%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
|
This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario. An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"  Feel free to comment and interact. |
| Show, Not Tell ā An Example It is a general rule of writing fiction that we should show what our characters are doing, not tell the reader. With the exception of flash fiction in all its myriad forms, epistolary fiction and pseudo-reality fiction, showing instead of telling is what makes a story come to life, and gets the reader invested. I have been asked on numerous occasions to write about it on this blog, to explain what it means, but I have struggled. Then I was asked after a review recently, āHow do I show someone is angry?ā Theyād said in their story, āShe was angry at her mother.ā Well, I think by focusing on one emotion, I can demonstrate what is meant by āshow, not tell.ā Letās start with the way people speak when they are angry. āshe said from between clenched teethā āher voice lowered as she spokeā what they say is in short sentences or clipped phrases they can yell, coming out of nowhere they can drop in an expletive, as mild as it might be, even out of nowhere ā e.g. āFor Peteās sake!ā ā or can throw in insults or phrases designed to get under the skin or get a negative reaction use of sarcasm or accusations, even if baseless pausing before responding, trying to control their breathing as they do so This can lead to changes in the way a person breathes. breathing can become heavier, and make sounds breathing could also become faster (or this could be an either/or situation) pursed lips as they exhale, slowly exhaling, making noise as they do so nostrils flare (though this is also an indication of fear) inhaling āsharply (clichĆ© alert!) Then a personās face can change. In this case, you will probably want to use more than one. a tight or clenched jaw the eyes can become narrow a stare can intensify eyes dart everywhere as if looking for an escape; some people avoid direct eye contact when they are really angry, especially staring downwards or over the heads of the people in front of them face goes red (or neck or ears, or all three) a twitch, especially in the eyes the mouth becomes a āthin lineā (clichĆ© alert #2) or becomes a sneer (ācurls into a sneer ā clichĆ© alert #3) veins āpopā, especially on neck and forehead; on the neck, this can also include the tendons tightening sweating can increase The rest of the body will also respond to anger. fists clenched or opening and closing at a personās sides the shoulders and upper chest become tense, even twitching; the chest could also be puffed out, especially in males foot-tapping or restless leg lifting the chin, aiming it at the person the anger is directed at back becomes stiff; in fact, the whole body posture can become stiff rocking back and forth heart-rate rises, even becoming audible to the angry person Then there are actions that seem to only occur when someone is angry. slamming a fist into an open palm (clichĆ© alert #4) punching a wall hitting a table pointing a finger, even jabbing it into someoneās chest swiping things off a table or desk with an arm kicking nearby objects ā chairs, bins, anything on the ground tapping fingers on a table knuckle-cracking invading personal space of the other person (leaning into them, trying to stand over them, pace towards them) on the other side, it could involve moving away or turning their back on the person, or storming off exploding at someone completely unrelated to the cause of the anger Finally, there are inner thoughts, which are great for first person PoV stories. The following are only examples, but you can see where I am coming from. āThe walls felt like they were closing in on me.ā āMy heart pounded so heavily in my ears I couldnāt hear what she said.ā āIt was if someone had shoved an iron rod through my shoulders.ā One last thing ā in order for the written anger to be believable to the reader, the writer needs to understand why the character is angry. Is it out of fear, betrayal, grief, or something else? This can also be worked into the nuances of the writing of anger. So, I hope that helps with the concept of show v tell. Yes, this is only one emotion, but look at how much you can add to a piece to show anger instead of saying, āShe was angry.ā |
| Dateless Time Setting Quick one. This came from a person who I reviewed. āHow do you make a person realise itās a different time without just saying the year?ā There are three ways, from what I can tell. 1. Famous people and events Mentioning who the president of the USA is can give a 4-8 year period of reference, for example. However, this is cultural. If you told my son it happened when Nixon was president, heād have no idea who you were talking about. Same with a UK prime minister (he knows when Thatcher was the evil despot, but has no idea who John Major was) or Australian Prime Minister (my mentions of Harold Holt have received a universal, āHuh?ā on WdC). But something like the Fall of the Berlin Wall, assassination of JFK, assassination of Lord Mountbatten, Hiroshima, Sep-11-01 attacks, etc. do seem to be cultural touchstones that can date a work well. āRemember two years ago, watching the Space Shuttle Challenger explode? That was the first time we hugged one anotherā¦ā Yeah, itās clunky, but we know weāre in 1988. 2. Pop culture references The music of a year, the films in the cinemas, the shows on TV, all of these things can paint a picture of the year your story is set. But itās more than that. How many TV channels were there? Did cable TV exist? Was there a streaming service? How many? Did Blockbuster still exist? How about independent video stores? Did we have CDs yet, or was it vinyl and cassette only? Or even 8-track? Were thee 45s and 33s, or were 78s and 16s also there in vinyl? Was TV black and white or colour? Films? Talkies? What made a music show? Was there NWOBHM, poodle rock, grunge or pop-punk on the rock radio? Was there regular and popular radio? All of this can really paint a time period. One huge caveat here ā if you didnāt live it, ask someone who did. Do NOT rely on Wikipedia, or else you end up with a hodgepodge of inaccuracies, as seen in Ready Player One, a series of Wikipedia articles rammed together in search of a story. I was there in the 80s; he got it wrong on too many levels. Just saying a group of kids were singing Charleneās āIāve Never Been To Meā because you saw it was number one on the charts for weeks is stupid; kids hated it ā it was bought by their parents. Kids were singing āEye Of The Tigerā, āI Love Rock And Rollā and some were even singing āPhysicalā. There are also hairstyles, clothes and shoe brands that marked decades, years, even months. 3. Slang, phrases and words used Make sure the characters use language appropriate to the time. An example comes from a book I read recently about Woodstock, and the term used was ābobby-soxer.ā A bobby-soxer was there in the 1950s to early 1960s; by 1969 they were gone and not even mentioned. Closer to home, this was made clear to me when I read a story on WdC recently set in the 1950s and the character mentioned āsnail mail.ā That is a phrase that appeared in the late 1990s. Back then, it was just called āmailā and it was all they had. Some more examples: A character saying āCowabunga, dude,ā says it is when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon was huge, 1980s, and nowadays only if they are being ironic or a stoner (rarely). Likewise, āEat my shorts,ā was from The Breakfast Club, popularised to stupidity by The Simpsons in the 1990s. Calling some-one a āKarenā is very now; it would not have happened in 1994. So, how do you find out if you canāt ask someone? Old newspapers are good. In Australia we have a site called Trove where old newspapers are digitised. But libraries, etc. are a great resource. Check out second-hand book stores to get older books and magazines. Especially populist fiction, YA fiction and horror fiction set contemporaneously - you'll get a good grasp of the language people used and the things in people's minds. Re-runs on TV shows (they still show Gilliganās Island hereā¦ at 2am on Sunday morning, but itās there). However, do not trust Wikipedia (written, generally by people born in the 1990s and early 2000s) or Reddit. Hope that helps someone! |
| Annoying Mystery Tropes This came from a suggestion and discussion with Adhere - Definitely Writing   who gave me the ideas for some of these and allowed me to bounce ideas. Cheers, mate!Now, I donāt read much mystery stuff, but my ex does, and she had two gripes, which are here. I have read a bit of Agatha Christie, and had to read some mystery stuff at uni, but have read a couple of anthologies of shorts recently. And it is clear Mr Adherennium reads mysteries, judging by his own writing. So between us all, I think this is a reasonable list of 5 annoying mystery tropes! 1. Dying words The victim is found on the verge of death, usually by the hero-inspector, and what do they say? āAt midnight, the rooster will eat popcorn.ā Or maybe, āYou need to ask Evans.ā Or even, āItā¦ itā¦ itā¦ Gah!ā Why donāt they just say, āIt was Captain Peacock, with the lead pipe, in the billiard room!ā Instead of naming their killer, itās always something weird that only when the story is done do you go, āAh, thatās what that meant. I get it now.ā 2. Leaving clues The criminals have the best plan and think they are oh so very clever, so clever that no-one will ever catch them. So what does the criminal do? They deliberately leave clues! Sure, they might be baiting the police, but itās hardly clever, and always leads to their downfall. Trying to prove they are clever, and it never works. Except if youāre jack the Ripperā¦ but, then again, they identified him, only more than 150 years laterā¦ 3. The police are useless So very common in private detective fiction. Okay, yes, based on reality, butā¦ stillā¦ The police are obstructive, incompetent or, sometimes, even corrupt, so the detective has to go it alone, and work above the law. And if the detective is a cop, it will be the local lads who are all of tis, or there will be an obstructive boss. Then the detective goes all Dirty Harry and gets away with it! Or maybe itās more subtle; after all, whatās a little break and enter amongst friends? 4. Admitting because nothing will come of it The killer has the detective in a position that could never get out of, ready to kill them. The detective asks a simple, āHow did you do it?ā and the killer responds, āWell, I might as well tell you; itās not like you can tell anyone else.ā And then they give it all away! Why? You daft pillock, thereās police around (even if theyāre useless) or an off-sider. And you just blurt it all out because āyou might as well.ā You deserve to be arrested by a 90 year old blind woman in a wheelchair! 5. The killer breaks down This is the one I hate the most. After a lot of questioning, being confronted with the most circumstantial of evidence, and in the presence of the most inane lawyer ever, the killer breaks down and admits it. Sure, āI would have got away with it, too, if it werenāt for you kids and your stupid mutt!ā works for a kids cartoon, but not an adult book or TV series! At the very least, the lawyer should have clamped their hand over the accusedās mouth and said, āNo comment!ā But, no, full admission. So, five annoying mystery tropes. And they are more than tropes ā they are clichĆ©s. Please think of something else! Or donāt. Itās your story. |
| Pseudo-reality In visual entertainment, there has been a thing called āmockumentariesā. These are fiction stories told in the format of a traditional documentary. Normally done for comedic effect, the best I have seen is This Is Spinal Tap, The Rutles being a close second. And anything by Sacha Baron Cohen is about as funny as genital psoriasis, but he knows the mockumentary format. When it comes to non-comedy, Lake Mungo, an Australian horror film, uses the format. There is some āfound footageā, interviews, on location filming, creating a psychological horror that got a lot of critical acclaim at the time (2007), though I found it a little mild. Still, it shows what can be done with the āmock documentaryā format. So what? Pseudo-reality In writing, this technique is called pseudo-reality. Now, a quick word ā this is not when someone writes a book of complete rubbish and tries to pass it off as a non-fiction work (see anything about non-medicinal cancer cures, the chupacabra or Hulk Hoganās (alleged) autobiographies). This is when a fiction work is written like a non-fiction work. How does it work? You need a story, and that is vital. This is not a technique for pantsers. My two attempts were two of the only times I have plotted. You also need to read non-fiction books about events. Not biographies, not how-to books, but about events. Stories that work best in the pseudo-reality field are ones that affect a small number of people directly, but which could have witnesses. You need to see how interviews are written, decide if you want to use diary extracts or text messages or blog posts (so you need to know the year your events take place). And, something a lot of people forget, is you need an over-arching tie, a narrator, for lack of a better term. This could be someone looking back on the events as they put them forward, a person who had been involved trying to get everything together, or even just a journalist. Also, non-linear narrative does not work in this style of writing. What you need to do You have your story, you need the characters and the setting, like any other story you plot. But it is best to plot it in scenes. Then look at each scene and decide which format it is best to relate that scene. Your choices can be (but are not limited to): Interviews Diary extracts Extracts from other books Text messages Emails Blog posts Letters Eyewitness accounts Newspaper articles The Narratorās parts are like a journalist, and so the story does tend towards the tell. This means everything else needs to be compelling. Remember, all of this is fiction. You need to make up the books, etc. (Stephen King used this to punctuate elements of the book Carrie.) Do NOT use real books or real encyclopaedia entries or the like. So, is it epistolary? As a reminder: "20241222 Epistolary Writing" .No, it is not. Whole chapters are not the works of one person; scenes are. So if it is a monster story, and you are looking at a scene where a group of teenagers is attacked, it might be: Interview subject 1 (why they went) Interview subject 2 (why and how they went) Interview subject 1 (what they first did) Narrator (adding detail) Interview subject 3 (the noise) Interview subject 2 (who went to investigate) Narrator (adding context) Interview subject 3 (what was heard next) Narrator (explaining and clarifying the attack) Transcript of 000/911 call (someone telling police thereās been an attack) Narrator (adding context) Interview subject 1 (finding the body) Narrator (adding context) Text message (trying to get more friends down there) And so on. It reads very much like a non-fiction book, but you can see how this can be used to increase tension. It is not the equivalent of a found footage film, either. There are many different ways of presenting the story. Negatives * It is seen as experimental by many publishers. * It can become too bogged down in the extras so the narrator is left out. * It can feel gimmicky. * It is really hard to get all the voices sounding different * Does the story need this? Why use it Why have I used it? Simple ā I was telling a story that has been told time and time again. Yes, I knew I had some differences, especially in setting, but not enough to make the story stand out. Pseudo-reality can give new life to worn tropes. And it was fun to try! So, just a thought ā why not give this a go? It might work, it might not, but you never know until you try it. |
| Ending Without Ending I am a fan of Stephen King. I have every book of his (except 1, and except 2 collaborations), which is a lot of King! However, even I, as a huge fan, will say one thing ā he can struggle with an ending. Sometimes they fall flat after everything that has happened before, sometimes they get way too convoluted, sometimes they are over too quickā¦ itās just not a strong point. Now, not every story has a bad ending ā The Shiningās ending is perfect, for example ā but it is frequent enough to be noticeable. So, what? Have I just come here to bash my writing idol? No, I am here to discuss something else ā what could have been done differently. And it is something King has used, in Christine and Pet Sematary, for example. This is the open ending. 1. What is an Open Ending? An open ending is when things are not tied up in a neat bow. The monster might still be out there, they might not have found the mystic item, the dark lord might still be alive, anything. The most common reason for doing this is because the writer already has a sequel in mind, or they are writing their trilogy or, heaven help us, decalogy. And then writers donāt deliver on said sequels and readers are left frustrated. But what I want to focus on is the open ending that happens because not every story finishes happily for everyone. 2. Why use an Open Ending? Ignoring sequel bait, like I said, not every story is going to be able to be neatly tied up. Sometimes, it feels forced, like the ending has been placed there because there has to be an ending. It feels rushed and leaves the reader feeling a little let down. Other times, there is no way a closed ending can work without an epilogue or a time jump. And sometimes, an ending can be open in case the writer wants to do a sequel, but a sequel is not necessary as the story works very well on its own. Then there is the theory that readers are not stupid, and leaving an ending open can leave it up to their imagination. Do Dick and Jane stay together? Where did the adventurers go next after finding the Statue of McGuffin? What does the monster do now it has been injured and limped into the forest? Let the reader come up with what happens next! And sometimes what they come up with can be better than a forced sequel. 3. Disadvantages of an Open Ending I think the advantages speak for themselves, but the disadvantages should be taken into consideration: i) it can make a story feel incomplete; ii) it can feel like a cop-out because a proper ending couldnāt be found; iii) some publishers do not like them (I have been through this with a couple of short stories); iv) it can make a reader await a sequel even though none was planned; & v) some readers do not understand them (nor critics or reviewersā¦ with the open ending in Invasive Species copping me some flakā¦). I do feel these disadvantages, though, are more inconveniences than anything else. Take them as you will. So thatās open endings. Try it; never know, it might be just what your story needs to finish, |
| Romance Tropes I Like I am a relative new comer to the romance side of things, but I have already come to see some tropes I do not likeā¦ and some I know are going to mean a good story. Not only that, I have found some that work well when crossed over with other genres of writing! 1. Friends to lovers My favourite romance trope. They already know and like one another, and it becomes almost logical that, given the right circumstances, they would fall for one another. There can be hiccoughs, other friends can interfere or be jealous ā it works so well. Hell, I used it in Invasive Species. 2. Forced together by circumstance, fall for one another We are not talking enemies to lovers (I have already mentioned previously how much that trope irks me), but people who might not know one another, or maybe might have a passing acquaintance, are suddenly thrust into the middle of a set of circumstances, realise one another is strong and worth fighting for, or something, and they fall for each other. Still works. 3. Forbidden romance Most famously portrayed in Romeo And Juliet, this still works as well. The lovers need to hide it and might get caught, or they flee, or they do something stupid (like R&J), but we still see today families trying to ban a coupling. In fact, in the subcontinent and those immigrant communities elsewhere, it has led to murder. This is one that just stays in the consciousness. This also encompasses things like āsecret romanceā, āoffice romanceā or ābest friendās partnerā romance. 4. Second chance romances I like these stories, but there is a caveat ā the partner being given the second chance cannot have been a mammoth arsehole. If they administered DV of any sort on the partner, then a second chance story does not work for me. Otherwise, it does seem to be fine, and I enjoy some of these tales. Someone always says, āOnce a cheater, always a cheater,ā if the story comes from there, but maybe not. It might be wishful thinking, but it is a trope I do enjoy. 5. Holiday romance This is something that might surprise people, but I do like those tales of a holiday romance that is fated to never go any further. It is that weekend fling with a girl at Bali, despite both having partners, it is that week-long summer camp childhood sweethearts romance that is killed by friends in the real world. It is sitting next to someone on a tour bus and eventually sharing their bed. It is all manner of things. Sure, afterwards, one could seek out the other and lifelong romance could eventuate, but in general, a happy for now ending is the best one for these sorts of stories. And there we are, 5 romance tropes I do quite enjoy. |
| Weird Love Songs Another old list that has had the videos removed, so I shall post it here forā¦ reasons. February. Valentine's Day. When crass commercialism is thrust into the public eye in the guise of romance. And yet, it is still when the minds of the romantically inclined turn to things of sweetness and light, while the more cynical and love-burnt of the rest of us dread days of roses, chocolatesā¦ and love songs. Oh, the dreaded love song. The same old tropes get dragged out year after year. "I love, do you love me?, please love me, we're in loveā¦" Or, it could be that, to be 'subversive' some radio station might play a string of break-up songs of varying degrees . Look, there's no denying that love is one of the main staples of song-writing. The majority of songs are about relationships, in varying stages of build or decay. And that is just something we have to live with and, come February, tolerate more than usual. But love isn't all wine and roses. Love is scary. Love is a form of insanity when we let our inhibitions go and we try to allow some-one else to share ourselves. Love is scary, it is intimidating, it is painful, it is something too many crave like an addiction; but love is also wonderful, illuminating, enlightening and glorious. It can be dangerous; it can be a safety net. Love is a contradiction within one person. Love is indefinable. In general, love is really weird. With that in mind, sometimes an artist releases a love song that is not, wellā¦ usual. They are still proclaiming their love for another person, sure, but they might use language that is not quite loving (yes, that means they swear a lot), or have a situation that might otherwise preclude it from being a love song. Insanity, lust and satisfice all feature in them. There's emotion behind them, sure, and the song-writers must love the object of their desire, butā¦ Holy unsubtle references, Batman! These are love songs that are strange or weird because of the above reasons, or even just the manner in which the love is portrayed. Rules are simple: no comedy songs (even the strangely awesome Sir Lancelot's 'Shame And Scandal In The Family'), they must be songs about love and not breaking up or losing love, or songs about unrequited love. I also decided against using any of the vast number of songs that could be construed as stalking songs (like 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police) or songs that are generally misused in one way or another. And songs that are just really uncomfortable ('Baby, It's Cold Outside' which is basically a guy almost forcing a reluctant girl to sleep with him does not feel right) are also not included. And Serge and (daughter) Charlotte Gainsbourg's 'Lemon Incest' is too creepy for words. The most important thing, however, is that I have to like the songs. There are some really strange love songs out there that I really don't like. Your mileage, as usual, will undoubtedly vary. WARNING: Lots of NSFW stuff follows! But, first, I want to mention ' Closer ' by Nine Inch Nails, written by Trent Reznor (1994). Its chorus ("I want to f**k you like an animal / I want to feel you from the insideā¦") makes people think it's a sex/love song, but it is really about a guy using sex to overcome his own self-loathing. It's not so much a weird love song as a weird self-therapy song. It's just a weird song. I own the CD Single. I think Nine Inch Nails are vastly under-rated. And Trent Reznor did the music for one of my favourite video games, Quake. So the man is a legend. Okay, the list! 'You're In Love With A Psycho' by Kasabian (2017); written by Sergio Pizzorno This is a song about two people who love each other. What a rarity in modern song writing! So what if one of them is a littleā¦ demented? It's still love, right? The lyrics are awesome, with pop culture references and strange lines. It is one of my favourite recent songs. However, the reason it is first on my list is that there is also a hint that maybe the singer only thinks the girl is in love with him ("You walkā¦ so quickā¦"), but to him this is love all the way. He even wants to share his chips with her. You can't get much more romantic than that. Lyric example: "We've been waiting far too long/ We'll play it out again/ This is just my serenade/ You're in love with a psychoā¦" 'Wannabe' by The Spice Girls (1996); written by Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Matthew Paul Rowbottom & Richard Stannard I'm allowed to like a Spice Girls song! No, really, I am! This is about a fledgling relationship. Girl has met guy and is laying down the rules for their relationship. But maybe the choice of words could have been better? Because the whole song seems like if the guy wants to be with the girl, he has to also be with the girl's friends and that's just really creepy and disgusting and yet, in some people's minds, probably a fantasy come to life. I'm not sure that's what the song means, but it's certainly how nearly everyone I've spoken to hears it. Hell, Geri even name-checks the rest of the band and what they like! I have a friend who would consider this awesome butā¦ Sorry. No. Lyric example: "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never endsā¦ā 'I Wanna Be Your Dogā by The Stooges (1969); written by Dave Alexander, Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton & Scott Asheton This is a song about a guy who is willing to do anything for his loved one. Literally anything. He is the submissive partner. I've even read an actual paper stating that it is the first song about BDSM. Not sure about thatā¦ but it is Iggy Pop, so you never know. It is a short song, but the concept of a man willing to be another's pet isā¦ yep, weird. Lyric example: "And now I'm ready to feel your hand/ And lose my heart on the burning sands/ And now I want to be your dogā¦" 'iFly' by Ball Park Music (2010); written by Samuel David Cromack A strange song about a guy who hooks up with a girl at a party and then professes his love for her. They subsequently meet up again and kiss, this time without alcohol, and all is right with the world. Ah, what a sweet song ā alcohol-induced love. This song could have been me a few times back in the 1980s. Yes, some themes are horribly timeless. But what tips this song into the weird category, as far as love songs go, is the chorus: "I f**king love you, I think you're pretty/ I f**king love you, all of the timeā¦" Now, I'm no romance or love expert, but that seems to be one of the least romantic declarations of love ever put onto tape. Lyric example "Well, I remember the first time that I got to kiss you sober/ I remember the first time as if it is right now/ I was just myself, maybe I was lessā¦" 'Drain You' by Nirvana (1991); written by Kurt Cobain Pretty sure this song was never released as a single, but the Nevermind album was one of those pieces of pop culture that changed things in music. And this song sits there as an album highlight. This is a love song about co-dependency. Ah, how sweet! The medical imagery, though, is odd and some of the lines go from "we need each other" territory to down-right "eww" territory. Still, it is a really good song and the love sentiment behind it is very clear and all-too stark. Lyric example: "Chew my meat for you/ Pass it back and forth in a passionate kiss/ From my mouth to yours/ I like youā¦" 'Punk Rock Girl' by The Dead Milkmen (1989); written by David Schulthise, Dean Sabatino, Joseph Genaro & Rodney Linderman This is a straight-up love song: a guy is talking about what he and the girl he loves are going to do together. Nothing wrong there. It's just that she's a punk and their choice of activitiesā¦ well, it's made for quite an interesting song, that's for sure! They eat food ā detailed ā look for Mojo Nixon albums and do all sorts of other things around Philadelphia. Oh, and she's from a rich family while he's not. Strange. But catchy as all hell. Lyric example: "She took me to her parents for a Sunday meal/ Her father took one look at me and he began to squealā¦" 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift (2014); written by Martin Max, Shellback & Taylor Swift [[Embed over limit (5).]] Yes, I'm allowed to like a Taylor Swift song. Or songs. Or albums. So sue me. Anyway, Swift claimed in GQ in 2015 that this song was a satirical response to people who felt she was crazy when it came to her love life. But the lyrics tell the story of a girl who is with a guy at the start of a relationship, declaring that she is high maintenance. She gives a good and bad case scenario throughout ("It'll leave you breathless/ Or with a nasty scarā¦") which is fair warning. But the fact she does that makes this a weird sort of love song. Really good song, but really weird. And not a little scary. Lyric example: "'Cause we're young and we're reckless/ We'll take this way too far/ Got a long list of ex-lovers/ They'll tell you I'm insaneā¦" 'Shut Up / Kiss Me' by Paul McDermott and Fiona Horne (1998); written by Paul McDermott [[Embed over limit (5).]] I personally think this is one of the best slower songs produced in the Australian canon. But it is a song of satisfice ā the whole "you'll do" concept of taking a partner. The lyrics are beautiful with stunning metaphors and similes, but the whole underlying theme is that these two people are the only ones left and so hook up because, well, why not? Hardly the most auspicious of love stories, and yet it is a love song. Weird and probably depressing, but a love song. Lyric example: "I was caught by your smile under a blushing moon/ You were the only one left there/ Words poured like wine over an open wound/ You were the only one left thereā¦" 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds with Kylie Minogue; written by Nick Cave [[Embed over limit (5).]] In my opinion, this is the best song Kylie Minogue has ever appeared on. In. My. Opinion. This is a song about two young lovers going for a walk. So far, so twee. They go to see the roses growing. How sweet. And then he kills her with a rock. Soā¦ hang on ā what? Yeahā¦ this song goes to weird. But when it comes from an album called Murder Ballads what do you expect? It is an awesome song, even if dark and creepy. But the lyrics are excellent ā this is the sort of writing I wish I could pull out. Nick Cave is an Australian genius. Lyric example: "And the last thing I heard was a muttered word/ As he stood smiling above me with a rock in his fistā¦" 'Kiss With A Fist' by Florence and the Machine (2009) [[Embed over limit (5).]] There is nothing that can be said about this song. From the word go, you know what it's about. This is about a woman staying in an abusive relationship because it's better than being alone. Not good! However, on the other hand, she gives as good as she gets, and beats the living snot out of the guy as well. So that makes it betterā¦ right? This song is really weirdā¦ But it is possibly one of the best songs about a dysfunctional, abusive, shocking relationship out there. That's a musical genre, right? Lyric example: "I broke your jaw once before/ I spilled your blood upon the floor/ You broke my leg in return/ So sit back and watch the bed burnā¦" So, ten, shall we say, unconventional love songs. Any I've missed? Any I've got wrong? What are your favourite "weird" love songs? As always, comments, questions, etc. are most welcome. |
| Science Fiction Tropes I Like So, after dumping on science fiction tropes recently, I am now going to talk about the genreās tropes I like, ones that I feel can still work, whether played straight or if subverted. Iāve done this with horror, and now itās science fictionās turn. As before, all of these have been used for many, many years, and yet they can still be utilised today without an issue, I feel. 1. The world becomes a dystopia The reason I like this one is that is seems all so real. I can imagine our current world falling into a dystopia, for example. And many writers are showing this dystopia in increasingly intriguing and different ways. I think there is always going to be some way to include this in writing. As for utopias, thoughā¦ wellā¦ Dystopias include things like increased government surveillance, everything being forced to happen online, post-nuclear wastelands, hyper police states, and all other manner of the world having gone to shit. Let your imagination run free. 2. Enhanced humans This is when we attach bits of hardware to a human to make them more than human. Or maybe less than human? Is there such a thing as body cyber-dismorphia? See, these are the sorts of things that can still make the cyborg feel fresh. Writers are going into the psychology of this, and when does one cease to be human? 3. AI and/or robots taking over This was becoming a tired trope, but with modern scientific advancements now spurring on even more creativity, it is once again a source of something science fiction does well ā warn us. Some writers have even looked at it through a positive lens. There is so much scope now that we have a clearer idea of where it is heading in reality. 4. Alternate universes/ Weāre in a simulation This is something I am interested in, and can lead to alternate history tales ("20240912 Alternate History" ), moving through worlds tales (The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter) or even philosophical stories. I donāt think the well has run dry yet, although Marvel and DC and their multiverses became tedious in the comics last century, and are now tedious on the screen, so you may need to be careful if using that concept.I included the āwe are in a simulationā here (see The Matrix) because this has not yet been beaten to death. It is really hard to write, though, so that might be why. 5. Travelling long distances Be that through faster than light travel (FTL) (which is technically possible, but only if you can jump over the speed of light itself), wormholes, cryo-sleep capsules, whatever, the possibilities for travelling vast distances of space have not gone out of fashion because they are needed for science fiction to actually work. And as technology shows us more and more what is possible or potentially possible, this means of travelling is growing increasingly sophisticated. So, there you are, 5 simple science fiction tropes that are as good now as they ever were. Hope something sparks your imagination! |
| Science Fiction Tropes I Dislike Letās go back (briefly) to tropes I want to dump on. I think some of these might have come up in other places, but I am looking here specifically at those tropes from science fiction that just annoy me no end. But it doesnāt matter, because they are going to continue regardlessā¦ 1. What aliens look like It might be a bit much, but unless played for comedy, I have grown to truly dislike aliens that are just humans in a skin with knobbly bits. Star Trek and Star Wars might be great bits of science fiction space opera, but they follow the Abrahamic ideal of humanity and the human form being the ultimate in creation. What a load of crap. In fact, some scientists seem to think the octopoid form might be the best one, not humanoid. 2. Anachronistic civilisations I guess this sort of follows on from the first one, but when the members of a space crew come across a civilisation and it is stupidly close to a history period of Earth. So, with all the infinite possibilities out there, a burgeoning civilisation would somehow mirror Earth? Why? That makes no sense! In so many cases, one little change in history and our world would be different. If William the Conqueror hadnāt taken England, it would still have been Anglo-Saxon and Viking, it is estimated the USA would have been colonised around 500 years earlier, and who knows what English would sound like! And yet this newly found planet somehow has a āwild westā, a āmiddle agesā or a āworld war 2ā? Give me a break! 3. Aliens being the invaders/ bad guys I think humanity has proven in the past 5000 years that we are the most unstable, angriest, most violent and most obnoxious species on Earth, and I dare say that would be translated to when we discover extra-terrestrial species. We will be the bad guys, the enslavers, the conquerors, the aggressors, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. 4. Teleportation Look, I know science is amazing, and we are doing and learning more and more all the time. But teleportation just seems to me to take it to a level that is, well, insane. The body has to be turned into something that can be teleported. At a quantum level, some small forms of matter can do something akin to teleportation, but only across a small distance. As a science, it makes no sense. Iād also like to mention backwards time travel here, but Iāve read some good stories with that trope. 5. Humans becoming super-powered With the past few decades of super-hero stories coming to the popular culture away from the comic book aficionados of the past, the amount of stories about regular humans getting superpowers is growing. Look, I was a comics reader, but I liked Batman and Superman. Yes, Superman completely goes against the first item in this list, but he was fun. Spiderman, bitten by a radioactive spider; the Fantastic Four, hit by space rays; the Flash, lab explosion; and so onā¦ but really? Having biomech transplants and becoming cyborgs, sure; genetic modificationā¦ maybe? Mother bitten by a hyper-dangerous spider in the Amazon jungle while giving birth and subsequently dying (Madame Web, in case you think Iām having a joke)ā¦ no. Just, no. And there are 5 science fiction tropes that we can do without. Weāre better than this; letās use our imaginations! In. My. Opinion. |
| Horror Tropes I Like I have done a bit of dumping on tropes in some recent posts, so here, to go the other way, are some tropes that I feel can work in the horror genre, whether played straight or subverted. All of these have been used for many, many years, and yet they can still be utilised today without an issue, I feel. 1. The old tome of doom It could be a book in a hidden room in an old university, it could be the ramblings of an old relative in a diary, it could be the runes carved into the skull of a long-dead sacrifice, or (nowadays) a strange website with a ā.deathā domain name, but finding something that when read unleashes a nastiness upon the reader is never going to get old, especially as the ways we read changes all the time. It could be a demon coming, a curse inflicted, or insanity produced, but the reading that causes it is still there. 2. Summoning an evil Going from that last one is the deliberate summoning rite or ritual. Hell, my book Sins Of The Fathers is based on that very conceit! Finding the old book or the transcription online, and then using it to summon and attempt to control a demon, and then that demon being out of control until the words of the book are used to rein it in is something that is always fun to experiment with. 3. The strange neighbour, new or old Urban horror is always a good go-to because it is the mundane, the normal, our own lives, being turned upside down. And having the creepy, weird neighbour is a good way of doing that. It could be the old guy whoās always lived at number 23, or the new young woman with no apparent boyfriends who moved into the house next to Mr Wilkins. They might even end up being a force for good, but that stranger in our midst trope works so well. This can be extended to the new kid at school, the new work-mate, the new resident in the aged care facility, anything. Always a stranger, always weird. 4. The old abandoned building Most places have one. It might be a house no-one has lived in for decades, a shop that hasnāt been used for years, a mall that was left to wrack and ruin, a used car yard, a motel, a pub, a wheat dispersement office and silo (where I live), anything. And anything could be in there ā dangerous animals, dangerous people, dangerous supernatural entities. And there are so many different buildings that can be abandoned ā and so many more are being let go as the worldās economy tanks ā that the writer (film-maker, whatever) can have a ball making these new places and their unique nooks and crannies worthy of a horror tale. 5. The monster on the loose The mythical creature come to life (see my own book Invasive Species), the force of nature attacking (see Jaws), the horrific mutation going full-on Nicholas Cage (see Piranha 2: Flying Killers), or the man-made monster doing man-made monster things (see Frankenstein) have all been used to great effect over the years. Well, we now have a new twist ā the genetic mutation created in a laboratory. A wolverine crossed with a sheep to make it hardier and more readily able to defeat predators? Scientists after money (no longer āmadā, just āgreedyā ā see the Indominus Rex from Jurassic World) will do anythingā¦ and your imagination is the only barrier. So, there we are, 5 horror tropes that have been used for years, and yet still have a lot of gas in the tank. Happy writing! |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
