Let’s try that again…

So, the novel previously known as Homer Scream has been put in the ‘maybe in another life file’. It’s kind of depressing, but the good news is I’m starting all over with a MUCH BETTER IDEA. Frankly I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it earlier. For some reason I started thinking about the monologue I wrote in year 12 for school (aka the only thing that I’ve ever been proud of writing), and then I was writing, and then five hours had gone past, North Melbourne beat Melbourne and I had an outline for a novel.

Insert appropriate huzzah-ment music here.

I’ve been writing little notes to myself all day at work, in preperation for some serious butt in chair work on the weekend (hangover permitting). This idea feels better.

So. Writing goals for the rest of the year:

1. Finish this novel, possibly titled The Waiting Room
2. Finish writers block exercises.

Go me!

(Last night I went to see The Bank Job with a friend from work. ‘Tis tremendous. Jason Statham is delectable, and it’s given me a newfound interest in the royal family. Very amused that it’s based on a true story)

Briony shows remarkable restraint…

I went to see the ballet of Edward Scissorhands last night, thanks to my friend Emilie who works at Ticketmaster, and gets lots of perks. It’s the first really modern ballet I’ve gone to, previously I’d only ever seen classical ballet like Swan Lake and La Boheme.

That said, I loved it. It was incredibly faithful to the story, but it didn’t lose anything in the translation to dance. The guy who danced the part of Edward was fantastic, he did an amazing job. The music was fantastically spooky and made me wish I still played clarinet. Plus, there was dancing topiaries and you can’t tell me that’s not completely tremendous in every way.

What wasn’t tremendous in any way were the two Polish women who talked the whole way through the show, ably assisted by the six teenagers in front of me who played with their phones the whole time. There is in fact my biggest hate. Am going to construct some sort of machine that causes anyone who turns their phone on or talks during a show to spontaneously explode.

Nobel Prize, here I come!

Meme time

Time for a random meme I found in my procrastinating:

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

I remember my Mum used to read to us kids in the bath when we were really little. Then when I was a little bit older, in grade 2 I think,  I got a set of Enid Blyton books for my birthday. I absolutely loved them, and haven’t stopped reading ever since.

What are some of the books you read as a child?

Lots of Enid Blyton – The Famous Five, The Enchanted Wood etc. The Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem. I read The Hobbit in year 6…oh yeah there was HEAPS of Babysitters Club too. I loved the Magicians House Quartet by William Collett. Then when I got to high school there was the Tomorrow When The War Began series by John Marsden, then lots of those teen slasher books by R L Stine et al.

What is your favourite genre?

It tends to vary, I go through stages. At the moment I seem to be reading a lot of historical fiction, but I’ve been through a crime phase, a classics phase, a chick lit phase…soon I think it will be an SF turn

Do you have a favourite novel?

Pride and Prejudice, without a doubt. I read it for the first time in the Easter holidays in 2000, and have read it at least once a year since then. I just love it. Elizabeth Bennett is the ulimate heroine.

Where do you usually read?

On my bed, on the couch, on the train. In summer in my hammock, which is the definition of contentment.

When do you usually read?

Anytime!

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Not if I can avoid it. I have a pile of books next to my bed that I’m working through but one at a time.  Mind you when I was at uni I had to read heaps of books at once.

Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I read biographies and memoirs mostly, although I would like to read more.

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

I buy them – new mostly but there is an awesome second hand bookshop in Balwyn that I have to keep myself away from.

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?

I’ve never thrown away a book. All of my books from when I was a kid are boxed up at my parents house.

If you have children, what are some of the favourite books you have shared with them? Were they some of the same ones you read as a child?

I don’t have kids, but when I do you better believe they are going to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Possum Magic.

What are you reading now?

I’m just about to start reading Water For Elephants. Just  finished an Elizabeth George novel, was pretty good but not her best.

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?

I have a list on goodreads, and a stack of books on my bedside table (occasionally in my bed).

What’s next?

Dark Lantern – can’t remember the author but I am intrigued by the blurb. More historical fiction.

What books would you like to reread?

I would like to reread Idoru by William Gibson, I haven’t read it for ages. And To Kill A Mockingbird, because it was just so great.

Who are your favourite authors?

Jane Austen,  Jostein Gaarder, Joanne Harris, William Gibson, Oscar Wilde, Terry Pratchett etc etc etc

Random things

I am so hyped about my imminent volunteering stints in August. I start at ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) this Saturday with orientation for the new exhibit that’s coming up called Correspondences – an exhibition about the work of Victor Erice and Abbas Kiarostami. I’m extremely excited about the exhibition at the end of the year though – all different film sets from Australia and overseas. Geek much

I’m also volunteering at the Melbourne Writers Festival in the last two weeks of August, and for that my excitement is monstrous. So many good things on the program this year. Huzzah! I can’t wait. It’s so good to be finally getting right into this whole writing business. At the very least, it’s jolly good fun.

Why So Serious?

Herein is a short critical analysis of Dark Knight:

OH. MY. GOD.

Herein is a slightly longer critical analysis of Dark Knight:

Seriously. Oh my God. It is the greatest Batman movie ever. Heath Ledger is like Beetlejuice crossed with Charles Manson. It’s so dark and bleak and just generally tremendous. As far as Oscars go I just don’t know, but It’s heartbreaking that Heath Ledger has ceased to be.

See it you must my friend.