Z is for ... ZUT ALORS!

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So today is the 30th of April, which must mean that it's the twenty-sixth day of the A to Z challenge.  I've decided to share my love of writing through this challenge, and hopefully introduce people to the world of Oulipo.  I first heard about Oulipo when I was at university, and I was fascinated by their approach to writing that I decided to delve deeper into the world of experimental writing.

In a nutshell, this group of writers likes to assign constraints to their work in order to push creative boundaries.  Not only is this fun to do (the process of writing something with a constraint really does open the mind), the results are brilliant.

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Z is for ... ZUT ALORS!

Oh my goodness, this month has gone quickly, so I thought I would end this challenge with an exclamation!  I know there isn't really a direct translation for this phrase, but it would be along the lines of 'gosh darn it', but it's fairly obsolete (imagine an English speaker saying "zounds"!).  My modern day word is 'wowzers'. 

Now I chose the French 'zut alors' over the English 'zounds' to fill the Z spot as I've been blogging about the Oulipo over this last month and they are, in the main, French men.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about the various constrains that these authors and poets invented and developed, and that you'll give one (or more than one) of them a go as a way of broadening your writing horizons.

So I will leave you with one final constraint that doesn't begin with Z (as I can't find one that begins with Z!).

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Souvenirs d'un Vieil Oulipien (Remembrances of an Old Oulipian)

"The technique consists of breaking up a word into its syllables, each of which is then used as a rhyme.  The last line of each stanza ends with the complete word."

Oulipo Compendium ed. Harry Matthews & Alastiar Brotchie (London: Atlas Press, 2005) page 67.

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A-Z April Challenge
From the 1st to the 26th day
A permanent blogging tattoo
Stopping procrastinators being lazy
Working our way from A to Z*

Leaving readers' mouths and minds agape
With posts as colourful as a mandrill
Throughout the month of April

Thank you to Arlee, our valiant marshall
Building connections, akin to a henge
A positive result for a challenging challenge

*English people, please forgive me for using the Americanised 'zee' pronunciation instead of 'zed' for Z, but I couldn't find any words that ended with 'zed' or a similar sounding syllable.

Writer - Caroline Carruthers

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Caroline Carruthers.  Enjoy.

Caroline Carruthers

Hello Caroline, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm Caroline Carruthers, from Melbourne, Australia.

How long have you been writing?

All my life but seriously for about 15 years.

What first got you interested in writing?

I don’t know, reading?

That's a good enough reason as any!  Do you attend a writing group?

I attend Boroondara Writers’ Group, and started going about 10 years ago.

Why do you attend a writing group?

Sharing, feedback, mutual support and help.

What is the most valuable thing you have taken away from your writing group?

Friendship and new insights into my own work in equal measure. 

What genre(s) do you write? 

Fiction, historical fiction, essays, humour, memoir

Are there any genres that you don’t enjoy writing?  Why?

Horror, because I don’t enjoy it myself. 

Have you ever had anything published? 

Short stories, memoir, poetry, non-fiction. In magazines and collections.

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?  Have you received any rejections?

Yes. Yes. 

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing? 

Yes. Because writing should be read. If the only available book was on a Kindle I’d read it but I prefer paper.

Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

My life experience, things I read or see, anything.

How do you come up with your characters’ names and personalities?

The characters personalities come out of the story, choosing their names is an art form of its own, a very important one. If you get the names wrong they don’t live.

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

To write.

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Get into the habit of writing. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, you are not a writer until you actually write.

Do you have a writing routine?

I’d love a routine but all I have is I write whenever the deadline is looming. No specially creative time.

Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Longer fiction I have a plan though it usually evolves away from my plan.  Short fiction I usually begin with a setting  or an incident and see where it takes me.

Do you have an editing process?  Do you have someone else read over your work?  Do you read your work aloud to yourself in front of the mirror?

I reread as I go partly to make sure I am in the right voice when I begin the new material. I usually get a fresh eye to look at my work. Nowadays a closed group of readers on Facebook is a good way to go.

Reading your work aloud is the best way to see for yourself what is working and what isn’t. 

Have you ever attended an open mic night for spoken word performers, and either an observer or a performer?

Yes. I enjoy reading aloud.

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?  Have you ever won?

Yes. No.

How important is it for you to share your writing?

Writing can be cathartic and therefore useful even if only done for oneself, but I think that like creative activities generally you need a creator and a receiver for the creation to truly exist.

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

Finding the exact words to express something.

Finding the exact words to express something.

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Cinema, theatre, providing family stay opportunities for foreign students.

I am a professional artist.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. 

What types of things do you read?  Do you think your writing reflects your book tastes?

Science fiction, fantasy, detective fiction, mainstream novels, biographies, essays, critiques. I’d read almost anything provided it was well written and had some substance.

Do you have any favourite lines from novels/plays/poetry/songs, or any favourite literary quotes?

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

James Thurber

Don't get it right, just get it written.

James Thurber

What are you working on at the moment?

Historical novel.

Do you have a website/blog/twitter/facebook dedicated to your writing?  

No, no time to maintain one. 

They can be quite time consuming!  Would you be able to provide a short piece of your work? 

Extract from ‘Appearances’ – short story in progress

[Jean and Belle have attended an artists’s talk at a gallery given by someone they used to know.]

‘Are you free tomorrow?’ Belle asked as they got back into the car. ‘Even if you don’t want to come I’ll need a lift.’

‘What is it?’

‘He invited us to a private viewing of his new retrospective at the McClelland Gallery. Say you’ll come?’

Jean did not know how she felt. She was always eager to be in the presence of his work, to experience it. It challenged her and provoked her as the artist himself had done. In his classes she had created work far above her usual standard in painting and sculpture. Through some artistic alchemy he had opened her up to possibilities until she had found her vision, her way to be an artist. A very seductive brew, self awareness, it had set her on a satisfying and fulfilling path. She had learned how to let go of the constraints she had placed on herself, how to become self-centred in order to create. It wasn’t till much later that she understood the pitfalls of this way of life.

When Allan had first accepted that he was sick he had become selfish as the terminally ill often need to be. The loss of his quiet support had left Jean floundering. She had not admitted to herself before how much she had relied on it, on him. She had taken so much for granted.  He was passionate about his work, she was passionate about hers. A difficult childhood had left him undemonstrative and undemanding, independent – things that had appealed to Jean when they met, when she was in emotional freefall. It had taken her till now to recognise the importance of dependability. It was like gravity, such a weak force compared to anger, lust or even compassion, yet in the end holding everything in its all-pervading web.

© Caroline Carruthers

Thank you Caroline. 

From - Germany

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I got my first Postcrossing postcard today.  So exciting!!

Y is for ... YOU CAN DO IT

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So today is the 29th of April, which must mean that it's the twenty-fifth day of the A to Z challenge.  I've decided to share my love of writing through this challenge, and hopefully introduce people to the world of Oulipo.  I first heard about Oulipo when I was at university, and I was fascinated by their approach to writing that I decided to delve deeper into the world of experimental writing.

In a nutshell, this group of writers likes to assign constraints to their work in order to push creative boundaries.  Not only is this fun to do (the process of writing something with a constraint really does open the mind), the results are brilliant.



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Y is for ... YOU CAN DO IT

Ok, another cheat, but there's no constraint beginning with Y.  So as we are now coming to the end of the month, and the A to Z challenge, I put it to you to give Oulipian writing a go yourself.  If you're interested in creative writing, how about pushing your boundaries and trying something new and "creative".  Don't be scared.  There's loads of help out there to guide you on your way.

And if you're not a writer, you'll be pleased to know that anyone, with any skill, can participate in this progressive movement.

OuLiPo stands for Ouvroir de Littérature Potentielle (Workshop of Potential Literature).

Then there is:

OuArchiPo - Ouvroir d'Architecure Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Architecture)

OuBaPo - Ouvroir de Bande Dessinée Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Comic Strips)

OuCuiPo - Ouvroir de Cuisine Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Cuisine)

OuHistPo - Ouvroir d'Histoire Potentielle (Workshop for Potential History)

OuMathPo - Ouvroir des Mathématiques Potentielles (Workshop for Potential Mathematics)

OuMuPo - Ouvroir de Musique Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Music)

OuPeinPo - Ouvroir de Peinture Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Painting)

OuPhoPo - Ouvroir de Photographie Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Photography)

OuTraPo - Ouvroir de Tragécomédie Potentielle (Workshop for Potential Tragi-Comedy)

Of course, if you don't feel like doing it, you could always read about it.  There are some brilliant books out there on the subject, as well as an abundance of novels and books written using various constraints.

• Oulipo Compendium ed. Harry Mathews & Alastair Brotchie
• Oulipo: A Primer of Potential Literature by Warren Motte & Noel Arnaud
• Eunoia by Christian Bök
• Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau
• Alphabetical Africa by Walter Abish
• If On A Winter's Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino
• 99 Ways To Tell A Story by Matt Madden
• A Void by Georges Perec
• Species of Spaces and other Pieces by Georges Perec
• The Book of Bachelors by Philip Terry
• Oulipoems by Philip Terry
• Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
• Old MacDonald Had Her Farm by JonArno Lawson
• An A-Z of Possible Worlds by A.C. Tillyer

The list could go on.

I know it's a bit late for a New Year's resolution, but why not expand your creative abilities by trying something from my A to Z list, or even inventing your own constraint to use when writing (or painting, or cooking, or whatever you do).  

Paint a picture using only one colour.

© Anthony Giltrow www.agiltrowart.com

Cook a meal where the names of all the ingredients consist of only five letters.

Compose a piece of music which uses all but one key, like Angil and the Hidden Tracks' album 'Oulipo Saliva'.  

"The original concept was formed during an after-gig conversation in Barcelona's Primavera Festival, between Mottet and Hiddntracks' saxophonist Francis Bourganel: the idea of writing an entire album based on the sound of brass and woodwind instruments. OK, Bourganel said, let's do it. But don't use the E key, as it's always been a tough one for alto saxophonists! No sooner said than done: Mottet started writing E-less songs, never employing the E chord in the music, or the letter E in any of the lyrics. This idea referenced Georges Pérec's La Disparition (translated into English as A Void, a lipogram novel written under the aegis of the Oulipo)."

(Taken from http://www.amazon.com/Oulipo-Saliva-Angil-Hidden-Tracks/dp/B001QBC3ES) 

I dare ya!  And if you do give this a go, let me know as I'd love to know how you get on.

X is for ... X MISTAKES Y FOR Z

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So today is the 27th of April, which must mean that it's the twenty-fourth day of the A to Z challenge.  I've decided to share my love of writing through this challenge, and hopefully introduce people to the world of Oulipo.  I first heard about Oulipo when I was at university, and I was fascinated by their approach to writing that I decided to delve deeper into the world of experimental writing.

In a nutshell, this group of writers likes to assign constraints to their work in order to push creative boundaries.  Not only is this fun to do (the process of writing something with a constraint really does open the mind), the results are brilliant.



*****

X is for ... X MISTAKES Y FOR Z

"The relation x mistakes y for z was conceived by Raymond Queneau as a way of representing the way that several characters perceive each other (and themselves) in a given situation.  The relation is presented in the form of a multiplication table: a x a = a signifies 'a takes himself to be a'; x x y = z signifies 'x mistakes y for z'."

Oulipo Compendium ed. Harry Matthews & Alastiar Brotchie (London: Atlas Press, 2005) page 247.

*****

Yes, I am as confused as you are.  I have to apologise for this entry, but 'x mistakes y for z' was the only Oulipian constraint I could find beginning with X.  I've looked over this a good handful of times and it still hasn't become any clearer.  The examples in the Oulipo Compendium aren't much help either.  Maybe you can get your head around it!  I don't know whether or not it's just too mathematical for me, or I'm just being a bit thick!

Harry Mathew's example comes with a piece of text for clarification.

"Napoleon falls in love with the wife of the man who thinks he is Napoleon.  The wife has always believed that her husband was Napoleon and therefore that she was Napoleon's wife, a situation she is determined to maintain, even if it means changing Napoleons.  The one constant is the wife, since Napoleon considers her his, and the other man believes her to be Napoleon's wife."  (Oulipo Compendium, page 247)

*brain explodes*

If you haven't gone all cross-eyed, I'll give you one last example for your brain to wrap itself around!

"Xavier loves Yolanda but is sure that Yolanda and Zita love each other.  Yolanda actually does love Zita but fears that Zita has a yen for Xavier, who she is convinced can never love anyone but himself.  It is Zita, however, who is content with being entirely self-centred; she also knows that Xavier loves Yolanda, believing furthermore that Yolanda loves Xavier."  (Oulipo Compendium, page 248)

Kensington and Norwood Writers Group

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Welcome to my interview with Nike Azoros, from The Kensington and Norwood Writers Group.

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Hello Nike, can you please tell us a bit about your writing group? 

I belong to The Kensington and Norwood Writers Group. Our meetings are twice monthly at the Norwood Town Hall at 7pm. We have been established since 1978.

How many members, on average, does your group have?

We have around 25 members.

Who are you and what is your role within the group?

I am the Co-president and play a role in general organisation, chairing meetings, producing and marketing our annual journal and generally representing the group in the community.

How are your sessions structured?

We have a semi formal structure in that we have a secretary who takes minutes, we discuss member successes in the community. We have readings and offer feedback and we have workshops.

What types of things do you cover in your group?

A wide variety of subjects on writing ranging from Character development, Poetry, Grammar, Openings of stories, free writing etc.

What have been some of your most popular/successful activities?

Our events are always well frequented because they are known for their entertaining content and our annual journal sells well.

What genres do the members of your group write?  Is there a lot of diversity with regards to your members’ writing?

Yes we are a diverse group, we have poets, non fiction writers, fiction writers, article writers –all sorts.

Have you ever written collectively as a group, such as producing an anthology?

Yes we do this at least annually sometimes twice annually.

What kind of support does your writing group provide for its writers?

Our webmaster passes on all news form national and international writers resources, we provide workshops and support to each other.

Where do you get your ideas/writing prompts for the group from?

From regular meetings where we brainstorm ideas, from each other and from external influences.

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?

Just write.

What is the best piece of writing advice you give?

Just write.

Where can we find your group on the internet?

www.norwoodwriters.com

Do you have guest speakers at your group?   

Yes we often have guest poets, novelists or presenters and we will look to have more. 

Do members of the group get a chance to run/lead a session or part of a session?

Yes we often have a rotating chair and we always invite members to offer to run a workshop.

How would someone go about joining your writing group?

Either to contact us through our website, www.norwoodwriters.com or call us, the number is on the website and just come along and watch for a session or two.

Thank you Nike. 

Birthday and Book Night

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I do believe that today is Friday, and what does that mean?  It's time to Celebrate the Small Things, along with VikLit and a big old bunch of other people.  Head on over to Vik's blog to have a looksee.

So this week I'm celebrating a couple of things.  On Saturday it was my dad's birthday.  We don't really do the whole birthday presents/cards/special dinner thing, but we do do the birthday cake thing!  Every year I bake my parents a birthday cake each, and I endeavour to make the most chocolatey cake possible, because birthday cakes contain 0 calories (that's a fact; I heard it on the television once).  So this year, for dad's birthday, I made a chocolate fudge cake (the recipe can be found on the BBC Goodfood wesbsite).  And if I do say so myself, it was yummolicious!

On Monday, my first Postcrossing card arrived in Germany, which was quite exciting.  I love the thought that a little piece of my home town has settled itself abroad!

On Tuesday, Lowestoft Library held a World Book Night event.  World Book Night takes place each year, on the 23rd April (Shakespeare's birth and death day).  It's designed to encourage people to read and fall in love with books.  So each year they put together a list of books which are given away for free at World Book Night events across the country.  I chose to give away The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fford.  I read that book a few years ago and fell in love with it, so thought it would be a great book to give away.

We also had a quiz and a raffle, with signed books from local authors as prizes.  And it also gave us an excuse to dress up as authors or literary characters.

Author Delia Smith, and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz

Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee

Bill Sikes and Nancy from Oliver Twist

Author Barbara Cartland, and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations

Christopher Robin (me!) from Winnie the Pooh, and Robin Hood

Everyone had a really good night; we gave away so many books, and we also raised a lot of money for the Friends of Lowestoft Library.  Plus, a photographer from a local paper came along, so we might be famous soon!

And finally, we nearly had a whole day of sunshine and heat yesterday which was lovely.  And then at about 6pm it decided to rain.  But it was great to see the sun for a while!

What are you celebrating this week?

W is for ... WORD LADDER

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So today is the 26th of April, which must mean that it's the twenty-third day of the A to Z challenge.  I've decided to share my love of writing through this challenge, and hopefully introduce people to the world of Oulipo.  I first heard about Oulipo when I was at university, and I was fascinated by their approach to writing that I decided to delve deeper into the world of experimental writing.

In a nutshell, this group of writers likes to assign constraints to their work in order to push creative boundaries.  Not only is this fun to do (the process of writing something with a constraint really does open the mind), the results are brilliant.  If nothing else, it gets your brain box working, and that's a good thing, surely!



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W is for WORD LADDER

"Called doublets by Lewis Carroll (one of its independent inventors), a game in which a word is transformed into another by changing one of its letters at a time from a series of intermediary words.  The first and last words are usually opposites, like dawn and dusk." 

Oulipo Compendium ed. Harry Matthews & Alastiar Brotchie (London: Atlas Press, 2005) page 245.

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So, I gave this a go.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, and I did consider cheating and looking for some on the internet (tut tut me).  But I didn't.  I did these all from my little brain box.  If there are any mistakes, let me know.  Or if you can do them in fewer moves, let me know.

White/Black

white

while

whale

shale

stale

stalk

stack

slack

black

Old/New

old

odd

add

aid

mid

mod

nod

now

new

Dog/Cat

dog

dot

cot

cat

Hand/Foot

hand

land

lane

line

lint

mint

mind

mild

wild

wile

wife

rife

rift

riot

root

foot

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I guess you could take this one step further and use these words in a half-rhyme poem.

Sent to - Germany

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I went out shopping for postcards today so that I'd have a few in stock for my Postcrossing exploits.  This one will be winging its way to Germany tomorrow (once I've been to the post office to buy some stamps!).

Writer - Nike Azoros

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Nike Azoros.  Enjoy.

Nike Azoros

Hello Nike, can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Nike Azoros, based in Adelaide, Australia and Mount Olympus Greece.

Very exotic.  How long have you been writing?

I have always written but I have been approaching it as my main activity for the last two years.

What first got you interested in writing?

I think it occurred when I first learned how to read. I liked the way the words became actions and I realised that words move people.

Reading is definitely the gateway into writing.  Do you attend a writing group?

The Kensington and Norwood Writers Group, I began around 5 years ago. I also joined a group about writing Migrant stories.

Why do you attend a writing group?

To be in a writing environment, with other people who cherish words and to get feedback about my written words from people who are well read and therefore good judges of what reads well.

What is the most valuable thing you have taken away from your writing group?

That the more you are in one the more you write. 

What genre(s) do you write?  What drew you to this/these genre(s)?

I write fiction and non fiction and all for the same reason, to tell a story that I think matters.

Are there any genres that you don’t enjoy writing?  Why?

Poetry is a discipline I am not made for and I  have never gone for science fiction/fantasy because I like the world I know.

What types of things do you write?

I write about my culture (Greek) and how it shaped me and so many others, I write fiction and I write current affairs.

Have you ever had anything published?  

To date I have published 3 books, Greek Funeral Traditions, getting to Know Thyself and a novel, The Eagle of Spinalonga. I am working on 3 more books, a young adult novel and two non fictions. I have also had many articles published online and in print.

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?  Have you received any rejections?

Of course, but they were all very kind and said I wrote well but they were currently not printing that genre. Once I discovered Amazon and its services I stopped submitting pieces altogether and focussed on polishing my work and getting it online.

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?  

Yes, I did so on Amazon and I believe this trend will grow to the point that traditional publishers should worry.

 Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

The ancient Greeks are my mentors. If I ever get stuck I just read a bit of Homer, Aristotle or Plato, Epictetus also gets a look in.

How do you come up with your characters’ names and personalities?

By the role they play in the story. A prankster gets a cheeky name, the hero gets a noble and easy to remember name, a villain gets an ominous sounding name etc. and sometimes I use the names of family.

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

A writer writes. Write every day.

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Don’t worry about what to write. Train yourself to write everyday and the words will come, writing is physical. The effort required to stay in the chair is exhausting but once you do – the words will come.

What is your writing routine?  

I write daily and in two stretches. Morning is best but often the day brings the day to day distractions so I am happy to get a page or two done then deal with the day and write some more at night.

Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

I used to do both but now I find once I have the situation of what should be happening in my head, I can plot out chapters and then put headings to what should be happening. These headings become the chapters and I simply work on filling them in at around twenty to fifty pages per chapter.

Do you have an editing process?  Do you have someone else read over your work?  Do you read your work aloud to yourself in front of the mirror?

Yes, all the above. I sit the work for a couple of weeks then read it aloud AND have someone go over it plus read some of it out at writers group.

Have you ever attended an open mic night for spoken word performers, and either an observer or a performer?

Yes, our group often puts such events together.

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?

No. But I think they are great ideas and will do so.

How important is it for you to share your writing?

It is like asking a chef, why cook for others and not just for yourself. You do it for approval, you do it to feel like you matter, you do it for love.

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

The most is the absolute satisfaction of creativity and of persisting with it until it is complete. It is the best feeling. The worst is the need for serenity and not being able to have it.

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Gardening, reading, cooking, walking, shopping, eating and anything to do with Hellenism.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

The Iliad.

What types of things do you read?  Do you think your writing reflects your book tastes?

I read almost anything as different styles intrigue me and I am eager to keep learning. yes I think I write what I would like to read.

Do you have any favourite lines from novels/plays/poetry/songs, or any favourite literary quotes?

My favourite quote of all time was written on the temple of Apollo at Delphi, does that count as a literary quote? It is “Know Thyself.”

What are you working on at the moment?

A non fiction about  living in Greece during its financial crisis and a novel about young people who discover they have an ancient gene that when activated gives them super powers like the ancient heroes.

Where can we find you on the internet?

http://nikeazoros.com

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Writing is physical. You need to train yourself just as an athlete trains. What you are training for is sitting down, stilling your mind and getting the words out; not talking about them but writing them down. That takes physical discipline and I think that is the biggest secret about writing. Train your body first and your mind will follow.

Would you be able to provide a short piece of your work? 

Below is the opening 300 words of my novel “The Eagle of Spinalonga”

Chapter 1. The Funeral of Nikos Lambrakis

The priest placed a small bell on a table in the church and turned to motion to Nikos to move back further, he took two steps back, so did the priest; just in case. He opened his book of liturgical texts and began to recite the funeral service starting with the Trisagion prayer and going all the way through to the burial prayers ending as they all did with, ‘you were dust and to dust you shall return.’ The priest closed the book and waved the sign of the cross at Nikos.  “Am I dead now?”  “Yes, you no longer belong to the living.”  Nikos did the sign of the cross three times and bent to kiss the ikon of Christ,“No! No my child, please think of the others.”  “Forgive me Father, I do it from habit.” But instead of turning to leave he challenged the priest, “What about my kiss Father, don’t I have a right to the kiss of peace like everybody else?”The priest pursed his lips as he rocked on the spot and looked up at the ceiling; Ah that Nikos always was sharp, he’d remembered the kiss of peace, the obligatory kissing of the body to send it on its journey in love and peace. Father Manoussos was standing directly beneath the ikon of the Pantokrator, The Almighty, who looked back down at him commanding him to follow the tradition, but the priest did not move.Layman and clergyman stood in awkward silence until sounds from outside informed them it was time for Nikos to leave.“Be well Nikos.”  “But I’m not well Father, and never will be again. Give me better last words than the useless be well.”  “Safe journey Nikos.” The priest did not extend his hand.  “I’d hoped to walk out of this church one day as a bridegroom not as a living corpse.”

© Nike Azoros

Thank you very much Nike.

V is for ... VEUILLEZ TROUVER CI-INCLUS

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So today is the 25th of April, which must mean that it's the twenty-second day of the A to Z challenge.  I've decided to share my love of writing through this challenge, and hopefully introduce people to the world of Oulipo.  I first heard about Oulipo when I was at university, and I was fascinated by their approach to writing that I decided to delve deeper into the world of experimental writing.

In a nutshell, this group of writers likes to assign constraints to their work in order to push creative boundaries.  Not only is this fun to do (the process of writing something with a constraint really does open the mind), the results are brilliant.



*****

V is for ... VEUILLEZ TROUVER CI-INCLUS

"This first section opens with an account of a dog whose owner, while speaking to someone else, noticed the animal unexpectedly sit up as if called.  He realised that he had inadvertently spoken the dog's name: the familiar sound had been formed by the last syllable of one word fusing with the first syllable of the next." 

Oulipo Compendium ed. Harry Matthews & Alastiar Brotchie (London: Atlas Press, 2005) page 87.

*****

Basically 'veuillez trouver ci-inclus' translates to 'please find enclosed', and it is a method of writing one thing, but hiding other things within the text.

I wrote this poem, and hid the names of five Oulipians (Italo Calvino, Georges Perec, Raymond Queneau, Jacques Roubaud, Harry Mathews) within the text.

Peek-a-boulipo

A piece of your prose poses as literature

yet your poetry, knowingly, doesn’t keep pace

and, tho’ slated, snaps back at back handed

attacks with matter of fact tactics and flat

classics that hang their hats at the feet

of the satirical poet.

A long winded, strong worded, extended

song of comical venosity that ferociously

sickens those who have written pretty gritty

lyrics and jaw gelling villanelles which

whisper eccentricity and eclectically

prosper, possibly.

A classless vast array, mundane refrains

of pain and hate and razor blades, lacking

sanguine nouns and catchy sounds yet

splurge active platitudes on a surge of

shameful clichés; a half-arsed, slap dash,

mish mash of crap.

A blue rant in red and black, alack, alack,

a fanatic lament, anticlimactic in sentiment,

unlike the true bold statements of those in

the know – the Oulipo – who marry method

with madness and make a mathematic mess

with expressive finesse.

A satisfying aftermath using sassy chaps, fancy

tracks, actual tags and the practicality that

originality isn’t criminal.  Fascinate, stimulate,

educate, postulate and experimate until your

brain aches and your inane tastes evacuate

and make page space for me.

**
(and here are the answers if you didn't spot them!)

Peek-a-boulipo

A piece of your prose poses as literature

yet your poetry, knowingly, doesn’t keep pace

and, tho’ slated, snaps back at back handed

attacks with matter of fact tactics and flat

classics that hang their hats at the feet

of the satirical poet.

A long winded, strong worded, extended

song of comical venosity that ferociously

sickens those who have written pretty gritty

lyrics and jaw gelling villanelles which

whisper eccentricity and eclectically

prosper, possibly.

A classless vast array, mundane refrains

of pain and hate and razor blades, lacking

sanguine nouns and catchy sounds yet

splurge active platitudes on a surge of

shameful clichés; a half-arsed, slap dash,

mish mash of crap.

A blue rant in red and black, alack, alack,

a fanatic lament, anticlimactic in sentiment,

unlike the true bold statements of those in

the know – the Oulipo – who marry method

with madness and make a mathematic mess

with expressive finesse.

A satisfying aftermath using sassy chaps, fancy

tracks, actual tags and the practicality that

originality isn’t criminal.  Fascinate, stimulate,

educate, postulate and experimate until your

brain aches and your inane tastes evacuate

and make page space for me.

et a lo cal veno = Italo Calvino

jaw ge per ec = Georges Perec

ray mund guine no = Raymond Queneau

ge ac rue bo = Jacques Roubaud

arry math us = Harry Mathews

Writer - Daniel Morley

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Daniel Morley.  Enjoy.

Daniel Morley

Hello Daniel, can you please introduce yourself? 

I'm Dan Morley based in Stoke on Trent, England.

How long have you been writing?

About three years. The first two consisted of extensive procrastination with the glacial pace of a chapter every few months. This last year or so, I ramped up the effort and dedication, finished a novel, half a sequel and a few short stories.

Every great writer is a procrastinator first.  What first got you interested in writing?

I write fantasy. It’s an extension of a childhood, adolescence and adult life spent reading fantasy, playing games and watching films.

Do you attend a writing group?

I’m part of two writing groups. I joined an online group called Scribophile about a year ago and an in-person group called Renegade Writers a couple of months ago. Feedback from the groups differs greatly: the online group tends to pick more at the mechanics of writing while the in-person group offers more in terms of story, characters and atmosphere.

All important parts of critique.  Why do you attend a writing group?

Feedback! Feedback is brilliant. In part it can give you confidence that what you’ve written is worth reading and points out where things could be improved. My goal is to wring the best out of every story I write and for that I need to know how my readership reacts. For example, when reading to your group, you know your jokes work when people are laughing.

What is the most valuable thing you have taken away from your writing group?

Active voice. I wracked my brain around this one for hours until it finally clicked. It transformed my writing, made it more progressive, evocative and shorter. 

You mentioned earlier that you write fantasy.  What drew you to this/these genre(s)?

Fantasy. I edge toward the lighter, humorous side with loads of action because that’s what I want to read. I grew up with the genre and find it fires my inspiration more than any other. I’ve dabbled in sci-fi but would usually take a sword over a spaceship.

Are there any genres that you don’t enjoy writing?  Why?

I wouldn’t go near romance because I’m clueless.

What types of things do you write? 

I focus on novels but throw the odd short story out there every now and again. They give a nice break from a longer work.

Have you ever had anything published?  

Not yet but it is early days. Publication is the immediate goal. World domination can come later. Some stories I write for the fun of it and worry about publication after, if at all.

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?  Have you received any rejections?

Yes and yes. I have a novel and two short stories under submissions.

There are so many great writers out there and only so many agents/publishers so rejection is part of the journey. It’s an important part, too. It helps us grow and battles complacency. My first rejection came from I short story that I sent to Tor. In hindsight, it wasn’t ready. While the story was under submission I scaled a steep learning curve and, armed with newfound writing skills, I edited the manuscript, stripped 2000 words and submitted elsewhere. It’s a much better story for the process.

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?  Why/why not?  Are you interested in eBooks, or do you prefer the old fashioned paper-made books?

I recently joined the digital age and bought a kindle. With a full-time job in IT, I stare at monitors all day and I’m fond of my eyesight so I’d avoided e-readers. Eventually I tried a kindle and since it’s not backlit, it’s fine on my eyes.

There’s much to be said for physical books but we have to move with the times. Ideally, I’d like to publish in both paper and eBook formats.

Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Music is often prompts my creative side and makes me want to sit down and write.

How do you come up with your characters’ names and personalities?

In my novels, most of the names are Anglo Saxon. The Internet is a wonderful thing with plenty of resources on Old English words which help build names. Others, I just make up. Personalities start with a vague idea based around the character’s place in the world, their past and the tone of what I’m writing. I’m a discovery writer/gardener/pantser so personalities evolve as the story progresses. 

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

Persevere.

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Write regularly, get feedback and read books on craft. Oh, and write what you enjoy.

Do you have a writing routine? 

I don’t have a routine. My non-writing life is quite busy so I grab snippets of time as and when I can but manage at least something every day. This made the most significant difference to my productivity. Once, I thought I needed a particular atmosphere, to be inspired, but all I actually needed was sit down, stop being so pretentious and get on with it.

Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Starting with a vague idea works best for me. Most of the details fill themselves in as I go along. Characters have a tendency to say or do things which reveal avenues to explore.

Do you have an editing process?  

I’ll go through a chapter about seven times before I consider it a first draft. After that I read it aloud and post it for feedback. The process repeats until I’m happy that it’s the best I can do at the time (we keep improving).

That's pretty much my editing process.  What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

There’s a sense of achievement that comes with having created something. In work, you don’t always have something to show for what you’ve spent your time doing, whereas with writing you can see words on a page.

Some days are tougher than others. Sometimes a chapter does not want to be written and can be a slog.

Have you ever attended an open mic night for spoken word performers, and either an observer or a performer?

No.

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?  Have you ever won?

Just one but I didn’t hear anything back. It was a fun exercise nevertheless.

How important is it for you to share your writing?

For me, sharing writing is essential. I like to have a purpose in what I do so if I write something I want someone to read it. It’s important to remember that tastes and perspectives differ so you’re never going to please everyone.

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Kung fu, tai chi, mountaineering, skiing, gaming. I’m a sucker for a snowmobile trip when available.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. This story has engaged me more than any other, caused sleepless nights starting with the words, “just one more page,” and inspired me to pick up a pen.

What types of things do you read?  Do you think your writing reflects your book tastes?

I’ve always been drawn to fantasy although I took it upon myself to read out-of-genre this year which has been an enriching exercise. Suspense, horror, steampunk and sci-fi have all entertained me of late. They also provided transferrable skills for my own writing (even if I wish I could turn my internal editor off at times), for example, the Hunger Games taught me some useful techniques for handling suspense.

Do you have any favourite lines from novels/plays/poetry/songs, or any favourite literary quotes?

“Fortune rides like the sun on high,

With the fox that makes the ravens fly.

Luck his soul, the lightning his eye,

He snatches the moons from out of the sky.”

That’s from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time.

What are you working on at the moment?

A sequel to my novel that’s currently under submissions and I’m creating a new world to form the basis of a series of short stories.

Where can we find you on the internet?

I have a fledgling blog at: http://danmorley.storytellersinn.com/

My Twitter account was initially intended as a personal one but after a couple of publishers started following my feed, I decided I ought to behave and use it for writing: https://twitter.com/TolSenti

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Give a writer an open question like this and he’ll probably talk forever. I’ll restrain myself.

Would you be able to provide a short piece of your work?

Here’s an excerpt from one of my short stories called The Adventurer’s Guide to Dungeoneering. It’s aimed at a role play gaming audience but this part should be accessible to those who have read a little fantasy:

Unlike Sarina, Noon arrived right on time.  Gerith and the other three loitered outside the inn, overflowing with testosterone.  Reg plucked at a battered old lute, repeating  ‘me’ in a range of irritating voices while Jinther spent the morning chasing oddly shaped objects that kept falling out of his black cloak, including one that splashed water over his boots.  Seth sat on a rock, staring at a huge grimoire that looked like it had been carved from the face of a demon and gathered years of dust before falling in a bath.  His face contorted so much it almost formed a question mark.

“I thought you might have wanted the warrior’s job, given all those muscles,” Gerith said, concealing his own rather pitiful spellbook.  Actually, it was the guestbook from The Peddler’s Pantaloons with what Sneaky Pete assured him was a powerful scroll shoved between the middle pages.

“Nope.  Always fancied myself as one of them smartypants types.  Reckon I could shoot fireballs with the best of ‘em.  Robes are a bit tight though.  By the way, do you know what these picture things mean?  Can’t read a word.”

Gerith rolled his eyes and rifled through his pack for the sword he’d brought just in case.   “Damn useless multi-classes,” he muttered.

“Hallelujah!” Reg cried.

Gerith extricated himself from his pack and his jaw dropped.  Sarina, wearing next to nothing, grinned at him.  A tiny metallic…thing…sort of covered her chest.

“Hi folks.  I did some research and it turns out clerics wear armour.  Lecherous Surj gave me this—what do you think?”

“You are aware the point of armour is protection?” Jinther said.

“It lifts and supports!  Look!”

Gerith’s skull barely held onto his eyes as she stuck her chest in his face.

© Daniel Morley

Thank you very much Daniel.