This is a very personal post. Not embarassing or deep, simply a solidification of my own thoughts, rather than something of interest to the masses. It's also a bit touchy-feely, as it expresses explores my feelings a bit.
I have always had, as long as I can remember, a particular feeling of something important. It's kind of like waking up and not being able to remember the dream you just had. It's on the tip of your tongue, whirling around in the darkness of confusion, just out of reach. You are so close, you can almost taste it. And yet, it eludes.
And what kind of feeling is it? It is the feeling of the vastness of space and time, of infinite clouds and unimaginable magnitude. Presumably we all have a sense of wonder, but it's not just about looking around and saying "wow". It is a deeply spiritual feeling.
Now, if I were religious in any way, I would say it was glimpses of the divine, a feeling of enlightenment, or of being one with the cosmos. But I'm not, so I won't. It's more like a faint memory of childhood impressions, of the beauty, magnificence and magnitude of the sky. To describe it, I would say it is like the images of 'the nothing' from The Neverending Story.
One of my stories, "Old Girl" was about a lifeform in the atmosphere of Jupiter. I didn't dwell on the scenery, but writing about it evoked this elusive, magisterial feeling. Vast planes of clouds, as far as the eye can see. Stretching farther that any human eye has ever seen.
And music can take me there. Oh boy! This audiobook takes me to the infinite in a way nothing else can come near, with its slow, sustained pipes, so fitting for Lovecraft's poem about unimaginable realms and the infinite gulfs of space and time.
So that's all I wanted to say. The brief, elusive glimpses of the infinite are something I treasure dearly. My favourite writers, such as Lovecraft, Clarke, Lem and Baxter, have and tried to put it into words and musicians like Jean Michel Jarre can open the veil a crack for me. It is something I would strive for, to evoke similar emotions in the readers of my fiction. I will of course fail miserably, but it is the attempt to glimpse or reveal the infinite that has lead to the greatest works of art and spiritual experiences of humanity.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Life on mars? I hope so.
Is there life in Mars? It is a question that has plagued mankind for centuries, especially since Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli's description of observed channels was translated into English as 'canals'.
We now know that are no little green men eyeing our planet and making plans of invasion. However, there might have been life in the planet's ancient past, since geological evidence suggests that there was once liquid water. If so, there might be evidence for it, and, perhaps even some extremophiles still there, living in its harsh environment.
Now the team at Mars Science Laboratory, has announced they have found something 'earthshaking'. Unfortunately they won't tell us what it is because they are wainting to verify their data. Rightly so, since there have been several occasions where scientists have jumped the gun and claimed earthshaking results, which turned out to be human error.
But anyway, I am hoping they have found strong evidence that life once existed there. If true, it will be a monumental discovery. Perhaps life was created once in this solar system, and spread by hardy organsims carried on rocks spewed out by violent collisions or volcanism, but perhaps, just perhaps, life originated separately at least twice around our humble sun. If so, then the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe will jump from whatever you think it is now, to 100% certainty.
NPR, iO9
We now know that are no little green men eyeing our planet and making plans of invasion. However, there might have been life in the planet's ancient past, since geological evidence suggests that there was once liquid water. If so, there might be evidence for it, and, perhaps even some extremophiles still there, living in its harsh environment.
Now the team at Mars Science Laboratory, has announced they have found something 'earthshaking'. Unfortunately they won't tell us what it is because they are wainting to verify their data. Rightly so, since there have been several occasions where scientists have jumped the gun and claimed earthshaking results, which turned out to be human error.
But anyway, I am hoping they have found strong evidence that life once existed there. If true, it will be a monumental discovery. Perhaps life was created once in this solar system, and spread by hardy organsims carried on rocks spewed out by violent collisions or volcanism, but perhaps, just perhaps, life originated separately at least twice around our humble sun. If so, then the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe will jump from whatever you think it is now, to 100% certainty.
NPR, iO9
Monday, November 19, 2012
5 reasons to love the zombie apocalypse
Even though there are precious few good zombie films, I keep watching everything I can find regarding the zombie apocalypse. What is it about such a depressing, violent, gruesome, nasty scenario that I love so much?
For people who are not fans of the genre, apocalyptic horror probably seems the kind of thing only deranged sociopaths would like.
Here are five reasons why I fantasise about the zombie apocalypse.
1) It lifts society's restrictions. Wouldn't it be fun to take your neighbour's porsche and head out into the country. After all, he won't be needing it. The last time you saw him, he was eating his wife. And you could enter the houses of all the people you used to know to discover their secrets and the skeletons in their closets (sometimes literally), to satisfy those voyeuristic urges. Not that it would matter any more though.
2) It brings out the best in people. It gives you the oportunity to show your true colours. You could be the hero you always felt that deep down you are. Save a group of survivors by crushing the skulls of some rotting walkers and bathe in gratitude and praise.
3) Gets you out in the fresh air. I spend most of my life sitting in front of a screen, tapping on small square plastic keys. Sometimes, I would love to get out in the sun with a hammer in my hand, building a fortress, running from danger, harvesting food, and basically getting dirty in the real world. Grrr!
4) It levels the playing field. Is your boss a better person than you, with more skills, ingenuity, wisdom and strength? I thought not. Yet somehow he gets more money and more respect. How about that rich douchebag you pass in the street who looks at you as though you have just come from a dog's intestine? Is he better? Is he more worthy? In the apocalypse you get to hear them beg you for scraps of food, and plead for help when they are too slow to outrun the horde. Then you get the satisfaction of shooting them in the face when their eyes glaze over and their skin turns green.
5) It reboots civilisation
Once the worst is over, as long as you can find a safe place and learn how to survive in the post-apocalyptic world, you just need to wait it out. Gradually the zombies will start to die. Then the world will enter a kind of a Mad Max dystopia. After a few years of that, you will emerge as a benevolent dictator to usher in a glorious new age for humanity. Right?
So there you have it. I honestly do view zombie stories as positive and uplifting, despite being embedded in horror. For me, they are about liberation. The chance to clear away the old stagnant, corrupt, boring, spiritually bankrupt world, and work towards a better future. An opportunity to be who you really are, not what society has ordained you to be. To win or lose on your own merits, not because of how many zeroes, or what letters, are associated with your name. A place where everyone is equal and survival of the fittest means something again.
Of course, if the zombie apocolyse were to happen, little old nerdy me would probably be one of the first to die. And anyway, who would want to live in an anarchic world of zombies, rape gangs, brutal clan wars, no electricity or fresh water?
And no internet! Oh the humanity!
For people who are not fans of the genre, apocalyptic horror probably seems the kind of thing only deranged sociopaths would like.
Here are five reasons why I fantasise about the zombie apocalypse.
1) It lifts society's restrictions. Wouldn't it be fun to take your neighbour's porsche and head out into the country. After all, he won't be needing it. The last time you saw him, he was eating his wife. And you could enter the houses of all the people you used to know to discover their secrets and the skeletons in their closets (sometimes literally), to satisfy those voyeuristic urges. Not that it would matter any more though.
2) It brings out the best in people. It gives you the oportunity to show your true colours. You could be the hero you always felt that deep down you are. Save a group of survivors by crushing the skulls of some rotting walkers and bathe in gratitude and praise.
3) Gets you out in the fresh air. I spend most of my life sitting in front of a screen, tapping on small square plastic keys. Sometimes, I would love to get out in the sun with a hammer in my hand, building a fortress, running from danger, harvesting food, and basically getting dirty in the real world. Grrr!
4) It levels the playing field. Is your boss a better person than you, with more skills, ingenuity, wisdom and strength? I thought not. Yet somehow he gets more money and more respect. How about that rich douchebag you pass in the street who looks at you as though you have just come from a dog's intestine? Is he better? Is he more worthy? In the apocalypse you get to hear them beg you for scraps of food, and plead for help when they are too slow to outrun the horde. Then you get the satisfaction of shooting them in the face when their eyes glaze over and their skin turns green.
5) It reboots civilisation
Once the worst is over, as long as you can find a safe place and learn how to survive in the post-apocalyptic world, you just need to wait it out. Gradually the zombies will start to die. Then the world will enter a kind of a Mad Max dystopia. After a few years of that, you will emerge as a benevolent dictator to usher in a glorious new age for humanity. Right?
So there you have it. I honestly do view zombie stories as positive and uplifting, despite being embedded in horror. For me, they are about liberation. The chance to clear away the old stagnant, corrupt, boring, spiritually bankrupt world, and work towards a better future. An opportunity to be who you really are, not what society has ordained you to be. To win or lose on your own merits, not because of how many zeroes, or what letters, are associated with your name. A place where everyone is equal and survival of the fittest means something again.
Of course, if the zombie apocolyse were to happen, little old nerdy me would probably be one of the first to die. And anyway, who would want to live in an anarchic world of zombies, rape gangs, brutal clan wars, no electricity or fresh water?
And no internet! Oh the humanity!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
5 simple tips to instantly improve your writing
Here is a short list of easy to remember tips for strengthening your prose.
1) Be careful with adverbs.
Adverbs lead to weak writing. For example, in the sentence, "he ran quickly to the library," the adverb is redundent because ran impiles speed. It does nothing for the sentence except make it longer and weaker. Far better to use a different word to show emphasis. As writers of English, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to word selection. If you want to emphasise the actual speed of running, use 'jogged' or 'trotted' if it is a slow run, and 'dashed' or 'sprinted' to show that it was fast.
A strong, specific verb will beat a generic verb+adverb pair any day.
That's not to say you can never use adverbs. The secret is to use them to negate the meaning of verbs, to create a juxtaposition. For example, "love passionately" is weak, but "love fiercely" gives a strong, vivid image. Adverbs can be useful, but remember to use them wisely and sparingly.
2) Make your characters 'say' things.
There is nothing wrong with the word 'said'. It tells you who is speaking and is almost invisible on the page. Other words, such as 'spluttered', 'gasped', 'spat', 'hissed', 'cooed', 'whispered', 'shouted', 'ejaculated', 'opinied', can be used to paint a picture of the action and give a good insight into the emotions of the speaker. However, too many of them will disrupt the flow and become noticable on the page, especially the more esoteric of them. Words like 'whispered' or 'screamed' shouldn't be used more than once per several pages, and words like 'ejaculated' probably shouldn't be used at all. Remember to use 'said' synonyms only when it adds extra information, much like the previous point about adverbs.
Also, feel free to eliminate the attribution entirely when it's clear who's speaking.
3) Show don't tell
This is a very common piece of advice for prose writing, for good reason. Good writing draws people into the world, it connects them with the here and now, even if it is written in past tense. When you are 'telling' you are explicitly giving people important information about the state of the world, rather than allowing their imagination to work for the details. When you 'show' things, you are giving minor information about the world, painting the details and allowing the reader to fill in the gaps to see the big picture for themselves.
For example, "Bob was angry and he hated Jane." Okay, so there is a guy and he is angry with a woman. So what? I know what all those words mean and I can parse the sentence, but it doesn't connect me to Bob, and it certainly doesn't make me feel his anger.
"Bob's shoulders rose and his fists clenched into tight red balls. He glared at Jane with wet, bloodshot eyes. 'Get out!' he screamed."
4) Prefer the active voice
Consider these two sentences: "Sarah ate the apple," and, "the apple was eaten by Sarah." Active and passive. In fiction, you should almost always prefer the active voice. It provides agency and allows the reader to connect. The passive voice leads to weak writing, and will keep the reader at arm's length.
There are times, however, when you might want the reader to remain distant. Sometimes, it is desirable to show the action from the viewpoint of the victim. For example, a violent scene written in passive voice, witnessed by a sociopath or experienced by a machochist might be far more cold and chilling than if it were written from the viewpoint of the perpertrator.
5) Reduce your 'ing's
Verbs with 'ing' at the end are usually weak. They rely on the verb 'to be' to carry the weight. Too many 'ing's in a paragraph sound like a telephone: ring, ring, ring!
'He ran into the bedroom', is a lot more stronger than 'he was running towards the bedroom'. Remember, I want to know what your characters do, or did, not what they are, or were, doing.
However, gerunds are okay. That's where 'ing' allows a verb to act a noun. 'He liked cooking.'
So there you have it. Five simple tips to immediately help your writing become stronger.
Please note, however, that the items on this list are simply guidelines. They are tools in a writer's toolbox. You are free to ignore these pieces of advice whenever you wish. It all depends on the effect you are trying to achieve with your writing. But, like everything else, you should always know the rules before you go breaking them.
Otherwise you're just an amateur.
1) Be careful with adverbs.
Adverbs lead to weak writing. For example, in the sentence, "he ran quickly to the library," the adverb is redundent because ran impiles speed. It does nothing for the sentence except make it longer and weaker. Far better to use a different word to show emphasis. As writers of English, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to word selection. If you want to emphasise the actual speed of running, use 'jogged' or 'trotted' if it is a slow run, and 'dashed' or 'sprinted' to show that it was fast.
A strong, specific verb will beat a generic verb+adverb pair any day.
That's not to say you can never use adverbs. The secret is to use them to negate the meaning of verbs, to create a juxtaposition. For example, "love passionately" is weak, but "love fiercely" gives a strong, vivid image. Adverbs can be useful, but remember to use them wisely and sparingly.
2) Make your characters 'say' things.
There is nothing wrong with the word 'said'. It tells you who is speaking and is almost invisible on the page. Other words, such as 'spluttered', 'gasped', 'spat', 'hissed', 'cooed', 'whispered', 'shouted', 'ejaculated', 'opinied', can be used to paint a picture of the action and give a good insight into the emotions of the speaker. However, too many of them will disrupt the flow and become noticable on the page, especially the more esoteric of them. Words like 'whispered' or 'screamed' shouldn't be used more than once per several pages, and words like 'ejaculated' probably shouldn't be used at all. Remember to use 'said' synonyms only when it adds extra information, much like the previous point about adverbs.
Also, feel free to eliminate the attribution entirely when it's clear who's speaking.
3) Show don't tell
This is a very common piece of advice for prose writing, for good reason. Good writing draws people into the world, it connects them with the here and now, even if it is written in past tense. When you are 'telling' you are explicitly giving people important information about the state of the world, rather than allowing their imagination to work for the details. When you 'show' things, you are giving minor information about the world, painting the details and allowing the reader to fill in the gaps to see the big picture for themselves.
For example, "Bob was angry and he hated Jane." Okay, so there is a guy and he is angry with a woman. So what? I know what all those words mean and I can parse the sentence, but it doesn't connect me to Bob, and it certainly doesn't make me feel his anger.
"Bob's shoulders rose and his fists clenched into tight red balls. He glared at Jane with wet, bloodshot eyes. 'Get out!' he screamed."
4) Prefer the active voice
Consider these two sentences: "Sarah ate the apple," and, "the apple was eaten by Sarah." Active and passive. In fiction, you should almost always prefer the active voice. It provides agency and allows the reader to connect. The passive voice leads to weak writing, and will keep the reader at arm's length.
There are times, however, when you might want the reader to remain distant. Sometimes, it is desirable to show the action from the viewpoint of the victim. For example, a violent scene written in passive voice, witnessed by a sociopath or experienced by a machochist might be far more cold and chilling than if it were written from the viewpoint of the perpertrator.
5) Reduce your 'ing's
Verbs with 'ing' at the end are usually weak. They rely on the verb 'to be' to carry the weight. Too many 'ing's in a paragraph sound like a telephone: ring, ring, ring!
'He ran into the bedroom', is a lot more stronger than 'he was running towards the bedroom'. Remember, I want to know what your characters do, or did, not what they are, or were, doing.
However, gerunds are okay. That's where 'ing' allows a verb to act a noun. 'He liked cooking.'
So there you have it. Five simple tips to immediately help your writing become stronger.
Please note, however, that the items on this list are simply guidelines. They are tools in a writer's toolbox. You are free to ignore these pieces of advice whenever you wish. It all depends on the effect you are trying to achieve with your writing. But, like everything else, you should always know the rules before you go breaking them.
Otherwise you're just an amateur.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Welcome
Come in, come in. Put your feet up. Can I get you something? Some tea perhaps?
I am starting this blog as a place where I can dump my thoughts onto the yawning public. I will discuss the craft of writing, the industry, my journey into publishing and anything else I can think of relating to speculative fiction.
I will also discuss my main passion: aliens. Not north American actors with bumpy/stained foreheads or emaciated grey guys with big black eyes. No, I mean plausible extraterrestrial life. The kinds of things that may really be out there, looking up at an alien sky, perhaps even at our own humble star, and wondering if they too are alone in the universe.
Zombies! I love them too, so there may be some posts about horror and my feelings about it, my struggle with writing something that genuinely scares and perhaps a book/movie review now and again.
Anyway, that's enough for the moment. Hopefully you will be able to get to know me better as this blog unfolds. I am always open to sycophantic praise or constructive criticism, and I look forward to using this blog to connect with other writers of speculative fiction. So please feel free to comment or mail about anything on your mind.
Thanks for your interest, and welcome to my tiny little corner of the internet.
I am starting this blog as a place where I can dump my thoughts onto the yawning public. I will discuss the craft of writing, the industry, my journey into publishing and anything else I can think of relating to speculative fiction.
I will also discuss my main passion: aliens. Not north American actors with bumpy/stained foreheads or emaciated grey guys with big black eyes. No, I mean plausible extraterrestrial life. The kinds of things that may really be out there, looking up at an alien sky, perhaps even at our own humble star, and wondering if they too are alone in the universe.
Zombies! I love them too, so there may be some posts about horror and my feelings about it, my struggle with writing something that genuinely scares and perhaps a book/movie review now and again.
Anyway, that's enough for the moment. Hopefully you will be able to get to know me better as this blog unfolds. I am always open to sycophantic praise or constructive criticism, and I look forward to using this blog to connect with other writers of speculative fiction. So please feel free to comment or mail about anything on your mind.
Thanks for your interest, and welcome to my tiny little corner of the internet.
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