I've been up to a lot lately, and I must admit I'm feeling rather buggered. The past week has been very eventful, such as me lugging myself around the city doing my sisters bidding on Tuesday (I finally went into Sticky- not bad), doing the drive up to Bendigo today with my bickering parents in the front and my grandpa in the back who was just laughing on the inside... and let's see, what else did I do? I sent my manuscript off to a publisher.
I was really excited about that, and hopeful that the recipients take interest in my story. My proof readers enjoyed it and helped me improve my tale by turning it from a 309 pg manuscript into a 308 one. Sweet. Anyway, that's the biggest thing on my mind at the moment, but there are other things too.
Let me see, there's my temp agency calling me up with some work because I am just poor. Seriously, I'm not enjoying it friends. I'm also waiting to see the new Roland Emmerich movie 2012 (I'm not expecting anything dramatic, but the trailers looked good- I'm going to be scared shitless in three years also) and there's The Time Traveler's Wife as well. Fingers are crossed that they're good also.
Also, I'm trying to get a short story down which my main idea will be about friendship. This "thing" came to me when I came up with the names Danny McCabe and Amy DeLeigh, and I decided that they would be life long best friends who would comfort each other when times were grim. All of these images come into my head like seeing them dance ballroom style in lounge room and a burning stable with horses running out of it. I just want to write it dammit!!!!
And then there's this little novel I've started on the side which will be heavily laddened with fantasy. It's meant for younger readers (older primary school) and I've got some good lines and images down on paper. I started writing it all down after I saw my little cousins, Little Miss Shifty and Little Miss Honeybear, a few weeks ago, and they tell me that monsters aren't real. Anyway, it dawned on me that the stuff I write isn't appropriate for them and so I'm going to do something about that Seamus. Fingers are crossed.
And that's that. I'm gonna try and post some drawings soon. Promise.
PS. I'm also getting published again. Go Wonderland!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Reward
As I sit here waiting for my turn to use the kitchen (I'm going to make fancy pancakes), I felt that I should display my thoughts on the book Atonement which I finished last Saturday night, and I'd just like to say that it was a very enjoyable experience.
In my own words I want to say that it felt like I was reading art. Strange one might think, and it may be impossible to read art... but who cares. Last year I saw the movie on DVD and enjoyed it very much, but the book was so much better. The plot hit all the right spots, the characters were intriguing and I felt as if I could see it happening at the same time, so two thumbs up. Dialogue, which was mostly scarce for several pages at a time was a kind treat as well.
However, I did have a few minor problems with it. One, the second and third parts of the book were primarily focused on Robbie Turner and Briony Tallis, who are two of the three main characters. The third, Cecilia, is featured heavily in both parts... but why isn't there a part devoted to her? I found that a little odd at times.
Something else that caught my eye was that several chapters in part one were focused on Briony and Cecilia's mother, Emily with the migraines. It became obvious in parts 2 and 3 that Emily held a great resentment towards Robbie and was somewhat of a domineering bitch, but I don't think those additional chapters about her were really needed.
Also, the character of Paul Marshall (who is easily one of the three most hated in the book- along with Emily and Lola Quincey) doesn't seem to get anything thrown at him by the books heroes. The moment he rapes Lola (who becomes his wife) and concurs with everyone's suspicions that Robbie did the naughty, he goes on and lives the life of luxury.
What I'm wondering is that why didn't Cecilia or someone else confront him or condemn him? I'm reminded of the character Joe Pritchard from Shameless who is somewhat similar. He goes about beating his girlfriend Mandy Maguire and abusing her sister-in-law Karen, and finally gets beaten unconscious by Karen's husband Jamie. Not only that, when he comes to, Mandy's family all threaten to kill him. That's what I wanted to see happen to Paul. It felt right, damn it!
So that's all I've got to say. Atonement will be one of my most favourite books from now on, and it helped my put my horrid memories of reading Twilight to rest. Also, I want to thank little Sophie and Alice for giving me the piece on Saturday night to finish the book. Good girls. Now I plan to read Tim Winton's latest book Breath. Here goes.
In my own words I want to say that it felt like I was reading art. Strange one might think, and it may be impossible to read art... but who cares. Last year I saw the movie on DVD and enjoyed it very much, but the book was so much better. The plot hit all the right spots, the characters were intriguing and I felt as if I could see it happening at the same time, so two thumbs up. Dialogue, which was mostly scarce for several pages at a time was a kind treat as well.
However, I did have a few minor problems with it. One, the second and third parts of the book were primarily focused on Robbie Turner and Briony Tallis, who are two of the three main characters. The third, Cecilia, is featured heavily in both parts... but why isn't there a part devoted to her? I found that a little odd at times.
Something else that caught my eye was that several chapters in part one were focused on Briony and Cecilia's mother, Emily with the migraines. It became obvious in parts 2 and 3 that Emily held a great resentment towards Robbie and was somewhat of a domineering bitch, but I don't think those additional chapters about her were really needed.
Also, the character of Paul Marshall (who is easily one of the three most hated in the book- along with Emily and Lola Quincey) doesn't seem to get anything thrown at him by the books heroes. The moment he rapes Lola (who becomes his wife) and concurs with everyone's suspicions that Robbie did the naughty, he goes on and lives the life of luxury.
What I'm wondering is that why didn't Cecilia or someone else confront him or condemn him? I'm reminded of the character Joe Pritchard from Shameless who is somewhat similar. He goes about beating his girlfriend Mandy Maguire and abusing her sister-in-law Karen, and finally gets beaten unconscious by Karen's husband Jamie. Not only that, when he comes to, Mandy's family all threaten to kill him. That's what I wanted to see happen to Paul. It felt right, damn it!
So that's all I've got to say. Atonement will be one of my most favourite books from now on, and it helped my put my horrid memories of reading Twilight to rest. Also, I want to thank little Sophie and Alice for giving me the piece on Saturday night to finish the book. Good girls. Now I plan to read Tim Winton's latest book Breath. Here goes.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I'm Not Getting Those Precious Reading Hours Back
So I did it, I read that horrid abomination that is Twilight, and if any of you good readers have read my other postings you'll realise that I don't really care for it at all, and upon reading the excess of shite arse, my view hasn't changed. IT WAS COMPLETE SHITE PEOPLE!
Every single page was all about Bella thinking that Edward is nothing more than a god and crap, like he's the real deal. In my opinion he was nothing more than a stony-faced, sexist narcasist who thinks women can't do anything. And he collects classic cars and wears bague! I'm thinking how many girls is he pimping to afford all of this shit!
What makes me more curious is to why billions of girls around the world love this prick! Chappi-Clementina agrees with me, and she tells that teenage girls are a strange breed. NUFF SAID.
Another problem is how the villains were portrayed in it. James, Laurent and Victoria were so unjustedly under-used. Like 50 pages were given to them, and its all about James getting the chop. I actually didn't mind them. Sure, they weren't big bads like Voldemort, but they were a whole lot better than Ed and Bella.
Also, a small subplot about Alice (another vampire with visions) was included, but nothing big either. My opinion is that if the book had been about Alice and James, I think it would've been a whole lot better. STUPENDOUS! Putting it like Ian McEwan whose book Atonement I'm enjoying very much- my reward for putting up with the pre-mentioned knife in my neck.
When going through those painful 400+ pages, I kept thinking to myself "Yep, she didn't even workshop this" and "What publisher would bestow this on the writing community". My theory is that Meyer never got a teenager to critique it. Stupid woman.
However, I will end this posting with a positive remark, and that is I COULD ACTUALLY STAND BELLA SWAN. I don't love her. I won't cry if she dies (unlikely). But I can stand her. That is all ladies and gents!
Every single page was all about Bella thinking that Edward is nothing more than a god and crap, like he's the real deal. In my opinion he was nothing more than a stony-faced, sexist narcasist who thinks women can't do anything. And he collects classic cars and wears bague! I'm thinking how many girls is he pimping to afford all of this shit!
What makes me more curious is to why billions of girls around the world love this prick! Chappi-Clementina agrees with me, and she tells that teenage girls are a strange breed. NUFF SAID.
Another problem is how the villains were portrayed in it. James, Laurent and Victoria were so unjustedly under-used. Like 50 pages were given to them, and its all about James getting the chop. I actually didn't mind them. Sure, they weren't big bads like Voldemort, but they were a whole lot better than Ed and Bella.
Also, a small subplot about Alice (another vampire with visions) was included, but nothing big either. My opinion is that if the book had been about Alice and James, I think it would've been a whole lot better. STUPENDOUS! Putting it like Ian McEwan whose book Atonement I'm enjoying very much- my reward for putting up with the pre-mentioned knife in my neck.
When going through those painful 400+ pages, I kept thinking to myself "Yep, she didn't even workshop this" and "What publisher would bestow this on the writing community". My theory is that Meyer never got a teenager to critique it. Stupid woman.
However, I will end this posting with a positive remark, and that is I COULD ACTUALLY STAND BELLA SWAN. I don't love her. I won't cry if she dies (unlikely). But I can stand her. That is all ladies and gents!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Oh It's The Dollhouse
As of late I've been sick of my arse, and so far it hasn't been enjoyable. Last Monday night I couldn't sleep at all, but fortunately Tuesday was a good night. Sure, my cold did lilghten up an insignificant little and the following morning I had a vicious nosebleed, but there was one thing that saved it for me. I am of course talking about... Dollhouse.
If one wonders what the hell I'm talking about, Dollhouse is the new series from the creative mind of my idol Joss Whedon which stars Eliza Dushku and Olivia Williams. I was very impressed with what I saw and as per usual I enjoyed Whedon's dialogue and his use of names- and because of that I named a character in my series after him.
Moving on, I just wanted to bring up my relief that good television has returned to the screen. Sure, I have Lost which ends next year and Battlestar Galactica which ended this year with that bang the creators promised us, but what am I gonna drown my mind with when that's all gone, hmm. So I just wanted to proclaim how grateful I am that Dushku brought Whedon back to the giggle box.
Hoorah... and I also wanted to mention the fact that Whedon is going to milk his characters, which is a good thing. I took a peak at the end of season 1 and learnt that no one big had been killed off. GREATNESS!
If one wonders what the hell I'm talking about, Dollhouse is the new series from the creative mind of my idol Joss Whedon which stars Eliza Dushku and Olivia Williams. I was very impressed with what I saw and as per usual I enjoyed Whedon's dialogue and his use of names- and because of that I named a character in my series after him.
Moving on, I just wanted to bring up my relief that good television has returned to the screen. Sure, I have Lost which ends next year and Battlestar Galactica which ended this year with that bang the creators promised us, but what am I gonna drown my mind with when that's all gone, hmm. So I just wanted to proclaim how grateful I am that Dushku brought Whedon back to the giggle box.
Hoorah... and I also wanted to mention the fact that Whedon is going to milk his characters, which is a good thing. I took a peak at the end of season 1 and learnt that no one big had been killed off. GREATNESS!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mum's The Reason As It Turns Out
Greetinkos rare reader... I have a shocking revelation to share with you all. For me to explain this new story will require a set-up, which involves the new Star Trek movie. So, here it goes.
For a while I was a bit sceptical about the new ST movie, mainly because I was never a real big Trekkie and I like my sci-fi simplified... but the moment I heard that JJ Abrams for directing, I knew it would be good because anything he touches turns to gold... most of the time. So I was persuaded to go see it, and tagging along with me was someone whom wasn't a friend or sibling. Mum.
I asked her to go with me, and in return I have to go see Angels and Demons with her next week, which I'm not against. My reason for this is because Svnof has already been- she gave me the recommendation also, and Chappi-Clementina was against it to begin with. Sometimes I think that girl is hiding her secret sanity. Nontheless, I went to see it with Ma, and we enjoyed it very much.
The movie looked great and they did some really good casting. I liked many of the leads, especially Chris Pine and Simon Pegg who got all the good lines. I'm now convinced that James T. Kirk (Pine) is the descendent of my friend the manwhore, since the two are very much alike, especially when he was nailing a green Rachel Nichol (I think I know who I'd like to see play my protagonist Wes in an adaptation).
Other cast members I enjoyed include Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto whom is a whole lot better in this than Heroes. Seriously, Spock saved that mans career. Another cast member I liked was Winona Ryder, whom I never really expected to see in this type of film. Sure, I saw and liked her in Alien Resurrection, but she just surprised me, and she did a good job as Amanda Grayson.
With that all said, I need to move onto the more shocking part of the film, and it wasn't in it. It was sitting next to me in the cinema... Mum. Whilst the movie was running, I kept seeing Mum laugh and smile (since it was so good), but then she starts reciting the characters names once they've been said, and I wonder... is Mum a Trekkie.
I asked her quietly about if she was liking it, and she kept saying it's Sulu and Kirk and everyone... and the moment Leonard Nimoy turned up her mouth dropped. The thoughts in my head were "Oh my god, Mum's the reason I like sci-fi", but she told me after the movie ended that she watched a few episodes when she was young, whilst I'm known for following a good sci-fi from start to finish.
Anyway, she surprised me and the movie must've stuck with her because when I brought it up at Balsamic last night (we went out for dinner) she kept saying good things about the cast and everything. Really, I was shocked.
For a while I was a bit sceptical about the new ST movie, mainly because I was never a real big Trekkie and I like my sci-fi simplified... but the moment I heard that JJ Abrams for directing, I knew it would be good because anything he touches turns to gold... most of the time. So I was persuaded to go see it, and tagging along with me was someone whom wasn't a friend or sibling. Mum.
I asked her to go with me, and in return I have to go see Angels and Demons with her next week, which I'm not against. My reason for this is because Svnof has already been- she gave me the recommendation also, and Chappi-Clementina was against it to begin with. Sometimes I think that girl is hiding her secret sanity. Nontheless, I went to see it with Ma, and we enjoyed it very much.
The movie looked great and they did some really good casting. I liked many of the leads, especially Chris Pine and Simon Pegg who got all the good lines. I'm now convinced that James T. Kirk (Pine) is the descendent of my friend the manwhore, since the two are very much alike, especially when he was nailing a green Rachel Nichol (I think I know who I'd like to see play my protagonist Wes in an adaptation).
Other cast members I enjoyed include Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto whom is a whole lot better in this than Heroes. Seriously, Spock saved that mans career. Another cast member I liked was Winona Ryder, whom I never really expected to see in this type of film. Sure, I saw and liked her in Alien Resurrection, but she just surprised me, and she did a good job as Amanda Grayson.
With that all said, I need to move onto the more shocking part of the film, and it wasn't in it. It was sitting next to me in the cinema... Mum. Whilst the movie was running, I kept seeing Mum laugh and smile (since it was so good), but then she starts reciting the characters names once they've been said, and I wonder... is Mum a Trekkie.
I asked her quietly about if she was liking it, and she kept saying it's Sulu and Kirk and everyone... and the moment Leonard Nimoy turned up her mouth dropped. The thoughts in my head were "Oh my god, Mum's the reason I like sci-fi", but she told me after the movie ended that she watched a few episodes when she was young, whilst I'm known for following a good sci-fi from start to finish.
Anyway, she surprised me and the movie must've stuck with her because when I brought it up at Balsamic last night (we went out for dinner) she kept saying good things about the cast and everything. Really, I was shocked.
Friday, May 8, 2009
FINISHED!
A glorious thing came to occur last night as I watched Grey's Anatomy, I finished my manuscript. Yes, it's happened... again, but it's happened nontheless. I decided as I lay on my bed that I'd finish it there and then and take it over to my friend Margit's the next day because she was critiquing it.
So, there I went, writing away as Izzie went crazy and Derek continued to exist... and Lexie broke the manwhore's little friend on the fornication break. I was on the last chapter, which I must admit was possibly the most saddest part in the story. I wanted to build the tension and sympathy for the characters, and I think that was achieved when I wrote along to Eric Stoltz's execution.
After handwriting the final page, I ran out to the computer... to which Mum had turned off. So I waited for it to start up, I plug my memory stick in and went away, typing. Telling the story and bringing this part of it to an end. 306 pages I got, which is like a hundred pages better than the last draft which I try not to think about as a positive.
It was incredible, and I'm going to say that Shonda Rhimes- Grey's creater, had a lot to do with it, so thanks brilliant Yankee woman whom I've never met. Now all that has to happen is for Margit to finish reading it and then I'm sending it off to Svnof and Chappi-Clementina.
IT'S ALL HAPPENING!
So, there I went, writing away as Izzie went crazy and Derek continued to exist... and Lexie broke the manwhore's little friend on the fornication break. I was on the last chapter, which I must admit was possibly the most saddest part in the story. I wanted to build the tension and sympathy for the characters, and I think that was achieved when I wrote along to Eric Stoltz's execution.
After handwriting the final page, I ran out to the computer... to which Mum had turned off. So I waited for it to start up, I plug my memory stick in and went away, typing. Telling the story and bringing this part of it to an end. 306 pages I got, which is like a hundred pages better than the last draft which I try not to think about as a positive.
It was incredible, and I'm going to say that Shonda Rhimes- Grey's creater, had a lot to do with it, so thanks brilliant Yankee woman whom I've never met. Now all that has to happen is for Margit to finish reading it and then I'm sending it off to Svnof and Chappi-Clementina.
IT'S ALL HAPPENING!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
My Space Opera
I was in the new Collins bookshop on Main St the other day- PS It looks very nice and blue. Anyway, I'm looking at the sci-fi section and I discover this book by this Scottish writer. I can't for the life of me remember the title or writer's name (me quoting my queen Stevie Nicks) but I do remember the book review on the back, which names it one of the best "space operas" ever created.
The term space opera stuck with me all the way home, and that was when I looked the term up on the Wikipedia. Apparently a space opera is defined by all of the dramatic and romantic elements in it... all of which are incorporated into an outer space setting. I immediately thought of my beloved Battlestar Galactica and its soon to begin spin off Caprica, which I'm hoping the Sci-Fi Channel will air down here straight away.
Anyway, I thought to myself... could the Lightstream Sheep write a space opera of his own. My thoughts following those were yes, I could. In fact I've already got "something" in the works about a race of humans looking for a home on the other side of the galaxy, and all the crap they've got to endure.
Of course there's got to be something speculative in it, apart from space travel. That's already been established and I don't want people to yawn, so there's got to be some element of power to use, and yes, I've already thought of that. Something that I don't think has been really used so much, except by Joss Whedon (greatest man ever) and Russell T. Davies and the crew of Doctor Who.
That's all for now...
The term space opera stuck with me all the way home, and that was when I looked the term up on the Wikipedia. Apparently a space opera is defined by all of the dramatic and romantic elements in it... all of which are incorporated into an outer space setting. I immediately thought of my beloved Battlestar Galactica and its soon to begin spin off Caprica, which I'm hoping the Sci-Fi Channel will air down here straight away.
Anyway, I thought to myself... could the Lightstream Sheep write a space opera of his own. My thoughts following those were yes, I could. In fact I've already got "something" in the works about a race of humans looking for a home on the other side of the galaxy, and all the crap they've got to endure.
Of course there's got to be something speculative in it, apart from space travel. That's already been established and I don't want people to yawn, so there's got to be some element of power to use, and yes, I've already thought of that. Something that I don't think has been really used so much, except by Joss Whedon (greatest man ever) and Russell T. Davies and the crew of Doctor Who.
That's all for now...
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