mentor
851 2015-11-08 11:32:27
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
852 2015-11-08 03:46:33
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
auntie annie
853 2015-11-08 00:07:32
Re: Sol: Connection request I can't delete. (16 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
vern wrote:
Linda Lee wrote:I Wonder if anyone clicked the link for those important photos....
This is all there was:
When clicked on the link I got this
http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/squ … artian.jpg
854 2015-11-07 23:40:12
Re: One-liners that mean a lot (34 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
A dream, all a dream
that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down
but I wish you to know that you inspired it
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
855 2015-11-07 23:36:24
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
856 2015-11-07 23:25:37
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Oh, and technically a Martian is someone who comes from Mars, not someone who goes to it; so for all those who got it, I don't get the title. 
857 2015-11-07 23:21:29
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
. I wasn't trying to shame you with my family anecdotes yesterday.
I was just sharing some of what went into the read for me beyond a sense of the structure.
I got that, I totally got it. In return I was being flippant; totally non-serious about something that is. Family.
You know me, foot often in my mouth. Ever the oaf:)
Anyway, back to Mars. Discussing it with a Sci-Fi fanboy colleague, he said that I should listen to the audiobook rather than read the pulp. He said that if I read the text I'll hear Mark Watney talking to me in, my voice. What I need to do, he says, is to hear Mark Watney talk to me in his voice.
I think he might have something. On Amazon it allows a listen to a sample of the audio-book. I tried it and yes, the log thing sounds more plausible or natural when spoken. It is a spoken log rather than a written log after all. The 'only-person' POV and all that.
Sorry for insulting the Waltons too! I couldn't help it. I actually love that show; especially the talking horse.
858 2015-11-07 03:37:17
Re: Book covers (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
vern wrote:
You did especially well on the T-Rex bait; draws you in immediately. Take care. Vern
A devil to get the model girl to lie still and the dinosaur to perform whilst using a slow shutter after metering for low light. But thankfully, we 'got' there on the 15th take.
The Nazi leprechauns? What can I say, they were just the worst!
860 2015-11-07 02:22:45
Re: One-liners that mean a lot (34 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
861 2015-11-07 02:03:09
Re: One-liners that mean a lot (34 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
862 2015-11-07 02:01:53
Topic: One-liners that mean a lot (34 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
Share some short phrases that are high on impact or that are sensory.
I have some favourites.
863 2015-11-06 21:34:17
Re: Literary Openings (37 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
corra wrote:
Why? (for the like or the not like.) I love this opening too. Just curious for your take.
I've not quite completed 'Farewell to Arms' yet and I'll summarise after I've finished and digested it. But I think I was expecting too much from it. Not that I think it is bad; I feel that I may have over hyped it within the minds-eye of my own expectation. No worries! It'll make for a lovely chat, nurse Gage
864 2015-11-06 21:16:57
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
By "jaded" I of course meant "predisposed to like it." I don't know why I said "jaded."
Don't worry. The meaning of words don't actually matter. It is what you actually meant but didn't say that is impotent.
The odd wrong worm in the wrong place is neither hear nor their. I got what it was you were getting at
865 2015-11-06 21:08:35
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
[You should know that I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND this show. (Mom would let me stay home with her and watch this in syndication when I was sick. It's mighty cozy. You can get it at a good price used!)
Wow, memories! I think I saw this once. It was the episode when they struck oil and went off to live in Beverly Hills with a cool 40 year old teenager who loved his motorcycle and their cousin Daisy who owned but only one pair of hot-pants.
I'm sure I watched it with my mother too; only, I think I may have been a foetus at the time. Although, I'm sure it was that episode which turned me from the television to books.
866 2015-11-06 17:53:13
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
But the cup is hot?
Why? Does it depict Lady GaGa wearing nothing but a staple through her midriff?
So, on Mars and in Georgia you'd always say;
'A chilled glass of wine,' rather than 'a glass of chilled wine?'
and
'A cold can of beer,' rather than 'a can of cold beer?'
and
'A hot plate of food,' rather than 'a plate of hot food?'
and
'A full room of people,' rather than 'a room full of people?'
and
'A steeple with a church', rather than 'A church with a steeple.'
and
a 'knocker on a door' rather than a 'doorknocker?'
Are you a cart horse or a horse and cart type? '
In my opinion, it is that degree of confusion which has led to you people eating nothing but this https://letsblogaboutamerica.files.word … oodusa.jpg
867 2015-11-06 12:31:29
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
vern wrote:
I think it's a natural law or something right up there with gravity.
"Up there with gravity?" Newton would have a baby. I think we got us a case of oxymora breaking out!
868 2015-11-06 12:20:38
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
(You bought a copy? I'm not recommending it. I'm saying I liked it.)
Seeing as you are recommending it so highly, I will hold you personally responsible for my enjoyment of this pulp.
Yes, I made a purchase and it should be there at the home, like a dead goldfish or a sick puppy, waiting for me when I return from work this evening.
Or, should I say, "Yep, I've gone and got me it."
From a small bunch of reader reviews that I've read (Amazon UK and Goodreads), there are several that, like you, state they began reading and were less than enamoured with the initial experience but grew to like it very much and by the end were very pleased that they'd stuck with it. The book seems to have a certain charm that is perhaps not immediately felt.
I've based my opinions upon the first few pages, I've never read beyond. If you recall I started to talk about 'the Martian' within the 'Literary Openings' thread on the discussion forum. My opinions are from that exercise and I stand by them; I am less than impressed with the 'Martian' as a literary opening. This was a direct result of me standing in the bookstore at a London railway terminus and reading the intro chapter. On the basis of my feeling for the book after that quick peek, I decided in that moment that the book was not for me. To be honest, I'd expected more and relayed my experience in that other thread.
That doesn't mean to say that the book doesn't blossom into something much better than the opening would suggest. In fact, I'm convinced that it does; as I say, I trust your judgement upon literature other than 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles,' without question.
Also, I feel that I should read the entire novel before I express another opinion because the discussion has opened up beyond the perceived quality (or not) of the intro and has widened into opinions based upon the structure and sum of the entire novel. In truth, Vern's premise for this discussion was based upon an entire novel and the reader's perseverance with a story they were not liking too much; and I weighed in with an opinion about an intro section and that without having read more than four or five pages.
Plus, I feel that I owe it to the author to at least buy a copy of his work if I'm going to discuss its merits or publically share my critique upon it.
That said, you remain entirety responsible for my enjoyment (or not) of said story.
869 2015-11-06 02:22:18
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Below is a review of the Martian cut and pasted from the Amazon (UK) site. There are plenty of very positive reviews too, but this one with its;
"he seems to be devoid of any actual thoughts. Considering his position, stranded on Mars, you'd think he may have a moment of depression, doubt, or desolation; not a bit of it! Nothing, not even followed by a bit of "pull yourself together man!"
...seems to resonate with me and way I feel about it. I've bought the novel, a real bargain at three quid for the paperback with free next day delivery (I don't know how they do it? It would cost me £3 just to send this book to myself using 2nd Class (economy) postage).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Makes Dan Brown look like Dostoevsky
ByWoodenlighthouseon 24 May 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I was recommended this book by a friend, so I came at it wanting to like it. I'm a technologist so it ought to have been right down my street; oh dear. It's been said before, but bears saying again; this is appallingly written. I had to give up, I'm sorry, but there are too many good books in the world to persevere with this tosh.
The main character is shallow and other than his ability to think through a technological solution to any given problem, he seems to be devoid of any actual thoughts. Considering his position, stranded on Mars, you'd think he may have a moment of depression, doubt, or desolation; not a bit of it! Nothing, not even followed by a bit of "pull yourself together man!"
This seems more like a sixteen-year-old's extended school essay, than a proper book. And it wouldn't have gained anything higher than a B. Simplistic solutions, annoying writing style, boring characters. I'd travel to Mars just to knock him senseless with a spade, but he'd probably see it as a minor set back he could solve with a few more litres of his own excrement.
Any film of this must be based on the premise, not on the style.
870 2015-11-06 01:55:18
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
vern wrote:
I "got" a different opinion...
LOL! Are we going to 'get' quotation marks, apostrophes, bold or italic wherever we 'get' "got" from now on?
871 2015-11-06 01:49:51
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
I believe it! He's got no one to talk to! The log is his only real reason to use his voice....
Ah, I see! It's written in that other POV; not 'First Person,' 'Third Person' or even 'Second Person', but 'Only Person'
Literary Fiction, it ain't. However far Mars is from Earth is how distant this opening is from Literary Fiction.
Okay, okay, I kind of buy what you are saying and normally I trust your judgement above my own. I do see the need for the backstory to be put out there somehow, but I'd like to see a bit more of the man before he gives me the history of NASA.
Straight into the random remote information dump is maybe not the best constructed intro chapter IMO.
872 2015-11-06 00:54:21
Re: Ask the Expert. (62 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
You are actually an actual toad choker!!
And that's coming from a parrot-toed pipjenny or maybe even a Sally Lunn?
873 2015-11-06 00:45:41
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I felt that introducing the story with a log was a blatant and inelegant way of trooping out the backstory in condensed format.
I mean this guy is stranded on another planet by way of a traumatic disaster and assumes he is about to die and his first thought is to write a log that documents the chronology of the previous Mars missions and a breakdown of the exploration program and circumstances that led up to his own mission?
Is that really the psyche of a seemly reluctant astronaut who has been recently been stranded alone, presumed dead on another world? I’ll be honest, as a reader I’m having difficulty believing the character at this point.
These are the real-time thoughts of a man in a desperate situation (in situ) whilst he stares (self-proclaimed) certain death in the face….
“From there, we took the MDV (Mars descent vehicle) to the surface. The MDV is basically a big can with some light thrusters and parachutes attached. Its sole purpose is to get six humans from Mars orbit to the surface without killing any of them. “
“And now we come to the real trick of Mars exploration: having all of our shit there in advance.”
“A total of fourteen unmanned missions deposited everything we would need for surface operations. They tried their best to land all the supply vessels in the same general area, and did a reasonably good job. Supplies aren't nearly so fragile as humans and can hit the ground really hard. But they tend to bounce around a lot.”
This and all the other mission chronology stuff should come out in another way, it might be a good story but the intro is lazy writing IMO.
Maybe a good case for a prologue?
874 2015-11-06 00:18:52
Re: Punctuation (296 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
jack the knife wrote:
Perhaps my use of "sneering" was a bit much, but that was the impression I got. I didn't intend to disparage other viewpoints on the piece, only to inquire why those who thought it was a bad example of writing thought so, since I didn't see it. It's supposed to be a discussion, not a vehicle for ad hominem comments.
It started with Vern congenially expressing an opinion then asking for other opinions, and me supplying one;
vern wrote:
.... Just curious about other opinions on this particular book or one which may have had the same "junk" status for you, yet did quite well in the market. Take care. Vern
Dill Carver wrote:
Hi Vern
We were discussing similar in an adjacent group forum/thread;
In this case it is the current bestseller, (and now a major movie) ‘The Martian’
I wasn't impressed with what I read and I'm more than happy to outline why (which I shall do). But that is just my personal take and I was delighted to hear other views, especially those that contradict mine. (I want to understand what it is about this novel that has made it so successful and revered). Therefore, I am very interested in understanding what others see in it and have read corra's comments in detail and am grateful to her for taking the time to express her own opinions whilst answering or addressing my concerns about the prose with her own views.
I don't mean to be harsh or aggressive, I'd just love this site to harbour genuine discussions about literature and writing where anyone feels comfortable to voice an opinion and have that opinion respected, discussed and addressed with a counter-argument if another opinion warrants it; but without digs or personal attacks.
Yes, we all have passion and enthusiasm and yes it pours out. But there is a balance. If we are open-minded and readily agree to disagree, there is a huge amount of value and enjoyment to be had here within our discussions, if only we allow it.
875 2015-11-05 23:51:57
Re: Literary Openings (37 replies, posted in The Write Club -- Creative Writing and Literature Discussions Group)
I'm a real fan of this opening; for many reasons... but not sure if I'm as enthusiastic about the rest of the book as I'd hoped to be.
In the late summer of that year we lived in a house in a village that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains. In the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders, dry and white in the sun, and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels. Troops went by the house and down the road and the dust they raised powdered the leaves of the trees. The trunks of the trees too were dusty and the leaves fell early that year and we saw the troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves, stirred by the breeze, falling and the soldiers marching and after-ward the mad bare and white except for the leaves. The plain was rich with crops; there were many orchards of fruit trees and beyond the plain the mountains were brown and bare. There was fighting in the mountains and at night we could see the flashes from the artillery. In the dark it was like summer lighting, but the nights were cool and there was not the feeling of a storm coming.
