I had a late night manic-inspired idea for a book. Now I have been wanting to write a book of some sort for years, as I feel I am a decent writer and can also crank out a lot of ideas and text when in the right mood. The problem has always been I can never settle on WHAT I am going to write a book about. But in this late night brain-train derailing, I came up with a title, and this quickly grew into a "aha! that's it!!" moment, which it seemed so brilliant at the time (ok, yes I was a little inebriated)
So without further adieu, the titles for this potential book idea I came up with:
"The Art of Mental Masturbation: Achieving Metaphysical Orgasm"
or
"Metaphysical Orgasm: The Art of Mental Masturbation"
The general idea is that, just like physical masturbation, mental masturbation can get a bad rap, but ultimately is both FUN and ENJOYABLE. I want to try and negate the stigma I seem to encounter towards "mental masturbation" and show that it can ultimately be a source of pleasure and benefit when used properly. And while there have been books out there in the past 30+ years teaching people the hows and whys of physical masturbation (by Betty Dodson, etc.) there are few if any on the art of "mental masturbation".
I am thinking it would be a series of essays by multiple authors (maybe some of you here if you are interested) and edited by your truly, and would include a wide range of topics that can fall under the category of what can be considered mental masturbation, including:
thinking for fun
philosophy
video games
TV
fantasy (sexual and otherwise)
art
music
psychedelics
online forums (tribe!)
etc...
It would be a book that is both somewhat campy and tongue-in-cheek, as well as serious. Hi-brow and low-brow at the same time.
This idea is still very much in the early stages of development, and I am seeking any and all opinions, ideas, & thoughts on it. Think it is brilliant? Lemme know? Stupid? Bring it on! Whatever you think I'd love to hear it. figure EH would be an ideal place to get some honest and useful feedback.
I am thinking it would be an actual paper book, not just an e-book (I still loves me some readin' via good old paper), now that there are so many cheap ways of self-publishing out there (lulu.com, First Books, Amazon, etc.)
bring it!!
-beb
So without further adieu, the titles for this potential book idea I came up with:
"The Art of Mental Masturbation: Achieving Metaphysical Orgasm"
or
"Metaphysical Orgasm: The Art of Mental Masturbation"
The general idea is that, just like physical masturbation, mental masturbation can get a bad rap, but ultimately is both FUN and ENJOYABLE. I want to try and negate the stigma I seem to encounter towards "mental masturbation" and show that it can ultimately be a source of pleasure and benefit when used properly. And while there have been books out there in the past 30+ years teaching people the hows and whys of physical masturbation (by Betty Dodson, etc.) there are few if any on the art of "mental masturbation".
I am thinking it would be a series of essays by multiple authors (maybe some of you here if you are interested) and edited by your truly, and would include a wide range of topics that can fall under the category of what can be considered mental masturbation, including:
thinking for fun
philosophy
video games
TV
fantasy (sexual and otherwise)
art
music
psychedelics
online forums (tribe!)
etc...
It would be a book that is both somewhat campy and tongue-in-cheek, as well as serious. Hi-brow and low-brow at the same time.
This idea is still very much in the early stages of development, and I am seeking any and all opinions, ideas, & thoughts on it. Think it is brilliant? Lemme know? Stupid? Bring it on! Whatever you think I'd love to hear it. figure EH would be an ideal place to get some honest and useful feedback.
I am thinking it would be an actual paper book, not just an e-book (I still loves me some readin' via good old paper), now that there are so many cheap ways of self-publishing out there (lulu.com, First Books, Amazon, etc.)
bring it!!
-beb
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Boise
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 12:12 AMOkay, that a good idea.
I don't know if I would call it "mental masturbation" though, but that's just me.
Lots of people get hung up on that word, more so than a lot of other words having any thing to do with sexual activities
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 12:21 AMSounds like a fun read to me!
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 12:36 AMI'm not down with the name.
To me those things aren't mental masturbation but more escapism, ways to get away from daily life.
To me, masturbation doesn't fit the things you've listed at all.
Overall the idea is good and markettable, it's why there's been documentaries and such about it already (just watched one today about old skool video gamers). -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 12:40 AM"those things aren't mental masturbation but more escapism"
Well, masturbation *is* self-pleasuring. Seems that anything that gives one a state of mental pleaure would be masturbatory, in that sense.
Also seems it would be a great "hook" for a title. -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 6:23 AMI like it. I also like the title. it's just this side of taboo...a bit controversial, which is a GREAT marketing tactic!
-K
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 8:51 AM>> those things aren't mental masturbation but more escapism <<
Yes, I am stretching the definition of "mental masturbation" a bit, but it isn't really a well defined term anyway. I am also playing loose with the meaning of "metaphysical" as well by using it in the pop-culture sense, as opposed to the more acamedic/philosphical sense. I also don't think all of those things are inherently escapist. Take TV: Watching shows like NOVA, BBC documentaries, etc. are pure mental masturbation for me, as they are often not really giving me any information I need for day-to-day life, but learning new stuff gives me a great sense of pleasure, especially when I can really get into the show. So if anything, I feel like that is not escaping FROM reality, but to borrow a phrase from Sherpa's blog, escaping INTO reality, which really isn't escape at all but more deep real-time mindful engagement with the experience (TV watching in this case).
>> Well, masturbation *is* self-pleasuring. Seems that anything that gives one a state of mental pleaure would be masturbatory, in that sense.<<
Exactly my thoughts on this.
And yes I am also using it to be a bit controversial, as you say *B* it adds a "hook" that might get people more interested than if I chose a more bland or academic title. So the title might confuse or thrown some people off, but I plan to explain more on the back page and/or in the introduction to make it clear where I am going with the idea.
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 8:58 AMHere is Sherpa's blog on escapism:
people.tribe.net/antero/blog
Also, to press this point some more:
1) Isn't masturbation a form of escapism?
2) What is wrong with a little escapism from time to time?
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Unsu...
Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 11:06 AMI prefer a good mind fuck over mental masturbation....but I like the idea ;-) -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 4:11 PMCall it a" memoir" and you got a best seller. -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 6:21 AMMmm ... Memoirs of a Mental Masturbator?
For what it's worth, if you haven't written a lot before, check out National Novel Writing Month ( NaNoWriMo.org ) -- the concept is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Everyone has their own techniques, but as someone who tends to prefer careful design, it was a good exercise for me to put the-cursor-to-the-editor and start writing without a plan.
If I were to work on this, I'd start with that kernel and start writing essays and getting others to write as well. Once you have a body of work in front of you, I think a lot of your questions will automatically be answered -- and it might not go exactly like you thought it would.
Fuck you, I love you,
---Jason Olshefsky -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 9:01 AM>> check out National Novel Writing Month <<
yeah, I have heard of this, and had a few friends do it. I'd love to try it, but it seems like a pretty major commitment of time (and by November the twins will have arrived, and I will have little time to spare). But I might give that a shot at some point. I've kicked around the idea of writing fiction, but I think I'd be a better non-fiction writer overall. The vast majority of writing I have done (mostly in undergrad and grad school) was non-fiction, stuff like science, philosophy, etc.
>> If I were to work on this, I'd start with that kernel and start writing essays and getting others to write as well. Once you have a body of work in front of you, I think a lot of your questions will automatically be answered -- and it might not go exactly like you thought it would. <<
Was just thinking something along these lines last night, I just need to start writing, even if just ideas or a rough abstract, and recruit some others to do the same, maybe meeting (virtually) and discussing it. And I am 100% sure it won't go like I think it will. Nearly everything in life is that way, and in many ways I am glad for this. Keeps thing interesting. =8^)
thanks for the ideas!
-beb
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Thu, June 5, 2008 - 2:09 AMFor what it's worth, if you haven't written a lot before, check out National Novel Writing Month ( NaNoWriMo.org ) -- the concept is to write 50,000 words in the month of November.
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Thank you! l just signed up.
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 8:50 AM>> I prefer a good mind fuck over mental masturbation. <<
HA!! Mind fucks are good too. =8^)
(Some movies have really been major mindfucks for me, such as Primer and Memento, which both left my brain smoking by the end)
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Thu, June 5, 2008 - 2:10 AMBEB, l have a whole post l wrote on this, then shit got all froze up and didn't want to work. So l'm going to write it later when it's not 2 in the morning, but l will just quickly say that l love this idea. My various reasons why to follow. -
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Thu, June 5, 2008 - 1:26 PM>> l have a whole post l wrote on this, then shit got all froze up and didn't want to work <<
Gotta love technology some days eh? :(
>> So l'm going to write it later when it's not 2 in the morning, but l will just quickly say that l love this idea. My various reasons why to follow. <<
Cool, I look forward to reading your thoughts! You wanna write a chapter? =8^)
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Thu, June 12, 2008 - 9:04 PMYa still gonna post your thoughts on this Ali? No rush, just curious to hear what you were thinkin'
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Thu, June 5, 2008 - 9:57 PMI recommend reading the Now Habit, which is a book on procrastination. His method for overcoming it is by one, scheduling the fun parts of your life and leaving the rest open for work, and two, using all the things we do to procrastinate as rewards for getting a small bit of work done.
I've used the technique successfully, rewarding myself with tribe-ing, watching TV, shopping, etc.
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Sat, June 21, 2008 - 12:03 PMI came up with what may be a better title idea:
"Metaphysical Ecstasy: The Joy of Mental Masturbation"
As I realize that, just like actual physical sex, there is often too much emphasis on the orgasm and less on the general ecstasy of the act itself.
thoughts?
I am still seriously considering making this project happen. If I can only make the time...
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Re: Idea for a book, want honest opinions...
Sun, June 22, 2008 - 10:36 AM>>As I realize that, just like actual physical sex, there is often too much emphasis on the orgasm and less on the general ecstasy of the act itself.<<
Yes, prolonging and increasing and deepening the ecstasy/bliss instead of ending it seems better, in my opinion. It just requires a little practice and some belief modifications that our culture is not particularly demonstrative or supportive of.
I'd read a book with that title! ;-)
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