The recent attack on the North Korean web service for their alleged, and probably unlikely, attack on Sony has been attributed to the hacktivist group known as Anomynous.
One month ago, I talked about the dangers of a group like this potentially having an agenda which could draw the U.S. into a major war; see The Anonymous Vigilante.
With this attack, we are seeing the arrogance of this group grow, made worse by the fact that the North Koreans may well be innocent in this matter. In fact, I wonder if both sides of the attack were not Anomynous.
The current trend in teenage literature (which has a greater following in post-teen readers) is for post apocalyptic dystopian worlds, and we should worry that they maybe an element of the current hacktivists who confuse the fantasy for a "better" reality.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Anomynous Vigilante Rises Again
Sunday, December 28, 2014
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide to AFFECT vs. EFFECT
When do you
use AFFECT rather than EFFECT, and vice versa?
This can be one of the trickier challenges. It is a mistake I see quite often.
Here is A
Quick 5 point novel guide.
Friday, December 26, 2014
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide to AN vs. A
There are two things we know about the relative
usage of AN and A:
1. We use AN before a vowel
2. A word uses AN or uses A no matter where in the world you are, it never changes.
…well, no and no!
Here is a a quick 5 point novel guide to AN vs. A.
Labels:
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide,
Writing
What do you think: |
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
As a Writer You Must Learn to Observe and Just Listen
As a writer you must Learn to observe and Just Listen
What do you think: |
Monday, December 22, 2014
Amazing Words: Oxymoron
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
OXYMORON
Saturday, December 20, 2014
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide to using THAT vs. WHICH
One of the most confusing aspects of writing is the use of that instead of which? I am going to give you are easy way to remember.
Here is A Quick 5 point novel guide.
Labels:
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide,
Writing
What do you think: |
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide to Using i.e. and e.g.
We all use i.e. and e.g. but do we use them correctly. I received a report at work the other day and in seven references to i.e. or e.g. five times they were used incorrectly--I think the other two were luck.
So, here I present the fool proof 5 point novel guide to e.g and i.e.
Labels:
A Quick 5 Point Novel Guide,
Writing
What do you think: |
Friday, December 12, 2014
10 Paths to Write Great Fictional Dialogue
I love writing dialogue. There are lots of blogs on the technical
aspect of dialogue; I want to discuss the foundational essence of dialogue.
One of the greatest writers of dialogue has to be John Steinbeck, the Pulitzer prize winner. Here is an extract from one of my favorite books, Of Mice and Men:
'O.K.—O.K. I’ll tell ya again. I ain’t got nothing to do. Might jus’ as well spen’ all my time tell’n you things and then you forget ‘em, and I tell you again.'
'Tried and tried,' said Lennie, 'but it didn’t do no good. I remember about the rabbits, George.'
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Amazing words: Tabard
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
TABARD
Monday, December 8, 2014
Amazing Words: Bouleversement
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
BOULEVERSEMENT
Saturday, December 6, 2014
7 Rules On How To Write A Flashback In A Novel
Every story is set in a period of time. In a story, any reference
to backstory or action that has happened in the past to explain something within
this period of frame is referred to as a flashback.
When writing a novel, a flashback can be a powerful tool in
the development character motivation. In my novel “Blood Ties” I have a couple
of flashbacks to build up the foundation to why Amber is desperate for a new
life and a mother she misses.
However, there are a few rules around writing good
flashbacks:
1. Use Sparingly
Every time you use a flashback
you risk losing the audience.
2. Have an
emotional trigger to go into the flashback
For the flashback to occur there
must be a trigger. For example, in Blood Ties,
a man stalking Amber triggers a memory of when she was fifteen and a guardian
tried to rape her.
3. Let the audience
know the flashback has started
If you are writing in the present
tense then this is relatively easy as you can just switch to the past tense. However,
if you are writing in the past tense, then you have to start the flashback a
little differently, you need to start the flashback in the past perfect tense.
The Past Perfect expresses the
idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also
show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
Examples:
I had
never met my wife before I moved to
Jersey. This is a completed action before something in the past.
By the time I met my wife, I had been in Jersey five years. This
is a duration before something in the past.
Once, you are a
couple of sentences into the flashback, it is okay to revert to simple past
tense as it is easier to read.
4. Have a trigger
to end the flashback
In Blood Ties, Amber is pulled from the flashback by the train
arriving at the platform.
5. Let the audience
know the flashback has end
Again, if you novel is present
tense it is easy to show you have ended the flashback by reverting to back to
resent tense.
If your novel is in past tense,
then you need to revert to past perfect tense for the last couple of sentences
to give a hint that the flashback is ending.
6. The effect the
flashback had on the reader
Does the flashback effect how your
reader views your character? If not then dump it, A flashback must add something
to explain a character motivation or to their personality.
7. If possible
lose the flashback
Make sure you fully understand the
reason why you need the flashback and you are sure you cannot get the information
across without it, because every time you slip in to a flashback you risk
losing the reader. Before using the flashback, make sure the reader is hooked
in the story but do them early in the novel not in the main part of the book.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
10 No Bull S*** Rules to Success
I have been relatively successful in pretty much everything I have ever done, be it work, hobbies, or pleasure, and it comes down to ten priceless, no bull, rules.
These are pretty good things to do if you ever want to successfully lead people too!
1. Take ownership
If you don’t
feel you own the problem, you will never work hard enough to solve the problem
2. Never give
an excuse
If you own
it and something goes wrong, even if it out of your control, do not, ever, give
excuses. The truth will come out in time and your reputation will be enhanced.
3. Do not talk negatively
about others
They will
find out and others will assume you talk about them too
4. Say “No”
Only do what
you have the skill and time to do. It is better to say ‘no’ and give the person
asking the option to go elsewhere.
5. 80-20 Rule
Never seek perfection
6. Be humble
Don’t brag
and look to compliment others
7. Be nice
Karma man!
8. Be honest
If you are always
honest in mistakes and praise, people will trust you and that is a powerful
ally to have
9. Listen to
feedback openly
I am a
writer, I get better by listen to feedback openly. I may not follow all
feedback but I consider why the other person feels the way they do.
10. Listen to
others ideas and give credit
No one
person will know everything, and the best ideas usually come from collaboration
with others.
What do you think: |
Monday, December 1, 2014
7 Things You Must Do To Write A Novel, or Run a Marathon, or Do Anything Cool in Life
I am about to give you a gift which, if used wisely, can change your life. The secret of absolute success in anything in life worth doing.
This is what all those self help books go on about in 250 pages, I will give you in 700 words. This is What Successful People do, What Millionaires do, What Marathon Olympic Champions do, and this is What Stephen King Does.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
7 Scary Real Life Example of “fiction”
The news this week has been dominated by Ferguson, but if
you looked around at some of the other stories, making the news, you will be
surprised at how seemingly fictitious situations are happening in the real
world.
1. The three finger salute of resistance
In scenes reminiscent of Hunger
Games, Thai students were arrested for making the three finder salute
in silent dissent against a brutal authoritarian state. It became so popular
after the Thai coup that the authorities warned they would arrest anyone in a
large group who gave the salute and refused to lower their arm when ordered. Army
officials later confirmed that the students were taken to a military camp and
were detained for "attitude adjustment", reported The Nation.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Ask a friend to read you're manuscript?
Yesterday, I asked a friend to review my manuscript. Today, I read this...
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal Comics
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal Comics
Monday, November 24, 2014
Amazing Word: Recusant
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
RECUSANT
Saturday, November 22, 2014
The Anonymous Vigilante
In writing, vigilantes are a popular genre; Batman,
Spiderman, and, for older readers, Charles Bronson in Death wish. But in all
these examples, the authors felt there was a danger of unaccountable power and usually
expressed this through the lack of support by law enforcement.
The vigilante group (or hacktivist) group Anonymous attacked
the KKK for their threats against protesters over the death of Michael Brown.
At first, this looks like a great thing as the KKK are deplorable organization
which adds nothing but hate to society. Additionally, if you look back through time you can
repeatedly see the good Anonymous have done.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Book Review: The Kite Runner
Why are you saying
these things?" I said.
Because you wanted to
know," he spat. He pointed to an old man dressed in ragged clothes
trudging down a dirt path, a large burlap pack filled with scrub grass tied to
his back. "That's the real Afghanistan, Agha sahib. That's the Afghanistan
I know. You? You've always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
Beautiful Kabul;
beautiful writing
The Kite runner is a book about how a coward who after deserting his best friend, and then compounds the problem by pushing him away in his time
of greatest need, is given an opportunity to redeem himself. The first half of the
book is looking back at Amir’s life as a child in Kabul before the USSR invaded
Afghanistan.
At times the writing is very beautiful and descriptive, when
Khaled talks about Kabul you feel a genuine happiness.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Top 10 Super Weird Human Senses
We as writers are continually reminded
to express the world through the display of senses in our writing; how did it
smell, feel, sound, taste & look. We use these to move us away from telling
and toward showing.
However, what if we were only
scratching the surface of the available ways a person can perceive the world
around them?
Here, I am going to explore the top 10 weird senses humans have.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Character development: The Rosetta Project
Unless you have been stuck in a
cave somewhere, you have probably heard about the Rosetta Project. A mission
made more famous by the shirt of a scientist than the actual accomplishments of
taking ten years to land on a comet.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
New way to deliver bad news!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Introducing Iris Wordsworth
Now, I know this is a bit rough but I wanted my own character to tell my "jokes" and lets hope it get a little more..."sweet"!
She will have a love of words and hopefully be a little funny... she is Canadian!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Amazing Word: Malapropism
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
MALAPROPISM
I pickled MALAPROPISM because of the comical nature of a
malaprop.
The usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word
or phrase; especially: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one
intended but ludicrously wrong in the context.
This comes from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard
Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals, was known for her verbal blunders. "He is
the very pine-apple of politeness," she exclaimed, complimenting a
courteous young man.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month—NaNoWriMo—is a great initiative,
which I may have partaken in had I not already completed my own writing month in September—driven
on by a broken heel.
For the month, I set a starting daily goal of 600 words. As I
achieved and passed my goal each day, I felt more confident (and happy) and
increased it slowly to 900 and onto 1200, eventually achieving a total of 14 days of over
1500. I threw in a handful of massive 3000+ writing days (on flights to and
from Toronto) and from the 23rd August to the 26th
September I wrote over 50,000.
I think Novel Writing
Month (http://nanowrimo.org/) is a
great idea and all the staff and volunteers involved have created a wonderful non-profit
organization. They run Young writers Programs and provide free community resources
all over the world.
However, that said, I do feel the need to take a tongue-in-cheek
look at the name—NaNoWriMo.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Amazing Words: List
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
LIST
Friday, November 7, 2014
10 Things You Should NEVER Say To Your Novel
We all work hard on our novels. Every day, we pander to their high maintenance. We sit back and look at them with mixed emotions.
At first, we feel the excitement and the passion. Then, we get into a comfortable zone, seeing them first thing in the morning and last thing at night. But, eventually familiarity breeds contempt and we need a break. We start to think about that other novel. She is so fresh, fun, and different...
In these moments of writing weakness remember, the ten things you should NEVER say to your novel:
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
10 Great Writing Tips
We all have received great pieces of advice in life. When
running, you should not use your runner two days in a row, in management, you
must deal with issues immediately, and in marriage just agree with your wife.
As an author, I have come across some simple but very powerful tips:
Sunday, November 2, 2014
You crazy,pen.
Yes, yes, when I'm alone writing, I too have had deep discussions with my pen, Penelope.
Go check out www.marriedtothesea.com
Go check out www.marriedtothesea.com
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Amazing Words: Quantum
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
Quantum
- Quantum as we all know refers to something immensely small. The smallest amount of many forms of energy.
- Quantum as we all know refers to something rather large. A significant quantum improvement.
Which of these statements is true?
A. Statement 1
B. Statement 2
C. Both
D. Neither
Well, the answer is C. both of them are true. This seems contradictory and it is!
You see, Quantum falls in to a category of words
called Contronyms--terms that, depending on context, can
have opposite or contradictory meanings.
Try this sentence for size:
The quantum leap in
human knowledge over the past 100 years has been so immense that even a highly
educated person can hope to absorb only a tiny quantum of it.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Why did you start writing?
When writing
a story, writers receive inspiration in many forms. We have dreams, we see
something unusual, we read an article; the list is endless. We then take this to a unique conclusion.
But what
inspires writers to become writers in the first place? What makes a person
decide to undertake the art of writing and spend agonizing years fighting
crisis in confidence trying to create a novel complete strangers will want to
read? I imagine we all have that “a-ha” moment.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
In order to write...read
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Novel Writing: Man vs. Machine
Julia was twenty-six years old... and she worked, as he had guessed, on the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department. She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor... She could describe the whole process of composing a novel, from the general directive issued by the Planning Committee down to the final touching-up by the Rewrite Squad. But she was not interested in the final product. She "didn't much care for reading," she said. Books were just a commodity that had to be produced, like jam or bootlaces. – 1984 George Orwell
In 1984 George Orwell introduced the factory that wrote books, but it should be noted that the machines worked with humans, the Planning Committee and the Rewrite Squad.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Amazing Word: Ambrosia
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
AMBROSIA
Ambrosia is applied to something particularly delightful to
taste or smell. It also refers to the foods of the gods, said to bestow
immortality. It is a girl’s name and sometimes shortened to Amber.
In the novel, Blood Ties, the protagonist’s name is Amber. However,
in her passport she carries the name Ambrosia. Amber’s beauty is intensified by
the association to the words reference to delightful food, but more
importantly, it connects into the whole context of the novel where her blood is
used to try and make another woman immortal.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
When is Data Plural or Singular?
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Avoiding Cultural Mistakes in Writing
This week, I am writing my blog from a train travelling in
Northern England, from Sunderland to Wolverhampton. It has been years
since I visited England and I’m struck by the subtle differences from my new home
in West Vancouver. These variances show exactly where a novel can fall down
when you are writing about a place you think
you know.
Let’s look at this (English) example:
“Dave ran his dry tongue
over his fangs. They felt dirty, blood probably, he had forgotten his
toothbrush. He squeezes himself in behind the steering wheel of his two door silver
Honda Civic, his belly hanging out of his Puma tracksuit bottoms. He puts her
into first gear and pulls away from the curb, facing the oncoming traffic. He blasts
his horn at an old woman about to step out on to the road.”
Monday, October 13, 2014
Amazing Words: Tittup
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that
has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has
evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful Onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
TITTUP
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Future Self
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Do you have a Writer’s Mission Statement?
This does not count: “To be stinking rich, win the Man Booker Prize, and be chased on Malibu beach by paparazzi photographing my new found six-pack for the cover of people magazine.”
What can you hope to achieve with a Writer’s Mission Statement?
In my ‘Clarke Kent’ life, where no one knows my alter ego, Writer & Runner, I tell people this is not just about goals or how you will achieve them.
This one statement will force you to think deeply about your writing, clarify the purpose of your writing, and identify what is really important to you. It will be a marker in the sand, to say “here I stand today” and to tell your future self what you expect from them and who you want to become. You cannot measure success without knowing what it looks like.
What do you think: |
Monday, October 6, 2014
Amazing Words: Cataract
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My Eye Like Waterfall by cynder-lany |
Each week, I’m going to present an amazing word. A word that has a double meaning either directly or perhaps through origin, where is has evolved into a new meaning, or carries a wonderful onomatopoeic effect.
This week my amazing word is:
CATARACT
"A cataract of lightness materializes down my legs to imbue me with the urge to skip or twirl” – Blood Ties.
Cataract is most famous for its more ominous definition, an opaque area in the eye, which can lead to blindness. This is the first more subtle use of the word; to define blindness in protagonist to what is going on. The poetic version of the word refers to a waterfall.
In the example above, we can see how the waterfall meaning is used to show the giddy feelings flowing down the protagonists legs. The implied blindness alludes to her ignorance of the dangerous source of her happiness.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
A Newbie's Cornerstone to Setting up an Author's Platform
There’s the easy way and
there’s the newbie way.
If you are thinking about building toward your platform
then you need to read on and avoid my mistakes and wasted hours. Firstly, what is an author's platform? I think Jane Friedman sums it up perfectly in this blog. A platform is who you will become; A proven authority making an impact to your target audience.
A platform, like Rome, is not built in a day but the cornerstone of your future self starts here and now.
A platform, like Rome, is not built in a day but the cornerstone of your future self starts here and now.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
You Have to Start Somewhere
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We have lift off |
In my next post, I will tell you how I am doing it. I will highlight the good (Daily blog tips), the bad (?), and the ugly(my web page!)
But to start – go here for a wonderful site on blogging: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/
But to start – go here for a wonderful site on blogging: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/
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