A Bunch of Reasons Why Writing Is Not (Always) a Frolic in the Flowers

Depicted: A realistic reproduction of a serious writer at work.

I am writing this spontaneous article because I have noticed a certain idea appearing with rapid frequency in writing circles.
The idea is that writing depends on talent and is just a bunch of fun. Write whatever you can and enjoy yourself! You said you didn't want to go to college and/or get a job that might involve monotonous, hard work? Perfect! Just become a writer! Surely you can think of something to write, and if you can't, just resort to fantasy or romance. Kids just eat that junk up nowadays! Just think of all the great advantages there are to becoming a writer: you'll be famous, you'll be rich, and most importantly, you won't have to learn anything or work ever again! Hooray!

Bah, humbug. Enough frivolity. Let's be Frank about this.

Judging a Cover By Its Book: The Scarlet Plague

In my previous Impressions, I took a look at Jack London's often-overlooked dystopian novella, The Scarlet Plague. To my surprise, a quick Google Image Search showed me that stand-alone editions of London's sci-fi short are definitely in abundance, and with each edition comes a cover different from the last one. However, because the version that I have can barely be considered a cover, I am going to judge three different covers that I haven't personally seen or bought. Two of them will be rather good, and one will be meh. The story you know already from the Impressions review,  so there is nothing more to be said: let's get cracking!

5 Internet Gadgets That Every Writer Can (and Should) Use

The Internet did not only revolutionize the way we do our banking, the way we communicate and the way we advertise, but it has also effected a significant change in the world of literature: writers, everywhere, can help each other out on forums, can conduct research for a book that would otherwise require extensive visits to the local library, or can take advantage of the new gadgets and programs that have emerged online.

Today, I will take a look at five gadgets that I have found particularly invaluable to the services of a writer. And if you're a budding writer who is just getting his or her bearings in the wide field of fiction, you can consider this list a solid recommendation for what can assist you to blossom into a full-fledged writer :)

Judging The Scarlet Plague by Its Cover

I was going to make a "Judging a Cover by Its Book" of The Scarlet Plague, but the one that I have looks like this:

*Sigh*

Mine was printed in Germany by Amazon Distribution, in case Amazon's typical "Click to LOOK INSIDE!" sign didn't already tip you off.

Impressions - The Scarlet Plague

"It was in the summer of 2013 that the Plague came. I was twenty-seven years old, and well do I remember it."

 The Scarlet Plague is a novella written by the American author Jack London in 1912. We all know (at least, all of us Americans know) that London was an influential, classic author whose many well-known novels, novellas and short stories taking place in the times of the Gold Rush and often involving Native Americans, wildlife and intrusive capitalist society played a great part in inspiring many of America's most famous writers, from Hemingway to Steinbeck to Kerouac.  It is therefore somewhat surprising to discover that the socialist, journalist travel-writer actually wrote, of all things, post-apocalyptic science fiction, of which one notable example is titled The Scarlet Plague.

Resurrected

This is precisely how I felt when I woke up this morning -- incomplete. Something important was missing, and I was at a loss at to what it was. 

Then it dawned on me that I haven't posted in, what? two months? Three?

Anyways, this post is to mark a new post coming along very, very soon. Today is, alas, too late, but there will be a brand new Impressions tomorrow, and hopefully a new JACBIB (Judging A Book By Its Cover) soon after. Who knows, maybe I'll even post an article on writing? A-hahahaha, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Well, that's about it for now. Good day or good night,
- Wager

PS: I've read 32 of the 100 books so far. So, almost a third. I don't hope to read a full 100 books, since I started the challenge rather late and not at the beginning of the year as it's supposed to be, but I would like to see just how many books I can read until the end of the year. Whatever I fail to read until the end of 2013 I'll add to my 100 books list for 2014. Yes, I've already made out another book challenge for next year. I really like reading.

Judging a Cover by its Book: Penpal

Penpal is a 2012 horror novel by Dathan Auerbach, first posted as a series of contest-winning short stories on the "No sleep" sub-reddit by Auerbach aka. 1000Vultures. It is one of the scariest stories I have ever read, as it delves right into one's primeval fears, namely that of the unknown... and of creepy homocidal children-stalkers. Especially the latter *shudder*.

Does Violence in Films Cause Violence in Today's Youth?

Ladies and gentlemen,

One of the most heated and discussed controversies in media has been and continues to be violence, particularly in relation to its effects on adolescents. Many find that the exposure that children have to violent films is alarmingly high, and it may very well be a factor in juvenile delinquency. People, especially parents, certainly have good reason to be concerned: on average, an American child watches about 28 hours of TV a week; when that child turns 18, he will have seen over 200,000 acts of violence and more than 16,000 murders on screen. That excludes how many violent movies the kid sees in the cinema each month. And these numbers are constantly on the rise, for films and TV shows are continuously becoming gorier, more graphic and more shocking, meaning that media violence is increasingly sadistic, cruel and, in the fictive world, unpunished. Couple this with the fact that many crimes, including those committed by teenagers, are inspired by fictional crimes, one cannot help but to wonder whether violence in films cause violent behavior in today's youth.

The Good, the Bad and the Movie Tie-In Book Editions

 It's been a long while since my last post, chiefly because I was in the process of graduation, and though I still am, at least I have had a little time for myself to come up with a new post. And here it is: 

A few weeks ago, a brand spanking new film adaptation of one of America's most famous novels came out. I am, of course, talking about The Great Gatsby. 

With the new The Great Gatsby movie directed by Baz Luhrman, of Moulin Rouge and Romeo+Juliet fame, and starring Leonardo Decaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Macguire as Nick, and Carrie Mulligan as Daisy, came an onslaught of tie-in versions of Fitzgerald's American classic.

Impressions - Dune Messiah

"You wish to draw me into this fools' fight?" Scytale asked. "Very well. We're dealing with a potential messiah. You don't launch a frontal attack upon such a one. Martyrdom would defeat us."


Let me begin by saying that I love Dune. It had a lot going for it, like political intrigues, adventure, journey, betrayal, society, ecological problems, ethical questions. The writing was perfect for the material and the genre. There is a reason why Dune won the first Nebula award, next to a Hugo award. It was of such sci-fi magnitude, that it even inspired George Lucas, as he clearly references the universe of of the Dune novel in the Star Wars films. Spice is a drug; the sandmen wear stillsuits like Fremen; Tatooine is a sandy planet, much like Arrakis. In fact, many people say that if you want to watch a good movie adaptation of Dune, watch Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. And I second that recommendation, even though the film references Dune very loosely.

Impressions - Tender is the Night

The first book on my reading challenge list, Tender is the Night, is a novel written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in 1934. It is partially based on his own life experiences, his spiral into alcoholism and his wife Zelda's increasing psychological problems.

The book is divided into various parts, each part taking place at a particular location during a one to three year time span and representing one important step in the lives of the two protagonists.

The most focused on protagonist of the novel is Dick Diver, a young and handsome, if not particularly rich, American who left his homeland for Europe during the first World War and remained in Switzerland after the war had ended. Having studied there to become a psychologist, he works at a Kurort for the wealthy, where he meets Nicole Warren, a very pretty, very young and very rich American girl who is suffering from schizophrenia.

Judging a Cover by its Book

I have mentioned in the previous post that I would start a second literary review series, this time involving a book's exterior rather than its interior. And here it is.
I will be reviewing the covers of books that I have read or that I have happened to find, from cheap books to expensive books. Do not be surprised if this series happens to run parallel to my book review series, Impressions, and to my reading challenge, which I do not plan to update in separate posts.

We learn early on in life that you should never judge a book by its cover. This proverb is not so often used with actual books as it is with people or situations: you can never tell how a person really is just by looking at them, nor can you tell if, say, a planned conference will be boring just by hearing its announcement. Basically, you should not judge superficially and hastily. It will rarely turn out right. As my mother frequently tells me: "You meet a person and notice first their looks, but when you leave a person you remember only their personality."
My mother is a very wise lady.

Book Impressions: A review in review

In addition to my 100 books reading challenge, I will be posting my impressions of the various books that I have read on the list, along with a summary and the reasons why I liked the book (for which I will include a final verdict complete with a rating system from 0 to 10). Perhaps this will come in useful for those of you who are interested in said book and cannot decide whether you should read it or not.

100 Books Reading Challenge Part 4

 Finally, I have finished this list. Yes! Now I just have to actually read some books from it. You can't hear me right now, but I am groaning because I am suddenly faced with a lot of work. Ah well, it was my idea in the first place, and by God I am going to see it through. 

100 Books Reading Challenge Part 3

First, an update: I have just finished Tender is the Night, so I will be crossing the title out from this list, and I will do so with every book once I've finished it.


And now, here's the third part!

100 Books Reading Challenge Part 2

I've kept my word, and here is the second part of my reading challenge list.

100 Books Reading Challenge

I've just discovered that reading challenges are a thing. I had no idea. I've always read books out of a sense of duty and pleasure, but now I can actually make it into an objective! For sheer amusement, and to test out how solid my will of rusty corrugated iron really is, I've decided to compile a 100 books reading challenge list, so that I can start my own reading challenge!