Writing

Submitting your writing, explained in Princess Bride GIFs

Posted on
Film poster for The Princess Bride - Copyright...
Film poster for The Princess Bride – Copyright 1987, 20th Century Fox (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s easy to become disheartened when submitting your writing. We’ve all been there. Even after all the heavy lifting of writing a story or novel, revising it, getting feedback, even working with an editor, you send it out into the world with high hopes. Sadly, there is no guarantee of success, exception maybe perseverance, but even then you know not every story will find a home.

Take heart! Even great stories can take a while to find traction. Take The Princess Bride, now cherished as a classic film. Upon its theatrical release in 1987, it barely made a ripple, and was considered a flop. (For the inside story on what it was like to work on the movie, I highly recommend Cary Elwes’ book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride.) But thanks to home video and word of mouth, eventually the movie found its audience, and then some, becoming a cult classic.

I happen to think that in submitting your writing, as in many aspects of life, The Princess Bride has much to teach us.

Continue

Things I Wish I Could Say to Douglas Adams

Posted on
Douglas Adams
Am I a fan of Douglas Adams? Why yes, I am… why do you ask?

I’ve been a fan of Douglas Adams since I was in junior high. A friend of mine thrust a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at me and said, “If you like Monty Python, you’ll probably like this.”

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsHe was right. I devoured the whole four-part trilogy (as it was then) and found that Douglas Adams was one of those rare authors who could make me laugh my head off — and make me think.

I came back to his writing over the years, somehow managing to read his two Dirk Gently novels out of order, but understand them just fine nevertheless, and later howling over nearly every entry in The Meaning of Liff. I’ve recently been re-reading his work, and finding that Douglas Adams still makes me laugh, and think, and look at things in a new way.

Continue

Some thought-provoking links you will surely like

Posted on

Since I stumble across a number of interesting links and articles, I figure I’ll keep sharing them in little round-up posts like this.

Controversial Star Wars opinion: Jar Jar Binks is good

I realize if I’m going to keep doing links posts, I may have to just admit many (most? all?) of them are going to feature some discussion of Star Wars. Here’s an article by Bryan Young, who’s had some very smart things to say about the movies on Twitter, about why Jar Jar Binks is not only important, but a crucial character. Not just to The Phantom Menace (and I’ll admit, my dislike for Jar Jar is why I rarely re-watch that movie), but to the entire original trilogy as well. Yes, it’s a stretch. And I’m not entirely convinced by his argument! But it does show that Lucas may have been going for more than a mere gimmick with Jar Jar. Read why Jar Jar Binks is secretly one of Star Wars’ most important characters.

Continue

Things I Wish I Could Say to Roger Zelazny

Posted on

As every year passes, I become more convinced Roger Zelazny died way too soon.

I first encountered his work when I was fourteen, thanks to a friend who thrust Nine Princes in Amber into my hands and swore it was one of the best books he’d ever read.

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger ZelaznySince I was already reading two huge fantasy series concurrently at the time, I don’t know why I agreed to start reading a third – maybe his enthusiasm won me over.

Unfortunately, my brain does not enjoy trying to fit a trilogy and two quintilogies (is that a word?) in at the same time, so I eventually abandoned Nine Princes after chapter two and didn’t pick it up again for months.

Funny thing, though.  I couldn’t stop thinking about it; and when I picked up the book again I started from scratch and was hooked.  An amnesiac prince whose bloodline allows him to walk through any reality he can conceive of has to overthrow his brother for the throne of Amber, the one true reality. Plus, he swears, smokes, makes offhand references to literature, philosophy, politics and history like a boss, all with a sharp sense of humour? I’m there.

Continue

Some interesting links to posts you may like

Posted on

I haven’t done much in the way of blog posts that consist largely of links. I suppose I came close with Fake Metal Bands That Should Have Existed. However, the maestro of such posts is Natalie Luhrs, and if you’re not already following her blog, get thee hence and see what you’re missing. Then come back here!  I have compiled a bit of reading that caught my eye and made me think this week. You may enjoy these, too.

Continue

Writing and career help, from my dog

Posted on

 

Spoiler: my dog is not a writer. However, he needs walks regularly and that, I’ve found, helps my writing.

Dash is a black Lab cross, which means as far as the Humane Society could tell he looks like a Lab but that’s clearly not all that’s in his parentage.  He’s just over two years old now. If I wanted to walk my legs off taking him around the neighbourhood, he would be very happy — and still not be tired when we got home.

So: we go on regular walks, weather permitting, as well as the dog parks. That’s the good, healthy thing about walking the dog in the dead of winter: you go outside even if you’d rather not. Fresh air and all that. Also, nobody in their right mind is out walking at night when it’s -20 to -30 C (plus windchill! Bonus!), unless they also have a dog. You dress for it and off you go.

Continue

SN Google Plus