Story Visuals

Some visual aids to assist in the promotion/development of short stories. They can come in handy when stuck or bored and often give the writing process a real boost. The images define the themes and content you are engaged with and identify them more clearly in your head. What I disagree with is making endless covers for short stories and making out like you have written hundreds of novels!

Absence

Apologies for lack of activity lately. As Michael Douglas says in Falling Down (1993), "I'm on the other side of the moon now, past the point of no return." Or something like that. Blogging can become a chore and a distraction quite often unless it coincides with something practical like promoting someone or something or moaning or something. To everyone else, blog on! I recommend John Siddique, Joe Konrath, and Christopher Fowler.

James Herbert Interview

James talks at 2:36:00

Painting a Stealth

 Models can be bought and painted without the hassle of constructing something out of clay yourself. You would be surprised how much money, time and hassle this takes out of the equation. ATD got into pottery by painting cups and the idea of handling dusty wet clay was very unappealing for a long time. Painting has a relaxing effect. The decision was made to use several shades of dark on this neat little Stealth model, instead of black all over, with grey wheels.

Stealth Results

F117 NIGHTHAWK 

Most Beautiful Bird in the Sky

Pleased with the shiny finish on top of the model. It looks gold-ish from certain angles. There is also a slight hue of green that has come through, somehow. Bright yellow is standard for windows in a number of other sculptures, for that haunted lighthouse effect. This idea was actually inspired by some models I witnessed several years ago in The Koestler Trust's headquarters, based in Wormwood Scrubs. Koestler is an arts charity and their multiple storey base is filled from top to bottom with artworks of every kind, like a crowded museum. Their annual exhibition at the South Bank centre starts next week. Ever since then I decided to incorporate windows into my architectural pieces and paint those windows a spooky yellow. The paint is called Glo-Worm and unlike metallic lustres or gritty oxides, it has a consistent finish every time. There was a quote on Radio 4 just yesterday, regarding Anthony Gormley. Somebody said: "Copy anybody, but never yourself."

On the Way

New posts coming shortly. Got pictures of sculptures to share and pictures of a model Stealth aircraft, plus some new collages with a 'British' theme which were completed for the Queen's Jubilee. Stay posted. The collages look pretty impressive and overall the results are rather pleasing. It was jolly to do something outside of the box for a change. Everybody should respect the monarch whether they are in favour or not. Maybe Britain's best-known poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who emphasises his 'Britishness' (and whose cousin died in police custody in 2003) recently said live on a Sunday morning TV program (The Big Questions) that England should 'do away' with the Queen. Oh, Benjamin, wrong choice of words lad! You shouldn't have said that fella! Perhaps understandably some of the audience jumped down his throat. He didn't take no sh*t though and came right back at 'em. Thought he was going to kick off at one point! Anyway, hokey doke then, back soon.

First Thought 2

until he lopped off everyone's head

 at the dinner table

Blogs v Books

There comes a point when the blogger has to wake up and smell her blogs. Blogs are informal, chatty, personal, and confidential (in an open-ended kind of way), but the blogger’s books, I’m guessing, for the most part, aren’t. So there comes a surprise for “the reader”, when, after enjoying the nudge ‘n’ wink ambience of a writer’s blog, they take on one of the writer’s books, and let themselves in for a fake trip of pretentious dull fiction. Reading a novel after reading a blog can feel like watching Ewan McGregor (or any other actor) perform in a West End musical on a Monday morning after staying at his apartment all weekend on an intimate basis. There’s something distant and phoney about it. The writer is in third person mode, perhaps, and describing the weather or a location or a character’s state of mind or something else he or she simply made up. And you’re asking yourself, is this important? Is this worth the paper it’s written on? Is any story or book really important, in the grand scheme? Is it really? Blogs can be important. Letters can be important. Because they are not make-believe. They are direct first-person speeches unhindered by silly seven-point arc plots.

You would think a good blog equalled a good book and vice-versa, wouldn’t you, but who’s to know? Maybe the less known about a writer the better, so books are not judged before they are read. The only info need be known about a writer is his or her name...and maybe a middle initial, if you are lucky. Complete strangers are the best recipients.