The charismatic Steve Irwin, the quintessential Aussie bloke of Crocodile Hunter fame died today while filming a documentary off the coast of Queensland. Apparently a stingray barb pierced his chest and he succumbed to the injuries.
In India, thanks to AXN, he was the most popular non-Cricketer Australian, more popular than even the primeminister John Howard.
All Australia mourns his death today. Perhaps many from across the globe as well.
He brought a smile to everyone's lips. May he be remembered well.
Time whizzes by and I, I write of glimpses I steal
Monday, September 04, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Weird post
Apparently there is a contest for Shaastra [IITM's Techfest], which involves making a site that'll top google search for a given term. Why they would do that beats me, but then I am used to people doing stuff that means nothing.
Our readership, by which I mean Priya of the Numbskulls has requested that this link be put up on my blog, so my other readers (she is delusional) will help her win.
If you feel that there was nothing weird at all, try this - coecelanth shaastra zeppelin equivocate and durbatuluk
Our readership, by which I mean Priya of the Numbskulls has requested that this link be put up on my blog, so my other readers (she is delusional) will help her win.
If you feel that there was nothing weird at all, try this - coecelanth shaastra zeppelin equivocate and durbatuluk
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Cerebration Part - 2
10 Basic Rules of Writing from Trudi Canavan's workshop
1. Show don't tell
2. Use strong verbs (He walked slowly/he strolled)
3. Avoid overdoing adjectives and adverbs - including qualifiers (very, rather, just, quite, really)
4. Use dialogue for immediacy:
Avoid too many adverbs (he said loudly/ he shouted)
But don't overdo the 'speech' verbs (ejaculated, muttered, whined, etc.)
Using said is OK
Accent and slang - not too much
If in doubt, read it aloud
5. Don't complicate point of views unnecessarily
Avoid too many povs in a novel
Avoid too many povs in a scene
If you must change from one pov to another within a scene, be careful you don't cause confusion
6. Avoid infodump by delivering background with
Dialogue (but not as "As you know Bob..."
Lessons/ stroytelling/ records/ letters/ books/ recollections/ dreams/ vision
If you deliver background via narrative, it is more dynamic if related from pov of character than a narrator
7. Avoid too many made-up words. Explain your concept as briefly as possible, always avoiding infodump
8. Get your facts straight. Research! Research! Research!
9. Avoid clichés (eg. roaring fire, raging desire). Avoid plot clichés (like sheperd who is the missing heir)
10. Perfect third person before using first person
And then one rule to rule all rules
11. Stick to the rules for starters and break them later when you are a skilled writer
1. Show don't tell
2. Use strong verbs (He walked slowly/he strolled)
3. Avoid overdoing adjectives and adverbs - including qualifiers (very, rather, just, quite, really)
4. Use dialogue for immediacy:
Avoid too many adverbs (he said loudly/ he shouted)
But don't overdo the 'speech' verbs (ejaculated, muttered, whined, etc.)
Using said is OK
Accent and slang - not too much
If in doubt, read it aloud
5. Don't complicate point of views unnecessarily
Avoid too many povs in a novel
Avoid too many povs in a scene
If you must change from one pov to another within a scene, be careful you don't cause confusion
6. Avoid infodump by delivering background with
Dialogue (but not as "As you know Bob..."
Lessons/ stroytelling/ records/ letters/ books/ recollections/ dreams/ vision
If you deliver background via narrative, it is more dynamic if related from pov of character than a narrator
7. Avoid too many made-up words. Explain your concept as briefly as possible, always avoiding infodump
8. Get your facts straight. Research! Research! Research!
9. Avoid clichés (eg. roaring fire, raging desire). Avoid plot clichés (like sheperd who is the missing heir)
10. Perfect third person before using first person
And then one rule to rule all rules
11. Stick to the rules for starters and break them later when you are a skilled writer
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