Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is one of Mozart’s most beloved and enduring pieces of music. Though the origins are not known, it was likely a commissioned work, completed in about August of 1787. It is a serenade, and was written for a small ensemble, though today we usually hear it performed by a full orchestra. The name comes from Mozart’s own notation in the music, in which he almost certainly was not giving it a special name, but had only noted…
I’ve seen lots of movies about AI run amuck. The Terminator was an early one, and those movies were good for about the first three, then there was The Matrix, where the first was good while the rest (haven’t seen the fourth) were pretty much abominations. I tend to like dystopian, disaster, thriller movies, as they tell stories about the human spirit and people rising to the challenge, even if the scripts are not often the best and some of…
In this episode of Funny Friday, I thought I’d talk about funny as in “weird” rather than funny as in haha. I’ve often spoken about the different parts of the writing process and how I do in the various parts. I do pretty well in outlining, but it’s fairly hot and cold. If I get an idea, I can run with it, but it will sometimes take me a while to get into outlining a story. Editing, proofing, grammar checking…
I’ve been thinking a lot about life and mortality of late. If you read Colin’s tribute post you will know that our mother passed away at the beginning of the month. In the latter years of her life, she began to struggle with immobility and problems with her legs that left her walking with a walker, and then later essentially confined to a wheelchair when she wanted to get around. Even worse, she was diagnosed with dementia, which became so…
For my post today I thought I would return to the tried and true that everyone seems to enjoy–and excerpt! It’s been a while since I’ve posted an excerpt, so here goes. Only Exceedingly Shy, as the astute among you might have already realized, is a reference to Georgiana Darcy. Jane, having realized that Elizabeth’s observations of the Bingley sisters are correct, convinces Elizabeth to go to London with the Gardiners instead of going herself. While there, Mr. Darcy chances…
Just a simple post to tickle your funny bone. Get ready to laugh. (Or groan, depending on what sort of humor you like!) What did the writer say when he glued himself to his book? That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. What’s the best college degree to become a successful fiction writer? Journalism! What do communism and an essay writer who plays no sport have in common? They work on paper, but not in practice….
My brother, Colin, posted about Pink Floyd a while back, though it was not a Tuesday post. While I consider Dark Side of the Moon one of the classic albums of all time, in many ways, I have always preferred Wish You Were Here. For those of you who are not familiar with Pink Floyd or with the history of the band, there is a story behind this album. The band, Pink Floyd, formed in London in 1965, and at…
It’s that time of year when my wife and daughter leave to visit her mother for the summer. Of course, I’m not exactly on my own, as older sons are both still at home. They don’t go anymore, as they both are old enough to have responsibilities now. One might think that with the lack of distractions I get lots done in the summer. While that usually is the case, it takes me a little while to get used to…
Writing is not an easy business. As with anything, it takes practice and dedication to improving one’s skill, and while I can not speak for other authors, I am always finding something new I’m doing wrong, things that I can do better, or habits in my writing that I try to avoid. Creative writing can be a completely different beast altogether. While a certain measure of research goes into any writing, much of creative writing comes from within. One thing…
I cannot imagine what anyone reading this must be thinking of with such a title greeting them! Surely, as everyone close to their mother must apprehend, There is more than a glimmer in any relationship with a beloved parent. So it is with my mother, who is everything a mother ought to be. Now mom is well aged to say the least, as she will turn 97 this year, and age and infirmity have robbed her of much of her…