'Hear' be spoilers... I like a bit of writing like this. It bats you around the head with its cleverness, it's self-referential, and even didactic. That's not a bad idea sometimes, as it means we get a lesson in time travel, and we know what's at stake, because we've dealt with The Doctor messing about … Continue reading Doctor Who: Listening Tour
Writing
Doctor Who: Talking Cure?
I started writing this before I saw Under the Lake and having seen it, the episode reinforces what I've been thinking for a while. Of course it will though, because confirmation bias. I was thinking regardless how big a fan you may may not be of Doctor Who under Steven Moffat, you can't deny he can write, or … Continue reading Doctor Who: Talking Cure?
Doctor Who: Lying, the witch and wardrobe malfunctions
Review: The Witch's Familiar I think the Dalek loop is complete for the moment thanks to Steven Moffat. The Doctor has killed them, refused to kill them, transformed them, saved them, run away from them, and helped in a way, to invent them. Davros and The Doctor are the same and different. Scientist geniuses, the … Continue reading Doctor Who: Lying, the witch and wardrobe malfunctions
Doctor Who: Told You So
AKA remembrance of things that might be retconned So yes, it's just like I said in my last review. Lo and behold, with The Magician's Apprentice we get the double bill return of Missy and of Davros. No sweating on slow burn mysteries, Steven Moffat is leaping straight into the big themes of the season: … Continue reading Doctor Who: Told You So
Doctor Who: Prologue-ic
The Doctor is almost here. It's been an epic wait. And for that we get a prologue. I have all the thoughts and no thoughts about this development. As a writer, I suspect prologues are for the artsy bits authors believe are too well written to throw out when editors demonstrate they're not needed for … Continue reading Doctor Who: Prologue-ic
A room right with WriteSpace
Part One WriteSpace: it's everything I had imagined a day devoted to writing to be. There were desks, comfy enough chairs, food and beverages, natural light, power, a thoughtful selection of writing resources for inspiration, and much kind service from our host. Quiet tapping on laptops is comforting. We happy few are getting work done, … Continue reading A room right with WriteSpace
Equivocating, writing and a review of The Heretics
I've just finished Will Storr's The Heretics: Adventures with the Enemies of Science. Mainly because the medication and the agony of my swollen face with sinusitis won't let me sleep, but that's a digression. I think the book is an exploration of how humans come by opinions and beliefs using contrasted interviews of climate denialists and scientists, creationists … Continue reading Equivocating, writing and a review of The Heretics
How a story is a horse, of course
Writing has been hard work. I've had trouble getting from the end of the middle of one story, to its conclusion, which I've worked out. And, with my novella, I've begun fixing everything I've realised is wrong with it, but it takes a while to warm up. I'm not feeling the mojo, in other words, … Continue reading How a story is a horse, of course
Eeekphrasis
It's easy for me to review stuff. I like it, and I think I bring something to each work, or play or film or whatever. However, it's not the only thing I'm on about, or that this site was meant to be about. It's time to go back to first principles. Instead of reviewing works, I'm … Continue reading Eeekphrasis
Examining writing rules
Sometimes when you learn a lesson, it really takes. Sometimes a lesson becomes a code or a creed to live by or write by and thus become a part of you. I've had a lot of writing advisors, some were actual teachers, and lecturers, and others were found via books or online or just in … Continue reading Examining writing rules
Writing Bec 