For some reason my website is down, but it doesn't actually bother me that much. I'm still on the final edit (I've given myself the deadline of 4 weeks to get through this), and looking forward to starting book number 2.
I never knew editing could be so...fun
:p
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Motivation
What do love, revenge, altruism, passion and madness all have in common? They can all be used as useful motivational tools.
The hero saves the day for love, revenge, a natural sense of altruism and/or passion for a cause. The villain motivation could simply be madness, a misplaced sense of righteousness or plain old evil.
When writing, motivation should always be the driving force. It's too easy to underestimate its importance, and very hard to fix once the work is complete.
Luckily I learnt this lesson a while back, but I always remind myself to keep my guard up!!
Nothing worse than reading/watching an antagonist or protagonist do something and then question "why?"
Just a thought!
More posts coming soon!
The hero saves the day for love, revenge, a natural sense of altruism and/or passion for a cause. The villain motivation could simply be madness, a misplaced sense of righteousness or plain old evil.
When writing, motivation should always be the driving force. It's too easy to underestimate its importance, and very hard to fix once the work is complete.
Luckily I learnt this lesson a while back, but I always remind myself to keep my guard up!!
Nothing worse than reading/watching an antagonist or protagonist do something and then question "why?"
Just a thought!
More posts coming soon!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Update
Had some good feedback on the novel, halfway through reading it (AGAIN!!) and finding even more typos and things to alter.
But I'm really enjoying this read through, as it's been so long since I worked on the novel, everything is fresh. Some pages have put a smile on my face, and I'm glad to spend this much time honing this piece of art. Like a samurai sword, it wil be worked and reworked until it is ready.
It will all be worth it in the end!!!!
P.S. Ren and Stimpy FTW. Watchinf old episodes on Youtube. I used to (and still do) love this show!
But I'm really enjoying this read through, as it's been so long since I worked on the novel, everything is fresh. Some pages have put a smile on my face, and I'm glad to spend this much time honing this piece of art. Like a samurai sword, it wil be worked and reworked until it is ready.
It will all be worth it in the end!!!!
P.S. Ren and Stimpy FTW. Watchinf old episodes on Youtube. I used to (and still do) love this show!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
BOOYAH!
I’ve been away for a short while due to a lot of things happening in the real world. I’ve just finished a bunch of fairly important exams (to enable me to practice law in Australia). So there was a lot of studying to do and not much time for anything else!
On the up side, I now have my life back, summer is starting in Australia, and I finished proofing and editing The Spirit Broker last night. There will always be words to swap around, erase or paraphrase, and there will always be more AND less to say on virtually every page. But for now, I am done with it.
The next stage now is writing up a 2-3 page synopsis and sending out query and covering letters to agents, sample chapters, and when requested the whole manuscript. I bought the Artists and Writers Handbook last year and have already highlighted and tabbed the contact pages of agents & publishers who look like they accept this kind of stuff. So I’ll be targeting them all over the next few weeks. I just need to take my time and get things written and presented properly.
Other than the above, here are some things I have found interesting recently:
• Australian Senator Nick Xenophon not only has a badass name, but he is also a real life badass. Really impressed with him taking the decision to use his parliamentary privilege to publically name a Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse many years ago. "Innocent until proven guilty", yes. But where the safety of young and vulnerable people is at a serious risk, I’m all for erring on the side of caution. Well done Senator.
• I popped into court yesterday to have a quick look at a Supreme Court case in which a former $3,000 a night “high-class” escort is suing the estate of a deceased billionaire. This is because he allegedly promised her gifts and trust funds up to a worth of $10m. Managed to see her get cross examined by one of the country’s best barristers. Very cool.
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Played the original a decade ago, and this is just as awesome. Check it out!
More to come soon as I get back online and start the next phase of being a writer-who-is-trying-to-become-a-published-author!!!!
P.S. the next novel is in the works too. Here’s a hint of things to come:
On the up side, I now have my life back, summer is starting in Australia, and I finished proofing and editing The Spirit Broker last night. There will always be words to swap around, erase or paraphrase, and there will always be more AND less to say on virtually every page. But for now, I am done with it.
The next stage now is writing up a 2-3 page synopsis and sending out query and covering letters to agents, sample chapters, and when requested the whole manuscript. I bought the Artists and Writers Handbook last year and have already highlighted and tabbed the contact pages of agents & publishers who look like they accept this kind of stuff. So I’ll be targeting them all over the next few weeks. I just need to take my time and get things written and presented properly.
Other than the above, here are some things I have found interesting recently:
• Australian Senator Nick Xenophon not only has a badass name, but he is also a real life badass. Really impressed with him taking the decision to use his parliamentary privilege to publically name a Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse many years ago. "Innocent until proven guilty", yes. But where the safety of young and vulnerable people is at a serious risk, I’m all for erring on the side of caution. Well done Senator.
• I popped into court yesterday to have a quick look at a Supreme Court case in which a former $3,000 a night “high-class” escort is suing the estate of a deceased billionaire. This is because he allegedly promised her gifts and trust funds up to a worth of $10m. Managed to see her get cross examined by one of the country’s best barristers. Very cool.
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Played the original a decade ago, and this is just as awesome. Check it out!
More to come soon as I get back online and start the next phase of being a writer-who-is-trying-to-become-a-published-author!!!!
P.S. the next novel is in the works too. Here’s a hint of things to come:
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Congressman Squidward?
So, US Congressman Anthony Weiner has finally decided to resign after weeks of pressure piled onto him by his fellow democrats and the US media took its toll. His resignation will be a breath of fresh air for President Obama, as the scandal would have surely been a platform for Republic forerunners during the run up to the next Presidential Elections.
However, all that seriousness to one side; I (along with other keen observers on teH inteRnetz) recently saw the startling resemblance that Weiner has to Squidward from the SpongeBob Squarepants cartoons. It is literally him!
Take a look:
UPDATE: all the “red-penning” of the MS is done now. Just on the netbook putting the final changes in, should be done in a few weeks (touch wood).
However, all that seriousness to one side; I (along with other keen observers on teH inteRnetz) recently saw the startling resemblance that Weiner has to Squidward from the SpongeBob Squarepants cartoons. It is literally him!
Take a look:
UPDATE: all the “red-penning” of the MS is done now. Just on the netbook putting the final changes in, should be done in a few weeks (touch wood).
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
mlmarshall.com
My website has been revamped and is looking pretty slick (if I may say so myself!).
Mark over at Design Animals constructed the site and new logo and Hexadrive (T Zhang) provided the below artwork:
My father has popped into the country and is leaving in a few days, and as a result I haven't done much editing (family should come before most things, and especially as I haven't seen him for a year I've got a decent excuse!)
Once he's gone I'll get to work on the last 80 pages of what I feel/hope/pray is the final edit. Here's a sneak peak at what the manuscript looks like at the moment:
OK, off to bed.
Mark over at Design Animals constructed the site and new logo and Hexadrive (T Zhang) provided the below artwork:
My father has popped into the country and is leaving in a few days, and as a result I haven't done much editing (family should come before most things, and especially as I haven't seen him for a year I've got a decent excuse!)
Once he's gone I'll get to work on the last 80 pages of what I feel/hope/pray is the final edit. Here's a sneak peak at what the manuscript looks like at the moment:
OK, off to bed.
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