Stuart Aken's Blog, page 277

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Zeitgeist

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Zeitgeist:  noun- the spirit of the age; the trend of thought or feeling in a period, inparticular as reflected in art, literature, etc.



'Writers such as WilliamT. Vollmann , Amy Tan, John Ashbery, Mary Oliver, and Jonathan Safran Foerare considered by many to embody the zeitgeist of our age; I have my doubts,but if they actually do, then I fear for the future of literature.'
For an in-depth article onover-rated writers follow the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anis-shivani/the-15-most-overrated-con_b_672974.html#s123717&title=William_T_Vollmann

#NaNoWriMo progress on day 25 = 106022 words

Today's work on the NaNoWriMo challenge has increased the total by 5,948 words to 106,022 words, which is 88% of my 120,000 word target. And, again, the Wordle graphic illustrates the most frequently used words. This one is of the last complete chapter, no 30. I reckon I have 4 chapters to go, but the story might only require another 3; not sure at present. But as long as I complete the actual story by the end of the month, I'll be happy.
The London move turned out to be only a stage in the journey, which ended up in Essex. The hero's now completed his task in that location and is on his way back home, via, no doubt, a number of barriers and hurdles to be crossed and jumped before he can rest on his laurels. Unless, of course, he should die before he reaches his final destination. Perhaps that is his final destination: death? Could be. But I'm not telling; you'll have to read the book to find out what happens to him and his lover; whether they can ride off into the sunset or whether life is about to deal them the cruellest blow.
Another couple of new characters crept into the last two chapters, but they're so minor I haven't done character sketches for them. There are also one or two facts about geographical locations I'll have to check during the editing process, but the important thing at this stage is to keep the story moving. The details can always be tweaked later on, you see?
So, what will tomorrow bring? I've done for today. Actually, tomorrow may not move us as far forward as I wish since my daughter is home from Uni and wants me to take her out into the local countryside to do some landscape photography for her current assignment, so I might not get much writing done. Fingers crossed, I can manage everything I need to.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Yahweh

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Yahweh: another in myoccasional series on the different gods worshipped around this complex andfascinating world of ours. Also known as Jehovah andElohim, Yahweh is the personal

#NaNoWriMo Progress day 24 = 100,074 Words

So, how goes the NaNoWriMo challenge today for those who are taking it?
Well, for me, I've now exceeded the set challenge by a factor of 2, but that's only because I set myself a target of 120,000. At 100,074 words, I'm 83% of the way. Just over 5,000 words today, in 2 sessions. Had to have a brief halt in the second session because the story took the hero down to London and I had to check an A to Z and an Underground map to make sure I was sending him in a logical direction. Most of the action, so far, has taken place in my native East Yorkshire, au unspecified location somewhere in the northern half of England, and a south western seaside town that I based on Weymouth, but never actually named. Motorway travel features rather more than I would care to use it in person, but it fits in with the story.
More new characters coming up, and I'll need to do a couple of character studies tomorrow, quite early in the day, to keep track of the action involving them.
Wordle has, again, provided a useful graphic to show which words are used most frequently. And I've decided to do a Wordle image for each of the chapters. Currently I'm on chap 29, but I've used the last complete chapter, 28, to illustrate this post.
A welcome interruption to the day when I popped down to the local railway station to pick up daughter, Kate, who is home from Uni for the weekend. Nice to see her after her absence. She seems happy and is getting on well with her studies.

Watching Clocks for Vanity or Status?

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What, no watch? How d'youtell the time, then?I haven't worn a wristwatch since I took voluntary redundancy from the Civil Service in April 1994.And, whilst many people ask me how I manage, I wonder why they continue to relyon a personal timepiece.Every room in the house,except the smallest, has at least one clock ticking away the seconds. Thesitting room mantel carries a carriage clock. The kitchen has a fruity roundaffair clinging to the wall, and digital displays on cooker, microwave andcentral heating controls. The bedroom has a self-correcting electric clockradio courtesy of my late step-mother; it wakes me with enough noise to rousethe citizens of Edinburgh. My daughter sleeps through her battery operatedalarm, so I've installed an insistent radio alarm to ensure she escapes her bedbefore lunch. And my study contains a small ticking souvenir from a forgottenholiday, as well as the digital display at the bottom right of the computerscreen. Every High Street I tread, with heavy, reluctant footfall, measures thepassing of the hours with clocks in abundance, in the windows of the manyjewellers or on the faces and towers of ugly municipal buildings. At the office(I had to return to employment to earn a living, unfortunately) there areclocks on all four walls, each recording a different time. One of these hasforgotten it's summer and continues to dwell in the winter of GMT. Every busterminus, train station, and airport lounge sports clocks a plenty. My car, aninexpensive and not quite antique model, holds a clock amongst the variousdials, switches and gauges that aid the driver. And, should I find myself strandedin the middle of nowhere, cruelly deprived of public timepieces; what's in mypocket? Right; a mobile phone with, guess what? A time display.In all the hours, days,weeks, months and years since I abandoned my personal reminder of time passing,I've never missed a bus, train or appointment. And I travel by public transportmore frequently than I'd prefer: it's cheap and helps save the planet,apparently. So I ask; if I can live amodern life without one, why do so many people wear watches? Why are they sokeen on constantly monitoring the ebbing of their lives? I find only twocredible answers to this conundrum, and I suspect they're closely linked. Oneis simple vanity, of course; a love of something special attached to the personto adorn and beautify, like any item of jewellery. The other is status, wherethe brand, style or material of the device declares its owner either rich orspecial. Thus; the designer watch, which tells the world how stylish andcomfortably off is its wearer, or the timepiece with so many features itrequires a heavy duty strap and over-developed biceps to be carried and remainin place, and reveals its user as a man of action, who thinks nothing of diving30 metres into water, regardless of the need. And, we mustn't neglect thehideously expensive watch, which describes its wearer not simply asinordinately wealthy but as boastful and lacking in basic common sense.Now I've upset, angered,irritated and alienated almost everybody, I'll take a minute to consider mystance on this. Nope; still feel the sameway.Damn! Just missed the lastpost.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Xenophobia

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Xenophobia: noun - a deep aversion to foreigners andforeign things.
'Your xenophobia informseverything you do, Robert. You see threats everywhere you look.'


'There are some politicalparties that, with their leaders, actively promote xenophobia in the hope ofspreading their message of hatred of everything that isn't native to their owncountry.'
'Xenophobia, in commonwill all irrational fears, makes the sufferer more of a fool than the subjectof the fear and hatred.'
24 Nov 2011 - ThanksgivingDay.

#NaNoWriMo Progress day 23 = 95037 words

The NaNoWriMo challenge continues apace with 3,748 words added today, taking the total to 95,037. I was determined to reach 95,000 today in spite of the fact that I spent a half day at the office. So, still on target and still enjoying. Much has happened in the last few thousands of words and a new, though expected, element has now entered the story, putting the hero in danger again.
The Wordle image of the word usage in Chapter 26 will again be a useful device when I start the editing process.
Some folks have asked me questions about my technique for producing the number of words I do on a daily basis, so here's something that might help answer that.
I always make the writing a priority, doing a targeted number of words (usually 2,000) before I do anything else. It's very easy to get carried away into the world of social networking, emails, or other distractions and end up leaving yourself with little time to do the writing. So, I do the writing first, and the rest is done in whatever time is left to me. Generally, on my full days of writing, I have at least 2 sessions, sometimes 3. Once I've managed 4,000, which is my daily target on full days, I'm happy if I turn out a bit more, but I don't sweat it at that point. I can sometimes write 2,000 in an hour, especially first thing in the morning when I'm fresh. But I can also take 3 hours to do the same number. I find it all depends on the type of event I'm describing. Dialogue seems to flow quite well and the action scenes usually develop fairly rapidly. Once in a while, I need to do some research  on the hoof, but I stick to looking for only the precise answer I need at that time, regardless how interesting the subject might be. So, I avoid distractions and prioritise the writing. I also do absolutely no editing, beyond correcting any spelling errors/typos as I write.
Editing uses a different part of the brain from creating and that 'policeman' that is your editing self can seriously interfere with your creative process if you allow it. In fact, I will wait until I've completed the story and then won't even look at it at all for at least two weeks, maybe four. Then I'll go back to it with a fresh mind and start on the exacting process of editing, reducing unnecessary words, checking for inconsistencies, ensuring actions all make sense and all the other details that are necessary for a successful story.
Hope that's helpful.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Wafer

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Wafer: noun - a light, very thin, crisp biscuit, often eaten with icecream; a slice of ice cream sandwiched between wafers; in Christian Church - athin disc of unleavened bread used in Communion; in Law - a disc of red paperstuck on a document as a seal; a round thin spot, mark, or object; in Electronics- a very thin slice of a semiconductor crystal used in solid-state circuitry; atiny gold ingot, weighing only a few ounces.




'Licking the ice creamfrom between the wafers that sandwiched it, Marilyn dripped the whiteconfection over her chin so it trickled down her neck and pooled in thecleavage exposed by her bikini.'


'Taking the wafer, offeredby the priest, she drew it into her mouth and allowed it to dissolve on hertongue, awaiting that drop of red wine that would finally melt it and flush itdown her throat.'

#NaNoWriMo progress on day 22 = 91,289 words

Still going strong. The NaNoWriMo challenge has proved a great motivator and continues to drive me on toward my target. Over 3/4 of the way there now and 9 days to go, so I should make it, given a fair wind and no disasters.
Tuesday is a full day at the office for me, so I rose early and did 1,900 words before I left for work. Back home, and Valerie fed and watered me, so I could get on with the next session. Another 1,100 or so words took me to the current total of 91,289.
The Wordle graphic displays the word priorities that exist in chapter 24.
The story has now moved into a more intense portion, with the humour often replaced by the aspects of the novel that will enable it to bear the title of 'thriller'. I'm still pleased with the progress, but the writing is a little less fun than it is during the humour phases. Still, the contrast between action and humour is an essential element in the story and I'm happy that the framework remains on track, even if a little distorted from the original pattern envisaged. The general direction remains the same, though the conclusion has altered a little from that I set out with. The characters are interacting well, with the villains making capital off the heroes. And our poor victim, who is actually a strong woman overcome by circumstances beyond her control, is facing the dangers stoically and lives in hope that her hero will rescue her before anything too terrible happens to her.

And just a note about this post. It's my 800th on the blog.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Vacuous

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Vacuous: adjective - devoid of matter; containingnothing tangible or visible; without ideas; unintelligent; expressionless; emptyof content or substance; meaningless; idle, indolent; not profitably occupied.
'Sybil gazed into thedistance, pretending to divine the future by reading the cloud formations, butshe was undone by the vacuous expression on her bland face.'
'You, sir, are anunmitigated, sly, devious, under-educated and vacuous moron; no wonder the bestyou could do was become an MP.'