The Weekly Obligation

Hello Cyberspace.

My brain is a little frazzled today, so no one really knows how well this will work as a blog.

Yesterday, I sent in my entries to the KSP short fiction award, and also to the Scribbler's competition. I have my fingers cross on both of those, because it would be nice to win a few commendations before I go to uni.

Well, that's if I get into Uni, but I'm thinking I probably will.

I also wrote a poem yesterday, for the school yearbook because the editor has been on my case to write a poem for the year twelve section. I'm not kidding, she actually slapped me with a pile of papers on the shoulder and said "Elisa Thompson can do it, why can't you?" The answer to that question is because Elisa Thompson is a very talented fiction and poetry writer and I am not. I don't write because I'm good, and especially not because someone expects me to, I write because it strikes me to do so. Luckily for her, however, it struck me to imitate the style of TS Eliot a little yesterday. She had better be happy with it, and definitely should not expect a repeat.

When I gave it to my English teacher to hand in, she and i started up a very bizarre conversation. I told her i wasn't usually a poet, but she said that she could imagine me going home and writing endless poems, as apparently i seem to have a great deal of poetry in me. Encouraging i suppose.

I am actually rather growing to like her.

Shh, don't tell, it will ruin my reputation.

Until next week,

E

P.S. you can find the work of Elisa Thompson in the blog on her Myspace
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=29722496

Just a warning though, the blogs may contain themes which could offend certain people. Yes, Grandparents, I am talking to you. Love you guys.

Tribute to the Postman

I'm sure all of you out there in cyberspace share with me the feeling of excitement that comes with receiving mail. I'm not talking about the kind of mail that pings up on my computer screen while I'm trying to study, and I'm definitely not talking about the kind of mail which forces my mobile to vibrate frantically until it falls off the table. No, sirree, I am talking about your honest to God, dinky-di MAIL. In the mail box, delivered by a post man, stamped and processed, sealed in an envelope.

I get mail quite frequently for a person who pays neither tax nor bills. This is because I often have overdue library cards, or because I've done something at school that they felt like telling my parents about (don't worry, folks, its usually a good thing), or because I have sent away for something. Recently, I have come into possession of a pen pal too, and he sends me mail from time to time, although lately we have taken to sending each other writing challenges which mean that the reply takes a gargantuan amount of time to be ready. But the mail I got yesterday was the kind of mail that inspires crazy dancing, and hugging strangers and calling Grandparents, who can always be counted on to rouse up some enthusiasm (Love you guys).

This mail came from the City of Subiaco.

It was a letter that included a certificate. I received a Highly Commended in the Tim Winton award, which is not a placement, but its also not a Participation certificate. The accompanying letter said that they really liked my writing style and I have been encouraged to continue my writing.

So yeah, I feel pretty good about myself right now.

And I love mail!

Hanging out with the Literati

This week has been something of a literary tea party...

I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post something about becoming a reading anomaly? Well, that dream was, sadly, not realised. Time and duty conspired against me, and while I have been reading more than usual, I have yet to make much of a dent in that large pile which dominates the top shelf of my baby-library.

Nonetheless, this has been a Lit-filled week. It has lead me to the following conclusion. Next year, I intend to begin the task of becoming:
Phillipa-Emily-Jane-Edith-TS-Stephenie-Ian-Gregory-Bronte-Austen-Wharton-Eliot-McEwan.
In other words, the hybridized protege of all my idols. This week, I think I will devote a post to why I look up to these people.

Phillipa Gregory: She's probably best known for being the Author of The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a movie earlier this year. I am absolutely obsessed with the Tudor era, and it is through the medium of this woman's work that I have learned to love the genre of historical fiction. She is amazing, and I would one day love to meet her and talk about the thought processes she goes through when she is exploring the psychology of history's biggest figures.

Emily Bronte: Only ever wrote one book; Wuthering Heights. Many can easily dismiss this text as being flimsy, a romance built on little substance, with an unsatisfying ending. These people miss its more intricate meaning. It is a story which doesn't fail to ignore the failings of the human race; we are a selfish, vindictive, power driven people, who care about status and will ultimately torture those we love most mercilessly.

Jane Austen: Well, honestly, do I really even need to say much here? She's just amazing, and everyone is familiar with her work. Currently I'm reading Pride and Prejudice. I just love the depth she goes into with her characters and their relationships right from the start. And will somebody please tell me its not impossible that a Mr Darcy could really exist?? As a very clever English Lit teacher once said, "There is no Mr Right, there is only Mr Darcy."

Edith Wharton: Amazing woman. Lead such a colourful and exciting life. Didn't care that most people couldn't respect her because she didn't fit in with their narrow minded ideals of 'living'. The Age of Innocence, which i just finished studying for English Lit, is a great book which can relate to life of any era. Best of all, its a book I can love even when I hate the main character.

TS Eliot: I know he's a poet. I really do. But how can I go past those lines from The Hollow Men "The world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper." He was a genius.

Ian McEwan: I read Atonement earlier this year. It's perfect. It's everything that I could ever want to write myself- it has clearly developed themes and issues, its characters and their relationships are wonderful, the protagonist is a writer and it doesn't have an unrealistic ending. I do feel however that the ending feels a little like one that reads "And then I woke up and it was all a dream..." It almost finishes too quickly, leaving the audience screaming "Wait but what about..." Made me cry though, and for a book, that's a hard thing to do. I also loved the movie.

So there you go. One day, perhaps, an ambitious young author will put my name on a list of role models just like this one. Next to my name, I hope it reads: Some of the most insightful writing I have ever had the pleasure to critique.

More than likely, this will be followed by the words: I am given the impression that the author is a little batty.

I don't mind though. I just want to be up there with the big names.

I'm off to be insightful now. Keep it real.

Dymocks Chat

With the release of Breaking Dawn yesterday, there has been a lot of talk about Best Sellers. Most of this talk, went on inside my head. For those of you who don't know, Breaking Dawn is the fourth installment of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. It fits roughly into the genre of fantasy, but could also be classified as Teen Lit or Romance. Personally, i think it is a waste of time categorizing things these days anyway, seeing as we are creating new hybrids all the time.

Interestingly enough, this time around, it wasn't me who caught onto these literary gems. It was my sister, N. N doesn't read much- her life is filled with different things, but she can sure pick a good book when she has to. With the euphoria associated with the release of the final book, and also the impending Movie this December, i figured i had better jump on the band wagon and start reading the damned things. I have to say, i am now in love with these books, the character of Edward Cullen and also with the Romance genre again.

But the topic of this blog isn't about those books really. It's about creating a best seller. It's about hope.

Yesterday, when we went to pick up N's pre-ordered copy of the book from Dymocks, we ran into the son and husband of my mentor, who were picking the book up too. Someone made the comment that the book had only just come out yesterday, and yet it was already on the top of the best seller list. Two of the three other books in the series were up there too. And the adults began talking about their writing family members (me and my mentor) someday writing a best seller or two as well.

Thanks guys, way to put the pressure on. I'll try.

In other news, today for Phys Ed, we did health. Because my regular teacher wasn't there, we had a sub, and the sub was someone i have recently identified as being a local published writer. Cool, hey? I forgot to ask him about it though. Gosh.

Well, this best seller isn't going to write itself.

Any questions?