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Sometimes being a freelancer sucks
Take today, for instance. I just found out that a major project I thought I would be writing has fallen through...and it was one I was really looking forward to. (No, I hasten to reassure you, not the sequel to Marseguro: as far as I know, Terra Insegura is still a go.)And it's not as if I don't have lots of stuff to keep me busy, which is one reason I've been a bit lax posting on here this week. But when you only get paid when you drum up work for yourself, losing a gig you thought you had is annoying.Grrr. Guess I'll take it out on my keyboard."The most important words in journalism"
From GetReligion, a blog that examines the coverage of religion in the mainstream media, these words of wisdom:It’s a mantra that I have used with my students for years now. Repeat after me: The most important words in journalism are “comma, space, said, space, name, period.”In other words, mainstream journalism is not supposed to focus on what the writer says, but on clearly attributed information from other people — people willing to be quoted by name, if at all possible. The goal is for the reader to be able to make his or her own evaluation of the quality of the source and the information. That’s the goal, anyway, and it’s a good target at which to shoot.That's what ...Self-contradictory headline:
"Study: Abstinence doesn't delay sex."Hint to headline writers: even though you've got limited space, there are certain words you cannot leave out. Like the subject of the sentence, for example. In this case, "abstinence" is actually an adjective modifying the word "programs." Leave out "programs" and abstinence becomes the subject of the sentence itself, leaving you with a headline that says, in effect, "Not having sex doesn't delay sex," when, obviously, it does. Why, if you remain abstinent, you could go your whole life without having sex. Remarkable, but true.(But maybe I'm being too hard on the headline-writer, considering the first paragraph of the story proper begins "A long-term study of abstinence ordered by Congress ...BIblical illiteracy at the CBC
From a story about a controversial new Victoria production of the George Frederic Handel oratorio Samson that casts Samson as a suicide bomber in 1946 Jerusalem, we get this nugget about the original story:He (Samson) is chained in the temple by the Philistines and forced to witness a sacreligious act. He pulls down the temple, killing himself and thousands of others in the process.Um, no. Samson doesn't witness anything in the temple; he'd had his eyes gouged out by that point, as anyone who attended (and paid attention) in Sunday School ought to know.Here's the story as told in the New International Version, Judges 16:21-30, picking it up after Samson is captured, thanks to ...Why we’re not going to see Sandra Shamas
In the past few years, Sandra Shamas has made a point of bringing her current work-in-progress to the Globe Theatre to workshop in front of a live audience.Shamas is an internationally acclaimed comedian, and she is, indeed, very, very funny. My wife and I had a blast the first time we went, and made a point of going again the last time she was here, in 2001.But Sandra Shamas is back, and this time...we find we don't really care whether we go or not.And here's the reason:The last time Shamas was here, she was in the midst of the first act of her one-woman show when someone sitting not too far ...What does a writer owe his readers?
I've been reading very interesting thread over at Paperback Writer about what an author "owes" a reader.Paperback Writer wrote:I don't know what, if anything, writers actually "owe" readers. I always feel a responsibility to do my best work for the reader; that goes without saying. No one can write something that makes everyone happy. As to what ends up in print, I generally only sell what has (in the publisher's opinion) the greatest chance of selling well, or what has already sold well in the past. (snip)I'm curious to hear what other writers and readers think. Do you believe the writer owes the reader anything? If so, what, and why? ..."The much easier demands of merely a good yarn"
In a letter to Quill & Quire, Wayne Jones, currently head of Central Technical Services at Queen's University Library in Kingston, Ontario, writes, in part:There are piles of historical fiction in Canada and elsewhere not because the national character as a whole is longing for explanations of its present through its past, but because it allows authors to bypass style and attention to language in favour of the much easier demands of merely a good yarn. The core of the story may be simplistic and the literary ability absent, but if it's dressed up in the facts and clothes and mores of a hundred years ago, perhaps readers won't notice.His concluding sentence:Anyone with ...New Year’s resolutions for 2002
I've written weekly columns on a variety of topics almost constantly for more than 20 years now, which means I've probably written at least 20 New Year's columns devoted to the topic of resolutions--and guess what? This is one of them. This being a column on the arts, of course, the resolutions have to relate to the arts in some way. So let's begin with a few resolutions you might want to adopt yourself, then finish up with some resolutions the arts and entertainment world might consider for itself. First, resolve to go to more art galleries. You'll be astonished by the endless creativity of people. You'll find a lot that's beautiful, a lot that's ugly ...Professional entertainment, amateur audiences
Last night I attended the Conservatory of Performing Arts Ballet Program's outstanding production of La Fille mal Gardée at the University Theatre at the University of Regina. The production was just one more example of the incredible depth of talent we have here in Regina, demonstrated both by the young people who did the dancing and the adults who taught and guided them--in this case, Ana Maria Campos and Nathalia Barbara. The two young leads, Marcelle Pieri as Lise and Wade McLean as Colas, were wonderful to watch. Marcelle in particular was delightful, lighting up the stage so that the audience fell instantly in love with her. A personal highlight for me was the performance ...In defense of sweetness and light
It's Christmas, a time many people claim to dread because of what they might call "sappy" music, or "sickly-sweet" sentiment, or "corny" expressions of goodwill and happiness. For some reason, there are critics--a majority of them, I sometimes think--who believe art is only worthwhile if it's "edgy" or "dark" or "explores the seamy underbelly of life." To which I reply, "Bah! Humbug!" Oh, I'll be the first to admit we need art and music and books and movies and television shows of the dark, edgy persuasion--but I refuse to discount the art and music and books and movies and television shows that show us a happier view of the universe in the bargain. People ...
Edward Willett is a Subscribe to my weekly science column for free!
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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