Long live Jedward

So, I’m actually blogging in my proper spot (:O) for the first time in afew weeks and I haven’t a clue what to write about. As always, I have a million different ideas doing the rounds in my head. I was gonna write a silly little anecdote about the time when I was “famous” (which was for quite afew years), but then I changed my mind and was gonna write about Paul’s Poetry Against Cancer book, but then felt that wasn’t my place.

Y’see, I’m a bit all over the place these days, both in my writing and myself. I finished writing my book the other day. It’s 55,000 words, which is fairly short, and took exactly two weeks to write. Now I don’t know what to do with it. I’m in a place in my life where I’m stagnant, and everything around me is moving forward.

That’s mostly to do with being a college drop-out. My friends who are in college are all moving forward, making new friends etc, while I sit at home doing piss all. Then there’s my friends who are currently in sixth year – they’re moving forward in their own way too, and I’m doing nothing. I kinda feel insignificant at the moment. It’s a weird feeling. It’s crossing over into my writing – or rather, my mentality towards my writing.

My book, tentatively titled “A Rocket to the Moon” is probably my best one to date. I’m proud of it. I wrote what I want to write, what I’d like to read. Whether it’s sellable, in a market saturated with goddamn vampires and paranormal romance, is debatable. In parts, it’s a satire of writing itself. Now it’s finished, I don’t know what to do with it. Anyone who knows me properly, will tell you I haven’t really got much confidence in my writing. Plus, it has some rather interesting characters, so I dunno what the ole familia will think if it is published, as highly unlikely as that notion is.

I want to send it out to agents but I don’t know if it’s good enough. I’m not writing this blog as a shameless way to fish for compliments or anything like that. I like to think myself vaguely amusing but I’m not feeling in a wise-cracky mood these days so this blog is a bit crap. I’m just in a funny headspace – d’you ever have those days where you feel insignificant? I presume everyone does.

Anway, I haven’t got much to say at the minute. Usually I don’t shut up, so your prayers have been answered. I know I’m only a young ‘un but I just feel as if I’ll never be published. When you write, it’s what people expect of you. It’s the one avenue you have to really prove yourself. I have many doubters and I’d love to just stick it to them, y’know.

I don’t want money, or fame or any of that. Infact, fame would be my worst nightmare. I’d love to get a letter from someone who’d read something of mine, an actual handwritten letter, just to say they’d identified with what I’d written. That would be amazing.

So do you ever think you’re destined to have your novels only ever read by a few choice individuals and your bedroom floor? I’ve a decision to make. When I send out my novel, I’ll either get back a pile of rejection letters or find an agent willing to take me on. If they all say no, I’m considering packing in trying to get published for good. I like to write for the fun of it, not just for a chance at publication.

Question for all two of the people who read this: do you ever think you’ll never succeed at whatever it is you do?

Just to brighten things up, here are two pictures I found funny:

Nom nom nom nom...

Don't eat me!

They are funny in a really wrong way. The second one is kinda creepy ‘cos the poor baby’s father (?) is dressed up as a chef. Plus the child looks like s/he’s thinking “please don’t eat me”.

On a final note, I’m disappointed Jedward only got to number 2 in the charts. I wanted them to get to number one. No, I didn’t buy their single. But who else is legendary enough to appear on the Toy Show in front of over a million viewers, and split their pants doing a cartwheel? Jedward, of course!

How could you not love identical twins who wear matching beanies?

Are those not the sexiest beany hats you've ever seen?

And so, I shall finish up.

Peace, Love and Potter,

Lisa.

Naked Art

So, I’m taking myself out to the Graves art gallery in Sheffield to see the exhibition of photography by Robert Mapplethorpe this week.

Robert Mapplethorpe was born in 1946 in New York. He died in 1989 after being diagnosed with HIV in 1986. He’s best known for his large, bold, black and white photos of objects and naked people, and for his relationship and work with Patti Smith. His work often caused scandal both while he was alive and after his death, because, for some reason, lots of people don’t like to look at human bodies. While his work is now widely seen and accepted his name and his images continue to be synonymous with controversy.

I’m a sucker for anything I’m told I shouldn’t see or can’t do. Four years ago, when Samuel West was artistic director at The Sheffield Crucible Theatre, he put on the first production of Howard Brenton’s play, The Romans in Britain, since its original release. When this play was first released in 1980, Mary Whitehouse attempted, unsuccessfully, to have it banned, as it deals briefly with male rape perpetrated by Roman soldiers during the time they occupied Britain. Ms Whitehouse might not have succeeded in court, but she did manage to cause a situation where no theatre or director was willing to show the play for fear of the repercussions. You’d think by now we would have learned to cope with these things, but no, as soon as it was announced that Samuel West was daring to stage this play in 2006 there was an uproar. A Christian group threatened to picket the entrance to the theatre. I immediately bought tickets that day. I was actually really disappointed that the Christians didn’t stick it out past opening night as I was looking forward to crossing their picket line. The play, amongst other things, mainly wars and occupation through the ages, involved lots of naked men in the opening scenes. The offending rape scene was not cut and I’m sure could have been quite shocking to some. I have to say I was surprised by how graphic it all was, although by that time I’d been looking at these men’s bits for so long I wasn’t as fazed as I might have been. But, guess what? Nobody in the theatre was offended because we had all chosen to see the play and we all knew what it involved. The people who were complaining and threatening to form picket lines at the doors of the theatre didn’t, and I expect never will, see the play.

And so I’ll be looking at photos of naked bodies this week. It’s art. Not everybody wants to see it, but then they don’t have to, do they?

The Year Ahead

I suppose this post could also go on my own personal blog, as these are my own goals for the year, but a few are LitDen related. Besides, I couldn’t actually think of anything creative to post up here this week. Brain seems to have shrivelled up. I’ve rented Terminator Salvation through iTunes, so I’ve just time for me to hammer this post out while it downloads.

What do I have planned for the Year Ahead? In no particular order:

My birthday. Bit of an no-brainer, but this one is a sort of milestone. I shall be thirty come 20th October. As such I intend there to be much merriment and frivolity and drinking of alcoholic beverages, if only to detract my attention from the fact that I’m finally starting to get old. Or at least grow up, or something like that.

A few more rock gigs. I’ve already been to see Evile (my second favourite band in the whole wide world), play at Rios in Leeds. They played a damn good set (despite Ben destroying his kit halfway through) and were ably supported by The Fading and Warbringer. Machine Head are playing O2 Academy later this month, and I’m being coerced into going by my workmate Lee. He’s right, it will be an awesome gig not to be missed. I’m just thinking of the bruises.

I’ve already got tickets to go see HIM (my all-time favourite band in the whole wide world) when they play Manchester Academy on March 14th. I have two tickets (long, sore-point story) but I already know who I would like to go with me. I just haven’t actually asked her properly, yet.

A proper holiday with my parents, rather than just a two day excursion, would be nice. Probably Scarborough or Whitby, though Mum would love to go to Tenby and Pembroke Dock in Wales (her old stomping grounds).

At some point, I still have the LitDen Anthology II to get sorted. I admit, the last few weeks I’ve lost all heart in it and have shelved it. The formatting problems have been driving me batty, so I’ve decided to leave it for a while, take a break from it. When my head has cleared a bit, I’ll probably be able to pick it up, sort it within a few days, and we’ll be rolling again. As such, I’m going to adjust the title to “The Literary Den Anthology of New Fiction Volume II”.

I’d also like to get started on beating up interest in a third, even bigger anthology. Yes, I know, I’m a glutton for punishment. But I’m not going to be beaten by it, we shall make it a regular occurrence. Even if it kills me. I’ve already idea for the third Anthology, perhaps having a themed version. But more on that in a future post. I’ve still got to finish number 2 yet.

I need to move my bedroom round. Odd one I know, but there is method in my madness. As some of you know, I live in my parents’ attic. It only has a small Velux skylight for natural illumination, and current energy saving bulbs are crap. I work a lot up there (my desk and my writing chair are up there). But, the way it is laid out, with the bed at the far end, the desk beside the stairwell, and all my previously acquired junk spread around the rest of the room, my wardrobe inhabits the space where the best light falls. I want to get my desk to this space, but first I’ll have to completely blitz the room, and then do a shuffle. It’s gonna be painful. And probably dusty, actually.

On that thought, I could actually do with a new desk and chair, but they are both “would like’s” rather than “must have’s”.

And finally, and this is the biggie, will be World Horror Convention in March. A friend and I are heading down to Brighton for four days of hob-nobbing and networking with a plethora of some of the world’s best horror and fantasy writers. Go look at the website for more details (click the link above) and see how awesome it is gonna be! I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it. It should be the highlight of 2010, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will, of course, be tweeting and blogging while we’re down there, so you can all share in some way the wonder of the event.

And that’s all that springs to mind for now. I’m sure there’ll be plenty more things to do, but those are what I’m looking forward to the most for now.