I'm making good progress towards that totally arbitrary 50,000 word deadline in November. So much so that I can make out what I'm trying to do with this novel project. It's definitely becoming something more than I thought it would. Basically, I never presumed my first proper novel attempt would be a reflexive and literary Australian horror story. … Continue reading NaNo a GoGo
Doctor Who: Body Politic
Well isn't the Zygon Invasion right up to the minute with talk of radicalisation and kids, and strangers amongst us in the most urban and mundane of settings? Current but also old, old news, because it was ever thus. Regardless of the aliens, this is a cold war spy thriller invasion tale, where the paranoia … Continue reading Doctor Who: Body Politic
Doctor Who: Identity Stakes
Some writing groups I'm in often return to ideas about anthropomorphism and what it means for writers. Almost all aliens we see are humans with traits removed or magnified. Vulcans of Star Trek: basically human + heightened rationality. Daleks: remove empathy + hate & shove in metal box. Cybers: remove emotion and personal identifiers + … Continue reading Doctor Who: Identity Stakes
Conversations in cars
Some of the best conversations I've had and a handy way to get to know people, is to go on a long car journey. A car is a special kind of cone of - well not silence - but privacy. Interruptions and distractions are few and can be mitigated, while the light chit-chat runs out before the … Continue reading Conversations in cars
Doctor Who: Doctor Memorius
There was banter, gallows humour, fight scenes, there was highway robbery, and, there was a fire-breathing alien lion. All this was more than enough to satisfy from The Woman Who Lived, but it wasn't even the main course. The main course was the thread of conversation between The Doctor and The Knightmare/Ashildir/Lady Me. For once, Clara's … Continue reading Doctor Who: Doctor Memorius
Doctor Who: Adding Mire
River Song accused the Doctor of making such a legend of himself all his enemies wanted him in a box. She noted his title meant warrior in some languages, rather than learned or healer. Yet, Doctor Who (the program) does this all the time: makes legends and messes them up. The enemies become legendary in … Continue reading Doctor Who: Adding Mire
NaNo Prep Info
I am in the midst of NaNoWriMo preparations. Tis probably ridiculous that a non-novelist is about to write a novel of 50,000 words in November. I don't mind though, there's nothing quite so freeing as being ridiculous and I have a cunning plan to ease myself into this new identity. However, I am not so … Continue reading NaNo Prep Info
Doctor Who: Hybrid History
Some of the appeal of Doctor Who is that a single episode can unfold in unexpected directions. A straight Vikings vs Aliens episode was made more frustrating and then heart-felt by its twists. I know it's a family show, and I know it's story, not history, but if programs are going to have a play … Continue reading Doctor Who: Hybrid History
Fake Authenticity / Real Theatricality
Since seeing Justin Kurzel's MACBETH the other day, I've all these half-formed paragraphs and attempted poetic phrases turning in my mind in an effort to do it justice and properly sum up the experience. It was still and moody, and balletic and brutal in the depiction of war and bloodshed. There was theatrical cinematography with … Continue reading Fake Authenticity / Real Theatricality
Say it aint so, going totally NaNoWriMo
Uh oh Can't say I'm too much of a bandwagonny joiner type, but I've just gone and signed up to write a novel in a month. Given it took the best part of a year for me to write a novella as part of a thesis, I'm a lil bit worried. But at least I don't … Continue reading Say it aint so, going totally NaNoWriMo
Writing Bec 