See how much I can get done when I decide to be productive? It’s amazing really. Also probably has something to do with finally sorting out my housing situation, feeling better at work and looking forward to no more stressing over bills.
But I’m going to say its all down to my decision to be productive. I’m just hoping it sticks this time. At least until Christmas when everything gets manic again and I freak out.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.
Finished The Other Queen by Phillippa Gregory finally! After two years of owning the book, I eventually got round to reading to the end. It was good, although not as gripping as her other Tudor novels. Don’t know whether it was really the best way to end the series; although one of the previous novels was based during Elizabethan England that came near the beginning of the collection, when Gregory was less well known. I think after the success of The Other Boleyn Girl, the cold, passionless lives of the characters of Other Queen are boring. Gregory’s other novels always heavily featured sex, intrigue, plots and romances and although this novel is big on the plotting, it’s not really big on much else. Although we are given Bess and Talbot’s relationship to ponder over - will Mary seduce George completely and steal him away from Bess? – none of this really compares to the drama of women lying, cheating and sleeping their way to the throne. Henry VIII’s love life was, simply put, a lot more interesting that the petty trifles of an Earl and Countess. Even if the one getting in the way of their relationship is the Queen of Scots.
I love Gregory’s novels but this one just didn’t hold the same thrall for me. Since reading many of her Tudor novels, I picked up her Wideacre trilogy, a set of books so completely astounding that I think the tameness of Other Queen left me bored. Still historical novels, they explore themes of, incest, sadomasochism and murder, to name a few. The books are a revelation and, although possibly not to everyone’s taste, show us the true lengths a woman will travel to claim what is, in her mind, rightfully hers.
If you like historical fiction, give Wideacre a try. Even if you hate it, at least you’ll have opened your eyes to something new. And then you can leave it alone and never read it again.
I love Gregory’s novels but this one just didn’t hold the same thrall for me. Since reading many of her Tudor novels, I picked up her Wideacre trilogy, a set of books so completely astounding that I think the tameness of Other Queen left me bored. Still historical novels, they explore themes of, incest, sadomasochism and murder, to name a few. The books are a revelation and, although possibly not to everyone’s taste, show us the true lengths a woman will travel to claim what is, in her mind, rightfully hers.
If you like historical fiction, give Wideacre a try. Even if you hate it, at least you’ll have opened your eyes to something new. And then you can leave it alone and never read it again.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
There's a time and place for everything, and I believe it's called fanfiction.
I wonder whether authors really care about people writing fan fiction about their characters and worlds. Surely, it’s just a way for fans to express their love of the author’s creation. Also, all publicity is good publicity, right? And even if your characters are doing things WAY out of character (most of the stuff I end up reading doesn’t tie in with anything even resembling canon), its all fun and games. So unless someone is actively out to destroy your career or steal all your royalties, then I’d let it go. Be pleased that people care enough about what you’ve put into the world to put something of their own in too.
It’s an homage, a tribute.
So suck it up, be grateful, and stop suing people.
It’s an homage, a tribute.
So suck it up, be grateful, and stop suing people.
The story I am writing exists, written in absolutely perfect fashion, some place, in the air. All I must do is find it, and copy it.
Today I tried to write. I got as far as a pretty random poem (not even I know what it means, and I wrote the thing).
Power lies with giving, not receipt.
To be taken, stolen, the power lies waiting.
Perhaps a final piece left to retain,
your own kept power, secret power,
stifled, released from its sleeping master.
It lies with its possessor, its captor, it’s thief in the night.
Not a long one, and not particularly good one either. I want to write a story but I have no real idea where to start. I did a module of The Short Story at University but, although I did enjoy it, I didn’t exactly follow the regular patterns for writing. I thought I knew better than the teacher (which I still think is true) however, I do concede that I still should have paid more attention. Possibly it would have come in useful at this point in time.
There are a few reasons behind my wanting to write a longer piece.
* I was having a discussion recently with someone who shared my opinion on drafting. Now this being rare in itself, I was rather pleased. He then proceeded to tell me that I must be a “proper writer” because I didn’t feel any need to draft my work. It was nice to hear to be honest. I have no qualms with people that do draft their work; I personally think there is little distinction between writers that do and ones that don’t, it’s simply a different way of working. I do, however, have problems with people that tell me I can’t be a writer if I don’t draft. But it’s the “proper writer” comment that threw me; I feel a little bit fraudulent, calling myself a writer when I can’t even write a story, and, even worse, haven’t really written anything creative in months.
* Second reason is that I want to challenge myself. I’m much too set in my ways for someone so young and I shouldn’t limit myself to one style of writing. If I am as decent a writer as I like to think I am then I should be able to write anything. I won’t necessarily write it well but at least I will have tried.
* I need something to do. I need some pure focus in my life that does not revolve around making sure I’ve watched this week’s episode of Glee. I should really try and be more well rounded in my interests and activities.
* Eventually, I have an epic poem that I would like to write. It has been started but, unfortunately, after having being left for many years (I think I begun it in 2005), I’m finding it very difficult to pick it back up again. I think starting on something like a novel length (god help me) piece of fiction will help me get over my I-have-to-finish-everything-in-one-go mindset.
So, at the moment, those are my reasons. Any suggestions for getting started, very welcome (not that I really believe anyone reads this) and hopefully, once I’ve got the ball rolling, I’ll update with some actual, possibly truly terrible, pieces of writing.
Power lies with giving, not receipt.
To be taken, stolen, the power lies waiting.
Perhaps a final piece left to retain,
your own kept power, secret power,
stifled, released from its sleeping master.
It lies with its possessor, its captor, it’s thief in the night.
Not a long one, and not particularly good one either. I want to write a story but I have no real idea where to start. I did a module of The Short Story at University but, although I did enjoy it, I didn’t exactly follow the regular patterns for writing. I thought I knew better than the teacher (which I still think is true) however, I do concede that I still should have paid more attention. Possibly it would have come in useful at this point in time.
There are a few reasons behind my wanting to write a longer piece.
* I was having a discussion recently with someone who shared my opinion on drafting. Now this being rare in itself, I was rather pleased. He then proceeded to tell me that I must be a “proper writer” because I didn’t feel any need to draft my work. It was nice to hear to be honest. I have no qualms with people that do draft their work; I personally think there is little distinction between writers that do and ones that don’t, it’s simply a different way of working. I do, however, have problems with people that tell me I can’t be a writer if I don’t draft. But it’s the “proper writer” comment that threw me; I feel a little bit fraudulent, calling myself a writer when I can’t even write a story, and, even worse, haven’t really written anything creative in months.
* Second reason is that I want to challenge myself. I’m much too set in my ways for someone so young and I shouldn’t limit myself to one style of writing. If I am as decent a writer as I like to think I am then I should be able to write anything. I won’t necessarily write it well but at least I will have tried.
* I need something to do. I need some pure focus in my life that does not revolve around making sure I’ve watched this week’s episode of Glee. I should really try and be more well rounded in my interests and activities.
* Eventually, I have an epic poem that I would like to write. It has been started but, unfortunately, after having being left for many years (I think I begun it in 2005), I’m finding it very difficult to pick it back up again. I think starting on something like a novel length (god help me) piece of fiction will help me get over my I-have-to-finish-everything-in-one-go mindset.
So, at the moment, those are my reasons. Any suggestions for getting started, very welcome (not that I really believe anyone reads this) and hopefully, once I’ve got the ball rolling, I’ll update with some actual, possibly truly terrible, pieces of writing.
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