To be pregnant will mean that, nine months from now, I will give birth to a child with a defective brain and severe personality and behaviour disorders, due to going on a massive bender shortly after conception.
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I've been thinking about thinking, in between eating too many Easter eggs: specifically, about thinking - the conciousness of characters - in fiction. The editorial report on a friend's novel says it's 'too introspective', and it's something which is said by a lot of agents and editors about a lot of aspiring novels. It's true that there's all the difference in the world, to the reader, between the novel reporting what someone has thought, and giving us thought as it gives us dialogue, and the two work differently. But the depiction of consciousness is the only unique thing about prose fiction, however you tell/show it, when you compare it to other forms and arts. So how do you put that to best use, while not making your novels too thinky in the way a play may be too talky or a film too... what's a better word for 'see-y'? And it's a pretty feeble novel (or possibly it's a highly successful, all-action SAS thriller) whose characters never reflect, never change, have no awareness of their own affective selves and those changes, and so don't end up, emotionally speaking, in a different place from where they started. So there I was, munching away on the FairTrade organic choc and my friend's problem, which is compounded by the fact that although plenty happens in her novel, the core of her main character's change is a mental and emotional one: that's what the book's about (and I know it's good, because I've read some of it.)
I started thinking about narrative drive, because when editors at the commercial end of things don't like something which writers do like, it's usually because it's slowing up the story. Storytelling is king, and there's no denying that 'introspection' doesn't sound terribly forward-moving. Nor, really, does 'thinking', 'reflecting' or 'brooding'. And then I had a bit of a brainwave - or I hope it's a brainwave. Read Full Post
I wonder if any of you can assist? I am looking for examples of contemporary epic poems of any genre. Some examples already are: Alice Oswald, Dart and, Craig Raine, History:The Home Movie. Any pointers would be gratefully recieved!
Happy Easter!
My topical story from the last post is up on the Pygmy Giant, a site for British flash fiction, today.
http://thepygmygiant.wordpress.com/
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Strictly Writing - Beating the Block - by Becky OK, I admit it. Sitting here at the laptop to write my latest post for Strictly, I'm not exactly overflowing with ideas. Everything I think of seems to have been done already, with great wit, panache or flair, by one of my fellow bloggers. Every concept that comes to me seems weak, uninspiring and barely worth the trouble of putting finger to keypad. My stomach is twisting itself up into knots of frustration, my feet are indulging in some frenzied tapping, I'm muttering to myself like a crazed loon... yep, I've got Writer's Block.
We've all been there. That fateful feeling of wanting to write, but feeling as if we've forgotten how to. Unlike most things in the known universe, writing doesn't seem to be like riding a bike. If you fall off, there's no guarantee that you can hop back on in a few months and pedal away at breakneck speed. In fact, sometimes it can feel alarmingly as if you need to learn your craft, and regain your inspiration, all over again, and the longer you allow the block to set in, the more difficult it becomes to drag yourself out of it. So if all this is resonating with you, what can you do? Here's my five-step plan:
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What would you wear? I’m definitely not a blue tights and red wellies sort of person; I’d have to wear black or a mixture of browns – normality means invisibility. Actually, just being a short and dumpy woman gives me that already; it’s a great super power to have.
Leaping tall buildings in a single bound is out, so is hand-to-hand combat – Batman I am not. Read Full Post
I have been on this site for less than a day and already I feel at home. I have read a number of pieces and have been amased at the standard of the work. I hope that I will be able to aspire to such talent over the weeks and months.
My short story, Watching Listening, is now up for all to see at 3: AM. I probably don't need to tell you that this makes me very happy, but I will: This makes me very happy.
I hope you're all having a lovely bank holiday, and a sunny one. Read Full Post
I was reminded today how much I love this, so, being the generous chap that I am, I thought I'd share.
I'd not seen the (this?) video to it before. Wow. Read Full Post
I took my mother to go see this play because not only does she think Russell Tovey is Òsweet and adorableÓ but to show her around the Royal Court and give her a taste of what I want to actually do. SheÕd never been to that theatre or in fact to that part of London; then again why would anyone who doesnÕt have a few tonne in their pocket to burn. The place is littered with boutiques and big name brands that you can only afford to say rather than indulge in. Read Full Post
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