With the unveiling of Belle de Jour as a highly educated cancer research doctor the other day, the reactions have varied from surprise that it wasn’t one of the esteemed journalists previous guesses, relief that it’s over and shock that it may glamourise prostitution. I’m more intrigued about struggling doctorate students having to resort to
AuthorBen
Novel 2: The Absolute Beginning.
This week I cracked open a brand new notebook and started writing a few notes which will hopefully grow into my second novel. I’ve had the beginnings of an idea for a while and kept it on Gas Mark 5 in the back of my mind but thought I should concretely start writing as soon
Political Correctness to the Nth Degree
I watched Question Time the other night, the one with the racist nut on it and was struck by a comment from one of the questioners in the audience who seemed to have some kind of beef with some of the language being used. You can see her full comment for yourself here on YouTube,
‘Exstrange’ Info With Your Mobile Device
In Railroaded I thought of an easy way people could exchange personal information with mobile phones. The other day I came across the ‘Bump‘ iphone app that now does exactly that. Instead of pressing a button you simply turn the app on and ‘bump’ the phones together. I admit their execution is better but I
Railroaded is Mundane!
I’m a science fiction fan but not a die-hard nerd so I had never heard of the sub-genre of ‘Mundane Science Fiction’. Probably not a positively eye-catching sub-genre on the face of it but the idea behind it is it only uses science and technology that is either acheivable or extremely, very nearly acheivable. I
Two Rejections in 2 Days!
The pain! The humiliation! The second rejection for ‘Railroaded’ plus a rejection for a short story just to twist the knife a little more. I’ve just finished another short story and going to start another one this weekend…because I just can’t get enough rejection in my life.
Difference between novels, novellas, novelletes and short stories.
I got my first Asimov magazine and in it there is a novella and a couple novelettes. Not knowing the difference between all these varieties I fired up the old searching fingers and consulted the great internet for some answers. Dearest Google, what the hell is the difference between a novel, novella, novelette and short
‘The Last Question’ by Isaac Asimov
I recently read a good short story in the July/August edition of Interzone Magazine called ‘Silence and Roses’ by Suzanne Palmer but it’s not online anywhere for you to read it. So if you can’t buy that edition of the magazine then visit her website here just to say hello. Instead, here’s a brilliant short
My First Rejection!
Just before I left for work I saw a London postmarked envelope that didn’t appear to be a bill, so I opened it. Only my first rejection! I’m so chuffed! OK, I’m gutted that they didn’t say yes but you gotta take positives from it. The submission found its way to the correct person. I
Fly my pretties!
I’ve only gone and posted the bloody thing to some right old proper people! Over the weekend I put together 5 packages and popped them in the post this afternoon so they are winging their way to 5 agents in London as I type…be safe my pretties, don’t be scared of the dark and when