Living in the middle of nowhere, the best way for me to have my writing critiqued is to be part of an online critique group. I've had membership of a few and some unhelpful experiences.
As part of a speculative fiction group, someone told me my story "Soul Mates" which was eventually published in Black Magazine , could never happen because houses were inanimate objects and couldn't think or feel. Did I mention this was a SPECULATIVE fiction group. Had he not heard of - let's say Stephen King's "Christine"?
Another critiquer told me I was writing a story - therefore it had already happened - therefore I could not write it in present tense. I am still shaking my head over that one.
When I first started to seriously write, I discovered I knew nothing about commas. I did a lot of research on the Internet, thought I knew what I was doing, but thought my online critique group might point out to me where I was still getting commas wrong. I asked for specific feedback when I submitted my story - the answer from one helpful person. "Have a look on the Internet." I think that is when I left that group.
Happy, happy - I belong to a great group now, who would never be so patronising or unhelpful. I am a better writer for their honesty and experience. A fellow member, Nancy Kopp blogged about us and online critiques groups today.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Coraline Versus Up
At the heart of Coraline is truth – two truths. The type of truths that keeps all good fables resonating throughout the centuries.
Truth no 1: If you neglect your children, they will look elsewhere for love, and sometimes that love will be damaging. The battle back home again will be a challenge.
Truth no 2: The grass is never greener on the other side. I loved this story when I was a kid. Was it a cow or a sheep who keep going from paddock to paddock thinking the grass he saw was greener?
We had to travel all the way to Indooroopilly to see Coraline. It seemed to just come and go from our local cinemas before we had blinked. This movie is smart, quirky, dark and looks beautiful.
Up, on the other hand looks like every other Pixar animation since Toy Story had us all raving. Every kid and his dog went to see it in the holidays. I feel asleep. Slept away at least $2.00 of the movie. It’s not that it is bad necessarily, but you can only see so much animated slapstick before your children become teenagers.
Up will make money. Then, the next slick over promoted movie will come out and it will just be another DVD in every families' cupboard.
In years to come, those who remember Coraline will be consider it as a cut above the rest.
Truth no 1: If you neglect your children, they will look elsewhere for love, and sometimes that love will be damaging. The battle back home again will be a challenge.
Truth no 2: The grass is never greener on the other side. I loved this story when I was a kid. Was it a cow or a sheep who keep going from paddock to paddock thinking the grass he saw was greener?
We had to travel all the way to Indooroopilly to see Coraline. It seemed to just come and go from our local cinemas before we had blinked. This movie is smart, quirky, dark and looks beautiful.
Up, on the other hand looks like every other Pixar animation since Toy Story had us all raving. Every kid and his dog went to see it in the holidays. I feel asleep. Slept away at least $2.00 of the movie. It’s not that it is bad necessarily, but you can only see so much animated slapstick before your children become teenagers.
Up will make money. Then, the next slick over promoted movie will come out and it will just be another DVD in every families' cupboard.
In years to come, those who remember Coraline will be consider it as a cut above the rest.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Breathe
This is the gum tree in my front yard. I walk past it every day. It has possums, bees, parrots and once an old grandaddy koala.
Whenever I look at this photo it reminds me to breathe.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Cinema Etiquette
As impressionable 14 year olds, our head mistress bundled us boarding school girls onto a bus for an hour long trip to visit the nearest cinema. She took us to see Ghandi.
The movie ended. We stood up. She admonished us. It was disrespectful to stand while the credits were rolling. We had never heard of such a thing. We all sat down again.
My head mistress, despite her uncanny habit of suspending me from school, was a woman I came to respect, and her respect for movie credits is something I still practice.
It seems to me, if someone makes and effort to make a movie, no matter how obscure their role (what is a best boy?) then the viewer should have the respect to pay attention for the entire length of the film, credits included.
It is not always comfortable. The usher wants us out so he can clean up, the children are over it and are embarrassed, but I feel righteous in my actions.
It is also a bit about train spotting too.
Rewards are at times surprising, most notable the alternate ending following the credits of 28 Days Later. It remains one of my most satisfying story viewing experiences – all because I stayed until the end of the credits.
The movie ended. We stood up. She admonished us. It was disrespectful to stand while the credits were rolling. We had never heard of such a thing. We all sat down again.
My head mistress, despite her uncanny habit of suspending me from school, was a woman I came to respect, and her respect for movie credits is something I still practice.
It seems to me, if someone makes and effort to make a movie, no matter how obscure their role (what is a best boy?) then the viewer should have the respect to pay attention for the entire length of the film, credits included.
It is not always comfortable. The usher wants us out so he can clean up, the children are over it and are embarrassed, but I feel righteous in my actions.
It is also a bit about train spotting too.
Rewards are at times surprising, most notable the alternate ending following the credits of 28 Days Later. It remains one of my most satisfying story viewing experiences – all because I stayed until the end of the credits.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds – no mistaking this is Tarantino. Irony, wit, imaginative dialogue, and let’s face it Violence with a capital V. I am not squeamish. I watched a surgeon cut up my daughter's mouth, but I covered my eyes in several of this movie's scenes. Well, you know covered and peaked.
Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction changed the tone of movies. The define their decade. Kill Bill did not thrill me, but in Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino has returned to the story telling that I think Kill Bill lacked.
The overhead shot of Shoshanna walking from her room and down the hall to David Bowie’s Cat People (Putting Out Fire) is a masterful combination of cinematography, plot and sound.
Rewrite history, why not? Who else would have the audacity?
Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction changed the tone of movies. The define their decade. Kill Bill did not thrill me, but in Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino has returned to the story telling that I think Kill Bill lacked.
The overhead shot of Shoshanna walking from her room and down the hall to David Bowie’s Cat People (Putting Out Fire) is a masterful combination of cinematography, plot and sound.
Rewrite history, why not? Who else would have the audacity?
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