How Near is a Near Miss?
Posted on | January 27, 2012 | No Comments
Take a look at this. I don’t care what they say, I am going to duck anyway!
Politics and Other Irrelevance
Posted on | January 26, 2012 | No Comments
It interests me, the plethora of things that politicians and journalists think are critical for me to know. The latest is this list of people who have turned down a gong from Her Maj. during the past fifty years or so. Unfortunately, only those who have already shuffled of this mortal coil are on the list, which rules out the chance of congratulating them. Not that I am against ‘honours’ per se. I think of them like St. Bernard dogs – if you want one then fine, but I wouldn’t give one houseroom.
Politicians, and others whose world is politics, are all convinced that we are fascinated by their every shiver and whimper. Personally, I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the politicians whom I believe are in the game for the right reasons, i.e. public service. And I’d still have enough fingers left to hold my scotch glass.
Most, it seems to my jaundiced eye, are there because they either like the sound of their own voice, crave power over others, or hope to make a wad of cash as a spin off from their political career: or all of the above.
The same headcount algorithm applies to political journalists. There are one or two that are very switched on, clearly bright individuals, and have a sense of humour and irony that befits their trade. Others clearly believe that their role is to show us how easy it is to humiliate a politician. I mean, come on guys, fish in a barrel are harder to hit. Get a proper job reporting from Afghan.
To return to the beginning of this ramble, why should anyone believe me to be fascinated by the machinations of Westminster, Cardiff, or any other ‘seat of power’? I have things to do, places to go, people to see. I am not interested on the latest wrangling of some overpriced committee as it redefines our status in Europe, or discusses endlessly the need to support/not support the Euro. Sorry chaps, better things to do.
And as for the Levinson Inquiry, why should we, the hard done to, over-taxed public, be paying for unscrupulous editors and overpaid celebrities to get a bit more airtime. If the celebrities are, as they all seem to insist, only interested in justice then I assume they will be donating their winnings, sorry – compensation – to charity? Or perhaps use it to pay for the ludicrously expensive inquiry?
Now that I’ve got that off my chest I am going to sod off to France to ski. Be good until I get back!
The Problem With New Year Resolutions
Posted on | January 8, 2012 | No Comments
The big problem with New Year resolutions is that, by definition, they require the presence of resolve. I have read widely on this topic and it would appear that this is a rare commodity in the much published writer, so what chance do the rest of us have?
However, undiscouraged and foolhardy as only the ignorant can be, I have presumed to establish the following personal resolutions for 2012.
- I will get a non-fiction article published each week by someone other than an aspiring web-site publisher who can’t yet afford to pay me.
- I will begin to write stories and articles for a market that exists, rather than for one that should exist if there was any justice.
- I will not get cross when I am rejected by some spotty youth who clearly does not recognize the next Iain Banks. (NB, not Iain M. Banks – don’t do that Sci-Fi stuff. Good Lord no!)
- I will write a minimum of 5000 words per week and thus complete my novel. No, really. Yes, I know I haven’t but I intend to give it my full and undivided…
- I will stop having one-sided conversations with my muse. Maybe then she will be able to get a word in and the big idea will gallop, cavalry-like, over the horizon.
All that is missing now is a large helping of self-motivation and we are on a winning track. Writing? Easy; don’t know what all the fuss is about…
keep looking »Blogroll
- Chuck Wendig. A really funny writer, with some good advice in there too. NB Adult content!
- Krissy Brady, a website dedicated to keeping the passion for writing alive. Go Krissy!
- Quicklook eBooks – fascinating books by experts on a range of subjects.
- Savvy Freelancer – advice and guidance for freelancers. And a great copywriter, too.
- Successful Writer newsletter – good info and inspiration from a reliable source.
