tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54508567253239487732024-03-04T21:03:49.415-08:00J E NiceWriter, slayer, warrior and pirateJ E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-73807661657073985862013-02-11T09:30:00.000-08:002013-02-11T09:30:40.102-08:00A new worldI have moved my blog!!<br />
<br />
After over a year of people telling me they wanted to comment on posts but couldn't because they weren't registered with Blogger, I decided to give Wordpress a go.<br />
<br />
My new blog is here; <a href="http://jenicewriter.wordpress.com/">http://jenicewriter.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
Hopefully it will be brighter, overall better and you will all be able to leave me comments!<br />
<br />
See you over there...J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-88483623261532033552013-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:002013-02-08T13:36:00.915-08:00Ethical inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV1ISbIsTKlQOnTOXFwn08OvQvIYr_m-QgAvrhabDDi5tMrK63qvxqGO-Dlw3ytjRvdXM-d0aLZFOVJhfM5Qmf5Crhe1GIXrHwQZV2dV-0nsG6bnrmpUKJPHJYoAvdO68ygDwstgDq-qp/s1600/impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV1ISbIsTKlQOnTOXFwn08OvQvIYr_m-QgAvrhabDDi5tMrK63qvxqGO-Dlw3ytjRvdXM-d0aLZFOVJhfM5Qmf5Crhe1GIXrHwQZV2dV-0nsG6bnrmpUKJPHJYoAvdO68ygDwstgDq-qp/s1600/impossible.jpg" /></a></div>
Is it wrong to take inspiration from tragic real life events?<br />
<br />
Of course not! What about Titanic? Or The Impossible?<br />
<br />
All dramatic situations in fiction are based on something rooted in fact. Theft, domestic abuse, rape and murder are all unfortunately very real. However, when someone, somewhere can put a name to the event (as with the above examples) it becomes an even more sensitive subject.<br />
<br />
Today, while wolfing down my lunch, I happened across a new website and the story of a woman sat dead in her flat surrounded by unopened Christmas presents and the television still on for a full two years. I was shocked. <br />
Even worse was that my first thought was what a great story that would make.<br />
<br />
Shame on me.<br />
<br />
There is a programme on this story which is currently being advertised. The first time I saw this advert I thought it was for a new gritty one-off drama.<br />
<br />
Some true life stories just lend themselves to a dramatic fictional tale. Except, it isn't fiction is it? Does this fall under the saying of 'you can't make this stuff up?'<br />
<br />
Often when I come across an interesting story in this way, I print it off and scribble ideas over it before putting it in an appropriate file for later use in a story. It crossed my mind today to print off the story of this poor woman but I just couldn't do it.<br />
<br />
This woman was a person. The woman had a family (who obviously thought nothing of her two year silence). They wouldn't know that I had printed off the news story and written ideas on how to adapt it to hide the reality and turn it into fiction. But I would know.<br />
<br />
Will this stop me from using this woman's tragic demise in my fiction one day? Probably not. Perhaps it could be ethical to use elements of this news story in my fiction one day in the far off future, when enough time has elapsed...in which case the more likely reason for me not to parts of this story is because I'll have forgotten it.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you look in the bookshops and Amazon you will find so
many books cashing in on tragic real life stories. There is a real
market for it but I can't help but feel a bit sickened by it.<br />
So when and how does it becomes ethical to use a real life tragic story in fiction?J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-65303257378004676142013-02-06T13:43:00.000-08:002013-02-06T13:43:44.611-08:00The dreaded block<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogcomics.net/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV_eJULfNIprpRi2KOehxofKmFRzcH-rDIaahSKZRT9RpEFjIWBF4_UUO7f9_wDOs46idvR-bgVGNReRQxweNcom2N5rKaoxNYcvcuJSY10USBWp8RuaXr6Q7vysGqkf6qPKmdTUwmvci/s1600/writers+blog.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have spent the last half an hour scouring the internet
for inspiration on what this blog post should be about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve spent the whole day thinking about it
off and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, while trying hard not to watch One Born Every Minute
which freaks me out but for some reason I still haven’t changed the channel, I
posted on Facebook that I’m in need of help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My lovely cousin pointed out the obvious subject to me –
lack of inspiration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, yes, I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That does make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except that
I don’t suffer from writer’s block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very proud of the fact that I
haven’t suffered from writer’s block since 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not since I discovered fantasy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then this blog came along...</div>
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<br /></div>
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What do you do when you hit writer’s block?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish I could write a list of ways around writer’s block
off the top of my head but having not suffered from it for over ten years, I
struggle to remember what I used to do!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing I do remember is that I used to read about
writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading articles about how to
find my voice, how to structure, create characters and world build would
always inspire me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never failed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that was what I did this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked up articles but they all say the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went onto forums but the more I read the
more annoyed I became with people’s responses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have the same problems with writing courses – every course
I’ve been on is simply a duplication of the articles I’ve read, which brings me
back to the theory that writers actually make out that writing is harder than
it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So my old and trusted technique doesn’t work anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be time to find some new ways of
overcoming writer’s block, if only to keep this blog populated!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what ways do you overcome lack of inspiration?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave a comment below, tweet me or leave me a
message on Facebook!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, I’m going to shut down social media before
the world puts me in a bad mood and I’m definitely going to turn off One Born
Every Minute!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: When medical professionals say ‘this might be
uncomfortable’ that means ‘it’s going to hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A lot!’</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-66848809378862576062013-02-04T13:10:00.001-08:002013-02-04T13:10:32.770-08:00The Hobbit...finally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aM4KJwUoce_6yaNez4-oy_wC0BiaaHlnCfGQabIxbcboIfdA49qfJQk6fEKknr9lbz8ygLfL8LcI5TjIhAaaCKxP_kQls8dNDQRIUa3_aVmtJIY4k59az8740UWYF1Wlr15147Y22Pvn/s1600/hobbit+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aM4KJwUoce_6yaNez4-oy_wC0BiaaHlnCfGQabIxbcboIfdA49qfJQk6fEKknr9lbz8ygLfL8LcI5TjIhAaaCKxP_kQls8dNDQRIUa3_aVmtJIY4k59az8740UWYF1Wlr15147Y22Pvn/s1600/hobbit+book+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
Yesterday I finished reading Snuff by Terry Pratchett and started reading The Hobbit. So far, all thirteen dwarfs have arrived at Bilbo's and have eaten him out of house and home. They're about to start singing.<br />
<br />
My first impression is good. It's fast paced and interesting, unlike The Fellowship of the Ring which I found very slow going. The Hobbit marks Tolkien's first steps into Middle Earth so it makes sense that there may be more action than description at this stage. In fact, at first it's questionable that it is set in Middle Earth as the narrator speaks directly to the reader as if hobbits live in our world. What description there is, is vibrant. I can easily picture the hobbits and believe I could still have the same image in my mind without having spent so many years embroiled in Peter Jackson's Middle Earth.<br />
<br />
I find myself having to remember that this is an old book. Tolkien seemed to be very fond of exclamation marks in dialogue which is already starting to bother me.<br />
This actually gave me a little hope as an aspiring writer. I know that things have changed dramatically in the world of publishing since Tolkien but his work is still accepted and appreciated, so it feels alright to use this as hope that the rules of writing can be broken. <br />
<br />
Being utterly in love with the film, An Unexpected Journey, I can't help but make comparisons. I have always stuck to the rule that the book is better than the film, however, while I'm enjoying The Hobbit, I can't help but prefer the film so far. This is down to characterisation.<br />
While I think that, so far, Martin Freeman has got Bilbo spot on, the dwarfs feel quite different. I loved the dwarfs in the film and, ok, so I've only just met them in the book but already they seem a little less fun, a little less exubrant and Thorin is a little less imposing.<br />
<br />
Still, these are only first impressions and I can't wait to continue reading...J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-71870806089507229052013-01-31T13:30:00.001-08:002013-01-31T13:30:27.718-08:00C is for...Confidence!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Today I had to put up posters throughout the office
promoting a campaign I’ve been working on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I pinned them to notice boards I grew more and more embarrassed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly the words were stupid, the messages
were wrong, the photos were weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite having had it approved by two people higher than me, I still don’t
have confidence in my own work.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The same can be said of my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how many times I will read and edit
my current novel before I finally feel confident enough to it?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I could go on to explain ways of boosting ones confidence
in writing (and work) but instead I’m going to ask a question.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Is this a female thing?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best selling author, G P Taylor didn’t even bother
submitting his first novel to publishers or agents for rejection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went straight to self publishing and look
where it got him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at where his
confidence in his own capabilities got him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Book deals, awards and movie rights.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What about Joe Abercombie’s <a href="http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2013/01/22/on-a-break/">recent announcement</a>
that he will be taking a break?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his
blog he mentions that he recent book, Red Country, was not always a pleasure to
write and he’s come to a road block in his creativity and planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he’s burned himself out – a break is definitely
very well earned after writing and publishing five books.</div>
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Last weekend I wrote down all of my ideas for books,
novels and novellas and there’s more than ten on that list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I haven’t even got the confidence to know when my first novel is
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How on earth am I going to write
over ten?</div>
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How about the fact that men are much more dominant in the
literary world (and every other world it seems)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the number of female best selling
authors – J K Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, fantasy is still ruled by men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trend is definitely changing but...</div>
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<br /></div>
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And it’s an embarrassing but...but I have yet to read a
fantasy novel written by a woman that I actually enjoy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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To write that as a woman is awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To write it as a female writer is close to blasphemous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So one of my New Year resolutions for 2013 is
to read more female fantasy writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have the pile of books ready and as soon as I finish reading Terry Pratchett’s
Snuff, Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Abercrombie’s Red Country, I’m there!</div>
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<br /></div>
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So what is it that makes men more confident than
women?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why is it that when women are
confident, they are frowned upon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-73850033387821367582013-01-29T12:12:00.000-08:002013-01-29T12:12:04.596-08:00Being human 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHPER86qsXneUepK3346nzJLLzXB7tpgVatug71ZLhve2scEvNQgypltG5qEYPJ5-ABuhX5Z4YT1VFtATELo_6d3f9mLtYPY1fmzWQLeAZ9zc13KgJA1waGxl7ub9EzUvSNktSyyd4e5/s1600/being+human+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHPER86qsXneUepK3346nzJLLzXB7tpgVatug71ZLhve2scEvNQgypltG5qEYPJ5-ABuhX5Z4YT1VFtATELo_6d3f9mLtYPY1fmzWQLeAZ9zc13KgJA1waGxl7ub9EzUvSNktSyyd4e5/s320/being+human+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I've had a long day and a headache since I got out of bed this morning. Therefore I apologise for the shortness of this blog post!<br />
<br />
Today I found out that Being Human series 5 starts on BBC3 at 10pm on 3rd February! That's this Sunday!<br />
<br />
In light of this, and as I'm very tired and need to work on my novel, here is some information I've found on the upcoming series.<br />
<br />
Having looked through all of this, I'm not sure if I want to watch the new series. Now, I thought that about series 4 but then we still had Annie. Now we have a whole new cast, all of which seem very young...Maybe it's time to hand Being Human onto a new generation of viewers as well as cast (I've already followed Aidan Turner into Middle Earth!).<br />
<br />
But then, as with series 4, I'm sure I'll give it a go and I'm sure I will eat my own words and absolutely love it!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/beautiful-ending.html">My review of season 4</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/01/29/being-human-series-5-lots-of-great-new-photos/" target="_blank">SFX - photos</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/01/29/being-human-5-01-the-trinity-clip/" target="_blank">SFX - clip</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.scifinow.co.uk/tv/35084/being-human-series-5-is-romance-on-the-cards-for-hal-and-alex/" target="_blank">Sci-fi Now - interview with Hal (Damien Molony) and Alex (Kate Bracken)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hqlc4" target="_blank">The BBC3 page and watch the series 4 finale to remind yourself of the brilliance!</a></div>
<br />
<br />J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-165211900640412472013-01-27T13:45:00.002-08:002013-01-27T13:45:57.209-08:00A writing epiphany<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYu9rfPqZ2_-61ZBMDJ1QFWxRbjutqluzNJp95hVpp0rfcSK7ae5kLdu3fpuB48TKBRPZpLH6jZhTKdefe48Qc79loAKsBRoKZCx9vAjvEu0EeZdw9khmfpKjyrvIFoXsREy9GZeD7xt4/s1600/never+stop+writng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYu9rfPqZ2_-61ZBMDJ1QFWxRbjutqluzNJp95hVpp0rfcSK7ae5kLdu3fpuB48TKBRPZpLH6jZhTKdefe48Qc79loAKsBRoKZCx9vAjvEu0EeZdw9khmfpKjyrvIFoXsREy9GZeD7xt4/s1600/never+stop+writng.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After around twenty-five years of writing and reading as
much as I can and five to seven years learning about the world of professional
writing and publishing, I have come to the decision that one of the following
statements is correct;</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Writing is actually very simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two main things needed to succeed are
perseverance and luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writers make it out to be much harder than it seems.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Writing is one of the hardest things to do on
this planet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let me explain the second statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously getting published is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perseverance in the face of constant
rejection and trying to score that rare piece of luck is incredibly
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this second statement is
saying that the actual writing is hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which one do you think is true?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My vote is going for the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I think about it, the more I think
that writers think too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worry
too much and we go on and on about the simplest of things for no good reason. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I read writing
magazines and scour writing forums and time and time again I see advice and
questions that are just common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
as if the feature writers are trying hard to justify their own existence and
all this does is make aspiring authors panic and worry, resulting in the
questions and self righteous answers on forums.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have recently decided to separate my ideas of plots
which will mean writing a lot more books than I originally planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering it’s taken around three years for
me to get to this point with my current novel, on the sixth draft and with a
growing paranoia about whether I’m barking up the wrong tree, h<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>ow on earth will I ever write, finish and
potentially publish all of those books?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Writing advice is full of grammar tips, rules on
adjectives and speech marks, formatting issues and plot arcs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of which, I am beginning to feel, is a
complete load of rubbish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve started to get the feeling that writers are making
up rules to justify themselves, to explain their actions, to earn money and
prestige with no consideration to what this does to those new to the writing
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not? If that is how they earn a living and it helps just one person, then that's great. But this weekend I came to the
conclusion that writing simply cannot be as difficult as everyone makes out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are so many published books in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there are many more unpublished writers
than published but I wonder how many have stayed unpublished because of the
fear that these writers dishing out their advice have caused?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well I refuse to be afraid and I refuse to fall into this
trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the day I first discovered
writing I have dreamt of being a published writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only thing in my life that has
stayed constant and it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We don’t need fancy charts or rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only need confidence, perseverance, luck
and to write and write and write.</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-44840182720770684222013-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:002013-01-26T10:57:07.159-08:00Escapism of the first kind<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkczu_Pxx2tmwKWy10ZFiLqpi3XAMy_Idx8c47Tn81LKMbOIdT5WjURRpPRpIYCfykg8rkwfj9vjsPevX8ANfW1bTSimS5SUmOBmWbVauDrzJ-NaPol41rh4lcIBWvJ6n-2SI3CuRMPQt/s1600/theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkczu_Pxx2tmwKWy10ZFiLqpi3XAMy_Idx8c47Tn81LKMbOIdT5WjURRpPRpIYCfykg8rkwfj9vjsPevX8ANfW1bTSimS5SUmOBmWbVauDrzJ-NaPol41rh4lcIBWvJ6n-2SI3CuRMPQt/s1600/theatre.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Escapism can come in many forms and mostly, in this day and age, it includes a screen. Television, computer games and even writing (unless you favour the pen and paper approach) all involve staring at a screen for long periods of time. It can come as a relief to escape the real world in a manner that is kind on the eyes. Reading, or going to the theatre...</div>
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<br /></div>
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As I mentioned in my <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/id-do-anything.html">previous post</a>, this week I went to
the theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a brilliant play but
the audience were not so brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
majority obviously enjoyed it as the cast bowed to a standing ovation and lots
of whooping and clapping (and not just from me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I could have sworn that those around us
were bored out of their minds.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I had two teenage girls sat in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lower end of the teens but still old enough to
know better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had hats on and kept
bobbing up and down in their seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are incredibly lucky that I didn’t snap, place my hands firmly on their heads
and push them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One even turned
around and watched me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do people do that?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Also in front was a couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had very obviously been dragged along and had brought a picnic with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rustled his bags, threw his big
head back to down sweets, obscuring my view, glugged soft drinks and then
looked behind him (at us!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got
out a bag of sweets and rustled it for a moment, he immediately turned to see
what we were doing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Further in front was an older couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Bill Sykes pulled a pearl necklace out of
his mouth, she leaned over to her husband and hissed loudly in his ear, ‘what’s
that?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why don't you watch and find out? And why don't people know how to whisper?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Somewhere off to the left and out of sight someone had
brought a very young child who naturally didn’t know what was going on and was
bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loudly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Further in front was a girl texting and a man, watching
the football on his mobile.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is wrong with people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t people go to the theatre, sit
quietly, sit still and enjoy the performance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why can’t people put their phones away for one evening?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t young people understand the concept
of respect, not only for the people sat behind them who want to watch the
performance but for the performers?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxwGU5RG3DseJT4u0LNxwQBLqVyOe8kWelZkAg9gMFZl1iTsvCjcr5xufSinHm0ueYa42F8LpXO9RLA8GitzY8LPHY0khyD57fl5IFWQSFDC-Inzo1Y46UXHpY2dMiGBdstzq7UOYfNaP/s1600/nancy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxwGU5RG3DseJT4u0LNxwQBLqVyOe8kWelZkAg9gMFZl1iTsvCjcr5xufSinHm0ueYa42F8LpXO9RLA8GitzY8LPHY0khyD57fl5IFWQSFDC-Inzo1Y46UXHpY2dMiGBdstzq7UOYfNaP/s1600/nancy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Being loud in a theatre is not the same as being loud in
a cinema.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a cinema you are only being
disrespectful to your fellow audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a theatre you are also being rude and disrespectful to the actors on
stage, which in this case included a lot of very small children acting, singing
and dancing their hearts out. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I would be mortified if I made a loud noise during a
play, or if I got my mobile out to text someone, or if I had stupidly brought a
very small child to an evening play they simply aren't old enough to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theatre audience etiquette is something that
all young people should learn, theatre is something that everyone should be
exposed to.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I find the short attention spans of young people very
worrying, along with their dependence on their gadgets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn your mobile off, sit comfortably, sit
still and watch the play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revel in the
performances, the talent, the scenery and the story and disappear into another
world without having to stare at a screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just for a few hours.</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-56973652624742193332013-01-24T14:25:00.000-08:002013-01-24T14:25:34.379-08:00I'd do anything<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RnuvW4gINbmWGsGsxb6n1JLGJFWPBwOa0LmQ858WE4QM1asdyPvSyWwPa65V-6z6lVI5hHTOQXXhSAzOgzKNLnQScvKa8waKJ3zfH0BgMJqkJ6isyk2OfogIUoBXlv9-oGU14YGDSZko/s1600/dodger+and+oliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RnuvW4gINbmWGsGsxb6n1JLGJFWPBwOa0LmQ858WE4QM1asdyPvSyWwPa65V-6z6lVI5hHTOQXXhSAzOgzKNLnQScvKa8waKJ3zfH0BgMJqkJ6isyk2OfogIUoBXlv9-oGU14YGDSZko/s1600/dodger+and+oliver.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last night I saw Oliver! at the Bristol Hippodrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time I saw Oliver! on stage I was
dinky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed it last night at the theatre bar and guessed
I was about seven or eight years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t remember much other than falling in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also don’t remember the first time I saw the 1968 film but I’ve watched it
countless times since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was interesting watching the stage performance as an
adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s difficult to see the film
from a distance when I basically know the script and every movement by heart, but the stage performance
is a little different. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to
take a step back and appreciate the story in a new light.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know the story of Oliver! is dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s full of violence, orphans who are sold,
children who die inside chimneys, poor living in slums and forced to steal and
women and children being beaten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet
Oliver! disguises all of this by being gloriously aesthetically rich and full
of fantastic musical numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a
comedy element and a happy ending and all of this means that you can choose to
ignore the violence.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I was little I always focused on Oliver and Dodger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved Fagin but I think that was because
Dodger loved him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night I studied
Fagin and Bill Sykes and Nancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
the adult stars of the story and all three are so completely different from one
another and yet still make up this little family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fCwpCcQw77koAD3MKgHIxDEcjP25kwqAU4klrN81As-OvVfqM-NZBgY6k1h8IZLo_gAavi37wlGGMTASOx4sCyRrpSSLhZLl_P1eYGDu2fHslBbyfqAQ7J3vgOE5huyh45ALPjWIZHoK/s1600/fagin+nancy+and+bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fCwpCcQw77koAD3MKgHIxDEcjP25kwqAU4klrN81As-OvVfqM-NZBgY6k1h8IZLo_gAavi37wlGGMTASOx4sCyRrpSSLhZLl_P1eYGDu2fHslBbyfqAQ7J3vgOE5huyh45ALPjWIZHoK/s1600/fagin+nancy+and+bill.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bill Sykes is the evil villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, in order to cope with the painful
reality of Sykes, Oliver! has been turned into a pantomime where the audience
actually booed the actor as he came to take his bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is violent, quiet, stocky and just plain
scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t a lot more to him,
until he murders Nancy and then there is a panic and, perhaps, a hint of regret. He did love Nancy and he got carried away, maybe because he was scared or maybe he saw red and simply lost his mind. Unfortunately that is the limit to the depth of Sykes. Whether this is due to him merely being a tool to put Oliver in danger or
whether this is because his character has been softened and moulded to suit a
younger audience and happy-go-lucky story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(I haven’t read the book and never will as I find Dickens very boring.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fagin, on the other hand, is the grey area. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one hand he is a crook but he is a villain with
boundaries which is what separates him from Sykes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s the element of comedy, a father figure
for a lot of lost children and a business man, buying Sykes’ stolen wares to
sell on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also, in my opinion, has all
of the best musical numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot
help but love Fagin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes you smile
and he cares for children – what is there not to love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s more to Fagin than this, there’s
that deep desire to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
want to be a crook, does he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man can
change, can’t he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That in itself adds
layers to Fagin and makes him a loveable and intriguing character.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13oHQxi4ECGm831D4HvxyTOnlErg8NMUCNdBDkgheng46gSLotv7VPqqP6nrV86MnPt_lhEBpLGAElbTzOh8KSt2o_8XM5UzwDJFCj4ts7FXjQIU4yGfeaXdway0Qy2DjlFQm8Sta8j_x/s1600/fagin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13oHQxi4ECGm831D4HvxyTOnlErg8NMUCNdBDkgheng46gSLotv7VPqqP6nrV86MnPt_lhEBpLGAElbTzOh8KSt2o_8XM5UzwDJFCj4ts7FXjQIU4yGfeaXdway0Qy2DjlFQm8Sta8j_x/s1600/fagin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So that leaves Nancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I never paid much attention to Nancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took me a while to realise she actually dies, murdered by her lover
Sykes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember being quite shocked
when I watched the film for the millionth time and it finally dawned on
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story hides it well, covering
the murder behind the walls of the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The scene is so fast with so much excitement and shouting, it’s easy as
a child to miss the essence of what’s happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last night it was like I saw Nancy for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard her properly for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nancy is a strong, clever, brilliant
woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s also a victim of
abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In love with Bill Sykes, she
sings of suffering from black eyes and is shown constantly trying to break up
fights that Sykes tries to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
also brave and stands up to this brute when he threatens Oliver.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I was growing up, I was taught that to be a victim of
domestic abuse is not due to someone being weak or stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a complex situation of mixed
emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone might stay with their
abuser because of a number of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For some reason it never really occurred to me that the victim of abuse
could actually be a strong, smart, out spoken woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because I thought the victims would be
stupid, but because I’d never really thought about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never had a reason to and for that I am
very lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is this element that
makes Nancy suddenly one of the most interesting characters on stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgywfY1_4Y46zeXf3ZT5LeRgYTkbfk1sj_GhragCQEijvee3bgrQm65ncxg2PBM8IkYhuLoMUxoumBDwGyH2gHZFkXtWy1JzgJPrrAwMEDM4F8EZe3hZZh61Jx93PFI01DwZBDoOlOPha/s1600/nancy+and+dodger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgywfY1_4Y46zeXf3ZT5LeRgYTkbfk1sj_GhragCQEijvee3bgrQm65ncxg2PBM8IkYhuLoMUxoumBDwGyH2gHZFkXtWy1JzgJPrrAwMEDM4F8EZe3hZZh61Jx93PFI01DwZBDoOlOPha/s1600/nancy+and+dodger.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nancy is in denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has convinced herself that Sykes needs her and being the warm
hearted, loyal woman that she is, she will stick by him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This serves her well until Oliver comes into
her life and she is suddenly torn between sticking by her man and protecting
this little boy who has the chance of a life she never had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nancy does the
right thing but unfortunately she’s in love with a violent thug and her ending
is not a happy one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time,
last night I had a tear in my eye as Bill Sykes beat Nancy to death.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a writer who is currently struggling with my own
writing prowess, I found it therapeutic to dissect these characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something familiar that I was seeing
as if for the first time and that gave me a completely new view on the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot is simple but the
imagery and character layers makes it brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something I have been trying to
replicate in my novels for around five years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, being so close to my own work I have no
idea if I’m even close to hitting this mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right now it certainly doesn’t feel like it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last night’s performance was brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re local to Bristol, I highly recommend
seeing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only disappointing part
for me was the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As beloved Fagin
walked into the sunset, leaving a smile plastered firmly on my face, no Dodger
appeared to join him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still a fantastic
ending, but the final scene of Oliver! for me will always be Fagin and Dodger
walking into the sunset together.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I couldn't find a video of this so instead here's one of my favourite songs! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/siWscozkRr0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-80191851720462845392013-01-21T13:21:00.000-08:002013-01-21T13:21:00.113-08:00Blue Monday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFUUrLxFOcpkX94FO9Q7jYx0aszdcge0Joy4F0nOMMEp00rmVtB53y92llO5c6lkPJDU2WRNZxTdEPXRefZhxTvaw6mLsxez9WSOiSYCMKJzSWS5IIg0gRySOKhKjq9MyTveGFOsfplEp/s1600/snow+tigers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFUUrLxFOcpkX94FO9Q7jYx0aszdcge0Joy4F0nOMMEp00rmVtB53y92llO5c6lkPJDU2WRNZxTdEPXRefZhxTvaw6mLsxez9WSOiSYCMKJzSWS5IIg0gRySOKhKjq9MyTveGFOsfplEp/s1600/snow+tigers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today is the most depressing day of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday 21<sup>st</sup> January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nice that we’ve gotten it out of the way
so quickly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently, some British pyschologist created a formula
to calculate the most depressing day of the year taking into account
post-Christmas bills, the weather (very apt for this year) and failed New Year
resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came up with the third
Monday of January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How was your most depressing day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine the majority of the nation was definitely
not depressed, enjoying the snow day that us Bristolians had on Friday.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To be honest, I was quite down over the weekend as well as today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside was freezing cold, my wonderful
circulation and the freezing temperatures have given me two incredibly painful chilblains,
one of our guinea pigs is a bit poorly, my laptop is slowly falling apart and
is driving me insane, the day job just takes up too many hours in the day and I’m
going through one of those familiar phases of being certain that I’m an awful
writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I put aside some time today in order to write a
fictional piece for this blog post and ended up staring at a blank
document.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only remembered my target of
completing a chapter of my novel while I was in the shower this evening, washing away the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, it’s going well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are many ways to stave off the winter blues but
keeping away the writing blues is somehow very difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should try to stay positive, put aside
such negative thinking and just keep slogging away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Much easier said than done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think part of the problem I’m having is that this novel
is taking so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read an article
today which named a writer who has written nine books in ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How on earth do you finish a book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially when plagued with paranoia that
your writing just isn’t up to scratch.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Experience has shown me that time is a great healer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My confidence will return soon, I’m
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as my guinea pig will feel
better, my toes will heal, the weather will improve (wouldn’t it be lovely to
have an actual summer this year), I will buy myself a new laptop and I might
even find some more hours in the day (part time work anyone?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just need to be patient...</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-67198628805434833372013-01-20T12:58:00.000-08:002013-01-20T13:26:37.140-08:00Unnecessary romance<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLITQNVwkoET4Q41jS8HkvT3FIOWOrTTwrxgeBXa_gLVHG5951qZvuCRH6ocPiEhBqxhM8cCfT18NDwCwN3oISjIS2V3M7FmWUt9Vui9fpcsaJCLks0e1vUpvrJChKgjvr79knIwJvHm1v/s1600/sleepless+in+seattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLITQNVwkoET4Q41jS8HkvT3FIOWOrTTwrxgeBXa_gLVHG5951qZvuCRH6ocPiEhBqxhM8cCfT18NDwCwN3oISjIS2V3M7FmWUt9Vui9fpcsaJCLks0e1vUpvrJChKgjvr79knIwJvHm1v/s1600/sleepless+in+seattle.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I read my Work In Progress for the millionth (fifth)
time and managed not to gouge my own eyes out, I began thinking about romance in
fiction.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I often have this thought when writing; why do I feel the
need to put romance in every single thing I create?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do you remember that ickle <a href="https://groups.google.com/group/j-e-nice/attach/55b9cf5c15e0fc19/A%20babe%20in%20the%20woods.pdf?part=4&authuser=0" target="_blank">Hobbit fan fiction</a> what I
wrote?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was an introduction to a new
character that I wanted to insert into the Hobbit plotline and, guess what, she
was going to fall in love!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t actually think of an idea, short story, novella
or novel, that I have which doesn’t involve a romance.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This annoys me about myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is important, yes, but there are so many
more interesting and exciting aspects to life other than falling in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tolkien managed it, in fact men seem to be
very good at this, which is irritating.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Pixar film <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-brave-princess-film.html">Brave</a> is an excellent example of how you
do not need romance to make a story enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Romance in adult fiction is also a tricky one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In young adult fiction romance is clear
cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy and girl meet, fall in love,
overcome some obstacles/get turned into vampires/save the world, live happily
ever after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t have sex and, if
they do, they certainly don’t out of wedlock.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Adult fiction has more, dare I say it, shades of
grey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adults are allowed to engage in
consensual sex without any emotion involved which can make a story or character
very interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I still feel the
need to include love in my fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very happily in love so
it’s not like I need to create this feeling in other parts of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe, deep down, I just want my characters
to be as happy as me? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, have a sick
bag.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully sometimes characters have other ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As other writers will know and agree with, we
actually have very little control over our characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like parents, we create them and name
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put them in a location or in a
situation and then...they completely take over.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In my current WIP I have a main character who was
supposed to become romantically involved with another character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I wrote the first draft he was enamoured
with her but she just wasn’t interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I struggled to bring them together but by the end of the story they hadn’t
even kissed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On my first read through I realised why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, he was boring!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My poor main character, of course she wasn’t
interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I deleted him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I changed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And replaced him with a woman, supposedly a
kindred spirit for my main character; a younger version of her, perhaps, ripe
for moulding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote her in and sat
back to read.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is now a spark between my main character and this
new woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing happens other than
shared glances in silence and secret smiles but the potential is all
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I began to wonder, is my main
character gay?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
never knowingly written a gay character and this is the first character who has
rebelled against a romantic opportunity that I have placed in front of
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t seem romantically
interested in any of the men in the novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But this new woman is something different.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m actually quite excited about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that bad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> To be honest, I've always had a fascination with humans in society and during my final year at university I developed an interest in gender and sexuality. I studied a module about gender in archaeology which explored the sexuality and gender perceptions of people in ancient society. For example, what does it mean if a man is buried with a lot of jewellery? Does it mean he was gay? Transsexual? Maybe he was a jeweller? Or perhaps this type of jewellery was fashionable for men at this time, or he was showing off his wealth? Got to love archaeology - like writing, it's all so subjective!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Thing is, I started trying to think of gay characters in fantasy fiction and the only one that sprung to mind was Renly Baratheon and his lover in Game of Thrones...</span> So suddenly my main character potentially has a whole new depth to her. Something I've personally never explored and I can't wait to write the next piece that she features in to learn more about her (if I ever get this novel finished).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13OtpMul2bnkwe7QSAuuPcFRFy2KLLKGOu2WwfyINHEiGM6QJeQisLei0vP-JoUpBJSFCCPQNJvMKA6nxyLNYCSSzyGKYaAYybu4ayVxYT4cpclQx7QkfLlEAaL4sItnhJaLokakDTdRo/s1600/got+renly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13OtpMul2bnkwe7QSAuuPcFRFy2KLLKGOu2WwfyINHEiGM6QJeQisLei0vP-JoUpBJSFCCPQNJvMKA6nxyLNYCSSzyGKYaAYybu4ayVxYT4cpclQx7QkfLlEAaL4sItnhJaLokakDTdRo/s1600/got+renly.jpg" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For a bit more on gay characters, check out <a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2013/the-evolution-of-sexuality-homosexuality-and-gender-in-sff-part-four" target="_blank">this article</a> on Fantasy Faction. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-72235861207883424142013-01-17T12:37:00.002-08:002013-01-17T12:37:51.133-08:00Considering world building<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H4So6PoBS8FuAeA6lwwmLcPSj4t54sVCYREczNqjMyRUktYKWH1WKip4sxJYjhxKgjJqKTi9COQN6Md5hNnEG3wb1hsV_buF2tXWExZcV3aQjzgyIPpkYwJPJjiUPig-6JxwB9kWBXR7/s1600/hobbit+map+wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H4So6PoBS8FuAeA6lwwmLcPSj4t54sVCYREczNqjMyRUktYKWH1WKip4sxJYjhxKgjJqKTi9COQN6Md5hNnEG3wb1hsV_buF2tXWExZcV3aQjzgyIPpkYwJPJjiUPig-6JxwB9kWBXR7/s320/hobbit+map+wallpaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After going to see The Hobbit (the first time) I was
filled with the inspiration of Middle Earth, fantasy and new worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came home, looked at my fantasy novel and
considered the world it was set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
started thinking about world building.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
World building is basically the make up of a fantasy
world; the religions, languages, history, geography, topography, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating maps is a big part of writing
fantasy and something I used to do when the Lord of the Ring films introduced
me to the beautiful epic world of fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I quickly got bored.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The novel I’m currently working on is set in a city and
the surrounding area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other cities are
mentioned, politics is hinted at as is the history but I don’t go into great
depth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because it bores me. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When reading a fantasy with a great deal of world building
(G.R.R. Martin and Tolkien for example) I tend to skip over the long
descriptions of landscape, family coats of arms and ancestry and things of
historic importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>World building, for
me, should come across through the story.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Take Terry Pratchett’s Discworld as an example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never looked at a Discworld map, nor
am I bothered learning about Discworld folklore but I love reading about the
different cultures and religions and cities through the characters and their
stories.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m just not interested in where
the mountains are in a world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not too fussed about languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I am interested in different cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I fell in love with when watching The Hobbit was the culture of the
dwarfs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their songs, their beliefs,
their history and backgrounds and how that had shaped their characters.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZrUWWarCgzL_jgE06niJMebVu2yYDzBV6lD9CHx1ZISGCUuc9lAQRsPnOVte9Y1FIIUHJOlNM4Xv_EfFXviRZUOrSO08WUWvTgXgRdzlAVQj8OGa8AJWLGHa7PtDNcHtU_Ead-zSHkZn/s1600/Hobbit+rivendell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZrUWWarCgzL_jgE06niJMebVu2yYDzBV6lD9CHx1ZISGCUuc9lAQRsPnOVte9Y1FIIUHJOlNM4Xv_EfFXviRZUOrSO08WUWvTgXgRdzlAVQj8OGa8AJWLGHa7PtDNcHtU_Ead-zSHkZn/s1600/Hobbit+rivendell.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I haven’t read The Hobbit yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s next on my list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, however, read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main
impression I’ve gotten from Tolkien fans online is that Peter Jackson has
developed and expanded The Hobbit characters more than Tolkien did through his
novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my review of <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/an-unexpected-delight.html">The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey</a> I mentioned that not all thirteen dwarfs were fully
developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds like none of them
were fully developed in the novel (I would hope with the exception of
Thorin).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m a little worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the thirteen dwarfs in the film, for
me it’s why the film was such a triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder if having the dwarf culture but a lack of character in the
novel will leave me with the same rush.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So after creating a template document with which to
create my fictional world complete with map, I got bored and decided I didn’t
need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all fantasies require the
world to be complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that
readers will be able to learn enough of my world through the story and the
characters without need for maps and long descriptive prose.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have been thinking about a short appendix or using
short stories to build on the history and therefore add to the world building
but I still cannot help that I find serious world building incredibly boring.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At the moment I’m planning on making my current novel
into a trilogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe if it were to
continue into a series the world would be built as I write more but at the
moment I’m happy to leave blanks where it is unimportant to the plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that my future readers will be happy with this too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Saying all that, I still can't help but worry that I'm missing a trick. Will my lack of interest in world building will be my downfall as a fantasy writer?</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-82509824783776103472013-01-15T12:48:00.000-08:002013-01-15T12:48:13.118-08:00HMV shaped hole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLP2vRJ6-2dPIYaQBtCVoVKKIjCcOYolgJsUwHwvp7jdboUguWRb4UGIAGBC-MOJYX0ImqoM16YqFAqA1M2bbZZeSRAVkdhqk3YkT-cLlBmjZt4j8xoPwFAM9LAu03YhxBNK5ny4W70XK/s1600/hmv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLP2vRJ6-2dPIYaQBtCVoVKKIjCcOYolgJsUwHwvp7jdboUguWRb4UGIAGBC-MOJYX0ImqoM16YqFAqA1M2bbZZeSRAVkdhqk3YkT-cLlBmjZt4j8xoPwFAM9LAu03YhxBNK5ny4W70XK/s1600/hmv.jpg" /></a></div>
While pondering what to write today’s blog post on I was plagued with the reports of HMV going into administration. Beautiful, beloved HMV.<br /><br />I thought I could write about my first HMV purchase…but I honestly can’t remember what that was.<br /><br />HMV, however, has been a staple part of my life for a long, long, long time. I would leap up the steps in the Canterbury branch when I was a student to gaze longingly at the DVDs, pondering which ones to spend my student loan on. I have bought countless Christmas presents, CDs and DVDs from HMV over the years and even though my activity has scaled back lately, I will sorely miss it.<br /><br />That’s the problem though, isn’t it. My HMV buying activity has dropped significantly. Since losing my student loan (apparently it’s called graduation), I have put a strict limit on myself. I only buy them when they are cheap. I will try my hardest to wait until they are £3 although sometimes I will give in and go for the 2 for £10. All from HMV.<br /><br />Amazon just doesn’t do these prices justice. Ok, sometimes Amazon and Play.com will do good DVD deals but nothing beats walking into HMV and seeing that film you’ve waited ages for, sitting there all pretty and shiny with a £3 price label, available to take home and treasure today. Right now. The regularity of this happening in HMV is amazing – very rarely do you find these deals online. Even when you do find films this cheap online, the magic is lost through clicking the mouse buttons and then waiting…and waiting.<br /><br />In November I spoiled myself. I allowed myself to go on a DVD frenzy. I bought about six DVDs all in one go. I know! Shocking! I hadn’t done something like that since my university days and I’ll tell you something, it felt good!<br />That will probably be the last time I ever do that…<br /><br />
Saying that, HMV did do some stinkers. Chocolate? Drinks? A limited amount of rubbish books? They all scream desperation. The one that really got to me was the loyalty card. Sign up and reap the rewards! So I did, hoping that with all of my expenditure I would get the odd free film to add to my collection. Nope. The only offered ‘VIP’ rewards. Limited edition things. Now, ok, maybe when I was fourteen I would have been interested. Maybe. Certainly not now. Now that I’m all grown up and what-not the most important thing is owning that film in the most economically efficient way possible.<br /><br />I didn’t buy any Christmas presents from HMV this year. Although I refuse to take the blame for them going into administration! I walked in many a time but the queue was always so horrendous that I decided to do any DVD and CD shopping from the comfort of my sofa. But the queues were horrendous – people were shopping there! What happened HMV?<br /><br />The truth is that no where does it quite like HMV. The staff are friendly and helpful (and sometimes very attractive), the shelves brimming with bargains and it’s a wonderful place to just mooch sometimes. To discover the latest offering, to jump up and down at your latest cinema gem finally being made readily available in disc form. To get that impulse purchase or treat after dragging yourself around shops with your other half.<br /><br />Download are taking over. The world is turning digital. I love my film but I don’t download them, I’m not part of Netflix or…that other one (name escapes me)…and I don’t want to be. I am very content in my movie watching habits, thank you very much. Vue, Sky Movies and HMV keep me up to date and afloat. They keep my DVD collection shiny and ever expanding.<br /><br />It’s a sad time and, for now at least, I’m not sure who will fill the big HMV shaped hole in my life if it leaves the high street…J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-83585468492716729052013-01-13T09:34:00.001-08:002013-01-13T09:34:31.241-08:00The babe in the woods part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following on from my <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/fan-fiction-and-babe-in-woods.html">previous post</a>, here is part 2 of the introduction to my little fan fiction. Catch up and read the first part <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/fan-fiction-and-babe-in-woods.html">here</a>.<br />
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I hope you like. Please feel free to give feedback.<br />
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Three days passed before there was a knock on Radagast’s door. He opened it and looked up at the shrouded figure.<br /><br />‘Gandalf!’ Radagast’s smile dropped immediately. Gandalf narrowed his eyes.<br /><br />‘Yes. Good morning Radagast.’<br /><br />Radagast managed to glance behind him without turning his head. Gandalf peered over Radagast’s shoulder and spotted the basket on the table. ‘May I come in?’<br /><br />‘I’m very busy, Gandalf. Very busy.’<br /><br />‘What is that, Radagast?’<br /><br />‘What?’<br /><br />‘On your table. It looks like a basket. And do I hear a gurgling?’<br /><br />‘I can’t hear anything.’ Then, as babies are not born with a sense of appropriateness, the house was filled with the sound of crying. Radagast cringed and stepped aside. ‘Come in.’<br /><br />Gandalf strolled into the house and propped up his staff by the door. Tentatively, he approached the basket. It was empty. Head cocked to one side, Gandalf followed the crying through the house until he came to a bed of crumpled sheets. In a make-shift cot of pillows there lay a baby wrapped in white cloth. A hedgehog sat on one of the pillows, gazing lovingly down at the screaming infant.<br /><br />‘Radagast?’<br /><br />‘Hmm?’<br /><br />‘There appears to be a baby dwarf on your bed.’<br /><br />Radagast’s head appeared from behind Gandalf and looked down at the infant.<br /><br />‘A baby dwarf you say?’<br /><br />‘Yes. You can tell by the ears and nose. Tell me, why is there is a dwarf baby on your bed?’<br /><br />‘She was having trouble sleeping, I thought the bed would be more comfortable than her basket. She’s not a dog, after all.’ Radagast swept past Gandalf and picked up the baby, rocking her gently. The cries soothed.<br /><br />‘Hmm.’ Gandalf studied Radagast. ‘And what is she doing with you?’<br /><br />‘Oh, Gandalf. Tea?’<br /><br />‘Please.’ The two wizards turned away from the bed. Radagast placed the baby in the basket. Gandalf made himself comfortable sat at the table while Radagast filled a kettle. ‘I found her on my doorstep. Can you imagine? No sign of anyone else. I searched around the woods but could find no trace.’<br /><br />‘Indeed? Was there a note?’<br /><br />‘No, no note. Only a ring.’ Radagast produced the iron band from his pocket and handed it to Gandalf.<br /><br />‘An iron ring. Perhaps she is of the Iron Hills.’<br /><br />‘That’s an awful long way away. How did she come to be here?’<br /><br />Gandalf placed the ring on the table and mulled over it. <br /><br />‘Oh, thank you,’ he said as Radagast placed a cup of hot, weak tea in front of him. ‘An iron ring does not necessarily denote the Iron Hills. This could have come from any dwarf family. There is no sigil present which suggests that she is not nobility.’<br /><br />‘No.’<br /><br />‘Which does suggest that her mother or father were either unable to care for her or…’ Gandalf looked up at Radagast. ‘Running from something. Tell me, have you heard anything strange?’<br /><br />‘Other than a crying baby there have been no strange occurrences in these parts for a good long while, Gandalf. A century at least. I rather think her parents simply couldn’t care for her. Perhaps they had no way of bringing her up.’<br /><br />‘Always on the move,’ Gandalf muttered, lighting his pipe.<br /><br />Radagast’s eyes widened and he looked up at Gandalf.<br /><br />‘You think she is an Erebor child?’<br /><br />Gandalf puffed on his pipe sending a plume of smoke up to the roof rafters. He smiled kindly at Radagast.<br /><br />‘Perhaps. There are many. Although that still does not explain her being here. I shall ask around.’<br /><br />‘No!’<br /><br />‘No?’<br /><br />‘Well, what I mean is that she’s perfectly welcome to stay here.’<br /><br />Gandalf studied Radagast.<br /><br />‘Radagast, dear fellow. You’re not to keep the child.’<br /><br />‘Why not?’<br /><br />‘She doesn’t belong here.’<br /><br />‘Someone thought to leave her here, on my doorstep, outside my door. I’ve been thinking about this Gandalf, someone wanted me to have her.’<br /><br />Gandalf looked from Radagast to his house, at the two mice sleeping on the table, back at the hedgehog, now asleep on the pillow. He looked down at the baby who gazed happily back with large round eyes. Radagast was odd, that was definitely true. Who wouldn’t be odd, living alone in the middle of a wood? And just what would that do to a child? <br /><br />‘She should be with her kin,’ Gandalf thought aloud.<br /><br />‘Her kin brought her to me,’ Radagast said, looking lovingly down at the baby. Gandalf watched him.<br /><br />‘You don’t know who brought her, Radagast. Does she have a name?’<br /><br />‘Not yet. I was thinking though. I was thinking, Rhiann.’<br /><br />‘Rhiann.’ Gandalf chewed over the name. ‘Not very dwarvish.’<br /><br />‘Well, no, I suppose.’<br /><br />‘Have you truly thought this through? It’s very well looking after the creatures of the wood but a child needs educating.’<br /><br />‘I can do that.’<br /><br />‘Maybe. With help.’<br /><br />Radagast looked up hopefully at Gandalf.<br /><br />‘Saruman would be against it, of course. He will not allow her to stay here.’<br /><br />Radagast slumped back.<br /><br />‘No. He won’t, will he.’<br /><br />‘What will you do about that?’<br /><br />‘He can’t just take her away,’ Radagast said slowly. ‘In fact, he has as much right to take her away as I have to keep her here. In fact, the only people who can take her away are her parents.’<br /><br />‘Is that so?’<br /><br />‘Yes. Because now I am her guardian. Someone has left her with me and she is now under my charge. Which means I have the right to say who can and cannot take her away from me.’<br /><br />Gandalf smiled.<br /><br />‘It’s not quite how I would put it but I think the right ideas are there. Ok. I will not tell Saruman, although he will find out and you had better be ready for that. But I will defend you Radagast but there are conditions.’<br /><br />‘Yes?’<br /><br />‘That I also have a hand in the upbringing of the child. She is a dwarf. If she is to be raised by wizards then she must learn of the world. I will have a hand in her education. And she must not be lied to. She will ask about where she came from and we must tell her the truth. I will have to mention her existence to the dwarvish kings of course and if any of them know of a missing child, she will have to be returned.’<br /><br />Radagast stared hard at the baby. His gut twisted as he looked at those shining, smiling eyes. The three days had gone so fast, he’d barely had time to breathe, let alone sleep. So she needed constant care right now and she didn’t talk yet, but she would. One day they would have a conversation and in the meantime he would watch her grow and learn and smile. He couldn’t bare the thought of her living in the dark, under a mountain. She needed to be in the light, amongst the trees. But then what choice did he have?<br /><br />‘Agreed,’ he muttered.</div>
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J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-78496378254672080342013-01-11T13:19:00.000-08:002013-01-11T13:19:00.011-08:00Fan fiction and a babe in the woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like a lot of young people, I wrote fan fiction through my teens. Many people sneer at it but it’s actually a brilliant way to learn the craft of writing. Through writing a Matrix fan fiction (unfinished) and an X-Men fan fiction (one finished, one unfinished) I learnt something about characterisation and plot. <br /><br />The trick is to get into the head of someone else’s character and plotlines and then bend them to your will. These skills can then be transferred into your own plots, characters and general ideas to create your original piece of fiction. <br /><br />There are no original ideas, as such. Every idea has already been used. Originality, therefore, can only be defined as taking an idea and making it your own. Fan fiction is a blatant but highly useful stepping stone towards this.<br /><br />
It can also be incredibly successful. Take 50 Shades of Grey for example which started life as a Twilight fan fiction.<br /><br />I don’t write fan fiction anymore. At least, not physically. My fan fiction lives in my head, in fantasies and daydreams and it is there that characters and plotlines are born. But recently my fingers have been itching. With a new obsession brings a new passion to write. Rather than get bogged down with creating new characters and plot and beginning on a fictional take that could potentially take years to complete when actually I have two novels on the go already and a whole bank of ideas just waiting, I decided to give in and fan fic it up.<br />
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I have decided to share it with you because of an unwritten New Year resolution to put up more fiction on this blog.<br />
<br />So this is it, my 50 Shades of Hobbit (sounds like a gruesome crime thriller). It will not be completed, it is purely an exercise. To cure the itching in my fingers and to get these voices out of my head so that I can concentrate on my own babies. But maybe, just maybe, this will one day turn into something original…<br /><br />Here is part 1 to the introduction. Part 2 will follow on Sunday.<br /><br />
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<u>The Babe in the Woods </u><br /><br />A scream interrupted Radagast’s investigation of a spring bud. He stood still and listened. The scream turned into a cry. An infant’s cry. He turned and looked back in the direction of his house. It had been a long time since he had heard the cry of an infant, but there it was. Loud, clear and coming from the direction of his home. Wearily he moved through the long grass, around the tree trunks, peaking through the branches as his house came into view. There was no one there.<br /><br />Breathing heavily, eyes wide, Radagast searched the perimeters from his hiding position. The cries softened for a moment before erupting. Birds flew from the tree above Radagast’s head.<br /><br />‘What in the world,’ he murmured to himself. He took a deep breath and gripped his staff with both hands. Lifting his left leg, he took a large step forward. He stopped. He listened. The crying was incessant. There was nothing for it. He took large steps, brandishing his staff, until he reached his front door. His licked his dry lips, his hands trembling and making his staff shudder.<br /><br />There was no one there.<br /><br />‘Hel-hello?’ He called out, mindful of every noise. When there came no reply, Radagast looked down and saw a thick woven basket. Inside the basket was a blanket and peaking out from underneath the blanket was the head of an infant. The head was red faced, eyes crunched up, cheeks wet and mouth screwed as it screamed and screamed. ‘Oh.’ Radagast bent to get a closer look. Straightening, he looked around. He and the baby were very much alone. ‘Well then, who left you here?’<br /><br />The baby’s crying ceased and two large blue eyes gazed up at him. After moments of Radagast doing nothing, the baby promptly screamed and wailed.<br /><br />‘Alright, ok, hush now.’ Radagast leapt into action. He bent and picked up the basket, nudging open his front door and carried the baby inside. Placing the basket softly on his table, he stopped and stared once more. What did one do with a baby?<br /><br />‘I’m terribly sorry about this,’ he told it as he gently manourvered one hand into the basket. He felt around the baby’s shape looking for a note or a clue of the child’s parentage. ‘Aha!’ He pulled out a circular object. A ring. A ring of thick iron. He flicked his fingernail against it and listened, holding it close to his ear.<br /><br />‘Are you a dwarf?’ He asked the baby. The infant heaved in deep breaths, tiring from screaming. ‘My, my. Why all the crying?’ Radagast asked. ‘Maybe you’re hungry.’ He turned towards his kitchen and stopped. What did babies eat? He turned back to the child. ‘No note?’ He asked.<br /><br />He gingerly lifted the baby and searched the basket.<br /><br />‘No note.’ He placed the baby back. The infant watched him and Radagast was held momentarily by those large eyes. ‘Well now, let’s see. What do newborns eat.’ He trundled into his kitchen, shooing away a mouse from the worktop, nibbling on a piece of bread. Radagast picked up the bread and looked back to the baby.<br /><br />‘Milk. Newborns have milk.’<br /><br />He turned back, passing the bread back to the mouse who took it with a squeak. Finding a bottle half filled with milk, he made his way back to the basket.<br /><br />‘Milk. Fresh today.’ Placing a drop of milk on his finger, he offered it to the baby. The child made a small noise and Radagast took it to be approval. He didn’t have a bottle from which the baby could suckle, so took to using a clean cloth, soaking it in milk and squeezing gently into its mouth.<br /><br />Once fed, the baby pulled a face.<br /><br />‘What is it?’ Radagast leaned over the baby as it began to splutter and give a small cry. ‘Oh, no no no. No more crying.’ He picked the baby up and gave it a small bounce. The baby burped and then gurgled triumphantly. ‘Ah. I see.’ Radagast grinned at the newborn.<br /><br />Well that was the first problem dealt with. Now, what to do with the child.<br /><br />In the absence of a note, Radagast placed the baby back in the basket and sat in a chair to watch and think.<br />
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J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-46245037734852471222013-01-09T13:56:00.000-08:002013-01-09T13:56:24.493-08:00Hobbit Frame Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Confession time.<br />
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Don't shout at me.<br />
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I may have gone to the cinema today. Again. To see The Hobbit. Again.<br />
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*Hides*<br />
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In my defence it was in the name of research.<br />
I woke up the other morning with a dreaded realisation; I have seen The Hobbit at the cinema twice, both in 2D and I will buy it on DVD when it comes out and watch it again.<br />
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The Hobbit is the first film with a wide release that is available to watch in HFR 3D. I would never see it in HFR 3D.<br />
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So today I went to see it in HFR 3D.<br />
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HFR stands for High Frame Rate. The normal frame rate is 24 per second. Peter Jackson filmed in The Hobbit at 48 frames per seconds. It has been criticised as looking strange - the characters move too quickly, and of making the viewer feel ill.<br />
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in HFR 3D is amazing.<br />
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The detail, which I'm assuming is due to the HFR, is incredible. You can see everything with such clarity. Not only that, but when used with 3D you really do feel that you are there. With many scenes I was reminded of being in the threatre watching a play. It felt that if I were to reach out I would touch Bilbo or Gandalf or Gollum. I was there, with them, saying riddles in the dark, running through the goblin city, running from orcs. <br />
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On the down side, Bilbo doesn't half walk funny sometimes with HFR. At the beginning I couldn't quite keep up with old Bilbo walking around Bag End, hiding his keepsakes. Saying that, Bag End has never looked so good. I nearly ducked to follow Bilbo through a doorway.<br />
The action sequences also seemed difficult to follow in HFR, everything just moves too quickly. I hate to think how I would have understood the action scenes if I had not already seen the film twice with the average frame rate.<br />
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Some people have suggested that HFR ruins the cinematic feel of a film and makes it feel like a video game. I agree that the speed at which people move can sometimes make it feel unreal.<br />
As I've mentioned, at times it felt like I was watching a play but at other times the feel of the film felt cheapened and I felt I was watching a television programme. The epic nature of the film was a little lost.<br />
But only in places. This is my main conclusion about HFR - it works differently in different places. It's so difficult to develop an opinion because one scene looks incredible and the next can look cheap. <br />
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I think part of my experience of HFR was fairly personal. When suffering from anxiety something strange happens to my mind; everything speeds up. It's as if my thoughts and my vision go on fast forward and it makes my gut twist. I have to stop, close my eyes and take a few deep breaths.<br />
HFR, in places, was like that. Only I couldn't close my eyes and make it end. Thankfully not all of the film was like this, only certain scenes. The worse scenes for this were the quiet, close up scenes and thankfully The Hobbit is far too full of action for this to have a negative impact on me.<br />
I have to say though, everyone looked a bit wrong when running.<br />
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Another issue with such defining clarity is that the mistakes show up. The CGI scenes are suddenly painfully obvious as is the awful continuity with the ponies in the troll scene (sometimes they're CGI and loose and sometimes they're real and bridled and tied up. And I would like to remind Peter Jackson that Bilbo's pony, Myrtle, has a white blaze down her face which seems to have fallen off when the troll picks her up). <br />
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I am so glad I managed to see The Hobbit in 3D HFR but I'm also very glad I saw it in 2D with a normal frame rate first. This way I got to watch the film, to understand and enjoy it, before allowing myself to be taken in by the wonders of HFR and 3D (on a side note, I normally hate 3D but I loved it with this film).<br />
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I'm not sure I could get used to watching every film in HFR and so I'm not too keen on it being the way forward. But I can't argue with the clarity of detail, I can't argue with the surge of excitement about feeling like I could reach out and touch the characters I love. <br />
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Oh, and my new giant Bullseye (from Toy Story) got my 3D glasses... <br />
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<br />J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-87077983038819675492013-01-07T13:53:00.003-08:002013-01-07T14:04:07.597-08:00A Monday round upToday hasn't been so shiny. Last night I closed a kitchen cupboard door on my face and I've had an awful stomach ache all day so I thought I would share some stuff with you today rather than write a philsophical article of a post.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<b>The Walking Dead </b><br />
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Word on the street is that The Walking Dead is returning to our screens on 15 February and look! A trailer for the next episode!<br />
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<b>Warm Bodies</b><br />
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Speaking of zombies, new movie Warm Bodies looks awesome!<br />
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<b>Naughty Hobbit</b><br />
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I found this on the great <a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2013/the-sff-weekly-web-round-up-03012012" target="_blank">Fantasy Faction</a>. What's your dirty Hobbit name? Some of my friends have hilarious dirty Hobbit names...<br />
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<img alt="photo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13807" height="643" src="http://fantasy-faction.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/photo1-e1357175446272.jpg" width="537" /><br />
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<b>The end of the world</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/07/asteroid-apophis-potentially-hazardous_n_2424438.html?icid=maing-grid7|uk|dl1|sec3_lnk4%26pLid%3D144775" target="_blank">This scared me</a>. An article about the asteriod Apophis which will potentially impact with Earth in 2036. That's not that far away! Eep! <br />
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<b>Terminally ill Star Trek fan</b><br />
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The sad but sweet story of the terminally ill Star Trek fan who got to see Into Darkness early. He passed away days later with some great last words. <a href="http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/01/07/star-trek-fan-who-saw-into-darkness-early-passes-away/" target="_blank">Read about it on SFX</a>.<br />
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<b>Beetlejuice 2</b><br />
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Back to a lighter note, I found out today (a bit late apparently) that there is a sequal to Beetlejuice in the works. Written by Seth Grahame-Smith (whose novel I wrote about in my last post), I am relieved to say that it will be still be directed by Mr Burton and starring Mr Keaton. Phew!<br />
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<a href="http://www.scifinow.co.uk/exclusive/33687/beetlejuice-2-seth-grahame-smith-on-respecting-the-absurdity/" target="_blank">Read about it on SciFi Now</a>.<br />
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<b>Billy Connelly in The Hobbit</b><br />
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And something that annoyed me. My mum told me that Billy Connelly stated in <a href="http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=67907" target="_blank">an interview</a> recently that he finds Tolkien 'unreadable' and that as a young man he 'hated Tolkien lovers'.<br />
She also told me that during an interview they showed the scene of the 'Unexpected Party' in 'An Unexpected Journey' and I thought, no, that's not right. <br />
So I did a search of Mr Connelly as Dain Ironfoot, the king dwarf in the upcoming Hobbit movies and found this picture...<br />
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VxL+w4wZzCRhzJ0KmILh3cAsLEDpWLYRuHFkE8lTUkPZH2jCwlSS4UARFiM/XXj+8ZdkeEMqeuQlWpDCdLVsxOlYfkoRo2W+URuK1cX6MzU6kvYNxeLK1aG8h9yHEFMqmkBuMCMCgFS+a1e7mDsiTpZuEPJGRu0cnXLbfzD0v61+EZ1jqTD6H3FfjGoT5Or5/wAxXe0PZwEFaB4hfmKwjJG9oOEq0V3L0OYD9oPsw73vJ4xMtMyYorRKUGBSwABUTRb0sRWDeXhltw+jAiR2fm47MpgmTUy8NJmJ1J1eJbDUkJRUFSiFegVSJ8zaimnQ7HV7RnOe9nl4ZYQpaFqIchBJ01argXpF4+wfIivMVTiPDIlkvwXM8KfhqiZgcFh55xBRh+/mGaokqUlUtKVPoOpWnShnF3KhURI7Jy8Rhe+ThcRhdROqZLSVTAgCgEychOgNwBVE0szcGmP8KvTNbz7HYaUnXPmBITVnb3EAci7WS8RPHcFa5agXDPoZtJfZJjGe0vaqZicQUzFomJl1BTq0qNK+JiQ9LRePsk7QlylKUrHeAFgEqAU7ml9g3rvEssLSTY+PCKcVvRo+f4ATE6QClRFCLg8ucVvG5fp8Jq4qCLvd2i/YpFNQDttxEVPGk6tZbiUtxPxNLQnNicZUx34Wd1XpGbZ5hlKUoC6XZ6OEiwezDbhFW0KBUClwRYgsA4Yp6dWjTc5mSkhStBV4kkszpZ6uSQ4e/OsUjG4hJUSpQSkimuXVnbxBvMzn/MPxPVGZtuwblMhZWqbKppI1PSly+zVf0g1jVapSzdRlsSBvuxSXqPT1iqZjPURQunfmLpCt7UYxOyHEPhJzh1BJCOiwAWOzJJoHrFHC9iFkS+KFYaUruUFKj4iKDUwBcMwDPS/OIisSU+EnzXL1qWYE7FoTlOJUZZBJ0udOo6QFU1HVTxUAA6wxi5OlZ1eJvcAUY1MHWxPLSDEvEIEtIKmYhRp+Elq8ePQQYlJSttQ1bOKXp4gfw8zFcwwCkkUdgWJDk1ctwbYw/h8eqWoaj4DycC1CQxADNCnEYpHZ7kpWAuXpW4bQAdQSH1MXajbRU8bgtJ5nrRtqisaHqSsXZIH4ntchtzUgU2ECM67PpIKwSFULKvwJHL2hmPLWmDPHe0UnRHkGDlB2UlurftHRRyRPwNpl5iDEpKypNKNb1oYgS8GAeQ+vaCeDkskn2gW2YiDMngJ0rTaqSNgdxycW/wAQNx6goBQLTEmh/CeX8esH8bhQoDjpI9Bb5QFx2AT3QVs1f2+UAxiZ2GxqVShMTTQdK0/kUD/9auOSuUGQyhyioZVMVJxTHyzk1BqCRZ3panN4saFlHhSnw7MbcmNWhciqDdA7MJBkibMQHKgG9DanF/nA3KJ85Zmfe0TWlqAZKkpBTc6QGKjpLu9WApFo1d5pFGe3SHswysTCHpS/K7PDIvRrinK5FdxGd4KWR/tZpXo0/wCoBc7nUs1Lu4gFmYxGZzghCEaJJVMJQGCQUgadRva3OLcezYUDqS421Fw3IOYs+SYRMlHdpSlLULBvlFONN6YrNDFFa2yndkMhmy1hU00SnSKvdn+Qi84JbIKjYB/QB4j4vD6ApSdxTqS37wzm2J7uQlAPiWyR0pq+Hzh2OLXZLlkvREy2ZxuanrFiw6vCOIMV3ChgPf2MWLB2PtDZEyHwl4UmWC30+0LtDXeaX9x6QJxTM0y3uJ6tPkKj6HhGcZn2omIx2KlHV3blu60y5vgDjTNCdVnoXF6VjXs2lalFR/E/7R8/9sZhl5liCLpmn4NCMsE1sbCbTtEObMmTJpCdTzFeFzdyyXIoTYE8XjSc5zZGXSxg5ICjLS0ws5mTjVSlP+EFwBaI32f4VMzFyUpQlcus2UsiqSASpJpRSDetfAaPAHtIDNxs4+Jyt7C7/W28QzalLi/RXFOK5ID4WQFzAualUwrWRoSWKqG276iPQGNO7E4fQtK+7TKcjSgb6XDk8GJJf8ogDlfZ9pYUohKibvVndydq7XAvFnyHGAgXACjqDbIDkOLPpDtekIy5OWkU448Vs1fAYppaEqPi0jUOZHG0UnHZkFzpyACyFkAg1LGwegLuL1ERs47fokJmq8y00A4zFABKGGwNz1im5ZmCtLlWpazrSPKpSzq1jVu6gHarCjVhbUpRV/6BxpY5Mt+Oy8TZaCQVMHC01IR5WINS4NuV4pWb4JKD3kxSSNVW8Io4etah7hnIeLblmaqJ0LX5iFJJLK3LgBLXFU/vSIX2gmWVMUUTLSlSkjVspfiAYg1JSesZBtOmMnsyvO535KDzVGkmrpdNQCOsIweL1SZkvYBwADp1Ehy+3WG85kFJFXoPE5JINUmuxj3L06UF1AJuQ9drjf5R6SXxPPd8hyTiCJbJLhwa0NmAa1OFb1iBiZrKqCAA1DU7uT1j2biSVMj+3O/1SF9wkeYlzYXJ6DYczGrR3YyjGqBDi1frjE3CZjxII3c+9IgT55BYAJ6VP/VHiZRO/wAY1pMxOiw4fNvy+lbQXwGYljq3rQgMeL9Ip0pLcIm4XE0Ykk9Wfg/SEyx60NjNhxWDlqL6zX/09XSr1joh/wDFGpqZuZEdC6YzkjVkLpXc+/1eJCp5FON+kCvvwUphsH6tf1hONzEtqBG+7Np68jSH2TE+fj31ew2uGHxjpGMSmQyg739zFNn9o2LA69mFg/M3glgs4RMRpJGocdyfoRmzR5f/ADUhbULy1bGhBSeo+PWDK5unpsYrs3HJmoMtfhIIbiDt/kQayPFpmywiZ52c13BKSRycP6wuSKccvQQkKDgvR4JTj4eR3ioYnGKkKINU8YJZVnhWQhLKBtv78I2GhkthwziWYCleQDEJHxeJkpRKWexDvelIA5vmZwqgqdRJsdunt8oG5V2t72YQguHp06xfAkkkXvFoDARn/aXMCrGoYuhCCkdXLn3A9oPZlnoSnSgus046RuTFDz5eifIL7L9jpHzeH3smfVl6wMx0yztUH1rFly+aH60iidjsw7zVJPmAFebOG+HvFqkzSiZUXAPuWPxDesc9iiwzQw5fX16xCnIcEC7U9m/eHZ2IZLk7X9KQP+8ujUk1/CeBaoPUOGjEc2KEgGX4rgV9L/KPnrtrlqpuaYoSgVjvCQRuGFY2XtFnK0yVLR4T5h1qafH4RhnaDNpkybMTqZBUfCKA13a/rAZbS0Fj2y3fZljxhcSEGYFhQXqAIKZZKQytYLEsliA4tWkEM6yZAmFfe94lZK6EJUKCiuT/ALRnmBASx1JSQakliQW92r7wckZ5pJMxlhPiAvqI8oL8w+9o8zJjblyR6GKaSplhl48pUUqSo60p00LBIDlgz6XchVyzmEYbPUYZM9yQV+TdQCh4hpDbgeIUIgFkWIXiJpXMnjWuqA51BQZmOwoB06Q12gxk4f6eISkgWWUAH3DcoDxb4sN5NWiPiM371SlEBQFnqHU7lnvQAdItOLkmaklCS2hKmI4BJUoKB8zBnYW4ExT8vwhLp2uVAeUEP8g/rFlwOZmQlIZSUK8QAVUAEgEV8NHPB3g8iS6Axtvsl4XFlCNSld6kKC/Gl1jdRA1MSlID1Zw8SMRm82YkiaSpNg6nKQNbVdy5tfzAxGmYolCgnxKLqUCdJU+6VA0WAehcxEzDHnu0qCgwYqvVIDJKkpuygU0b+FJWxjdFZznGFS+DUSytVE08zRD0qX4U2Fzs3D+0dLw6pkwudKfMVmwSdxxeHMTjAwTLBShNuJO6jzMW9aRN3tjK5gTRNT7+/E/CPAkM5UCT1PyjkIDc4XhZQKg9ukd0CRloj2XBGbgCpbfhZ3A2t7vCcTlukBujNHcl7NpkRJJiXhZBNk03+jCpGAYEq8IG6qD65RKlYo6SEeAfmIcn+kG3WBb+jUvsaOBWLam6g/Ex0N92g3Wv3MeRhpKl9qJ+vUVWqAKAQamTlYhGuSt6MuWSykOXDA3S4py5xThChDuJNYQxGsHxgivS3Ii1YnYJSlTEol3UGGzHS56Cl4EIxCvzFupifkuOMtZmCqkij2ckD946jrLVNkFASTVVkhvEpRZqHmPQc4AYjtOuTiJakf8AlJ0rD+bUxWH5MPUQ1mHaVa3YkNQMSCAAzetz1gAamM4IPm/Rr2FzSTj5Ty1DWLoNCH2I/e0N9mMtOHnTJhezDkekZPKUtCwqWSlWxSWPuI3DLZEz7ogzjqmFIKiwHu28JlHh0V48vPtEHt/jxOy+twsN1eKnl2AUmX4ZhFHYUp6Ra+1K5EjCyxOchStg/O0UxWfyB5VkNxSqo4UHCLW6r+CdpXZbMkQDKCwai8U7Os4E7GgA+FA0cjVz6fxC8f20lpklEgK1KDEkMB0FyYqeEmeJzc1f+fSOT2hU3ZqfYJX+5STeqVH+hJb3A+MaDjD4wwLihb4/L3ij/Z/L1NMNPCArqkB/UpCPc8osePz9EpZ1kfpRTWskhmTs53PKHNqxQTzPEtKN6D9j9ekD/vRAIBYFALmxBAJPx+UDsVmi5smYsgspNBYeYBIrayvjFfzrtemXLTLQpKlCijcGp1UNNNSONXjqaQPYjNe0RU8qyWPmcGiVEMRcED6pGcYvCFS6FPj8V3ITevCDmLxImp8Kgm57tdCkkjUyzQj2gEtwrSlgXrpLk1pUX9ITnlqkNxIkYXIVLlzVoQtQlJ1TFbJ+TknbmIPZX2Y+8iazDSAvxEJSU8NRsGHobxBXmU5Ek4dLJQpKQspFF6CVAuPxDUxL7DhD2UqACkGYpJKU+IAKcKLqqSz6RY3eIZuVFcUrPPu/czghaBLFA4LmhuGsxZTjlQ2ifmGFnolqTMmI0vqBLLQtJFSiY5TqF9Dgm7RWcxzBa1FIWooFU0AURd6VJ6vaLr2byVRybFz5pUEqUhEgsQAUl1kfpIVpc7giOkqSbMjJN0Q8hyLEqQpASUypx/5oDCYEgPp/EakBh+reDMzspNmKWlCUvYlawhKUIAuoqZyCDRwxDwTybOAhCAoEqZ/E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<br />
I feel the burning need to point out that this dwarf is NOT Billy Connelly! This is Oin, played brilliantly by <a href="http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0130442/" target="_blank">John Callen</a>.<br />
<br />
So now we've got that sorted out, my next annoyance is why the hell did Billy Connelly get a part in The Hobbit when he obviously has no passion for Tolkien when the lovely and wonderful (and much nicer) Bill Bailey auditioned for a part as one of the dwarves and wasn't cast?!<br />
<br />
I will forgive you, Peter Jackson, but only just...J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-23446301412564359472013-01-05T08:04:00.002-08:002013-01-07T13:54:05.239-08:00The pen is mightier than the camera<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK3jLQOQMKG_Nk8JzmOIrvHNsJ5A6h-11QRf4CC09fmJUp5EIfnypoXajGC9cdsHD0tE8trYISpry85IB9mGcBRN2AN6JjzOUVkpAnhS-qgEYCTl5GTVbkXhWbOrK01uu_esFojkUx9Oj/s1600/abe+lincoln+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK3jLQOQMKG_Nk8JzmOIrvHNsJ5A6h-11QRf4CC09fmJUp5EIfnypoXajGC9cdsHD0tE8trYISpry85IB9mGcBRN2AN6JjzOUVkpAnhS-qgEYCTl5GTVbkXhWbOrK01uu_esFojkUx9Oj/s1600/abe+lincoln+book+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The book is always better than the film.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t remember how old I was when I realised this but I’ve
always found it to be true.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two examples that immediately come to mind are, for some
reason, both Stephen King stories; </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Body'</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNoSpacing">
</h4>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Shawshank Redemption is pretty close to the book but
for some reason I found myself favouring the book over the film.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Body is my favourite story, read when I was 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film adaptation, Stand By Me, came into
my life when I was 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some
notable differences, the main one being the focus point of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stand By Me focuses on Gordie Lachance, the
narrator, whereas The Body has Gordie focusing on his best friend, Chris
Chambers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVV5bFOJGJOGBWMEZ61TEVv71t9S1t4oyQmEaFqUMCnnebRl1jJpKIWRgj1cVkjvpK5R57JkYi0EXy39j_xzePccpV5_eUAHtnjk-o62TVrUXDhLrRiH-Hz0dOGqeNHJqOZoVtZDBxCtw/s1600/chris+and+gordie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVV5bFOJGJOGBWMEZ61TEVv71t9S1t4oyQmEaFqUMCnnebRl1jJpKIWRgj1cVkjvpK5R57JkYi0EXy39j_xzePccpV5_eUAHtnjk-o62TVrUXDhLrRiH-Hz0dOGqeNHJqOZoVtZDBxCtw/s1600/chris+and+gordie.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This being said, the most prolific scene for me in Stand By Me
is actually different in The Body; as a 12 year old girl I fell in love with
Chris Chambers the moment he rescued Teddy from the train tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was, therefore, a little shocked to find
that it is Gordie who rescues Teddy in the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Both of these stories are beautifully written and
wonderfully told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what happens when a
film is made based on a poorly written book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYWjLzNpLT09wJDugMnjLtzfHHjXJACH4XE1HnEnaqIMJU9iGETcQulFY_tDFYF65igGTFFQwFJ7yLONl_nAirIM2Gj-sXmX5sVGt3MXUGhiZ7js7snG5fKk80LawK1i_XTMouVo4S34X/s1600/john+dies+at+the+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYWjLzNpLT09wJDugMnjLtzfHHjXJACH4XE1HnEnaqIMJU9iGETcQulFY_tDFYF65igGTFFQwFJ7yLONl_nAirIM2Gj-sXmX5sVGt3MXUGhiZ7js7snG5fKk80LawK1i_XTMouVo4S34X/s200/john+dies+at+the+end.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I first started to think about this when I discovered
that John Dies At The End is being made into a film. The trailer actually doesn’t
look too bad but I found the book to be great at the beginning only to
completely lose me somewhere in the middle and eventually just plain annoy me
by the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to force myself to
finish it and was actualy angry with the conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m curious to see if the film will be any
good, but doubt I'll waste money on seeing it on the big screen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNoSpacing">
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter </h4>
<h4 class="MsoNoSpacing">
</h4>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last year I went to see Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
at the cinema. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first time in
a very long time that I have considered walking out in the middle of a
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter.html">Read my review here</a>!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For my birthday, my darling beloved bought me the book (by
Seth Grahame-Smith).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks, love.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, I thought I should give it a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was intrigued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following my own rule that the book is always
better than the film I thought it had to have something going for it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ163R2feNX336x1seKFvUEs64CXylOmrmT98njJPXJb17BhxtRF3Y4kcuJ3hSwNBQ4y903evDy1SDkIKCNm-J8jYVJ5PP8tJZAtg1rvkC3ytGRrAFW7OQL0ZgPvdvcnS_m1UBvPGUuwJ/s1600/abe+lincoln2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ163R2feNX336x1seKFvUEs64CXylOmrmT98njJPXJb17BhxtRF3Y4kcuJ3hSwNBQ4y903evDy1SDkIKCNm-J8jYVJ5PP8tJZAtg1rvkC3ytGRrAFW7OQL0ZgPvdvcnS_m1UBvPGUuwJ/s1600/abe+lincoln2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
real page turner and I zoomed through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first thing I noticed was it is completely different from the film!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t just mean a little different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like The Fellowship of the Ring when
Tom Bombadil got left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like
Stand By Me where Gordie saves Teddy instead of Chris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is completely, totally different.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, perhaps I’m exaggerating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still about Abraham Lincoln who is a
vampire hunter and becomes President of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still loses his mother at the beginning to
a vampire, he still loses a child to a vampire and both Henry Sturges, his vampire mentor,
and Joshua Speed are in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a civil war and slavery, because you can’t just rewrite history
like that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that’s it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s where the similarity ends.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What the script writers have done is give the story a
greater impact and made Abe Lincoln that little bit more likeable, and
politically correct, by giving him a black vampire slaying friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it quite shocking that, through the
entire book, Abe didn’t speak to, let alone befriend, any of the slaves he was
fighting for the rights of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the
book suggests that rather than wishing to help the slaves themselves, he wanted
to end slavery in order to fight vampires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The theory being that vampires are taking over America because the white
folk have given them a plentiful supply of food through slave auctions.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This makes for an interesting plot in a novel, but not
for a film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fair enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, even for a novel, it’s a little
slow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So why make a film out of it in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m assuming someone heard the concept and
thought it an interesting one for a film.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There can, then, be no excuse for the dodgy scenes in the
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought that the book might
explain why Abe Lincoln could fell a whole tree with one blow despite not
having Buffy Summers' slayer powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
truth is that in the book he is only described as being incredibly strong because
he trained so hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The stampede scene in the film
that made me stare at the exit sign in the cinema?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonexistent in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone definately needs to answer for that
scene alone.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The endings of the book and film are also very
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I tell you the ending
of the book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It certainly wasn’t what I
was expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thoroughly enjoyed the
last scene of the film and not just because it meant that the film was
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry sits in a modern, present
day bar and essentially finds himself a new vampire hunter to train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s another thing that the book and film have in
common which I enjoyed in both; Henry Sturges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The story is about Abraham Lincoln, but I’ve never been the type who
will cheer for the hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m the type
who will always seek out the sidekick, the secondary character, that person in
the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are often the most
interesting characters, perhaps because they have gaps that need to be filled
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is more to Henry in the book and because of this,
and because the book didn’t make me cringe, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is yet another example of the
book being better than the film.</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-58675156196823673142012-12-31T13:40:00.001-08:002013-01-05T08:05:53.781-08:00Goodbye 2012!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So here we are. The last day of 2012.<br /><br />It should be the end of a great year - the year of the London Olympics, Paralympics and Queen's Jubilee. It was a great year to the British.<br /><br />In reality 2012 was a mixed bag. I suffered anxiety attacks throughout the summer and don't get me started on October. A whole month of illness, anxiety, job interviews and loss. One of the worst months of my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">On the up side, the world didn't end. Twice.<br /><br />The
year also had some utterly astounding moments. We visited London Zoo
where one of my old university friends is now lucky enough to work and
she kindly gave us a behind the scenes tour of the reptile house which I
will never forget. <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/how-many-inspiration-hits-can-you-get.html">Utterly amazing</a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHq-2JZj0D_KEB-VYV2ElgHB1TkK7Ig6-TxDruCMIGoug2qf-UHUWRD1eSzemXh-WFzuO74L7eBKHGNtijgpQjpV6hNzikfev1_liu2Cn9GZ8JjgTmi7fVMSRRbR__NixZuNbNcIfNU9m/s1600/WP_000178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHq-2JZj0D_KEB-VYV2ElgHB1TkK7Ig6-TxDruCMIGoug2qf-UHUWRD1eSzemXh-WFzuO74L7eBKHGNtijgpQjpV6hNzikfev1_liu2Cn9GZ8JjgTmi7fVMSRRbR__NixZuNbNcIfNU9m/s320/WP_000178.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is MY hand stroking a giant tortoise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />This is the year that I went to Scotland twice. Yes, I am very proud of that! We spent our first wedding anniversary in the glorious Inverness enjoying the sights of the Highlands and then my birthday in the beautiful Edinburgh.<br /><br />Television and the cinema of 2012 has been fairly good. Ok, so <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-dark-knight-rises.html">The Dark Knight Rises</a> didn't quite live up to expectation but <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/avengers-assemble-get-your-geek-on.html">The Avengers</a> was amazing, as was <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/closing-looper.html">Looper</a>, <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/friday-afternoon-with-woman-in-black.html">The Woman in Black</a>, <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-brave-princess-film.html">Brave</a> and <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/we-all-wish-for-ted.html">Ted</a> and don't get me started on <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/an-unexpected-delight.html">The Hobbit</a> (no really, don't).<br /><br />2012 also saw the first half of the third season of <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-walking-dead-mid-season-finale.html">The Walking Dead</a> with the fascinating Governor, the amusing <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/smoke-me-kipper.html">Red Dwarf X</a>, the second series of <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/game-of-thrones-2-finale-review.html">Game of Thrones</a> and we lost the beautiful Annie in <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/beautiful-ending.html">Being Human</a>.<br /><br />Rather than set myself resolutions in 2012, I gave myself goals;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Publish The-Novel-Formerly-Known-As-Silver – yes…well… I sent it off to two small publishers and got one rejection and one request for the full manuscript followed by a rejection. I’ve since decided to rewrite the novel which will also be renamed, which I’m starting today! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Write the sequel to Silver – This is linked to the above so this hasn’t happened either.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Write Matter of Time – Done! Hurray!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Enter as many short story competitions as possible – While I did try and do this I was not successful in being placed at all. I did write a few stories that I’m proud of though. Early days…</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Start writing articles/freelancing – I’ve thought about it a lot, does that count?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">G</span>et fit – HAHAHA!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">E</span>at healthy – I tried and was doing quite well until November.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">S</span>tart writing a blog – Erm, hello! And yes, today my blog is one year old! I even managed to write <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/p/summer-2012-blog-serial.html">a blog serial</a>!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And now 2013 is upon us.<br /><br />Next year holds a lot of promise. Wednesday is my first official day in my new job with my shiny new salary which is exciting in itself.<br /><br />2013 has started with a bang with a new series of Miranda. The Walking Dead season 3 will return in February and we will be able to find out what will happen to our beloved Daryl and Merle Dixon. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjuy4zd-B2wpX1kt2hJFRL7HIsydTWxbVnsWl7FULeWzpTJh7qPj1Gq9cNg7OVyqJYHfwXlhmhE3qoi3zGwOEqxd8PeKMSvthmDsZvythyphenhyphenEn5WvSJDc3MX36V8G31GmnOGhHgQ4ipr6If/s1600/merle+and+daryl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjuy4zd-B2wpX1kt2hJFRL7HIsydTWxbVnsWl7FULeWzpTJh7qPj1Gq9cNg7OVyqJYHfwXlhmhE3qoi3zGwOEqxd8PeKMSvthmDsZvythyphenhyphenEn5WvSJDc3MX36V8G31GmnOGhHgQ4ipr6If/s1600/merle+and+daryl.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merle and Daryl Dixon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />The big screen holds a lot of promise for 2013; Iron Man 3, Despicable Me 2, Kick Ass 2, Star Trek Into Darkness, Die Hard 5 and Monster University. Hmm...they seem to all be sequels! One stand alone coming next year is the belated World War Z, but having seen the trailer I'm no longer looking forward to this film.<br /><br />The main film I'm looking forward to in 2013? The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug of course! <br /><br />I am starting 2013 with the biggest pile of books to read that I've ever had including the titles The Hobbit, The Woman In Black by Susan Hill, A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin, The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore, Dark Eden by Chris Beckett, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, 11.22.63 by Stephen King, Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, a number of titles by Suzy McKee Charnas and Ursula le Guin stolen from my mum and I will also be buying Red Country by Joe Abercrombie which is out now.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, my goals for 2013...</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Enter as many short story competitions as possible.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Get published - somehow, somewhere!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Finish and submit Matter of Time - I finished the third draft just yesterday!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rewrite and finish The-Novel-Formerly-Known-As-Silver</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Write the first draft of a new project</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Continue with my blog and write another blog serial</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read more female writers - as you can see from my above list, I'm on my way!</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0UjLsn8xR7vZSXkXBk2WV4GL4MBkYYu53ERqnN5K9SQYPUYbur2lBFXDzYcva0l-fIJce5wZnAlnTovz4d01LIqcQc3Z-aT_88838FYTHqXORuLwAU0hYVMG_y6TKfgFSR6B-Esx4Ib0/s1600/bofur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0UjLsn8xR7vZSXkXBk2WV4GL4MBkYYu53ERqnN5K9SQYPUYbur2lBFXDzYcva0l-fIJce5wZnAlnTovz4d01LIqcQc3Z-aT_88838FYTHqXORuLwAU0hYVMG_y6TKfgFSR6B-Esx4Ib0/s1600/bofur.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My most favourite Dwarvish hat ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a good feeling about 2013. Some people are feeling rather superstitious about it - prolonging their wedding or getting pregnant until 2014. <br /><br />But the number 13 once won me a giant Mars bar and I'm feeling lucky.<br /><br />Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, have a fantastic night and a wonderful, happy, healthy 2013.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy New Year everyone! </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-21872356990241411462012-12-29T07:46:00.000-08:002012-12-29T07:46:04.793-08:00O is for Obsession<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOU1dB2OEC0va8kV-NxIPV64n82-U5JQzC136WH66n-HPf6O7EneVt_Y55v2B-rwXmIu6dXK17xXMaC_ULK54RAjZI5lefwTrGv0kd9vFyfSWmORIJnQsPwlxXxc0o1KYPfQCMp7M3S77/s1600/obsessive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOU1dB2OEC0va8kV-NxIPV64n82-U5JQzC136WH66n-HPf6O7EneVt_Y55v2B-rwXmIu6dXK17xXMaC_ULK54RAjZI5lefwTrGv0kd9vFyfSWmORIJnQsPwlxXxc0o1KYPfQCMp7M3S77/s1600/obsessive.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Uh-oh.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Something has happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It used to happen a lot when I was little and it never ended
when I was a teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stupidly
thought I would one day grow out of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nope.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So it’s time to make a confession; I am an obsessive.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t mean obsessive compulsive, although I do wash my
hands far too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean
obsessive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something will enter my life
and then it will take over my mind. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It used to drive my friends and family insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I try to keep it to myself, I find other
ways of letting my obsessions breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those closest to me will still be able to recognise the signs – in fact
I bet you a small piece of Christmas cake that my mum knows exactly where this
post is going!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My obsessions usually sprout from television or
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A concept or character will hook
into my mind and set up shop there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obsessions leave their mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They reach inside me, turn me inside out and
leave me changed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Examples of some of my past obsessions?</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Lion King (I was only little so I won’t say much but
I will admit to knowing all of the songs by heart which embarrassed my husband
at Bristol Zoo this year as I sang and danced my way around the centre
green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw this film at the cinema 5
times)</li>
<li>Buffy and Angel (a large DVD collection and a novel idea
which I have written three beginnings for, so far)</li>
<li>The Lord of the Rings (my true introduction to the world
of fantasy which led to me writing the beginning and only the beginning of a
high fantasy novel but has influenced my writing and reading choices ever
since)</li>
<li>Firefly and Serenity (a way of talking, an introduction
to Nathan Fillion (and therefore Castle), and a novella idea)</li>
<li>Supernatural (an annoyed husband who was apparently
forced to go upstairs for 40 minutes at a time for a whole three seasons which I watched back to back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Emily May character and subsequent
novel ideas and my Summer 2012 blog serial)</li>
<li>Pirates of the Caribbean (which made a nerve wracking
summer bearable and led to me wearing bandanas for a few months and left me
with heavy eye make up, a small collection of pirate books and novels, an
unfinished written novel and a novella idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw this film at the cinema nine times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have gone for the tenth but the
cinema stopped showing it)</li>
<li>The Walking Dead (an ongoing obsession which has led to a
plethora of zombie novels on my book shelf, a written short story and a
multitude of daydreaming)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do most of these obsessions have in common?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My writing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My obsessions are my inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I live them, breathe them, allow them to consume me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I twist them and bend them and the result is
a plot line, a character, a concept, an idea that results in a short story,
novella or novel.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am a writer, therefore I am obsessive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My obsessive nature makes me a writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedagazbHXds1g6KPY0ZPQCyQgQrW2srEi3a27xwnLajOCBJGdVXoIMy3zAbnrazCvYsJHJc0LF7uBYxA1ZBDi7WwfEa2Thg-9q5TfUUersqkgcwg5T_VNg3RMd3G47QBQaD45vVrRogWD/s1600/hobbit+dwarves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedagazbHXds1g6KPY0ZPQCyQgQrW2srEi3a27xwnLajOCBJGdVXoIMy3zAbnrazCvYsJHJc0LF7uBYxA1ZBDi7WwfEa2Thg-9q5TfUUersqkgcwg5T_VNg3RMd3G47QBQaD45vVrRogWD/s1600/hobbit+dwarves.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I tell you this now because all of the signs are there
once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve just bought a movie
soundtrack (not unlike me, I have many) and I have recently been to the cinema to
see the same film twice in less than a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A film I didn’t
really want to see in the first place.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes, there is something about dwarves and wizards and
dragons and hobbits that has enticed me, dug its claws into me and dragged me
kicking and screaming back to high fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yes, I did just admit to seeing The Hobbit for the second time at
the cinema.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved it!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLHC-iz-Ua25w9e3iFftB5nI87wLmQ2bn4cCnOcoYHOw4E8JWajYpA6-iKXROXPGnGZa6iSCztlCopOCjifHpa_MSy_rj7AWE6RFoNe20Nrp0MEkTVBJo0rDFdFM5pkU6hhOTq2V-N0j6/s1600/hobbit+troll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLHC-iz-Ua25w9e3iFftB5nI87wLmQ2bn4cCnOcoYHOw4E8JWajYpA6-iKXROXPGnGZa6iSCztlCopOCjifHpa_MSy_rj7AWE6RFoNe20Nrp0MEkTVBJo0rDFdFM5pkU6hhOTq2V-N0j6/s1600/hobbit+troll.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was wrong in my <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/an-unexpected-delight.html">review</a> – Gollum is not overacted, he
was brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The music is also
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second time round I
really heard the dwarven score which is why I’m now the proud owner of the
soundtrack, a new ringtone (someone ring me, please!) and the book is winging its way to me (I know, I haven’t read it
yet, for shame).</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am now waiting for the story ideas to flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if this will be an obsession which
leads to big inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may just be
one of those wonderful worlds that I can happily disappear off to when I close
my eyes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I imagine I am not unique in this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there are other obsessive people out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if they are writers too?</div>
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<br /></div>
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And now for one of those moments in a film that gives me pleasurable shivers and makes me desperate to pull out a pen and paper... </div>
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<br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRUBe2RTq74?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-50-best-moments/" target="_blank">Check out Total Film's top 50 Hobbit moments - spoiler alert! </a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-79853974738184240942012-12-24T04:26:00.000-08:002013-01-05T08:15:11.894-08:00An unexpected delight<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0QjHKhEvVNY1QuF3CBVMIpSn3spXeU7apI08cBcsWh2RL9Y6SdvgcUuC8lyhdw3lFlaqAwzLhhk93gcVvHydipWp2V-aiq08ri-Jxqtq-JlUNR9bwQXY5zQ6Rgm-s5nBfk0DquLS7TP4/s1600/hobbitdwarves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0QjHKhEvVNY1QuF3CBVMIpSn3spXeU7apI08cBcsWh2RL9Y6SdvgcUuC8lyhdw3lFlaqAwzLhhk93gcVvHydipWp2V-aiq08ri-Jxqtq-JlUNR9bwQXY5zQ6Rgm-s5nBfk0DquLS7TP4/s1600/hobbitdwarves.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hurray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world didn’t
end!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To celebrate, last night we went to
see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I wasn’t expecting to like it much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw some clips previously that looked
heavily epic, if you’ll excuse the term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After three years of Lord of the Rings (which I loved), I’m a little
tired of epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially as I now can’t
watch Lord of the Rings on my home television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It belongs on the big screen, which slightly ruins it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went to see The Hobbit tentatively.</div>
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Before I first saw The Fellowship of the
Ring, I didn’t really know a lot about fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was suffering from writers block and then I was introduced to Middle
Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember especially the moment
that Gandalf lit his staff to reveal the insides of the Mines of Moria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My usually noisy mind (dissecting dialogue,
commenting on direction, telling me what’s going to happen next) was made
utterly speechless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That silence in my
head had never happened before, nor has it happened since.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSQmF7WrNk5GkTMTcdqdKzgltbX7QPs3ajaZqMS-89ov2o4f7D47r1Ry2PXap7XRKjvJyEKgnVwYt_6DvwqCuFAhxSN0hsPuP8_mSNyQHP9TQep8W7Tt2WSxMmJ_B8nnKZ3rLbkvJtix5/s1600/hobbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSQmF7WrNk5GkTMTcdqdKzgltbX7QPs3ajaZqMS-89ov2o4f7D47r1Ry2PXap7XRKjvJyEKgnVwYt_6DvwqCuFAhxSN0hsPuP8_mSNyQHP9TQep8W7Tt2WSxMmJ_B8nnKZ3rLbkvJtix5/s1600/hobbit.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Hobbit was a fun and wonderful reminder of why I love
fantasy so very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reluctant, young
Bilbo Baggins is dragged into a quest by wizard Gandalf the Grey to help twelve dwarves reclaim the lost dwarven kingdom of Erebor in The Lonely Mountain from
the dragon Smaug.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a traditional fantasy – dwarves and dragons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I feel I must be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not read the book (yet), so please
bear this in mind when you read the following.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As with the Lord of the Ring films, The Hobbit is
visually a masterpiece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scenery is definitely
epic and the CGI is brilliant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
detail of the characters is amazing, although some development is lacking in
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hobbit, unlike Lord of the
Rings, is a children’s fantasy and as such contains warm humour and bright
colours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fast paced throughout
most of the film and during the rare slow moments you can rely on a fast paced
action sequence being just round the corner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I mentioned, character development was lacking in
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably due to the
number of dwarves present rather than poor writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thirteen</span></span> dwarves means that it’s difficult to
know each and every one, even in such a long film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially when there is also a hobbit, Gollum, three wizards, a Lady and Lord of elves, three trolls, an goblin king and
an orc villain...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qRN_FhE7bwoyuJmRCvA3I9tpPWiSBOMXnyEMgiMD8NM0a5sFDfVkU1GX7ei9_m4XiowPQ1Q_o-Y2YEtHpxzBN0HPAizHAGJ5nXaxrCY_pycx5GWrdhHkJqyJc9BjgxFHm1JH0NbP4YVM/s1600/hobbitdwarfposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qRN_FhE7bwoyuJmRCvA3I9tpPWiSBOMXnyEMgiMD8NM0a5sFDfVkU1GX7ei9_m4XiowPQ1Q_o-Y2YEtHpxzBN0HPAizHAGJ5nXaxrCY_pycx5GWrdhHkJqyJc9BjgxFHm1JH0NbP4YVM/s1600/hobbitdwarfposter.jpg" /></a>A selection of dwarves stand out; </div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thorin (Richard Armitage), king of the dwarves, </li>
<li>Balin (Ken Stott), Thorin’s advisor and friend, </li>
<li>Bofur (James Nesbitt), a comic and outspoken
dwarf who seems to be the first to develop any kind of affection towards Bilbo,
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Dwalin (Graham McTavish), the warrior and
possibly the biggest,</li>
<li>Ori (Adam Brown), the youngest and </li>
<li>Kili (Aidan Turner), yes Mitchell from Being
Human!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I would hope that the characters of the dwarves will
develop further in the next two films, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, not knowing all of the
dwarves well does not hinder an enjoyment of the film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, in this film they give the impression
of what it means to be a dwarf – brave, merry, honourable, to enjoy good food and a good
fight, stubborn, kind and gentle. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BghxiC6j6jmi0qCVvJDUzEw0pqd_VdQTMAnR6nFBQ5gyEU_SUu2bSqzVTLpneGQ8Jr7uHbquaob-cCpfkk3U6frJwL-Y5SJ9-pqI1dojo2-vtOHRSKAACr4lR5hjfpIrsRRh-ZaJSBOQ/s1600/hobbit+thorin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BghxiC6j6jmi0qCVvJDUzEw0pqd_VdQTMAnR6nFBQ5gyEU_SUu2bSqzVTLpneGQ8Jr7uHbquaob-cCpfkk3U6frJwL-Y5SJ9-pqI1dojo2-vtOHRSKAACr4lR5hjfpIrsRRh-ZaJSBOQ/s1600/hobbit+thorin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorin Oakensheild</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gandalf (Ian Mckellen) is a different wizard to one we
meet in The Fellowship of the Ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
younger and a little naive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He allows
his fear to show and therefore his vulnerabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is overall a more likeable wizard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I loved him in Lord of
the Rings, but I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i> him more in The
Hobbit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bilbo Baggins is played brilliantly by Martin
Freeman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mannerisms that Ian Holm
introduced to Bilbo in the Lord of the Rings is carried through and fully
developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bilbo is a likeable but
reluctant hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t seem to
realise just how brave he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a
kind hobbit but at the same time there is a pompous, selfishness there which is
probably the weakness that leads to him stealing the ring from Gollum. It is that same pompousness that keeps him with the dwarves even when they doubt them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIdJ6VLqTUcZ1PHLC43p_rz1fIyq1RfMUiJ8-SaYcc2ImAiU5dHR0l2vblmZpcO2yAlDWE1XPlO7my5sJNvHAb-C-qs4iFbC2u_ohdpVc-dlcgQTboUilytolOBTE3dUL-fCQ0pt9-nPe/s1600/hobbit+bilbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIdJ6VLqTUcZ1PHLC43p_rz1fIyq1RfMUiJ8-SaYcc2ImAiU5dHR0l2vblmZpcO2yAlDWE1XPlO7my5sJNvHAb-C-qs4iFbC2u_ohdpVc-dlcgQTboUilytolOBTE3dUL-fCQ0pt9-nPe/s1600/hobbit+bilbo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes, Gollum is there too of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 'riddles in the dark' scene between Gollum and Bilbo is
wonderful and the CGI of Gollum has improved (if possible).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gollum is already complete by this film but
it feels that a huge emphasis was put on his scenes, perhaps because he is such
a fan favourite.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My main issue with The Hobbit was the similarities with
the Lord of the Rings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it must
feel familiar with the settings and music, as it is set in the same
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we first see Rivendell and the
beautiful music of the Rivendell elves picks up, I found myself smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later as we cut to the dwarves marching
across the snowy mountain tops to that same music that followed the Fellowship,
my heart sank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am tired of the epic
nature of the Lord of the Rings and perhaps these familiar scenes and music
stirred these memories within me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were short lived however, as the next scene drew us closer to the warm nature
of the dwarves.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL_AeEc5mXUQhx4ylEjOlv5QSZKgwN3Uu2hDYycV8QYe3Km1WXilSbvsI3rEMUafeTrP5u3EJB6atU7BDcfDXRlY4O4QS8YFlQ_x5Gb0Z-Ef0QfCcEzNE9Zh7AqihqlNVgjDMyGjLz6hJ/s1600/hobbit+trolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL_AeEc5mXUQhx4ylEjOlv5QSZKgwN3Uu2hDYycV8QYe3Km1WXilSbvsI3rEMUafeTrP5u3EJB6atU7BDcfDXRlY4O4QS8YFlQ_x5Gb0Z-Ef0QfCcEzNE9Zh7AqihqlNVgjDMyGjLz6hJ/s320/hobbit+trolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Hobbit has been accused of having scenes which are
too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is true in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of the scenes could easily have been
cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, I only vaguely
noticed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film is mostly fast
paced and my mind only wandered a few times during the more lengthy
scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most boring scene was one in
Rivendell as Gandalf, Saruman, Elrond and Galadriel discuss a new darkness looming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it was interesting to see Galadriel’s
relationship with Gandalf and a non-evil (perhaps?) Saruman, I just wasn’t
interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted
to be back with Bilbo and the dwarves, on their journey to reclaim their
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However I’m sure that this dull
scene will play its part in the following two films.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Speaking of Galadriel, where are the strong female
characters in the travelling group?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know that Tolkien could write them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Galadriel, Arwen and Eowyn are proof of this, yet there were no females
in the Fellowship and there are no females in the travelling group in The
Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, so it’s supposed to
represent male comradeship but what’s wrong with a female dwarf helping to
reclaim her home?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL_3HX-QJhOVkMLm-8nVAYeSgztvKAeUIN9XpcRbFjQbsREKiY3PXGNwrb3M5SCFGawdedPzGOec8HykCZts2Hfo_SvqT-LMYKHdsaVttEsg_nQqwj4331cq9swruXR8Uoe8UXMvv2z3I/s1600/hobbitorc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL_3HX-QJhOVkMLm-8nVAYeSgztvKAeUIN9XpcRbFjQbsREKiY3PXGNwrb3M5SCFGawdedPzGOec8HykCZts2Hfo_SvqT-LMYKHdsaVttEsg_nQqwj4331cq9swruXR8Uoe8UXMvv2z3I/s320/hobbitorc.jpg" width="320" /></a>I thoroughly enjoyed The
Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat down in the cinema telling
myself it was ok if I didn’t enjoy it and that I wouldn’t force myself to see
the next two films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I can’t wait to
see the next one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the last scene I
was hungry for more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last week I tried hard not to listen to a man at work
telling a colleague about the film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was fearful of spoilers but needn’t of worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, he did say that he just couldn’t get on with a film that had
giant eagles in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night, as the
giant eagles came into view, I was reminded of this and thought to myself,
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly don’t understand how anyone could
not like this film, never mind the giant eagles.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qnBR3GR6VKP0ptonxZ4FDE17pRUBp7fkKhO007gJQzE0iODAmSrfJbZCi2_SGSP4zFVf0Po_m6H61Dy0nP_bePZw3U0V0YkxepI76RD6BV4FJWIRRHEPCaH8trD1FJxcVGj4mdKYvXd4/s1600/hobbit+radagast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qnBR3GR6VKP0ptonxZ4FDE17pRUBp7fkKhO007gJQzE0iODAmSrfJbZCi2_SGSP4zFVf0Po_m6H61Dy0nP_bePZw3U0V0YkxepI76RD6BV4FJWIRRHEPCaH8trD1FJxcVGj4mdKYvXd4/s1600/hobbit+radagast.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radagast the Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yet, I am the only person I know who has loved this
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s just me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this is a bad, boring and long film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was carried away by the premise, by the new
characters in a familiar setting, by the connections between The Hobbit and the
Fellowship of the Ring, by the simple and wonderful story concept, by the warmth and comradery of the dwarves.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, in the
Fellowship of the Ring my mind was rendered speechless by the sight of the
mines of Moria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something similar
happened at the very last scene in The Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I won’t tell you what the scene was but suddenly my mind fell silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then it uttered three words to me;
Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I should leave it there but I want to mention one more
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a writer, when faced with a
good film, my overactive mind begins to create a new character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would I be in this film?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would I be, who would I be and what
would her story be?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I had these thoughts during Lord of the Rings and I had
them during The Hobbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a conflict,
surely I cannot be in both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which would
I prefer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, that’s easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definately a female warrior dwarf to a Lady
of Rohan.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which would you prefer to be in?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Merry Christmas everyone!</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-3729226005260870922012-12-20T13:04:00.001-08:002012-12-20T13:04:35.438-08:00No. Apocalypse now!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSreoE2LnIi1UQ6hgcGhbUy_NKPv85hRtneJwWQOpyW02DoDOGfJKC28ePNcTsOw3rfpwqjKVcjHl94cixYUs7pBz5U9IPC-kb_IzQP8OQJldy2_GiyE-iz-xsQ2fcdMV9zlO3yVtqSRf/s1600/Mayan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSreoE2LnIi1UQ6hgcGhbUy_NKPv85hRtneJwWQOpyW02DoDOGfJKC28ePNcTsOw3rfpwqjKVcjHl94cixYUs7pBz5U9IPC-kb_IzQP8OQJldy2_GiyE-iz-xsQ2fcdMV9zlO3yVtqSRf/s1600/Mayan1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wow, it’s been a whole week since my last post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m definitely slipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my defence, my silence on here has been
due to desperately trying to finish the restructure and edits of my novel,
Matter of Time, before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
same time (naturally) the day job has become pretty crazy – thanks to local
Government cuts there are no longer ‘quiet times’ that allow us to catch up and
of course it’s Christmas next week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yay!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ve been arguing with
online companies who send me the wrong orders...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, as I sit here trying to decide which time and day
to book to finally see The Hobbit, it dawned on me that the world is supposed
to end tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all everyone can
talk about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s in the news, one of the
natural/discovery channels has a whole week of apocalyptic programming and the
saying at work right now is ‘see you next year unless the world ends.’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/apocalypse-now.html">I posted
about this right at the beginning of 2012</a> and noticed that the date 12
months ago for the impending end of the world was December 23<sup>rd</sup>
(potentially while I’m sat in the cinema).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My scepticism is poking at me (don’t worry, I’ll see a doctor if it
continues).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In all truthfulness I am actually a teeny bit
worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want the world to
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>December has been an awesome month, so much
good stuff has happened and the icing on the Decembery cake will be
Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so excited and
apprehensive about 2013 that if it doesn’t happen I will burst (which shouldn’t
matter as we’d all be dead anyway).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I live in the South West of England and, if you don’t
already know, we have suffered from crippling floods these past few
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst flooding in hundred
years or similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a brief dry
spell, yesterday saw more torrential rain and flooding in parts of Cornwall (not
near me but I did get wet).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve woken
this morning to more rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visions of
the movie 2012 keep popping into my head, the stories of Noah’s Ark play over
and over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the recent flooding
residents exclaimed on the news that this felt like judgement day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So now not only is our weather getting worse, possibly a sign of impending doom, but the Terminator should be appearing anytime now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, in an effort to calm myself and my overworked
paranoia, I did a little search...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZhYiRvGpVDvkByE0qhC524ZW3nPnqi2jfRAf3ailYTqM0eG0g2xgn1EUTn8SedQDQzRQ7vu0Dm6cJN3udRLA00EgpT-tsVvWajHhSm3HB-OBYX_U0GxPkI_y0WwnRIfZLaZQ1TBk2rCI/s1600/mayan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZhYiRvGpVDvkByE0qhC524ZW3nPnqi2jfRAf3ailYTqM0eG0g2xgn1EUTn8SedQDQzRQ7vu0Dm6cJN3udRLA00EgpT-tsVvWajHhSm3HB-OBYX_U0GxPkI_y0WwnRIfZLaZQ1TBk2rCI/s1600/mayan.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It may please you to know that an earlier Mayan calendar has
been discovered, as reported back in May 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This calendar is older than the one being used to predict the end of the
world tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it suggests that
the world will continue for octillions (yes, I didn’t know that word existed
either) of years. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we can all breathe a sigh of relief! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can continue working on my novel in the hope that it
will be published next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can carry
on working hard in the day job in the knowledge that it will all pay off next year (it already
has – I was promoted at the beginning of this month!).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s not to say that I’m not still worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still raining a lot and it’s not that I
don’t trust the Mayans but I’ve never met them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world could still end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if
it does, I will never get to see The Hobbit...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.livescience.com/20218-apocalypse-oldest-mayan-calendar.html">Read
about the new Mayan calendar discover here.</a></div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-67774207604287617112012-12-13T08:19:00.001-08:002012-12-13T08:20:31.671-08:00A Thursday thought<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnX3FJNI4surDPgStR2zduJ2d0Ywh0GiSyasFKnkHnwWwildY6V1y0TFaC4vbH_mOkBTcoAYFJVTCafgJ-5c6rbRkLvaGVNNgS8jIRmCHu91J3sz-FpPDpbC1VI3OCw9TTQrKlPFQWZD0/s1600/twd+oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnX3FJNI4surDPgStR2zduJ2d0Ywh0GiSyasFKnkHnwWwildY6V1y0TFaC4vbH_mOkBTcoAYFJVTCafgJ-5c6rbRkLvaGVNNgS8jIRmCHu91J3sz-FpPDpbC1VI3OCw9TTQrKlPFQWZD0/s1600/twd+oscar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was thinking about <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-walking-dead-mid-season-finale.html">The Walking Dead</a> this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was thinking about Axel, probably for the first
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Axel and Oscar are the two last
surviving inmates from the prison that Rick’s group is inhabiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was replaying the last episode in my head
where Axel is creepily chatting up young Beth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Carol interrupts him and ends up reassuring him that she isn’t a lesbian
(I think I would have personally played along rather than invite unwanted
attention from him).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I wondered how
he would feel when he found out the only other surviving inmate, Oscar, had
died during the rescue of Maggie and Glen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_RFsdox71lXW_JG2-8mOUh_54l4BuaJFLdgRrCS0m6QhNtos_d5G52brsr5L5o288zWNK0ZgJqopUeWEw07AdooD8qeJBDqeVHA_oho5PnYptldGPrMcPgjJpohrBsNVGLZTfRWeY5vF/s1600/twd+tdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_RFsdox71lXW_JG2-8mOUh_54l4BuaJFLdgRrCS0m6QhNtos_d5G52brsr5L5o288zWNK0ZgJqopUeWEw07AdooD8qeJBDqeVHA_oho5PnYptldGPrMcPgjJpohrBsNVGLZTfRWeY5vF/s1600/twd+tdog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-Dog - we hardly knew ye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The brain is a strange organ, it can make strange
connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason I went from
Axel becoming the last prison inmate to the fact that Oscar was black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then counted the number of main black
characters in The Walking Dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s:</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Jacqui who died in season 1, choosing to die in an explosion rather than continue as a post apocalyptic survivor,</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>T-Dog who died a heroic death in season 3 without any character
development whatsoever,</li>
<li>Oscar who died a hero, rescuing two people he hardly knew, in season 3,</li>
<li>and Michonne.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Huh.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZJM0_ZU6RtRYHteQcnhPiy6TF1rEAQSDLioBuVNn8CKrFFiyEFaSsFDn0eHwruPnZ67a8CdZRDKQ8aqP8mExVnBEgcLdzYGz2f2A8UsCMCDUK8XW88lJZSe0yAB0h3bZaOKqv1qF_LwI/s1600/twd+tyreese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZJM0_ZU6RtRYHteQcnhPiy6TF1rEAQSDLioBuVNn8CKrFFiyEFaSsFDn0eHwruPnZ67a8CdZRDKQ8aqP8mExVnBEgcLdzYGz2f2A8UsCMCDUK8XW88lJZSe0yAB0h3bZaOKqv1qF_LwI/s1600/twd+tyreese.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyreese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course, two new black characters were introduced in
the same episode that we lost Oscar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tyreese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another staple character from the comic books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course his promising, out spoken sister.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, of course, the writers haven’t done this
intentionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve simply noticed
something that is purely coincidental, I’m sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like every other character in the
programme is caucasian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are plenty
of ethnicities, a whole beautiful rainbow of skin colour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But have you noticed that the only main
characters developed with any true depth that aren’t caucasian are Glen and, potentially,
Michonne?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHoRbfVDPQbyccqyp0dbFHxc7aNT8_KRXGSE879terLon-DLKFX3Z3iA9ekCon88rloDz25xLn8Aoeyfp8JGtpxLMDLtZhuBmD-axuKn5euhrqGKm_7WIB3NiuwaAElyQF8A4PPMWBVor/s1600/TWD+Merle+and+Tdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHoRbfVDPQbyccqyp0dbFHxc7aNT8_KRXGSE879terLon-DLKFX3Z3iA9ekCon88rloDz25xLn8Aoeyfp8JGtpxLMDLtZhuBmD-axuKn5euhrqGKm_7WIB3NiuwaAElyQF8A4PPMWBVor/s1600/TWD+Merle+and+Tdog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merle and T-Dog in season 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This rose the ugly concept of racism in my head and the
long standing argument of racism in casting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which took me neatly back to The Walking Dead and Merle Dixon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something that has bothered me
throughout season 3 so far, as I try and figure Merle out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since his introduction in season 1 he has
been described as the racist, redneck brother of Daryl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A description most apt considering the first
time we met him he said some truly racist comments to T-Dog and then beat him
to a pulp.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So I expected him to be similar in season 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working as the Governor’s lieutenant, he is
in charge of and surrounded by men of different ethnicities and he treats them
no differently to his white colleagues (in that he lords it over them and kills
them at whim).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At first I put this down to the Governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Governor has found a way of controlling
Merle, I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an example of
just how scary the Governor is – Merle fears him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This theory was knocked when Merle began
lying to the Governor and going behind his back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqVCRGamzYlMofi628JMs38GqyUFy_gkfA_M4HSF15sAWxwj0NfgtlV0CF_-BQbrbKhPruWKkI8CD8w1RywTwyVXoqnxRZ_-39kfwoGbNVHbIXDA4sClZ-cDFYAmx1GspdSMIZQ05AuUZ/s1600/twd+michonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqVCRGamzYlMofi628JMs38GqyUFy_gkfA_M4HSF15sAWxwj0NfgtlV0CF_-BQbrbKhPruWKkI8CD8w1RywTwyVXoqnxRZ_-39kfwoGbNVHbIXDA4sClZ-cDFYAmx1GspdSMIZQ05AuUZ/s1600/twd+michonne.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fantastic Michonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So perhaps Merle has been misjudged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he isn’t racist, maybe he just has a
foul mouth and enjoys being in charge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or he’s ignorant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’ve said
previously, he and Daryl are of the same blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daryl was ignorantly racist in season 1 but is also open minded enough
to accept people who are different if they prove themselves to be brave
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hard working enough to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely Merle is the same, just older with
those ignorant ways more deeply ingrained in his personality?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My mind then did a massive leap from The Walking Dead and
racism and to my own writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I counted how
many ethnicities I had in my two current novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I mean none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No white skin,
black skin or brown skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ve only described one
character as being tanned, suggesting a white skin that has been out in the sun
too long, and that’s Bane in my Formerly-Silver novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, the skin colour of my other
characters is utterly open to suggestion and I hope that any casting directors
will take that into consideration when they make a multi-million earning
franchise out of my novels (hint hint).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the meantime, let's hope that Michonne and Tyreese are signs of change. Let's hope that the writers decide to give these characters the development they deserve. They nearly did it with T-Dog, there was potential there as he used Merle's antibiotics to treat a near fatal wound in season 2 and...oh...that was it...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-87505644913795436932012-12-12T12:54:00.000-08:002012-12-12T12:54:04.570-08:00Technicalities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUtxM24UOMa6JnP499G41s6lcXRNum-m7K-kb-QQJ3Mmk5XTnszyAjIKgY8FuE5DXuWIIH3ExbZUqNehZhlFzEpXA_6BxC3vKIOxoEV3ylFStohyZgtFlwM6e4GnpKLSZ3gx7CzSwZk2h/s1600/doorpull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUtxM24UOMa6JnP499G41s6lcXRNum-m7K-kb-QQJ3Mmk5XTnszyAjIKgY8FuE5DXuWIIH3ExbZUqNehZhlFzEpXA_6BxC3vKIOxoEV3ylFStohyZgtFlwM6e4GnpKLSZ3gx7CzSwZk2h/s1600/doorpull.jpg" /></a></div>
Today I was following a woman out of the office. Not on purpose, I hasten to add, we just happened to be going in the same direction.<br />
She stopped in front of a closed door and stared at it blankly. After a moment she began to look around.<br />
I realised then that she had been expecting the door to open automatically. Finding that it was not an automatic door, she began looking for the button which would electronically open it.<br />
<br />
Now, ok, I admit that the majority of doors in the building are security doors. You need your work pass to get through them, or you need to press a green button. And ok, this particular door is usually left open but has now been closed because the receptionists were freezing to their seats.<br />
<br />
Still, it doesn't take a genius to see the door handle.<br />
<br />
In the end she found the accessible button and the door opened automatically for her. By which point I'd caught up with her but I didn't have the heart to point out that all she'd had to do was pull.<br />
<br />
This made me wonder about our reliance on technology. On our smartphones, computers, laptops, televisions, tablets, e-readers... (yes I am hugging my laptop, kindle and television as I type this, not to mention our new WiiU).<br />
I won't go into the headache that it my work computer at the moment, the three months of chasing our IT department to fix it and the last week in which IT have fixed it, broken it and then done a half arsed job re-fixing it and made me wish I'd never bothered.<br />
<br />
Of course technology can be very useful. Social networking means we can stay in touch with friends and family who live far away (and spy on those we don't want to talk to). It also means we can market ourselves which is good for business owners and indie authors.<br />
<br />
Laptops and computers have made writing a much more pleasureable experience. My mind has developed to encompass my laptop. I can no longer write using pen and paper, my mind just works too fast and the pen cannot keep up. Whereas give me a keyboard and my fingers will fly.<br />
<br />
Television, DVDs and our new beloved WiiU are also fairly necessary...well, we all need some downtime, don't we? It's just about keeping a perspective.J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450856725323948773.post-69139836795557880322012-12-09T12:02:00.002-08:002012-12-09T12:11:34.912-08:00The Walking Dead mid-season finale<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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**SPOILER ALERT** **LONG BLOG POST ALERT*</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVYmK9jljvJNNJJcTuLyDJnGZHdyxCc_KRZXGc6i0bg3GjlBYNJHIGU8dgGZbrEzLZXz4sPmrU5i5UsySbPIeN2juXDfMJiQ9UOpzygah9oo_ut1TgH_TIDZLFlY8ljEK1bSQBQSMuUSe/s1600/twd+carl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVYmK9jljvJNNJJcTuLyDJnGZHdyxCc_KRZXGc6i0bg3GjlBYNJHIGU8dgGZbrEzLZXz4sPmrU5i5UsySbPIeN2juXDfMJiQ9UOpzygah9oo_ut1TgH_TIDZLFlY8ljEK1bSQBQSMuUSe/s1600/twd+carl.jpg" /></a>Friday evening saw the mid season finale of The Walking
Dead season 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season 1 was powerful,
short and sharp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season 2 was long, with
all of the action saved up purely for the final episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season 3 needed to be good, it needed to be
the perfect mixture of character development and action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like season 1.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So far, so good.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, during my <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/walking-dead-finale.html">season 2 finale review</a>, I got myself a bit
overwhelmed by everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season 3 is
proving to be far greater than 2, so I’m going to be very careful not to fall
into the same trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of covering
the whole of the first half of season 3, I will focus on the key elements.</div>
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<br /></div>
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First, a little background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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Rick and his group, including a heavily
pregnant Lori, find and take the prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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At the same time, Andrea and Michonne stumble across the
Governor and a much missed Merle Dixon who take them to Woodbury, a town with a
wall built around it and run by the Governor.</div>
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Back in the prison, Lori gives birth and we lose some
characters that have been with us since the very beginning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDoJLZVG8YDjr8NferiOxsu0rJZCyVoCdn-I1VwrnWw3HnvO3nLmIfqgxyX10zn9CPUbJB3dcpl_44YPPuFq8B70esq6ElapNUXR0kBgM303derQ_qv5F2BRqRp3lrheWz8Gn9bJdfnTI/s1600/twd+michonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDoJLZVG8YDjr8NferiOxsu0rJZCyVoCdn-I1VwrnWw3HnvO3nLmIfqgxyX10zn9CPUbJB3dcpl_44YPPuFq8B70esq6ElapNUXR0kBgM303derQ_qv5F2BRqRp3lrheWz8Gn9bJdfnTI/s1600/twd+michonne.jpg" /></a></div>
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Michonne doesn’t trust the Governor (because she’s smart)
and she leaves the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle is sent
after her to finish her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fights
back, as Michonne does, and goes into the ‘red zone’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle decides she’s dead already and returns, telling the Governor that he’s killed her.</div>
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On his way back to the town (one has to assume), he comes
across Glen and Maggie who are doing a supply run for baby formula.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He attacks and takes them back to
Woodbury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michonne witnesses all of this
and takes the formula to the prison.</div>
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Meanwhile, Andrea demonstrates her wonderful taste in men
by sleeping with the Governor.</div>
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Michonne tells Rick about Maggie and Glen and a small
party leaves for Woodbury to get their people back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mid-season finale finishes with Glen and
Maggie being rescued and Michonne and the Governor having a show down, with
the Governor coming worse off.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lori’s death</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The most memorable death in The Walking Dead so far is
one without any zombie in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, so
zombies attack which means that Lori, Carl and Maggie get separated from the
group and have to hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally this
is when Lori goes into labour.</div>
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I’ve already written about <a href="http://j-e-nice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-walking-deads-lori-finally-does-good.html">Lori’s death</a> because it did
truly move me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After two and half
seasons of being sick and tired of Lori, finally her character did something
that made me feel
for her.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lori’s death scene was the best bit of Lori. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She handed over the matriarch torch to
Maggie, she said her final farewell to her son and she gave her life so that
her child would live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her beautiful,
tearful death had a knock on effect on a number of characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carl became a man, being the only one
available to put his mother down, Maggie was forced to step up by being the one
to remove the baby from Lori’s body and, of course,
Rick...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rick</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Strangely while Lori was dying, I didn’t even think of
Rick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of my thoughts were on Carl
and what losing his mother and having to put a bullet through her head would do
to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the episode when
Rick finds out, I was shocked that he didn’t even go near his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I wanted was for him to put an arm around
his boy.</div>
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It makes sense that Rick would lose it so violently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had just lost his wife and didn’t even get
a chance to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than that,
theirs was not a healthy relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That baby probably isn’t even his, his wife cheated on him with his best
friend, told him to kill his best friend and then shunned him when he did the
deed out of self defence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She admitted to
being a bad wife but they had still not resolved their issues by the time Lori
died and that would have played heavily on Rick’s conscience.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The episode where Rick loses his mind is, similar to the
episode of Lori’s death, done beautifully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Andrew Lincoln plays Rick flawlessly, dishevelled and with painfully,
heart breaking mad eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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His loss was extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not even looking at his poor son, he picks up an axe and storms through
the prison splitting the skulls of Walkers until he finds the remains of his
wife and the zombie that has feasted on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then the phone rings.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3SlpUZgMOc7pR0aXvRQ7Cxnb-QtAcw4dQnQ0kdHqLaddyYpTGNq748Pl9zE-zuCuVnjj8dkrze2zjLpYPPTYoETNljWvSDLT-sIFRIxTLs97ydcVaQ0IemuT-TfSZUzibaHYekzf1AWi/s1600/twd+rick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3SlpUZgMOc7pR0aXvRQ7Cxnb-QtAcw4dQnQ0kdHqLaddyYpTGNq748Pl9zE-zuCuVnjj8dkrze2zjLpYPPTYoETNljWvSDLT-sIFRIxTLs97ydcVaQ0IemuT-TfSZUzibaHYekzf1AWi/s1600/twd+rick.jpg" /></a>In the comic books, Rick sees visions of his wife after
her passing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is unclear whether this
will happen in the television series but this phone call may have been the
beginning of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allowing the viewer a
false sense of hope, we watch as Rick begins to unravel and lose his mind.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Strangely, by the next episode he seems to have ravelled
it back up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough to speak to his
son, hold his new daughter, retake leadership, deal with Michonne and go to
Glen and Maggie’s rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he just
needs to keep busy...</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Governor</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3kx5tfPFi52K81K302G-2Xhi-ew6FzouKux0WIcbUOS_yYjB3I8QLSgpAdFfe7vSVgXvCrbFYnayfbhQ7Y57kLljtj-gRbkKNLsC8_qxwbt7x-SJ6jwSk9NHUGzkk13plMr1Vd8B9MXk/s1600/twd+governor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3kx5tfPFi52K81K302G-2Xhi-ew6FzouKux0WIcbUOS_yYjB3I8QLSgpAdFfe7vSVgXvCrbFYnayfbhQ7Y57kLljtj-gRbkKNLsC8_qxwbt7x-SJ6jwSk9NHUGzkk13plMr1Vd8B9MXk/s1600/twd+governor.jpg" /></a></div>
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There were three things that die hard Walking Dead fans
were looking forward to this season; the prison, Michonne and the Governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Morrissey, taking the part of the
Governor, did not disappoint.</div>
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The Governor is suave, sophisticated, often quiet with the
kind of gentleness that an angry tiger bestows right before going for the kill.</div>
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His evil is hinted at throughout, building to a crescendo
by the mid-season finale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the
real hint of what this man is capable of came in the penultimate episode.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When Glen and Maggie are held prisoners in Woodbury,
Merle concentrates on his old chum Glen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Governor says that he will speak to Maggie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making Maggie stand before him, he takes off
his gun holster and forces her to remove her top and bra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walks around the exposed Maggie, pushing
her down onto the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I
could have hated him more than in that moment.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course, the best villains have a softer side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are human, after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Governor’s weakness is his daughter,
Penny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a gut wrenching moment in the
finale, Michonne, while waiting for the Governor to return to his rooms, finds
Penny trustled up in her cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking
the worse, Michonne frees the child only to discover that the girl is in fact a
Walker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Governor stops her just
before she puts Penny down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his
horror, Penny is killed before the Governor’s eyes and he lunges at
Michonne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the pent up rage and
grief of a father who has been unable to let go of his child and has just seen
her ripped from him is aimed straight at Michonne.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He is a triumph of a character and he's only going to get better. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Merle Dixon</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Both the Governor and Michonne survive their
encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle might not be so
lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, he told the Governor
that Michonne was dead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet there
she was, slicing a sword through the Governor’s zombie daughter’s head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that, but Daryl was left behind
during Maggie and Glen’s escape. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Merle has been an interesting character throughout season
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t get to learn a lot about
him in season 1, only that he’s a racist, narrow minded red neck with a
military background and has spent time in the joint.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At first I didn’t understand why Merle, who fought for
leadership in season 1, would take orders from someone like the Governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put it down to fear, knowing that the
Governor was possibly the best villain in The Walking Dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe it was about respect – the Governor
trusted and respected Merle to do his dirty work.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As time went on, the viewer was allowed to see chinks in
Merle’s submissiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All Merle wants, it
seems, is his brother back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrival
of Andrea gives him new hope which the Governor immediately dashes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle then lies to the Governor about killing
Michonne – maybe because he didn’t get his own way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The writers, and Michael Rooker who plays Merle, cleverly
gave the character layers which is more than I was expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t know if
Merle is a good or bad guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he’s
the grey.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As the season went on, Merle seems to become more and
more quietly frustrated, taking the brunt of this out on Glen, but never
showing any weakness to the Governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seems that Merle has more control and intelligence then at first made out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Him and Daryl are of the same blood.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtp3HUzLwNZrU1dsH4TccBy_bOqPsegpVADevIMxpteqvjUZVP0psFlIzV4x17Rrs2Cqa6qxP_zncXLIMdm7GGIbdVjzKnyO3E1nwJBg-L8ngf63S3EtqRApLrAokyGeonyBlWzla2YxWG/s1600/twd+merle+and+daryl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtp3HUzLwNZrU1dsH4TccBy_bOqPsegpVADevIMxpteqvjUZVP0psFlIzV4x17Rrs2Cqa6qxP_zncXLIMdm7GGIbdVjzKnyO3E1nwJBg-L8ngf63S3EtqRApLrAokyGeonyBlWzla2YxWG/s1600/twd+merle+and+daryl.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The ending of the mid season finale was very clever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost applauded the writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is the television fan favourite of The
Walking Dead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daryl Dixon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was the most talked about character for
season 3?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, apart from the Governor
and Michonne?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle Dixon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is the best way of making sure everyone tunes into
the season return next year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting
the Dixon brothers in trouble.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We ended on an angry Governor, with his town around him,
blaming the violence and deaths of some of their people on Merle Dixon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And oh look, they caught one of the
intruders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None other than Merle’s baby
brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is to be done with them?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So Merle and Daryl come face to face for the first time
in the entire Walking Dead programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
words are exchanged, only looks, as the towns people surround them chanting ‘Kill
them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kill them!’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there you have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A fantastic first half to an explosive season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writers seem to be coping with the huge cast by fully developing a selection of main characters and leaving the others to quietly get on with it. Other than the obvious highlights (the
Governor, Merle and Daryl Dixon, Lori’s death), one of the more surprising best
bits for me was Glen and Maggie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Governor didn’t touch Maggie, not in an abusive
sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although what he did was still
disgusting and unforgiveable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still
didn’t give in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told him to just get
on with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was strong, a true
matriarch. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-Yr6g8zMHBwPA_1q7wc8U8xZYtxr-PjNbra6XE-YF5EvLRs0RrqBzPFk6Pq9NN4Mb02fbVo25zrLzjHjAlV3ZcLyCIOWd_BAVhg-vO3oIlstOMNHHfJZJ6tvb1qbIRXn6ZfLQqeVaqdJ/s1600/twd+maggie+and+glen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-Yr6g8zMHBwPA_1q7wc8U8xZYtxr-PjNbra6XE-YF5EvLRs0RrqBzPFk6Pq9NN4Mb02fbVo25zrLzjHjAlV3ZcLyCIOWd_BAVhg-vO3oIlstOMNHHfJZJ6tvb1qbIRXn6ZfLQqeVaqdJ/s1600/twd+maggie+and+glen.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what about Glen in the room next door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merle beat him until he was swollen and
bloody and when he still wouldn’t talk, Merle left him alone with a
Walker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was when Glen came into his
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His hands fastened to the arms of a
chair, he fought and defeated the zombie, giving a scream of defiance as he did
so. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Go Glen!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, Maggie spilled the beans of the prison
when she was thrown in with Glen and a gun was put to her young lover’s
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, Maggie.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I urge everyone to watch The Walking Dead, whether you’re
already a fan or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This season is definitely
worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re now left with the
Governor knowing a group of survivors exists within the prison and that
Michonne, his daughter’s murderer, is probably with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what about Merle and Daryl Dixon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve finally seen them together (I’ve been
waiting a long time to see their true brotherly relationship unfold).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could their reunion be over far too quickly?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Walking Dead is back on FX (soon to be FOX) in
February 2013, at the same time as America (yay!).</div>
J E Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11464851135763610522noreply@blogger.com0