Writer's Blog 2011-02-14

I have mentioned the web reviewer Sfdebris before. Recently he reviewed the episode Shades of Grey. This is a clip show which, as he points out, is a thing hated by almost everyone. When I saw he was to review this I though, 'How can you possibly review a clip show. Well he managed it. Here is the review:




What I find particularly interesting is his suggestion of other possibilities for the story. Clip shows come up now and then usually because of money problems. As a writer just starting I hope never to be responsible for a clip show. The easiest way to do that is not to become involved in television!

Being serious I don't understand why clip shows happen. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5 never had clip shows. If you're a skilled writer you can create tension with two people in an empty room. Intersections in Real Time does this. This episode is about an interrogation/torture but there is no reason why that would have to be the theme.

TNG ran into money problems on another occasion. The Drumhead was produced as the writers felt they didn't want to go down the route of another clip show. So I hope never to produce anything of that sort. However from a text perspective, novels and short stories ect. There is something you can do that may sound similar but is very effective.

This I will discuss in the text post. Nothing in writing is ever really waisted.

Writer's Blog 2011-02-11

In continuing to look at Writing a Novel there's a paragraph I'd like to share with you:

There is a basic human need for fiction, a need which comes on the heals of our primary requirements...There have been storytellers since people had full enough bellies to stop and think for a moment...the audience is seeking the fulfilment of these same three needs: entertainment, escape, understanding. (p16)

Each chapter has many exercises. At the end of this chapter we are asked to think of our favourite story.

I can't say what my favourite story is. Frankly it depends on a great many factors. I'll probably have a different answer depending on who I'm with. Two excellent stories come to mind though:
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and the Old Kingdom trilogy.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a great story. I've read it, listened to it and watched it. So as not to ruin it for you, this is the story of a man who travels the galaxy in his dressing gown. The radio version is the best, followed by the book, then the TV series - the movie? AVOID. Okay it wasn't that bad. It wasn't Star Wars prequels bad. But it doesn't hold a candle to the BBC series.

The Old Kingdom trilogy is a set of fantasy novels. I have been looking at the follow up book, Across the Wall, recently for a critical essay for university. I found I remembered very little of the original trilogy other than the fact that they were very good books. They are not your typical fantasy novels. I don't really want to say more than that other than: 'They're brilliant - read them!'

I would just like to highlight something I tweeted the other day. Recently I've been watching Charmed. I completely missed it in its original run. It must have been on a channel other than BBC! Anyway I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the writing in this series. In one of the last episodes I watched, Piper brakes up with her boyfriend. They talk briefly, he calmly says he understands, kisses her and leaves. I'm glossing over the details but the point is that there were no feelings of hatred and it was calm. Often when a relationship ends in film or TV there's always crying and swearing and, in the case of Buffy, death. These two people were written like human beings!

Writer's Blog 2010-01-31

Foundation, Earth, and a Referendum



About two weeks ago I began reading Second Foundation, by Asimov. I was confused. I thought it was just me, my mind does tend to wander, but no - I was reading the books in the wrong order.

So now I know. I've moved on to another Asimov:



And will come back to the trilogy later. This is kind of embarrassing but that's part of what a blog is for.

In other news...

Here in Wales we're have a referendum on giving the Welsh Assembly government more power. I shall most certainly be voting yes to this.

As you may be aware there has recently been a big issue in the UK about student fees, for university, rising. Well, because of the Welsh Assembly it isn't happening in Wales. So for Welsh students this is great news.

Those of you reading this in England this is a sad state of affairs. I wish I could make some suggestion of what could be done. It seems that the Liberal Democrats have proven themselves to be true politicians - they make promises and do the exact opposite. Being kind though they are in government with the Conservatives so I guess there was no choice.

Of course they could have chosen not to join them.

It will be interesting to see if this rise in tuition fees has any effect on university attendance next year.


See you later in the week.

Writer's Blog 2011-01-28

Surfing the internet is like sifting for gold. Not that I've ever sifted for gold. Well recently I've found some gold. A video by Meekakitty.



She's a wonderfully funny and beautiful vlogger. I hope you enjoy this video. As a geek/nerd this gives me great hope!

I'll be back with more stuff in a few days.

Writer's Blog 2010-01-26

I would imagine that most writers buy writing guides. I have many. In this image I'm holding Writing a Novel. It is part of the teach yourself range. At the end of each chapter it has exercises to try. So that is what I'm going to do.

The first chapter deals with planning. I am not a great one for planning. Usually I prefer to make a start and see where the story goes. In the same way that sometimes just playing a game is a better way to learn, rather than reading the rules.

I have a vague idea of where my novel is going. I uploaded some sections of it here but I think that quite a lot has changed since then. I'd rather not upload my plan but I will discuss something else the book talks of and that is why I want to write.

I wish I could say that writing is purely my passion. This is not strictly true. I enjoy some of the process, such as universe creation, but it still feels like a slog. Maybe there is nothing wrong with that. While the act of writing isn't so interesting the telling of the story is. If I had children I would probably be telling them stories of my own creation every evening. Hopefully they would be interested. As I have no one to tell stories to, I write them down. It would be nice if I could make money from this one day. However if I won the lottery, which would be magic considering I don't play, I think I would continue to write and upload them for free.
Making money is simply a factor of life. So when I say I want to make money from this it is a matter of practicality. Of course I could just get a job but that to me seems rather dull.

Part of my reason for writing is also, I'm not sure how to put this, for lack of a better word, copying. I don't mean writing Stellar Conflicts, Star Wars, I mean taking a pick'n'mix of ideas. So maybe you have a story about a vampire hunter but he/she is in the twenty-fourth century. From the excellent Firefly we know that strange genera mixes can work. Sometimes in reading or in watching films I try to guess the plot. Then when I get it wrong I can write that story. More than that though there are times when other works of fiction have ideas that aren't used beyond one episode/chapter. As a writer you can take those on board an make something great.
I have no proof of any connection but TNG had an episode about, what was essentially, a stargate They didn't use beyond that episode, and one of DS9, but for the various Stargate incarnations it is the entire premise.

Short Story 2010-01-22

Gambit


The girl in the park was clearly upset. I wanted to go over there and ask what was wrong. I realised two problems – possibly more.
Firstly I was a stranger and maybe a stranger talking to her was the last thing she wanted.
Secondly she was gorgeous. Her hair was a little wild around her and she wore quirky hippy-ish clothing. I stopped myself because I knew that had she been fatter or older or had I had a girlfriend, I would have walked by. So I asked myself whether I should go up to her.
Could I go over their? It seemed wrong when the thought of a date was so high in my mind. Could I start a casual conversation?
How would I do this? Cheesy lines came to the front of my mind – none would do and by this point my motives were not exactly honourable.
It was worth a try. I was walking that way anyway. As I got closer I saw she was clutching her mobile.
“Bastard,” she said.
I found myself feeling animosity toward the unknown message-sender. Next to her was a book I recognised. It was a way into the the conversation.
“Being a bastard is almost his job by now.”
“What,” she said rubbing her eyes.
I pointed to the book.
“Not that,” she said, “my boyfriend. He dumped me in a text.”
“Bastard,” I said.
She smiled gingerly, “I'm Sally.”
“Lee,” I said.

Dictionary Stories 2010-01-21

Aardvark

An aardvark is an omnivorous mammal. You probably knew that all ready. Some how a definition seemed the right way to begin this post.

There once was an aardvark called Charles,
Who kept all his termites in jars,
But as the termites escaped and began to tickle,
He reflected that he would have been better with pickle.


Okay so I suck at limericks! Better luck next time I guess.