'Ere 221B Dragons and Those Who May Spoil Them...mmmkay? Reflexivity When I write something there is me writing it #ObviousStatementisObvious. Yet if there is any art to writing, it is about removing the (obvious) evidence of me. But there is another art, or perhaps a balance, to leaving such evidence in the writing. Sometimes it's … Continue reading Going Back to Baker Street
The Hobbit: Consolations of Structure & Dreaming
Structure and Imagination The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug was mostly a triumph of restructuring and knowing what to do with a story once it's been written. Tolkien followed a dream when he began inventing a world in between stints in the trenches of WWI, and it was one that was continually reshaped over his entire life … Continue reading The Hobbit: Consolations of Structure & Dreaming
Doctor Who: Loose Ends & Story Strands
Here are some first and maybe second thoughts and feelings about The Time of the Doctor, and also about story telling. So what this story gave us is a chance to see a time travelling companion juxtaposed an aging Doctor staying in one place, for a long time. It was the opposite perspective from the usual … Continue reading Doctor Who: Loose Ends & Story Strands
Ten-ish books that stayed with me…
Yet another list thing is going around and I'll do my bit by listing 10-ish books that have stayed with me in some way, but only because I should be thesising or something. So here goes: 1) Little Match Girl. First story I ever read by myself. It was in the school library. 2) Wind … Continue reading Ten-ish books that stayed with me…
Confining myself to the present
Much have I seen and known Certainly I can say, I am part of all that I have met and yet it might be that I've got a case of that summertime sadness going around from Lana Del Rey. Or maybe not. It is fair to say in my experience, December hasn't been so much ho, … Continue reading Confining myself to the present
String Pullers and Sleight of Hand
Puppets are great metaphors for writers. Writers are the string pullers of their worlds. They are the will behind the action, the sleight of hand making things happen without seeming to do much at all (except typing), the voice of the work behind the words. They are ventriloquists who throw their voices and make matter … Continue reading String Pullers and Sleight of Hand
Knitting and unpicking the Day of the Doctor
Rules and World Building If you write a story you're creating a world, or a part of a world. It could be as close to 'real life' (whatever that is) as possible or it can be completely made up or it could sit somewhere in between. But it will obey rules. The world you invent … Continue reading Knitting and unpicking the Day of the Doctor
Strength of Character
I keenly dislike the phrase 'strong character'. It's a cliché and it is often unclear what is meant - either an individual who is well-defined, and/or easily identifiable, or actually physically and/or emotionally tough. And it is different to powerful. Power is about agency. You can be well-defined or even tough, without power. For example, Jayne … Continue reading Strength of Character
Writing: dreams may come
True Fact: stories about dreams are mostly boring to other people. This however, won't stop me telling you about my dream. Anyhoo, I dreamt I gave birth to a tiny demonic grey Gumby-looking thing I imagined was a golem (I know, golems aren't born, nor are they usually tiny). It rested in the palm of my … Continue reading Writing: dreams may come
The Hobbit: the expectation of a writer
Probably everyone's seen the trailer for the Hobbit: The Desolation of (yes that is how it's pronounced) Smaug. And all the interviews with everyone from the main cast to the second gaffer's assistant's cousin who made sandwiches for tourists in Auckland once. Or something. But still, it's all very exciting and epic and exciting. Especially since … Continue reading The Hobbit: the expectation of a writer
Writing Bec 