Stuart Aken's Blog, page 226

Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? Tips on Word Choice #5

Be Happy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work?
For the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect.
In this series I’m looking at the difference between words that seem intellectual as opposed to those that invoke a more emotional response. How you use them is obviously up to you. The point is that the alternatives have the same, or very similar, meanings, but their effect upon the reader can be markedly different. I’ve made some suggestions here, but I’m sure you can think of others.
Intellectual: AllowEmotional: Let
Never allow your prejudice to blind you to the potential in others. (intellectual – a call to reason)Don’t let the bastards grind you down. (emotional – a plea to the more basic instincts)
Intellectual: DiscernEmotional: See
Gervaise was convinced he could discern signs of fakery in the item on display. (intellectual – removed from emotional response)‘I don’t know why you can’t see how upset I am!’ (emotional – a cry to the heart)
Intellectual: PleasedEmotional: Happy
Peter was pleased when Jenny agreed to sign the contract. (intellectual – illustrating a professional relationship)
Jenny was so happy when Peter proposed to her. (emotional – of course!)Related articles Facial Expression Recognition Helps Boost Compassion: Is Emotional Intelligence More Important Than IQ? Kicking Your Characters into High Gear What's the Difference Between Emotional and Intellectual Maturity? Video Blog

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 6

Today's theme for the Books Are My Bag bookshop promotion, is the 'first book I bought in a bookshop'. Two things strike me about this one. The first is that bookshops were the ONLY place you could buy a book when I started out on my long career as a reader. It's only relatively recently that other options arrived. The second is that I can't possibly remember the first one: it was centuries ago! However, (for those of you of the grammar police that object to this sentence's opening, click on this link), I can recall the first purchase I can remember. It was Lady Chatterly's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. I bought the Penguin Classics edition when I was about 18. Very formative to a teenager, I can tell you! I no longer have the book: when I divorced from my first wife, she insisted on taking half our books, though almost all of them were, in fact, mine. For practical reasons, I couldn't take them all anyway. That first book was lost in the process of separation and moving out.

Related articles Lady Chatterly's Lover My Independent Bookshop launches to consumers Why D.H. Lawrence, Misogynist Male Author, Has Lots of Female Fans Bookshop memories: your pictures and stories PRH launches My Independent Bookshop Bookshops 'need to offer more'

Writing and Running for ME/CFS #2

Returning from Friday's running session.This week’s update on progress.
The running continues to the training programme. This week I did a 20 minute brisk walk on Tuesday. A running session on Friday, consisted of running for 4 minutes and walking for 2 minute, repeated 3 times, so a total of 12 minutes running. And today I took a 3 mile walk over 50 minutes with my wife, in place of the required ‘30 minute easy walk’. The training plan I’m following is intended to prepare someone who isn’t very fit for a twenty minute running session at the end of 8 weeks. I’ve just completed the first 4 weeks, and I’m managing to keep to the programme, or to exceed it, so all going well so far.
The writing of the ME/CFS book hasn’t gone far yet  - I’ve been working on some appendices to go into the back of book 3 of the epic fantasy trilogy. My publisher wants to publish Convergence: A Seared Sky in time for Xmas, so I need to ensure it’s absolutely ready for him. And I decided I would include all the myths and legends that form the basis for the actual story as appendices in the final volume. It’s one of those jobs that you feel should be straightforward, until you start on it. Then you discover there are more than you remembered, names have changed during the writing, and some changes to format need doing. But it’s all great for me, as I enjoy the writing.

However, on the ME/CFS book front, I’ve resurrected the files of the diaries I kept during the period of illness. They’re a bit patchy, but they contain details I’d forgotten, so will be a useful resource when I start the actual writing.Related articles Apologies for Absence, And a 5 Star Review! Joinings: A Seared Sky. Couldn't put it down The Full Reveal and 5 Stars Romancing the Fantasy - Stuart Aken Partings; A Seared Sky Now Available on Amazon

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 5

Today's theme is 'Favourite cinema/film reference in literature.' Since I can't think of a single instance of this in anything I've read, I can hardly have a 'favourite'. Loads of references the other way round: let's face it, many very popular films have their roots in literature. But literature that references film? Not something I've come across. I'm sure someone will enlighten me. It may even be that I've read such a thing without recognising the references. Film, for me, is generally something I use for entertainment. Not a 'buff', I enjoy the lighter side by and large, though I have watched some pretty strong drama. So, there you have it. For me, a non-event in the programme. But I imagine that's my loss.
Related articles #BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. #BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 2

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 4

Today's event asks participants to present a book with a beautiful spine. Appearance and content are
inextricably linked in the minds of most readers. One book with a beautiful spine? I must have read hundreds. And then there are all those ancient tomes I've perused on the shelves of crumbling stately homes. How to select a single volume, and display it here? Well, it clearly has to be a book from my own shelves. Most of these are relatively modern. And, scanning my shelves, seeking out those spines that make me tingle (sorry for the pun) I recollect that I went through a period when I removed the dust covers from most of my hardbacks. That means a lot of the good 'uns have now vanished into the paper recycling bin of history. Which leaves me with a rather smaller selection from which to choose.
But I can't select a single book. I find a group, whittle that selection down to a handful and then further reduce to a few. Here they are. Please forgive the inclusion of my own book here: I didn't design the cover, my publisher put it out to a brilliant cover designer. As for the rest, I think they speak for themselves.
Don't forget, if you want to get involved as reader or writer, or both, here's the link to the website.
And don't forget to use the #tag, #bookadayuk for any tweets you send out there. Let's get support going for our high street bookshops, eh?
Related articles Bookshop memories: your pictures and stories Summer Reading: Book Spine Poetry Sure do have a lot of books. Forgotten Treasure Of Vanity and Completism

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 3

Cover of The Satanic VersesToday's 'event' involves naming a book you love from one of the Cheltenham festival authors (to discover who they are, click this link). For me, it will have to be Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. Yes, I actually read the book, not simply bought it for the kudos. Once you've read this volume you realise the real reason why he was subject to a fatwah.
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#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. Day 2

Today's 'event' is to name your favourite fictional dog. I can't recall a fictional dog in any recent
reading, to be honest. So, for this particular 'event' I'll have to nominate my own fictional pooch: Shaulah, who appears in my fantasy trilogy, A Seared Sky, in all 3 books, Joinings, Parting, and  the yet to be published, Convergence. She's a working dog, acting as Okkyntalah's aid as he goes about hunting for food.

If you'd like to get involved, please visit Books Are My Bag by clicking this link.

And don't forget to use the hashtag, #bookadayuk when you tweet.

Readers and writers unite to save the high street bookshop!
Related articles #BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October. A Seared Sky: Partings. Launch of Book 2 of the Trilogy

#BookADayUK; A Reader Event For October.

Books Are My Bag.com are running a campaign to celebrate bookshops. What author could resist getting involved, in whatever way he might? The event is a collaboration between publishers, bookshops and authors and is the biggest ever promotion for bookshops. All readers love bookshops, of course, but do they promote their local store, assuming they have one? Well, this is your chance to do just that.

The idea behind this campaign is to keep those precious havens of learning, entertainment and fun on the go. If we, the readers and writers, don’t do something to keep these stalwarts of literature afloat, who else will?
So, reader or writer, get into town and take a picture of yourself outside your favourite book buying place on 11th October, and then post it to Twitter, using the #bookadayuk. And follow @booksaremybag.
For a little more fun, you can always get involved with the suggested events for the whole month. I intend to. See the picture above for details.
Today, we nominate a book to curl up in front of the fire with. The idea is you give the title and author and attach the #bookadayuk with a tweet to your friends. You can use other social networks as well. This way, we’ll get loads more people interested in books and reading. Game?
So, a book to curl up with in front of the fire? I’ll avoid the obvious temptation to promote my own work; hardly in the spirit of the event.

Curl up in front of the fire with Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes, a tale of love, loss and betrayal. #bookadayukRelated articles October is #BookADayUK - Enjoy! Join Us - Do You Own A Bookshop? #bookaday 2014: week 1 #Bookaday, volume the third

Epitaphs, by Anthological Poets, Reviewed.

As just one of the seventy-two poets featured in this remarkable volume, I clearly have to declare my interest. Amongst those bards you’ll find university professors, a prince, engineers, social workers, technicians, scientists, teachers and a good number of professional writers and poets. Many of the contributors have won awards for their writing and a most have published in many different forms. They hail from lands as diverse as India, Africa, USA, Canada and the UK. So, this international collection is far from being unrepresentative. I’m honoured to have been invited to contribute.
There are epitaphs here to make you smile, laugh, sigh and cry. The different styles range from the thoughtful to the exotic, the simple to the complex and profound. Suffice it to say that there is something here for everyone.
The fact of death is inescapable, of course. But here we have words to celebrate, express gratitude, proclaim greatness, explain lives unknown and sorrow for those who have left us behind. You may find solace, fellow-feeling, humour and respect amongst the different expressions of grief, loss and love.

Lovers of poetry will find much here to admire and enjoy. For those who are strangers to poetry, this is a gentle introduction to many different poets expressing human feelings in distinct ways. I recommend it unreservedly.
You can by the paperback by clicking this link.Related articles Epitaph of the Day 7 My Epitaph. Epitaph for The Reader

Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? Tips on Word Choice #4

English: No skinny-dipping Unusual warning sign provided by the East Riding County Council at Auburn Sands near Fraisthorpe, south of Bridlington. Naturist groups have voiced their disapproval at the sign which seems to equate naturism with indecency, and also claim that this stretch of beach on the North Sea coast has long been recognized as a naturist resort. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work?
For the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect.
In this series I’m looking at the difference between words that seem intellectual as opposed to those that invoke a more emotional response. How you use them is obviously up to you. The point is that the alternatives have the same, or very similar, meanings, but their effect upon the reader can be markedly different. I’ve made some suggestions here, but I’m sure you can think of others.
Intellectual: AidEmotional: Help
‘I am seeking aid for my project on the increasing instances of injustice in Western Democracies.’
‘I could do with a bit of help over here shifting this rubbish.’
Intellectual: GratificationEmotional: Enjoyment
‘There is a great sense of gratification to be had from performing one’s duty to the high standards one expects of others.’
‘Shirley had great enjoyment skinny-dipping on the secluded tropical island.’
Intellectual: TerminateEmotional: End
‘Due to the nature of your request for a fair salary in exchange for your labours, we are obliged to terminate your employment with immediate effect.’

‘All I did was ask for a decent wage and the buggers brought my job to an end!’Related articles Joe Biden, just a regular guy who goes skinny dipping Shirley Valentine (1989) Now the gloves (and everything else) are off as naturists are criminalised Woman goes skinny dipping at police station Naked swimmers attempt to break skinny dipping record in 13°C sea