Donald B. McFarlane's Blog, page 7

Week in Review: 17/06/18

 

The World Cup has started, which means I’m going to be glued to the view-screens for a month. England have yet to play, but there have already been some great games, and a few shocking results.

This week involved some good editing, finishing off the first half issues that the beta-tester picked up. Currently waiting on the second half to be completed, but there could be delays there that can’t be avoided. Words are also continuing to flow on ‘Love in a time of War’, just not as swiftly as I’d like. I’m getting itchy to get on with Book VI of the Earth Saga Series. We need to know what is happening with Joe, Rhea and the rest of the gang.

On cultural side of things, I went to the Monet and Architecture exhibition at the National Gallery. It wasn’t bad, but it was overpriced, and not as good as the Monet and the Impressionists at the Tate Britain.

I re-watched the Magnificent Seven, which is always enjoyable and fun and infinitely better than the 2016 disaster from Antoine Fuqua.

Today I popped to the cinema to watch Spartacus, the 1960 epic with Kirk Douglas. I love Peter Ustinov as Batiatus. Seems he won an Oscar for his performance. I find that recent big budget films are all train-wrecks. Too much reliance on CGI and other tricks to bamboozle the audience. Good acting and good story-telling are what we need!

On a more somber film going note, I watched the McQueen film. Lee Alexander McQueen was a rare talent, and the documentary is one of the best on fashion that I’ve seen recently. At least it’s a lot better than the Westwood documentary.

Next week will involve a focus on ‘Love in a time of War’, with good odds that the story will be finished. World Cup viewing will be essential, along with getting back into a good gym routine. With any luck, I’ve got another beta-tester lined up for ‘Standish’, and I’ll be getting ready to punch keys on Book VI this time next week.

Week in Review: 10/06/18

 

Missed last week. That either mean there wasn’t much to report, or I just forgot.

I went and watched Solo in the theater, and while it’s not a perfect film, I do think it is better than the Force Awakens or Last Jedi, both of which were disasters in my mind. It’s a pity that it isn’t doing well at the box office, but I’m sure Disney will keep moving forward with the spin-off films. I would like to see the studios take more risks with directors, like Thor Ragnarok.

As with Rogue One, I ordered the art book for Solo. Some amazing imagery that really delves into the creative process that went into making the worlds and the characters of the Star Wars universe. I would love to be able to do this one day for the Earth Saga.

Roland Garros was on for the last two weeks, and there was a considerable amount of tennis watching. Like several sports I enjoy, tennis is one of those sports that I watch a few times a year during the big tournaments. We’ve got the World Cup starting later this week, then Wimbledon. Looking forward to both.

Like any other week, I added some tunes to my collection. A serious amount of Cafe del Mar, and a new album from Waveshaper. All good to work to.

Speaking of work, this week was fairly solid. Editing ‘Standish’ is going to take time, and I’m getting close to the finish line on ‘Love in a time of war’. Going out of town in a few weeks, and I’d like to edit the novella over that period. I’m not sure when I’ll be getting the second half of ‘Standish’ back from my beta-testers, so that might delay its release. Of course, as soon as the finishing touches are put to the novella, it’ll be straight onto book VI, aka Project 8.

Got around town a bit more than usual this week. Popped down to The City to see my tailor, then went to the Design Museum to see the Azzedine Alaia exhibition. While the exhibition may have been small, I did enjoy it.

There aren’t any major engagements on the calendar for this coming week, but an eye will be constantly on ‘Standish’, making sure edits continue at a good pace, while maintaining a daily slog towards the end of ‘Love in a time of war’.

Week in Review: 27/05/18

 

This week was a lost cause.

 

I went and saw Deadpool 2, which was a lot of fun, and I’ve decided after roughly 30 years of supporting the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL, I’ve realized, for a myriad of reasons, that it’s time to stop that support.

I’m not sure I’ve even put any words down this week on any project either. This coming week needs to have a two-pronged attack: continue with a modest daily word-count target on ‘Love in a time of War’ and start the next round of edits on ‘Standish’.

Let’s hope for a more productive week.

Week in Review: 20/05/18

 

Summer is finally upon us, and it’s about bloody time. This week marked a serious up-tick in action from the last few weeks.

We are writing again! Which is always a good thing. The objective for 2018 is to release 3 books. ‘Standish’ is finished and awaiting final edits once I get feedback from my beta-testers. ‘Love in a time of War’ is at the 50% mark, and Book VI of the Earth Saga is waiting for the first words to be put to page. Book VI will be shorter than ‘Standish’, around the 90,000 word mark, which I think is a nice round number for the Earth Saga series.

After being told I should read the first book of the Expanse series, Leviathan Wakes, I picked it up at Hatchards a week or so ago, and finally finished it. I must say that I did enjoy it. I’m not sure if that is because I’d seen the show, but I plan on reading ‘Caliban’s War’ after reading ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ by the late, great Tom Wolfe. I’ve read ‘The Right Stuff’, and while this is a novel, I am expecting good things. Perhaps part of my interest in reading Tom Wolfe rests in the fact that he just died. Either way, the man is a great author, and he was an incredible dresser. Both traits I aspire to. 

On the viewing side, I watched ‘Beyond Skyline’. A shitty sequel to a shitty original film. Off to see ‘Deadpool 2’ today, so I’m excited about that.

If things go according to plan, I’ll be getting a minimum of 7,000 words down on ‘Love in a time of War’ this week, putting me very close to my 20k objective word-count. We need to get this sucker into edits before the end of the month. The fans demand it! Or at least they do in my dreams.

Onwards and upwards.

Week in Review: 13/05/18

 

This week was very unproductive. An event beyond my control unfolded on the Monday gone, and as a result I spent a considerable amount of time away from my computer and didn’t get a single word down. It happens.

 

Before disaster struck last Monday, I did get some nice cycling in.

I dwelled on ‘Standish’.

I watched the new ‘Predator’ trailer. I’m really hoping this is good. The trailer left much to be desired.

And finally, on Saturday night, I watch Eurovision. Always fun.

 

Oh, and I also downloaded 4 albums from Cafe del Mar. I dig their sounds. A good addition to my work-mix.

We’ll be back hitting the keys Monday.

Toodles.

Week in Review: 07/05/18

 

Right. Quick one. Bullet-point style.

 

My beta-tester in Australia printed out his copy of ‘Standish’. Waiting for feedback. Can’t be any worse than what my local beta-man is telling me, because it sounds grim across the board.

Back punching the keys for the novella: ‘Love in a time of War’.

Purchased ‘Leviathan Wakes’ on the advice on a friend. If I could make my books half as successful as that series…….

Got some incredible tunes from Greyskull.

Attempted to watch the latest John Woo film ‘Manhunt’. It’s just so bad.

Week in Review: 29/04/18

 

Another week in the books, and we’re back in London, and the weather sucks. Winter has returned. Much was accomplished this week, and perhaps most importantly, I’ve gotten ‘Standish’ into the hands of my local beta-tester. I’ve also had a kind off from a friend in Australia to beta-test the novel digitally. Two sets of eyes better than one. Looking forward to getting feedback, making corrections, then getting ‘Standish’ out to the public.

With ‘Standish’ in the books, I’m back working on ‘Love in a time of War’. As mentioned before, I’m targeting around 20,000 words, making it a much shorter read than any of the other 5 books I’ve released to date.

Watched a few films this week. I enjoyed Kodachrome. Ed Harris at his best. To quote his character: “Happiness is bullshit. You think Picasso was happy? You think Hemingway way? Hendrix? They were miserable shits. No art worth a damn was ever created out of happiness.” I can relate.

Also got another album by FM Attack: Dreamatic. I’m a big fan of theirs, and the genre. Helps get the creative juices flowing when I write.

This coming week will see a focus on ‘Love in a time of War’. Need to get that story finished so I can get on to book VI of the Earth Saga series. The new plan going forward, which I’ve probably mentioned before will involve writing an Earth Saga series novel, followed up by a stand-alone story, then a short-story. So, that would mean there are ten books on the planning tables, which will give me a few years’ worth of work left to accomplish.

 

Back in the gym Monday morning, then cracking on with the wordsmithing. Until next time.

Week in Review: 22/04/18

Well, another week done.

Got out of London.

Did some editing.

Hit 200,000 words on ‘Standish’.

I’m on vacation. Keeping it short and simple.

Week in Review: 15/04/18

 

Another week down, and red-pen edit’s on ‘Standish’ are almost complete. I’ve got 90 pages left to edit before making the alterations on the computer, then getting another manuscript printed out and into the hands of the beta-tester.

 

Happened to be at London Bridge station earlier this week. While I think the Shard is a lousy piece of architectural design, I did think that the weather helped give it a very sci-fi like vibe. Good for the creative juices.

Did a little editing on the train. No tables, very annoying.

Got some fresh tunes from Paul Van Dyk to work to. I’ve always been a fan of PVD, and he’d be on my top three list, no questions asked, of favourite DJs. Tiesto would be up there. Robert Miles would also be in the conversation. I know that purists hate PVD, but he works for me.

Finally, picked up ‘All you need is Kill’ from the Japanese Centre off Piccadilly Circus on Saturday. I love ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and am already enjoying the manga. Always fun to see the similarities and differences between page and screen.

Next week we’re off to France for some R&R, and getting ‘Standish’ ready to be printed for the beta-test. Fun.

 

Until next time.

Week in Review: 08/04/18

 

Another week in the books, and ‘Standish’ is now over the 50% mark on the red-penning edit. We’re on pace and looking good to get into the hands of the Beta-tester by the end of the month. I feel that this editing session is helping add a bit more body to the story, hopefully making it a superior product.

Got out and about a bit more this week. Went and saw ‘The Phantom Thread’ at the Institute for Contemporary Art. Interesting film. Very beautifully shot, and very stylish. Funny enough, I happened to be wearing a pair of Cleverley’s and spotted George Glasgow on the screen. Ahh, London is a small world sometimes.

Found myself cycling around London on Saturday, and finally got myself to Alexandra Road Estates in north London. Recently seen in the Kingsman film. Love the 1970s brutalist architecture. Very progressive.

Also stumble upon HG Wells old digs at Baker Street, just a day after reading that the BBC were making a War of the Worlds series. Very excited about that.

And finally, today, I made it to the Design Museum for the Ferrari: Under the Skin exhibition. Very interesting, and quite in-depth. Would have been fun to see with someone who knows a lot about cars. Worth a visit.

Watched a few films at the casa this week. I’ll get the flotsam out of the way first. ‘Hitman’s Bodyguard’. Stupid, but kinda funny at times. ‘Smoking Aces’. Just stupid. ‘Valerian’: a disaster of galactic proportions. I re-watched ‘5th Element’ Saturday night. It’s good. It’s fun. ‘Valerian’ just sucks.

Now, finally, the piece de resistance: Wolf Warrior 2. 5 minutes into this film and the absurdity already has a slime on my face. This is without a doubt the most awesomist bad film of all time, and it’s obvious that China is the greatest country in the universe. Some highlights from the film: stopping an RPG with a mattress spring box, the Chinese fleet sailing into harms way while the US Navy runs, the quote of the film: ‘Put Africans around a bonfire and all their cares go away.’ The film is pure pro-Chinese pornography with some absurd action and dialogue. Worth a watch!

Next week it’s back to the red-pen. I should have this round of edits finished by Friday, then it’s full speed ahead on ‘Love in a time of War’, and once that is finished, I think we’ll be onto ‘Condition Zero: Earth Saga VI’. Looking forward to a successful spring and summer of writing.

Until next time.