April 2009 Archives

Ever say one thing and mean something else? Of course you have. In fact, virtually every word that leaves your, or my, mouth is weighted with innuendo, context, subtext and various other hidden meanings. When saying "yes" to a cup of tea, is that word a simple exporession of desire, or a willingness to please the tea maker out of politeness, or a desperate expression of thirst, or a bunch of other potential meanings?

In writing dialogue, lines that merely state what the character is thinking or serve only to explain the plot, are referred to as 'on the nose'. It feels unnatural.

Phew, cor blimey and sheesh!

What started out as a simple update of the previous Top 50 Australian Writer Blogs list, after the recent Google PageRank update, resulted in a lot more work than anticipated. A large number of new blogs have been added, some have been removed, Twitter accounts are now included, and an FAQ page is available to answer questions and clarify points`.

There seems to be a common misconception with some writers that plot is not always necessary. In fact, some insist that true artistry comes from dispelling the manufactured and artifical concepts such as plot in favour of emulating real life. Only then can a film truly speak to the human condition, right?

I read hundreds of blogs - many of them to do with the act of writing such as CopyBlogger, Divine Write and Blake Snyder or blogs by writers discussing their experiences within the industry, such as those by James Moran, Paul Cornell and Neil Gaiman. It was because only a tiny few on my list were from Australia that I was prompted to search for more and compile the list of the Top 50 Australian Blogs on Writing.

I've known for sometime that sometimes the more constrained you are, the more creative you are forced to become. In writing, this can only be a good thing. Give me a deadline, give me a strict set of guidelines, give me an inflexible word count and together they will force my creative thoughts into places they otherwise wouldn't go.