Inspirations and who I am
There is a place of not only sight and sound, but of mind and ideas. This place was one of my core inspirations. When I first watched The Twilight Zone, everyday after school, I watched almost nothing but its 156 episodes. It showed me how stories about aliens, monsters and other science fiction creatures could tell a story about the human condition that still holds up today. For example, I remember the pilot episode where a man is stuck in a box by himself hallucinating that he was in an empty town. This episode's message of people needing others can still be applied today with the covid quarantine. That is what I want to write one day, stories that could stand the test of time. Then after that I learned more about the creator Rod Serling. I looked for any interviews I could find. I even watched letures he gave at colleges.
I have always held Rod Serling in high regard. It even led me to make my online handle Rodsirling. I have used it ever since middle school. When I made my first email and misspelled his name. But now I think it is only right that I use a name that is different from his because I am not Rod Serling. I have not fought in a war right out of highschool , I didn't grow up Jewish, and I am not from New York.
I am a man from Ohio who grew up in a home with four siblings, went to Catholic School till 8th grade and switched to public school. My Mom is Peruvian which has influnced me greatly. After leaving Catholic school I had a falling out with religion which came from being bullied and my Dad's own falling out with the church. Although I wouldn't say I am religious in anyway, part of me would always like to believe in the supernatural. My family is always saying "when will so and so be home" or asking about something and the person will walk in right at the moment or we will see a news story right after that about the topic or thing. We always joke that we have witch powers. Though there was one time my Grandma had once thought she saw my Uncle saying he was okay when he had got bit by a snake in the jungle before she heard the news. Which made her calm when she found out. This story sounds unrealistic, but I am inclided to believe she saw him.
I even dream about my childhood dog midnight from time to time. I would like to think it is her visiting me and checking in on me from time to time. It is something I look forward to because I get to pet her again. Though that skeptical part of me knows it is just a dream, a man can hope.
I think those parts of my mind, the rational part of me and the believer part, are an important part of my writing. Because to me the state of man is always a constant battle in him or herself to wrestle with complicated problems or ideas that don't want to agree with each other.
That is just part of what makes me want to write . If you want to learn more you will have to interview me to find out.