Singularly Toothsome — Stephen Fry Chats to Clive James.
November 30, 2008
For some time, cultural commentator, author, poet, television presenter, etc, Clive James has hosted his own online interview show, creatively titled Clive James Talking in the Library (in case you haven’t quite managed to work it out for yourself, it features Clive in a library — his, I believe — talking to various people.) I heard about it a good while ago and, as is often the way, promptly forgot all about it.
Last night, however, I managed to catch an episode that happened to be showing on one of the Sky Arts channels — an interview with the novelist Nick Hornby. I enjoyed its conversational tone so much that this morning, once I’d finished reading through last week’s work and making notes about what I plan to write this coming week, I tootled along to YouTube and, delight of delights, found an episode featuring that driver of London taxis and all-round sagacious wit Stephen Fry (okay, so he’s a Mac user — but we can’t all be perfect, right?)
Naturally, given my generous nature, I felt it was my duty to share this discovery with you. I simply wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night knowing that you (yes, you!) had missed out on such charms and witticisms. Feel free to thank me if you must, in whichever way seems most appropriate. But please bear in mind that I’m a delicate chap, and whilst I would encourage you to be creative in how you choose to show your gratitude, please allow me a few moments to get my breath back every once in a while.
Part One.
Part Two.
Part Three.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Triffids Returning to Television.
November 29, 2008
The new incarnation of the Triffids with their fatal sting will be shown in High Definition for the first time.
via BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Triffids returning to television
John Wyndham’s science-fiction classic The Day of the Triffids is to get another reworking by the BBC in a production due to be screened next year.
And I for one am certainly looking forward to watching it.
Tomorrow Will Come… Progress Report.
November 28, 2008
It seems quite absurd that up until a couple of weeks ago I’d spent about three months piddling about trying to find a story idea that I was comfortable with. Three attempts at quite detailed outlines didn’t really help, although I tried to convince myself at the time that they did, and then, out of the blue, came Tomorrow Will Come and It Will Be Just Like Today. And with it everything started clicking back into place.
I now have 10,000 words “in the bag”, well into Chapter 2, and I’m really happy with the tone and direction. For a first draft it’s certainly well on the way to having the degree of intensity and character complexity I’m aiming for. As exhausting and demanding as I know these characters will be over the coming months, it really is a huge relief to be working again on something that I feel passionate about and, more to the point, that I enjoy.
I will be putting the first four chapters in my Sample section but the following chapters will not be available via this website. If you are, however, interested in becoming a reader, drop me a line and — if I know and trust you 
— I’ll see to it that you get the chapters as they are completed. The only conditions are that you do not breach copyright by sharing the work in any form and that you give an honest opinion of the work.
Tidings of Comfort and Whatsit.
November 27, 2008
In my continuing attempt to liberally spread comfort and joy at this festive time of year — fearlessly struggling to get to the heart of what Christmas really is and why it’s so very important to, you know, remember the real meaning behind it and take appropriate precautions when you get rat-arsed at the office party and get jiggy with your secretary — I thought I would take a moment from my busy Christmas shopping schedule (that’s a joke, by the way) to share with you a truly meaningful greetings card by a gentleman called Dean Morris.
Now, need we really say more?
Bad Sex Awards.
November 26, 2008
Anyone who’s ever attempted to write fiction — novel length or otherwise — will have probably at some point had to face the excruciatingly difficult job of writing a sex scene. The balance is always difficult to achieve. Do I describe it in detail or do I just leave them to it? Should she have her legs in the air like that, or would it be better if she was on all fours? Is “squeaking” better than “screaming” — or would a good old-fashioned “grunt” be more evocative? These questions, especially when coupled with that old favourite “is my mother going to read this?”, are a major concern and, ultimately, make for some unintentionally hilarious passages.
One such passage has just won this year’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award. Rachel Johnson’s Shire Hell is the 15th recipient of the prize — awarded by Literary Review Magazine:
“I find myself gripping his ears and tugging at the locks curling over them, beside myself, and a strange animal noise escapes from me as the mounting, Wagnerian crescendo overtakes me.”
Curling locks and Wagnerian crescendos in the same sentence! It makes me want to find some of my efforts from years ago. I like to think I may have written worse, but I somehow doubt it!
For more of the longlisted passages (‘”Oh, Lord,” he cried out. “I’m a-comin’!”‘), click here. Be warned, however. Some of it is not very pretty!
It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.
November 25, 2008
Ah, yes, that magical season is almost upon us and as is my custom at this time of year, I’m already finding myself wallowing quite nicely and appreciably in the anti-Spirit of Christmas — grumbling away to myself about the excess and foolishness, and generally having a thoroughly enjoyable time being quite contrary.
Bearing this in mind I thought now might be a good time to issue fair warning. Over the next four weeks or so Gary William Murning Online is very likely to become a place at least in part dedicated to everything that is not Christmas. The festive season will be mentioned frequently, of course, but the attitude will strictly be one of irreverence and hopefully enjoyable complaint.
If Christmas is not for you — or even if you only pretend not to enjoy it — remember to keep calling back. There will be (if I can be arsed) suitably atheistic delights, anti-Christmas quotes, possibly the odd dig at the expense of the various (stolen!) Christmas traditions and maybe even some mulled wine (because, let’s face it, it isn’t all bad, right?)
In leaving, and so that I might suitably set the tone, I’d like to share with you a quote from that wit and all-round good egg Mr Stephen Fry:
“Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive.”
Whatsoever a Man Soweth…
November 24, 2008
As Alistair Darling follows his actually rather terrifying “do something rather than nothing” approach to lessening (and let’s not be mistaken; this is only about lessening, not fixing) the impact of the global economic crisis/slowdown, I once again find myself asking the very question that Hugh Pym asked in the abovequoted piece for the BBC.
Also, I’m certainly no economist, but another question I find myself asking is this: ultimately, will even these high degrees of government borrowing actually adequately address the problem? Darling forecasts that the annual budget (excluding investment) will be back in balance in 2015. But if Treasury forecasts were to be relied upon, shouldn’t we — or rather, they — have seen the current predicament coming?
Maybe we just need to accept that we have to hunker down and take what we’ve had coming for rather a long time. This strikes me as merely a postponement — and one, for that matter, that might actually make things even worse in the long run.
Like I said, I’m no economist. But is Alistair Darling?
Captain of the Titanic: We’ve hit an iceberg!
Alistair Darling: No problem, we’ll just make another hole to let the water out!
Snowy Sunday.
November 23, 2008
This morning we woke to snow — not exactly crisp and even (more slushy and patchy), but snow nonetheless. I looked at it from my window, contemplated the hills and the admittedly vague possibility of careening down them with nothing separating my bottom from that chilly substance other than a Marks & Spencer carrier bag, had a mug of tea and, as my still being fit and well and all in one piece attests, decided that I would leave such foolishness to those better equipped (i.e. children who haven’t yet acquired enough bumps and bruises to understand the dangers and eager-to-impress grandfathers who should know better, but never do.)
Instead, I started work on chapter two of Tomorrow Will Come and It Will Be Just Like Today. The second chapter can often be a little difficult, I find. After the initial buzz of starting the novel it can feel as if it has the potential to stall — it’s almost as if it tries to rein me in, settle me down for the long haul ahead. Something I don’t appreciate, and something that just hasn’t happened in this particular case.
I think the complexity of character and relationship within the novel is the key to ensuring that I remain as intrigued and committed to it as I want the reader to be. As I’ve already mentioned, the larger framework of the novel came to me pretty much fully formed. I know the beginning, the middle and the end. Nevertheless, there is still enough to hold my interest, to keep me on my toes. And there’s still room for me to improvise subplots etc if appropriate ones spring to mind as I write it.
I’m really glad I didn’t outline this in detail beforehand.
Ain’t That the Truth?
November 22, 2008
One of many apposite H.L. Mencken quotes:
“In the United States, doing good has come to be, like patriotism, a favorite device of persons with something to sell.”
