"I could eat alphabet soup and crap better lyrics then that." - Johny Mercer. |
From June 2016 entries are entered into "The Bard's Hall Contest" by StephBee - House Targaryen From May 2017 entries are entered into "Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor /right} From June 2017 entries are entered into "Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor From June 2016 entries are entered into "Blogging Circle of Friends " by Lyn's a sly fox ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I'm a writer, who doesn't write. An artist, who doesn't paint. I'm a blogger, who doesn't blog. I'm a dreamer. And all I do is dream. I was born a donkey, but lived as a man. My parents sent me out from the paddock so that I could learn the secrets of corned bread. Seeing for myself the world of men made me curious because that was my weakness. Always my weakness. My hind-legs were strong and so began my masquerade. I became a man and walked the world of men. I tasted many delights, and many disasters. But soon I found that I needed a thing called money. To continue my quest I would need to work. A courier seemed the most obvious thing. Although, was I not a man now and not a pack-mule? No. No couriers work for me. I chose a trade and worked in a factory. I had not forgotten my quest for the secret of corned bread. Every night, while printing the newspaper on the night shift, I would see the grand old culinary designs in the food and drink section. There was so much more to food then corned bread. Continue My Memoir of Magic and Dreams ▼ This is my blog documenting my experiences on http://www.writing.com. In it, I will include my reviews of others works, links to offsite writings, and importantly, I think, moan and complain constantly about the machinations of this beautiful, sexy, inspiring and fearsome beast of a writing community. I didn't do anything about my desire to write for over 20 years and I have a lot of catching up to do. I'm a little worried that I've left it all too late and I won't have enough time to become a good writer. I'm always up for joining in on blogging groups and challenges, so if you have one - let me know here. |
Starting to feel a bit of pep, again, at last. Might see if I can't get my spizz together again. Not today, I have to work, and I have my daughters concert tonight. But, hopefully I can keep this good feeling going. I finished reading Carter and Lovecraft by John. L. Howard (creator of Broken Sword game series) yesterday. Great book, apparently the next one is even better. Started reading Jennifer Government by Max Barry again. Had this gem sitting around for 14 years. Only ever read the first chapter. Australian sci-fi satire. Started reading it yesterday evening, and I can't put it down. |
Well, I had an essay planned on the origins of Gypsies/Roma focusing on their Romanian history but really concentrating on the world wide prejudice they face (including genocide, sterilization, stolen generations: all in the last two decades). Nerves got the better of me, and I couldn't pull it off. Didn't even go near any efforts to write a short story. |
I should not have drank that rum last night. I am paying for it today. |
Black matting in my work van is the bane of my existence. |
Another terrible poem. This poem also doubles as the introductory text for my activity. I don't know how to link an In& out, but that's what the activity is. edit: silly me
Actually, I'm unsure if a Guestbook is classed as an activity. It's not mentioned in the list of activities? But it is, especially with the slant I've put on it, an activity. I've asked Andy for clarification. "The Airpoet" This is your Captain speaking, News may be leaking, But don't worry, We're not sinking. It's not flying without falling. Grab your tickets, Your passport as well, Hold onto your hat, And don't forget your toothbrush. It's not flying without falling. Today's destination, If you'll look out your left, Is Europe's 7th most populous place. Bigger then England, It's bigger then Wales, Its bigger then Scotland, Bigger then all the Isles. It's not flying without falling. This is your Captain speaking, It's not fuel we are leaking, Those are the Carpathians peaking, It's tourists we are seeking Have you been to this land? Put your hands up if you have, It's Romania, my dears, Home of Ciorba Radauteana – Yes, Soup from Radauti. Sign this In & Out if you have been to Romania or, as I have, have any Romanian friends. |
DAY 1663, June 5, 2017 Title Prompt: The Happy Holiday Takes this wherever you want. My inlaws are taking us all on a happy holiday to a tropical island in July. It is somewhat near where my mother lives. So we will stay with her for a week, then trek off to the tropical island for a fortnight. It was touch and go for awhile whether I would go due to work commitments. But then I decided if they didn't give me the time off I would just quit. This is a once in a life time opportunity, and one of the last we will be able to spend with my aging inlaws. That shit is priceless, and my children will carry those memories with them forever. |
Word limit: 500 - 1000 words PROMPT: USA. Holly Lizardfeathers clipped the last wires in the cyclone fence with the bolt cutters she had stolen from Clyde the roadie with the Houdinettes. Careful so as not to catch her red suede jacket on any protruding wires, Holly worked her admittedly slim body through the hole. A furtive glance behind her in the early morning light, all she could see was the bushes on the side of the back trail, and a more measured look in front of her, all she could see at this stage was the side of the maintenance shed tucked in the corner of the compound, and she was scampering off like a scrub hen hunting lice. Holly peered around the corner of the rickety red shed, her brown fingers squeezing tight on the chipped framing. "Alofty Heights Hot Air Balloon group rides are a great and affordable way to get in the air above the Sacramento Valley, " the gruff voice carried across the airfield clearly."We do our best to create a fun and exciting environment for everyone in the basket." |
Essay for "Invalid Item" . Week 1: USA. The Roots of Victorian Science-Fiction movement, Steampunk, are well and truly American. Steampunk is a subgenre of science-fiction and is a sibling to cyberpunk. Where cyberpunk is the intelligent yet dour child of science-fiction that melds online worlds with body modifications and computer technology, steampunk is the extroverted one - over the top, loose with the truth, and way too loud at parties. As they say, steampunk reimagines the scientific foundings of the past to create an alternate yet parallel worldview. The roots of SteamPunk lay in the works of Victoriana: works by such as Robert Louis Stevenson as well as H. G Wells and Jules Verne. To understand SteamPunk one would be well versed in perusing these authors. But, the founding authors of SteamPunk were not by any means English. While cyberpunk was largely a vehicle of the likes of William Gibson and Philip K. Dick, the term SteamPunk was coined by a member of a coterie of writers who were contemporaries of Dick. Not only did they live around the corner from the grandfather of contemporary silver age scifi in California, but as a group they would visit with him and hang out to shoot the breeze. According to James Blaylock (author of The 10 book Narbondo Series, which after the first book are Steampunk novels set in Victorian England and spanning publishing dates from 1984 to 2016.) when questioned by esteemed American scifi mag Locus about what Jeter, Blaylock and their other pal Tim Powers called their particular brand of scifi written in the past , K. W Jeter coined the phrase SteamPunk. His reasoning was due to the groups perceived punk attitude in embracing old “stodgy” literature in stark contrast to the cool, young literary movements of the time. By this stage in their careers, they knew they on to something special, and in their minds the future of science-fiction at this stage was Victoriana. The novels that cemented Jeters title of the godfather of SteamPunk, are Infernal Devices (1987) and Morlock Nights (1979), the latter retroactively labeled Steampunk. Even though Jeter and his pals had been writing what they thought of as simply Victoriana Science-Fiction for over a decade, by the time Infernal Devices came along Jeter was actively pursuing the establishment of a legitimate subgenre of scifi complete with a nom de guerre riffing on the already well-established cyberpunk subgenre. Infernal Devices tells the story of George – a Victorian watchmaker who has inherited his father’s shop, though not his talent. A tale of time travel, music and sexual intrigue, Infernal Devices is a true classic and anyone interested in not just steampunk but science-fiction should consider it a must-read. Morlock Night, meanwhile, is a wild sequel to Wells’ The Time Machine – having acquired a device for themselves, the brutish Morlocks return to invade sleepy old England. (Jeter has established a career and solid reputation out of such sequels: rather then being cold, calculating by-the-books franchise offerings, Jeter’s sequels are legitimate works of merit. As a friend and literary contemporary of Philip K.Dick, Jeter went on to write 3 sequels of Blade Runner’s source material Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.) Steampunk, a reimagining of science stemming from the birthplace of science-fiction, the Victorian Era, but invented by Americans living the American writing dream has now moved past both cultures and into the global realm. Wiith Steampunk novels and the tropes that get created along with them being established in the likes of Indian writing and african literary culture, it looks like the foresight of Jeter, Blaylock and Powers has paid off. Steampunk is not just a subgenre of science-fiction. It is it’s own future movement. |
DAY 1660 June 2, 2017 What's trending where you are? Fidget Spinners. I saw a post on Facebook about making them out of BBQ meat and kabana sausages to amuse the kids and disgust the adults. If people are making pastiches of a trend you know it's really hit. That, and the line ups at the 2 dollar shops. |
Write on the first entry Title line: "Entry for "The Bard's Hall Contest" Contest June, 2017." And then blog away! I'm really quite hanxious. This is where I get anxious about not having a handkerchief. |
Around the World in 52 Weeks. Week 1: USA. POO-ETRY ENTRY How to write a poem about a Country My apologies. Just making it up as I go along, didn't mean to get so serious-like. A good way to write a poem About your country Is to ignore it. And hope for a better past. Don't look for imagery Of seasons changing, Look for truths self-evident In American Dreams. A better way to write a poem About your country Is to look at its history And say, this is my country. And I take responsibility for it. Then it is as confronting As facing demons that haunt you, If reading a poem about your country, Like this, Leaves you cold then Count to five Red. White. Blue. Black. Orange. And write another Redressing your country, Not re-dressing, A poem about your country, Can't be written about values and spirit, and ignore seasons of History. To write a poem about your country, Weigh the worth of words, Strong enough to build foundations thickly dipped in meaning Forthright in intensity. Self-evident. A country that judges, juries, and executes other countries. A country. Where all men are not created equal, Are not treated as equals, But on both counts, should be. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." -Martin Luther King. "The gold-haired girl is singing into your ear about how we live in a beautiful country." - Kevin Pruner. |
DAY 1658: May 31, 2017 Prompt: Besides flowers what is the best thing about May? Why, Mothers Day of course! (In my country). May also features the birthday of my Mother-in-Law. Who is an absolutely wonderful matriarch, and helps us out no end. Giving her two celebrations in one month, while going NOWHERE to return all the help she gives us, is a nice touch. |
So, I've entered, quite ambitiously, a pretty full-on contest. By ambitiously, I don't mean I'm determined to win; I mean I'm determined to finish. As a born, chronic procrastinator this is going to be no mean feat for me. I have given myself just the 1 hard and fast rule towards this goal: Fun first. And so, here it is (runs on the board and all that, pip! Pip!) - my very first entry, knocking off the activity first: a tongue-in-cheek user poll about the Presidents of the United States.... And their hair. "Invalid Item" I will personally write a letter to the winner of this poll congratulating them on their hirsute feat. I will update this post as I fulfill the other requirements for the week. |
Watched an episode of Preacher. Watched Italian horror movie, Witching and Bitching Watched The Descent and The Descent 2 Fixed a pothole on our driveway. Listened to an episode of Bronzeville Went got footy socks from my sons team merch store. Ate noodles with my delightful wife Drank some wine and some beer Got in tune with the romance of our lives. Another Day in the life of minimum wage, semi-retired lost soul and dead rebel. Also got a calender from writing.com addressed to Thundersbread |
things to do for Clockwork Crier #3: - guild member profile. examine and list their steampunk credentials. - editorial focusing on the new blog AND blimprider's punk fiction library? - get a member to write a how to write steampunk article - - get a captains log from Beck Firing back up! - does this issue need a theme? or not? stick with the steampunk community theme? - promote clangour and hiss to finally get some entries - go through my email to get the review comments - off site links where needed - on site links where needed - set aside time to scour wdc to get a picture of steampunk at the present time Things to do for Steampunk in general - Fire up the flash comp into a daily comp that is as popular and noticeable as my hero comp, the Daily Flash Fiction competition. - Turn the Tinkery into a visual steampunk writing comp. - Write some In Steampunk Voices Only blog entries to get the ball rolling - see if I can't get Beck fired up and involved again. - how to get more involvement in the authors guild is a big question. I guess to get more activity you've got to have things to be active about. such a shame the group didn't take to the review raids or punk your port comp. Such good ideas. As seems to be the case with sites of this mammoth community size, too much effort for some. |