2009 at 12:30pm — 3 Comments

Fallen Photos

a series by Richard A. McCullough Inspired by the work of Phillip Ross ----------------------------------------------- 1 of 4 Memories Rise swirling 'round like Autumn leaves spiraling in a gust of wind each one fluttering after the other like children chasing each a distinctive voice 'round and 'round until the wind fades as suddenly as it came and whispering they all fall down brittle dry voices silent again after a chorus of memories ---------------------------------------------… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 29, 2009 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

Gettin' Dizzy

Gettin' Dizzy by Richard A. McCullough all rights reserved Children, five in a row, come running to the playground toy we spun laughing around, black little boys, like any little boys you'd find hanging around on any afternoon. No introductions. They're quite improper, you know, something grown ups would do. We just jump; together in a tight little group and spun the world off like a big yellow hoop, taking turns at the spinning of this merry go round. When you run very fast, it sweeps your… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 25, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Compliments

Love Me Quick

Love Me Quick by Richard A. McCullough all rights reserved She wears her hair like a flag and sits at a stool with smiles and a thank you. Outside the wind blows but the wood is warm and the glass bottom leaves circles of shine upon the rich shine bar-top and the music plays very loud and we are not afraid. Outside staring at us with concrete eyes, a city watches through our window. It's grinning teeth are cast in lamp light waiting for us to fall. *** Come to me, Mary, and we will dance… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 21, 2009 at 6:34pm — 6 Comments

Incident vs. Story

"One can find stories anywhere, like the newspaper." While there is a grain of truth in such a statement it's not quite true. And therein lies the rub; for it is the "not quite true" stuff that gives us all our troubles. What one finds in a newspaper are not stories but rather incidents. (For definitions please see; "To Tell a Story" - previously posted) What the newspaper industry refers to as a "story" is lacking two specific elements that would make it into a true Story. "Boy Ran Over By… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 15, 2009 at 4:17pm — 7 Comments

What exactly is a "Story" anyway?

To Tell A Story, One Must Know Exactly What A "Story" Is. We should be able to start with the definition of the word "Story". That should be the front door into the subject of "storytelling". But instead of a front door we find a trapdoor into a pit of confusion. The linguists have taken over the language and messed it up pretty bad. Two of their favorite tools are: altering definitions, and the invention of the word synonym - which once meant similar to but has been morphed into "same as".… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 12, 2009 at 12:49am — No Compliments

It's About The "Story"

It's all about "story". Novel, Screenplay, Play, Short Story, Poem are all just "formats". Different storytelling formats. The first thing one must understand is "story" what is a story? Now, the problem is that everyone thinks they know what a story is because they have been listening, reading and watching them their whole life. But that's like reasoning that one knows how to "build a house" just because they have been living in one their whole life. However, it is far easier to learn how… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on May 6, 2009 at 12:31pm — 6 Comments

001 Introduction - Cracking The Master Storyteller’s Code

004-Introduction.pdf Introduction: The following material was created for a seminar delivered to the Celebrity Center International Professional Writers Association in Hollywood California on December 17th 2008. Who I am: Brief Bio Richard A. McCullough began his writing career at age 10 with his horror story, "To Commit a Murder" based l… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on February 26, 2009 at 9:34am — No Compliments

THE TRAIN

THE TRAIN by Richard A. McCullough All rights reserved A tree-house by a railroad track where you could sit all day waiting for the train to come by. And talk about being a bum a hobo riding the train that goes all the way across the world riding and riding. "And I'll open the doors." "And I'll pee at the cows." passing by passing by "And we wont ever come back." "Never." "And we'll wear funny clothes." "And I'll have a hole in my knee." And the wind will blow through with the country p… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on December 12, 2008 at 8:56pm — No Compliments

MARGARET

When I was in high school I was fortunit enough to have two extra "Mothers" - families where I could go and just hang out. One hot summer day one of my "mothers" died suddenly. Her name was Margaret. MARGARET by Richard A. McCullough all rights reserved We buried her, I mean my Father and I We stood and watched the open earth shovel over the coffin top, heard it thud and rattle and saw it fall to fill the edges. We buried her staring through the coffin top, her eyes eyes, her eyes p… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on December 12, 2008 at 8:43pm — No Compliments

Go-for-it, kid

Go-for-it, kid by Richard A. McCullough all rights reserved (note) This is taken from a letter that I wrote to Robert upon hearing of his release from the hospital following a liver transplant. . . .So, I'm very glad that your back in the game with a fully - or soon to be - functioning body. After a lube and an oil change you must be raring to go. "OK kid, so just take it easy around the track a couple of laps, to get the tires warmed up and get the feel of her, before you go slamm… Continue

Added by Richard A. McCullough on December 12, 2008 at 8:36pm — No Compliments