Stuart Aken's Blog, page 284

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Tableau

Tableau: noun - a picture; used figuratively - a presentationor description in picturesque form; a table, schedule or official list; groupof people and things grouped to form a picturesque scene; used theatrically – astatic representation of the action at a critical stage in a play; also, thestage direction for this; sudden striking of a dramatic situation; in cards - thearrangement of the cards when laid out for a game of patience.
'The players stopped theiraction and abruptly struck a tableau in which their individual postures andexpressions interacted with their group positions to express the shock, horrorand disbelief at the sudden, and apparently inexplicable, killing of the leadcharacter.'
Pic: Valerie at the foot of the steps leading to the northern beach at Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

Cleaning up

With my daughter at university and her room now available (at least for a short spell) as a dumping ground, I decided to clear out my study for the first time in 11 years. In the process, I had to remove every book from the shelves that line two walls. Guess what? I discovered books I had bought and never read and others I'd forgotten I'd read. Once the room was re-carpeted, painted and generally spruced up again, I replaced everything, having discarded a good amount of junk along the way. As part of the process, I decided to catalogue my remaining books (I say 'remaining' because, when I broke up with my first wife over 25 years ago, I had to leave about half of my then library behind). It's been a fascinating exercise. I'm now going through the list, a bit at a time, to add many of the books to my list here on Goodreads.
I've rediscovered old friends and found new ones I've yet to explore. It's a worthwhile process and one I'd commend to others who have a reasonable collection.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Wreak or wreck?

Wreak or wreck: Wreak: verb – expel, drive away;express a feeling, especially anger; punish, injure or harm someone; avenge someone;vindicate a cause by an act of retribution; take or inflict vengeance on orupon someone; cause harm, damage, etc., frequently in 'wreak havoc'; deal ablow. (Wreak is often followed by 'on' or 'upon')
Wreck: verb - washashore; reduce a structure, vehicle, etc. to a ruined or shattered condition byforce or violence; destroy; cause the wreck of a vessel; bring someone todisaster or ruin; cause the ruin or destruction of a system, etc.; severelyupset or impair someone's health, nerves, etc.; frustrate, thwart; prevent thepassing of a measure; suffer a shipwreck.
These words have no sharedetymological origin but often appear to be confused. You can 'wreak havoc' by'wrecking' something, but they are not the same thing.
'Influenced by the cultureof his tribe, Mohammed swore to wreak vengeance on his brother for daring to speaksoftly to the woman he had decided to wed.'
'George, if you don't stoppounding your sister's doll with your hammer, you're going to wreck it.'
Pic: Venetian fortress on Crete.
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Author Interview with Faith Mortimer

Hello Faith,please tell us about you, as a writer.
Hello Stuart, first may I take this opportunity tothank you for inviting me along as your guest author today. Like many of my writer friends I entered the'writing' business later in life. My children were grown up and off my hands,I'd recently completed a Science degree (for interest and fun!), and when myhusband took early retirement I thought, aha! So shall I and this gave me theopportunity to complete that first book that I'd always wanted to write. I'ddecided on a story, (The Crossing)after listening to a good friend of ours telling us a tale about his father; awartime story of love, loss and heroics. One thing led to another and here I ama couple of years later with two completed novels ( The Crossing, The Assassins' Village), a short story collection andmy third novel, (Children of thePlantation) published in Amazon last month!
Your latestbook is Children of the Plantation;perhaps you'd you give us some insight into it in a few sentences?
My latest book is another in the Diana RiversMystery series entitled; Children of ThePlantation.It starts in the present; when heroine and amateursleuth Diana is asked to read through a collection of journals she is whiskedback to the turbulent times during the fifties and sixties in Malaya (now knownas Malaysia). Love, betrayal, murder and mystery all feature heavily in thisstory.
How did youcome to write this particular book?
After writing my first very popular Diana Riversmystery, The Assassins' Village, I was caught up in her character and lovedwriting about mysterious happenings. It seemed logical to write a follow up,especially when my loyal core of followers particularly asked me to!
Do you havea favourite character from the book? If so, who and why this particular one?
It has to be Diana. She's a feisty lady, who'salways getting in trouble with her inquisitive ways. I also enjoyed writingabout Alex, whose story it is really about. He's on a rite of passage and issuch a mixed up kid. When he does a certain thing he really messes things upand causes a calamity with huge repercussions!
Where canpeople buy your books?
My books are available on;Amazon US  http://amzn.to/oLQt8cAmazon UK http://amzn.to/qe90LfSmashwords  http://bit.ly/iXHzBqThe book depository (paperbacks) http://bit.ly/oCON7U
Whatqualities does a writer need to be successful?
Many qualities spring to mind. Even when you'reenjoying writing it's a hard slog writing sometimes. It can be a lonely daywhen you sit there tapping away at your keyboard or holding a pencil. I finallygot down to serious writing when my children were gown up. I took a sciencedegree and once I'd realised that dedication, stamina and determination wereneeded to compete my degree I decided it applied equally to writing. Also I'verecently discovered that your readers are the MOST important factor once yourbook goes live. They have feelings and are NOT there as your personal cash cow.
 What's your working method?
When I am writing, time means nothing to me.Although I aim for at least 1500 words a day sometimes I can happily writethree times that - so long as there are no distractions. No radio or televisionwhen I am working! At the moment I write in the 'snug', a gorgeous cosy room inour 200 -year old stone house. I know I have found my niche in life. It'sfantastic to see the product of my efforts on a bookshelf in a store or onAmazon. I handwrite into a note pad, when I've finished for the day I simply close the bookand don't open it until the next day when I'll go over the previous day's work.I may edit then.When I come to put the completed notes onto my pc– this is my first major edit – the first of many!
What's thesingle biggest mistake made by beginner writers?
As I've already said it can be a hard slog. Whenyou're ready to publish make sure that the product you're going to offer is asgood as a paperback. Take time to edit and re-edit, over and over. Be patient –it will take time to make any real progress. Be friendly and polite to everyonewithin the same market – you never know when you might need them and goodmanners never hurt. You can also learn lots from others as well.
To whatextent are grammar and spelling important in writing?
Very important. As above – editing is boring witha capital B, but it pays off. The most annoying thing is you can check a MS 12times, read it out aloud and yet once it's printed you'll still finds mistakes.Groan. We all do it and the big boys are also culprits!
How much doyou revise your MS before sending it off?
Lots and lots. I also read it out aloud and getfriends to do the same.
Many authorssee marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal withit?
Marketing is a huge part of writing – and not justmarketing the end product – the book – you have to market yourself. Be nice to people, remember they might be your reader. Ienjoy some of the marketing, it takes up an enormous amount of time but I've'met' some fabulous people and made loads of friends in the meantime! Thismakes up for it.
What sort ofdisplacement activities keep you from writing?
Family! Home, friends who don't always understandyou.
How longdoes it take you to write a novel?
My first novel (The Crossing) took me abouteighteen months with all the research (six months). I then wasted ages lookingfor an agent and then publisher. I eventually found one – who doesn't do a lottowards marketing – I believe it's best to do it yourself.My second novel, The Assassins' Village took abouta year and my latest, just about to be published; Children of The Plantationtook me about four months. I'm getting quicker. Also, as I'm becoming moreexperienced my books are tighter and less wordy – so shorter and therefore lesstime to complete.
Who or whatinspires your writing?
I can read a great novel and I then go aroundthinking about it for days – the author may have a style that I admire and itgives me the impetus to get down and begin to write a new book. No one writeror person inspires me though.
If there's asingle aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?
I hate the first chapter/s. It takes me a while tofind my stride. I often rewrite these many times. There are not enough hours inthe day, and I'll die before I've finally finished all I have to write!
Is there aparticular feature of writing that you really enjoy?
Once I'm well into it and on a roll. I sometimesfeel as if I could go on for ever.
Do youbelieve creative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Mmm. Hard question this. I think creative writing is a natural gift. One can acquire acertain amount of skill and polish, but the true writer has to possess thatcertain 'something', the spark, the feel and the need to get something down onpaper.
What are youwriting now?
I've just finished, Children of The Plantationwhich was published in September. I have another idea for a thirdDiana Rivers mystery in the pipeline and I've just begun my research for this.I have not yet got a title, but it will involve Diana and a group of actors inEngland.
Do you havea website or blog where readers can visit?
Absolutely, the link is http://www.faithmortimerauthor.comI'd love anyone to post me a comment on my blogthere.
Givenunlimited resources, where would you do your writing? Where do you actuallywrite?
Here. I live in an old stone-house in thefoothills of the Troodos Mountains on Cyprus. A beautiful Mediterranean islandand known as Aphrodite's own. I originally come from England. I write in 'thesnug' in the house, or on a shady terrace outside. Perfect and quiet. 

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Sympathy or Empathy?

Sympathy or Empathy?Sympathy: noun - harmony of disposition ortemperament, making people compatible; common feeling; sharing or being inagreement with the feelings or condition of another or others; feelings of pityand sorrow for the suffering of another; a feeling or expression of compassionor condolence.
Empathy: noun - the ability to mentally identifywith and fully comprehend a person or object of contemplation.
Sympathy is relativelycommon, especially for someone in distress of some sort. But it involves nomore than sharing feelings with the victim.
Empathy, on the otherhand, requires a deep and comprehensive understanding of the full implicationsof the emotions felt by a victim; it is, in a sense, 'becoming' that person inthe way that a fine actor will 'be' the character rather than simply portraythe person.
By all means portray acharacter sympathetically, if that suits the story. But, as a writer, you needto be empathetic and get into the skin of the character you're depicting.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Stanza

Stanza: noun - a group of lines of verse used asa basic metrical unit of a song or poem consisting of a series of such groups;a verse; in some Greek and Latin metres - a group of four lines; in Italy - anapartment, chamber or room, especially one in the Vatican; a half or othersession of a game or sporting contest.
Here's anexample, but beware: I don't consider myself a poet.
Suburban
Suburban every Sunday manpolishing his whitework's vanwhen the stranger gives asmilehe would rather run amilethan take the risk to sayhelloto a man he does not know
Suburban weekday workdaymanstarting up his whitework's vanslams the door on wifeforlorncranks the engine parpsthe horndoesn't give a damn he'ssaidfor the neighbours stillin bed
Saturday suburban manin the street his whitework's vanputs his feet up for thetellyfills his glass and fillshis belly lets the wife go shop uptownif she'll shed herweeknight gown
Suburban every somedaymannow he's lost his whitework's vanlost the wheels and lostthe joblost his pride become asloball the days from now thesamebear the stigma feel theshame.
Pic: Approaching Goodmanham in East Yorkshire.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Whether or if?

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Whether or if?
These two conjunctions are more or lessinterchangeable. However, 'whether' is generally used in more formal writing.And 'if' gives a better idea that possibility or probability is involved withthe alternatives on offer.
So:
'Whether you vote Labour or Conservative willmake no difference to your life: both parties will screw you unless you're partof the club.'

'If you vote Labour, you can feel that you'vetried to be socially responsible, but if you vote Conservative, you'll have to acceptyou've displayed no social conscience. Of course, the reality is that neithervote will improve matters for you, unless you belong to the small group makingthe decisions.' 


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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Rabelaisian

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Rabelaisian: adjective - characteristic of orresembling the writing of French satirist François Rabelais (c 1494–1553); demonstratingexuberant imagination and language, coarse humour, and satire.
'I'd count it an honour ifI could write a book of such Rabelaisian power that it would be banned by theVatican, in the same way as the works of François Rabelais were banned.'
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: We're, were or where?

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We're, were or where?Homonyms (words that soundalike but which have different meanings) cause much misunderstanding amongstthose learning the language. They should be familiar to native speakers, butseem to confuse a lot of folk. Here are some suggestions to help in rememberingthe correct usage for each.
'We're' is a contractionof the phrase 'We are.' If the phrase can be used in place of the word, thenthis is the one you need.'We're (we are) all goingto march on Parliament to protest about the way MPs have been making fraudulentclaims for living expenses.'
'Were' is the past tenseof 'are' and is used to describe something that has happened in the past.'We were going to theHouses of Parliament to protest, but we are now going to the pub instead.'
'Where' is a locationalterm, in common with 'here' and 'there'. It can be used in a question about thelocation of something or it can identify the placing of a person or object.'Where are the houses ofParliament?' 'Here they are; on the banks of the Thames, in London.''The Houses of Parliamentare where British MPs sit to make laws intended to keep them in power and positionsof privilege.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Quadriga

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Quadriga: noun - a Roman chariot, pulled by fourhorses harnessed abreast; a representation of such a chariot in sculpture or ona coin.
'In his shining armour,and standing fierce and proud in his magnificent quadriga, Septimus Maxima wasa figure of terror in the eyes of the common folk on conquered Gaul.'
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