Life imitating art?

I've decided that I should read Hunger Games before I go and see the film. 
Yes, I know I'm a bit behind the times, I've no excuses. Well, I've plenty of excuses, but none of them would hold up to close scrutiny.
I'm unsure whether seeing the film straight after reading the book will be a good idea, but my hand is kind of forced on this one. 
On the subject of the film, I've so far managed to avoid any reviews and comments about it, other than it's worth seeing, and some advice to sit at the back of the theatre do to the shaky camera work. (Thank you friends) :o)
The one thing that did strike me when I started to read the book, was how shaky the print was.  It seemed that the movie was filmed in line with the text.

Then it dawned on me.  It was me shaking with anticipation of reading an exciting book.

Awesome Presents

I'm usually quite reserved when it comes to describing thing as amazing, or fantastic, or awesome, as I feel that if I over use the word, it becomes the norm, and loses it’s impact.
With this in mind, I have to say that there are two writing presents that I received at Christmas, that I feel compelled to describe as AWESOME!
The first is a digital pen from my wife.  For those of you who haven't encountered these, they consist of a pen, and a small receiver that you clip to the top of your pad.  Then you write!  When you are done, you connect the receiver to your pc, and upload the file that it's created, and… taadaaa! Your handwriting or drawing is displayed on the screen, ready for you.  Now comes the really cool bit.  You can now convert the handwriting into typed text.  I know!  It blew me away when I first did this.  It will make note taking, or scribbling out new bits for my WIP so much easier now that I don't have to type them up later.  And, at 3:30 in the morning, any notes of inspiration that I make can be uploaded in the morning!

The second item that I'm well chuffed about is a notebook that my daughter got me from WaldoPancake.com.
 

It's just a lined notepad, but the cover is just wicked!

Did you guys get anything that you just have to jump up and down and tell people about?

Still positive

This new positive thinking lark is going quite well.
In a conversation today, I mentioned that 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'
On reflection, I then realised that where I live, the sliver lining had probably been stolen and sold as scrap metal.  Then, on further reflection, I realised that this would create job opportunities for silver lining makers, and silver lining fitters.  Thus proving to myself that even negative things can have a positive spin.

Back from the Back of Beyond!

Think of the most remote, distant place you can possibly imagine.  Can you see it? Good.  Now drive a further half a mile down the road, and that is where we stayed for the New Year.
The whole of my wife's side of the family descended on a clump of small cottages in Sticksville (ok, it wasn't really called Sticksville, but it does sum up the isolated nature of the village) for my Brother-In-law's 40th birthday on new years eve.
It was an incredibly manic time, with an excessive amount of laughter, and I have come away from there with a renewed insight on life and the way forward.
If ever I'm asked to describe myself, I usually come up with something along the lines of being an optimistic optimist.  That I believe that everything will always work out right, no matter how bleak things may look.  I also like to think that I'm a lucky, and that always see the positive in things. (no body ever actually asks me this, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.)
BUT
Over the last couple of years, I have to admit, I haven't fitted that description.  There's been dark clouds on the horizon, and I've tended to look towards the negative side of things, and not taken opportunities that have come my way.
Usually at this time of year, my only resolution is not to make one.  This year, however, I did some navel gazing, and realised just how lucky I am, and that the good things in my life far outweigh the not so good.  I've realised that I have an incredible family, and that I'm lucky that my kids who are in their late teens, still choose to hang out with me.  I have learnt a tremendous amount about the art of crafting a piece of work to get it near ( or hopefully up to) a publishable state.  I've also found a whole new bunch of writing friends who rock and offer the most amazing support and inspiration at a level I never dreamt was possible.  Like I said, the pluses greatly swamp the minuses.
With these thoughts in mind, I'm going to break with my tradition of traditionally not making resolutions, and I'm working on a set for this year.  When I've reached a handful that I'm pleased with, I'll let you know.
I hope you all have a prosperous and exciting New Year.

A Fairy Story

After yesterday's post causing so much confusion, I thought I'd clarify a few things before I start.
I'm not sure about where you are, but in the UK, Christmas trees can be topped with either a star, or a fairy.
Yes, a fairy.  One of those little mythical things with wings that Peter Pan hung around with.

This is the story about why we have a fairy on the top of a Christmas tree.
(The above part of this entry is true, the rest…. Well, I'll let you make your mind up for yourselves.)

It all started during the build up to Christmas.  Santa was in an incredibly foul mood.  One of the reindeer had gone lame, and the runners on his sleigh had a couple of untreatable patches of rust.  To add to his misery, he could feel the beginning symptoms of 'Man Flu' creeping up on him.
To top things off, just when he was thinking that things couldn't get any worse, the head of the Elf Union passed him a note advising that he Elves would be going on strike as from Midnight.  This sent him into new unexplored depths of rage.
Just then, a fairy came in the room.  "Hey Santa, what should I do with this tree?"

A load of...

Last night I was following a lorry when it started to shed it's load. 
I couldn't believe it!  Surely he must know that the load wasn't secure.  I started flashing him, tooting my hooter, and pointing at the back of of the lorry.
Eventually, he pulled up, and I jumped out and ran up to the cab. 
"You're losing your load mate.  It's going all over the road!"
He looked me up and down, gave a 'tut' and shook his head.  "I'm gritting the road you fool!"

Sale!

My local bookshop is doing a pre-Christmas sale.  There's a massive sign up in the window:
One third off all titles!
How could I resist?  I rushed in and bought…

The Lion, The Witch, and

Sky's the limit

Last night, I was asked to give a talk at my daughter's Rangers group (the next level up from Girl Guides) about astronomy.
So far, we've tried to do this three times, but it's either snowed, or been raining, which as you might have guessed, isn't ideal.  Last night, however, looked promising.  There was patchy cloud, but the gaps in the clouds revealed some very clear skies.
I'm pleased to say that the talk went very well.  We covered things from the basics, like naming the planets, looking at the relative sizes of planets/stars, to black holes and comets.  The questions they asked were well thought out, and not asked for the sake of asking questions.  It was a fun evening.
The highlight was when we went outside, and through the gaps in the clouds, they saw a handful of shooting stars (luckily it was the peak of the Geminiid meteorite shower), and we also saw (with the aidof my telesocpe) Jupiter and three of it's moons.

Originally, when I decided to write this post, I had an incredibly clever idea to link this back to writing.  Unfortunately I've had lunch since then, and the idea has slipped away.

Room with a view

I'm struggling a little bit today for inspiration.  So instead of the usual drivel, I have decided to tell you about the window behind me in my profile picture.
Yes, that really is me working hard!
The building is the old Royal Mint in London, and the view out of the window is a very impressive one of The Tower of London.  I would post a picture, but sadly, I no longer work in that building.

To write, or not to write? That is the question.

For those of you who don't know, I'm part of an amateur dramatic group.  Our dramatic year tends to be split into two halves.  The main event of the year is the Pantomime, which we perform every January.  It all gets a bit surreal around this time, with men playing the parts of Dames, women playing the lead Male hero roles, as well as women playing the heroine.

The summer production is a much more sober affair.  The Youth section enter the local drama festival, and the adults do a small production.  In the past we've done 'Allo 'allo, The importance of being Ernest, and a few radio plays.

Tonight we are dropping scripts, so it's probably going to end up being lots of blank looks followed by giggles.

In case you are wondering what the writing connection to this entry is, it's that the Panto is always written in house.  There are some very talented people there who have produced some incredible scripts.  The odd thing is, that none of them have any aspirations to write a book!

Recently, there's been growing pressure from some of those involved, for me to throw my hat in the ring when they're looking for someone to write the next Panto.  So far I've resisted, as I don't want to be distracted from my WIP.  The problem is, that I keep thinking about the formula that Pantos fall under, and how it would be structured.  Maybe when the time comes, I should just go with the madness!

It's a mystery

The other week, we went to a murder mystery dinner.  Not the sort that you host yourself and invite your mates round to (although these are great fun), but one in a restored 17th Century country house and actors.

The evening progressed through the usual stages of champagne in the Library, where we met the characters and they sowed the seeds for the coming events of the evening. 
We then went into the dining hall and progressed with the meal. After the first course, there was the reading of the Will, with various (expected) upsets with people storming off, and the sound of shots being fired.  One of the characters then came running in exclaiming that there had been a murder!

Having been assured that the police were on the way, and that the cook would be upset if we didn't carry on, we progressed with the second course.
While we were waiting for the third course, the cast came back in and wandered from table to table where we could question them about the events, rumours we'd heard, where they were, etc.
After the questioning, we filled in a form saying who we thought the murderer was, and had to give three reasons why.
At the end of the evening, they announced the top three tables in reverse order. And…
Yes, you guessed it…
We were the only ones who got all three clues correct!  Our cleverness was rewarded with a bottle of champagne.

The odd thing about the evening was that, although the evening was incredibly enjoyable when taking it at face value, a part of me was analysing the event from a writing point of view.  Studying the characters, the back story that they gradually revealed, the setting of the plot by announcing of the reading of the Will, etc.
Maybe that’s how we spotted the clues.  Maybe I'm barking mad!  Who knows.
And yes, these pictures are of Danson House where the meal was held.

Maybe I am a People Person after all.

In the past week, I've had four strangers start conversations with me.
With London tending to be a very insular place, and people tending to keep to themselves, I initially thought that it must be one of the following:
1) They were mad.
2) I looked so miserable that they felt sorry for me.
3) They were mad.
4) They were friendly sociable people
5) They were barking mad!

In the end, I opted for number 5.  Although number 4 was a close second.
These encounters have set me thinking.  When I was younger, I was well disposed to everyone.  I would pass the time of day with anyone who vaguely looked in my direction.  Unfortunately, I've become a bit too wrapped up in my head these days, and was beginning to think that people were there just to annoy me.  In short, I was well on the way to becoming the original Grumpy Old Man.

But now...

If these people are willing to take a risk and chat to me, then maybe I should be doing the same thing.  How can I write characters with depth, if I stick to the same few close friends, and scowl at everyone else who comes near?

Is it too late in the year to start a New Years Resolution?  From now on, I am a People Person again!

Transfer complete

The below entries have been transferred from a different blog site.
It was a site that I used for a while about five years ago, and when it was suggested that I keep a blog as a writer, I went back to that site.  Unfortunately, the site has been completely revamped since then, and although it now has some rather handy functionality, it no longer seems to let people discovering your blog, or let you know who has been looking at it, or how many people.
I've noticed that majority of the writer's blogs that I follow are on blogspot, so I thought I'd give it a go.
The dates for the previous posts are from June 2011 until now.