The Daily “Huh?” – Hemingway on Writing

Image: Guilty as Charged

“I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.”
Ernest Hemingway

A Musical Note: Brian Ferry (and Jane Birkin) – In Every Dream Home a Heartache

When I first heard this song, lo, so many years ago, I was absolutely blown away.  It was first recorded by Brian Ferry‘s group Roxy Music, and that was the version I was looking for to play for you today.  Having never heard of Jane Birkin, when I found this version I was hesitant.  Then I listened.

This version is shorter and less manic, but I feel it still has the impact, and the lyrics, if you dare to listen, are amazing.

Take a listen to In Every Dream Home a Heartache performed by Brian Ferry and Jane Birkin.

The God Patent by Ransom Stephens: A Book Review

It is always hard for me to know how much of the plot and setting of a book to reveal in a review, so pardon me if I tiptoe a bit.

Last month, Ransom Stevens, who holds a Ph.D. in Particle Physics, came to speak to us at the Fremont Area Writers Club.  He spoke about his novel, “The God Patent“, addressing both how the book was written, and what processes he went through to get it published.  He was one of the more precise speakers we have enjoyed at our monthly club meetings. 

Image: http://www.thegodpatent.com

Stephens’ first novel, The God Patent, while being an excellent read, it is also, in my opinion, something of a textbook in getting a story across. 

Let me say that while I love to read, I am by far more critical of books, stories, essays, poems, songs and the like which are written by people I have met.  There is a bit of a mystique about a book and its author if you are removed from that person.  Nonetheless, I purchased the book at our club meeting and packed it away to read on my recent “vacation”.  I should also note that while I am a fan of religious fiction, this book really only touches on religion, but lives in its characters, the story line, and in physics.

The God Patent is the story of software engineer Ryan McNear, his struggle with past mistakes—one of which caused both divorce and the loss of contact with his teenage son—dealing with the law, and finding his way in a life that seems to have turned against him.

The book is peopled with colorful and believable characters—each strong and well-developed—which will captivate or enrage you in the way Stephens handles them.

The book is also about the development of a technical process which purports to use the “creation energy” God used in the making of the Universe as a mundane power source.  As the book develops, the questions of life, the soul, and the possibility of life after death are touched in a scientific way, one that will surely make the reader stop and think.

The idea of the book fascinated me, but I didn’t want to like it.  (See lame excuse above).  The fact is I fell into the book and found myself reading long after my eyes thought it was a good idea, late into the night.

Being a critical reader I kept trying to catch up Stephens with plot pieces, but every time I was sure I had it worked out, he yanked the rug out from under me.  At one point I was sure he had telegraphed the ending, and had set up to worm his way out of delivering what he had promised for at least the last third of the book.  Once again I was wrong.  Ransom Stephens delivered.

I don’t recall Stephens saying how many drafts he had to go through for this delightful book, but whatever labor it took to get it done, it was certainly worth it.

Hackneyed: Word of the Day

Hackneyed, adj.

Used too often; commonplace.

“Military Intelligence” is not just a contradiction in terms, it is also a hackneyed phrase.”

How will you use hackneyed in a sentence today?

Note to readers: Starting today we are moving away from puns and looking for words that will actually help a writer.

Back On Line

It’s hard to believe.  At least for me… but we’re back.

The 8-day hiatus helped.  Here’s what happened:

Went to a condo in Reno, Nevada.  Contributed mightily to the local economy.  Got some exercise, had a few meals in nice restaurants, contributed more to the local economy and did some sight-seeing.

What did I see?

Would you believe Balloon Races?  Would you believe Airplane Races?  Would you believe Human Races?

Some of the places I visited: 

Image: http://www.2beerguys.com/blog

 

• Atlantis Casino.
• Cal-Neva Casino.
• Harrah’s Casino.
• Denny’s restaurant and Casino.
• Safeway Food Market and Casino.
• Costco Gas Station and Casino.
• Reno Public Library and Casino.

Well, you get the picture.  No, really, if you haven’t been there…  There really ARE slot machines in just about every business from Gas Stations to Grocery Stores.

But wait, you say, you couldn’t have spent all of your time gambling… and you’d be right.  That actually got old pretty quick.

I did read an excellent book.  A book, in fact, that I’ll be reviewing in these… erm, pages today or tomorrow.

Here’s what I did not do.  Despite the best of intentions, I did not work on Uphill Writing.  At all.  I did not work on my other three blogs.  At all.  I did not work on my novel, FIVE.  At all.  I did not enter a yodeling contest.  At all.

I did almost no writing at all, either.  That said, I did outline my novel for the upcoming NaNoWriMo competition, and I think—only think, mind you—that the idea is as good as any I’ve ever had, and better than most.  Gotta admit, I’m happy about that.  What?  You want a clue?  OK, the title is either Wizard Blood, or Blood of the Wizard.  Oh, and it will not be a YA novel or in any way Harry Potterish.  Expect it to be edgy and gritty.

That’s pretty much it on Hiatus-Ville…

Oh, one more thing.  In case you haven’t noticed:  We have a new look.