Colleen Anderson's Blog, page 46

Things I've Learned From TV

I recently took a week off and, conserving my funds, made it a working vacation for writing. This means I wrote one story, finished another, submitted a bunch of poems and stories and started rewriting my novel…again. In between that, cleaning and doing the great purge on my place, I was also suffering from a case of Smallvillitis. What's that? Well it's where you start watching Smallville, on your laptop and watch an episode every day. Of course, this was season 9 so I've had the disease for a while. In fact, I watched season 1-9 this year.

That's actually pretty bad for someone who professes to not watch TV. But I can blame that on Joss Whedon and Buffy who got me back into watching interesting and intelligent TV. Still, I try not to become a total couch potato. However, watching so many seasons at once really lets you see the character and story arcs of the show. What gimmicks or themes are big for them: for Smallville, the theme of power and what's right and wrong are tantamount, laced with unrequited love, jealousy, faith, fear, alienability, etc. The other thing that becomes evident are the gimmicks or tricks that the directors and producers like for a show. Some of these are the clichés of Hollywood and some are clichés in the making.

Smallville survives because it has interesting enough plots, characters changing sometimes so subtly from good to evil and back and pretty good dialogue. But it falls captive to some of those TV realities, which do not affect our real world. Not just Smallville, but other shows and movies get caught up in the same trap. Below is a partial list of some of the things I've learned from TV and from Smallville.

Creepy things in fields and graveyards (or meetings in such places) are always accompanied by mist. It doesn't matter if you're in Kansas or the Alps, there's bound to be spooky mist.
Cars, no matter how small the fire, will always explode. If this were true people would probably never drive them. Explosions are actually very rare. I once copyedited a Hulk novel (I think) where the truck transporting grape jam exploded and the fire was hot enough to melt glass and turn everything purple from the jam. Of course, that's hot enough to melt a lot of stuff and anything organic would carbonize, not retain its color. I think they still left it in, no matter how inaccurate it was.
Air ducts are always big enough for a full human to crawl though, and spic and span clean. I look up in the buildings I walk through and never notice ducts this big, nor do I think that they could support the weight of a human if I see one. And usually they're half the size. Where are all the spiders and grungy dirt bits filtered out from the great outdoors?
Elevators always have a hatch at the top, big enough and easy enough for someone to escape into. Everyone is of course a super athlete. In the one level elevator into the underground garage where my bank is, there is a grill and yes a hatch big enough to crawl through, should I be able to hoist myself up. But I don't often see these in business buildings. And what do the escapees do anyways, crawl up the greasy cables to the next floor?
Fires in houses, even primitive cottages will still cause and explosion. Yes, like cars and trucks watch out for the giganto fires. Toss a lamp down, and it will flame crazily and instantly, and yes the house will explode sooner or later.
Every slum even in big cities, has guys burning fires in oil drums. Next time you're out in your big city, think about or drive through that bad or down and out are of town. Vancouver has Canada's poorest postal code with the Downtown Eastside, and you know what, even there with drug addicts and alcoholics and people who need care, there is not one oildrum with a fire burning in it. Dang where is that disenfranchised utopia?
Glass tables; everyone has them because they can fall through them. Yep, you would not believe the number of times someone has tossed someone through a glass table on Smallville. They love it and it happens about every three episodes (I'm just guessing) because well, it looks so good and makes great crashing sounds (done afterwards in the foley studio but who the heck cares).

I've already talked about the brainiac glasses cliché where every egghead computer user sports them. But I' m sure I'll be able to add more to this list in the future.

Filed under: culture, entertainment, humor, movies Tagged: Buffy, cliche, culture, entertainment, myths, Smallville, stereotypes, TV, TV shows

Writing: The Process

I'm sure I've written about this before but right now I'm in the middle of the full-fledged process. I'm trying to get a story done for the World Horror Convention writing contest, as well as doing and online interview with the other Evolve authors on Bitten By Books. Go over there now if you have questions to ask or want to see a bit of how different authors view the process of writing or writing specifically about vampires: www.bittenbybooks.com I'll also be at Orycon from Nov. 12-14 in Portland to talk about writing and to do a reading, maybe two. Right now I think I might read this virginal story I'm working on.

Indirectly, perhaps, it involves the picture to the left. Those are barrow mounds in Ireland, at Knowth. However, to back up to the beginning of this process is the kernel of an idea I had. Perhaps it started with Nancy Kilpatrick saying she was doing a second anthology of vampire fiction. I wrote one page and couldn't think of a plot. I had atmosphere, a character and…that was it. Well, sure there was a thin plot showing itself but it was a cliché vampire tale and I didn't want to write that, nor would anyone want to buy it.  So I put it aside and pondered. And pondered.

And came up with nothing. Thinking this one page still had something I finally emailed a bunch of people and said, "Is anyone willing to read one page of fiction and tell me what you think the story should be." About five people responded. One went for humor, which this story was not, two gave suggestions not really suitable even to the first page, and two others gave me enough suggestions that I could kickstart the thinking process again. Sometime we need a mental smack upside the head to knock us out of those cliché grooves.

Often my next step in the writing process is this: ruminate. Turn the ideas over, think about this or that factor, literally sleep on it and work out a whole bunch logistics in my head before even hitting the paper. Then I start to make points, bits of conflict, images that come together. I went to Ireland a few years back and I've never used anything Irish as a setting for a story. Once I started thinking that my story started to come together better and the characters inhabiting it made more sense. Then those thoughts lead to the ability of my character to change or not and the depth of the conflict.

Next, I start writing. And stopping. And writing. And going to clean. And writing. And napping. Sometimes the story pours out and sometimes it creeps shyly. I wrote six pages last night after taking a day to write one page. And now I'm stopped (procrastinating writing this) as I try to work out the next stage. My character has overcome one conflict, but is that it? No. A good story usually has internal and external conflict so I need to bring up her internal conflict and whether she succumbs, fights or changes will remain to be seen but I have to make sure there are enough stakes in the game for my character (whose name is changing as I write this) to either emerge triumphant or changed by her travails.

Some stories have taken me years to finish because I can never satisfactorily work out the plot and conflict to my satisfaction. Some stories leap fully grown from my head like Athena from Zeus's brow. And some are a bit of both worlds; parts flowing out while others turn to concrete in my head.

And now that I've defined my problem, the internal conflict, I guess I need to decide if in fact the theme that I often write about in my stories will be the same here. Morality. "An Ember Amongst the Fallen" was a morality tale. "Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha" is maybe an immorality tale and this one, well, yeah her morals are question. I'll see what the character decides.

Filed under: art, culture, entertainment, fantasy, horror, internet, people, publishing, relationships, science fiction, Writing Tagged: Bitten by Books, conflict, dark fiction, Evolve, Nancy Kilpatrick, Orycon, stories, vampires, Writing, writing plots, writing process

Jess Hill: An Upcoming Star

I'd actually say she's already arrived but there are still peaks to rise to. Jess Hill is one of Canada's (and Vancouver's) hot new singers and songwriters. I'm no expert on music but I know a catchy tune and can relate to a well modulated voice, and the beautiful chanteuse has both. Not only that, but her songs have lyrics that spin you into an atmosphere and mood as well as any tale.

Jess has been featured on CBC radio, at the Folk Festival and at various venues across western Canada. She's just cut her second album, Orchard, which is sure to be even greater than Road. Her videos (check out the you tube below) are whimsical and fun, and sultry. http://www.youtube.com/jesshillsorchard And like many artists of East Van, crows feature in her songs. They are our ubiquitous bird and they grace songs, painting, sculptures and poems.

Until Oct. 18th people can vote at 100.5 The Peak for their top artists. Jess has made it into the top 20. You can listen to each performer there and make up your own mind. But vote now before the deadline. http://www.peakperformanceproject.com – to vote see the top right corner of the page. The winner receives $100,500 toward their music career.

http://www.myspace.com/jesshill

http://www.jesshill.ca

Filed under: art, culture, entertainment, music, people Tagged: crows, entertainmnet, Jess Hill, music, Orchard, performance, singing, songs, The Peak, Vancouver music

Chizine Publications: New & Upcoming

I've joined the slush readers for ChiZine Publications, which is not the same as Chizine the online mag, but they are related. I'm already an assistant poetry editor for Chizine, but I'll now be reading submissions to the publishing arm CZP. http://chizine.com/chizinepub/ I haven't got my batch o' manuscripts to read yet and haven't even sent in my pic and bio but I'm on the team.

So,in the grand flurry of getting more goods on the books being published, and coming on board, I'll list here what's happening. CZP has been getting good reviews as a publisher and for their authors so I'm proud to join the team. I'll also be going to the World Horror Convention in Austin, Texas next spring, representing myself and supporting the Chi team.

Tony Burgess's book Cashtown is being promoted with a book trailer. This great piece was directed by none other than Bruce MacDonald of Hard Core Logo, Pontypool, and This Movie is Broken fame. Take a look: http://tinyurl.com/26ssg3u

There is a review of People Live Still in Cashtown Corners at  http://justinelewkowicz.com/blog

Sarah Court, by Craig Davidson has made it to the #8 spot for bestsellers at Horror Mall in the digital category for September. And here it is as a featured title on Wowio. http://www.wowio.com


And Doug Smith's Chimerascope is receiving some good reviews. Take a look at this one from SF Crowsnest the UK: http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/articles/books/2010/Chimerascope-by-Douglas-Smith-15521.php

Brett Savory and Sandra Kasturi are the masterminds behind CZP and I'm honored to be joining their team as CZP continues to pull in great reviews and stellar writers. So drop on in to see what's coming out in the realms of dark fantasy, SF and horror.

Filed under: culture, entertainment, fantasy, horror, news, poetry, publishing, Writing Tagged: books, Bruce MacDonald, Chizine Publications, Craig Davidson, CZP, dark fantasy, Doug Smith, horror, publishing, reviews, Tony Burgess, Writing

The Muffins Lasted Longer Than the Relationship

There are dates and there are dates. The first is the type that you eat, that you could possibly put in a muffin. And the second is the type you do with someone, presumably someone you're interested in.

I have had either the misfortune or the…adventure of dating from time to time. Here's an example of what I might have to put up with. The other night I was out with friends for a drink. This guy decided I was beautiful, but like most lines after a few drinks we must examine them like insects crawling across our sandwiches. Motives are always suspect because often the guy wants nothing more than to be the cream in your coffee. And lo and behold this guy told me he loved me. I said, "No you don't. You've just met me."

Do they really think that will work? It didn't work when I was 20 and it doesn't work now. He proceeded to say he really wanted to date me and that he didn't just want sex but a relationship, but he was all over me and that turned me off. It adds a teaspoon of cynicism right at the beginning.

But really, this post is about muffins. Sort of. For a short spate, I dated someone this summer. He worked in a muffin factory. These muffins were dense, moist, full of flax and sturdy enough to keep me filled for half a day. That description doesn't work for the man, but he sometimes gave me a few muffins to take home. I ate the last one today. I haven't been eating them throughout all this time but the muffin lasted in my fridge through August and September. No mold and mostly still moist. The relationship on the other hand, lasted five dates, or over about six weeks. The muffin had staying power and might have been the better part of the deal. All I can go on is what I got.

But muffins have it easy. They only have to relate with your digestive system. And though that can cause its own havoc, the communication is fairly straightforward. You either like or don't like the taste, eat, feel full, and then your body processes the nutrients into wanted and not wanted, and then you get rid of the rest. Hmmm, maybe a relationship is a lot like eating.

However, communication seems to be one of those weird things that takes more twists and turns than food sliding through your gut. I have enough male friends who are in relationships they aren't happy with, but they won't leave their partner. Why? Well, some argue that "she wouldn't survive without me." I call this reverse egotism. The man decides that the woman is incapable of moving on or existing without him, when somehow she did so before they met. Often it's really because the man doesn't know if he'd survive on his own, he's never broken up with a woman, or he's afraid of his loneliness.

On the dating end, I've had a guy give me his phone number but it was a dud number. So why did he even bother? I was not going to die if he didn't give me his number in the first place. And often we'll hear, I just need space, I want to be alone right now, or nothing, just silence. If these phrases are lies instead of the truth, we're bound to find out, as I have. I can actually live quite easily with someone saying, "I just don't think this relationship will work," or "I'm actually interested in someone else" to some other far-fetched and less truthful statement.Especially if I've only had a date or two.  My emotional investment is pretty low and I'm capable of moving on and forgetting I actually dated the person.

You'd think people could just say the truth, be honest. But somehow they believe a little lie will be less painful than the truth. I have used "men" here in my analogies because that's who I've dated but I think in some instances these scenarios would hold true for women. Except I bet that a woman who is done with a relationship is more likely to leave it, overall, than say "he couldn't survive without me."

So in the meantime, between these dates where the ingredients are missing or suspect, I'll stick to home cooking and leave it to the food to communicate with my body. That at least is always an honest interaction.

Thanks to anaumi for the picture: http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu13/anaumi/muffin.jpg

Filed under: culture, food, humor, life, people, relationships, sex Tagged: dating, ego, lies, men, relationships, sex

Monarchy: A Body That Should Be Put to Rest

You might gather from that title that I'm anti-monarchist, and you'd be right. Today, Canada swore in its new Governor-General. What is the governor-general? It is the person who stands in for the queen of England for Canada. The person with that title wields a vast amount of power. He/she is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and also convenes parliament, or in the case of proroguing parliament (something that Prime Minister Harper is fond of using to evade the tough questions) must agree to it. In practice, it is a symbolic figurehead position where the governor-general dances to the tune of the prime minister.

There are many Canadians who love the monarchy and many who don't or don't even know the queen of England is still sovereign over our nation. I think England is called a constitutional monarchy, and Canada is a sovereign nation, independent…yet…kinda not. I've been told that having this figurehead protects our democracy, that it limits the power of the prime minister, which is not as all sweeping as a president's but I don't know. I get rankled that someone from some other country, who is called the "Queen of England and the commonwealth, defender of the faith," etc. is really the true ruler of our country.

Should she, or  her commander on Canadian soil, ever exercise true power over Canada we would see people suddenly not that for the monarchy. There would be wholesale rebellion if England told us what to do. So, why do we have a queen or king? I don't like paying lip service to this ruler (even nominal) of another nation.

On top of that, monarchies are really a thing of the past, of the feudal era, and in most cases we're past that style of culture. Sure, there are various cultures that still have kings and queens, some of them like Britain's queen (the king of Thailand for example), but to what purpose? A democratic (or communist country) has other ways of governing.Go ahead and call yourself king, grand potentate, god or emperor if you rule a tyranny or dictatorship because there, the will of the people is definitely suppressed.

People were made king or queen in past eras because they killed everyone else, had the strongest arm or the biggest army. Then their descendants, who raked in the tithes and taxes and gifts, got to rule, or someone overthrew them. So who is royal? Anyone who gets to the top. There isn't different blood that runs through their veins, they are not dropped onto the planet by some god, and they are not born more perfect, intelligent and wise than you or me. It is only by dint of their privileged status and money that they get to be humanitarians, travel in style, hobnob with the creme de la creme and get the best of everything. With that upbringing I too could be a goodwill ambassador for whatever I chose.

I do not object to being rich and I do not object to people rising to the top but I think they should earn it or inherit from their family. Sure that's happened to the monarchs of various kingdoms but right of inheritance doesn't really give you the means to be a good ruler. And gosh, everyone gets to vote in their rulers in the commonwealth countries.

So, although I think Canada should stop knuckling under to an outmoded form of government where the queen and god get to rule, I guess it's up to each country to decide if they want to keep their monarchs. Canada should stand on its own two feet. We should vote on it and hey, maybe I can be governor-general sometime and stage a coup against the prime minister. I wonder what would happen then. Would the armed forces (as they're sworn to do) follow such a coup, and would the Queen step in? It would make it interesting and probably get our constitution re-evaluated. Ah, for the colonial days. Time to get rid of monarchies the world over.

Filed under: culture, history, people, politics Tagged: Canadian constitution, commander in chief, constitutional monarchy, governor general, monarchy, politics, queen, Queen of England, sovereign leader, sovereign nation

Prostitution Isn't Going Away

This week an Ontario court struck down a law that had made certain aspects of prostitution illegal, citing that it jeopardized the safety of the prostitutes by forcing them onto the street. (I'm paraphrasing.)  There are many laws about prostitution. In Canada it's not illegal to be a prostitute but depending on where you are it could be illegal to sell sex, buy sex, live off the avails of prostitution or run a common bawdy house (known as brothel). I think pimping falls under human trafficking laws.

Harper's government may fight this change because of right-wing religious views, but when it comes down to it, and with William Picton torturing and murdering various sex trade workers, there is strong evidence that sex trade worker lives are jeopardized by these laws. The arguments on both sides have already begun and will never end.

There are those that say that these changes open the doors for pimps and human trafficking. However, I would think there are already explicit laws about trafficking other humans that makes pimping illegal. Others argue that many women are forced into the sex trade, and at an early age, and this is true. However, the laws do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to be a prostitute anyways.

The moment that people started civilizing themselves (and I use the term loosely) by making laws and rules for living in communities, was the moment prostitution began because men could not just take what they wanted. I should point out that various cultures and religions today still turn a blind eye to men taking what they want even if it's other people's rights and livelihoods. And as long as we have men on this planet we are going to have prostitution. That means forever.

No matter how one makes laws against this aspect or that of prostitution, or shames the johns or imprisons the sex trade workers, it's still going to continue. The more laws against it, the more it will be driven underground, but never away. I have a problem with this, like many aspects of laws that are meant to not keep people safe from each other but limit a person's rights.

What harm would there be if prostitution and buying it was legal? Just think, the government could make money off of it, like it does with cigarettes, and alcohol (also once outlawed). Women could work in brothels or establishments where there was protection from murderer and other abusers of people. The workers could have regular health inspections, as well as the establishment so that the johns were likewise safe and the women were healthy (I use women here as the most common sex trade worker but understand that this can affect men as well). Prices could be controlled. Pimps would be eliminated. Sex on the streets, including the used condoms, and the violence would be lessened. And if a prostitute was found on the street, she'd probably be underage, unhealthy, addicted or something else that would identify quicker a solution for helping.

Prostitution exists and men use it. Some are single, some are married. The ways a person cheats won't go away if there are laws against it. Legalizing prostitution would protect everyone better and the money the government made through licensing could go back into the system for education, health, addictions programs and other ways to get women out of the trade who are there more by circumstance and less by choice. And courts and prisons could be used for the true crimes.

This is such as win-win situation that I cannot understand why countries don't implement it, except because of religious views. And the problem with someone's religious view is that it's not everyone's. False morals just don't make sense to me and if anything this creates a system where resources are used needlessly in the wrong direction, and the government can't make statements about having wars on crime, even when the crime rate is dropping. Hype for using money where it could be used better elsewhere? Absolutely.

I'm hoping that this case in Ontario might be the first step towards a saner look at prostitution, the laws and the rights of the people involved. Because when it gets down to the nitty gritty, everyone is entitled to live their life how they wish as long as they do not hurt others.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/09/28/prostitution-law028.html

Filed under: crime, culture, drugs, health, history, life, people, sex Tagged: bawdy house, culture, johns, murder, Ontario's sex trade laws, Picton, pimps, prostitution, rape, sex, sex trade workers, sexual abuse

Writing & Life

Last night I did, not my first reading, but my first reading at the Vancouver Public Library. It's been awhile since I've done a reading and the last was at Orycon, Portland's science fiction convention, last November. Strangely, I was nervous all over again but since I've done enough acting and readings in front of people I reminded myself to take breaths and not rush. My most common nervous issue in reading is to start talking too fast. It must have worked because my friends didn't notice I was nervous.

I read part of "An Ember Amongst the Fallen" from the Evolve anthology to a moderate sized audience. Rhea Rose, Mary Choo and Sandra Wickham also read from their works. Since we had a time limit, I chose the beginning of the dinner scene and the mounting conflict between some of the guests and my main character Buer, who wants to rekindle a relationship with his old flame.

If anyone ever asks, the names are significant in the story. Beside Buer, there is Camiel, Sammael, Ronobe, Arkon and Jeanine. Except for the very human name of Jeanine (the person who is bucking trends and the equivalent of a vegetarian in a vampire world), the rest are names of angels or archangels, or fallen angels. And yes, this does refer to the title of the Fallen, for in this world the vampirii call themselves the Fallen and their religious system is rooted in this belief and that God is the Great Deceiver. Some of the names have specific meanings, while others don't in reference to my story. I will often use some subtle symbolism of names in my stories, if I think it's important, though the reader may never know.

The Barnes and Noble reviewer thought I should be writing novels on vampires but I'm not sure I could do one in this world. Perhaps I could but I would have to tread carefully, not because of religious leanings of the vampirii, but to make sure this does not replicate the Planet of the Apes scenario. That's been done and I'm aware of the similarities of that world and mine. However, whereas Planet of the Apes was a social comment on racism and black suppression (just as District 9 was), my story is different with humans as food. But both have a hominid as a lesser being.

"Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha," which went to press yesterday and should be out in Horror Library Vol. 4 in the next month, is quite a different story. If "Ember" is a morality tale, then "Exegesis" is an amorality tale. It is a story of otherness and the alien. Not aliens but alien. I'll be interested to see what people think of this one.

In the meantime, VCon is this coming weekend, Oct. 1-3. It's Vancouver's SF convention (gaming, media, costuming, writing) and unfortunately it's often plagued by disorganization and a lack of communication with the local writers. Despite that, some people have managed to get us down for a reading on Sunday (somewhere around 2 or 3). And considering I wasn't invited to attend and they never answered my emails, I'll be at the book launch on Friday at 7 pm. More info can be found here: http://www.vcon.ca/

And I will most likely be at Orycon in Portland on Nov. 12-14. "Exegesis" will be out by then so perhaps I'll read from that. And in the meantime, I am determined to finish off this Mary Magdalene story, so I can start on another, darker story that might be vampire and might be something else entirely. I'm working that out, and I think it's time to visit Ireland in a story since I've been there and the setting is needed.

Filed under: art, culture, entertainment, fantasy, horror, news, people, publishing, science fiction, Writing Tagged: amorality, anthology, Colleen Anderson, culture, dark fantasy, Edge Publishing, Evolve, horror, morality tale, racism, readings, Rhea Rose, vampires, vampirii, VCon, VPL, Writing

Writing: Sunburst Awards Announce Winners

SUNBURST AWARD ANNOUNCES 2010 WINNERS OF ITS $1,000 LITERARY PRIZE

Below I'm just printing verbatim the press release for the Sunburst Award. Although there could only be one winner, all of these people are excellent Canadian writers and worth a read. Congratulations to Alyx Dellamonica and Hiromi Goto for their wonderful achievements.

Toronto (September 27, 2010) The Sunburst Award Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of its 2010 adult award is Indigo Springs by A. M. Dellamonica ...

Rape: It's Just a Social Media Trend

Our civilization is truly sliding into the cesspool and presumably will meet its Waterloo in the next hundred years, if it makes it that long. I talk about a rape that happened recently in what we call Greater Vancouver, actually being an outlying city in the Greater Vancouver metropolis. Unfortunately rapes happen far too often but there are several things that made this one different and indicates an even more frightening trend toward a disintegrating society.

The girl (sixteen years old is ...