Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 21
March 21, 2015
Human or Female?
I don’t look for humour in a murder trial report but I could not help noticing this journalistic blooper (The Dominion Post, March 18, 2015):
“...there were questions as to whether [the forensic tissue] was human or female.”
I always knew that women were from Venus. Does this suggest it's true?
“...there were questions as to whether [the forensic tissue] was human or female.”
I always knew that women were from Venus. Does this suggest it's true?
March 14, 2015
Literary or Not?
Is “literary fiction” a catch-phrase for all fiction writing or is it just another genre alongside “popular fiction” and its sub-genres?
In the back of my mind, ever since I began writing, I’ve wondered about the correct answer .
I was prompted to write this post by coming across a quote from Sir Terry Pratchett (a recently deceased British author) which went as follows:
“I don’t think I write literature. I think I write books that entertain.”
That quote struck a real chord with me. It’s what I’ve aspired to do with my last 4 books, which I find hard to place in one of the sub-genres of popular fiction.
I corresponded with a fellow New Zealand novelist on the subject a little while back only to find that she regarded her books as “modern fiction” and was uncomfortable about trying to otherwise pigeon-hole them.
Resorting to Wikipedia, we find “literary fiction” defined as follows:
"Literary fiction is a term principally used for certain fictional works that hold literary merit. In other words, they are works that offer deliberate commentary on larger social issues, political issues, or focus on the individual to explore some part of the human condition. Literary fiction is deliberately written in dialogue with existing works created with the above aims in mind. Literary fiction is focused more on themes than on plot.
“Literary fiction is usually contrasted with paraliterary fiction (e.g., popular, commercial, or genre fiction). This contrast between these two subsets of fiction is highly controversial amongst critics and scholars who study literature.”
At http://annieneugebauer.com/2012/05/07... author, Annie Neugebauer, does a thorough job of of exploring the meaning of “literary fiction” and comments as follows:
“Part of the reason there’s so much confusion and misunderstanding around literary fiction is that what we mean when we say “literary fiction” is actually three separate things: a style of writing, a genre of book, and a qualifier.”
I gues I now have an answer. What do you think?
In the back of my mind, ever since I began writing, I’ve wondered about the correct answer .
I was prompted to write this post by coming across a quote from Sir Terry Pratchett (a recently deceased British author) which went as follows:
“I don’t think I write literature. I think I write books that entertain.”
That quote struck a real chord with me. It’s what I’ve aspired to do with my last 4 books, which I find hard to place in one of the sub-genres of popular fiction.
I corresponded with a fellow New Zealand novelist on the subject a little while back only to find that she regarded her books as “modern fiction” and was uncomfortable about trying to otherwise pigeon-hole them.
Resorting to Wikipedia, we find “literary fiction” defined as follows:
"Literary fiction is a term principally used for certain fictional works that hold literary merit. In other words, they are works that offer deliberate commentary on larger social issues, political issues, or focus on the individual to explore some part of the human condition. Literary fiction is deliberately written in dialogue with existing works created with the above aims in mind. Literary fiction is focused more on themes than on plot.
“Literary fiction is usually contrasted with paraliterary fiction (e.g., popular, commercial, or genre fiction). This contrast between these two subsets of fiction is highly controversial amongst critics and scholars who study literature.”
At http://annieneugebauer.com/2012/05/07... author, Annie Neugebauer, does a thorough job of of exploring the meaning of “literary fiction” and comments as follows:
“Part of the reason there’s so much confusion and misunderstanding around literary fiction is that what we mean when we say “literary fiction” is actually three separate things: a style of writing, a genre of book, and a qualifier.”
I gues I now have an answer. What do you think?
March 7, 2015
In Praise of a Woman Valuing Life
Ten months ago, young New Zealand woman, Tessa Prebble, gave birth to a daughter, Eva.
The baby died recently from a rare genetic disorder, Charge syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHARGE_s... ) where the death rate is highest in the first year of life.
The courageous mother said she would remain forever grateful for the brief time she had with her daughter.
The Dominion Post (March 5, 2015) featured this comment by Tessa:
“I think she [Eva] taught me the importance of everyone, and valuing everyone for what they can bring to life. It might not be what you thought, but it is still important.”
We can all empathise with Tessa’s grief and admire her bravery.
We should also think about the potential of the unborn, across the world, whose lives are lost to abortion every day.
The baby died recently from a rare genetic disorder, Charge syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHARGE_s... ) where the death rate is highest in the first year of life.
The courageous mother said she would remain forever grateful for the brief time she had with her daughter.
The Dominion Post (March 5, 2015) featured this comment by Tessa:
“I think she [Eva] taught me the importance of everyone, and valuing everyone for what they can bring to life. It might not be what you thought, but it is still important.”
We can all empathise with Tessa’s grief and admire her bravery.
We should also think about the potential of the unborn, across the world, whose lives are lost to abortion every day.
February 28, 2015
A Slave Economy
Economic slavery still occurs under Western capitalism.
The highest paid business chief executive in New Zealand, in a 2013 survey, worked for NZ$1,982 per hour (over NZ$4.1 million per year) which is more than 100 times what is regarded as a living wage in New Zealand (The Dominion Post 25 February, 2015).
At the other extreme, fast food businessman, David Reid of Tawa, writes to the editor of the Dominion Post (February 28, 2015) that he cannot afford to pay his 12 staff a living wage. It would cost an extra NZ$50,000 a year, he says.
Reid poses the question: is it better to have staff paid the minimum wage than to have small businesses become uneconomic to run, with their former staff reduced to existing on the unemployment benefit?
I suppose your yes/no answer depends on whether you are an economist, politician, moralist, wageworker or business person.
One can counter with the question: is a business a legitimate enterprise if it exists on the basis of denying its workers a living wage? The owner is, after all, making a living at the expense of the penury of his employees.
Reid says the employees have options (like finding a better-paid job) but, for those caught in the poverty trap, the options are more myth than reality.
The highest paid business chief executive in New Zealand, in a 2013 survey, worked for NZ$1,982 per hour (over NZ$4.1 million per year) which is more than 100 times what is regarded as a living wage in New Zealand (The Dominion Post 25 February, 2015).
At the other extreme, fast food businessman, David Reid of Tawa, writes to the editor of the Dominion Post (February 28, 2015) that he cannot afford to pay his 12 staff a living wage. It would cost an extra NZ$50,000 a year, he says.
Reid poses the question: is it better to have staff paid the minimum wage than to have small businesses become uneconomic to run, with their former staff reduced to existing on the unemployment benefit?
I suppose your yes/no answer depends on whether you are an economist, politician, moralist, wageworker or business person.
One can counter with the question: is a business a legitimate enterprise if it exists on the basis of denying its workers a living wage? The owner is, after all, making a living at the expense of the penury of his employees.
Reid says the employees have options (like finding a better-paid job) but, for those caught in the poverty trap, the options are more myth than reality.
February 14, 2015
On Fiction Awards...
I published two novels last year and have entered both in the 23rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
I’m a fan of this award because all entries are given marks out of 5 for skill and a short judge’s critique is provided.
I think that sort of assessment is value for the entry fee. It’s one way to track your professional progress in improving as a writer or needing to improve.
Last year I entered “Green Expectations" – see https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog... .
This year I’ve entered “Green Machinations” (a sequel) and “Hillsend”.
My skill assessment for "Green Expectations", in the 22nd Award, was as follows –
Structure, organization and pacing: 4 (with some credit to my manuscript assessor)
Spelling, punctuation & grammar: 5 (with some credit to my editor)
Production quality and cover design: 5 (all credit to CreateSpace and my designer)
Plot and story appeal: 4
Character appeal and development: 5
Voice and writing style: 4
In the Award, books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”.
Getting a “4” is satisfyingly meritorious but I can aspire to “5” for every skill next time.
That is, if a next novel ever comes off. If it does, it will be my ninth.
www.thomaswdevine.com
I’m a fan of this award because all entries are given marks out of 5 for skill and a short judge’s critique is provided.
I think that sort of assessment is value for the entry fee. It’s one way to track your professional progress in improving as a writer or needing to improve.
Last year I entered “Green Expectations" – see https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog... .
This year I’ve entered “Green Machinations” (a sequel) and “Hillsend”.
My skill assessment for "Green Expectations", in the 22nd Award, was as follows –
Structure, organization and pacing: 4 (with some credit to my manuscript assessor)
Spelling, punctuation & grammar: 5 (with some credit to my editor)
Production quality and cover design: 5 (all credit to CreateSpace and my designer)
Plot and story appeal: 4
Character appeal and development: 5
Voice and writing style: 4
In the Award, books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”.
Getting a “4” is satisfyingly meritorious but I can aspire to “5” for every skill next time.
That is, if a next novel ever comes off. If it does, it will be my ninth.
www.thomaswdevine.com
February 7, 2015
Freedom of Speech
New Zealand columnist, Rachel Stewart, has been insulted on social media for mocking a statement by the Federated Farmers Waikato vice president who lamented “that the Environment Court can treat farmers worse than murderers and rapists”. [Rosemary McLeod, The Dominion Post, January 29, 2015]
One tweet about Ms Stewart’s views, presumably from a person with farming experience, suggested that the columnist should be “artifially inseminated by a bull that would need blinders on” – not nice at all.
But that’s freedom of speech.
One tweet about Ms Stewart’s views, presumably from a person with farming experience, suggested that the columnist should be “artifially inseminated by a bull that would need blinders on” – not nice at all.
But that’s freedom of speech.
January 31, 2015
Massive Decline in 50 Years (Census)
“In the 1956 census, fewer than 1 per cent of Kiwis [New Zealanders] said they did not have religious faith. In 2013, 41 per cent said they had no religion.” [The Dominion Post, 28 January 2015]
It is clear to any person who lived through that period, that the massive decline in religious affiliation has flowed through into changing New Zealand culture; some would say for the worse.
The growth of hedonism is the most obvious sign. [“Hedonism” is belief in pleasure as the highest good and mankind’s proper aim.] It is not harmless to the community as a whole and is the least admirable human aspiration.
Knowing what the 41 per cent have forfeited, I feel a deep sorrow.
It is clear to any person who lived through that period, that the massive decline in religious affiliation has flowed through into changing New Zealand culture; some would say for the worse.
The growth of hedonism is the most obvious sign. [“Hedonism” is belief in pleasure as the highest good and mankind’s proper aim.] It is not harmless to the community as a whole and is the least admirable human aspiration.
Knowing what the 41 per cent have forfeited, I feel a deep sorrow.
January 24, 2015
Crime & Punishment
The alleged crimes came to public notice in New Zealand in 2013. They involved breaches of s. 183 Crimes Act 1961, which carries a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment.
The four victims whose lives were illegally terminated could not lay a complaint with the police, obviously.
No relative of the deceased stepped forward to do so.
Neither the Medical Council nor the Abortion Supervisory Committee laid a complaint under the Crimes Act.
The Health Practitioners Disciplanary Tribunal did find the accused doctor guilty of professional misconduct for breaches of the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977. She was suspended from practice for 6 months.
Right to Life Inc has laid a complaint with the police, against the doctor, for the 4 breaches of the Crimes Act.
A result is awaited.
[Source: Footprintes – Newsleteer of Right to Life Inc, December 2014]
The four victims whose lives were illegally terminated could not lay a complaint with the police, obviously.
No relative of the deceased stepped forward to do so.
Neither the Medical Council nor the Abortion Supervisory Committee laid a complaint under the Crimes Act.
The Health Practitioners Disciplanary Tribunal did find the accused doctor guilty of professional misconduct for breaches of the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977. She was suspended from practice for 6 months.
Right to Life Inc has laid a complaint with the police, against the doctor, for the 4 breaches of the Crimes Act.
A result is awaited.
[Source: Footprintes – Newsleteer of Right to Life Inc, December 2014]
January 16, 2015
Support for Literature
Have you ever wondered what your local council spends on promoting/supporting writing/writers?
I asked mine.
These are the proposed expenditures of the Wellington City Council for 2014/15:
Purpose of Grant NZ$
Operating expenses of Randall Cottage Writers Trust 6,230
Katherine Mansfield Birthplace 72,303
Venue costs of Storylines Children’s Literature Trust free events 8,500
Writers In Schools 31 events in Wellington (NZ Book Council) 4,000
Litcrawl 6,000
NZ Script to Screen Short Film Workshop 3,240
Wellington Zinefest 4,000
Phoenix Science Fiction Society Inc creative writing project @ Te Papa 1,500
Cute Bruiser, Bruiser Buds Collective Zine, zine workshops with young people 1,700
Total 107,473
This works out as $1.41 for every rateable property in the city.
In addition the Council will make a contribution of $950,000 to the NZ Festival, which includes “Writers Week”.
Surprisingly, in providing me this information, Council did not mention the cost of running its public libraries, arguably Council’s greatest service to writing/writers.
Have you ever thought about:
1. The role of city councils in your part of New Zealand, or elsewhere in the world, in supporting writers/writing?
2. The best way for city councils to support writers/writing?
3. The amount per rateable property that city councils should spend on writers/writing? More or less than $1.41 per rateable property (excluding libraries)?
Maybe you’d like to share your views with readers of this blog...
I asked mine.
These are the proposed expenditures of the Wellington City Council for 2014/15:
Purpose of Grant NZ$
Operating expenses of Randall Cottage Writers Trust 6,230
Katherine Mansfield Birthplace 72,303
Venue costs of Storylines Children’s Literature Trust free events 8,500
Writers In Schools 31 events in Wellington (NZ Book Council) 4,000
Litcrawl 6,000
NZ Script to Screen Short Film Workshop 3,240
Wellington Zinefest 4,000
Phoenix Science Fiction Society Inc creative writing project @ Te Papa 1,500
Cute Bruiser, Bruiser Buds Collective Zine, zine workshops with young people 1,700
Total 107,473
This works out as $1.41 for every rateable property in the city.
In addition the Council will make a contribution of $950,000 to the NZ Festival, which includes “Writers Week”.
Surprisingly, in providing me this information, Council did not mention the cost of running its public libraries, arguably Council’s greatest service to writing/writers.
Have you ever thought about:
1. The role of city councils in your part of New Zealand, or elsewhere in the world, in supporting writers/writing?
2. The best way for city councils to support writers/writing?
3. The amount per rateable property that city councils should spend on writers/writing? More or less than $1.41 per rateable property (excluding libraries)?
Maybe you’d like to share your views with readers of this blog...
January 8, 2015
Family Get-togethers
Most New Zealanders try and take a short Christmas/New Year break (at home or away) between 25 December and 2 January. Visiting family members bring extra joy and, in my case, a virulent cold that turned to bronchitis from which I am still recovering.
During that period, I had the special experience of sharing my wife's Shaw Family Reunion. With two Devine brothers (one being me) having married two Shaw sisters, there is a particular Devine/Shaw bond.
Sadly, there are now only three out of seven second-generation Shaws still alive.
The reunion was held in a community centre/urban park in the original home of the second-generation Shaws, Palmerston North.
Not every member of the widespread extended family could be there but there was an impressive inter-generational turn-out – more people than I could meet and greet during the half-day event.
The north-bound traffic on 27 December was unexpectedly diabolical and it took 4 hours to make the usual two hour journey, so my wife and I (along with other Shaw/Devines from Wellington) were late arriving in Palmerston North.
On New Year’s Day we joined in a more impromptu Devine/Shaw picnic at Paekakariki Beach north of Wellington. A lovely way to spend more time with third and fourth generation family members in peaceful and green surroundings. Being ill, however, I never made it over the dunes to the beach.
There’s nothing like being in a big family that maintains its inter-generational bonds!
Long may it continue.
During that period, I had the special experience of sharing my wife's Shaw Family Reunion. With two Devine brothers (one being me) having married two Shaw sisters, there is a particular Devine/Shaw bond.
Sadly, there are now only three out of seven second-generation Shaws still alive.
The reunion was held in a community centre/urban park in the original home of the second-generation Shaws, Palmerston North.
Not every member of the widespread extended family could be there but there was an impressive inter-generational turn-out – more people than I could meet and greet during the half-day event.
The north-bound traffic on 27 December was unexpectedly diabolical and it took 4 hours to make the usual two hour journey, so my wife and I (along with other Shaw/Devines from Wellington) were late arriving in Palmerston North.
On New Year’s Day we joined in a more impromptu Devine/Shaw picnic at Paekakariki Beach north of Wellington. A lovely way to spend more time with third and fourth generation family members in peaceful and green surroundings. Being ill, however, I never made it over the dunes to the beach.
There’s nothing like being in a big family that maintains its inter-generational bonds!
Long may it continue.
