You can’t be all things to all people. A strength in one area becomes, almost by default, a weakness in another. So it is with stories. The great guru of story, Robert McKee, talks about the story triangle. The relationship between plot, character and idea which means that the more you have of any twoContinue reading “The Hate Barrier at the End of the Universe”
Category Archives: Writing & Publishing
In the Evening
I have been for some time now been collecting translations of the poem ‘Im Abendrot’ by Joseph von Eichendorff. I discovered the poem through the Four Songs of Richard Strauss (of which it is the basis for the last and greatest) and it has been a constant source of inspiration for my growing interest inContinue reading “In the Evening”
Independent and happy that way
Today was spent at States of Independence, a gathering of independent publishers organised by Five Leaves press and De Montfort University. Great to see so many independent publishers under one roof, and I had a great day talking with many old friends. It was also good to see both speculative fiction and comics represented byContinue reading “Independent and happy that way”
Poetry is perfect for social media
Carol Ann Duffy’s ode to David Beckham is a perfect illustration of why poetry is experiencing a tremendous revival in the age of Twitter and social networks. Achilles (for David Beckham) Myth’s river- where his mother dipped him, fished him, a slippery golden boyflowed on, his name on its lips. Without him, it was prophesised,Continue reading “Poetry is perfect for social media”
Have we made writing too easy?
A good friend drew my attention to the disappearing act of calligraphy this week, and the beautiful work of master calligrapher Paul Antonio captured by The Guardian. Coincidentally, I am part way through reading The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Mushashi, a martial text from circa 17th Century Japan, an era and a cultureContinue reading “Have we made writing too easy?”
Being Good and Being Great
I tend to become a night-owl in the run up to exciting events. We are x-minus 4 days to the Writing Industries Conference. A few i’s need dotting but (touchwood) everything is going to plan, and we are very close to sold out. But none the less it’s 1:26am and I am very far fromContinue reading “Being Good and Being Great”
So, like, where’d all the politics go?
Tomorrow I lead the first of three workshops in Science Fiction and Politics. (The organisers have sold 14 out of 12 tickets, which I take as a good sign.) I’ve had good fun selecting books to talk about, and looking through the sometimes odd political perspectives SF writers have taken over the years. I’ve alsoContinue reading “So, like, where’d all the politics go?”
Science Fiction and Politics
I’ve always been fascinated by the way Science Fiction comments on political and social issues. So I am truly excited to have the opportunity to lead a series of workshops on the subject. The Science Fiction and Politics workshops will take place at the new Nottingham Contemporary gallery, starting at 5:30pm on 23rd February, 9thContinue reading “Science Fiction and Politics”
iPad Fail. iBook Win.
So Apple has launched the mythical iPad / iTablet / iSlate to the world. It is officially called the iPad, and it will sell millions. And then be the most common device in second hand electronics stores when people realise it has no real application. Apple had to pull something new out of the bagContinue reading “iPad Fail. iBook Win.”
Are 70% royalties the future?
It’s possible that 27th January might be remembered as the day that destroyed publishing. But if it is, it may be a day of joy for writers. Unless you are living under a stone or a raving technophobe you are probably aware that on 27th January, Apple, the people who brought you the iPod andContinue reading “Are 70% royalties the future?”
Whatever happened to the Next Weird?
The first Guardian blog post I wrote (just under two years ago…how time flies!) was titled The new world of the New Weird. I wrote the piece fully aware that the New Weird had already been and gone, but with the idea that it was none the less an interesting movement in genre fiction toContinue reading “Whatever happened to the Next Weird?”
Damo’s Ebook Reader Review
So. As regular readers will know I gifted myself an eReader for Xmas. I did this for a number of reasons. Firstly, I read. A lot. I read for my day job, for my writing, as a reviewer and for pleasure, so I wanted to see if an eReader could make my work stream moreContinue reading “Damo’s Ebook Reader Review”
Damien Walter 