I’ve been writing for a while now, mainly short stories and the occasional poem (which is like an occasional table, but less functional and less likely to be a tripping hazard). I've studied writing, edited writing, listened to writers, most recently at Aussie Con4, reviewed texts etc ad lib and so forth. Also I’ve been … Continue reading Got Novel, will write?
We Come in Peace: a defence of SF
Aussie Con4 got me thinking and inspired and thinking. The people who read SF (science fiction or speculative fiction) are the people who read it, but the people who don't, don't understand. Those who tuck into crime dramas look askance at fantasy dabblers, romance devotees dread science fiction aficionados and literature browsers snub all genre … Continue reading We Come in Peace: a defence of SF
You Got Rhythm?
Christopher Hitchens once made a point about fiction writing and music. He said all the fiction writers he knew had music in their lives and realised early on he was not that kind of music appreciator, and therefore not that kind of writer. Plenty of writers work with music, are inspired by music and even … Continue reading You Got Rhythm?
Wish me Joss
Melbourne, City of Literature, is heading into official writerly season, with the Melbourne Writers Festival and this year, for those with an interest/obsession in all things science-fictiony and popcultury Aussie Con 4 . Appearing for MWF (but perhaps he could be forced to loiter for AC4?) is Joss Whedon. Everyone familiar with his work is … Continue reading Wish me Joss
Shades of Inspiration
I recently discovered the Shades of Crimson blog. And found Inspiration. The nine word challenge resonated and I was delighted to be published over there. Go Look. And I needed it. Writing is lonely and often difficult, but being published warms the cockles. It's all too easy to forget the Joy. The Joy. In creating, … Continue reading Shades of Inspiration
Inception: Alice in Slumberland
Like everyone I succumbed and saw Inception. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance was, again, superb. Christopher Nolan’s inventiveness, visual style and scale were impressive. However, what I liked most is what it left me with: stuff to think on. What occurred to me was films exploring notions of reality, the brain, and imagination end up referencing somehow, … Continue reading Inception: Alice in Slumberland
The Nostalgia Machine – Like
The internet is a vasty, complex, collective nostalgia space. Huge databases (imdb) and sharing sites (YouTube) allow us to rediscover all those things we loved, loathed and liked Back In The Day: Dragon, SuperTed, the theme song from the Tomorrow People, The Take Aways, Tab! We can also keep up to date with those things, … Continue reading The Nostalgia Machine – Like
Random eerie resemblences in TV Land
I was thinking about TV and actors, which via a circuitous route best left mysterious, led to programs I liked as a child, and I discovered some things and recalled other things and found out stuff I never knew. Like how the girl from Worzel Gummidge was in Four Weddings and a Funeral via Educating … Continue reading Random eerie resemblences in TV Land
Blessed Be the FruChoc Stockest – Update
Hi, this is a very important update to the below post. Last week, via the goodness that is Twitter and Adam Hills, I discovered supermarkets around Australia are now stocking FruChocs. Calloo Callay! It's only taken a billionty years (approx), but yes, they are here. Of course the sad thing is they have been re-branded … Continue reading Blessed Be the FruChoc Stockest – Update
One Year of Reading – A Historical Document
I found this list from high school (20 years ago. Blimey. I must hoard stuff). Anywho, it's a list I had to keep of all the books I read during the school year when I was 16. Some of them I don't recall. Others I still like. Couldn't be more random. Or maybe it could. … Continue reading One Year of Reading – A Historical Document
Writing Bec 