Friends – Activity – Libby

Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 8 months ago

OK – at the risk of badgering people, three and a bit days left to enter “Things that go bump”. Also – 18 members at present, but only 16 sets of choices. If you’re intending to take part, don’t forget!

Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 8 months ago

“I don’t care where you’ve been, You ain’t been nowhere till you’ve been in – the Things that go Bump writing challenge.”

Find the group. Join. Enjoy.

JaneShuff posted an update 5 years, 8 months ago

Just wondering how you are all dealing with the Covid pandemic within your writing. I’m in the planning stages of a new novel and can’t decide. Do I set my novel pre-pandemic? Which feels like a bit of a cop-out. Do I ignore it completely? Same comment. Or do I try to set it in the current situation with the problems and concerns of the pandemic…[Read more]

RichardB replied 5 years, 8 months ago

I think it depends how optimistic or pessimistic you are about the pandemic. Considering how long it takes between drafting a novel and seeing it in print (if it gets that far), if you take the optimistic view the whole thing will be over by then, it’ll no longer be a part of contemporary life, and nobody will worry much whether you’ve included it…[Read more]
Sandra replied 5 years, 8 months ago

Not answering your question, exactly, but I’ve read a number of short stories which include reference to Covid and in general I find them offputting, a bit bandwagon, which might be because we’re in the middle of it. I think if your novel is set at the time, a passing reference to its restrictions might be enough. But the same (to include or…[Read more]
- Doug replied 5 years, 8 months ago
  
  Personally, I’d leave it out. So many people now must be writing pandemic stories, that the mention of it alone might put readers on guard. Also, optimistically speaking, by the time your novel comes out, life may have returned to normal and your story would be dated.
JaneShuff replied 5 years, 8 months ago

Interesting. I wasn’t planning on writing a story about the pandemic but was thinking about whether the story I had planned to write should acknowledge the pandemic. For example there is quite a lot of travel in it and it feels weird to have someone just hop on a plane given what’s going on. Have to think a bit more.
- Sandra replied 5 years, 8 months ago
  
  Best of luck!
  - Janette replied 5 years, 8 months ago
    
    Yes, best of luck, Jane. FWIW, I don’t think ignoring the pandemic is anything of a cop-out. I’m choosing to ignore it in my next one for similar reasons to some remarks above, that a) it risks becoming band-wagon and, if it does (hopefully) pass, Covid might age the novel by the time it comes to print. Mostly b) that books are commonly escapism,…[Read more]
    - Libby replied 5 years, 8 months ago
      
      I agree there’s a risk of bandwagon. I think it can be hard, too, to think of something interesting to say about a situation when we’re still in it. Hard for me, anyway.
- Raine replied 5 years, 8 months ago
  
  Yeah, its a tricky one isn’t it? To ignore it completely, or assume that a book based two years from now can still ignore it completely seems a bit unbelievable to me. This is a world changing event, ignoring it for present/near-future settings would be odd imo. BUT I have absolutely zero interest in novels *about* it. I do think the shifting,…[Read more]
  - JaneShuff replied 5 years, 8 months ago
    
    Thanks @raine. You expressed my quandary much better than I could. Still not sure which way to go!!
    - Raine replied 5 years, 8 months ago
      
      I’m veering towards thinking that a contemporary book which ignores covid is going to date far faster than one which has it/its aftershocks in the background.
      - JaneShuff replied 5 years, 8 months ago
        
        I think I agree and, in any case, I’m finding hard to impossible to plan without the realities of Covid19 informing the action. It is the current reality.

Daedalus posted an update 5 years, 8 months ago

Still not a robot

RichardB replied 5 years, 8 months ago

Now there’s a coincidence. Neither am I.
- JaneShuff replied 5 years, 8 months ago
  
  Nor me! Although I am not good with those pictures!
Daedalus replied 5 years, 8 months ago

I sometimes think a robot would be better at identifying the traffic lights than I am. Hang on, maybe that’s the point…
- Libby replied 5 years, 8 months ago
  
  Those blasted traffic lights. I’m always relieved to get the fire hydrants. I think I’m becoming a fire hydrant fan.
  - Daedalus replied 5 years, 8 months ago
    
    Good to mix things up with the occasional bit of fire hydrant. But where’s the other street furniture? Why can’t we identify some litter bins for a change, or bike stands or something?
    - Raine replied 5 years, 8 months ago
      
      Dogs. I want to identify all the dalmatians in a field full of friesan cows.
      - Libby replied 5 years, 8 months ago
        
        I once saw a dalmatian in a field full of daisies.
        
        Re street furniture, it could be the tables and chairs a coffee shop blocks the pavement with in a town near me.

Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 9 months ago

A bump never hurt anyone – well, unless it did. Anyway, BUMP. Don’t forget the short story writing challenge! If that means little, hurry over to the group “Things that go bump!” and be enlightened (You’ll have to join to read the forum). Preferably make a choice and take part.

@libby