tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61093302983738819942024-03-18T05:03:35.944+02:00Strange and Curious ThingsMusings of a newbie speculative fiction writer and bibliophilecuriousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.comBlogger520125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-80720560801617069192020-08-13T17:19:00.003+03:002020-08-13T17:19:57.616+03:00Virtual Worldcon: Conventions in the Time of Coronavirus<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGmGT1O6wkpgDAMIQPtrzfxfDtbWb4VLXYrZK0ia_3D2lIWP_5oJAQuF7CgbptzCT6WkTIAzlkRt7nsATT8_-WpAB89Tn7EtvyAGW3UYoDw347wJZvNBRL5qKa8J9I3JJMJ3466NfgkA/s2048/IMG_5042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGmGT1O6wkpgDAMIQPtrzfxfDtbWb4VLXYrZK0ia_3D2lIWP_5oJAQuF7CgbptzCT6WkTIAzlkRt7nsATT8_-WpAB89Tn7EtvyAGW3UYoDw347wJZvNBRL5qKa8J9I3JJMJ3466NfgkA/s640/IMG_5042.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I attended my first virtual convention a few weeks ago, ConZealand (the 78th Worldcon). This was my second Worldcon, with Helsinki as my first. I know many people were disappointed when Worldcon went virtual, but for people like me who couldn't have attended the con at all if it had been in New Zealand, this was actually a great opportunity to participate after all. I purchased my membership right after the announcement with very little expectations as to what the con would actually be like, figuring that at least the money would go to a good cause, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are actually many advantages to a virtual convention: no standing in line, everybody fits into the "room" for whichever panel they want to watch, and, best of all, as most panels/events were recorded, people could watch them at their leisure. The program could be accessed through Grenadine, which had links to Zoom for the actual panels. For most panels only the panelists could turn their video and microphones on and everybody else was automatically muted, which made attending the panels stress-free, and joining a panel late didn't disturb anyone. ConZealand used Discord for discussions (the panel "rooms"), and they had also created spaces there for virtual bars, the consuite, etc. There was a place to post cosplay pics, and the Masquerade also went virtual. Additional content could be found on the ConZealand site, like virtual tours of New Zealand (I especially loved my virtual visit to Hobbiton) and a virtual exhibition hall, art show, and the recorded panels. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My experience, technology-wise, went quite smoothly. I was familiar with Discord from a writing course that used it for discussions, and Zoom was quite easy to figure out. I had no trouble logging in, and all the panels I watched live or from recording went smoothly. The only issues I had were with the Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey panels (the guests of honour), because they were unable to use Zoom and Discord didn't actually work too well. As I understand it, you can't mute or turn off cameras for the audience in Discord, and that was a problem. I can't speak for the writing workshops or kaffeeklatsches, because I didn't attend any due to the time difference. (Most of those happened in the middle of the night European time.) The Hugo awards broadcast had some technical issues, but that was the worst of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of the Hugo awards, that was the only thing that soured the con experience a bit for me. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can catch up <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/what-happened-with-george-r-r-martin-at-2020-hugo-awards.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) I mostly enjoyed Martin's hosting and found his anecdotes about former Hugo ceremonies entertaining, but some of the jokes did make me a bit uncomfortable. I do see the point of the people who took offence, but I also felt a bit sorry for Martin, because I genuinely believe he didn't mean to hurt anyone or exclude people. I watched the rest of his panels and he was feeling very nostalgic, and that was probably why he included the stories he did. Some of the fault also lies with the con organisers, because they should have seen to things like sending Martin the correct pronunciations of the finalists' names. If they had looked through the material, maybe they could have discussed the potentially offensive bits with Martin and taken them out. But as I'm looking at this from a position of privilege, my opinion doesn't really matter. For what it's worth, Martin did<a href="http://file770.com/2020-hugo-awards/comment-page-2/#comment-1205393" target="_blank"> apologise</a>. Hopefully the next Worldcon will do better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, virtual Worldcon was a positive experience for me and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone considering attending a virtual convention. (There's one this Saturday, <a href="https://reconvenesff.com" target="_blank">ReCONvene</a>, if anyone's interested. Membership is only 10 dollars.) As far as I can see, I did all of the things I would have done at a regular convention, watched panels, met people, joined in discussions. Maybe I would have attended a party or two or a workshop at a regular con. If <a href="https://discon3.org" target="_blank">DisCon III</a>, the next Worldcon, goes virtual, I'll definitely attend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-37750477441062885612020-05-15T21:28:00.002+03:002020-05-15T21:48:34.565+03:00Reading the Classics: The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster<br />
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<i>The New York Trilogy</i> by Paul Auster comprises three novels: <i>City of Glass, Ghosts,</i> and <i>The Locked Room, </i>published in 1985-1986. The novels are considered a masterpiece of postmodern literature, reason enough in itself to read them, I suppose, but I discovered the trilogy when a friend recommended it to me, saying that reading it felt like having your brain gently stroked. That's a pretty great recommendation!<br />
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Once I started writing this review, I found myself, not for the first time, wishing I had attended some English Lit classes. For example, what's the difference between modernism and postmodernism? A quick google search failed to yield a simple definition, but apparently modernist works are based between late 1800s and the Second World War, and postmodernism appeared on the scene after that. The University of Turku study guide places the cutoff at 1960, but apparently some definition lean towards 1980. Here's a helpful article at <a href="https://owlcation.com/humanities/Whats-The-Difference-Between-Modernism-and-Postmodernism">Owlcation.com</a>.<br />
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When I think of modernist works of literature, writers like Joyce, Kafka, and Proust come to mind. Postmodernists . . . well, I think of Italo Calvino and Kurt Vonnegut, and some of the more experimental science fiction of the time (John Brunner's <i>Stand on Zanzibar, </i>anyone?). Both movements aimed to create a new kind of novel. Modernists brought us unreliable narrators, stream-of-conciousness, and experimental structures. Postmodern novels seem to focus even more on playing with the novel form, metafiction, and an ironic point-of-view. Many postmodern works feel a bit empty to me, like intellectual exercises rather than an actual story meant to touch the reader on an emotional level. Sometimes they come across as pretentious and needlessly complicated, sometimes enjoyable in the way that I enjoy a solving a puzzle. For me, <i>The New York Trilogy</i> landed in the latter category.<br />
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Oh yeah, spoilers ahead :)<br />
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For me<i>, City of Glass</i> was the hardest of the novels to wrap my mind around. A bit about the plot: pulp writer Daniel Quinn takes a case meant for Paul Auster the detective and begins investigating Peter Stillman the elder because Stillman's daughter-in-law suspects he is coming to kill his son Peter Stillman the younger, whom he kept isolated from the world as a child because of some crackpot theories about the Tower of Babel. <br />
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First you have to figure out the characters: there's Daniel Quinn, the detective story writer who answers a wrong number and begins investigating a case meant for Paul Auster, the detective who is also a writer. This Paul Auster isn't the author of the novel, though. And then there's the narrator who is telling the story, who is a friend of Paul Auster, the detective-writer and is telling the story because Auster gave him the red notebook Quinn left behind and had written the story in. Confused yet? Yup.<br />
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Paul Auster the detective and Daniel Quinn seem to be mirror characters in several ways:<br />
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Auster/ Quinn</div>
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Detective who is also a writer / pulp writer who takes on the role of detective</div>
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Happily married with a son/ Alone, son dead</div>
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In control of his life/ Life feels empty, suffering from writer's block</div>
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The further you read, the more you start to question whether Auster the detective is even real, or only a side of Quinn's personality. In the beginning of the book Quinn wishes he were more like the fictional detective he writes about, and very conveniently the opportunity for a Noble Quest presents itself. And speaking about quests, Daniel Quinn, who takes his quest to protect Peter Stillman the younger to an absurd level, is very similar to a certain Don Quixote, and they both share the initials D. Q.. Just to make sure the reader gets it, Auster the detective/writer is writing an article on the identity of the author of Cervantes' <i>Don Quixote. </i>According to him, there are several possible authors for Don Quixote, and there are several possible authors for<i> City of Glass</i>. (In case you missed the Quixote connection the first time, you should read that bit again. If you've been taking <i>City of Glass </i>Very Seriously, you might feel a bit offended.) There might have been a lot more nods to <i>Don Quixote</i>, since I read the book as a teen and passionately hated the title character, I don't really recall it all that well. (Not about to read it again. <i>Walden</i>'s been on my reading list for a while, though.)<br />
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What about the title, <i>City of Glass</i>? Glass is fragile, and there certainly are fragile people in the story. It's also transparent, maybe that has something to do with being watched or the reader watching the characters or Quinn watching Stillman? And there's glass as in looking glass. There's a lot of mirror characters here, Quinn/Auster and the two Stillman the elders at the train station, Quinn/Don Quixote. I dunno. </div>
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I did enjoy the whole playing-with-languge thing in the bit where Quinn reads about Stillman's theory and I found the plot interesting enough that I wanted to see where it was going, but on the whole I failed to connect with Quinn or the other characters enough that I could say I liked the book. I appreciate it for its twisty-turny puzzle of a plot and for making me think, but do I want to read it again or anything else by Auster? Not really. </div>
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In <i>Ghosts</i>, we have another private eye named Blue investigating a man named Black on the behalf of a man named White and so on. Everybody's named after colours, and there's some (pseudo?)philosophical stuff about what colours are associated with. Turns out that Black and White are the same person, shocker. Once again the private eye becomes lost in another persons life. And there's that bit about how writing's a lonely job and how a writer doesn't have a life of his own or even really exist. That probably has something to do with the title.<br />
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I really liked the conversation that Blue had with Black about how real-life anecdotes are meaningful as metaphors because they're true. I have no idea if the events mentioned are indeed true (the one about Whitman's brain, for example), but they're fascinating and maybe even say something about how a writer's mind works. I collect weird little tales like that, and a lot of writers I've read about do too. Maybe it's about how people understand things through stories. Here, again, I'm unsure if Blue is actually a real person. In the end Black says that Blue was necessary and important to get this far and that he knows the story by heart even if he hasn't read it. Is Blue only a part of the whole Black/White organism, like a character in a story, doomed to be manipulated by the author?<br />
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<i>The Locked Room</i> was my favourite in the trilogy. Again, we have the narrator, a a journalist with literary aspirations, who unwittingly becomes a detective when his childhood friend Fanshawe disappears and bequeathes to him a closetful of unpublished manuscripts and his wife and son. Again, the narrator becomes lost in another man's life and almost loses himself and everything he values.<br />
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There's a neat scene at the beginning when the narrator recalls an episode who Fanshawe as a child gave a birthday present to another boy who didn't have one to bring to the party. A selfless act, right? Then we read on and we learn that Fanshawe is alive and abandoned his wife and son. The manuscripts he left become bestsellers and the narrator marries the wife and becomes the boy's father. Is this a selfless act by Fanshawe, where he gives everything to his friend, or an ultimately selfish act, because he abandons his family? The reason he gives is that he can't publish his works unless people think he's dead. Another apparently selfless act is when Fanshawe nurses his dying father in his last days. But then we see another side of Fanshawe, how he gathers experiences to write about (there's every bohemian writer cliché from moving to Paris to the apparently mandatory brothel visit). Are all his selfless acts more about experiencing things than about people? <br />
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<i>The Locked Room </i>raises the question of whether a writer can ever have a normal life, or is he/she always alone because he must reject his family and friends to gain the experiences a writer needs to write? Again, in the end the reader begins to suspect whether the narrator and Fanshawe are really the same person, that person killing the writer part of himself enjoy his time with his family. I'm not certain how to interpret the title. Sure, there's a locked room at the end, but there isn't really a locked room mystery here. Oh, and Peter Stillman makes an appearance. Is he the same one from <i>City of Glass</i>? And Quinn is mentioned, but referred to as a detective. </div>
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All the novels share a frame of the detective story, but they're not really detective stories. Most of the time the endings are open and nothing really gets resolved. It's more about playing with the idea of writing literary fiction in a pulp framework. On a thematic level, all of the novels have in common the idea of the loss of identity. The narrators appear unreliable, and the reader can't even be sure the characters exist, much less what happens to them.<br />
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Despite all of my (over)analysing, I don't feel that <i>The New York Trilogy</i> is a difficult book to read. Sure, you have to pay attention, but the prose is very functional and easy to read, no convoluted sentences or difficult metaphors. If you want to try Auster, the trilogy is surprisingly short, only about three hundred pages.</div>
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After reading the book I was curious about how much of it was autobiographical, so I looked up a few articles on Auster. Here's one on <i>The Guardian</i> website I found interesting, in case anyone wants to check it out :<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/oct/26/fiction.fashion"> https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/oct/26/fiction.fashion</a><br />
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Just a heads-up, seems that I can't reply to comments on the blog. I have no idea why. But feel free to leave a comment, anyway. </div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-92074842631503567352020-04-19T15:01:00.000+03:002020-04-19T15:01:00.324+03:00Life in the Time of COVID-19: How to Stay Sane in Self-Quarantine<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrOdE-Z5FwfYBSqyh9FRvruDlKHICLXDLSwC-7fpbDJKRu6sAwH6Mji_qVrSC8w9igrXjnK0YWv1XqxnFm-H3C7LGXUAZeXMAwLecsRjbFJVO12POu_SkThpfLchS52jxd_02pl0Zn1U/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrOdE-Z5FwfYBSqyh9FRvruDlKHICLXDLSwC-7fpbDJKRu6sAwH6Mji_qVrSC8w9igrXjnK0YWv1XqxnFm-H3C7LGXUAZeXMAwLecsRjbFJVO12POu_SkThpfLchS52jxd_02pl0Zn1U/s400/IMG_3714.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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COVID-19. Even for an introvert like me this whole social distancing thing is getting old by now. I miss being around people. Who knew? Here's a few things to help relieve the tedium and to keep from obsessing over the news 24/7. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ2m1FvohpIsmrUQeDgZ4PGmUjfMmIKIQgFAVIFdBCwrQzLW_2kJyZYGEe5YKp9pHLRs8TAvnkxajgJt5rgubJNs15oWCRSTWXCJgWnItlpNS_2qTuUxjrK0dhnRVkTpFs0zRxQz6VhY/s1600/blogger-image--1435913828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="640" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ2m1FvohpIsmrUQeDgZ4PGmUjfMmIKIQgFAVIFdBCwrQzLW_2kJyZYGEe5YKp9pHLRs8TAvnkxajgJt5rgubJNs15oWCRSTWXCJgWnItlpNS_2qTuUxjrK0dhnRVkTpFs0zRxQz6VhY/s320/blogger-image--1435913828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do some writing, maybe a story set in quarantine or involving an epidemic? A writer, much like Doctor Who, can travel in time and space so we're never really locked up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6K-eSlDLEGpMgpFhIHcLBpVYquY1y8PVX-0B48cVsP27w2VWv7pnDUW0nVUXXDchnUoZYNNdYs8pZiILlTkpS6oYUckCstQbC7ri6zK-f7kM_wN3JcjlFddVVvBwjgD4uiIiL86TFBA/s1600/blogger-image-728045846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6K-eSlDLEGpMgpFhIHcLBpVYquY1y8PVX-0B48cVsP27w2VWv7pnDUW0nVUXXDchnUoZYNNdYs8pZiILlTkpS6oYUckCstQbC7ri6zK-f7kM_wN3JcjlFddVVvBwjgD4uiIiL86TFBA/s320/blogger-image-728045846.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Writing not your thing? Luckily there are thousands of ready-made portals into strange lands around. Just jump in! This is the perfect time to read your favourite series, the longer the better. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDOw5X_RuvHwapVxBA7n5xZ56N6_9aIXhG5EreMyq_BhLJNN7Cb_lU2W9NFtI1fFMn3bnsEe9eIZMZStvoU0xTarkuUPpjrM7ja3E5eUk0dlYMEwsC76HoPuFn6EregZ8dZ0_UuIbTEo/s1600/blogger-image-1549411527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDOw5X_RuvHwapVxBA7n5xZ56N6_9aIXhG5EreMyq_BhLJNN7Cb_lU2W9NFtI1fFMn3bnsEe9eIZMZStvoU0xTarkuUPpjrM7ja3E5eUk0dlYMEwsC76HoPuFn6EregZ8dZ0_UuIbTEo/s320/blogger-image-1549411527.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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What about that classic you've been trying to plough through? I'm FINALLY going to finish I<i>n Search of Lost Time</i>. I've been averaging about one book per year so I should be done by now. Why did it take me this long? Funny story, I lost the last volume. (Yeah, I'm aware of the irony.) But now I ordered a new copy so no more excuses, especially since the missing one turned up two weeks afterwards, grrr . . . </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitQzjf_6aV4QZYNXPY-vYuMnbivFCG5JWtVtNHD0TAxdVT447AkuD6x1YlwUqOmFUzLMxn-txKfFZ1xjRAB-64filGr4YnAzXfzagpdZmc1HCkyCIzRWrlbB9CHjWTWE7HrQcjuurRBo/s1600/blogger-image--224580688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitQzjf_6aV4QZYNXPY-vYuMnbivFCG5JWtVtNHD0TAxdVT447AkuD6x1YlwUqOmFUzLMxn-txKfFZ1xjRAB-64filGr4YnAzXfzagpdZmc1HCkyCIzRWrlbB9CHjWTWE7HrQcjuurRBo/s320/blogger-image--224580688.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Do some baking, something silly and time consuming. For ideas, check out <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25110881-deceptive-desserts">Deceptive Desserts: A Lady's Guide to Baking Bad</a></i> by Christine McConnell or the <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/victorian-recipes/">English Heritage site for Victorian recipes</a> straight out of a Dickens novel (with instructional videos). </div>
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Try a video game. Saving the world is quite therapeutic, and you get that sense of being abroad even though you're sitting at home. I've been enjoying the first <i>Witcher </i>game a lot. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsjzr6G9cShw8DaZbFn6IKZnti51cz8aGMT97RXOFRiMCPkqkeuWOhp3F2ePAkQNpR90RxEmm1p4b0wSy_23t2XbNaqMN-AVyuD2BahINfMDU5GpQfHlyEVAIb8EbM-RE2coDH70Pe3Q/s1600/blogger-image--580197878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsjzr6G9cShw8DaZbFn6IKZnti51cz8aGMT97RXOFRiMCPkqkeuWOhp3F2ePAkQNpR90RxEmm1p4b0wSy_23t2XbNaqMN-AVyuD2BahINfMDU5GpQfHlyEVAIb8EbM-RE2coDH70Pe3Q/s320/blogger-image--580197878.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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Bummed out about all the spring/summer events getting canceled? Sign up for a virtual sci-fi convention! Worldcon decided not to cancel and went virtual instead. <a href="https://conzealand.nz/">https://conzealand.nz</a></div>
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If all else fails, alcohol. (Just kidding)</div>
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What are you doing to keep calm and carry on?</div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-89037538576317294142019-10-21T17:06:00.002+03:002019-10-21T17:06:14.673+03:00Reading the Classics: If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino<a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IfOnAWintersNight.jpg" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.319999694824219px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"></a><br />
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And now for something completely different! Italo Calvino's <i>If on a Winter's Night a Traveler</i>, published 1979, is just that, a gloriously, breathlessly bonkers book that makes you smile. You might groan at the term "postmodernist novel"and grumble when you hear that part of the book is written in second person and the novel has an experimental structure, but don't let that put you off; this is a page-turner.</div>
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The novel starts in second person, telling you the Reader to put your feet up and start reading. Just when you get comfortable, the book changes on you. Turns out that there's been a mistake at the printer's, and after the opening chapter of Winter's Night, the novel continues as something completely different. And so it goes, over and over, the chapters of book openings alternating with the frame story of the Reader meeting Ludmilla (the Female Reader, I read this in Finnish so I'm not sure how the English translators handled this, Other Reader?). They try to get to the bottom of the mystery, and most importantly, keep reading.</div>
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This is the first 2nd person narrative that I've actually enjoyed, but I did get jolted out of the book a few times because the second person narrative assumes that the reader is male. The female Reader is addressed in second person in a short segment, but I didn't really relate to her, either. So there is bit of that indignant "no, I'm not" feel that you get in second person narratives, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the novel. </div>
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The opening chapters that make up half the book are fun in their own right: each one is written in a different style in a different genre, some done better than others. Many of them are so engaging that I actually felt the Reader's frustration. And I love the last Easter Egg revelation of what happens when you read all the chapter titles in one go. </div>
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This is very much a book about reading and writing, and I very much enjoyed reading Calvino's insight on the writer's mind and on why we read. </div>
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As a writer, I think it's important to experience different kinds of books, and this is inventive and unique without being only an intellectual exercise or impossible to read.</div>
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I highly recommend this book if you can handle a bit of surrealism and experimental narratives. If you can get through the first few chapters, you won't have any trouble. And as Calvino points out, it's a short book. </div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-70033880971862967802019-08-21T11:02:00.000+03:002019-08-21T11:02:35.445+03:00Reading the Classics: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe<br />
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Hey, I'm back and I've got a new Reading the Classics post for you! At 672 pages <i>The Mysteries of Udolpho</i> by Ann Radcliffe isn't exactly a beach read, but summer's almost over anyway, right? If you've been reading the blog, you probably know I've got a soft spot for Gothic novels, and I've come across references to <i>Udolpho</i> many times in modern and period fiction (most notably Jane Austen's Gothic novel parody <i>Northanger Abbey</i>), so I finally decided to give it a go.</div>
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Udolpho tells the story of Emily St. Aubert, a young Frenchwoman who gets orphaned and placed in the care of her unfeeling aunt, Madame Cheron. Emily has fallen in love with Valancourt, who she met while traveling with her father, but her aunt forbids her to marry him. When Madame Cheron marries the unscrupulous Signor Montoni, Emily is forced to leave her home and the man she loves to accompany her aunt to Italy, where Montoni's true character is revealed and the two women are placed in mortal peril. </div>
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Radcliffe's novels were hugely popular in their time, and <i>Udolpho,</i> published in 1794, is widely considered to be her defining work. I was expecting atmospheric passages of description, an intriguing plot, and some element of the supernatural, but most of all I was expecting to be entertained. Unfortunately that didn't happen: I found this book a chore to get through. </div>
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The book is filed under speculative fiction at the library of Turku, but while Radcliffe teases the reader with supernatural happenings, they always get explained away. And the passages of description, while atmospheric, were just too numerous and tedious for the modern reader. The plot could have been intriguing, had the book been about 300 pages shorter, and I also disliked the way Radcliffe tries to create suspense by locking the reader out at key points of the story, like the bit where Emily looks behind the veil at Castle Udolpho and sees something horrible. The revelation comes at the end of the book, but at that point it's quite anticlimactic.<br />
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The structure of the book is also a bit weird. The main conflict gets resolved, but the story goes on for hundreds of pages after the fact fuelled by a revelation of Valancourt's misdeeds that make Emily reject his proposal again. For me this felt a bit forced. I tried to figure out what bothered me about the structure, and I realised that it's the way the love story is handled: Valancourt is absent for most of the book, and as you need obstacles for the whole star-crossed lovers thing to work, something has to get in the way of their happy ending. The problem is that this didn't feel organic or natural to me, perhaps because of a lack of foreshadowing. The introduction of Blanche at the end of the book annoyed me, because at that point I was pretty frustrated with the book and just wanted to finally finish it, especially after Radcliffe tested my patience with that pointless bit where Emily is taken to a cottage and then back to the castle. And don't get me started on the bad poetry Emily writes.<br />
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Emily as a character didn't really resonate with me. Mostly it feels like (bad) things just happen to her and she doesn't really do much about it. And boy, does she faint a lot! While it's a good thing that Emily doesn't get rescued by Valancourt, she doesn't exactly get herself out of Castle Udolpho either. Most of the other character feel quite stereotypical, too, but is that because Radcliffe has been widely imitated later?<br />
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So, what did I learn as a writer? Radcliffe is great at atmospheric descriptions, and that's something to pay attention to, but too much of a good thing is really too much.<br />
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I can't actually recommend this novel to anybody, but if you're interested in the evolution of the novel form and Gothic literature, by all means pick up a copy from the library.<br />
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And if you're reading <i>Udolpho</i> as an assignment for class, I've got a little something to make it more bearable. I present to you:<br />
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<u>The Castle of Udolpho Drinking Game</u></div>
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The rules: take a sip every time:</div>
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- Emily admires the landscape</div>
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- Something is described as "melancholy"</div>
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- Emily faints</div>
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- Montoni does something villainous</div>
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- Emily thinks she's going to get attacked by bandits and isn't</div>
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- Valancourt gets shot</div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-14942343873373177142018-11-01T08:45:00.000+02:002018-11-01T08:45:42.708+02:00Graveyard Cake for Halloween<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUj1jq1Xfz950IU-vpFnwuLcBeXtCZlC6IsGEXTdXWbaevMggUuKuIn5TBCWv0dMhD8K5DonLXg6GHz3fV85casZXP6bX9eiOkbd5eelvd86Pxgy56Tfbl96DrG0nCGzSlMO9modDpqM/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUj1jq1Xfz950IU-vpFnwuLcBeXtCZlC6IsGEXTdXWbaevMggUuKuIn5TBCWv0dMhD8K5DonLXg6GHz3fV85casZXP6bX9eiOkbd5eelvd86Pxgy56Tfbl96DrG0nCGzSlMO9modDpqM/s640/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since we're doing some work on the house, I won't be having a Halloween party this year. I didn't want to miss the fun entirely so I made this graveyard cake for game night at a friend's house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yk7wXKvNxOQe-nORKu3IlwwT5iSJLAMlIg49_ZWBOWo6DjZQjVnUEfQw09tDfgtuN951zUJxMdY0yUy0VQJYgleiKz5mh3t0j_S1UiJtOntjDI8SW3BnYBQqUwLfbRHgXVxDgLi9kWM/s1600/IMG_3796-2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yk7wXKvNxOQe-nORKu3IlwwT5iSJLAMlIg49_ZWBOWo6DjZQjVnUEfQw09tDfgtuN951zUJxMdY0yUy0VQJYgleiKz5mh3t0j_S1UiJtOntjDI8SW3BnYBQqUwLfbRHgXVxDgLi9kWM/s640/IMG_3796-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not bad for a first attempt. It was downright tasteful before I added the pink monsters and the jelly bugs, but more is more, right? The tree, fence and cat I made myself by drizzling dark chocolate on parchment paper with a teaspoon, which was surprisingly easy. Mistakes don't matter too much, because once the chocolate hardens you can just snap off the extra bits. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhkbVAo-Gl7Z9itU30FQW-0Ae2YjUIyBmZpVZNzWbVJBFcmPco2u2HnTCKWaeAcm5LRFlxwsLMBzybE3wvqTkZIBPkZuiQoiFuVC0f-rKDAK3X70sW1AT3ypIG8s3BC45exwAc0BFVOE/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhkbVAo-Gl7Z9itU30FQW-0Ae2YjUIyBmZpVZNzWbVJBFcmPco2u2HnTCKWaeAcm5LRFlxwsLMBzybE3wvqTkZIBPkZuiQoiFuVC0f-rKDAK3X70sW1AT3ypIG8s3BC45exwAc0BFVOE/s640/IMG_3797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy Halloween, everybody!</div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-30222178129512443922018-10-23T15:50:00.001+03:002018-10-23T15:50:29.049+03:00The Carnival of Lights at Linnanmäki and the Amazing Amos Rex<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTcnfa7ilUMKACTXPuqHH3ENtNmYT2UWEOFS9po3p8rGTtLPdtCX_YUfXYA0JJalqKNCUvuU9YEiURshB_GXLWT4Au6TUkoio1oIt3Lf18FsAdLqaMpBKEHwSylSlDVnJev1GN0oUyCU/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTcnfa7ilUMKACTXPuqHH3ENtNmYT2UWEOFS9po3p8rGTtLPdtCX_YUfXYA0JJalqKNCUvuU9YEiURshB_GXLWT4Au6TUkoio1oIt3Lf18FsAdLqaMpBKEHwSylSlDVnJev1GN0oUyCU/s640/IMG_3737.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's that time of the year again when the trees shed their glorious autumn leaves and everything turns grey, dark, and dismal. Fortunately Linnanmäki amusement park had its annual Carnival of Light again this year. We didn't go on any rides this year (because of The Babe), but the cotton candy popcorn and hot chocolate and the gloriously creepy haunted carnival ambiance were enough for me. Here are a few pics if you missed the festivities.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt66XANB_DrI7pK8XhnRmXITlqVSvGLxX18oQVas1-2SREMEMGiDSr_LPohOSwJiiURcUVDAfqV172yk7oNrR2Odk08L5ujjy02LRlWMnUWQbXSM3MzOoNSQJlImY0vBaJdRCzK3LILdQ/s1600/IMG_3742.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt66XANB_DrI7pK8XhnRmXITlqVSvGLxX18oQVas1-2SREMEMGiDSr_LPohOSwJiiURcUVDAfqV172yk7oNrR2Odk08L5ujjy02LRlWMnUWQbXSM3MzOoNSQJlImY0vBaJdRCzK3LILdQ/s400/IMG_3742.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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This was The Babe's favourite. She kept pointing and going "Ka" which is her word for "duck" (ankka in Finnish).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJVACijn2k2C3hLQ-9w6weJj5qJiLNA13dmQs3pLi7WeBndeudBZ2rQ6sQcAa6BxlbZkOaoEcU__GbaWQE6PFMTG_t5DbsUED3Mk0yEXAPgXzvcSrd46ZDcRwa9TpFSSBtgGhQCpD_bU/s1600/IMG_3744.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJVACijn2k2C3hLQ-9w6weJj5qJiLNA13dmQs3pLi7WeBndeudBZ2rQ6sQcAa6BxlbZkOaoEcU__GbaWQE6PFMTG_t5DbsUED3Mk0yEXAPgXzvcSrd46ZDcRwa9TpFSSBtgGhQCpD_bU/s640/IMG_3744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-zEgmZTVP9afetJk5bsuN7fm2Y9KX7xj0k4MeJNmF8Oxmil1rOwZmJ9Ph9N97C_CUx5eZ9kzn5dKzAacPNspPC7i2zgkX0J-VPBhZIIYF5L9-AZJPzEPUx8gUlo6XPZ58DPeBbC4dGs/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-zEgmZTVP9afetJk5bsuN7fm2Y9KX7xj0k4MeJNmF8Oxmil1rOwZmJ9Ph9N97C_CUx5eZ9kzn5dKzAacPNspPC7i2zgkX0J-VPBhZIIYF5L9-AZJPzEPUx8gUlo6XPZ58DPeBbC4dGs/s400/IMG_3745.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love this old carousel!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF2sEHb7v6Vv9nbGlBLQPA7Pl4jOkTl8QGHylj6INYGoWOhU63Yy36qWlHF7-kO9Oja-mcgvJyYiwLFCZGH1-LQH1Oum-ocCxZdqgv0Y0fHxlmwLlC0WRzlIZwEWHe7YvWV6M1D0AjYo/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF2sEHb7v6Vv9nbGlBLQPA7Pl4jOkTl8QGHylj6INYGoWOhU63Yy36qWlHF7-kO9Oja-mcgvJyYiwLFCZGH1-LQH1Oum-ocCxZdqgv0Y0fHxlmwLlC0WRzlIZwEWHe7YvWV6M1D0AjYo/s640/IMG_3747.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The ferris wheel in the distance</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkT-NIM3L3Tm4vL-sFNxvBoa1tc39ybyKYcXI50D0iiHP2V0c5dmwhR6HpQKR_LW9GV-vkJOsvhpsBKIcbiA22M73qYLXnR1Zz4CffverBY3vle19S4qNJtg1Q3ifkryQOaWTl0WPo__M/s1600/IMG_3748.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkT-NIM3L3Tm4vL-sFNxvBoa1tc39ybyKYcXI50D0iiHP2V0c5dmwhR6HpQKR_LW9GV-vkJOsvhpsBKIcbiA22M73qYLXnR1Zz4CffverBY3vle19S4qNJtg1Q3ifkryQOaWTl0WPo__M/s400/IMG_3748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Teacups!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVgbLRwBJEfrDcC3FBOYXBhxmW2DJXdHg0IvVt2CcZhbStcXZdH-J2ejFNOlUfaW15tl-sflE1gGjNJpDnQOxLFrHLBn2GxV404V1J0ipKUnjZ6pQir6kkIEFF5RTOZQ6GiPVP7wLa0/s1600/IMG_3755.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVgbLRwBJEfrDcC3FBOYXBhxmW2DJXdHg0IvVt2CcZhbStcXZdH-J2ejFNOlUfaW15tl-sflE1gGjNJpDnQOxLFrHLBn2GxV404V1J0ipKUnjZ6pQir6kkIEFF5RTOZQ6GiPVP7wLa0/s640/IMG_3755.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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We also visited <a href="https://amosrex.fi/en/">Amos Rex,</a> the new museum in Helsinki city center. The exhibition by TeamLab, a Tokyo-based interdisciplinary art collective, is just mind-blowing. My favourite was an installation that had a sort of tropical fantasy world that was constantly on the move, and it was interactive, so when you touched the wall, flowers blossomed, and you could create your own fantasy animal that then became part of the installation. The Babe had the best time chasing after them. It's running until January 6 if anyone wants to check it out. </div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-17911983210793117752018-10-15T10:37:00.001+03:002018-10-15T10:37:33.216+03:00Into the Woods<br />
Autumn is my favourite time for enjoying nature: nice, cool weather and minimal bugs, not to mention all the leaves turning gorgeous colours. Here are a few snaps from last week's walk near Porvoo. (The trail leaves near Haikko manor and is only about 2.5 km long if anyone wants to give it a go.)<br />
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A beautiful lake</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu1_iOB9jEmkuWh2V_JvdIGr8GABQURqHfUQGV9UfyvB2fsllMWUUwx8oZBK1j63pgiVK7uEj1092eJ0-NdsQRcU49M9pMuBQLUE5E3EajsLaeVezabQxy8bvT3QcvBLvy1HA0N5H_F0/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu1_iOB9jEmkuWh2V_JvdIGr8GABQURqHfUQGV9UfyvB2fsllMWUUwx8oZBK1j63pgiVK7uEj1092eJ0-NdsQRcU49M9pMuBQLUE5E3EajsLaeVezabQxy8bvT3QcvBLvy1HA0N5H_F0/s640/IMG_3729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's a painting Albert Edelfelt did at the lake</div>
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Lingonberry leaves just turning</div>
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I'm not sure what this is called in English, but in Finnish it's <i>karhunsammal</i>, bear's moss, because it's a nice, soft place for a bear to take a nap on.</div>
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Are you looking at the trees or are they looking at you?</div>
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Ferns carpet the forest floor</div>
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Ant metropolis</div>
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Fairy tree</div>
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Do you dare venture off the beaten path?</div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-83918092529687744252018-10-08T06:58:00.001+03:002018-10-08T06:58:08.487+03:00Book Fair Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I made it to the book fair this year, yay!</div>
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There was all kinds of weird stuff for sale, like this beautiful book called <i>The Witch Doll </i>and a practical guide to telepathy.</div>
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I had a pretty good haul this year: I finally found Howl's Moving Castle in Finnish and a bunch of Roald Dahl books, all of which I'm collecting for when The Tot is old enough to read them. (I also got a mountain of Spot books, because I'm getting sick of reading the two we have, and some Christmas presents.)</div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-4191670463272332312018-09-30T06:00:00.000+03:002018-09-30T06:00:06.225+03:00Writing When You Have Small Children: Mission Impossible?<div style="text-align: center;">
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As you might have noticed, juggling writing and parenting is an issue I've been struggling with since The Babe (who is now The Toddler, my how time flies!) entered my life. It started even before that, during the pregnancy: I just couldn't write through the nausea and exhaustion, and even when I felt okay, there were a million things to take care of before the baby came. And when she did arrive, most days were just a struggle to cope. Suffice to say, barely any writing got done during the first year.<br />
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But, things are looking up! Behold, posts have appeared on the blog fairly regularly for the past few weeks. Granted, not three a week, but even one or two a month is progress at this point. I'm finally reading <i>The Kalevala</i>, the Finnish national epoch, something I've needed to do so I can finish two short stories, and I'm actually making steady progress on the first of those stories. I managed to edit and send a story to the Portti competition. I wrote a bit of flash last week. This is all good.<br />
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So, how did I get back into a writing routine? I tried several things, some more successful than others.<br />
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First, I tried to write during The Babe's naptime. Worked better in theory, because The Babe refused to sleep on her own and would start awake every time I tried to open my laptop. In the last few months this has gotten better, and now I mostly get about half an hour to an hour of writing time most days. So, this is definitely something to try, especially if your kid is a good sleeper and you're not too tired to actually write. (Sometimes you need a nap just as bad as the baby.)<br />
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Second, I tried to get my husband to watch the baby for an hour every night so I could write. This, too, proved better in theory. Something always came up and I felt guilty for prioritising writing over family time or chores or whatever. I could also hear the baby through the closed door and usually caved if she was being very fussy.<br />
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Third, I decided that I needed to get away from home altogether to get anything done, so every weekend I'd get my laptop and head over to the library or a coffee shop for a few hours of uninterrupted writing time while the baby hung out with her daddy. This was also a good strategy and something I will be doing regularly in the future.<br />
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Fourth, and this one is a double-edged sword, I'm trying to sneak in some writing after The Babe is asleep for the night. That's actually when I'm writing this post. The trouble is that my own sleep gets cut short, so it's not ideal, and I tend to get carried away and stay up until after midnight if the writing's rolling along nicely.<br />
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My advice to new parents with writerly ambitions is to grab any writing time when you can, where you can, even if it's just fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes a day adds up to almost two hours a week, which isn't too shabby. You can also do a lot of planning and thinking while hanging out at the playground or washing dishes, which saves you time when you're writing. Find what works for you. And most important of all, be kind to yourself. Writing might have to take a backseat for a while. Sometimes life just happens. Writing might be a priority, but it's not your only priority, and it will always be there even if you need to take some time off.<br />
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-65115071063178118842018-09-24T06:00:00.000+03:002018-09-24T06:00:00.540+03:00Reading the Classics: The Captive & The Fugitive by Marcel Proust<br />
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The Proust Project is nearing completion, finally! I actually finished <i>The Captive/The Fugitive</i> in January and due to severe sleep deprivation at the time my memories are not exactly in 3D surround sound so bear with me if I get some things mixed up. . .<br />
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<i>The Captive</i> was the first volume of <i>In Search of Lost Time</i> to be published after Proust's death, and boy, does it show. I've grumbled that Proust could have used an editor before, but with these volumes the passages of gorgeous description and witty insights into the human condition were even fewer and farther between. It doesn't help that as the volumes deal with themes of possessiveness and jealousy and Marcel's love/hate relationship with Albertine, the whininess quotient goes throught the roof. Oh, the drama!<br />
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Marcel spends the first book obsessing over whether Albertine is cheating on him with her lesbian lovers and alternitively whining about how bored he is with her. Proust then unceremoniously offs Albertine (spoiler alert, I guess?), and the next book is spent wallowing in the loss of this Great Love (Hah!). When compared with the description of the loss of Marcel's grandmother earlier in the story, the loss of Albertine feels quite hollow, but I'm not sure if that's intentional. Something about the structure feels off, too. After hundreds of pages of very slow going, suddenly a whole bunch of major plot events are shoved into a few paragraphs like an afterthought.<br />
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I've pretty much loathed Marcel from very early on, but if you didn't despise him before, this volume will send you over the edge with his casual misogynism and the crap he puts Albertine through. (That passive-aggressive letter!) I was genuinely happy that Albertine finally left and put us all out of our miseries. All in all Proust's view of love is pretty depressing, all lust and obsession and pathological jealousy.<br />
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There is a positive, though. I finally understand the structure Proust uses. (Yes, there is a structure!) He takes a scene and then expands on it in the way memories work, via free association. I felt that this was the easiest to spot in the bit where Marcel looks at his sleeping lover and contemplates his situation. I'll have to try this approach for myself soon, maybe in a short story.<br />
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Only one more volume to go! I might actually finish this year, after seven years!<br />
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-5130003674025049182018-09-17T06:00:00.000+03:002018-09-17T06:00:04.533+03:00What I Learned from Slush-Reading for the Nova Writing Competition<br />
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Ready to hear about slush reading? Okay. Here's a bit about the competition first: <a href="http://www.tsfs.fi/?toiminta/nova.html">Nova</a> is an annual Finnish-language writing competition held by the Turku Science Fiction Society, the Finnish Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and the Science Fiction Culture Cabinet at the University of Turku. It's aimed at new writers (pros are excluded, so if you've won the Atorox award, the Portti writing competition, or published a novel-length work, you're no longer eligible).<br />
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I've submitted stories for the competition for quite a few years, like most Finnish spec fic writers. I won second place in 2016, so that's probably why I got asked to slush read. Like most slush reading, this was an unpaid position, so why donate your precious time, you might ask? Well, first of all, it's fun! You get to meet interesting people and it's nice to give back when you can, since a smallish group of fandom actives work hard to make things like Finncon possible, host reading and writing groups, and arrange genre-flavoured writing courses, for example. Second of all, it's a golden opportunity to see the editor's side of things and learn how to stand out from the slush pile.<br />
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So how much work is involved? This year there were 134 entries, 24 of which made it into the judges' pile. One thing I like about the Nova competition is that a part of the prize is a critique from the judges. The finalists who don't make it into the top ten get a critique from the slush readers, so we each did three or four critiques in addition to the reading part. 134 stories sounds like a lot, but the page limit for the competition is twenty and maybe half the entries ranged from a few pages to eight or ten pages, so while I did read for several hours each week, it wasn't that bad.<br />
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For those interested in the process, the way we went about it was to score every short story on technique (grammar, punctuation, voice, style, etc.) and storytelling (structure, plotting, theme, character, world-building and so forth) and then worked out an overall score from one to five. The four of us also wrote a short critique that summed up the story and touched on any special merits or major flaws; these made writing the finalists' critiques a few months later a lot easier, and it was very instructive to compare and contrast what the other slush readers and the judges had written about the stories.<br />
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And what did I learn? What made a story stand out from the slush pile?<br />
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For me the major factor was originality. There were many competently written stories that felt quite familiar to someone who's read widely in the genre. Most failed to make the cut in the end. Personally, I'll overlook a certain number of technical issues for an idea that feels fresh. Before you despair, it's not impossible to come up with an original idea; for many of these stories all it would have taken was an extra half hour of plotting before starting to write. First, take the time to ask yourself what the reader expects. If you just write the idea as it first comes to you, your mind is probably trying to take you down familiar paths, but if you take a moment to think about the major turning points you might come up with something else entirely. And it doesn't have to be something completely new: a fresh spin on an old trope is original, too. Second, do try to utilise more than one idea, you'll add more depth and originality.<br />
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Once you've got that sorted, here are some recurring issues I noticed that writers entering the competition might want to watch out for:<br />
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<ul><li>Do pay attention to the submission guidelines and proper story formatting. If you're not sure how to use quotation marks in dialogue, grab any book from your bookshelf and check. And paragraph breaks are nice, too. Don't use a weird font in a tiny size with single spacing. It's really annoying to read. Even if you don't get disqualified, do you really want to piss off the slush reader even before she's read one word of your story?</li>
</ul><ul><li>Are you sure you've submitted a complete story? A surprisingly large number of entries read like novel excerpts or a part of a larger whole, usually stopping at the first plot point. If it's too long for the competition when you finish, check that you've started the story when the story actually begins. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Nova is a speculative fiction writing competition. Is the speculative element integral to your story? If the speculative element could be easily deleted and the story would still work fine, it's probably not integral enough. And no, "it was all a dream" and "it was all in his/her head" don't count.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Do have somebody read your story before you send it in. You'll definitely improve your chances with a few thoughtful edits.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Style preferences are subjective, but going very over the top will almost always work against you. Overly elaborate, flowery prose is heavy to read and can easily slip into the unintentionally comical. I think that this is a common phase that new writers go through before paring back and finding their own voice </li>
</ul><div>Okay, there's my two cents, I hope you found them useful. Congratulations to all of this year's winners and to everyone else, thanks for entering and letting us read your stories. If you didn't make it this year, please don't get discouraged. No story is ever wasted, and success at competitions is definitely not everything. The best thing you can do is keep writing and try to get feedback on your stories, you'll get there eventually. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I won't go into specifics concerning any single competition entry here, but if you have a general question, I'll be happy to answer if I can.</div><div><br />
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-66050732684232471382018-09-11T08:15:00.000+03:002018-09-11T08:15:39.130+03:00Writerly Progress Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, it's been quite a while since I last wrote a blog post! What can I say, this whole child-rearing thing? Kind of time consuming. Who'd have thought? </div>
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Well, fortunately The Babe is now officially a toddler, and I'm starting to get more writing time again, but the last year hasn't been a total loss, writing-wise. An old piece in Finnish "Kylmempi kuin jää" (Colder than Ice) earned an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atorox_Award">Atorox</a> nomination, which was fantastic, and I was on my first writing panel talking about writing and publishing short stories in a foreign language at Joctocon. (A nice, cozy event that wasn't at all terrifying even for somebody as nervous about public speaking as I am.)</div>
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Around Easter I did some slush reading for the 2018 <a href="http://www.tsfs.fi/?toiminta/nova.html">Nova writing competition</a>. I know everyone says slush reading is an important learning experience for a writer, but they're absolutely right. I learned a lot, and it was fun. I absolutely recommend it. If you're worried about the commitment and time management like I was, a competition is pretty much an ideal solution, because it's a limited amount of work (134 short stories in this case, over about two months) with a clear deadline, and you get extra XP for time invested since there are other slush readers and you get to compare notes (there were four of us for the Nova competition). I'll do a post about the experience later on in more detail if you want to know more.</div>
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I also took part in a very useful writing workshop hosted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Finland. It was given by Reetta Vuokko-Syrjänen, a very talented writer (she won second place in the 2017 Portti writing competition, among other things) who is also a fantastic teacher and a very nice person, so do grab the chance to learn from her if you can. The workshop was titled "The Story is Broken," and Reetta did a very brave thing: instead of going the expected theory + exercise route, she shared an old story of hers from back from when she was starting out, something that clearly showed huge potential but illustrated a lot of those not-quite-rookie mistakes that the intermediate writer will run into. She then took a problem based learning type approach to fixing those issues, and she rewrote the story, showing us the power of editing in action. And the best thing? I actually managed to edit a story that's been giving me trouble all year and sent it to the Portti competition.</div>
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I haven't written much else, only a few flash fiction pieces, but I've been thinking about a book project more and more, so a lot of world-building and prep work. </div>
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And I've read a lot. Yes, even the Proust Project is nearing completion, only one volume to go! I've burned through the backlog of books in my TBR pile and also explored some books with nontraditional structures. I'm especially into Japanese authors at the moment. (If you don't know about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Dazai">Osamu Dazai</a>, go read <i>No Longer Human</i> right now, it's mind-blowing!)</div>
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So, that's what I've been up to. I love fall, it always feels like a time of new beginnings and possibilities, so I'm going to take full advantage of all that positive energy. Hope you're having a nice productive September, too.</div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-393696752423998562018-07-11T09:35:00.004+03:002018-07-11T09:35:32.557+03:00New MOOC from The University of Iowa!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 28px;">Moving the Margins:</span><br /><div style="font-size: 28px;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Calling all writers! There's a new MOOC available from the University of Iowa Writing Program. Here's the announcement:</span></span></div>
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Fiction and Inclusion</h2>
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New MOOC<br /><span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The International Writing Program (the IWP) at the University of Iowa presents, with generous support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the US Department of State, the course "Moving the Margins: Fiction and Inclusion." <strong>This course will be given as a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_394749836" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">July 15 - Aug. 31</span></span>, but the course site will remain open until <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_394749837" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sept. 15</span></span>. You may take the course at your own pace during that window of time.</strong></span><span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">You as participants will read and listen to writers (many of them former <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://uiowa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Df20036938b23d28f266f3cf00%26id%3Db61e2fccfc%26e%3Db87afd5b2d&source=gmail&ust=1531376677486000&usg=AFQjCNFia_8N6fjH-6297mxUBdelfBhpsg" href="https://uiowa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f20036938b23d28f266f3cf00&id=b61e2fccfc&e=b87afd5b2d" style="color: #b44444;" target="_blank">IWP Fall Residents</a>) speaking about and writing about voice, character, setting, style, language, and about “moving the margins” of the known and the expected. And as writers balancing vivid imagination and craft, you will work towards an inclusiveness that allows for different kinds of thinking and different kinds of writing.</span><span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The course content includes writers who are both native and non-native English speakers, and we welcome those of you who are working on your own English language skills. Reading and listening to writers from a variety of backgrounds, and locating your own voice and experience through the writing of stories are strong language practice techniques.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br />Read more here: </span><a href="https://iowa.novoed.com/#!/courses/moving-the-margins/flyer">https://iowa.novoed.com/#!/courses/moving-the-margins/flyer</a><br /><br /></td></tr>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-9109928980173894902018-01-24T15:32:00.002+02:002018-01-24T15:32:40.738+02:00Winter Is Here!<br />
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Winter has arrived to Turku. Here are a few pics from last weekend when we had a perfect, crisp winter's day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmXaUmrubkXJv5XnDA3ciefAbH-L_UYV2p7NUmpltUfiASP0PZzKmYbr09GMilIauS9J1dOwPIG6T-8CoD3mx89DrOtev3yS47GZxRrrYfPCzgAiqE1Z9WelWtBg6oq6byEgxmo0JWmg/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmXaUmrubkXJv5XnDA3ciefAbH-L_UYV2p7NUmpltUfiASP0PZzKmYbr09GMilIauS9J1dOwPIG6T-8CoD3mx89DrOtev3yS47GZxRrrYfPCzgAiqE1Z9WelWtBg6oq6byEgxmo0JWmg/s640/IMG_3395.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Too bad The Babe is still too small to try sledding...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdUJOSBwg8Ay3iiKnnljR9sPbE0X4k1Bo25BlMlj2_ilISOI8vmupxcAe5djyJT5PBgsiVWepgH4wiR2sITeLENMCSN62zp_GXYJ-ALkmGI7SQvyHIay6Ipp3GGhgN0bGGwifSdEm7aA/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdUJOSBwg8Ay3iiKnnljR9sPbE0X4k1Bo25BlMlj2_ilISOI8vmupxcAe5djyJT5PBgsiVWepgH4wiR2sITeLENMCSN62zp_GXYJ-ALkmGI7SQvyHIay6Ipp3GGhgN0bGGwifSdEm7aA/s640/IMG_3394.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Today it's been snowing all day. Perfect writing-weather!<br />
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P. S. If you're coming to Finland, check out this extremely cool <a href="https://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/hotels-in-lapland/yllas/lapland-hotels-snowvillage.html">Game of Thrones themed snow village in Lapland</a>. They've done awesome ice sculptures, and you can even sleep with a White Walker hovering over you!<br />
curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-45059220610621575752018-01-16T16:23:00.000+02:002018-01-16T16:23:06.963+02:00Apparition Lit First Issue Available now!<br />
Just a quick reminder: the first issue of <i>Apparition Lit</i> including my story "Waiting for the Dawn" is out if you want to go have a look. Here's a link to the website: <a href="https://www.apparitionlit.com/">https://www.apparitionlit.com</a>.curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-88422898651641306042018-01-09T08:48:00.000+02:002018-01-09T08:48:29.083+02:00Apparition Lit First Issue, Coming Soon!<br />
Hey, want to check out a quote from my upcoming story in <i>Apparition Lit</i>? It's up on their Facebook page over <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/ApparitionLit/posts/">here</a>.<br />
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The first issue goes live on January 15, and it will feature writing from Cat Rambo, Jennifer Hudak, Shannon Connor Winward, May Chong, Garrett Davis, and Tara M. Williams (and me! Yay!). The issue will be available online, and they'll also be selling copies through Amazon and Kobo.<br />
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-5258196545901423542018-01-04T06:00:00.000+02:002018-01-04T06:00:09.394+02:00The Day of the Triffids?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6qfge25AW4Ve_RKC42eNKj4qH3QtcuBbS8jFYlprRCjq1jIhSTf21TRBclD-ZHU4QfLnTPnu2J__oNDeTTSOl3_KZS3Bgls7kpc3jUdtEBK0TjhsO1IEE9MxSL6MJbiRuIWDqj3Ar6E/s1600/IMG_3356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6qfge25AW4Ve_RKC42eNKj4qH3QtcuBbS8jFYlprRCjq1jIhSTf21TRBclD-ZHU4QfLnTPnu2J__oNDeTTSOl3_KZS3Bgls7kpc3jUdtEBK0TjhsO1IEE9MxSL6MJbiRuIWDqj3Ar6E/s400/IMG_3356.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Er, what did those triffid things look like again? Kill with fire, right?</div>
<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-58808076157123213652018-01-02T19:42:00.003+02:002018-01-02T19:43:06.756+02:00Apparitions<br />
Hey, I've got some writing news: my short story "Waiting for the Dawn" found a home at <i>Apparition Lit</i>, a new literary speculative fiction magazine!<br />
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Here's a quote from the website:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #504f4f; font-family: "ubuntu"; font-size: 16px;">Apparition Lit is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features short stories and poetry. We publish original content with enough emotional heft to break a heart, with prose that’s as clear and delicious as broth. </span></blockquote>
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Here's a link to the website if you want to check it out: <a href="https://www.apparitionlit.com/">https://www.apparitionlit.com</a>. My story will be in <a href="https://www.apparitionlit.com/apparition-literary-magazine-premiere-issue-apparition/">Issue One: Apparition</a>.<br />
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-34105901957491436312018-01-01T13:56:00.003+02:002018-01-01T13:56:36.430+02:00The Write-A-Story Calendar Bonus Post: It's All in the Edits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy 2018! If you're not too hung-over, now might be a good time to give that story you wrote in December a once-over. Let's face it, first drafts are seldom perfect, but it's amazing what a bit of editing can do. Ready? Okay, here we go:</div>
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<b>The Big Picture</b></div>
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It's easiest to do the big fixes first, or you'll risk doing double the work. Why polish a scene that will get cut anyway?</div>
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First, check the structure. Are you hitting all the structural checkpoints? If not, why? Is a key scene missing? </div>
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Then check the character arc(s). Does it make sense? Does it work on an emotional level? Not feeling it? Maybe go for a deeper point of view or add more interior monologue, or consider making things harder for your poor protagonist. Any extra people who could be cut or merged into more substantial secondary characters? </div>
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The third major thing to consider is the plot. Is it original enough? Any plot holes or other inconsistencies? Can they be fixed with a bit of foreshadowing or an additional scene or two? Is there an issue with the try-fail cycles? Do reactions always follow actions? </div>
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<b>Setting and World-building</b></div>
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This is especially important in a speculative fiction piece. How's your description? Vibrant and original? Have you taken advantage of setting to contrast/enhance the emotional component of your scenes? Have you taken the easy way out and missed a chance to add something original that helps to build your world? Explore both the micro and macro levels, from word-choice to setting.</div>
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<b>Flow</b></div>
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Does your prose flow or do bits feel clunky or overly elaborate? Are you using the same sentence structure over and over? Maybe variety would help? Any issues with word-choice, simile, or metaphor? Is the tone appropriate for your story? </div>
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<b>The Emotional Level and Theme</b></div>
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How does the story feel? What are you trying to say? Did you make the reader cry? (always a plus.) Does your humour translate? How did you bring your theme across? Are you being subtle enough or overly cryptic?</div>
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<b>Fancy Writer Tricks</b></div>
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Have you included a charged object? Perhaps you'd like to try zeugma, syllepsis, or diasyrm? Check out <a href="http://strangeandcuriousthings.blogspot.fi/2015/11/what-james-joyce-taught-me-about.html">this post on rhetorical devices</a> for ideas. Just don't get too fancy, or you might have to toughen up and kill your darlings.</div>
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<b>A Bit of Polish</b></div>
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This is the nitty-gritty stuff, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Check for typos and misplaced commas. Any run-on sentences? What about homonyms, did you write "accept" when you meant "except"? We all have our stumbling stones, like mixing up "its" and "it's" or the difference between the verbs "lay" and "lie." It's good to be mindful of your issues so you can fix them before you submit the story. And do keep in mind that you can break grammar and punctuation rules in fiction, just do it intentionally.</div>
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<b>A Second Opinion</b></div>
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Every story I've sold has been through Critters or my Finnish critique group once or twice, and for me, it's crucial to get a non-biased, outsider's opinion. (No, Mom doesn't count.) I've discovered that I can be pretty much blind to many plot holes, character issues, and even typos in my own work, things that would be glaringly obvious if I was critiquing someone else's piece. </div>
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If you're looking for an online critique group for speculative fiction, I can recommend <a href="http://www.critters.org/">Critters</a>. There are probably local groups you can join in any major city, but they often consist of writers in different genres, which can be a wealth or a drawback. If you land in a very literary group where the feedback consists mainly of snooty digs about the speculative element in your story it could get old fast, or in different group you could benefit immensely from a perspective outside the genre.</div>
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If you do join a group, start growing a thick skin. Even if you don't agree with the critique or it bruises your ego, the best response is "thank you for your time." You can ask questions of course, but don't feel you have to defend your story or explain your choices. The critique is just one reader's reaction to your story, and in the end you have to decide which bits are useful and which aren't. Maybe the reader just didn't "get" your story. That's fine if it's just the one reader, but if four others had the same problem, maybe you should think about why they felt that way and try to fix it. That said, critique groups aren't for everyone. If you find that the criticism gets you down to the extent that you can't even write anymore and feel depressed, quit that group and maybe try a different one if you feel up to it. Or sometimes you can find a few trusted beta readers who know how to give you their opinions without crushing you.</div>
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And here's another tip: if at all possible, skim the critiques when you get them and just leave them for a couple of weeks before you start tearing your story apart. You'd be surprised how much emotional distance that gives you. You can also cut and paste the comments to the end of your story without the names of your critique partners for another degree of separation. And remember, 99 % of the time the person doing the critique is trying to help, not hurt, you.</div>
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Okay, that should get you started. If the calendar inspired you to write a story and you feel like sharing, do tell us how it went in the comments.</div>
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Have a great writing year, everyone!</div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-86354482554151333132017-12-31T20:20:00.003+02:002017-12-31T20:20:59.273+02:00Happy New Year!<br />
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Happy New Year! We'll be staying in this year because of The Babe, but it's been fun so far: we made blinis and watched the Berlin Philharmonics' New Year's concert via their <a href="https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/home">digital concert hall</a> (how often do you get to watch one of the best orchestras in the world in your pyjamas?). Next up: our traditional end-of-the-year <i>Lord of the Rings</i> marathon. Hope you have a great night, whether staying in or going out! </div>
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-79289106128108300742017-12-25T06:00:00.000+02:002017-12-25T06:00:04.059+02:00Merry Christmas!<br />
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curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-48687595411326430752017-12-24T06:00:00.000+02:002017-12-24T06:00:00.319+02:00The Write-A-Story Calendar Day 24: A Killer Closing Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBVk-Wyl2mf6rrJrywx1iaiCC5m7NMLnM2IZQcimqBdVGsjtg6g1IdDHr3Zg7xLYFXO8ZT5Aw0WhL4uIRuDYaGopdOvGO0xVcbOY_nfV2rilQ7NjS_IdD0XAPmxy25zEEeJIKwzLvEs/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBVk-Wyl2mf6rrJrywx1iaiCC5m7NMLnM2IZQcimqBdVGsjtg6g1IdDHr3Zg7xLYFXO8ZT5Aw0WhL4uIRuDYaGopdOvGO0xVcbOY_nfV2rilQ7NjS_IdD0XAPmxy25zEEeJIKwzLvEs/s640/IMG_2193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, home stretch. Last 350 words. No pressure, but you're coming up on a crucial part of the story, the closing line. It's as important as the opening one, because it's the bit people will remember, the bit that stays with them, the last touch of flavour that lingers. Best case scenario? You already know how your story should end, and it chimes just the right chord with the reader. Try to go for something (metaphorical?) that niftily sums up your theme and is beautiful to boot. Taste that final line, read it out loud. Does it flow? Do you need to change a word or two? Don't settle for the almost right word here. It's not enough to just get the job done; this sentence has to shine.<br />
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If you're having trouble, get a few of your favourite books and check out their closing lines. When you read a great final line, you just know. Same with your story: you'll know when it's right.<br />
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Okay, type in those last words, I'll wait.<br />
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Aaand you're done. Congratulations! Now put the story down and go decapitate a few gingerbread people or decimate a box of Christmas candy. (And that means you only get to eat one yummy chocolatey treat in ten if we're being literal. People who take things literally seem to be on the thinner side, have you noticed?)<br />
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One last thing. Listen up, because this is important. Under no circumstances rush to submit your story. Just leave it alone and enjoy the holidays, no peeking until next year. You can tune in on New Year's Day for a bonus chapter on editing and submitting if you want, or just give the story a once-over and send it to your critique group if you already have one. Trust me, it's much less embarrassing that way, and your odds of selling the story are much greater if you give it the time it needs.<br />
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Thanks for joining us, and have a fantastic Christmas. May all your presents be book-shaped and full of wonder!<br />
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-22613366566018559172017-12-23T06:00:00.000+02:002017-12-23T06:00:08.049+02:00The Write-A-Story Calendar Day 23: Getting Closure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, you're almost done! The final confrontation is over. Time to end the story? Nope. You're still missing a key part of the story: the denouement. That's just a fancy French-origin word the wind-up part of your story. (The word comes from the Middle French <i>desnouer</i>, to untie.)</div>
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You need to give the reader a chance to breathe a little, say goodbye to the characters. What the denouement looks like depends on your story: it can be bittersweet, funny, or heartwarming, but amp up the emotion and allow your theme to make a final appearance. And how to accomplish this? Here are a few ideas:</div>
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<li>Your character has been on a journey. Show her new normal. How did she/the story world change?</li>
<li>Does your final scene pack an emotional punch? (Even more important than making the reader think, in my opinion. But you should also make the reader think, if possible.)</li>
<li>Can you go back to the beginning? Bringing the story full circle is a time-honoured way to end a tale. (It doesn't have to be literal, as in a similar scene and the same setting. Even an element of the opening presented in a different light, or an emotional state, shifted and twisted, might work. Or bonus points for using your charged object here!)</li>
<li>Did you answer most of your story questions? (Not all! Always leave them wanting more.)</li>
<li>Does it feel like the characters and the world will go on after the story ends?</li>
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It might take a few tries to get it just right. Go ahead and finish your story though; rewriting is much easier than staring at the empty page and worrying about messing up. Remember, you get as many do-overs as you want. </div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109330298373881994.post-9580716154201276262017-12-22T06:00:00.000+02:002017-12-22T06:00:25.421+02:00The Write-A-Story Calendar Day 22: Twist and Shout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g-fKbZXPq5bUk-Bsyq241qke8H3fmoxE8vDmxNkZp_FTscOFtO7Jwmngfd5Jp3HeHcWgKiGRJ0ugidElwwArfvtiLd8nyZVfNh9sbrYV3sGVTWsSE2HXr9oKR4T6Q6qUF2_7bENgBQU/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g-fKbZXPq5bUk-Bsyq241qke8H3fmoxE8vDmxNkZp_FTscOFtO7Jwmngfd5Jp3HeHcWgKiGRJ0ugidElwwArfvtiLd8nyZVfNh9sbrYV3sGVTWsSE2HXr9oKR4T6Q6qUF2_7bENgBQU/s640/IMG_1778.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Hey, we're almost done! You're probably deep into the final confrontation by now, but have you considered a final twist? Sometimes a story can feel too straightforward and predictable. If you feel that might be the case with yours, it's time to do some brainstorming. </div>
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First, it's a good idea to map out what the reader expects. If you were reading your story, what would you expect? Once you've jotted that down, come up with ten more alternatives. They don't have to make sense, you're just brainstorming. </div>
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Got your list? Okay. Cross out all the ones that are too outlandish. Surprising but inevitable; that's what we're going for. You want a twist, a reversal that surprises the reader, but it has to work for the story. Now consider your original ending. Does one of your new options have more potential?</div>
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If you do decide to add the twist, take a moment to explore the idea. Does it work as is or do you need to expand on it? Do you need to add foreshadowing so the twist makes sense? </div>
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Your twist still feels like a good idea? Okay then, twist away! And remember, in writing, you get as many do-overs as you want; if the twist doesn't work, you can always cut it.</div>
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<br />curiousthingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07600806228177309511noreply@blogger.com0