the english assassin

1, November, 2009

NaNoWriMo – let’s rock!

Filed under: Meta, NaNoWriMo — the english assassin @ 3:04 pm

Okay, I’ve not embarked on a substantial creative writing project for sometime now, which is odd because, all modesty aside,  it has to be said that I am one of the greatest authors who has ever lived in the history of the universe.  Yes, on this I have absolutely no doubt. No doubt,  up to the point that I actually start writing, then suddenly I turn into the most talentless cunt on the planet! Although I still hold on to the fact that I have authored some of the greatest novels never written! The problem is that my curmudgeony nature means that I pathologically hate every word I write almost as soon as a write them, I get discouraged by my own colossal lack of ability, edit manically as I write, get even more discouraged, then delete what I was working on.

Anyway, despite my eternal failures, I remain convinced that I might, just might have a novel in me, hence I’m embarking on the suicidal NaNoWriMo thingy that sad losers (like me) with no prospect no ever being published do. For those who actually might still bother to read this blog and who don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, it means every November there is this online thing which encourages thousands of idiots to write a 50,000 word novel in 31 days. For those, like me, who have no idea what 50,000 words equates to in novel terms, it equals to about a 180 page novel – which is quite a short novel these days. But to my mind represents something close to the optimal length for a novel (~120-250 pages). So, this is what I’m doing or – at least – endeavouring to do. Realistically I realise that my chances are slim. Firstly, I have a track record of giving up: giving up on creative writing, giving up on just about everything I’ve ever done . I just give up, that’s a thing I do. Secondly, I have no desk to sit at that I can sit at for hours at a time without severe back pain, so realistically I’ll be typing on my laptop in bed for a month. Anyone know of a good chiropractor? And last, but not least: I’m severely depressed with the shitness of everything at the moment, a trait which is unlikely to change any time soon – so I can see this just ultimately adding to it. Setting myself up to fail and all that… Meh! On the plus side, my vacuous life means I have lots of time to write a novel – if only I could concentrate and stay motivated. I also have some ideas that I like, but they’re a tad nebulous and keep morphing all the time. also, they’re all highly depressing and negative, which means dwelling on negativity even more than usual. Still, all novels worth reading inhabit the darkside, so this could be a plus – if it doesn’t kill me. Anyway, for those who are doing NaNoWriMo this year and want to add me as a buddy here is my profile.

Okay, enough pontificating – let’s leave this online hell hole and write a novel!

 

[EDIT: Day 5 (hey! It's the Guy Fawkes Night!) and I've already given up. This writing quickly stuff just isn't for me and I don't have the discipline to write a novel. Maybe if I had a proper desk to sit at, but frankly: I just can't be arsed with it. I think instead I might just try to write and polish a short story over the month. I think starting small then working up might be better. The problem is my story ideas are probably more suitable for a  novel-length project. Still the discipline of the shorter form might be a good thing for me as I ramble far too much. I also need to stay clear of depressing stories for a while.]

19, June, 2009

More TEST results…

Filed under: Meta, Plug — the english assassin @ 11:43 am


Your result for Test who’s REALLY in control of your mind…

A small child with psychic powers

-1 World_saver, 11 Impulsive, -1 Technological and -3 Mystique!

Somewhere, not far from where you live, there is a small kid (less than three years old) with powerful psychic powers. Most people are aware that some people have the power to influence other people’s behavior with their minds. The government does, of course, find these people and make them work for the nation, but these things take time and before they’re discovered, these children often find a “toy”, a human being whom they use to explore their powers. You appear to be such a toy. That’s why you’re so impulsive and don’t care much for adult things. A toddler is in control of your mind. Congratulations.

What your score means:

World saver: All scales range from -15 to 15. At 15 on World saver you’re the kind of bastard who wants to shove your saintly ways down everyone else’s throats. At -15 you’re the kind of bastard who’d never care for anyone who isn’t useful to your egocentric purposes. Then there are lots of bastards in between. You got -1 on this scale.

Impulsive: At 15 on this scale you’re the annoying kind of person who’s completely lust-driven and extremely hard to predict. At -15 you’re the annoying kind of person who can’t scratch your nose without making a detailed action plan a week ahead. Then there’s lots of annoyance in between. You got 11 on this scale.

Technological: Is technological even a real word? Anyway, at 15 on this scale you’re the kind of sick techno-fetishist who’d have sex with a cell-phone if sex wasn’t too organic for you. At -15 you’re the sick kind of nature loon who thinks that fire and the wheel are too hi-tech. Then there’s loads of sickness in between. You got -1 on this scale.

Mystique: At 15 on this scale you’re the weird kind of person who’s shrouded in mystery to the extent that people doubt your existence whenever you’re not around. At -15 you’re the weird kind of person who is completely down to earth, to the extent that people might think you’re a machine or something. Then there’s a lot of weirdness in between. You got -3 on this scale.


Take Test who’s REALLY in control of your mind
at HelloQuizzy

13, June, 2009

The Stars are Right…

Filed under: Meta — the english assassin @ 11:52 pm

A year or so ago when I was living in the Landan smog I met a witch from the frozen Northern Wastes (Canada) who did my astrology chart for me. I’ve just found it again among my emails, so for want of something better to do with it I’m posting it up here for the world to admire. Of course if you don’t know me then there’s almost no way for you to tell if it’s right or wrong, but as a less-than-impartial observer I have to say that it isn’t too far off the mark, although it must be said that said witch did know me, so I’m sure her more mundane powers of observation might have influenced her ‘reading’ or whatever it’s called? I’ll also declair my other bias re: astrology, as a born-again atheist I’m more than sceptical about this kind of guff, but it doesn’t stop me enjoying (on so many levels) reading the results.

§

Mid-Heaven in Capricorn: Career Status and Aspirations

Capricorn is the goat. The goat is sure-footed and stable. It’s an earth sign, reliable and practical, ruled by Saturn so scholarly, melancholic, and studious. You aspire to become highly intellectual, taking action based on practical need and successes. You want to approach new projects and studies with realistic goals. You want to know where you are going and to feel that your path is already set down for you. You are looking for stability.

Ascendant in Taurus: Who We Really Are

Taurus the bull is an earth sign which is practical, stable and consistent. Also, bulls are determined, patient and conservative. It is a Fixed sign concerned with maintaining the products of oneself – things you make or create that require maintenance. Venus rules Taurus and is concerned with pleasures, art, and love. You are strong and stable. You maintain a sense of self and create images/environments. Goals are to be comfortable, creative and loved.

Sun in Sagittarius: Your Ruler and Your Great Destiny

You are destined to find your freedom and to explore the world. Free to create as you so desire. You may be able to inspire others spiritually or morally. You will be loyal to those around you and you will make it part of your life’s work to uncover certain truths

Moon in Capricorn: Dreams and Mysticism

The goat is sure-footed and stable. You have a fascination with death. You are studious and tend to only take action based on practical needs and past success. You require proof and study the reasons why behind spiritual experiences. You apply rationale to these experiences. Often this is an unconscious process

Mars in Scorpio: Aggression/Drive/Sexuality (Unconscious)

Scorpio is a water sign ruled by Mars. You tend to experience the same emotional responses over and over again. Others may drag you down with their need for your empathy and understanding. Your psychic abilities and empathy may cause you take on too much of others emotions. You lash out at others when you are hurt or in pain. You are motivated by your gut and not by your head. Sexually you want intense experiences with a strong emotional connection. You may be interested in sexual sub cultures surrounding death.

Mercury in Scorpio: How You Learn and Communicate

You learn best by connecting with subjects emotionally and in comparison to your own experiences. You enjoy learning about the mysterious and counter culture. You tend to be shy about sharing how you are feeling and may talk about many other subjects without letting too much of yourself come out in conversation.

Venus in Scorpio: Pleasure

You take pleasure in intense experiences. You can be mysterious about what you actually enjoy. Sex and death are closely related for you. You have a thing for people who live life on the outskirts of society.

Jupiter in Capricorn: Abundance

Your wealth and abundance in life will come from being an intellectual with a strong sense of self. This assuredness of what you want as well as of who you are will keep you from straying from/falling from your course.

Saturn in Gemini: Your Greatest Misfortune and What Oppresses You

You can be of two minds about things. You have two personalities when it comes to the way that you approach life and how you study and work. Not making a decision as to which person you want to be may oppress you throughout your life as too much inner conversation may lead to inaction.

NOTE: it is interesting to note from these ‘results’ that I apear to be a habitual necrophiliac, which isn’t strictly true: I only practice necrophilia on alternate Tuesday nights and never more that for five or six hours at a time…

26, May, 2009

Survivors to come!

Filed under: Meta, Plug, Post-apocalypse — the english assassin @ 11:34 am

I’m just tidying up some gibberish I’ve written on Surviors, the post-apocalypse TV show that I’m going to post here over this week. Because it’s far too much for one post, and no one reads long posts, I’m splitting it up into three sub-sections that I’ll post up as separate posts.

Anyway, here are the sections, just follow the hyperlinks:

Exciting stuff, eh?

21, May, 2009

My new blog, check it out…

Filed under: Meta, Plug, RPGs — the english assassin @ 11:43 am

…well only if you haven’t got anything better to do. It’s called d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20s Behind the Skeleton in the Closet, as you might have guessed by the title (the length of which I’m already regretting) it’s about role-playing games or RPGs. Not the computer game stuff but the good old buckets of dice table-top variety. I don’t, I’m afraid to say, follow the ways of the d20 any more, so why start such a project, I hear you ask? Well, I’ve been rooting about some old boxes for things to sell on eBay and I’ve found some old RPGs stuff that I wish to sell, but I’ve found lots more that I wish to keep and this has got me thinking about those good old days. Simpler and I have to say much happier times. Anyway, after a conversation with a friend (a fellow ex-gamer) I thought it might be fun (or if not fun it might just be something to do before I die) to blog about those games and those days. Anyway, follow the linky above if you like or don’t if you don’t, it’s up to you.

Cheers me dears!

8, April, 2009

Look over there: tatty old book covers

Filed under: Books, Meta, Plug — the english assassin @ 11:46 am

As I’m updating things here, I thought I’d plug my other blog , The Entropy Tango, where I’ve been posting up some ye oldie tatty paperback covers as a kind of an archive over the last few years. Not much in the way of writen content, just a celibration of those lovely old paperback covers and the occasional modern one that has caught my attention over the years. Only stuff I own is in there and sometimes condition is a bit wanting as I rarely bother buying anything other than reading copies. Anyway, it’s there if you care to browse with plenty of links to author/genre-related sites for good measure.

12, October, 2007

The End (for now…)

Filed under: Meta — the english assassin @ 1:24 pm

At the moment this humble blog is in the deep freeze as I have too many other things going on and to be honest I’ve grown a bit bored with reviewing things. Unfortunately this means the Viva reviews are unfinished – at least for the moment. Anyway if the mood takes me I might resurrect things here, but until then I’m going to let it go into a coma.

I will however continue responding and moderating any comments, so if your surfing has led you to this blog then feel free to say something.

Cheers

Simon

Blog at WordPress.com.