It has happened.
I have got my mojo back.
Even though the words were flowing last year, I've never really felt that my writing was good. It has always been a case of write and then hopefully redraft into something worth reading. I realise now, with about half an hour's hindsight that I have been kidding myself to an extent.
I'll give you an analogy; It's been like walking around whilst kicking yourself every other step. You know that you're doing something wrong but you're not sure how to stop it. Even though it is excruciating, you keep going because you know that just ahead is the destination. Yes, it hurts but you'll get there in the end. Suddenly, on my way home, I realised that it's be a lot less painful if I stopped kicking myself. I started walking properly and lo! I wrote and it was good.
I am writing this blog post in a fevered state of excitement. It's like nothing that I can describe. A real sense of dreaming whilst lucid. I really don't have the words to describe this sensation without having the time to craft my words but my God, it feels so so good.
Today is a good day.
DR
PS. I make no apologies for anything wrong or incoherent in this post. I'm on an editorial high...
Monday, 2 January 2012
Friday, 25 November 2011
How Now Brown Cow
Wow. It's been a while since I blogged. I'm writing this on my mobile so I'm not going to check how long, but long.
I haven't written since the end of September and now here we are at the end of November. That should be shameful; rest assured that I think it is too. There has, however, been a very good reason as to my lack of writing be it blog, prose or tweet. Smartphone.
I had and once again have, though not for much longer, an HTC Desire HD. I love it. It's beautiful, powerful and has enough weight to feel important. It is also disfunctional, awkward and uses charge faster than an over zealous traffic warden. I have sent it to be repaired four times and it is still not working properly. In its place I have been given a sequence of temporary replacements, the highlight of which was a nokia's game of snake.
I write on public transport sometimes peacefully. In this endeavour my phone is only marginally less useful than a pen. I block out the world around me with my music, I check my notes with Evernote, I tweet, I blog and use the thesaurus. Not having my phone has been karmic punishment for something or other. I don't know what it was but it must have been bad. Two months without writing...
I have lost weight. I have trouble sleeping and I have become grumpy. I lie awake with a bubbling head, all the thoughts that go through my pen being forced to bounce and rebound through my noggin.
I intend to restart on Monday morning. I am ready to go, slowly at first but soon gathering up speed until Christmas whereupon I shall stop again.
Writing's a bitch sometimes.
DR
Monday, 25 July 2011
Well what happened there then?
I believe that my previous post should have been a lot longer. I do not understand why it is not except that perhaps when I posted it off my android phone, it seemed to have a little difficulty.
This is a shame as I was relying on this blog as a reminder of my plans.
I had plans to divide my day up into one hour segments in order to get everything I wanted to do done. I had worked out a specific schedule and everything and now it's all gone. *sniff*
Still, it hasn't really worked out anyway as my brother and his girlfriend have come to visit. My plans started at nine o'clock in the morning and now it's eleven and they are still here.
I'll try again after lunch.
DR
P.S. If anyone does find the remainder of my missing post, I'd be grateful to have it back.
This is a shame as I was relying on this blog as a reminder of my plans.
I had plans to divide my day up into one hour segments in order to get everything I wanted to do done. I had worked out a specific schedule and everything and now it's all gone. *sniff*
Still, it hasn't really worked out anyway as my brother and his girlfriend have come to visit. My plans started at nine o'clock in the morning and now it's eleven and they are still here.
I'll try again after lunch.
DR
P.S. If anyone does find the remainder of my missing post, I'd be grateful to have it back.
Friday, 24 June 2011
Sometimes it's hard to be a woman...
...especially when you have the genetalia of a man.
That's how the song goes anyway. It's hard to be a writer too. Life gets in the way. I'm totally envious of real life writers who have the opportunity to write for three or four hours at a stretch. If I could do that, I'd be a very happy man.
But I may not. I have bills to pay, work to do and a girlfriend to love.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
I decided that I wanted to be a writer at an early age. I don't really remember at what age that the desire gripped me, it's something that I've always wanted to do. I have never craved being published, the knowledge that I have completed a book is quite enough. The enormous sensation of success when I do it is what drives me to continue. At least the sensation that I hope I have.
However, I do remember quite clearly the realisation that being a writer actually required me to write. I was fourteen, (I think), years old and it dawned on me that I would probably need some practice before I started to be a bad writer. I'm a firm believer that the default position for starting to learn a new skill is 'scrote'.
So write I did and it was probably very bad. Bad enough for me to realise that it was bad whilst still in the scrote position. I think that that doesn't class it as probably very bad but as very bad.
Nevertheless, it was the first step and I realised that I wanted to be a writer simply because I enjoyed the puzzle of finding the right words to match the picture in my head and not have it be bad writing. I really like the actual process of writing so I decided to write a really long book.
That book is the book I am writing now despite it's many iterations and my occasional desires to burn the damn thing. It is the seemingly endless grind of word by word, chapter by chapter that seems interminable. Yet it is with the first step that I took all those years ago that I started and all the thousands of intervening steps that have been taken and that are yet to be taken, that the journey will be completed.
And so now I wonder, is it the desire of my destination that forces me on, or is it the journey itself.
After all, it's a really, really big book.
DR
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
The Hydra Story
Well, the truth of the matter is that I'm meant to be writing. I am, I'm writing this blog, I know. What I mean is that I should be writing a chapter. I wish I were but sometimes the hydra rears its many heads and prevents me from doing so. In a previous chapter I mentioned a number of street gangs and they are the hydra of my day. I want to refer to them again in a little more detail but I can't, I can't remember their names. I don't want to have a lot of blank spaces in my text is the first thing. The second thing is that I have a visual memory. If I can't see a thing, it's difficult to write about it. In order to see such a thing in my mind's eye, it needs to have a name do that it can be recalled. They do have a name and thus, when I discover what I named them, will be able to write about them.
They are a hydra because the problems of internal consistency are such that whenever you think you've solved a problem you actually find that you've created two more. The only way to resolve them is to take the problem and burn it all the way back to the mechanics of your universe. Sometimes this creates enormous problems that involve scrubbing out large portions of prose, plot points or indeed entire characters. It must be done.
I first tried to write this book at the age of fourteen. I still, somewhere, retain the first few pages that I wrote. I weep with disdain at my feeble efforts. Nevertheless, it contains a few seeds of the book now. I discovered fairly quickly that my universe was entirely inadequate and that everything I had written was suitable only for lighting fires. The second attempt went the same way. As did all other attempts three through forty-seven.
Yet each one has led me, inexorably, to the hydra that I have today. A many headed beast that needs constant fighting, each of the heads burning all the way down to the body of the underlying universe.
Ultimately, this is a battle I'm now winning. Many, many words have been written and it all stays strong. I will find those gangs, burn them down and keep going.
I'm rambling.
DR
Friday, 15 April 2011
Books, Pens & Other Instuments of Pleasure
I know that one of these days, I will get to the very end of the last chapter. On that day I do not know what I will do. The easy answer is, of course, to start writing another book straight away. That is the problem. I enjoy the physical aspects of writing; the creation, the tender flow of ink on paper. It's soothing.
And into this heaven strides the devil himself; Redrafting.
And that is what I'll have to do. I will feel obliged to take what I have written and to put it into a coherent format ready to be mailed, published etc. I really don't want to. But the more that I write the closer that mountain comes. The more I write, the higher the pile of paper that needs to be typed until at last!
No more writing but a wealth of notebooks looking snidely as I procrastinate endlessly over the hateful job of typing up.
One of the big problems of typing up is the joy of writing, it's pleasure heightened by an increasing sucession of Pilot G-Tec-C4 pens. They write extra-fine with a 0.4 gel ink nib. I have also bought today, for my guilty pleasure, a new notebook, having finished the previous this afternoon. Chapter, Pen and Book my own private intellectual tennis victory. It's narrow ruled, firm backed with a little pocket at the back for my notes. Oh! woe is me, it really is too much to suggest that I resist the succulent tempatations. So I shall continue to write.
At least until someone comes up with a computer smart enough to read my handwriting...
DR
And into this heaven strides the devil himself; Redrafting.
And that is what I'll have to do. I will feel obliged to take what I have written and to put it into a coherent format ready to be mailed, published etc. I really don't want to. But the more that I write the closer that mountain comes. The more I write, the higher the pile of paper that needs to be typed until at last!
No more writing but a wealth of notebooks looking snidely as I procrastinate endlessly over the hateful job of typing up.
One of the big problems of typing up is the joy of writing, it's pleasure heightened by an increasing sucession of Pilot G-Tec-C4 pens. They write extra-fine with a 0.4 gel ink nib. I have also bought today, for my guilty pleasure, a new notebook, having finished the previous this afternoon. Chapter, Pen and Book my own private intellectual tennis victory. It's narrow ruled, firm backed with a little pocket at the back for my notes. Oh! woe is me, it really is too much to suggest that I resist the succulent tempatations. So I shall continue to write.
At least until someone comes up with a computer smart enough to read my handwriting...
DR
Thursday, 10 March 2011
The Unexplained Explained
Hello everybody,
I know, I know. I haven't been blogging, nor tweeting. In fact I haven't even been writing. Cardinal sin I feel.
Well, I intend to start again. Today in fact. I suppose that I should write 'intended' as i have left my book at home. So I'm taking this opportunity to write this blog and to expose my mystery silence.
When I write, like many writers, I require an uninterrupted moment of peace. It is why I put on my headphones and listen to music when I write. I can block it all out.
About ten days ago, I went on a weekend break. Despite having to change trains I hoped to have an uninterrupted three hour space in which to write. I had not counted on my indomitable girlfriend who continually signalled to me that I should remove my headphones and give her my opinion on anything from a pair of shoes to Lady Gaga. It was not appreciated but it continued and destroyed all my concentration.
During that weekend, we were busy in foreign parts so I didn't tweet. Upon my return I had to overcome a break in routine, the restart of my normal life and a change of books. As people might remember, It's not that I particularly suffer from white page syndrome but not having a weight of pages for me to go through and feel the flow of the story slows me right down. At the minute I'm actually having to carry around two writing books; one for writing and one for continuity.
Equally troublesome has been my evolving work routine. I have not had the long journeys, wrapped up in my own mind with nothing to do but put pen to paper.
So i said, 'bugger it, I'm going to have a little break.'
I know that there will come a moment where my stomach will say to my brain, 'get a bloody move on, we've got things to write so why aren't you doing it'.
That moment is coming.
So my silence is due to a lack of writing environment. I shall get in contact with greenpeace directly. I believe that the environment falls into their remit.
I know, I know. I'll do better next time.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I know, I know. I haven't been blogging, nor tweeting. In fact I haven't even been writing. Cardinal sin I feel.
Well, I intend to start again. Today in fact. I suppose that I should write 'intended' as i have left my book at home. So I'm taking this opportunity to write this blog and to expose my mystery silence.
When I write, like many writers, I require an uninterrupted moment of peace. It is why I put on my headphones and listen to music when I write. I can block it all out.
About ten days ago, I went on a weekend break. Despite having to change trains I hoped to have an uninterrupted three hour space in which to write. I had not counted on my indomitable girlfriend who continually signalled to me that I should remove my headphones and give her my opinion on anything from a pair of shoes to Lady Gaga. It was not appreciated but it continued and destroyed all my concentration.
During that weekend, we were busy in foreign parts so I didn't tweet. Upon my return I had to overcome a break in routine, the restart of my normal life and a change of books. As people might remember, It's not that I particularly suffer from white page syndrome but not having a weight of pages for me to go through and feel the flow of the story slows me right down. At the minute I'm actually having to carry around two writing books; one for writing and one for continuity.
Equally troublesome has been my evolving work routine. I have not had the long journeys, wrapped up in my own mind with nothing to do but put pen to paper.
So i said, 'bugger it, I'm going to have a little break.'
I know that there will come a moment where my stomach will say to my brain, 'get a bloody move on, we've got things to write so why aren't you doing it'.
That moment is coming.
So my silence is due to a lack of writing environment. I shall get in contact with greenpeace directly. I believe that the environment falls into their remit.
I know, I know. I'll do better next time.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
The Trouble with Mechanics
As anybody who follows my Twitterfeed will tell you, I haven't been writing over the last 10 days or so due to something that I call Mechanics. More correctly I should say that I have been having problems with a specific Mechanic.
A Mechanic is a system, either in the writers head or codified on paper, that retains the internal consistency of the universe in which the writer is writing. Sometimes the Mechanic is no different from the premise or the setting. The book 'Fatherland' is a good example. The Mechanic is also the setting in that Heydrich survived and the Nazis won the war. The internal consistency must be continued. If the Nazis won the war then alluding to Italian liberal arts could detract from the suspension of disbelief. Something that is very important not to do.
In my book, the characters are capable of creating wonderous effects that in our society would be classed as magic. Having a character who one moment creates flights of birds but at the next moment claims not to have the power to bake a cake requires explanation. This explanation must be level headed and logical in 'real-world' terms as the explanation is not for the characters but for the readers.
Tolkien remarked that he wished that he had explained how magic worked. In his head, I'm confident he had a Mechanic. I have also had a Mechanic and it has worked very well. Until now of course.
Suffice to say that I will have to go through my work to implement my Mechanic but other than that, I should be restarting my writing tomorrow.
Hopefully I won't break the universe this time.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
A Mechanic is a system, either in the writers head or codified on paper, that retains the internal consistency of the universe in which the writer is writing. Sometimes the Mechanic is no different from the premise or the setting. The book 'Fatherland' is a good example. The Mechanic is also the setting in that Heydrich survived and the Nazis won the war. The internal consistency must be continued. If the Nazis won the war then alluding to Italian liberal arts could detract from the suspension of disbelief. Something that is very important not to do.
In my book, the characters are capable of creating wonderous effects that in our society would be classed as magic. Having a character who one moment creates flights of birds but at the next moment claims not to have the power to bake a cake requires explanation. This explanation must be level headed and logical in 'real-world' terms as the explanation is not for the characters but for the readers.
Tolkien remarked that he wished that he had explained how magic worked. In his head, I'm confident he had a Mechanic. I have also had a Mechanic and it has worked very well. Until now of course.
Suffice to say that I will have to go through my work to implement my Mechanic but other than that, I should be restarting my writing tomorrow.
Hopefully I won't break the universe this time.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Back, Again.
Once again I haven't been blogging but my (late) new years resolution is to try and to spend a little more time on my Online existence.
I have had a few ideas on how to make myself more available to the online world and I am going to try doing that.
This means, more tweeting, more blogging, more flickring, more tumblring. (OK, the last two aren't real but you know what I mean. More facebooking too I suppose.
What's new? Well I haven't been writing since Christmas. Instead I have been reading. I have been reading a wide variety of things just as fast as I can devour them but that seems to be now finished. I shall start writing again tomorrow whilst I travel to work.
Currently I am winding through the tangled threads of three particular characters. Normally I take each character to a point where they interact with another character and then I take the other character and also take them to that point. Then I write their interactions and carry on. However, these three principle characters are currently working in unison and so I have taken to writing chronologically. I find that I don't write as nicely when this is the case but in the end it doesn't make any difference. This first draft is a simple hewing into shape. Beyond that the sanding down and buffing up takes place at a later date.
This maybe as I don't really know how I write; don't know who my inner voice is. When I have found it, I will, redraft to my heart's content.
It is on my 'to-do' list.
DR
I have had a few ideas on how to make myself more available to the online world and I am going to try doing that.
This means, more tweeting, more blogging, more flickring, more tumblring. (OK, the last two aren't real but you know what I mean. More facebooking too I suppose.
What's new? Well I haven't been writing since Christmas. Instead I have been reading. I have been reading a wide variety of things just as fast as I can devour them but that seems to be now finished. I shall start writing again tomorrow whilst I travel to work.
Currently I am winding through the tangled threads of three particular characters. Normally I take each character to a point where they interact with another character and then I take the other character and also take them to that point. Then I write their interactions and carry on. However, these three principle characters are currently working in unison and so I have taken to writing chronologically. I find that I don't write as nicely when this is the case but in the end it doesn't make any difference. This first draft is a simple hewing into shape. Beyond that the sanding down and buffing up takes place at a later date.
This maybe as I don't really know how I write; don't know who my inner voice is. When I have found it, I will, redraft to my heart's content.
It is on my 'to-do' list.
DR
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Hello Everyone.
I know that I haven't been blogging and that it is unacceptable.
I'm sorry.
But now I'm back and for those of you who follow my twitter feed you'll kno that it isn't because I have been lazy. I have written a huge amount and am that I am simultaneously writing three characters. This is because the three interact alot and I need to get them all to a point where I can add a fourth character to their interactions. It's how I write. I write a character and only that character. where the character then starts to interact with another character, I write the two characters together. The reason I write like this is because the book is a multitude of small chapters that overall create a mosaic of the overall story. Each chapter is written from the relevant character's point of view. As I find it difficult to change character rapidly, I tend to stick with one character as long as I can.
I have taken almost all of the characters to a point where they are now interacting with each other one way or another. Some I have taken a lot further. One character has had virtually nothing written about him because he is a little special.
I have no idea how many words I have written since I last blogged back in February but I would hasard a guess at more than a hundred thousand. It is rough in places and the whole thing needs redrafting. One step at a time.
Looking forward to winter.
DR
I'm sorry.
But now I'm back and for those of you who follow my twitter feed you'll kno that it isn't because I have been lazy. I have written a huge amount and am that I am simultaneously writing three characters. This is because the three interact alot and I need to get them all to a point where I can add a fourth character to their interactions. It's how I write. I write a character and only that character. where the character then starts to interact with another character, I write the two characters together. The reason I write like this is because the book is a multitude of small chapters that overall create a mosaic of the overall story. Each chapter is written from the relevant character's point of view. As I find it difficult to change character rapidly, I tend to stick with one character as long as I can.
I have taken almost all of the characters to a point where they are now interacting with each other one way or another. Some I have taken a lot further. One character has had virtually nothing written about him because he is a little special.
I have no idea how many words I have written since I last blogged back in February but I would hasard a guess at more than a hundred thousand. It is rough in places and the whole thing needs redrafting. One step at a time.
Looking forward to winter.
DR
Has things to blog about.
This is actually going to be a test blog before I blog for real.
It's to test stuff.
DR
It's to test stuff.
DR
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Update on the worlds.
Good Morning, afternoon, evening, night. Wherever you may be.
I should be writing as I am on the metro but I have nowhere to sit. Yes, I can write standing up, but I'm not going to. Instead, as you can see, I'm blogging. I have good news and news, neither good nor bad.
First the good news. I bought some new books. They are by paperblanks. Hardback, A5, but sadly not narrow ruled. They are being a spur to my current hardback, A4, 5mm squared book. A4 is too big. I wish I had taken my time or spent a little more on getting a book that I really like. I have those now. The best thing about these books that I have bought is that they are plural. Two identical books and both in sale with 75% off. Marvellous.
That was the good news. Other news involves the character Dravis. He was too nice and I liked him too much as a character so he has done something terrible. Something that shows him in a true light.
I hope you hate it.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I should be writing as I am on the metro but I have nowhere to sit. Yes, I can write standing up, but I'm not going to. Instead, as you can see, I'm blogging. I have good news and news, neither good nor bad.
First the good news. I bought some new books. They are by paperblanks. Hardback, A5, but sadly not narrow ruled. They are being a spur to my current hardback, A4, 5mm squared book. A4 is too big. I wish I had taken my time or spent a little more on getting a book that I really like. I have those now. The best thing about these books that I have bought is that they are plural. Two identical books and both in sale with 75% off. Marvellous.
That was the good news. Other news involves the character Dravis. He was too nice and I liked him too much as a character so he has done something terrible. Something that shows him in a true light.
I hope you hate it.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 5 February 2010
Has the Miracle Happened.
I have spent a large amount of time over the last few weeks trying to get a proper integrated system between this blog, Twitter and Facebook.
I think that I have finally managed to do it.
On the book front, I am coming to the end of Dravis and Malakan and I think that I will probably be returning to Nulfaga. You know how it is, sometimes you just want to visit old friends. I should have written more than I did over the last few days. I overdid it on Wednesday night at rugby training. I think that I may have to tone it down, I can barely walk and my shin splints have flared up again. Still, every word I write is one less still to be done.
Things are moving in the murky waters.
DR
I think that I have finally managed to do it.
On the book front, I am coming to the end of Dravis and Malakan and I think that I will probably be returning to Nulfaga. You know how it is, sometimes you just want to visit old friends. I should have written more than I did over the last few days. I overdid it on Wednesday night at rugby training. I think that I may have to tone it down, I can barely walk and my shin splints have flared up again. Still, every word I write is one less still to be done.
Things are moving in the murky waters.
DR
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Shuffling off someone else's mortal coil
Well I have been writing whilst at the same time not writing. The character that I am currently working on has to face his own mortality. That's easy enough, except it isn't. It's turning out to be very difficult. His impressions of his own mortality are extremely different to mine and I have great difficulty expressing that on paper when it looks so papery thin to me as an author. If I was standing next to my character, I would ask him some severely pertinent questions.
I am not standing next to him. Instead I am hovering above him directing his internal monologue. It is a monologue that must stand up the blows and I must make sure of that.
Suggestions?
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I am not standing next to him. Instead I am hovering above him directing his internal monologue. It is a monologue that must stand up the blows and I must make sure of that.
Suggestions?
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Notebooks
First of all, let me wish you all a happy Christmas if you celebrate it and a happy new year if you are celebrating that. If not, I simply wish you happiness. I have had some wonderful opportunities to do some writing of late and you will be please to know that I have not squandered them. However if anyone sees my pen, I'd be grateful. Currently I'm being forced to write with an ordinary bic and quite frankly I loathe them. I do have some extremely wonderful pens but I only write with them on holiday. The risk of losing them on public transport is too great. Anyhow, I suppose I should go and buy myself a new pen. No great task, I know. The reason I haven't is because I have been organising various notes into a more organised system. It is my great weakness. I have great ideas, write them down and then forget to integrate them. Anyone wishing to be a personal assistant and willing to work for free, please get in touch.
So note organising has been the order of the day. Again, no great task you would think. Well here below I give you a sample of some of the things that I have in my notes.
Run Moz - Run Moz is one of five systems in the Dumru controlled Num conglomeration in the Foraku Sector. It has five planets, the fourth of which has three inhabited moons. The planets are: Mozdin, No'uxdar, Aheldin, Farduhak and Nom'far. The moons of Farduhak are: Lukud, Or'ork and Han'amark.
Mozdin translates as 'fire hook', probably due to it's close proximity to it's star. A small outpost beneath the surface is the only civilization to be found. TH Class
No'uxdar tanslates as 'black earth', it has a particularly carbon rich atmosphere with almost zero visibility on the surface. OS Class
Aheldin translates as 'warm world', it is highly populated and is the principle planet in Run Moz. MK Class
Farduhak translates as 'big mental give', the origins of this name are lost but the story of the three moons are not. Farduhak is a gas giant and has no habitation. CO Class
Lukud is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
Or'ork is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
Han'amark is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
All three moons have scientific outposts used to observe Farduhak but otherwise are largely uninhabited. They are rocky with no atmosphere. ZL Class
Nom'far translates as 'grow', like Farduhak the reasons behind this names can be speculated on but not given conclusively. It is planet with a large amount of ice covering a rocky core. BS Class
I think I'll go and buy a pen.
Happiness one and all.
DR
So note organising has been the order of the day. Again, no great task you would think. Well here below I give you a sample of some of the things that I have in my notes.
Run Moz - Run Moz is one of five systems in the Dumru controlled Num conglomeration in the Foraku Sector. It has five planets, the fourth of which has three inhabited moons. The planets are: Mozdin, No'uxdar, Aheldin, Farduhak and Nom'far. The moons of Farduhak are: Lukud, Or'ork and Han'amark.
Mozdin translates as 'fire hook', probably due to it's close proximity to it's star. A small outpost beneath the surface is the only civilization to be found. TH Class
No'uxdar tanslates as 'black earth', it has a particularly carbon rich atmosphere with almost zero visibility on the surface. OS Class
Aheldin translates as 'warm world', it is highly populated and is the principle planet in Run Moz. MK Class
Farduhak translates as 'big mental give', the origins of this name are lost but the story of the three moons are not. Farduhak is a gas giant and has no habitation. CO Class
Lukud is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
Or'ork is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
Han'amark is not a translation but is the name of one of three brother who apparently discovered the Run Moz system. The three moons of Farduhak are named after them
All three moons have scientific outposts used to observe Farduhak but otherwise are largely uninhabited. They are rocky with no atmosphere. ZL Class
Nom'far translates as 'grow', like Farduhak the reasons behind this names can be speculated on but not given conclusively. It is planet with a large amount of ice covering a rocky core. BS Class
I think I'll go and buy a pen.
Happiness one and all.
DR
Sunday, 29 November 2009
BlogPress
I have been so remiss in blogging as I have had so much to do. So I have installed BlogPress on my iPhone to see if that lets me blog more effectively.
I have been writing sporadically due to a lack of travelling time. I am still writing Dravis and Malakan's story. It will involve Nulfaga and Yan Yee but for the time being it is the two of them, contacted occasionally by a very interesting character by the name of Kiro'iana. Exciting.
I have written about one fifth of the book. It might not sound like a huge amount but it is. I have done all the notes and preparation for the rest.
Now I just have to write it.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I have been writing sporadically due to a lack of travelling time. I am still writing Dravis and Malakan's story. It will involve Nulfaga and Yan Yee but for the time being it is the two of them, contacted occasionally by a very interesting character by the name of Kiro'iana. Exciting.
I have written about one fifth of the book. It might not sound like a huge amount but it is. I have done all the notes and preparation for the rest.
Now I just have to write it.
DR
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Three Fingers.
Well hello everybody.
I haven't been updating my blog as you may have noticed but that is because I have been unable to type for the last four weeks. At least not able to type enough for a blog. For those who are interested, I dislocated my knuckles on the middle and ring finger of my left hand. I also dislocated the first joint and the knuckle of my forefinger on my left hand. They are now free again to wiggle in all their glory.
However this only explains my delays in updating you with what is going on. This is not to say I haven't been writing. I have, of course. I have been flittering between two characters, namely Dravis and Malakan, and I have finished enough chapters for me to have to start to refer to my notes again.
I find that in the process of writing the characters take on a life of their own. For example Malakan started out as a well meaning character, a little cold perhaps but a good chap. Certainly a man you'd let your daughter date. Dravis was not his antithesis but a man for whom his morals were clear cut. Dravis makes ruthless decisions based on his own particular way of thinking. Nice enough to talk to in a bar but never someone you would call a friend.
However cold Malakan was at the start, he's definitely colder now. Bordering on frigid. Dravis on the other hand is starting to look like more rounded, a generous type with a taste for good cooking. Of the two characters, Dravis seems the much friendlier at the moment.
I wonder if subconsciously I have written it like this as a juxtaposition to their actions. To place the genial character of Dravis against his actions will maybe make them all the more chilling.
I hope so but as the soft spot continues to grow, somehow, I hope not too.
DR
I haven't been updating my blog as you may have noticed but that is because I have been unable to type for the last four weeks. At least not able to type enough for a blog. For those who are interested, I dislocated my knuckles on the middle and ring finger of my left hand. I also dislocated the first joint and the knuckle of my forefinger on my left hand. They are now free again to wiggle in all their glory.
However this only explains my delays in updating you with what is going on. This is not to say I haven't been writing. I have, of course. I have been flittering between two characters, namely Dravis and Malakan, and I have finished enough chapters for me to have to start to refer to my notes again.
I find that in the process of writing the characters take on a life of their own. For example Malakan started out as a well meaning character, a little cold perhaps but a good chap. Certainly a man you'd let your daughter date. Dravis was not his antithesis but a man for whom his morals were clear cut. Dravis makes ruthless decisions based on his own particular way of thinking. Nice enough to talk to in a bar but never someone you would call a friend.
However cold Malakan was at the start, he's definitely colder now. Bordering on frigid. Dravis on the other hand is starting to look like more rounded, a generous type with a taste for good cooking. Of the two characters, Dravis seems the much friendlier at the moment.
I wonder if subconsciously I have written it like this as a juxtaposition to their actions. To place the genial character of Dravis against his actions will maybe make them all the more chilling.
I hope so but as the soft spot continues to grow, somehow, I hope not too.
DR
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Broken
Hello,
I have been writing but not editing nor blogging as I have damaged my hand and typing is difficult.
I will reblog in a couple of weeks with a genuine update.
DR
I have been writing but not editing nor blogging as I have damaged my hand and typing is difficult.
I will reblog in a couple of weeks with a genuine update.
DR
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
A chapter and a bit
Well I promised you a blog so here it is.
I have restarted writing and I think that the break has done me a power of good. Sadly, I don't have many long train journeys this week so in fact I will not write as much as I like. I don't write whilst at home, I find it too distracting. Last Friday, I wrote an entire chapter and started the next. It is getting to the point where the back story of the characters is very important.
I remember thinking that I had a lot to blog about but it seems I don't. Well, if anything happens, I'll be sure to let you know.
DR
I have restarted writing and I think that the break has done me a power of good. Sadly, I don't have many long train journeys this week so in fact I will not write as much as I like. I don't write whilst at home, I find it too distracting. Last Friday, I wrote an entire chapter and started the next. It is getting to the point where the back story of the characters is very important.
I remember thinking that I had a lot to blog about but it seems I don't. Well, if anything happens, I'll be sure to let you know.
DR
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Guess who's back?
Well hello everyone.
I'm back.
I have been away on holiday and the temperature has been hotter I have not been writing but September has come round again and I am back writing.
I paused whilst working on the character of Dravis and he will be once again the subject mater of my writing. I have not, however, been idle. I have been working a large amount on his back story and motivations and why he is doing what he is doing. It involves a character I may have mentioned before, Kiro'iana. I have also been putting a large number of my notes in a semblance of order, something that is an enormous task and that requires much checking and cross referencing. This is to ensure that the internal mechanics of the book remain consistent and to try and iron out fundamental errors before they creep into the book. It is the problem of every author, (or wannabe author in my case), that inconsistency in the book can ruin all the things that you have tried to construct. Simple things need not be explained thoroughly but they still have to work. If a character needs to go from A to B he has to do it and most importantly, there must be a reason for the character to do it. It is often a consistency lacking in many books.
So for now the plan is to continue thinking and working on Dravis' back story with a view to starting writing on Friday. Hopefully I will blog at some point over the weekend to let you all know how I got on.
DR
I'm back.
I have been away on holiday and the temperature has been hotter I have not been writing but September has come round again and I am back writing.
I paused whilst working on the character of Dravis and he will be once again the subject mater of my writing. I have not, however, been idle. I have been working a large amount on his back story and motivations and why he is doing what he is doing. It involves a character I may have mentioned before, Kiro'iana. I have also been putting a large number of my notes in a semblance of order, something that is an enormous task and that requires much checking and cross referencing. This is to ensure that the internal mechanics of the book remain consistent and to try and iron out fundamental errors before they creep into the book. It is the problem of every author, (or wannabe author in my case), that inconsistency in the book can ruin all the things that you have tried to construct. Simple things need not be explained thoroughly but they still have to work. If a character needs to go from A to B he has to do it and most importantly, there must be a reason for the character to do it. It is often a consistency lacking in many books.
So for now the plan is to continue thinking and working on Dravis' back story with a view to starting writing on Friday. Hopefully I will blog at some point over the weekend to let you all know how I got on.
DR
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
No blogging, no writing.
I am taking a break from writing and from blogging. What with holidays, guests and whatnot, I have not been able to write. When I start writing regularly again, I will start blogging again.
I will try and add notifications onto my Twitter feed.
Any questions will still be replied to either here or on Twitter.
I'm not dead, I'm just waiting.
DR
I will try and add notifications onto my Twitter feed.
Any questions will still be replied to either here or on Twitter.
I'm not dead, I'm just waiting.
DR
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Hot hot heat.
The truth is, I haven't been writing.
I am a writer who finds many things a grand distraction. Overly hot, especially on the metro is one of those things. I had hoped that it would cool down but it has not. Nor is it likely to do so for several days. I did actually managed to get a few words down this morning but nothing like the number I should have done.
It doesn't help that I am on a little bit of a comedown. The last chapter I completed was one of the most important chapters in my book, Malakan makes some big decisions. Refinding the pace of the book is proving elusive.
These things combined leads me down the road of empty pages.
Let's hope it rains soon.
DR
I am a writer who finds many things a grand distraction. Overly hot, especially on the metro is one of those things. I had hoped that it would cool down but it has not. Nor is it likely to do so for several days. I did actually managed to get a few words down this morning but nothing like the number I should have done.
It doesn't help that I am on a little bit of a comedown. The last chapter I completed was one of the most important chapters in my book, Malakan makes some big decisions. Refinding the pace of the book is proving elusive.
These things combined leads me down the road of empty pages.
Let's hope it rains soon.
DR
Thursday, 25 June 2009
What I have written.
I have a new notebook.
If you have been following my twitter feed you will have seen exclusive photos of my new book complete with some of the writing I have been doing in it.
One of the few discernible words on the text is 'Malakan' who is one of the principle characters. Some of his chapters, most notably the first three, were written some time ago but will need heavy editing. My style of writing is not what it was. What I have written now starts off badly and gets progressively better before plummeting again. In the chapter that I have finished Malakan is talking to another character, Dravis. (I will tell you more about Dravis when I write his part of the story) When I was writing it, I had in my mind the scene from the film 'Heat' by Michael Mann, in which the two principal characters sit and share a coffee. I doubt I will convey that sort of power in my text but I hope that my readers will enjoy that scene and recognize it's importance.
DR
If you have been following my twitter feed you will have seen exclusive photos of my new book complete with some of the writing I have been doing in it.
One of the few discernible words on the text is 'Malakan' who is one of the principle characters. Some of his chapters, most notably the first three, were written some time ago but will need heavy editing. My style of writing is not what it was. What I have written now starts off badly and gets progressively better before plummeting again. In the chapter that I have finished Malakan is talking to another character, Dravis. (I will tell you more about Dravis when I write his part of the story) When I was writing it, I had in my mind the scene from the film 'Heat' by Michael Mann, in which the two principal characters sit and share a coffee. I doubt I will convey that sort of power in my text but I hope that my readers will enjoy that scene and recognize it's importance.
DR
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Haramakion's House
This is a low quality map highlighting some of the more important features of the country of Prathin on the planet Humanisan.
Haramakion is the king of Prathin.
DR
*edit (12.06.13) For some reason the image in this blog post failed so I have put it back in again.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
The story so far.
My book is made up of many interacting characters. Each chapter is about one character in particular but we are now getting to the point where these characters are beginning to interact.
It creates new problems for me as a writer. When I write, I write about one character and try to maintain a certain amount of flow and continuity between disparate chapters. Here I have to make sure that I write in order for things to maintain their rhythm, I have to make sure that things go in the right order. If not I will get continuity errors.
Here is my problem. I have three principle characters whose webs we now discover to be tangled together, these are Ronin, Haramakion and Malakan. I have got to a point where Ronin and Haramakion are interacting but now I need to get Malakan to the same point. This should pose no difficulties until they begin to interact.
At that point I have to maintain overall plot continuity and also individual character continuity. I imagine that I will get to this point in about six weeks. Watch this space.
Also I have finished my notebook. I started it on Friday March the 13th and finished it today. That means I have written in excess of forty-five thousand words in ninety-five days. That is less than 95 working days and even less if I take into account the fact that I have been on holiday and their are many days when for whatever reason, it is not possible to write.
I will try and update this blog more often.
Sorry.
DR
It creates new problems for me as a writer. When I write, I write about one character and try to maintain a certain amount of flow and continuity between disparate chapters. Here I have to make sure that I write in order for things to maintain their rhythm, I have to make sure that things go in the right order. If not I will get continuity errors.
Here is my problem. I have three principle characters whose webs we now discover to be tangled together, these are Ronin, Haramakion and Malakan. I have got to a point where Ronin and Haramakion are interacting but now I need to get Malakan to the same point. This should pose no difficulties until they begin to interact.
At that point I have to maintain overall plot continuity and also individual character continuity. I imagine that I will get to this point in about six weeks. Watch this space.
Also I have finished my notebook. I started it on Friday March the 13th and finished it today. That means I have written in excess of forty-five thousand words in ninety-five days. That is less than 95 working days and even less if I take into account the fact that I have been on holiday and their are many days when for whatever reason, it is not possible to write.
I will try and update this blog more often.
Sorry.
DR
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Secrets
From a comment by 'Sylvain'.
Do you keep "secrets" that we will discover reading your book ?
Yes, definitely and vice versa. Their are things that are on this blog that are not in the book. Some of the information on Prathin in my previous post for example. There are many many things in the book that will not be posted on the blog.
This blog is to give you a taster and to let you know how the book is being constructed as well as to provide some of the re-imagined physics and philosophy that underpin it.
Pictures, ideas, edits, character information can be found here.
For the plot, see my publisher. *lol*
DR
Do you keep "secrets" that we will discover reading your book ?
Yes, definitely and vice versa. Their are things that are on this blog that are not in the book. Some of the information on Prathin in my previous post for example. There are many many things in the book that will not be posted on the blog.
This blog is to give you a taster and to let you know how the book is being constructed as well as to provide some of the re-imagined physics and philosophy that underpin it.
Pictures, ideas, edits, character information can be found here.
For the plot, see my publisher. *lol*
DR
Monday, 8 June 2009
Update.
This is an update, hence the title; 'Update'.
I have been writing inconsistently most notable due to problems in the Parisien public transport system but I am getting along quite well. I have been playing sillies with the chapter construction too, cutting some out that I thought erroneous and blending others. As yet I haven't added any new chapters into the plan but I'm fairly sure that I will put one in later on in the story of Haramakion.
As noted I am writing about Haramakion at the moment. He is a human and a King, the King of the country of Prathin on the planet of Humanisan. Humanisan is one of the older human worlds and the original settlers wanted to show that this was a human only system and a safe haven from other problems. Humanisan was settled not long after the destruction of the human colonies of San Hedrin. The name shows this. Humanisan is literally 'Human system' as San Hedrin is the system of Hedrin. Humanisan is however only the name of the planet. The system in which it resides is called San Lhaw and is very cosmopolitan.
Haramakion is I think the oldest of all the major characters but by how much and why, I'm never sure. I imagine that he would be played but someone like Derek Jacobi.
DR
I have been writing inconsistently most notable due to problems in the Parisien public transport system but I am getting along quite well. I have been playing sillies with the chapter construction too, cutting some out that I thought erroneous and blending others. As yet I haven't added any new chapters into the plan but I'm fairly sure that I will put one in later on in the story of Haramakion.
As noted I am writing about Haramakion at the moment. He is a human and a King, the King of the country of Prathin on the planet of Humanisan. Humanisan is one of the older human worlds and the original settlers wanted to show that this was a human only system and a safe haven from other problems. Humanisan was settled not long after the destruction of the human colonies of San Hedrin. The name shows this. Humanisan is literally 'Human system' as San Hedrin is the system of Hedrin. Humanisan is however only the name of the planet. The system in which it resides is called San Lhaw and is very cosmopolitan.
Haramakion is I think the oldest of all the major characters but by how much and why, I'm never sure. I imagine that he would be played but someone like Derek Jacobi.
DR
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The Wonder of Net
Well well well...
Now here's a thing. Let me tell you a little story. I was on the train this morning and I was about to start a new character, Haramakion, in the place of Ronin. Mostly because the two of them have started to interact so I need to get Haramakion to the same point. It was a last minute decision, (as seen in my boo if you follow me on Twitter), and I realised that I had no idea when, how or where I had left him last time.
So I tweeted and booed to that effect before logging on to my Google docs to see if I had put anything on there. Indeed I had and although I didn't have all my typed up documents, I did have a plotlist. So I downloaded it onto my iphone and read it through and preceded to start doing some writing. It was in fact a slight rewrite but there you have it.
I am beginning to understand what people mean about Cloud computing. As a tool to help me write my book, I also use Evernote. During the day, if I have any notes, I write them in my iphone and they automatically update when I get home. This then syncs with my laptop so I have everything I need, when and where I need it.
Tonight I have downloaded and started to use DocList Uploader and I will put everything on Google Docs as a back up.
It's amazing how much data I can have flowing through the ether. I hope that I won't be disappointed by it all.
DR
Now here's a thing. Let me tell you a little story. I was on the train this morning and I was about to start a new character, Haramakion, in the place of Ronin. Mostly because the two of them have started to interact so I need to get Haramakion to the same point. It was a last minute decision, (as seen in my boo if you follow me on Twitter), and I realised that I had no idea when, how or where I had left him last time.
So I tweeted and booed to that effect before logging on to my Google docs to see if I had put anything on there. Indeed I had and although I didn't have all my typed up documents, I did have a plotlist. So I downloaded it onto my iphone and read it through and preceded to start doing some writing. It was in fact a slight rewrite but there you have it.
I am beginning to understand what people mean about Cloud computing. As a tool to help me write my book, I also use Evernote. During the day, if I have any notes, I write them in my iphone and they automatically update when I get home. This then syncs with my laptop so I have everything I need, when and where I need it.
Tonight I have downloaded and started to use DocList Uploader and I will put everything on Google Docs as a back up.
It's amazing how much data I can have flowing through the ether. I hope that I won't be disappointed by it all.
DR
Friday, 29 May 2009
Still 'Ronin' on.
I am still writing about Ronin, I'm keeping going and see where my mind takes me. I did well this morning, writing a lot on the train, almost missing my stop in fact, but less on the way home.
So now you know. What I wanted to tell you all was that I wander, I have very definite ideas of what I want a chapter to be about and ideas of how to get there but it never quite works out like that. For example, I need Ronin to discuss freedom and the complications therein but instead he ended up discussing predator/prey relationships and the future of the Harlequin race. I like what I wrote, don't get me wrong but it's just not what I wanted to write. I know that the author of a text is on a journey of discovery and things will happen in the books that were not foreseen but even so.
Oh well, I have more travelling to do later so I will try and writ his freedom later today.
DR
So now you know. What I wanted to tell you all was that I wander, I have very definite ideas of what I want a chapter to be about and ideas of how to get there but it never quite works out like that. For example, I need Ronin to discuss freedom and the complications therein but instead he ended up discussing predator/prey relationships and the future of the Harlequin race. I like what I wrote, don't get me wrong but it's just not what I wanted to write. I know that the author of a text is on a journey of discovery and things will happen in the books that were not foreseen but even so.
Oh well, I have more travelling to do later so I will try and writ his freedom later today.
DR
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Started again.
If you have been following my twitter feed, you will know that things have been going very a-pickle over the last week or so.
However...
I am delighted to note that today I did writing, quite a bit and it wasn't so bad. I was writing a conversation between Ronin, I know, I said I would change but I may not, and Bast his chief intelligence officer. They are discussing possible futures for the ships under Ronin's command.
With interesting results.
It took me in a direction that I din't anticipate, but the other stuff will have to go in soon anyway.
I won't be writing tomorrow or Thursday but I'm definitely good for Friday. This just shows you the power of headphones. (See Twitter)
This post is bitty but I wanted you to be the first to know.
As ever, comments are welcome.
DR
However...
I am delighted to note that today I did writing, quite a bit and it wasn't so bad. I was writing a conversation between Ronin, I know, I said I would change but I may not, and Bast his chief intelligence officer. They are discussing possible futures for the ships under Ronin's command.
With interesting results.
It took me in a direction that I din't anticipate, but the other stuff will have to go in soon anyway.
I won't be writing tomorrow or Thursday but I'm definitely good for Friday. This just shows you the power of headphones. (See Twitter)
This post is bitty but I wanted you to be the first to know.
As ever, comments are welcome.
DR
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Well hello everybody.
I'm back from my sojourn in the big apple and i'm disappointed to report that in terms of writing, i have done precisely zero. I'm very sorry.
For those of you who also following my twitter feed you may also be aware that i left my headphones at home. It is the reason that i am blogging now as opposed to later. I will try to write but generally find myself distracted when i can't block everything out. I'm sending this from my phone instead of writing. It's something about coming back off holiday too. I often find, as has been previously noted, that holidays tend to knock me out of my rhythm. All part and parcel of being in France, where endless holidays are enshrined in law. I know one person who gets, wait for it, 57 days holiday a year. A little over eleven weeks. I do have other holidays coming up too although running counter to that is the knowledge that i have quite a bit of work over the next few weeks too. Generally i write on the train and lots of work means loys of train travel. Still, i imagine that alot of writers struggle for rhythm at times.
What will happen will happen.
DR
I'm back from my sojourn in the big apple and i'm disappointed to report that in terms of writing, i have done precisely zero. I'm very sorry.
For those of you who also following my twitter feed you may also be aware that i left my headphones at home. It is the reason that i am blogging now as opposed to later. I will try to write but generally find myself distracted when i can't block everything out. I'm sending this from my phone instead of writing. It's something about coming back off holiday too. I often find, as has been previously noted, that holidays tend to knock me out of my rhythm. All part and parcel of being in France, where endless holidays are enshrined in law. I know one person who gets, wait for it, 57 days holiday a year. A little over eleven weeks. I do have other holidays coming up too although running counter to that is the knowledge that i have quite a bit of work over the next few weeks too. Generally i write on the train and lots of work means loys of train travel. Still, i imagine that alot of writers struggle for rhythm at times.
What will happen will happen.
DR
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Well hello...
Hello everybody,
And a particularly warm welcome to Teresa who has left me a message. Her previous attempts had been thwarted by updates and problems. I am yet to go to work today so I am yet to do any writing.
I will blog again later, hopefully having written something.
DR
And a particularly warm welcome to Teresa who has left me a message. Her previous attempts had been thwarted by updates and problems. I am yet to go to work today so I am yet to do any writing.
I will blog again later, hopefully having written something.
DR
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Well the exciting news is that i finished another chapter today. I have decided that i will change character on my return from New York. The next problem is my subject matter. I need to think about it more before i commit it to paper. Ronin is being introspective without getting to the heart of the problem. I hope that my readers will notice that he is trying to resolve an emotional issue but is treating it as a mental challenge. He cannot resolve it because he doesn't understand it.
My apologies that this blog is short but i'm sending from my phone.
DR
My apologies that this blog is short but i'm sending from my phone.
DR
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