Author: J. Paul Cooper

BooK Review: The Wager-A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

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David Grann’s book, The Wager – A Tale of Shipwreck, Murder and Mutiny, published in 2025 is a 406 page non-fiction masterpiece.

What I admire about narrative non-fiction writers is their ability to give the reader enough detail to appreciate what the main characters experience, but not so much that the pace of the story is diminished. Throughout The Wager David Grann draws the reader in with a page-turning drama, while at the same time providing an education about the lives of the British sailors who served on men-of-war.

It’s impossible for modern landlubbers to fully understand what it was like for sailors to climb masts, hanging onto dear life while the wind howled and waves crashed over the decks, but Grann does an excellent job giving the reader a sense of that terrifying experience. The drama unfolds as crewmembers die of scurvy, aboard all the ships in the original group, while the vessels are pounded by unrelenting storms.

When The Wager is separated from the rest of the fleet, the ship crashes on a rocky shoreline. The survivors find themselves on an island with very little food, surviving mainly on what provisions they can salvage from the wreck. Unlike today, no one is inspecting satellite images to try and find them and since this is before the telegraph, the chances of being able to make contact with the outside world is basically non-existent.

David Cheap, the Wager’s Captain, is determined to maintain order, but many of the sailors are driven to extremes by starvation. At one point Cheap is so frustrated by men stealing from their meager food rations, that he shoots one of them in the head. Now he faces possible execution for murder, if they ever return to England. Later, a group of men lead by the Wager’s Gunner, John Bulkeley leave the island using three of Wager’s smaller vessels, Bulkeley refusing to follow a route suggested by Captain Cheap. Although they claim it was necessary to leave Cheap because of his erratic behavior, they still risked being executed for mutiny because they abandoned their Captain.

The story continues, with Bulkely’s crew fighting the raging sea, only this time in smaller vessels. Miraculously some of Bulkeley’s group do survive, helped by indigenous peoples, but they end up being prisoners of Spain, which was at war with England at the time.

Eventually, Bulkeley and some of the sailors with him make it back to England, where they must face an inquiry to determine if they have broken naval codes of conduct. And then, when it appears only their account will be heard, Captain Cheap, who they believed dead, returns. He was also helped by indigenous peoples to survive. And finally, just to make things even more interesting, sailors and marines who Bulkeley had left abandoned on an island during their voyage, also return to England.

David Grann has written an amazing account with men struggling not only against the elements, but also with their consciences. Men like Bulkeley had to choose between loyalty to their Captain, or the lives of their crewmates. At the same time, Captain Cheap honestly believed their only hope was to strictly adhere to the rules of conduct, or their small colony would break down into chaos, which it did.

If you enjoy a tale of life of death battles against the elements, with constant twists and turns, you’ll thoroughly enjoy The Wager. The story is told from the perspective of young sailors and wizened old sea dogs and it draws you in from page one. Two of David Grann’s books have already been made into movies, The Lost City of Z (2016) and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023.) I hope The Wager will be the next.

Copyright © 2025 by J. Paul Cooper

You’re Not Alone

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A few years ago a playwright wrote in a local newspaper column that he was about to lose that source of income, because the column was being cancelled. He was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to continue writing full-time. At the time I thought, so what? Only a small portion of writers can earn enough money through writing to pay the bills, so they do what they have to do. But that doesn’t make it any easier. My experience, which I’m sure many writers can relate to, is the only time I’m “in the flow,” is when I’m writing.

This weekend professional golfers are competing in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course. Watching these athletes, you can see their intense focus and admire their excellent eye-hand coordination. They are ambitious and determined, and could excel in many other careers, but at some point they had to decide whether it was worth the risk to give up other options and focus on a career in golf.

Writers go through a similar process. Many years ago I came to the conclusion that I’d earn more money working “normal jobs,” than writing. Making a living as a writer can be a struggle, putting together a patchwork of incomes from royalties, writer-in-residence stints, government grants that you continually have to reapply for, teaching seminars, freelance writing jobs and ghost writing…. From the data I’ve seen, I earn more money as a Forklift Operator, than many writers earn.

Perhaps the most difficult part of being a writer, who doesn’t write for a living, is you may find other types of work a struggle. If writing is your gift, it might feel like you spend your life trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. If so, you’re not alone.

The next time you pass a golf course and see all those part-time golfers swinging clubs, consider that, if only for a short time, they are in the flow. Then take out your laptop and spend some time writing, let your passions flow on the screen. Maybe you can only write part-time, but in that time you can create stories that no one else can.

Copyright © 2025 by J. Paul Cooper.

Review: BBC Maestro, Harlan Coben/Writing Thrillers

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Recently, I paid $69 CDN for the BBC Maestro Course: Harlan Coben – Writing Thrillers. Since it involved a Black Friday discount of 40%, I didn’t pay the regular price, but even if I had paid the full price, it would have been worth it.

As soon as I saw Harlen Coben’s name on a course, I was interested. The first novel by Harlan that I read was The Stranger, which was adapted for a drama series by Netflix and they were both excellent. As far as credentials go, visit his website, http://www.harlancoben.com and look up his name on the Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com, because there’s no room to list all his accomplishments in a single blog.

Although you could listen to all course lessons in one sitting, they are divided into ten to twenty minute segments on each topic, which makes it convenient for anyone with a busy schedule.

The course material is beneficial for both beginning writers and experienced scribes who want to want to think deeply about their craft. Even though most of the videos consist of Harlan sitting in a chair, talking, I didn’t find the material boring; I was inspired to start writing again, something I’ve been procrastinating about for far too long.

Jack Canfield has said about his book, The Success Principles, “the principles always work, if you apply the principles.” The same can be said about the material in Harlan Coben’s BBC Maestro course, if you take his advice seriously and apply it to your writing, your writing will improve. Although the course description is Writing Thrillers, the material covers all the key aspects of writing a novel, and would also be useful for writing science fiction, or any genre that involves drama.

As for myself: Over the last three weeks, two of my short stories have been accepted for publication by literary journals, and one of my screenplays made the quarterfinals of the Final Draft/Big Break screenwriting competition.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper

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Keep Searching

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A few months ago I learned about Short Story Dispensers, a literary program designed to encourage reading, by offering stories to the public that can be read in five minutes or less. One of my short stories, “I Have a Problem” is now available through the Short Story Dispenser at the Edmonton International Airport. If you’re curious, visit http://www.short-editions.com to find out if there are any Short Story Dispensers in your area and how to submit stories for consideration.

One of the challenges facing writers, is finding new venues where you can showcase your writing. If you’re considering joining a writing organization, ask whether they provide listings for writing opportunities, that’s where I learned about the Short Story Dispensers. Although they didn’t choose my submissions, two other unique opportunities I discovered were short stories for cardboard coffee cup sleeves and beer cans.

I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, that it’s a good idea to contact the alumni associations of schools/colleges you’ve attended to promote your books/eBooks. If they publish newsletters, magazines, or blogs that might also be a good place to get your writing published. You could offer to write profiles of former students. I offered to write a profile of a former student for my university alumni association’s magazine, but they weren’t interested. That won’t stop me from trying again in the future.

Although most of the listings in the “Opportunities” section of the BBC Writersroom website are for United Kingdom residents, there are occasionally listings open to international writers. If you’re not sure if submissions from outside the UK are accepted, send them an email and find out before investing your time and effort. If you’re curious, their website is http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom. Another online resource is the Facebook Group, Writing Competitions: Opportunities For Experienced and Aspiring Writers to Get Published.

Before you submit any writing, make sure you understand whether you’re going to be paid. There are many markets that cannot afford to pay writers, but might still be excellent venues to showcase your writing. Literary magazines are good examples, many are published by student volunteers at universities and have very limited budgets, but they are legitimate writing credits.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper

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Dreams on Spec (2007)

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I just finished watching the documentary, Dreams on Spec (2007.) Several years ago I donated my DVD to a local library, but it never appeared in their catalogue. Fortunately, I recently found it listed on the video streaming service Tubi. Dreams on Spec follows the lives of three aspiring screenwriters as they attempt to get their scripts produced, interspersed with commentary on the profession by screenwriters working in Hollywood.

You don’t have to write screenplays to relate to the experiences of the three screenwriters profiled in Dreams on Spec. All writers have been on the same emotional rollercoaster, from dreaming of success, to the reality of rejection.

Throughout the documentary two questions dominate: How far are you willing to go to succeed as a writer? and Is it worth it? Two writers put everything on the line, risking their family relationships and financial stability, but their scripts aren’t produced. The third writer keeps his day job, but his screenplay is produced.

As Dreams on Spec demonstrates, devoting your life to writing full-time doesn’t guarantee success as a writer, but writing part-time doesn’t necessarily prevent you from enjoying success as a writer either.

Considering how much time and effort these three writers invested in trying to find success in Hollywood, was it worth the sacrifices they made? I think the best answer is: If you love writing, keep at it, because you never know where it might lead, and regardless of the ultimate destination, you’ll appreciate what you learn on the journey.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper

Movie Review: Civil War (2024)

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A challenge that writers always face is deciding what to include and what to omit from the narrative. With a concept so vast as a modern civil war spreading across the United States, there would be enough material to fill several seasons of a television series. Writer/Director Alex Garland tells a brilliant story that portrays the reality of war, as Americans turn their weapons against each other, in less than two hours.

You may have heard that war consists of long periods of boredom, with brief periods of pure terror, and that is reflected in the pacing of Civil War as four journalists travel across the United States. One minute the main characters are laughing, enjoying a brief respite from the constant tension, and the next moment they emersed in the nightmare that the United States has become.

Alex Garland’s decision to use the shared experience of the four journalists, allows the story to flow smoothly. Because they aren’t combatants, the focus isn’t on who is responsible for the conflict, but on the human suffering that results from it. Although the action scenes are overwhelming at times, they don’t distract from the story, they enhance it. The theme that permeates the movie, is that once a war begins, the value of a human life becomes negligible.

What makes this story so compelling is the reality of instability caused by growing divisions within the Untied States. Civil War is an important movie, because it reminds Americans of the high cost when citizens become convinced that violence is their only choice. I pray that God will guide the United States to a path that does not result in Americans killing Americans. The world becomes more unstable by the moment, and the world needs the United States, united.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper

Back To Basics

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Have you been having a difficult time starting a new project? Perhaps the problem is you feel you can’t start unless you already have a complete story concept. The solution begins with one scene.

Since you’re a writer, you always have at least one scene that sticks in your mind and one character that stands out in that scene. That’s all you need. Begin by describing the scene: Where is the scene located? Is inside or outside? If it’s inside, is it the bridge of a vessel at sea or a room in a casino? What details would someone immediately notice if they were standing next to your character?

Is the time of day an important factor in describing the scene? Will darkness make the scene more menacing? If the scene takes place on a space ship, time may be a disorienting factor, because there is no sunrise of sunset to give your character a sense of the passing of time. You might note that lighting inside the ship varies, depending on time to day to compensate.

What type of dialogue is taking place in the scene? Is your character talking to someone, or is it an internal dialogue that no one but the reader hears? If the character is talking to someone, are their voices raised, or are they whispering?

Is your main character experiencing any emotions? Does your character feel threatened? Is he/she relaxed? Is your character bitter or angry? Jealous? Envious? Since stories tend to be driven by emotions, establishing how your character is feeling in a scene is essential. Spock has always been one of the most intriguing characters in the Star Trek franchise because of his struggle to suppress and control his human emotions.

Action is the final piece of the puzzle. What is your character doing? A scene doesn’t require a lot of movement to be dramatic. A character sitting in a chair and struggling to breathe, can be just as engrossing as two characters fighting on a moving train, because in both cases we understand it’s a life or death struggle.

If you’re waiting until you’re in the “flow” to start, you’ll waste a lot of precious time. For a writer, starting to write a scene is like a musician picking up her electric guitar and plugging it into the amplifier. Nothing happens until she starts playing. For all us wordsmiths, nothing happens until we start writing.

Copyright © 2024 by J. Paul Cooper

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Movie Review – MEG 2: The Trench

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Meg 2:The Trench (2023) is a Creature Feature, Science Fiction and a Thriller. Since I’d already watched The Meg (2018) I knew what to expect, plenty of tough guy cliches from Jason Stratham and impressive computer- generated imagery (CGI).

If you enjoy edge of your seat action scenes, Meg 2:The Trench has plenty. To enjoy them, however, you have to avoid asking too many questions. Three Megalodons follow Jonas Taylor (Jason Stratham), and other survivors from a life or death struggle at the bottom of the trench, through a disruption in a thermal layer that the Megalodons usually can’t traverse. Coincidentally, a giant octopus AND some pre-historic creatures with fangs (that can survive at the bottom of the ocean and on land) just happen to go through the thermal layer as well.

There’s an interesting term used in writing fiction called The Suspension of Disbelief. The author/storyteller and the reader/audience come to an agreement that as long as the story sticks to the rules established in the world created by author/storyteller, the reader/audience will temporary suspend their disbelief. One example is how John Wick can be hit by a car, but can get back on his feet immediately and keep on fighting. In that world it’s accepted that John Wick is exceptional and can do things other mere mortals can’t.

And then, there’s the ending of Meg 2:The Trench. Jonas Taylor is fit and obviously has some impressive training, but killing a megalodon with a helicopter blade! Up until that point in the movie, I was willing to go along with the story and just enjoy the CGI, but during that scene a line was crossed where it became so ridiculous that the fictional house of cards collapsed.

Meg 2:The Trench is worth watching if you’re a Jason Stratham fan, or if you like movies with intense underwater scenes. I enjoyed Leviathan (1989), Deep Blue Sea (1999) and Under Water (2020), and I appreciated the underwater scenes in Meg 2:The Trench for the same reasons. I could criticize the writers, but perhaps that would just be jealousy; they’re professional screenwriters earning a living in Hollywood, and I’m a writer who works in a warehouse and dreams of selling screenplays.

Copyright © 2023 by J. Paul Cooper

Note: This is the 100th blog post I’ve written for my website.

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Don’t Panic!

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Have you ever had a period of time when you stop writing? That’s what I’ve been struggling with lately, but fortunately, through years of experience, I’ve learned there’s no reason to panic.

A PAUSE ISN’T PERMANENT. There are many reasons writing can become difficult; a change in your work schedule, events in your life that require your full attention, stress that makes it difficult to concentrate. The dilemma faced by writers, is your vivid imagination allows you to write fiction, but it also allows you to imagine terrible outcomes, even if they are unlikely to happen. It’s easy to imagine that you’ll never write again, but, as the old saying goes, “This too will pass.”

YOU HAVEN’T LOST YOUR TALENT. Eventually, you will start writing again, and when you do, the words will begin to flow. Immediately, you’ll remember how much you love creating characters and the worlds they live in. Writing isn’t just what you do, it’s who you are. Don’t be surprised that even if you take an occasional break, you’ll probably be writing for the rest of your life.

YOU MAY STILL BE WRITING, YOU JUST AREN’T AWARE OF IT. Sometimes it’s difficult to write, because your mind is creating a puzzle in your sub-conscious and there are missing pieces. You sense the frustration and label it as Writer’s Block, but it’s just because your mind has been working overtime to solve a problem. One day you’ll you have a brilliant story idea, it’ll feel like you’ve been struck by lightning, when you’ve actually been working on it for months.

YOU MAY BE OLDER, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE. If due to life’s ebb and flows you haven’t been able to dedicate time to writing for a long period of time, you don’t need to be discouraged. A Writer isn’t like a professional athlete who’s considered at the end his or her career at 40 years old. The opposite is true; the older you get, the more knowledge and personal experience you have to draw on for stories.

WRITING PROVIDES MANY OPTIONS. Can’t finish that short story? Try writing an essay. Frustrated with that Science Fiction novel? Write a murder mystery. You can’t complete that historical novel, but you’re convinced it’s a great idea, then tell the story as a screenplay. The combination of genres and formats is endless, and if you’ll just try one, they all lead to the same goal, to start writing again.

Copyright © 2023 by J. Paul Cooper

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Movie Review: The Creator (2023)

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The Creator (2023), written by Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz is science fiction at its best; it entertains with edge of your seat action and, at the same time, forces you to consider philosophical and ethical issues. Unlike other movies about humans fighting against Artificial Intelligence, like The Matrix and Terminator series, The Creator introduces a more balanced concept where neither side is pure evil, and both the humans and robots are acting out of fear of extinction.

One unique aspect of the story is the blend of tech and religion, where you see robots dressed in Buddhist monks’ robes and a robot’s body is cremated in what appears to be a Hindu ceremony. That may be a glimpse into the future, because it isn’t that hard to imagine a Pastor standing behind a pulpit, using a sermon written by AI.

This movie is certainly worth the cost of a ticket to see it on the big screen, because the action scenes are impressive, with seamless CGI and very cool military tech. A sobering thought is that what is considered science fiction today, is often reality in the not to distant future.

What I didn’t like about The Creator was the way Americans were portrayed as heartless brutes who only understand force. One American soldier, trying to find the entrance to a artificial intelligence lab, threats to shoot a little girl’s puppy. Granted, the soldiers in the scene believe that if they don’t find the lab, it will mean the end of humanity, but it was still reminiscent of the worst images from the Vietnam War.

Throughout The Creator, the underlying theme is the relationship between humanity and Artificial Intelligence. It’s an important issue to consider, because it won’t be long before robots are working alongside humans in warehouses, while other robots are tasked with caring for the elderly.

The Creator will keep your adrenaline flowing, while it tears at your heart strings, which is the result of great storytelling. As I left the theatre and turned on my cell phone, I looked down at the screen and thought to myself, “I hope it doesn’t want to kill me.”

Copyright © 2023 by J. Paul Cooper