Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 20
June 15, 2015
The Value of Writing Fiction
Market forces have always determined which works of fiction are picked up by conventional publishers. That market has contracted. While self-publishing has created new opportunity for authors they are still chasing the same pool of fiction readers.
New Zealand author, David Hill (“The New Zealand Author” #301 Winter 2015) admits that he has hit ‘rock bottom’ in terms of reducing income. He says he expects to win the ‘Whinger of the Year Award’ for complaining about it. Indeed, such bleating does seem useless to be as a fellow NZ author.
The market forces have changed to reflect a shift in societal taste.
As columnist Ronald Rolheiser recently said (“NZ Catholic”: June 14-27, 2015): ‘I see a world that is becoming addicted to information technology without any critical reaction. I see a world that is unhealthily prone to ideology, hype, and fad, that lives too much in the moment...'
Despite that, as hardened writers, let’s still preserve the craft of the traditional novel and other fiction writing.
If you measure success by income, remember what George Burns said: “I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.”
New Zealand author, David Hill (“The New Zealand Author” #301 Winter 2015) admits that he has hit ‘rock bottom’ in terms of reducing income. He says he expects to win the ‘Whinger of the Year Award’ for complaining about it. Indeed, such bleating does seem useless to be as a fellow NZ author.
The market forces have changed to reflect a shift in societal taste.
As columnist Ronald Rolheiser recently said (“NZ Catholic”: June 14-27, 2015): ‘I see a world that is becoming addicted to information technology without any critical reaction. I see a world that is unhealthily prone to ideology, hype, and fad, that lives too much in the moment...'
Despite that, as hardened writers, let’s still preserve the craft of the traditional novel and other fiction writing.
If you measure success by income, remember what George Burns said: “I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.”
June 7, 2015
Euthanasia - Current Thoughts
Euthanasia has been a hot topic in New Zealand recently when (and after) a terminally ill woman, a lawyer, petitioned the Courts to allow her GP to bring forward her death. As it turned out, she did not live to hear the judgement, which went against her.
I wonder if, had there been the chance to look back on her life, after death, she would have acted differently. The matter of principle, after experiencing a natural demise, might not have seemed so important to her then.
In times past there has been a hefty strain of human cruelty in Christianity. Some people might say it comes through today in certain NZ Churches opposing a law change to allow a terminally ill person to shorten their life.
I’m no theologian, but could the opposition stem from the New Testament tradition that Jesus died bravely on the cross in great pain and humiliation? The logic might be that if Jesus, in human form, could do it without resorting to his Godly powers to take the easy way out, then why should the terminally ill be allowed the resort of euthanasia, even if they freely choose it?
It’s not like abortion, where a human life is taken without her or his consent.
The topic is one I’ll have to keep developing my thinking on.
I wonder if, had there been the chance to look back on her life, after death, she would have acted differently. The matter of principle, after experiencing a natural demise, might not have seemed so important to her then.
In times past there has been a hefty strain of human cruelty in Christianity. Some people might say it comes through today in certain NZ Churches opposing a law change to allow a terminally ill person to shorten their life.
I’m no theologian, but could the opposition stem from the New Testament tradition that Jesus died bravely on the cross in great pain and humiliation? The logic might be that if Jesus, in human form, could do it without resorting to his Godly powers to take the easy way out, then why should the terminally ill be allowed the resort of euthanasia, even if they freely choose it?
It’s not like abortion, where a human life is taken without her or his consent.
The topic is one I’ll have to keep developing my thinking on.
May 30, 2015
First Milestone
I didn’t think I was going to but I have.
After I published and promoted my 8th novel (“Hillsend”) just before Christmas, I took my usual summer break (Southern Hemisphere). I hoped that a plot idea for another novel would occur to me and that it would inspire me to begin writing a 9th book during the colder months of the year.
I experienced the angst of failure right through to autumn. I'd resurrected some old plot ideas but they seemed no more appealing to develop than when I’d first jotted them down. There may not have been anything wrong with the ideas but none could be developed into the sort of story I wanted to write.
Even after the new plot idea came into my head, out of the blue, I procrastinated, feeling doubt about my ability to produce a new and reputable novel at my advanced age – and that may still prove to be the case.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I knuckled down and started sketching out the main characters. Ways of beginning the story kept popping up in my mind after that. I didn’t have a middle or an end but at least I could get started. As usual, the characters have gained a life of their own and the story has taken off.
It wasn’t easy to force myself back into rigorous work habits and my first few sessions of writing were shorter than I was accustomed to, but they’ve increased as the story has developed and grown irresistible to me as the author.
No firm title yet. Publication date? Maybe late 2015 or early 2016.
www.thomaswdevine.com
After I published and promoted my 8th novel (“Hillsend”) just before Christmas, I took my usual summer break (Southern Hemisphere). I hoped that a plot idea for another novel would occur to me and that it would inspire me to begin writing a 9th book during the colder months of the year.
I experienced the angst of failure right through to autumn. I'd resurrected some old plot ideas but they seemed no more appealing to develop than when I’d first jotted them down. There may not have been anything wrong with the ideas but none could be developed into the sort of story I wanted to write.
Even after the new plot idea came into my head, out of the blue, I procrastinated, feeling doubt about my ability to produce a new and reputable novel at my advanced age – and that may still prove to be the case.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I knuckled down and started sketching out the main characters. Ways of beginning the story kept popping up in my mind after that. I didn’t have a middle or an end but at least I could get started. As usual, the characters have gained a life of their own and the story has taken off.
It wasn’t easy to force myself back into rigorous work habits and my first few sessions of writing were shorter than I was accustomed to, but they’ve increased as the story has developed and grown irresistible to me as the author.
No firm title yet. Publication date? Maybe late 2015 or early 2016.
www.thomaswdevine.com
May 23, 2015
Abortion Toll Falls
The New Zealand Abortion Supervisory Committee has announced a 24% fall in induced abortions from 2003 to 2013 (NZ Catholic: May 17-30, 2015).
This does not however equate to over 4000 unborn lives being spared annually in New Zealand. An unknown toll results from “the morning-after pill” where fertilised eggs are prevented from implanting in the womb.
In 2013, 14,073 unborn lives were still lost to induced abortion, the size of the population of a small town.
This does not however equate to over 4000 unborn lives being spared annually in New Zealand. An unknown toll results from “the morning-after pill” where fertilised eggs are prevented from implanting in the womb.
In 2013, 14,073 unborn lives were still lost to induced abortion, the size of the population of a small town.
May 16, 2015
Changing Male Behaviour
So, doing something to help a woman who is capable of doing it heself is patronising, or so say the feminists.
Okay, the courtesy of the male standing back to let a woman through a dooway first may no longer be appreciated by some women. That attitude is likely to put an end to the custom, which is already a vanishing symbol of male politeness and respect for womankind.
The women who still appreciate being allowed through a doorway first will be the one’s missing out. And males will be the poorer for it.
Think, for example, about behaviour on peak-time commuter trains and buses. Don’t women sometimes wish that males still gave up seats for them?
Okay, the courtesy of the male standing back to let a woman through a dooway first may no longer be appreciated by some women. That attitude is likely to put an end to the custom, which is already a vanishing symbol of male politeness and respect for womankind.
The women who still appreciate being allowed through a doorway first will be the one’s missing out. And males will be the poorer for it.
Think, for example, about behaviour on peak-time commuter trains and buses. Don’t women sometimes wish that males still gave up seats for them?
May 9, 2015
Have You Had an Experience Like This?
The other day I was walking through the North City Mall on my way back to my car. Two pre-schoolers, a boy and a girl, came running in my direction. The girl tripped and fell near me on the hard floor then lay crying. I slowed my pace, hoping that the girl’s parent(s) would quickly materialise to comfort her but that did not happen.
With children of my own, and numerous grandchildren, my natural instinct as a man was to rush to the child’s side, gather her up and try and soothe her hurt. But I didn’t.
A picture had come into my mind of how other shoppers might misconceive it and of how the parent or parents of the girl might react on their belated arrival at the scene. I did not want to be made to appear like a child molester for an innocent act.
I walked on by, feeling dreadful that the child was still uncomforted and that social inhibition had stopped me from helping her.
Then I heard the mother calling out for the child to pick herself up. She was in no apparent hurry to provide nurturing care.
It’s a sad, sad world.
With children of my own, and numerous grandchildren, my natural instinct as a man was to rush to the child’s side, gather her up and try and soothe her hurt. But I didn’t.
A picture had come into my mind of how other shoppers might misconceive it and of how the parent or parents of the girl might react on their belated arrival at the scene. I did not want to be made to appear like a child molester for an innocent act.
I walked on by, feeling dreadful that the child was still uncomforted and that social inhibition had stopped me from helping her.
Then I heard the mother calling out for the child to pick herself up. She was in no apparent hurry to provide nurturing care.
It’s a sad, sad world.
May 2, 2015
Commemorating the Fallen
Actor, Sam Neil, was recently quoted as saying in relation to the ANZAC centennial: “I hate militarism, loathe nationalism but honour those who served [in World War I].” (“The Dominion Post, May 2, 2015)
Back when I was a teenager (either in or not long out of high school) I got involved in a string of letters to the Editor of the Marlborough Express about war.
To one of mine, the Editor gave the headline of “Teenagers and War”. This is an extract from the text of the published letter:
“... the older generation have lost charity and are incapable of forgiving [their former enemies]. They bear grudges that will cause further wars. The younger generation still knows charity but perhaps before the time their influence affects world affairs the older generation will have given them a war in which to give their lives and lose charity. [A year or so after I wrote this, the US sent troops to Vietnam.]
"True, we [teenagers] do not know the horrors of war as they [the older generation] do but if they do not forgive those whom they fought against they will teach us [the horrors of war] as vividly as they know them.
“We hear such pretentious talk about the duty of adults to their children in leaving a suitable world for them. It is about time they [the older generation] started fulfilling their duty by giving us an inheritance of peace. We do not vote for the men who will cause buttons to be pressed which will result in the murder of millions of us [by nukes], we will only [end up] fight[ing] the war that they will give us...
“My generation is, above all, the insecure one...
“I constantly turn to God, in my own way, and pray that they [the older generation] will not again bring the horror of war to the world before we [teenagers] can prove our value as its leaders.”
Now, in old age, it seems to me that both generations failed. It’s as if wars (large or small) and human nature go hand in hand
In my teenage years I had so much hope and thought I had answers. Now, I don’t have any message that I think world leaders will listen to. I can only believe in some higher purpose and wait and see what comes out of wars in the remainder of my lifetime.
Back when I was a teenager (either in or not long out of high school) I got involved in a string of letters to the Editor of the Marlborough Express about war.
To one of mine, the Editor gave the headline of “Teenagers and War”. This is an extract from the text of the published letter:
“... the older generation have lost charity and are incapable of forgiving [their former enemies]. They bear grudges that will cause further wars. The younger generation still knows charity but perhaps before the time their influence affects world affairs the older generation will have given them a war in which to give their lives and lose charity. [A year or so after I wrote this, the US sent troops to Vietnam.]
"True, we [teenagers] do not know the horrors of war as they [the older generation] do but if they do not forgive those whom they fought against they will teach us [the horrors of war] as vividly as they know them.
“We hear such pretentious talk about the duty of adults to their children in leaving a suitable world for them. It is about time they [the older generation] started fulfilling their duty by giving us an inheritance of peace. We do not vote for the men who will cause buttons to be pressed which will result in the murder of millions of us [by nukes], we will only [end up] fight[ing] the war that they will give us...
“My generation is, above all, the insecure one...
“I constantly turn to God, in my own way, and pray that they [the older generation] will not again bring the horror of war to the world before we [teenagers] can prove our value as its leaders.”
Now, in old age, it seems to me that both generations failed. It’s as if wars (large or small) and human nature go hand in hand
In my teenage years I had so much hope and thought I had answers. Now, I don’t have any message that I think world leaders will listen to. I can only believe in some higher purpose and wait and see what comes out of wars in the remainder of my lifetime.
April 25, 2015
On Being a Teenager & Knowing It All
I became a teenager in 1957. Significant events that year included:
• The Boeing 707 flew for the first time
• Russia launched Sputnik 2 but the 1st US attempt to launch a satellite failed
• All 326,000 Dutch nationals were expelled from Indonesia
• The Elvis Presley films “Jailhouse Rock” and “Loving You” opened across the USA
• The US suspended nuclear testing for 2 years.
As I grew towards maturity I was more than willing to share my often controversial views with my community (through the medium of letters to the editor of the “Marlborough Express”) on issues such as:
• Defending teenage behaviour
• Against duck shooting
• In favour of pacifism
• Saving the “Edwin Fox”- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Fox.
I thought I knew it all then.
• The Boeing 707 flew for the first time
• Russia launched Sputnik 2 but the 1st US attempt to launch a satellite failed
• All 326,000 Dutch nationals were expelled from Indonesia
• The Elvis Presley films “Jailhouse Rock” and “Loving You” opened across the USA
• The US suspended nuclear testing for 2 years.
As I grew towards maturity I was more than willing to share my often controversial views with my community (through the medium of letters to the editor of the “Marlborough Express”) on issues such as:
• Defending teenage behaviour
• Against duck shooting
• In favour of pacifism
• Saving the “Edwin Fox”- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Fox.
I thought I knew it all then.
April 18, 2015
A Shining Model for Business CEOs
Off and on, in previous posts, I have railed against the disparity in income between CEOs and their workers. Finally their is a ray of hope in a news headline: “Boss takes cut and doubles staff pay” (The Dominion Post, April 17th, 2015).
The “boss” is head of a technology start-up in Seattle – Gravity Payments. Dan Price is its founder and CEO. He intends to reduce his own income and company profits to raise the income of his lowest paid workers.
The guy deserves a Nobel Prize for his example to other CEOs.
The “boss” is head of a technology start-up in Seattle – Gravity Payments. Dan Price is its founder and CEO. He intends to reduce his own income and company profits to raise the income of his lowest paid workers.
The guy deserves a Nobel Prize for his example to other CEOs.
March 29, 2015
It's All Too Much Really
I usually do a blog post on Sundays but could not come up with a topic . I woke this morning still wondering what to write about.
I keep up with the news, reading a newspaper (on newsprint) every day, listening to news reports on the radio, and catching snippets on Yahoo. Increasingly, they leave me feeling detached.
I’m a bleeding heart for disasters (famine & war in particular) but, these days, not much else seems to stir anything except fatalism in my mind and emotion. I am overwhelmed by the scale of the problems that charities helping overseas try and deal with though they can merely scratch the surface.
Frankly, the world news seems to keep me in a shell-shocked state. I no longer have the optimism of youth. I don’t, even in the wisdom of old age, have answers that will make the world a better place.
If there is a God (called by whatever name) – and I believe there is – I can only assume that that God has a plan for humanity and I can only watch the scene of my lifetime play out.
I keep up with the news, reading a newspaper (on newsprint) every day, listening to news reports on the radio, and catching snippets on Yahoo. Increasingly, they leave me feeling detached.
I’m a bleeding heart for disasters (famine & war in particular) but, these days, not much else seems to stir anything except fatalism in my mind and emotion. I am overwhelmed by the scale of the problems that charities helping overseas try and deal with though they can merely scratch the surface.
Frankly, the world news seems to keep me in a shell-shocked state. I no longer have the optimism of youth. I don’t, even in the wisdom of old age, have answers that will make the world a better place.
If there is a God (called by whatever name) – and I believe there is – I can only assume that that God has a plan for humanity and I can only watch the scene of my lifetime play out.
