Bullet in the Brain

Reading this at the moment.

Particularly like "Bullet in the Brain" which you can listen to via
the New Yorker Fiction Podcast.

Alien, Predator ... Alien vs Predator

I got a hold of a triple DVD set of Alien, Predator and Alien vs. Predator a couple of weeks ago. It was an impulse buy while EJ and I walked around a department store trying to agree on when was a good time to sleep.
"Hey, I'm older, you'll get tired first ..." (YAWN).

I've been using the opportunity afforded to me by my flu and recent fatherhood to re-watch these classic movies. EJ likes them too. With the volume control in one hand, dummy nearby, I can rock her to sleep on A's breast-feeding chair while we watch.

Predator is the ultimate boy scout, he comes prepared. Alien is a naturally existing life-form that has ideas of it's own and is completely uncontrollable.

The irony is not lost on EJ who at random points in the film will cry out like alien, necessitating me to PAUSE, rock, apply dummy, cry back (in lullaby) before the movie can go on.

Alien and Predator remain awesome films, but I prefer the YouTube clip below to AVP.

Don't knock the breast feeding chair until you try it - without it there would be no movie at all.

The Drive Home

A new beginning

Okay. I've had the flu and it really floored me. Pig flu, Man flu - same dif.

But for the first time in ages I've not drunk any alcohol for a whole week. I've stepped off the treadmill for just long enough to have some thoughts, which included thoughts about connectedness.

"must join twitter" tick!

"I need to revamp this blog" tick!

madness: what writing a novel is really like

Writing. It takes a lot of preparation and dedication to write a novel. Much more than I could have expected. It is like a wrestling match, and sometimes I feel the novel is on top of me. A big bloke in tight lycra - not good. Sometimes I've got him in a tight thumb hold, begging for mercy. Each day is a little different. The focus that my day job requires can make the wrestling match harder, but it also gives me a lot of confidence and drive to pump out words. Medicine is a constant uphill struggle against negative emotions. You are hurting people to make them better, giving all your energy against negative feelings. Steeling yourself against the instinct to stop because it hurts too much. That's like the feeling of writing murders into a novel, you don't want to kill off these characters, but you know it has got to be done. Editing is a bit like that too; or like cleaning up a wound: you're cutting out the dead bits so the wound can heal.

So basically writing a novel is the mental equivalent of cutting the dead bits out of a 120kg fat bloke in lycra who's got you in a body press.

Thank fuck for yoga.

Novel advice that's short and nice

There are an overwhelming number of books and sites out there that try to get you writing a novel - not all great. Here's one that is succinct and enjoyable to read. Advice on Novel Writing

most fun book ever, will get you noveling

No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty

This guy started a novel writing marathon that this year had 96,000 entrants. Troops in Iraq were even writing novels. Check out the moving story at:
In the lines of fire, Boston Globe