Writer as Planner

Zadie Smith has written an interesting number of essays in her recent book. There is an essay about writing which I find interesting. She has categorized writers into 2 camps: macro planners and micro planners. Macro planners are those writers who make plots, notes, characters, scenarios, research and what have you during the writing of their book. The actual writing is also done in a slap dash manner, where in the macro planner may write the ending first, then the start or middle part and so on. In other words, not in a chronological order but in the way his mind is organized as he gives form to his writing. This is the exact opposite of the micro planner.

The micro planner writes his work chronologically from star to finish. All the research and thinking is done beforehand before the writing can actually begin. Zadie Smith admits that she belongs to the micro planner school. This type of writer needs to work out their plot as they write chapter by chapter until the end. A lot of re-work occurs as the writer makes changes, for example starting with the first voice and changing to third person later on. So one can say that a lot of re-working occurs during the writing although in some cases once the work is done it is really finished. There is no first draft or second draft once the work is completed. The whole process I think takes more time than the work done by the macro planner.

I think writers may be a combination of both. For example, Hemingway is more like a micro planner although he does re-write a lot with many drafts if one understands his comments on writing. But Hemingway’s work seems to flow seamlessly like Marquez that one has the impression of Hemingway being a consummate micro planner. It is difficult to think that his work had a lot of drafts. The thing about successful writers is that they know how they think in terms of the craft of writing. Good writers subsume their writing CRAFT with the way their mind works. So the result is a natural method that fits their writing ability. I think struggling writers have not reached this understanding. So struggling or new writers have good writing ability but are unable to harness this skill into a working craft or technique.

Once an understanding is reached, struggling writers eventually become good professional writers, hopefully rich and famous as well.  In my case, I may be a macro planner by temperament and thinking but mistakenly works as a micro planner probably deluded by the Hemingway example. Perhaps this explains my failure. I often stop if I cannot proceed to the next chapter although I already have thoughts and ideas on future scenes. I guess it’s the journey of the writer as they struggle to find their voice, increase their writing skill and eventually devise a writing craft and technique. In fact it’s not the act of writing really but the act of creativity – the creation of a piece of work out of inner urgings. So the writer needs to understand how the act of creativity plays out with the way his mind works and expresses itself.

So it’s a mental exercise to understand how the mind works in terms of creativity. I guess this is the secret: by separating the task of writing and the act of creativity which is subsumed into one’s writing craft. It’s a more difficult challenge than it seems because one cannot put a technique into creativity. It’s also an act of understanding, to be aware of their mind’s inner working. So being Buddhist-like with the emphasis on meditation and self-reflection may help. The mind is naturally driven to distraction: reading too many books, DVDs or external activity in the hope of increasing one’s experience and, therefore, fuel the writing binge. Perhaps Eckhart Tolle is right: one cannot add experience or skills to learn about one self but to look within. Perhaps this is the starting point for the next journey.

Facebook Memories

Last night I looked at the old pictures of my grandparents in Face book. The photos where posted by my brother who unearthed a bunch of old stuff from my late grand mother’s home. It showed our old house in San Juan when the front yard did not have fences and were not paved and the edges still had tall trees. It had the image of being less modern like those idyllic ages of abundant soil, grass and foliage hark to an innocence that’s now long lost. The Face book page invited old students of my grand parent’s school to give their thoughts. It’s touching to hear their comments expressing their gratitude to my grandmother. It’s sad that things have turned out the way it did with the school.

I remember those graduation days when the yard would be filled with chairs and we would help arrange them. Soon the cars would come and fill the streets and people filing in sitting in the chairs in front of the stage. I remember my grandfather but don’t’ recall when he left the picture after his death. Soon the school will have fewer students as the years passed as my grandmother grew old and no one could continue the teaching tradition. Now the old graduates like me approaching middle age are now able to connect with other students in Face book and relive their kindergarten and nursery days. This was not even high school but the people still remember their old school teacher who made them comfortable in their first day in school.

Facebook is a remarkable tool because it gives back some humanity to the Internet. I can’t think of any other way this can be done except in the web. A virtual reunion in cyberspace so to speak, where everyone can post pictures and express their thoughts and remember those long lost times when they were just toddlers. This trip down memory lane led me to other pictures in the net that I had posted in the past about the projects I did in Singapore, reunions with friends and fun we had working in the Asia. My brother also created groups pages for our ancestry where he posted pictures of our grand parents and great grand parents. It’s the only way our current generation of relatives, spread out all over the world, will have a chance to see the patriarchs and learn about them.

I don’t think our story is unique as I am sure there are countless stories all over the world that are unique as well. But it was a thrill to try and re-create the story piece by piece: my great grand father goes to London to study, meeting and marrying an English woman, bringing her back to the ‘jungle’ as her sister would say about the Philippines. The subsequent stories of their children (told countless times in the dinner table): one marrying my grand father and opening a school in Manila, the other with adventures in Panay Island with the Japanese invasion in World War II and all our individual stories of growing up and meeting each other in reunions. All these anecdotal stories relived with the ancient pictures uploaded and saved for posterity.

It makes me understand who I am after living in different places and finally settling here in the US. One picture shows my grand parents in their Barong Tagalog and in formal coat and tie: teacher, lawyer, judge and educator. Another picture I like was of my great grand father in his military uniform complete with his sword standing beside his pretty English bride sitting proudly beside him. We all looked at these pictures in our homes in the USA, Philippines, United Kingdom and elsewhere and marvel that this new tool could achieve the task of having a virtual reunion in the ‘clouds’ in what ever time or place. I always thought that Microsoft and Google and Apple were the best software companies but it looks like Face book beat them all by helping modern man reclaim their humanity through social networking. It’s quite an achievement I think where the next wave in innovation can come from.

House Envy

Driving to work or coming home offers glimpses of nice neighborhoods with great looking houses. I am often envious that I had decided to purchase a 2 bedroom townhouse last year instead of a 3 bedroom house. The possible price difference is about $ 40 to 50 thousand dollars. Of course it would not be a good deal because I ended up getting an interest rate of 7.5 % in an adjustable mortgage loan because I did not have a credit history. My first thought when deciding to buy that townhouse was that it was the cheapest property I could find at the time. Looking at current prices, I was able to buy at a discount perhaps of about $ 5 to $15 thousand dollars lower than current market prices.

Recently I decided to buy another house with a purchase price of $175 thousand dollars. At the last minute, the deal failed because my loan was not approved. It was a mix up because I did want to change my primary residence indicated in my loan documents. I would have lost the $ 8 thousand tax credit. At that time I wanted to purchase another home because I felt that property prices would rise incoming months. But newspapers today predict a further decline. I had thought so as well because I felt that the tax credit was artificially driving recent purchases. Despite my forecast though, I persisted in trying to buy this second home because it was a particular property I found attractive plus due to house envy.

But considering my present situation, i.e. kids going to college, single income household, wife with medical issues, it seems to be the wisest decision to buy a reasonably priced townhouse. Hence, using reason and effortful thinking plus analysis, I have made the right decision. But using intuition and effortless associative thinking, then I made the wrong decision. I guess it’s the different thinking styles mentioned in the book ‘Nudge’ explicitly seen in action in my case. The market is also showing me that I made the right decision at least for the short to medium term. At the moment, real estate prices are declining as well as mortgage rates.

The market is expected to go lower later this year once banks put foreclosed properties for sale. The supply of houses is expected to increase but demand is still not there due to the employment rate and slow job market. Some experts project that the oversupply of houses will be cleared within 6 to 8 months. The economy seemed to be picking up but recent events like the Greece bailout and economic weaknesses in the European economy had made the stock market jittery. The economy is recovering but it will take a while to become robust. Meanwhile, legislation like finance reform and health care increased government participation in the economy. The deficit is also projected to be about 90% of GDP which is a mind boggling amount.

There is a sense that the ship is in uncharted waters. Similar to the way people thought at the advent of the First World War when all the familiar guidepost or buoys have been swept away and no familiar signs exist for guidance. It’s a strange new world where reactionaries and conservatives are up in arms calling for a return to old truths that no longer work and new groups organizing like the tea party movement trying to find order in the new world. But it seems that the unending march of reform and change is so far unhampered, though with some occasional roadblocks now and again. The next reform task concerns immigration which I think can help the economy once those who are legitimized would invest in the community with more confidence. The reform may help the real estate industry in the long term.

Nudge

Last weekend I watched the George Clooney movie, ‘Up in the Air.’ Its good entertainment, basically about a dismal subject on the recession made cute. The performances from the three main characters were good. I liked the female lead so much that I bought one of her old films from the Internet. In fact, I bought 3 used DVD movies from Half.com. It’s a good site to buy second hand stuff. I did a lot during the weekend again, going through books, movies and music CDs. I think I watched 6 movies, skimmed 4 books, 2 music CDs and 4 magazines. I also had time to watch the Celtics game against Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

It’s been a while since the Celtics have dominated the series. I think the last time was with Larry Bird. I always loved watching the Lakers against the Celtics especially with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. I think the Celtics now have a chance to dominate the series again with their new lineup. My kids also started watching basketball especially since we play now and again in the gym and after watching a live game in the Atlanta stadium with the Atlanta Hawks against the Lakers. The kids watched the European soccer finals last Saturday where Milan beat Munich. I am glad the kids have focused on sports since coming here to help adapt. Sports are like a secular religion in this country.

From the books I have read lately, 2 major ideas stand out for me. One is from Eckhart Tolle. He said a sign of spiritual advancement is a silent mind, when all the mindless chattering has ceased. He also said one cannot find oneself by adding new skills or experiences but one should search from within. Good timeless advice mentioned by all great Buddhist writers and spiritual leaders but somehow made simpler to understand by Tolle. The advice on silencing the mind works in myriad areas like playing golf, making a speech or participating in meetings. For me, my mind keeps jumping around with thoughts during these occasions that I have to willfully suppress my mind to succeed in these tasks.

Managing and controlling the mind is avoiding the ‘mental disease’ that afflicts people in their hectic lifestyle. But in fact it looks like I am willfully seeking to stress my mind with all my reading and movie watching crammed in the weekend. It’s like my mind is unconsciously seeking to prevent me from doing the things I like such as writing a book or playing golf. Perhaps it’s the dying reaction of the ‘monkey mind’ that is grasping for survival. The ‘monkey mind’ is also the enemy of investors as it seems to promote day trading with constant changes in positions. One should write a book called the Buddhist investor as a way to silence the mind when investing.

With these tasks, a silent mind can only be achieved if one has mastered the mechanical efforts needed to excel in these tasks. For example, practicing one’s golf swing, writing via journaling or other writing exercises, gaining financial literacy before investing, participating in Toastmasters and so on. Educating and practicing oneself in the foundation of each task help reduce mental chatter when one begins the real task: playing golf, writing a book, speaking in public or investing in the stock market. Education, practice or actual experience and mental control (achieved through spiritual study, reflection and meditation) are perhaps the secret of success. Constant practice some would say is the key – about 10,000 hours as some books suggest – before one achieves expertise. I guess this practice will help quiet the ‘monkey mind.’

Subsequently, recent books on behavioral economics point to mental mistakes. Books like ‘Nudge’ advocate ways to ‘nudge’ people by creating a ‘choice architecture’ that lead people to make sensible decisions. People are divided into those that make automatic intuitive decisions and those that make reflective (even counter intuitive) decisions. Most people make intuitive decisions that don’t make sense so ‘choice architecture’ help one make better ones. For example, default options that automatically opt in employees into retirement plans. This book points to cognitive errors while Tolle talks about reflection and mental chatter. Survival in modern life means recognizing and reducing cognitive errors plus self-reflection and meditation to silence the mind.

Visit to Washington

Last week we spent 5 days in the capital. We stayed in a new hotel about 26 miles from the city, located in Sterling Virginia. The smallish hotel was near the Dulles airport. At that time, I did not know who the airport was named after– Allan Foster Dulles – the former CIA chief or his brother John Foster Dulles – the former Secretary of State. Due to the proximity of the CIA head quarters in nearby Langley Virginia, I originally thought that it would be the former CIA chief. But in fact, it was named after the former Secretary of State, dedicated by President John Kennedy in the 1960s.

Washington is one of the premier cities in the world. It reminds one of Paris and actually designed by a French man. But it also reminds me of Beijing with the large open spaces for the public but with more greenery especially in the Mall. I guess both governments intended it to be citizen’s spaces, where the general public would gather and express themselves.  In fact, most famous pictures of Washington are the Civil Rights and the Vietnam Veteran’s protest gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It’s all about people protesting about the current government policies. Similarly, Tiananmen Square in Beijing is also the site of people’s protest although this one ended in bloodshed and repression.

Interestingly, Washington have memorials for slain leaders specifically Lincoln memorial and somber JFK tombstones in Arlington cemetery. There are no memorials for slain leaders in Beijing only of the people in Tiananmen Square. I wonder what this means. I guess one would say the one country has the ability to kills its leaders – a fact often mentioned by Mikhail Gorbachev in his day.  What does it mean when one can infer that Communist countries have societies that do not harm its leaders as compared to Democratic countries? Perhaps Democratic societies provide fewer bodyguards to their leaders or that they can freely meet with the people as compared to Communist ones.

But I digress. Washington has great museums that are free. These are world class museums that display priceless works or arts. I like the museum of art especially the East wing designed by I.M.Pei. But I still think it pales with the Getty Museum in Los Angeles though the works of arts in Washington are outstanding. There were masterpieces from Boticelli, El Greco, Rembrandt, Degas and many others that I did not expect to see here. Usually I would only see these works from art books. It is a liberating to see these great works for free. I guess it is the egalitarian power of the democracy that makes this possible. In fact, I don’t think the great museums in Paris are free. 

I never had a chance to drive in the streets of Washington as both my sons were at the wheel. It gave me a better view of surrounding scenes. I particularly liked driving through Georgetown, Du Pont Circle, around the White House and of course the Mall. I remember the view of the city atop Arlington, sitting in the porch of Arlington House. The drive back home through the Virginia countryside was also a nice experience. I understood for the first time what it feels like to be here after reading about it in the pages of novels or history books or watching scenes in movies. There is a majestic feeling walking in the streets, a feeling of power and history and greatness, especially when looking at the memorials of great men who died for their ideals. Somehow I also get a feeling of martial tendencies and of war and conquest and discipline that is also frightening.

Lost Weekend

I tried catching up on my reading last weekend. I borrowed too much books on finance and investment, rushing along to keep in touch with the latest trends. I think I have reached a good level of understanding of present trends. But it was not only investment books but on other subjects like resilience (by meditation, self-awareness and reflection exercise, etc.), exotic vacations and obscure books like Monsieur Pain. Usually I speed read the book that I am interested in. Otherwise, I just read the chapters I like. I guess it is more like a grasping on quantity rather than quality. The good books I do read slowly while the others I just skim along.

I discovered a new writer in Roberto Bolano. He writes with traces of Garcia-Marquez but with a more sinister bent. His work is like a combination of the exoticness of Arturo-Perez Reverte and a restrained Marquez. He evoked the sensuousness of Latin America as depicted in Botero’s painting and sculptures. But he is more refined and disciplined. More like a more accessible Borges. I hope to read more of his book and see that a few books of his exist in the library. These days I prefer to borrow audio books so I can listen in the car only resort to actual reading if I really have to. If I do need to read, I speed read those books that I don’t need to enjoy.

I borrowed too much DVDs and wasted time watching them. There is a lack of control in my part though I sometimes suspect that it is more a reaction to stress. Is it really a desire to satisfy my curiosity? Or is it more a gluttony of books and movies? If these urges where focused on food, then I would probably be obese. A need for control and discipline is needed which I think can be gained by self-reflection, mindfulness and meditation. It’s all in the book ‘Bounce’ which re-emphasizes my attachment to self-reflection via journaling via blogging. On meditation, my daily quasi Tai Chi exercises provide some peace but I need try Yoga as well for its physical benefits. I think its these tasks – journal writing, Tai Chi and exercise that have kept me sane.

I wanted to watch a move with my kids this weekend but there where no takers. Instead I borrowed the following movies: ‘Bad Lieutenant – Port of Call New Orleans’, ‘2012’, ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Spy’, ‘Magnolia’, ‘A Dangerous Man’, ‘Monster Thursday’ and ‘Burmese Harp.’ They are all good movies but I particularly like ‘Tinker, Tailor,..’ which is an English television series starring Alec Guinness. It is a good intelligent thriller that relies on old fashioned drama and skilled acting and good plot rather than special effects. It’s a movie I will surely watch again (in fact I have already watched it before) together with the conclusion ‘Smiley’s People’.

An old friend from Singapore is arriving on Wednesday. We last saw each other a year ago in Singapore. Her family has moved to Canada though they may move here in 2-3 years. Only 2 dear friends are left in Singapore. It’s amazing how life turns out in all its surprises. We won’t be able to see her right away since we will be traveling this week. But we will still see her next week when we come back. Perhaps it’s fate that our lives would entwine again in this region of the world. I had thought that Singapore was the culmination of our lives but now seems only a transition. But the story is not finished and one day I may find myself back there again.

Weekend Madness

Yesterday there was an attempted bombing in New York. The news was in CNN. During the weekend, I watched DVDs about the US invasion of Panama, the Clinton years and an autobiography of writer Norman Mailer. Mailer’s biography featured scenes of the sixties, the political protest and assassination of King and the Kennedy brothers. Then last night I listened to a compact disc of Eckhart Tolle. The CD was entitled ‘The Sun will also die.’ It was based on an interview done with Tolle at the exact day of the September 11 attack. So there were questions about the terrorist attack of that day.

It was a good lecture to listen to especially with the other DVDs I watched during the weekend plus the troubling event in New York. Tolle said that there’s a dysfunction in modern life and all these events are signs of a mental disease. He was not surprised with the attack considering all the terrible events of the century; for example, two world wars, Korea and Vietnam and so on. So he said the key is to transform human consciousness. He was not saying anything new as he was emphasizing transformation via meditation and reflection. The secret is to achieve mental stillness. According to the Wikipedia article, Tolle belongs to the teaching ‘stream’ of people like Krisnamurti.

I discovered Tolle when I read an article on him in the New York Times. The article was about his seminars in the Ohpra Winfrey show. I like the article so I searched for his works in the library and ended up with this CD. I hope to read more about his books and learn his ideas. There were some passages in the CD that was insightful specifically for my situation. He said that one cannot find oneself by going out and adding things like skills, attending seminars and so on. One should go within to find oneself. He says that going out and attending seminars, seeking new skills, etc. is fine as long as one does not seek to find himself in all this external activities. In fact, one should strive for more meditation to still the mind especially the thinking process.

It was a good reminder to me and a return somewhat to the ideas of Krisnamurthi and transcendental meditation – ideas I had explored in college. It was a welcome reminder after my mad dash to read books and attend seminars and so on in the past few weeks. He said that you will never be what you want to be by doing all these external activities. One should go inward and still the mind to discover oneself. One is not one’s thoughts. I guess I can say that my educational quest is more to gain skills: in writing, in investing and in public speaking. I know who I am and it is the challenge to have the courage to express myself in an authentic manner.

Applying his ideas in investing would point to being a passive investor. So Buddhist or TM practitioners are long term, buy and hold investors who avoid the churning of the mind brought about by day trading or active investment or watching CNBC. I guess these people are not ‘bobo’s or bourgeois bohemians as the new young, educated and wealthy elite are now called. But perhaps these people are exactly the same ones who buy Tolle’s books and make him famous. Strange that I started with investment guru Larry Swedroe who promotes passive investment and end up with Eckhart Tolle who seem to provide the spiritual basis for passive investors.