Saturday, January 21, 2012

A new career beckons?

Apparently my 'war scenario', if not convincing is at least feasible (thanks larry). Hmm, perhaps I could become a freelance 'war planner'? I mean after all, there are party planners, wedding planners, doubtless other all sorts of other 'planners', so why not a freelance 'war planner', or has it been done? Probably, I normally have a great idea sometime after somebody else has thought of it!
Eliezer's return is progressing slowly, but not yet flowing. I'm not sure why, I know where the story is going and how it ends (but to leave open the possibility of the third book or wrap it all up? THAT, I'm not sure about yet, although I do know 'why' everything has happened). Right now, I'm trying to weave into the current chapter a 'Homeric' aspect. Sorry to be enigmatic, you'll just have to buy the book when it (eventually) comes out.
In the meantime, plans are afoot for this years forthcoming sailing season, perhaps that's why the writing is not flowing, I'm a bit preoccupied. This weekend (it's Saturday morning here in Fiji) I'm going to devote to writing. So why am I posting on the blog, you may well ask yourselves? Good question, if you discover the answer let me know, because I'd really like to know myself.
Right, that's it! Or is it? I'm off to have a quick skip through Homers 'Odyssey', in search of a legend to base a 'new legend' on. Of course, that will entail 'booting up' the old Kindle, which will open at the current page of the book I'm reading, 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. I saw the Swedish film the other week, which I thought was enthralling, so I brought the book(s). See what I mean, I'm only about two years behind the rest of the World!
Of course, before I do that I suppose I should/could have breakfast. Avoiding work or what??? Answers on a postcard to 'Shirker of Suva'.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Planning a war

No, I haven't suddenly succumbed to Napoleonic delusions nor am I 'on the warpath' about boat repairs. I have to work out a realistic scenario for a forthcoming (hopefully fictional) modern war. Writing about a three thousand years ago fictional naval engagement was relatively easy, I mean who really knows what went on? Hopefully you found it a realistic scenario and enjoyed reading it, even though nobody has commented on it.
My present problem is writing about a war in the present day. It's simple enough to find out relative strengths, equipment and locations of bases (within reason, of course), but it's another matter to come up with a realistic sounding briefing for a head of government. Of course, previous recent wars do provide guidelines, but if you're trying to come up with a new sneaky strategy, then a lack of knowledge of things military is a distinct disadvantage, still, I struggle on. I might even say that it's a bit of fun, except of course you hope that what you're writing about never happens.

On a brighter note, I've had my first (and for the moment only foreseeable) royalty payments from Emma the Agent. She transferred them via Paypal, which I suppose is easier, although by the time she'd had the payment in pounds, it was changed into NZ dollars because of course she doesn't have a Sterling bank account, then transferred by Paypal who take their cut, I was left with £32.21p!! Actually, their fee was in the order of £2. I suppose if that's a flat fee then it's not too bad, but as a percentage it's horrendous. I must investigate further.