The Writers Stall

Beware the Ides of August (aka Challenge Time)

2012-07-30T08:39:00.000+01:00

Right I need to start kicking my own ass if I am ever to be a successful writer. I'm finding it difficult to get anything done and very easy to get distracted at the moment. True, the move to the new cottage hasn't really been conducive to a creative environment but that's not really a good enough excuse. I have to admit that I miss my weekly writing get together with my dear friend and muse Cherie. The challenges we would set each other was a fantastic motivator.

That is why I am going to set myself a challenge. Over the month of August I am going to write at least one short story a week. If at the end of the week I have succeeded, I shall reward myself with something delicious. Probably a trip to the chippy (my favourite thing).

I know it's still July but as there are only a couple of days left I'm going to start today. By the end of the week you should see a post on here with a link to the completed version of At Sleeps Twilight Gate.

All ahead Mr Sulu, warp factor six.

At Sleeps Twilight Gate

2012-07-24T22:05:00.000+01:00

Okay I promised you a treat this week and here it is; A sneak preview from my latest short: At Sleeps Twilight gate

This is my first attempt at something Lovecraftian in style. As always let me know what you think.

I fear when it is time to sleep. I fear, for I know that must once again pass that twilight between the conscious and unconscious world. That terrible place which has come to be both my purgatory, and my ecstasy.

I am uncertain how long it has been since that first time. Days, months even years may have passed since I first journeyed away from myself and entered that world of strange and lost beings. Time has lost much of its meaning for me now.

I still remember that night as I lay in my bed. The recent nights had been muggy and warm, so I kept the window of my bedroom open. I wonder now if things would have been different had I of decided, instead, to shut the outside world away. The sounds of the night drifted in on the cool, gentle breeze, slowly lulling me to sleep. I could feel the heavy, relaxed euphoria that one experiences as the waking world drifts away and I surrendered to it. The sounds from outside became became more and more distant, fading to nothing.

That is when it happened, when I first heard that damnable noise that would signal my transition. It was like the terrible neighing of a suddenly startled horse, yet it carried with it a malice that goes beyond description. My mind became suddenly sharpened at this new, alien noise. Without knowing exactly how and when I got there, I found myself at my window, looing down onto the street below my modest apartment.

That Is Not Dead..And I Mean Me

2012-07-23T08:59:00.000+01:00

To quote the great Mark Twain:

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated"

It's been a long time since I've written anything. Not just on here but in general. All of that, however, is about to change.

This past year has been wild for me. The move back to Guernsey, my engagement to my school sweetheart (well crush...well object of my stalking). All of this has lead to the neglect of my writing. And to be honest I think it did me good. I feel I can return to my WIPS with a fresh perspective and some new ideas.

I will, of course still be working on Maidens Song (another rewrite) as well as keeping up with my short stories. In fact I'm currently working on something which is a little Lovecraftian in nature.

Stay tuned for more info (and maybe a little teaser) on that one.

I feel the call of the narrative once again.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T13:11:00.001+00:00

A very happy new year to everyone. All the best for 2012

- Jim

Reflections and Resolutions

2011-12-30T11:02:00.000+00:00

Greetings all,

I hope you all had a wonderful Chranukwanzadan.

This one was very special for me as it was the first one I have been able to spend with my family since 2004. As I sit and contemplate this, I find myself looking at the coming new year with a new perspective. In recent years, around this time, I've faced the new year with trepidation and dread. As you all know, 2010 was not exactly a good year for me and coming into 2011 was daunting to say the least. If you had told me a year ago that I would be not only back home engaged to my school crush, I would have laughed in your face. Yet here I am, happy as can be.

So this year instead of the normal resolutions I've decided to give something back. Recently I became aware of the charity ICAN. This is a charity that helps children with communication problems. They say it better than I could so:

We are the children’s communication charity. I CAN’s mission is to ensure that no child who struggles to communicate is left out or left behind. Our vision is a world where all children and young people who struggle to communicate receive the help they need so that they can have a happy childhood, make progress at school and thrive as adults.

I grew up with (and still have) speech problems. It would have been fantastic to have had the support of a group like this. So this new years resolution is to support these guys. My first pledge is to donate to the Adopt A Word program.

Now I know this might look like a token effort so I have something larger up my sleeve to raise money. I can't go into too much detail just yet as it's all in the initial stages. Let's just say it will involve facing quite a few of my fears at one time. Not spiders though...that's just not going to happen...EVER!!

So what have you wonderful people decided to do this year?

Happy Primary Gift Giving Festival Day

2011-12-26T12:13:00.001+00:00

A very merry Christmas to all of you out there in meat land.

J B

Let Us Never Forget

2011-11-11T11:07:00.000+00:00

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I looked over my homeland, once occupied and enslaved and I gave a silent thank you.

The Writer vs The Virus

2011-11-09T11:02:00.000+00:00

IN THE RED CORNER

Here to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword, The Pylon from the island (I never said Iwas good at rhyming): Jim the writer!

AND IN THE BLUE CORNER

Coming out of retirement after 21 years in a nerve cell; The bug with the gloves: SHINGLES

That's right folks, I have been stricken by the little beggar that has, apparently, been laying dormant in a nerve cell since the last time I had chicken pox. No one has ever mentioned to me how painful this incarnation is. Oh and anyone that tells you that you only get chicken pox once is lying, I've had it twice. Does this count as a third time?

So I have some time off work and to prevent the onset of cabin fever, decided to do some writing for this years NaNoWriMo. It seemed like a good idea at the time, until I discovered that sitting at the desk just irritates things even more and increases the pain.

Still, we're supposed to suffer for our art are we not? And it has given me the chance to make a start on the new short: The Crows and the Tree.

So how are things going for my fellow Wrimo'ers? Are you reaching your targets?

Gone Home, Please Leave A Message With The Doorman

2011-07-20T09:57:00.000+01:00

Well these past 2 months have certainly been eventful.

What began as a little 3 week holiday to visit family and friends has become me moving back to my old stomping grounds. That's right folks, I have left the good old USA and returned to my little island home of Guernsey.

Why? You ask. To be honest there is no single reason for it, rather it was a decision made after considering a lot of factors. Not least of which was the health of family members.

I have to admit that it is a little odd being back in my childhood room as so many years. But then at the same time I have found that this move has invigorated my passion for writing. This is, after all, where it all began those many years ago. I can still remember being sixteen and making my first tentative steps into this tumultuous world we call writing. Sitting for hours at my old electric typewriter during the school holidays as I labored over The Lighthouse.

Regular viewers will have heard me mention this story before. And you may also remember how the original manuscript had been found recently. Well I've had a chance to look over it and although my style has certainly changed and improved over the years, there is still a lot of potential in the basic concepts. So I'm happy to announce for all those who were there in the beginning, that the story is going to be re-written. Hopefully it will be even more spine chilling.

By the way, this is the particular lighthouse that gave me the original idea.

That's the Hanois lighthouse off the south coast of Guernsey.

So here's to the next chapter in the grand novel we call life. Turn the page and expect the unexpected.

There Is An Ant On My Manuscript

2011-04-30T18:36:00.000+01:00

Right now I am sitting on my sofa watching an ant crawling over the print out of Maidens Song I have been editing. He's scuttling around, randomly checking out words. I'm thinking of giving him a very small pen so he can get on with this crappy job and give me a break.It's funny how you can be so certain of something only to have it suddenly shoot off in a different direction.

That's a thing people don't realize about writing. Our stories tend to take on a life of their own, become like old friends. And just like people they grow and change. And just like people they can be awkward SOB's who seem to delight in doing whatever they can to annoy you.

Oh well, once more onto the breach dear friends.

jbangell.com - UPDATE

2011-04-02T16:25:00.001+01:00

System updated, passwords reset and website restored from backup.

Knew I should have stuck with blogger.

jbangell.com - HACKED

2011-04-02T16:15:00.000+01:00

My author site, jbangell.com has been hacked.

I don't even want to say what the alien links go to. I'm working to fix it now and get it locked down. Watch this space for updates.

H.P. Lovecraft - (20 August 1890–15 March 1937)

2011-03-15T14:12:00.000+00:00

Today marks the 74th anniversary of the passing of my favorite author; H.P. Lovecraft

For those that don't know, Lovecraft is the creator of the Chthulhu mythos. His work has influenced almost all horror in the last 50 years, including masters such as Stephen King.

If you have never read his work then now is a great time to start. His collections can be found at all good book stores (both online and old school) and for my fellow Kindel users, you can often find free versions on Amazon.

To learn more about the man and his work check out the H.P. Lovecraft Archive

New Release: 30 Pieces of Silver by Carolyn McCray

2011-03-01T00:45:00.000+00:00

My good friend @craftymc has just released her historical thriller "30 Pieces of Silver". For those that don't know:

A Christian suicide bomber.
John the Baptist's bones inscribed in ancient Greek.
A secret carried from the foot of the crucifixion.
Can science solve the world's greatest mystery?
30 Pieces of Silver

The novel is available for the Kindle.

But that's not all folks.

Buy yours today for the great price of $0.99. I've downloaded mine and plan on starting the second I've got this posted.

Happy reading.

Lost And Found

2011-01-08T05:43:00.000+00:00

I thought you were lost when I let you go before,
I was wrong
I thought you were gone and out of my life,
I was wrong

I thought you were lost to me forever, an eternity apart

I was wrong

So many years between us, too much I thought
I was wrong
Now I have you back and I realize you never left
I look into my heart,
And you are found

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T03:47:00.000+00:00

A very Merry Christmas to everyone. May the holidays bring you joy and love for you and yours.

A Couple of Teasers

2010-12-12T16:36:00.000+00:00

I've added some excerpts from various works over on my author website:

jbangell.com

There are some tantalizing little tidbits to wet the appetite.

Enjoy.

A Humbug Moment

2010-12-11T21:48:00.000+00:00

Now granted I'm not the worlds biggest fan of Christmas, but I do enjoy Christmas music. I miss the old days of working on the karaoke circuit back on the mother rock. There's nothing like getting all of the locals in the pub singing together (normally out of tune) in the true spirit of the season. So many happy memories.

So anyway, we have just had our department Christmas lunch at work. As normal I was put in charge of providing the music. While sorting going through my collection and sorting out the playlist I found that I had lost my favorite album (The best christmas album in the world...ever, in case you are interested).

"No problem" thought I, "I'll hop on Amazon and grab it from their mp3 store"

So all is well in the world...or is it. In recent years I have noticed a disturbing trend with Christmas music. Namely the non-Chritsmassyness of the #1 in the charts. Okay that by itself isn't a bad thing and I don't really have a problem with it. What I do have a problem with is the record companies removing Christmas songs from Christmas albums and replacing them with the songs that just happened to be #1 at Christmas in previous years...regardless of relevance.

Now don't get me wrong, I like quite like Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I just don't think Power of Love has any place on a Christmas album. To me this is like putting Celine Dion on a Rob Zombie album.

Am I alone in hating this practice? What are you opinions?

Another NaNo Update

2010-11-07T05:15:00.000+00:00

Sometimes an idea just doesn't work and you can spend a week trying to force it. For me that just doesn't work when it comes to writing. It's either going to flow or it's not. So here we are, almost a week into NaNoWriMo and I decide to scrap everything I have written so far. Why?

Because it sucked little baby ducks!

Proving once again that inspiration can hit you when you least expect it, I have come up with much better idea. I'm still going with a series of short stories but they are all going to have an underlying theme connecting them. The result is a sudden and unexpected 1500 words cranked out this evening.

I have a good feeling about this.

NaNoWriMo - Day 4 Update

2010-11-06T01:26:00.001+00:00

So here we are on day 4 of NaNo and I've had a complete change of plan. I just wasn't feeling the story the story I started with. Instead I've decided to go with a series of short stories, Mistress of Potions being the first.

Of course this means I'm now four days behind but that's okay. There will plenty of time to panic at the end of the month.

NaNoWriMo in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

2010-11-01T05:07:00.000+00:00

Less than 1 hour until the start of this years NaNoWriMo and as always I am totally unprepared. No idea where the story is going to go, no idea of who my characters will be and absolutely no clue as to what the hell is going on. So pretty much business as usual...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So here's wishing all the best to my fellow Wrimos. In the words of Kelsey Grammer in Down Periscope;

"Let's kick this pig"

Oh and here's my wrimo page for anyone interested: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/437395

Halloween, Timelords and Free Candy

2010-10-17T19:39:00.001+01:00

It's almost that time of year again when I get to dress up and take candy from strangers. That's right, All Hallows Eve is upon us.

Traditionally at work we try and get as many of the staff to dress up as we can, although in my department I'm normally the only one who actually bothers (miserable swine). This year, however, one of my new minions wants in on the act and has decided to turn up as the 11th Doctor Who. "Aha," says I "wouldn't it be cool if I then came as the 10th Doctor?!"

Now people are often surprised when I say I'm going to do a costume. I always respond with:

"Of course I'm doing one, I'm a nerd remember"

They are even more shocked when I tell them I do my own makeup (hello, majored in drama at school). This is probably more to do with my general lack of talent when it comes to anything remotely artsy.

And so began my mission to recreate the costume worn by David Tennant during his run as the errant Timelord. I could probably go out and search the web for pre-made costumes, but that's really not my style (mostly because I'm too cheap ;) ). To be honest I've never really been a fan of replica costumes. They always seem to be lacking something. Call it a certain amount of realism if you will.

So here are a few tips that I have picked up over the years:

Hair

I hate wearing wigs, especially if I will be costume all day. They're itchy and hot and generally uncomfortable. Whenever possible try and style your own hair. Now this might need a bit of plan before hand to make sure you have enough hair to do the job.

The same goes for facial hair (sorry ladies, you'll have to use falsies for this part). Make sure you leave enough time to grow any that you need. That was one of the mistakes I made in the Jack Sparrow costume pictured below. I had the basic shape but wasn't able to grow it fast enough to recreate the beard dreads.

Props

These can make or break a costume. If you have the resources and time to make your own replicas then by all means do it. I have a friend who is currently recreating a Kadaj costume (which is going to rock by the way). She's also a mechanical engineer so she decided to make the double bladed sword herself. And I have to say that compared to a lot of the pre-made props I have seen, this piece is amazing.

However, don't be turned of and think that if you don't make it yourself it won't be as good. Just make sure you take the time to find the right prop piece. This is an area where it's better to spend a little bit more and get the officially licensed product or a very very good replica (custom lightsabers spring to mind)

Clothing

The meat and potatoes of any costume is obviously the clothing itself. And this is where I think that the pre-made outfits fall short. They always look too new. How many items of clothing do you where on a regular basis that still look the way did when you bought them?

I find that one of the best sources for this step is no further than your nearest charity shop. This isn't my cheapness coming out (well maybe a little), this is much more practical. Remember, there is a good chance that you will need to make alterations to get things looking right. What do feel more comfortable doing: Altering a pair of pants that you just bought for $60 from the nearest chain store? Or altering the pair you got for $2 from the charity shop?

Kind of a no-brainer really. Again, the Jack Sparrow costume below is probably 95% charity shop. The waistband was originally a shirt that was cut into stripes and sewn together. Now of course it can be a bit hit and miss as to if the charity store will have in what you need so sometimes buying new is the only option.

You shouldn't be worried about gender specific items either (and this one is mostly for the guys). The shirt seen below is actually one of my ex-wife's blouses. Use whatever works to get the desired look.

So with bit of planning and some reckless abandon, you should be able to recreate anything that you can put your mind to.

NaNoWriMo is Just Around the Corner

2010-10-06T23:27:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again folks; NaNoWriMo is just a few weeks away.

For those who have never heard of it, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a yearly event that challenged writers to do a minimum of 50,000 words during the month of November. The prize? Simply knowing that you have achieved something awesome.

I wasn't able to participate last year but I'm ready and eager to get going this year. Thanks to my recent vacation I have managed to get my basic concept down to two outlines. I really might have to toss a coin to decide which one.

I owe a lot to NaNo. It is thanks to this contest and more importantly to my dear friend Cherie for persuading me to do it, that I got back to writing.

I know we all have our projects, but sometimes it can be good to put those down and just have a bit of fun with our writing (yeah I know, "we must suffer for our art" ;) ). And even if you don't enter this year, you might be able to inspire someone else to do it. Who knows, it could be a life changing event for them. It certainly was for me.

For more information head on over to the NaNoWriMo website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Holidays and Fresh Inspiration

2010-09-27T22:59:00.000+01:00

Right now I am sitting in Salt Lake City International Airport waiting to board my flight.

This is my first trip back to Guernsey (aka The Rock) in over three years and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it. I've been thinking about what I want to do for NaNoWriMo this year and have a vague idea of what it will be. The problem is that I have too many ideas and the damn thing keeps changing on me. What I really need is a change of scenery and some fresh inspiration. And nowhere on earth inspires me more than the golden shores and deep green of my former home.

The chance to feel the fresh ocean breeze on my face and smell that Guernsey air, so heavy with the scent of wild flowers is more than welcome.

Of course being able paddle my feet and consume several portions of fish and chips aren't a bad thing either.

This past month has been pretty rough going for me on a personal level. This trip, short though it maybe, is going to be the start of my new life. When we are hit with personal tragedy we have a choice: Give up, wither and fade away or grab the future by the hair and say "BRING IT ON"

I choose the latter.

So here's to the future and I will see you all when I get back.

The Dangers of a Good Idea

2010-09-21T03:42:00.000+01:00

Recently my boss came up to me and said:

"You're a writer right?"

I nod tentatively. Experience tells me that I'm about to get handed a crappy job that everybody else managed to avoid.

"You know what you should write," he says, a look of glee on his face "You should write a sitcom based around the day to day happenings around here."

Okay I wasn't expecting that. And I have to admit it's a good idea. For those who don't know I work as a sys-admin for an engineering college so there is certainly no shortage of material. The dilemma is if I should actually do this or not. Let's forget for the moment that I have absolutely no idea on how to write a sitcom and get straight to the part where I can seriously damage my career.

Let's face it; People see themselves in a certain way. And what might be hilarious to the rest of us is a matter of personal pride for them. And while the guy holding my pink slip is the one who came up with the idea, there's a very good chance he wouldn't like the caricature I create.

So on the one hand I have this cracking idea that has great potential but could cost me my job. The on the other I have the option to file it away for a later date when the flow constant flow of gut busting material is no longer available. I suppose the upside of the former is that I would have a lot more time to write if I get fired.

Hmmmm...where did I put my notebook.