MindMaze
That Voice In Your Head
Here’s what you get in every issue of Into the Storymaze: writing insights or a work-in-progress; something creative I’m digging; a highlight from my comics-writing credits; plus a quote that’s got me thinking — both about right now and what’s next.
Twisty Little Passages
The “Storymaze” that inspired the title of this newsletter is an idea I’ve been exploring for a while, across various essays and recollections. It came out of some early morning get togethers I was having with personal branding coach, Greg Monaco. (I wasn’t looking for personal branding myself, Greg and I go way back to when we were starting out as copywriters at ad giant Ogilvy. But if you are looking for personal branding — Greg is mos’ def your guy.)
It was an approach I always used, semi-consciously in how I work — a kind of intentional creative meandering. Now that it’s got a name, I can play with it a little more consciously. In doing so, I can also go back to a situation that was pre-“Storymaze”, per se — but looking at it now, I can see elements of it at work, or recognize an early version. (Or I’m reaching for a hook for the essay, as much as anything!)
This was the second write-up I did on the subject — using the freeform “Storymaze” to escape from the far more restrictive “Mindmaze.” (It’s all sounding a lot like a psychic battle!) I can definitely relate: my own “mindmazes” would be one reason it’s been many years where I’ve been MIA in putting myself, my ideas, and my comic book history out there for inspection/reflection.
Everything about dinner was great. That made it all the more surprising when she told herself to STFU.
Did you get that? She didn't tell me to STFU. I didn't tell her. She made the decision to silence herself.
We'd been talking about all manner of things and nothing at all, personal to situational. And as friends do in such wide-ranging silliness of speech, we were actively solving most of the world's problems in the process. It was a brief stumble into professional chit chat that threatened the silence.
She spoke haltingly, uncomfortably about her hesitancy to post her ideas online. An accomplished expert, she nonetheless worried she'd have nothing new to add to the conversation in her field. Someone else had already said it first, said more, said it better.
Legit, logical concerns. To which the only considered reply must be… "So f---ing* what?"
That's easy for me to say from over here. But hard in one's own head. I've been in that space. The War of Art's legendary Resistance kicking the ass of creative spirit, crushing it, 'til it's all self-judging, self critical, 24/7 gimme shelter. The mind that should be a wellspring of imagination loses itself in a maze of twisted overthinking. We get corkscrewed around to the point the only goal is to get out.
Here's my take. Next time a "mind maze" threatens to screw up your journey, take control by turning it into what I call a Storymaze. In the Storymaze, the path is purposeful — and full of possibility. Wander, tour, investigate — how you want, where you want. Go on in. Exploring the Storymaze reveals a richness of detail — personal, professional, people, companies. When the way seems blocked or dark — be brave. Or bring on a story scout to help chart the way.** What you'll discover in expressing the richer detail is energizing.
What my friend has to share is priceless. Because what she has to say is her version. One single insight, one unique observation, that's all it takes to add to the dialogue. See the possibility. Explore the opportunity. Maybe even trigger someone else to ignore the mind maze and say, "Game on… my turn!"
Take off the filter. Share what's on your mind. The world can use your story. Hell, it needs it. And so do you.
Treasure Seekers
If you’ve got Disney+, just go stream this now. If you’ve don’t, it’s almost reason enough to give the Mouse more of your money. The “simplicity” of the script would seem to be Willem Dafoe mostly barking (sorry!) “Good dog!” But this true story of a dog sled team, led by the titular Togo, to bring medicine back to an Alaskan town ravaged by disease, is a must see… and see again. (The rescue mission is falsely credited to Balto, who had a role — but nowhere near as incredible as this husky.)
This movie has at least two of the most spectacular, edge-of-your-seat action set pieces I’ve ever seen — and a tremendously satisfying emotional core. As an admirer of Dafoe, it’s also great to see him play against type and demo his acting chops well beyond menace. (While you will immediately want to adopt one of Togo’s offspring, that breed is no longer available — I already checked!)
The Comics Labyrinth
Daredevil teaming up with Batman?!? What could go wrong? That one should write itself, right?
My first draft on this one was just awful. I don’t remember all the deets, but it was a terribly manufactured set of circumstances, leaden as all get out. It prompted one of the few calls from editor Ralph Macchio where he told me something flat out did not work. Thing is, I knew it.
Maybe it was the intimidation of working with two characters that had often been teamed-up in fans’ heads, but hadn’t yet found the right story. Or the fact I had to answer not to just Ralph, but also another editor I greatly admired, Denny O’Neil. In retrospect, I should have worked with both of them more closely to find the story, but I was in that strange confluence of high arrogance (“Dudes, I got this!”) and total imposter syndrome (“Dudes, I have no idea how to pull this one off!”) At least I took Denny’s advice to have Bats scoff at the idea of driving the Batmobile on the open highway.
The total rewrite and end result is solid, but it could have been better. It spends too much time on the typical first meeting super-sparring. But it does have some inspired moments: I remain pleased with “discovering” the Matt Murdock/Harvey Dent lawyer connection and playing that out as a legit thread throughout the story.
At one point, for no clear reason, there was a fair bit of slow-walking on Marvel’s part on this, which had me worried they were going to pull the plug on it. Aside from it being a great project, it was at a point in the bank account where I really needed the gig, so I asked for some assurance that I would be a part of the project.
The resulting short letter was itself off-putting: “Yes, so long as you meet Marvel’s standards…” — suggesting I hadn’t over many years and issues? Seemed to sting a lot deeper back when, now it’s a virtual shoulder shrug. Mayhaps I’ll find a copy of that to hang in a deeper turn in the labyrinth.
In fact, that slow walk was partly responsible for a shift on the art side. At one point my first Daredevil partner, Lee Weeks, was slated to re-team with me on this one. (Which takes nothing away from the amazing visual storytelling of Scott McDaniel, my other long term partner in the extra-legal antics of Matt Murdock.) Another for the “What if…?” files!
Web of Intrigue
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Amazing Times
How’d we end up here together? Maybe a detour off the dark web! But I’m hoping it’s because you subscribed to this share-out of projects I’m working on plus things that have me jazzed. I’m D.G. Chichester. Which sounds very pretentious, and tweed jacket and pipe — so feel free to just call me “Dan”, and have a go at the last name as Chai (like the tea) Chester (just like it looks). I earned my word-cred writing comic book titles like Daredevil, Terror Inc., Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, along with all manner of digital widgets and websites in the world wide web of advertising. I keep my storytelling cred by trying new things — this is one of ‘em, with more on the way. I like weird and sometimes creepy tales, so if things here bend that way — now you know why!
Folks seem to like the comic book adventures I’ve written, so if you haven’t checked one out — please do. Many are now available in fab collected editions.
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