Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 53
September 14, 2011
Degrees of Suckitude
I was recently discussing a story-in-progress with someone. I ventured to hope that it didn't suck. I was told there was no way it could suck, given excerpts she had seen.
Au contraire! There are degrees of suckitude. (That is a technical phrase which I have just invented.)
The Degree of Suckitude, or D-Suck, cannot be determined objectively. It is rather a subjective quality (suck-jective?) that varies depending on both internal and external factors. Internal factors are, for the ...
September 12, 2011
September 9, 2011
September 8, 2011
Heat in Nairobi
I chatted about the mystery novel Nairobi Heat by Mukoma wa Ngugi at The Criminal Element this week.
September 7, 2011
Retro Cherries, Popped and Not
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
I'm going to have to do another post's worth…there are simply too many in this category!
September 5, 2011
Line Editing: Specific Examples
I took these examples of revisions from a story I'm still working on. The first version is dated August 15, 2010. The second version is dated February 26, 2011. Between those two versions, I began changing this piece from a novel to a much shorter story, though that probably won't be evident in these small examples. What will show is how, as I read over my previous work, I often make small edits along the way, before I start on a new section. Sometimes I'm barely conscious I'm...
September 4, 2011
"To a Soldier in Hospital," Winifred M. Letts
To a Soldier in Hospital
Courage came to you with your boyhood's grace
Of ardent life and limb.
Each day new dangers steeled you to the test,
To ride, to climb, to swim.
Your hot blood taught you carelessness of death
With every breath.
So when you went to play another game
You could not but be brave:
An Empire's team, a rougher football field,
The end—perhaps your grave.
What matter? On the winning of a goal
You staked your soul.
Yes, you wore courage...
September 2, 2011
The Jane Hotel
On my recent overnight trip to New York City, it turned out that one of my tourist desires matched up with the places I needed to go, so I stayed at The Jane Hotel.
"Completed in 1908, the American Seaman's Friend Society Sailors' Home and Institute was designed by William A. Boring, the architect renowned for Ellis Island's immigrant station. Originally built as a hotel for sailors with cabin-like rooms, the landmarked hotel was lovingly restored on its centennial in 2008.
In 1912...
September 1, 2011
A serial killer in WWII Paris
I have a new post up at The Criminal Element on a nonfiction book about a serial killer in WWII Paris, David King's Death in the City of Light.
August 31, 2011
SF Does Austen: A Civil Campaign
I recently re-read Lois McMaster Bujold's A Civil Campaign, which is dedicated to "Charlotte, Jane, Georgette, and Dorothy," who are of course Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Dorothy Dunnett. There are elements of all those authors in the story, but this time around I particularly noticed the Austen moments. Please note, there are spoilers ahead (but neither of these books is new!).
In particular, I was struck by many references to Pride and Prejudice. A Civil...
