Let's Start Off With a Bang

            Colleen was given the first two seasons of The Big Bang Theory for Christmas, so lately we've been watching quite a bit of it. Especially since we went and bought the next three seasons as well.

            Now, I've had a number of friends who've been recommending this show to me for years. Invariably, they've all said the same thing: “ You've gotta watch this show, it’s great! This one character, Sheldon, is exactly like you.” I've decided to take this as a compliment.

            For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Sheldon Cooper is a young genius (I make no claim of similarity here) who has a lot of peculiarities – he has a specific spot on the couch that he has to sit in, he is extremely sensitive about germs (don’t you dare touch his food!) and every day of the week has a specific theme that he needs to follow. In other words, I can relate to him a lot.

This has given me an immense admiration for Jim Parsons (the actor), Chuck Lorre (the writer) and Bill Prady (the other writer) for the amount of research they've put into creating this extremely idiosyncratic character. I'm sure a lot of people watch this show and think, “Haha, this guy’s funny, but no one is actually this weird!” while I'm watching it and saying (yes, saying, you can ask my wife), “He understands me!” I may be alone in thinking this, but I find it extremely impressive when writers and actors can create a character so odd that is still real enough that someone with some of the same quirks as the character can relate. That being said, while I understand where Sheldon is coming from, I've never been quite as bad as him – something for which I'm sure my entire family is extremely thankful.

            I'm sure you’re wondering where I'm going with all of this and, quite frankly, so am I. Probably the best thing I can do now is point out the phenomenal amount of research that needs to go into any writing project. When I started off writing, I simply made everything up as I went along. I write fantasy, that’s what I'm supposed to do, right? It’s not quite that simple though. What if I were to write about how fast someone was travelling on a horse and a horse enthusiast came along and read my book? The whole believability could be compromised by a single inaccurate detail. As a result, I've found myself researching the oddest things – from marching speeds to mythological and modern fantasy versions of creatures to what plants grow in what environments in what seasons. It’s amazing how many details there are that can make or break a good story.

            In conclusion, if you have access to it, I advise watching The Big Bang Theory; it is an excellent show. While you’re watching, you should also imagine what it’s like to live with Sheldon so you can feel sorry for my wife. Also, if you are watching the show on DVD, I suggest pausing on the white screen filled with words that appears for a moment after the credits. These are “vanity cards” written by Chuck Lorre and, in my opinion, are well worth the time to read.

Click here to find the charity anthology containing a couple of my short stories.