Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 4
December 23, 2018
It Makes U Think
On New Zealand TV tonight, the movie “The Angriest Main in Brooklyn” is playing. If you haven’t seen it, the story is about a perpetually angry man who learns a brain aneurism will kill him in about 90 minutes. He has to come to terms with his fate and make amends to everyone he has hurt.
I can relate to it. I’ve just been diagnosed with a second aortic aneurism and am waiting to find out the level of threat to my life that it carries. But I am hoping for more than 90 minutes in which to contemplate the end of my life.
Can you really make amends for a hurt? I guess it depends on how forgiving the hurt person is. Only they can decide what is amended or not. And sometimes you don’t even know that you’ve hurt someone. They may carry a grudge silently. How do you make amends then?
My teenage years have seemed the worst until now but old age is beginning to rival them.
I can relate to it. I’ve just been diagnosed with a second aortic aneurism and am waiting to find out the level of threat to my life that it carries. But I am hoping for more than 90 minutes in which to contemplate the end of my life.
Can you really make amends for a hurt? I guess it depends on how forgiving the hurt person is. Only they can decide what is amended or not. And sometimes you don’t even know that you’ve hurt someone. They may carry a grudge silently. How do you make amends then?
My teenage years have seemed the worst until now but old age is beginning to rival them.
December 7, 2018
The Latest
I won’t be the first to have let blogging fall by the wayside because of ill health.
I’ve had periods in hospital twice in the last two weeks.
At one stage I was wondering if I’d live to promote my 12th novel “Death on the Quay” – just published in the USA – but I was being too defeatist.
I’m recuperating (well, at least I hope I am) and it would be great for me and my wife (I’m her fulltime caregiver) if things get better for me health-wise. I’m driving myself at the moment to keep on going and cope as best I can.
Immediate family members are contributing to our care. Bless them.
Merry Christmas and a happy 2019 to those who read this post.
I’ve had periods in hospital twice in the last two weeks.
At one stage I was wondering if I’d live to promote my 12th novel “Death on the Quay” – just published in the USA – but I was being too defeatist.
I’m recuperating (well, at least I hope I am) and it would be great for me and my wife (I’m her fulltime caregiver) if things get better for me health-wise. I’m driving myself at the moment to keep on going and cope as best I can.
Immediate family members are contributing to our care. Bless them.
Merry Christmas and a happy 2019 to those who read this post.
October 28, 2018
The Law Changes – Morality Does Not
In New Zealand (NZ), in 1961, society became enlightened enough to abolish the death penalty as punishment for those found guilty of murder, and abolished it altogether, including for treason, in 1989.
Oddly, in 1961, while saving murderers from hanging, NZ society countenanced the killing of innocents, through abortion, when two doctors concurred and certain tests were met.
It introduced a change to the law that in time, through interpretation, became close to a regime of abortion on demand. Those who perform legal abortions are not considered criminals, under the law, even though they end human lives.
Strangely, these contradictions are accepted by many in NZ society today. Capitalizing on it, the pro-abortion lobbyists have been advocating for all obstacles to the legalised killing of the unborn to be removed. They say abortion is solely a “women’s health issue”. That is effectively the same as treating the unborn child as a cancerous growth.
The NZ Law Commission has just released a briefing paper examining alternatives to abortion laws. It backs the pro-abortionist view that the current law (undesirably) leads to delays and presents barriers for women seeking abortion services.
What a tragedy that we can’t treat the unborn child with the same compassion as we’ve treated murders since 1961.
Oddly, in 1961, while saving murderers from hanging, NZ society countenanced the killing of innocents, through abortion, when two doctors concurred and certain tests were met.
It introduced a change to the law that in time, through interpretation, became close to a regime of abortion on demand. Those who perform legal abortions are not considered criminals, under the law, even though they end human lives.
Strangely, these contradictions are accepted by many in NZ society today. Capitalizing on it, the pro-abortion lobbyists have been advocating for all obstacles to the legalised killing of the unborn to be removed. They say abortion is solely a “women’s health issue”. That is effectively the same as treating the unborn child as a cancerous growth.
The NZ Law Commission has just released a briefing paper examining alternatives to abortion laws. It backs the pro-abortionist view that the current law (undesirably) leads to delays and presents barriers for women seeking abortion services.
What a tragedy that we can’t treat the unborn child with the same compassion as we’ve treated murders since 1961.
October 21, 2018
A Quote
“We talk a lot about unwanted pregnancy, but I think we also need to be thinking about unwanted abortions. Women may have an abortion not because that’s what they want, but they perceive that’s their only option” –
Dr Cushla Hassan (NZ catholic, Oct.21- Nov.3, 2018)
Dr Cushla Hassan (NZ catholic, Oct.21- Nov.3, 2018)
October 7, 2018
Like an Addict in Withdrawal
My 12th novel, and my 1st in the mystery genre, is entitled “Death on the Quay”. It’s currently a work in progress. A female Beta Reader has recently said this about it:
"A very New Zealand setting is the backdrop to this more than believable mystery. An original premise keeps you wondering till the end. A fine outing for new character Adam Adair, and perhaps the first in a series for the amateur journalist. "
I expect the manuscript to be back from my editor by the end of the week. For the last three weeks I’ve been like an addict going through withdrawal. After months of working on the book (over autumn and winter) it has been very hard to stay away from it while the editor does his thing.
I’m so looking forward to the time I’ll spend considering the editorial changes as Spring turns to Summer.
"A very New Zealand setting is the backdrop to this more than believable mystery. An original premise keeps you wondering till the end. A fine outing for new character Adam Adair, and perhaps the first in a series for the amateur journalist. "
I expect the manuscript to be back from my editor by the end of the week. For the last three weeks I’ve been like an addict going through withdrawal. After months of working on the book (over autumn and winter) it has been very hard to stay away from it while the editor does his thing.
I’m so looking forward to the time I’ll spend considering the editorial changes as Spring turns to Summer.
September 30, 2018
The Challenge for Dementia Caregiving to a Relative
This is written for those who are affected by dementia as a relative of a person with this terrible illness.
A quote from the Melon Health newsletter recently:
“All human beings deserve compassion and understanding, and that's a fact.
“Self-compassion may need to start as a deliberate act. Consider your needs in a warm, caring, comforting way.
“Recognise you are struggling and give yourself the love and support you might get from someone close to you, someone who is showing you compassion.
“This is one of the most important things you will do today.”
Self-care has been very much on my mind in the last couple of weeks because my wife’s dementia has deteriorated seriously.
I went from coping (which I’ve done for the last 10 years with some help) to not coping emotionally, and struggling physically. I’m at the extreme edge of my stress tolerance and unwilling to take on even the small extra challenges of life (if I can avoid them) because of my increased care-giving responsibility.
I’m worn out intellectually and emotionally
Despite knowing that looking after myself is the best way to keep looking after my wife, I can’t face putting her in a rest home, even for a short time so that I get some respite.
Being put in a rest home is my wife’s biggest fear (apart from losing her mind, which she is newly aware of happening) and it would be emotionally devastating for her even if it was just rest home care for a week. I couldn’t cope with the stress of trying to do this against her will. The guilt of doing it (if I could) would also stress me out.
Caregiving for a stranger must be a lot easier. It’s the deep emotional ties that make care of a relative with dementia so hard.
People sometimes see me as hard-hearted because of my external calm and acceptance of my situation, but I’m not. I’m crying inside and my broken heart is bleeding.
A quote from the Melon Health newsletter recently:
“All human beings deserve compassion and understanding, and that's a fact.
“Self-compassion may need to start as a deliberate act. Consider your needs in a warm, caring, comforting way.
“Recognise you are struggling and give yourself the love and support you might get from someone close to you, someone who is showing you compassion.
“This is one of the most important things you will do today.”
Self-care has been very much on my mind in the last couple of weeks because my wife’s dementia has deteriorated seriously.
I went from coping (which I’ve done for the last 10 years with some help) to not coping emotionally, and struggling physically. I’m at the extreme edge of my stress tolerance and unwilling to take on even the small extra challenges of life (if I can avoid them) because of my increased care-giving responsibility.
I’m worn out intellectually and emotionally
Despite knowing that looking after myself is the best way to keep looking after my wife, I can’t face putting her in a rest home, even for a short time so that I get some respite.
Being put in a rest home is my wife’s biggest fear (apart from losing her mind, which she is newly aware of happening) and it would be emotionally devastating for her even if it was just rest home care for a week. I couldn’t cope with the stress of trying to do this against her will. The guilt of doing it (if I could) would also stress me out.
Caregiving for a stranger must be a lot easier. It’s the deep emotional ties that make care of a relative with dementia so hard.
People sometimes see me as hard-hearted because of my external calm and acceptance of my situation, but I’m not. I’m crying inside and my broken heart is bleeding.
September 16, 2018
Another Book at Edit Stage
The manuscript for my 12th novel, a mystery, "Death on the Quay", has gone to my line editor for his very talented input.
The earlier manuscript assessment I had done by an equally talented editor gave me a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of my first effort. She gave me great advice that I appreciated more and more as I carried out the revision necessary to bring it to its present stage.
She said nice things like:
- an interesting crime set up
- fairly original and good plot idea
- good relationship threads
- excellent depictions of locations (NZ settings)
- ordinary recognisable Kiwi characters
- good back stories.
Working on average 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week, I've put about 160 hours (20xeight-hour working days) into the revision. I could have kept going but I had a deadline dictated by the second editor's availability.
I'm very pleased with the improvements I've made made in the current manuscript. Doubtless the second editor will recommend more.
Anyhow, I hope you'll enjoy the book when it comes out before Xmas.
thomaswdevine.com
The earlier manuscript assessment I had done by an equally talented editor gave me a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of my first effort. She gave me great advice that I appreciated more and more as I carried out the revision necessary to bring it to its present stage.
She said nice things like:
- an interesting crime set up
- fairly original and good plot idea
- good relationship threads
- excellent depictions of locations (NZ settings)
- ordinary recognisable Kiwi characters
- good back stories.
Working on average 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week, I've put about 160 hours (20xeight-hour working days) into the revision. I could have kept going but I had a deadline dictated by the second editor's availability.
I'm very pleased with the improvements I've made made in the current manuscript. Doubtless the second editor will recommend more.
Anyhow, I hope you'll enjoy the book when it comes out before Xmas.
thomaswdevine.com
September 9, 2018
On Facing Death
If 7 is the age of reason, then I've spent 67 years knowing that I'm going to die one day.
Not surprising, then, that I accept how brief a time I have left.
Just want to get this 12th novel finished and published first.
Not surprising, then, that I accept how brief a time I have left.
Just want to get this 12th novel finished and published first.
September 6, 2018
Another Angle on Coping With Editing
For my twelfth novel, “Death on the Quay”, in preparation for publishing, I’ve again used the help of AutoCrit, for editing.
This is an endorsement of the app and I wholly agree with what they say about themselves:
“AutoCrit is an awareness tool. Its job isn’t to tell you that you’re wrong, or that your writing is bad; its job is to point out possibilities for improvement. When you embrace the process, each report is a revelation. You may discover that you use too many adverbs in your dialogue tags, for instance. That doesn’t mean your writing sucks, it means you just learned a cool new trick! You’ll be alert for those pesky adverbs, and you’ll start striking them from your work before they even creep in. Bingo! You’ve just become a better writer.”
Same goes for clichés, which pop up more commonly than you think.
This is an endorsement of the app and I wholly agree with what they say about themselves:
“AutoCrit is an awareness tool. Its job isn’t to tell you that you’re wrong, or that your writing is bad; its job is to point out possibilities for improvement. When you embrace the process, each report is a revelation. You may discover that you use too many adverbs in your dialogue tags, for instance. That doesn’t mean your writing sucks, it means you just learned a cool new trick! You’ll be alert for those pesky adverbs, and you’ll start striking them from your work before they even creep in. Bingo! You’ve just become a better writer.”
Same goes for clichés, which pop up more commonly than you think.
August 19, 2018
Coping with Editing
Last week I received my manuscript assessor’s critique of my next novel, “Death on the Quay”. I contract a woman, an accomplished author, for that purpose so that I get a female perspective.
She wasn’t harsh but you could say she tore it to shreds. It was almost all valid criticism. Though before I realised that, it took me twenty-four hours of wondering if it was worth going on with the novel. I virtually lost confidence for a day in my ability to write at all and wondered if my 11 published books really had any merit (see those at thomaswdevine.com).
Though I wanted a woman’s perspective, I still found myself clashing with her views on a few issues, like would a woman do a sexual favour for a stalker if he threatened to murder her child if she didn’t? I thought so but my assessor thought it was unlikely.
Then there was the issue of her suggesting a scene be cut which I thought helped to show the lead character in the context of his office work and developed the portrayal of his character when faced with conflict. Still can’t figure out her viewpoint.
It’s all part of a writer’s life, I suppose.
She wasn’t harsh but you could say she tore it to shreds. It was almost all valid criticism. Though before I realised that, it took me twenty-four hours of wondering if it was worth going on with the novel. I virtually lost confidence for a day in my ability to write at all and wondered if my 11 published books really had any merit (see those at thomaswdevine.com).
Though I wanted a woman’s perspective, I still found myself clashing with her views on a few issues, like would a woman do a sexual favour for a stalker if he threatened to murder her child if she didn’t? I thought so but my assessor thought it was unlikely.
Then there was the issue of her suggesting a scene be cut which I thought helped to show the lead character in the context of his office work and developed the portrayal of his character when faced with conflict. Still can’t figure out her viewpoint.
It’s all part of a writer’s life, I suppose.
