I don't really want to write fiction at all. I don't see why fiction is necessary when we have real life already confusing enough.
Aaron BelzNegative space is important. When I teach students to read critically I advise them to look for what the author isn't saying just as carefully as for what he or she is.
Aaron BelzHumor and absurdism are inevitable. If you look at our current massive flow of consumer products and digital communication and related media from a sort of astute perspective and carefully state what you see you can't help but sounding like you're joking.
Aaron BelzThe brand is lying about something, or at least misrepresenting it. When I read a bottle of shampoo or moisturizer or other beauty product, I always perceive a dark subtext. The words haunt me. It comes across as humorous to the reader/audience, but in fact the words really do make me a little bit queasy. Nothing is as easy or natural as consumer brands want us to think - no problem is as resolvable. Your hair will fall out, eventually. Yet we do have these brands, and we line our shelves with them. There's an inherent irony.
Aaron BelzAfter the first few readings in comedy venues I did begin to write for laughs. There's something so gratifying about stimulating laughter.
Aaron BelzI gravitate toward the larger worldview questions such as, Why are we here? What are we supposed to be doing? What does it mean to know another person? To love someone? Of course, those questions are sort of in the background as I'm playing with language in the foreground, but those are the informing questions.
Aaron Belz