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Showing posts from February, 2011

The Second Person

Most books are written in first person I, or third person he/she/it. I have read that only the most creative and experimental write in second person - the "you" point of view.  So with this in mind (she says ) I am reworking a story into second person as I also understand that it is the least used point of view in fiction, and there's nothing like experimental to get the brain cells moving. Second person requires the reader not only to step into the head of the protagonist, but into his very shoes.   The writer has to become at one with the reader and convince the reader that the events are happening to him personally and that he is seeing and experiencing these events through his own eyes.   writing-in-second-person-point-of-view It's also said that 2nd person writing can become annoying for the reader. Good writers shouldn't have a problem with this, should they ? Here's a couple of "off the cuff " paragraphs written this morning. I will p

Signing on the dotted line ... ...

When Mr Ed Miliband produced a document of blank pages called a Fresh Ideas Pamphlet for Labour supporters to suggest new policy proposals, it seemed like a good way to get views across. Now the two Eds, Miliband and Balls, have come up with another form to fill in before shadow ministers do or say anything in public. This involves getting specific approval on the precise words they intend using, especially ones about money. 'The public has a right to expect us to adopt a responsible and thorough approach. We hope this process will support rather than hinder your work in developing a clear and ambitious agenda for a future Labour Government’, they say. This is all well and good. There has to be a consensus of opinion in these matters so that the party are all singing from the same proverbially hymn sheet and everything is open, transparent and not misleading.Yet there is something disturbing about having all your words and actions vetted before they are put to the public. It seem

Battle of the Hard Copy

In the battle of book versus e.reader, I thought I would argue for the case of The Book to the bitter end. Until today, when I find that Asda is selling a 5in View Quest Mediabox for £52. Not that I have £52 aching to be spent, but it is half the price of a Kindle and not only has hundreds of books which can be stored, but you can also watch videos, listen to music and use a voice recorder on it. It might have been the voice recorder feature that made my ears prick up – figuratively speaking – but anyway I started to look into this wonder tool which was clearly more than a gadget and definitely something that would improve my quality of life. In fact, it was becoming a puzzle how I have managed without one. But then the reviews started talking about how "the device lacks a link to the internet through the 3G mobile phone network which would allow books to be downloaded anywhere". Hmmm… what’s that mean ? and I am on Vodafone and don’t want to change. Then it was mentioned t

How To Unclutter Your Home

Most of my family and friends (and quite a few on Facebook) know that my little bedroom has been decorated and I have been trying to have A Big Clearout with the hope of a tidy house making a tidy mind.   Collecting (hoarding) “stuff” we know makes for a stressful life. By having too much, it becomes clutter and mess around us makes for a mess inside our heads and we can’t think straight or even at all in my case.  The sorting of this room has been an ongoing project since moving into this house erm … 7 and a half years ago. The room did have to be changed from an office/ junk room to a bedroom and back again during this time and I have been poorly and my grandchildren always mess it up and the dogs leave hairs all over and it’s been a bad winter and … ok, yes it’s time it was done. I made sure I had a good long think about this before I started… and looked at some “advice” that is widely available online.   Seems the first step is to admit you have a problem. OK that’s easy - I have