My Personal Guide to Keeping Sane

I’ve decided to make this week’s post about links that I use or which keeps me sane. This can be through giving me a good laugh when I need one, helping me to better my writing, getting me in touch with others in my field or simply providing some beautiful art to look at.


When writing…

As an inspiring writing, I’m always looking for hints and tips about writing better. I am a big fan of Brandon Sanderson (Elantris, Mistborn, Way of Kings) and Howard Tayler (Schlock Mercenary) and I also listen to their weekly podcast called Writing Excuses. Not only do they give great advice, but it also focuses on speculative fiction!

When working…

As a full-time Language Practitioner, I love to hear what other people in my field have to say and there are quite a few blogs out there by very talented translators and editors which is delightful to receive in your RSS feed. Rantings of a sub-editor had me and my fellow language-people at work in stitches last week – and just goes to show how a small error can go terribly wrong… Also check out Musings from an overworked translator and Translating is an Art.

My love of language also gets fed by Anatoly Lieberman’s weekly blog over at Oxford University Press. Check out the OUP Dictionary and Lexicography RSS feeds if you love language. The Western religion RSS feed is also fascinating.

A ray of beauty every day…

I stumbled upon Gennine’s Art Blog about two months ago and find her art an inspiration every day.

A good laugh a day keeps the doctor away…

There are two daily web comics which I follow and which makes me have a good laugh. The one is Schlock Mercenary and the other is Surviving the World. Check them out, but beware – they are addictive!

A Fantasy Map, a Family Tree and Far Too Many Ideas

Or, So Far So Good for 2011


I can’t believe that it’s almost the middle of January already! At least I’ve now scanned the map for “A Dragon’s Freedom” and will put it up on a separate page. It is only one corner of Airthai and the map I’ve finished for the second part of the story shows a lot more detail. The working title is “The Price of Freedom” and follows Nasja’s journey once he gets home and tries to leave the happenings of Guldargan behind him. But the king of Guldargan and the crown prince have some other ideas and schemes up their sleeves. Nasja did after all spoil (and foil) their plans.

Ek kan nie glo dat dit al byna die middel van Januarie is nie! Ten minste het ek nou die kaart vir “A Dragon’s Freedom” gekopieer en sal dit op ‘n aparte bladsy plaas. Dit wys net een hoekie van Airthai en die kaart vir die tweede deel van die storie wys baie meer detail. Die werkstitel is “The Price of Freedom” en volg Nasja se reis wanneer hy by die huis kom en probeer om dit wat in Guldargan gebeur het, agter te laat. Maar die koning van Guldargan en die kroonprins voer ‘n paar ander idees in die mou. Nasja hét tog hulle planne in die wiele gery.

At the same time I’m making good use of my creative diary as it seems I can’t have enough ideas. I even got a great idea for a new fantasy story (still in Airthai, but in the Sundered Lands a couple of centuries after “A Dragon’s Freedom”) while in church! As the scripture were read the story just popped into my head. I quickly made a cell phone note as soon as the service was finished and I could turn my phone back on.

Terselfdertyd maak ek goed gebruik van my kreatiewe dagboek en ek kan nie voorbly met idees nie. Ek het selfs ‘n goeie idée vir ‘n nuwe fantasie storie gekry (steeds in Airthai, maar in die Sundered Lands ‘n paar eeue na “A Dragon’s Freedom”) terwyl ek in die kerk was! Terwyl ons die skrifgedeelte lees toe spring die storie net in my kop in. Ek het darem ‘n nota op my selfoon kon maak na die diens en toe ek weer my foon kon aanskakel.

I have been spending a lot of time on my studies as well and have now decided to rather draw the Norse mythology family tree by hand as I can’t seem to find a proper template for such a jumbled tree and it also has to be in Afrikaans. This weekend will be a study-fest as I want to give the first chapter to my study leaders next week. I am also stocked up on tea, easy to make meals and enough post-it notes for an army!

Ek het ook baie tyd aan my studies spandeer en het nou maar besluit om die stamboom van die Noorse mitologie met die hand te teken; aangesien ek nie ‘n ordentlike templaat vir so ‘n deurmekaar stamboom kan vind nie en dit ook in Afrikaans moet wees. Hierdie naweek gaan ek net aan my studies spandeer aangesien ek die eerste hoofstuk volgende week aan my studieleiers wil gee. Ek het genoeg tee, etes wat maklik aangemaak geslaan kan word en plaknotas vir Afrika!

There is a translation project that I’ll be working on until April, which I will be doing some nights and weekends and which I’m really looking forward to. It is some literary translation, which is exactly what I studied and I am thrilled to get a chance to do this so early in my career. So it will be a rough couple of months, but months I am very much looking forward to!

Daar is ‘n vertalingprojek wat tot April sal duur en waaraan ek tot April sal werk party aande en naweke, en waarna ek baie uitsien. Dit is ‘n literêre vertaling, wat presies is wat ek studeer het en waaroor ek in die wolke is dat ek so vroeg in my loopbaan ‘n kans kry om dit te doen. Dit gaan beslis ‘n rowwe paar maande wees, maar maande waarna ek vreeslik uitsien!

A New Start! / 'n Nuwe begin!

A new start, a new year, a new chance to ‘get it right’. I have heard some resolutions for 2011, read some resolutions and even made some resolutions. The most important to me is that I want to grow in faith and grow closer to God. I want to serve Him in everything I do.


‘n Nuwe begin, ‘n nuwe jaar, ‘n nuwe kans om dit ‘reg te doen’. Ek het al ‘n paar nuwejaarsvoornemens vir 2011 gehoor, ‘n paar gelees en ook self ‘n paar gemaak. Die belangrikste een vir my is dat ek in my geloof en nader aan God wil groei. Ek wil Hom dien in alles wat ek doen.

Foremost in my working life will be work on my Masters Degree. After a very bumpy start I simply have to get down and write, research, write some more and spend days locked in a high tower with only my study materials and study music for company. No princes or heroes will be allowed near the tower to steal me away! Mwahaha!

Voorop in my werkslewe sal werk aan my Meestersgraad wees. Na ‘n onstuimige begin moet ek met ‘n stink spoed skryf, navors, nog skryf en dae lank opgesluit in ‘n toring sit met net my studie materiaal en studie musiek vir geselskap. Geen prinse of helde sal naby die toring toegelaat word om my weg te raap nie! Mwahaha!

But while that does not mean that I do not want to better my writing, it does mean that I have to cut out any needless dawdling. One of my main resolutions is to spend less time in shopping centers – it is far too easy to get side-tracked with three book shops in the vicinity!

Maar alhoewel dit beteken nie dat ek nie ook my skryfvaardighede wil verbeter nie, beteken dit wel dat ek nodelose voetslepery moet uitsluit. Een van my resolusies is om minder tyd by winkelsentrums deur te bring – dit is veels te maklik om die pad byster te raak met drie boekwinkels in die omtrek!

May everyone have a blessed 2011!

Mag ‘n ieder en ‘n elk ‘n geseënde 2011 hê!

A Sea Monster at the Bottom of the Garden

Between getting reaching double deadlines at work and getting ready for the festive season, there hasn’t been too much time to write. Ok, I must admit, I have also been watching more TV than usual and doing crafts (usually at the same time – must keep hands busy!). I’ve made quite a few quilled Christmas cards, am crocheting a couple of things for my home and busy with a needlepoint piece that I want to frame for the bedroom once it’s done. And I have been studying in-between, believe it or not!


I am really looking forward to some time off over the festive season and New Year. I always have a giddy pleasure to put up my new calendars and start using a new diary. For 2011 I have a Terry Pratchett wall calendar with Josh Kirby artwork – I love the covers he’s done for the Discworld novels and it is sure to put a smile on your face!

After struggling with severe headaches for the last couple of weeks the doctor has found a concoction that seems to be doing the job of keeping them at bay. So I’ve been jotting down a lot of ideas for stories, without doing too much to flesh them out – something I hope to be doing next week. I’ve only recently discovered Evernote and find it such a big help in keeping all the ideas in one place. That way, if I get the chance to write during my lunch hour, I can just log on and see what I was busy with last. It also helps to save articles and websites there where I have found inspiration. Brilliant!

Now you might ask why there is a sea monster at the bottom of the garden… well, when the summer rains really start to fall there are big pools of water that collect on the clay soil at the bottom of the garden. I am sure on one day there was enough to house at least a baby sea monster! But I am very grateful for the rain – especially that which have fallen in the Southern Cape where there is a severe drought.

Johannesburg is emptying quickly before Christmas with many people heading to the coast for vacation and every year I realize how pleasant it is to have a couple of weeks where the streets are much quieter and everyone slows down from the hectic pace of city life to stop and smell the roses.

May everyone be blessed this Christmas and may everyone find again in their hearts the truth of this celebration. May people’s hearts also be turned towards God and may Christians truly show the spirit of the season and show others what this time is really about.

Merry Christmas! Geseënde Kersfees!

“Cookies and Milk”, a flash piece for Christmas

Here’s a piece for Christmas, called “Cookies and Milk”.


Die Afrikaanse vertaling kan op die “flitse”-blad gelees word, of by www.woes.co.za of http://bit.ly/fx7W2S / The Afrikaans translation can be read on the “flitse” page or at www.woes.co.za or http://bit.ly/fx7W2S

Cookies and milk

“Do you think I’ve lost some weight?” Nick asked, looking at himself in the hallway mirror. The green carpet beneath his feet was scuffed and threadbare in places. It was much, much older than the new, box-like house in which it now lay. “I’ve tried to cut down on sugar and carbs, you know. Only fat free milk as well.”

“Spot of brandy?” Bob, the younger of the two asked as he made his way from the kitchen to the spare-bedroom-study, past the living room where a boot was thrown through the glass of the TV. He didn’t ask.

“Why not? Boeing's long gone.”

They sat down in identical leather chairs in front of a fake fireplace with fake logs and flames. A small nativity scene stood on a shelf. Bob looked at it and smiled. “I’m glad to see you still have it.”

“Of course, not another in the world that can craft wood like that. And the paint? Perfect. Don’t see much of them anymore.”

The younger blushed. Though wrinkled, his face and eyes still held youth pent up inside. “Made another sheep,” he said and took a small, white, wooden sheep from his pocket. “You need a flock. The shepherds can’t just watch three sheep. And you need a few more angels. I’ll make them next year.”

“Thank you.” The old man placed it reverentially on the mantle with the others.

They sat in silence sipping their drinks.

“How’s life treating you?” Bob asked.

“As it does all old people, Bob,” the man said. “They don’t want you around anymore. No more letters. Small house. Lots of people. The neighbour’s kid cursed at me yesterday for moving too slow and called me fat.” He sighed. “Most are like that now. I prefer to stay here with my memories and thoughts.”

A dull thumping sounded from the house next door.

“And my own music. Not this noise.”

“The TV?”

“They had Santa selling some awful pre-cooked soya turkey dinner. Then he strutted around drunk as sailor on leave, in a nightclub, with what looked like teenagers. I couldn’t find the remote, so I chucked the nearest thing. Let’s just say I’ve not felt that good in years. Didn’t like the damn TV anyway.”

They sat in silence for a while.

“I made a toy for my nephew. Wind up train. Built the whole thing by hand. Painted it. Made the tracks – a replica of the track outside town. Trees, people, buildings, you name it.”

“And?”

“He walked into the garage while I was busy. He laughed.” He took a swallow of brandy. “Later he and his friends set it alight. Apparently they wanted to see if painted wood burns faster than unpainted wood.”

“Did it?”

“The varnish wasn’t dry yet. It was like throwing a butt on dry grass.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Should’ve kept it in my room. The paint fumes just got too much.”

The older man grinned. “Ventilation’s the key, hey.”


Someone hammered on the front door.


The men looked at their watches. “Not four yet, he can wait.”

“I’m not getting in the car if he’s drunk.”

“It’s Christmas Eve, of course he’s drunk the useless –“

“O, say it. I’m thinking it too.”

“The sheep’s nice. I’m glad you brought it. Does look more real with more sheep. The donkey’s still my favourite, though. That hanging ear… the spitting image of old Daisy.”

“You know, my nephew asked me what the sheep was for,” he said.

“And?”

“I said for a nativity scene.”

“And?”

“He didn’t know what it was.”

“His parents?”

“Quite useless, the both of them.”


The knock on the door sounded again, loader this time.


“Not yet four. Anyway, we’re deaf old men.”

“Some cookies? Their home made.”

“Never say no to cookies and milk. Best time of the year for them as well.”

“And some music? We’ll have to put it loud if we want to hear it, what with being deaf and all…”

The eldest of the two turned the stereo on and a carol started to play.

The other went to the fridge to get the milk. It was filled with drinks and jelly shots.

“And this?”

“The neighbours didn’t have enough room in their house for all their liquor. They probably need it for the dry Christmas their having.” Neither of them laughed.

Bob ate another of the Pfefferneuse and took a gulp of milk while the hammering at the door continued. They turned the stereo up.

Come, they told me

“Funny how it’s suddenly two days of binge drinking. Or until the day after New Year’s if their livers last.”

Our finest gifts we bring

“And now all everyone’s wants is video games and expensive gadgets. Nobody even wishes anymore. Everything’s a have-to-have. Do you remember the gifts we made?”

So to honour Him

“And the music. And the lights. The joy of the children’s faces? Now their all greedy little buggers.”

I have no gift to bring

“And that feeling of peace when you walk into the church? That could calm your heart for another year, knowing you’re safe.”

Shall I play for you

“And now?” He didn’t have to say anything. They knew.

There was knocking again. “I’m leaving if you don’t come out now!”

Bob took another two Pfefferneuse and dipped them in the milk.

The ox and lamb kept time

“Do you think they’ll ever find the houses, Nick?”

I played my drum for Him

“No. Never. We made sure of that. Nobody will look there anyway. The whole story was a good idea after all, especially the bit about the elves.”

I played my best for Him

“Humph! Stupid Google Earth, it’s the North Pole! Who goes and searches the North Pole!”

Then He smiled at me

“More milk? There’s another tin Pfefferneuse here somewhere.”



END.

New Speculative Article for December 2010

A fictional account of a history and people that never existed


I am ecstatic to report that my follow-up article for the Speculative Grammarian can now be read at: http://bit.ly/hCXg8F

The name of the piece is A Brief Essay on the Language and Mythology of the Ekhié and the neighbouring Mákek Peoples of the Highveld Forests and the Ancient Watmákekhié Site and was written under the guise of By Mr. J. Doe of the International Centre for the Studies of Previously Presumed Mythical Beings and Peoples and is a follow-up piece by certain J. Doe that tells a bit more about the world that the travel piece used in November 2010 is set. Find the November article at: http://bit.ly/aXDkDe and learn about Sir C.J. Cockspur’s dastardly plans to void the world of all but one, very much simplified language.

I had a lot of fun writing “A Brief Essay” because I could really let go (and use as many footnotes as possible) and sketch the peoples of the Highveld Forest which they inhabit. The idea of the builders of the pyramids building the first ones on the Highveld before moving on to Egypt was fleshed out with the idea of extraterrestrial people building them (or at least supervising) before moving on to Egypt. (And then, probably South America.)

I also got to play around with words in English and Afrikaans. For instance, “Watmákekhié” is taken from “Wat maak ek hier?”/”What am I doing here?”, while the greeting Hoo’gha’nitte is taken from “Hoe gaan dit?”/How are you?” (Lit. How goes it?), a phrase which in informal circumstances is sometimes assimilated so that it sounds like one word. Although Gha’nê is completely made up. Other words, like “broker” and “fairy dust” is just written with atrocious spelling to give them an exotic look.

I have a feeling Mr. J. Doe and the International Centre for the Studies of Previously Presumed Mythical Beings and Peoples will have some more research to share in the future. Maybe Mr. J. Doe will even manage to get his doctorate!

Good news for fans of Dean Barkley Briggs’ first book in The Legends of Karac Tor series. He has found a new publisher for the rest of the series! If you have not yet read The Book of Names, you will be in for a treat (and a belated Christmas present to yourself) if you can get your hands on it in January. I am going to post a review of the book on the blog “Ramblings of a Lone Bibliophile” within the next month (after a reread), but, until then, check out Dean Barkley Briggs’ site at: www.hiddenlands.net

Until next time.

A Speculative Article for November

With boiling temperatures every day, who needs a better excuse to stay inside (in the shade) and write? While having to move my study nook from upstairs (extremely hot until about 9 in evenings) to downstairs (not fun dragging oodles of books down a flight of stairs, but at least it’s a lot cooler below), and not having done much in the writing of fiction, I can at least say that I have a piece published in November. Yes, the long awaited article for The Speculative Grammarian has been published under the pen name of Sir C J Cockspur. Find it at: http://specgram.com/CLX.2/11.cockspur.npicml.html


I’ve spent some time on the earlier history of the Midlands of Airthai and ended up with two good ideas for two short stories and half an idea for a third. The rest of the half-ideas fluttering around still need to be pounded into something useful before I can post it. Now if I can just finish those maps!

Otherwise I’m knee-deep in Nineteenth century Dutch poetry, which is a lot more interesting than it may sound!