There was a good article on The Guardian, ‘Ten rules for writing fiction‘, coming on the back of Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing. The first rule I’m going to make up is; Learn who Elmore Leonard is. If you’ve done any research into writing tips and rules you’ll have come across quite a few
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Power 2010
Came across the ‘Power 2010‘ site via ‘Big Brother Watch‘. It previously gathered political ideas from the public, ideas people wanted to see implemented regardless of political leanings, eg. proportional representation, fixed parliament terms, etc. Watch the vid for a better explanation… Power 2010 are now in Phase 2, which involves everyone voting on their
‘The Intensive Care Unit’ by J.G.Ballard
I’ve just read ‘English Short Stories 1900 to the Present‘ and by far my favourite short story in there was ‘The Intensive Care Unit’ by J.G.Ballard. A great little story where people live in isolation from each other and only have contact via tv screens and cameras, much like webcams basically. A family eventually meet-up
Belle de Jour – A Side Effect of a More Serious Symptom
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
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,
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
Is ‘The only reliable, durable, and perpetual guarantor of independence, profit.’?
There’s been much made about James Murdoch’s speech for the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV festival which has led to a #welovethenhs style campaign on Twitter – #welovethebbc – and Robert Peston losing his rag so I can’t add much about James Murdoch blatantly trying to give Sky an easier ride into mindnumbing, advertising
Fecal Evacuations
I’ve nearly finished the 4th draft of my novel ‘Railroaded’, in it a character has a touch of the runs or ‘diarrhea’. Now my middle school spelling tests have deserted me and I spelt it so badly that the Word spell check had no idea what word I was trying to spell so couldn’t offer