The Writer's Lens

In this reflective Short, I take a look back at when I was overeager and overly trusting of anyone I crossed paths with on my road to writing stories. 

You publish something. Someone buys it. Maybe you know them. Maybe you don't. But does it matter if they read it so long as you sell it? Or at least know that they have a copy of it? Might seem pretty straightforward. This short little rant explores some of the psychology behind what happens when we know someone has bought, read, and then given feedback. 

The news is always updating, always changing, and seemingly always in our faces. And there's a reason for that - we love to hear stories. Good, bad, ugly - it doesn't matter. This newest short on The Writer's Lens is about the news and how storytelling is intertwined within. 

In this shorter episode of The Writer's Lens, I have some free form discussion on whether or not creatives should be working to attain mainstream recognition or not.  As always, I trust this will garner some further thought (and perhaps action) on the topic.  Enjoy! 

Welcome back to The Writer's Lens!  In this end-of-year episode, I decided to kick the podcast back into gear by discussing a few Hollywood and movie reboots. And what these reboots might be signaling about our culture - and how we view what it means to be a "man" in the 21st century.  Enjoy and Happy New Year! 

The Ninja Turtles are still - to some degree - a cultural phenomenon. A story about humanoid, mutant turtles who just so happen to know ninjitsu. But did you ever consider that it's a story about two fathers and how they run their households? I'm sure you didn't. So in this episode, I will attempt to lay out my argument as to why that is. And why the Turtles' story continues to be relative to each new generation that gets to know them.  

The film "Remember the Titans" is mostly known for its brilliant way of portraying cultural race relations surrounding high school football in the 1970s. And though it's a very well-told and appropriate, the film is also a great example of what leadership can look like. What it takes to be a great leader and what sorts of intangibles are necessary.  And for the sake of discussion, I do reference Michael Jordan's quote from "The Last Dance" also. 

What does a Dreamwork's movie have to do with dating and marriage? Or rather, what do dragons and vikings have to do with courtship? Well, here's my attempt to marry, uh, combine these two items into a singular episode. Enjoy. 

It's the Christmas season. And in the spirit of Christmas, I'm doing a Christmas-themed episode by talking about A Christmas Story. This one is a bit jumbled in its approach, but in this holiday episode, I talk briefly about the infamous bully encounter within A Christmas Story and why overcoming our biggest detractors is a pertinent message for this time of year.    Enjoy and Merry Christmas everyone! 

Godzilla is an international icon in monster movie cinema. Recognizable by millions and adored by multiple generations. His inception - to those unaware - was Japan's response to the first, and only time, nuclear weapons were used in modern warfare. The bombs that hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastated the country and its people. And simultaneously gave rise to all manner of "what if?" scenarios about what could happen next should the bombs ever be used again in combat.  Today's episode looks back at the horrors of war, the destructive nature of the bombings, and the movie monster that was birthed out of it.    SIDE NOTE: There is a bit of static towards the end of this episode. I trust it doesn't detract too much from the content so hang in there till the end! 

Parenting is an easy task, isn't it? I mean, even a caveman could do it.  Dreamworks' "The Croods" features a family of cavemen struggling to survive in a world that is drastically changing. And in order to survive, the family's patriarch - and leader - must adapt to the changing world around them.  It might seem a stretch to use cartoon cavemen as a proper medium to discuss parenting, but this is The Writer's Lens, and by gosh, we're gonna do it. This episode is all about parenting and the many thoughts, techniques, and teachings on how to do it. 

The Super Mario Bros. franchise is beloved from the east to the west. Its longstanding run in the video game industry has spanned nearly four decades and as of 2023, appears to have never been stronger.  Today's episode takes a brief dive into what I think helped to make Mario a household name in our culture. And it all started with jumping over barrels to save a princess. 

The dystopian genre has grown exponentially in the Western world over the years. Book series like "The Hunger Gams" and "Divergent" have made people reconsider if the power structures in play are there for the betterment of all mankind - or to keep the masses in line.  Today's episode looks at dystopian storytelling - one of my favorites. Reason being how it pings the West's spirit of rebellion and its desire to be "free" from restrictive human governments. We'll talk some of the heavy hitters in this genre before talking culture towards the end as always. 

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln.    Writers have been trying their best to predict the future for generations. Hundreds upon hundreds of imagined worlds await within the pages of acclimated sci-fi and fiction authors around the globe. But of those who take a stab at humanity's future, who has been right? Who has been wrong? But more importantly, who has the most troubled outlook?  Today's episode is all about the future. The good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between. 

Aliens.  You hear the term and you instantly get an image of something otherworldly. Be it little green or gray men with giant eyes or terrifying insect-like beasts with acid for blood, the "alien" in most of the stories we know is exactly that: a creature we cannot define because we are unfamiliar with what - or who - it is.  This edition of "Stories I Like, Love, and Hate" features the little green men from Mars and what I am always sad to see missing from a good alien story. 

Miss me? Well, even if you didn't, I have returned for this end-of-summer-return-to-podcasting episode. In short, my creative sabbatical has ended. Within this podcast, I'll give you some updates on what's been going on with The Writer's Lens, what's happening now, and what's happening going forward.    - J.C.L. 

As part of a short series I'll be doing this spring, here's the first "Stories I Like, I Love, and I Hate" - DINOSAURS edition.  Ever since I was a kid, dinosaurs have piqued my interest. And it's evident that these long extinct creatures are still pinging the imaginations of young people around the world.  With that in mind, I'd like to weigh in on some of my favorites and also one of the prominent franchises that nearly ruined it all for me. 

A livestream follow up to my 2021 episode about the Heroes and Villains of our own stories. In this live episode, I look at why we might have more in common with the villains of our favorite stories than the heroes we admire. 

Like the title implies, it's almost the end of January and I realized I needed an episode to kick things off. Get ready for some updates, looking ahead, and what to expect in 2022. 

We all want to be the heroes of our own stories. So how do we deal with those who come against us? Is it right that we make them into the villains of our own tales? Or are there other ways to deal with them?  This episode deals with that idea head on and is as much a challenge for me as it is for any listener. 

James Cameron's sequel to "The Terminator", otherwise known as "T2", is virtually the same tale as its predecessor, minus one very important detail: the father-son relationship explored between said terminator and the rebellious teen-turned-leader of the human race, John Connor.  In today's episode, we'll look at this crucial piece of the Terminator universe. And why it's the best part worth examining (outside of all the iconic catch phrases, of course). 

What is one's fate? What is one's destiny? These two ideas often run side-by-side in our culture and are also oft-presented as a means to direct someone's path. So what's the difference? And how does that affect us in our own stories? 

101 Dalmatians is a beloved Disney tale. And upon watching it again as an adult, I can say it's even more beloved. Why? Because of its portrayals of positive parenting, what a caustic marriage looks like, and on an even darker note, the underbelly of child trafficking.  Don't think so? Well, take a listen with me and see if you agree. There's a lot to unpack and plenty of reasons to give this oldie but a goodie a second glance. Not 101 reasons, but at least a few. Enjoy! 

Clay Myatt is a new author and my latest guest on #TheWritersLens. His first foray into the book world brings a unique perspective: exploring the foundations of the most successful book series of all time: Harry Potter; while simultaneously referencing one of the most successful books ever written: the Bible.  Together, we talk through what inspired him to write this particular book, why he chose to do it now, and what he hopes his readers will take from his work.  Clay's book can be found online with most distributors but for a direct link to what he's been up to, you can head over to wipfandstock.com for the best details.  Enjoy.   

Pinocchio is one of Disney's greatest animated films. And though it's been analyzed up and down for its themes of morality and lessons on life, there is one such perspective that has hit home for me personally - and happens to be the topic of this episode. 

A reflection episode on what (most) every creative feels when it comes to the content we create. As a storyteller, I believe we are all part of a bigger story. But how can we be most effective in that bigger story at play? 

Talking about one of my favorite A.I. films, I, Robot and more specifically, a scene where Sunny (the good robot), shares an exchange with V.I.K.I. (the bad robot) about her decision to lock up humanity so that it can no longer hurt itself. Considering the list of lockdowns we've endured during the pandemic, this one felt strangely relevant and in need of some deeper analysis and discussion. 

Going back to my teenage days and a popular show at the time. Tenchi Muyo! was a popular anime that caught my attention and has just recently been making the rounds again on social media. This is me diving into the source material and discussing how its main canon has come to a close and what I think of this old tale. 

Ah, Star Wars. The biggest, the baddest, and the most heavily distributed franchise that Hollywood has to offer. What could go wrong with that arrangement?! Anyway, doing hindsight on one of the most influential and popular franchises might seem like a daunting task...And you'd be right - it absolutely is. But just for the sake of this channel and because I'm a glutton for punishment, here is a take on George Lucas' highly loved, highly watched, highly followed, oft-criticized, flagship series, Star Wars. 

Dinosaurs have been a fascination of human beings for a long time. They've inspired writers and creatives to imagine what life would be like if these massive creatures were still alive today. Perhaps the most well-known attempt to mainstream that idea is the franchise, Jurassic Park. Originally penned by the late Michael Crichton and later adapted for the big screen by Stephen Spielberg, Jurassic Park is a monster-sized film franchise. With five movies, novels, several video games, and countless amounts of toys and merchandise, Jurassic Park - if nothing else - is one of the most recognizable film series in the West.  That being said, how has it done over the past 25 odd years? Is it still as fantastical as it was when it first premiered? Or is the franchise better going, er, extinct? Today's episode is a riff on what Jurassic Park could have been...in hindsight. 

Today's episode on Hindsight is 20/20 is the recently finished "MonsterVerse". With Godzilla vs. Kong officially released, the four-film series has come to a close. Or has it? Or better yet, should it be finished at this point?  As a monster movie fan, I've been looking forward to all this giant-monkey-on-giant-lizard action. But does it conclude the series well? That's what #Hindsight is all about.  #GodzillaVsKong #MonsterVerse

The Writer's Lens returns this spring with a new mini-series!  For the next few (perhaps even more) episodes, I'll be riffing on some of my favorite franchises, films, and stories - doing so with the intent of reorganizing and analyzing what I thought worked; what didn't; and ultimately what could have been.  So to cap things off, we'll be looking at the DC Extended Universe. Timely for me in the wake of the controversial #SnyderCut of the Justice League. Full disclaimer: any and all spoilers abound if I happen to touch on any.  Welcome to The Writer's Lens alternate reality: the Hindsight is 2020 series. Emphasis on hindsight with hopefully some emphasis on good discussion too. Enjoy the first episode of this short mini-series I'll be working on over the next few weeks. 

Imagine two brothers trying to appease the ruler of the universe. One does what is asked of him while the other does what he thinks is best. As a result, the former is rewarded and the latter is turned away. And due to the latter brother's disgrace, he takes out his jealousy, envy, and anger upon his own brother, killing him; thus, inviting even more darkness into his already fragile world.  This is the story of Cain and Abel. And though it may not seem like the thing of heroes and villains, there is something remarkably familiar about this ancient tale. Something that resonates even in today's superhero and supervillain-obsessed culture. 

"God bless us. Everyone." - Tiny Tim    It's the annual holiday episode of The Writer's Lens. And this one is packed with an analysis of the famous line from Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol". We often hear about 'God's blessings' but what does that look like? What is it supposed to mean? Tiny Tim's perspective is a unique one in spite of his circumstances, serving as a great foil to Scrooge's selfish and embittered nature.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Writer's Lens. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe if you haven't already and enjoy!

The first Terminator featured an unstoppable killing machine. The 2nd film had a similar villain, but in a stroke of creative genius, the previous film's antagonist was transformed into the hero of the 2nd. Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 has long been lauded as an iconic character in cinema. His portrayal as a man with a plan toes the line of what it means to be a "man's man". But as far as I can tell, the Terminator holds a unique space in the quest for what constitutes the true measure of a man. And if this machine, played by a man, has anything to teach us, the "man's man" is more than big and strong. He invests; he is attentive; he protects; and he knows what his priorities are. The "macho Dad" is more than machine, he's something more.   

You probably thought the Ninja Turtles' greatest enemy was the Shredder. And if you did, you wouldn't be alone in that assumption. The Shredder has always been touted as the greatest threat to the Turtles' livelihoods, if not the city in which the Turtles reside. But I happen to see a much greater nemesis at play. A true arch rival lurking behind the scenes, snatching up the outcasts and downtrodden youths of New York; all in exchange for family and community. Buckle up - or should I say 'shell up' - for this latest episode of The Writer's Lens. #PardonThePun

Robin Hood is a beloved, if not timeless, character that has become part of American folklore. Though the character's origins cannot be found in American culture, the idea of an outlaw who steals from the wealthy and gives to the poor has inspired numerous adaptations over the years. From Disney's animals-only musical, to the comedic "Men in Tights", Robin Hood challenges its viewers to consider what it means to stand up to those in power. Moreover, to stand up to those who hoard their riches and refuse to share the wealth.  But is the idea of Robin Hood inherently 'good'? Can we be thieves and maintain our moral righteousness? This episode will explore that idea in depth. 

C.S. Lewis is one of my all-time favorite authors. He's written many stories that are internationally known (and loved). But one in particular he's not as well-known for: his Space Trilogy. Three stories about our solar system and the spirits who are waging war over our planets. In Lewis' second of the three, Perelandra, Lewis explores the planet Venus through the eyes of his protagonist, Ransom, who has been sent there to keep Venus' inhabitants from turning into another "bent" world like Earth.  Spoilers aside, Ransom eventually encounters some high order angels who are the embodiments of Mars and Venus. And when he does, he sees something on display that he can only recount as being the "spiritual expressions of gender" - male and female, or rather, masculine and feminine.  This fascinated me and thus, wanted to dive into Lewis' explanation a bit further with this episode. 

Tombstone is one of my favorite movies of all time. Which is saying a lot as I'm not the biggest fan of western films. Packed with an ensemble cast, Tombstone tells the story of Wyatt Earp, his brothers, Doc Holliday, and the cowboy gang whose hatred for law and order clashes with the Earp brothers and Holliday.  This episode explores Wyatt Earp's quest for a rich and exciting life while ignoring his past as a peacemaker. Can he actually achieve a life of fine wine and riches without law and order? This arc of human experience will be the focus on this edition of the Writer's Lens. 

Adam and Eve. Two people synonymous with what many consider to be humanity's greatest mistake. By taking fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve catalyzed humanity's fall from grace. They ushered in a world where we experience suffering, pain, and loss of identity. All sons and daughters who descend from these two have to experience a world less than ideal, but still beautiful in its own right. It's just not quite as good as it could be.  Netflix's "Dark" recently finished its three season run and though it's one of the greatest time travel stories I've ever witnessed, that topic is not one I'm going to tackle with this episode. Instead, I'd like to discuss one of Dark's core components: the issue of causality and choice. Can one choice create a ripple so drastic that every other person, whether they know the origin of that choice or not, become affected by that choice? Can we adequately pin the centuries of undue pain on two people we've never met but only read about?  This episode is as deep and engaging as the show itself. Promise. #NeverBelieveAnythingElse

Forrest Gump stands as one of the great cinema treasures. It's a story about a simple man navigating his way through one of the most turbulent times in American history: the 1960s. And during that journey, Forrest remains unchanged. Whether it be his naive nature, his inherent understanding of what is good, or his limited mental faculties, Forrest experiences some of life's harshest trials yet remains seemingly unchanged by them. A trait of his that causes those around him to ask, "are you stupid or something?"  But who are the truly foolish ones in this story? Is it Forrest or the ones asking the question? This episode unpacks one of my all-time favorite films and its portrayal of one of mankind's oldest enemies: the world. 

Netflix's Bodyguard is a story about gentleman tasked with guarding the life of another human being. Hence the name, "Bodyguard." Short observations aside, I sat down and watched this show alongside my wife and was pleasantly surprised by it. And what does a storyteller who has a podcast do, post-show? Well, he does an episode about it, of course.  In this short episode, I talk through some of the highs and lows of the Netflix drama. Warning, #SPOILERS are ahead. 

In case you've been living under a rock for several years, there was this global phenomenon called "The MCU", aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that swept through movie theaters. Within that universe is a character called, "Captain America." Now, I was never a big fan of the Captain, but after seeing him on the big screen and doing more research on his inception and history, I've grown to really like him. You know, as far as fictional character-liking can go.... In his second movie, "The Winter Soldier", the Captain is confronted with an interesting dilemma. He is face-to-face with new and dangerous technology, the kind that is aimed at stopping criminals before they even act. This poses as a major conundrum for the Captain as he stands for the ideals of freedom, not fear. His observation is the catalyst for this episode, where I'll discuss the implications of personal freedom, oppressive government action, and whether we are being paranoid about the freedoms we covet. Doing so through the lens of a writer a writer and in just about a half an hour (simple, eh?).   Enjoy. 

C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors of all time. His literary works are popular outside of even the Christian community, for which he is most known. But one such title that is often overlooked is a short story called, The Great Divorce. It's about about a man riding a bus to somewhere. And that somewhere just so happens to be heaven. For those who get off, it's a path to hell. But there are more than a few ways to get off the bus and head to the underworld.  This analysis I attempt is a true deep dive. So it's lengthy, but like any of Lewis' works, it's chock full of meat to chew on. In particular, the topic of heaven and hell and why we might forget about one while in pursuit of the other. 

It's one of the most watched documentaries in history. Though I had no intention of ever watching Tiger King, I found myself tuning in this past week. Maybe it's been the quarantine; maybe it's the stir-crazy environment I'm in; or maybe it's the endless memes and allegations about a certain character potentially feeding her ex-husband to a tiger.  No matter, I watched the series and have come away with some thoughts. Tiger King is a global phenomenon, but why? So again I'll ask: is it the quarantine forcing us all to watch it? Or is it something else that has caused so many to tune in? Here's my review / observations on Netflix's Tiger King. 

Many Americans (and others around the world) are shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. And by shaken, we mean that many are without work. Income streams are not as plentiful as they once were and the sobering reality that things may not go back to normal soon has become a real fear.  So with that in mind, what becomes of art and literature? Do our favorite paintings, stories, music, and other forms of expression have a place in the midst of a crisis such as this? A crisis that genuinely requires material resources to keep us going?  This episode is dedicated to looking at just that. 

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting every human being on the planet. And in the midst of this crisis, voices are speaking to the pandemic in one way or another. Some are telling a story of fear, others a story of hope. It's caused me, a storyteller, to take pause and ask a question, "What story do I feel is being told right now?"  In times like these, there are servants, leaders, and voices waiting to step up and cut through the panic. Cut through the haze. It's what every great story is made of. So in this episode, I spend some time talking through that and how we might put our sights on a bigger picture as we move day to day through this storm. 

In case you didn't know, Disney has been remaking its animated classics into live-action films (well, sorta. The Lion King isn't exactly 'live action' but you get the idea). And if you're still tracking with me, Mulan is the latest film to get the "live action" treatment. It's currently slated for a release later this year.  So far, the film looks good. The cast is impressive. The cinematography appears to be top notch too. So what about the story? You know, the one where a woman sneaks into the highly elite Chinese fighting force, pretends to be a man to save her aging father, is found out, but ends up saving the whole kingdom? Yeah, that one. But wait, there's more: she falls in love with her commanding officer. A man named Shang. And yet, this part of the love story, at least according to this most recent news story, is not gonna happen. Why do you say? Well, that's what this episode is all about. So tune in, enjoy, and if you feel led to do so, let me know what you think of this latest creative decision by Disney.   

It's another Narrative Wars! And this time we're talking about one of the oldest institutions of human experience: marriage.  There are a lot of narratives out there about marriage. There's the fairy tale, there's the broken-but-being-repaired, there's the "it's going to be another 1-in-2 divorce for these two" - the list goes on. So with this episode, I'll be zeroing in on which particular narrative I've found to be a myth. The myth being that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Say what now? You're saying that they don't?  Short answer: yes.  In addition to that, we'll be looking at how our culture develops these narratives. And what is a marriage anyway? What is the significance of it? And why would there be so many stories surrounding this ages-old commitment?  These are a few of the topics covered in this episode's #NarrativeWars. 

Question: can a story about a fawn teach us lessons about what it means to be a man? Well, I happen to think so. In this episode of The Writer's Lens, we're taking another deep dive into an oldie but a goodie. It's the story of a baby deer and his coming-of-age journey into...um, staghood. And as we work our way through this story, how can we humans - specifically those of the male gender - learn a thing or two from Bambi's journey? Tune in to find out.  Lastly, be sure to bring some tissues. We'll be talking about that infamous scene with Bambi's mother too.   

Did we evolve from some breed of advanced hominid? Or were we plucked from the dirt by a divine being and made into the people we are today?  The origin of mankind is one of the most hotly debated issues of our time (or any, for that matter). So in this episode I attempt to solve all of those quandaries in a mere 30 minutes or less. Kidding, of course. Or am I.... Some chief questions to consider in this episode are: who is winning the culture on Evolution vs. Creationism? Who has the better narrative? Which is more appealing to you? And why? A lot of it comes down to story. How effective is the story being told from either side and how effective are the ones listening to these arguments. As always, a worldview can be at the center of the conversation.  Hope you enjoy.