On Nanowrimo

So I'm doing Nanowrimo, I'm nearly 12,000 words in, and I haven't enjoyed the writing experience so much in years. There's a freedom to writing for quantity over quality that really suits the story I'm telling.

Here are some tips for Nanowrimo that I've discovered along the way:

Nine reasons to check out The Leftovers

You’ve not heard of The Leftovers? Sacrilege. Oh you have? You just haven’t given it a go yet... okay, you’re forgiven, all is forgiven, all is okay, there is still time...

Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane by William Peter Blatty Book Review

The first thing I do when I pick up a book like this is give it a good sniff. If it's from the 60s or 70s you can guarantee that those yellowed pages of sepia-tone nostalgia will greet you with a warm, musty scent, reserved for tightly-packed second-hand bookstores and the forgotten back-rooms of thrift shops. Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane smelled great, and had a cover that reminded me of The Exorcist version that I read years ago, with its simple black background and stark white writing.

Scrounger Danger!

It's becoming something of a dirty word; scrounger: countless times it's reared its head in discussions over the country's economy, and so often in tones of anger. So often it's the voice of the moderate, turned vexed by the thought of someone getting something they're not entitled to, while they themselves are losing out (so hungry and emaciated, so homeless and destitute, with bleeding gums no doubt).

Book Review: The Redemption by Exorcist author, W P Blatty

William Peter Blatty’s The Redemption (2010), also known as Dimitar, is essentially an exploration of faith wrapped up in a mystery story. It begins in Albania in the 1970s with the story of a mysterious stranger being held by state security. This stranger, The Prisoner, is questioned under various forms of torture while his story, unveiled by The Interrogator – who turns out to be a high-ranking official named Vlora – is slowly revealed.

I say revealed, but even by the end of the first act there remains a massive shroud of mystery, and it is this mystery that keeps the reader gripped.

Friendly debate part 2

Questions from a UKIP supporter.

The more I offer replies to disputes put forward, the more it feels like I'm reaching out to some intangible ideal - but what is politics if it's not about aspiration?

"Immigration will always be detrimental in my view," he says. "Either you have to give them a job (if there are any available) so they can support themselves, which means taking a job off a British citizen, or cause more strain on the housing market to give them somewhere to live. Australia is the best place to live; based on a points system and without benefits."

Friendly debate

How do you debate with a UKIP supporter who says Corbyn is an extremist? 

"You can't give what you don't have." It's the same old excuse. I'm sure if we wanted another war we could find the funds for that. Enough with the breaks to the rich already!

"Labour left us with a country that was bankrupt." That one. Not directly Labour's fault, as previously mentioned in my earlier blog.

The Man Who Fell From Earth by Walter Tevis, Book Review

Part of the charm of The Man Who Fell to Earth, written by Walter Tevis, is the time in which it was written. Like many genre novels, and sci-fi in particular, during the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s; it was written during a period of scientific revelation and excitement. Hints existed of potential future technologies, so while writers of this time had a head-start in formulating ideas for stories set in the future, it was a period of great experimentation and creativity. Like watching the original Star Trek, there is so much enjoyment to be had in reveling in the ideas that these writers had; squeezing far-flung technological inventions that defy reality, from existing ‘analogue’ machinery (someone please point me to early, realistic descriptions of what we would call digital), such as Thomas Jerome Newton’s World Enterprises photographic film (a self-developing roll of film).

What makes The Last of Us so good?

Okay, so if you’re reading this, please beware that there will be spoilers ahead. I won’t intentionally try to spoil anything, but I do want to try to get into the nitty-gritty of what makes Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us so good.

I’ve completed it four times (only four? you may say) well, I’m a family man and there are actually other games out there. The first completion was a decent enough 17 hours on normal mode, and the moment I completed it I remember thinking then, “That was the greatest game I’ll ever play.” And I immediately wanted to play it again from the start.

Jeremy Corbyn: renewed interest and media weirdness

I'm a 32-year-old male, and for my entire adult life I have wanted to feel engaged with politics. We grow, we get decent jobs, we start families - this is the norm and I am no exception. Throughout, I have wanted to want to vote. I have wanted to make a mark on the ballot with conviction, but whenever I have voted, and it's not as often as it should have been, I've barely been impressed by anyone, or any party. I have never felt as though a single individual, much less a party, has reflected any of my political values. Some have come close, I think. I look back at pre-coalition Nick Clegg and remember that he seemed to stand for something, and I think I've always leaned towards Lib Dem anyway. But it became clear there was no real voice there; the coalition was just a lighter shade of blue than the government today.

Status Quo

In wild and stormy, harshland blocks,

wet pillars stoney-faced and eyelid

thin, the cots within of hungry cries,

wide-mouthed to take the driving rain,

and chase away the milk of grey

from state to State to empty plate;

parents without parents in poverty;

breadcrumbs floating on a silver lake,

a spoon removed from gloopy mess

by Blue-encrusted sticky fingers,

laid bare the many needs for more,

the young grow old without growth.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane by Laird Koenig - Book review

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane by Laird Koenig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Simple story really well told, with a strong middle section that bounces along. The writing I would describe as clean - the kind of writing that would lead me to read more of his work - nothing extraneous. What stands out is that the characters are believable, each clearly defined and each acting as you may expect. Nothing felt contrived, and Rynn's desperation in the final act was really well described, as well as the atmosphere of the lane and house. Recommended.


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77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz - Book Review

77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Dean 'as if' Koontz has fallen to the lowest of lows, almost as if his publishing company has created a Koontzrobot that spits out a novel if you insert certain keywords, such as SUV or dog or Koontz-character-archetype; as if loyal readers are so willfully dull they'll continue to be trolled again and again as the editors fill their pockets, as if, as if, as if. As if it's a game to see how many times he can get away with saying as if on one bloody page!

As if I even managed to get half way. It's over.


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