What the future holds for family; thought provocation from journalist Liz Jones

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depression, family, Liz Jones, mental health, prolongation of life, sexual differences, stress, The Greatest Gift

I noticed an article in the Mail on Sunday today; it was by Liz Jones, the self-deprecating journalist who lives with her life on her sleeve. She was talking about mental health and depression, particularly in women over 60, resulting from the stresses of trying to balance their lives, looking after grandchildren, children and ageing parents. However, perhaps their concern is to do with the realisation that their own life is possibly coming to an end soon and the worry of, ‘Have I done enough for everyone; have I passed enough information about life on to my kids to ensure that they have an easier passage through it than I did?’

In reading Liz’s article, http://dailym.ai/1bzgXu3, I realised that without having consciously considered it, I have finally taken on board, (with my wife’s assistance of course) how very different Man and Woman is. Men tend to see a problem and want to fix it and then move on, whereas a woman will analyse the problem, project it forward infinitely and worry about possible future problems. I realise this statement could be considered both sexist and glib, however in real terms, both approaches are absolutely necessary to provide a balanced solution to family life.

My novel, The Greatest Gift, considers the future in terms of probable increased life span and improved intelligence and it’s my take on what might happen if humans were to live for far longer than they do at present. In it, I explore the possibilities of a much longer life and the difficulties that might raise. I further this ‘exploration’ in book two, Drifting Sands, which I am currently writing. However, with time being plentiful, disease under control and intelligence vastly increased, what would Man do? Imagine then, 20-30 generations all living at one period in time; it’s a bit of a worry!

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

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Star Trek; facts about fiction.

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light speed, science fact, science fiction, Star Trek, starship Enterprise, the final frontier, The Greatest Gift, Trekkies, warp speed

As a science fiction writer, I always try to use correct science; I think it makes my books more believable. However, as a science nut, it’s easy to become sidetracked when researching science facts. Recently I found this, non-relevant but nevertheless fascinating information about one of the best science fiction programmes ever, Star Trek.

Take a look,

Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

Ever wondered how the auroras borealis lights phenomenon happens?

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Amazing, Aurora, Auroras Borealis, Flares, Green Sky, North Pole, Northern Lights, Phenomenon, Solar, South Pole, Strange

When I’m writing I always try and use correct science, even though I write science-fiction, it makes it more believable. In my research, sometimes I come across other, non-relevant but nevertheless fascinating information. Here’s an explanation of the auroras borealis that I read recently; just amazing.

Leave me a comment if you’ve been to see them in the North; I’m proposing to go later this, or next year.

Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

Time, the scarcest commodity in life and one that evades me.

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beyond the grave, Drifting Sands, Love story, sequel, The Greatest Gift, time, time travel

Well, it’s been awhile. I haven’t had time to write a blog in ages; months. Fact is, I haven’t had time to write my sequel either, until I went on holiday recently that is. Three weeks away from the humdrum of my day job and my mind is sparked into life. I wrote about 15,000 words in that time, whilst cruising round the Norwegian fjords and then the Mediterranean; I’m now two thirds of the way through writing, Drifting Sands, the sequel to my first book, The Greatest Gift, a tale that until last week, I didn’t know where it was going. But, despite a gap of nearly five months in my writing, it still came to me. As soon as I sat down and allowed my mind to wander, it flowed; it’s as though my fingers have little tongues, licking the keyboard into submission, telling a story that sometimes even I haven’t heard. Well now I do, the story is formed. Take a look, see what you think,

“When, from beyond the grave, Sir Stuart Harper introduced the SHINE programme, he never expected such cataclysmic consequences as a result of his procedures, but the immense augmentation to human lifespan and intelligence caused a demoralising and self-destructive effect on mankind. Richard Harper, Sir Stuart’s grandson, the receiver of the plan and implementer of the enhancements, had had misgivings when he rolled out the programme in 2012 and ever since, on occasion, he sensed all was not well. Now, 200 years on, the utopian world Sir Stuart had foreseen was no longer there, its path had deviated and man’s very existence was seriously under threat.

Young Stuart Harper, Richard’s son, was a troubled soul, desperately unhappy with his life. Sure, he had been given the option of having his intelligence and lifespan vastly enhanced and to that he had willingly agreed at the time, but he was only a child then. Now, with his superior IQ, which still remained substantially higher than his peers, after 200 years, he was finding his longevity tiresome, an ordeal. He believed there must be more to his being. His scientist father, Richard, was the main target of his dissatisfaction, blamed by his son for meddling with nature.

Stuart wasn’t alone in these thoughts, there were others. Many were so disaffected with their lives, they couldn’t cope and committed suicide to escape their terminal tedium. Others, less overwhelmed by the futility but nonetheless disconsolate, vented their feelings by rebelling against Stuart’s father and the authorities. But Stuart’s own escape was achieved in a very different manner, no contumacy from him. He decided to use his vast intelligence, in a positive way. He chose to explore times gone-by to see if history could teach him something he could use to advantage in his own time, something to rejuvenate his interest in life and as he delved into the past, he found it. He discovered a young woman who quickly became the focus of his intense scrutiny, someone who would change his life, forever.

But the journey of love is a difficult enough path to tread under normal circumstances, a challenging affair at the best of times. Add class and cultural differences to the mix and the probabilities of its success diminish. Add to that, different time zones and surely a relationship is doomed to failure?”

It’s ironic really, I haven’t enough time, to write about time. However, watch this space, it shouldn’t be long now and let me know if you like the concept.

Cheers for now.

Ken Balneaves also wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

Sometimes, as I write, it all becomes clear.

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blog, blogging, book sales, eureka, hypnosis, resolution, time, time travel, Triberr

So, November nearly over and I’ve had the worst month in this past year for blog views. Okay, I’ve surpassed last year’s November figures but that was before Triberr. Something’s not right. Even my book sales are struggling. The woes of a self publisher who also has a day job. Not good. In fact I’ve not even had time to blog recently.

Ah, Eureka moment, maybe that’s why my blog views are lower than I would have expected. Right, early New Year’s Resolution, ‘Must blog more often’. Let’s see how long it takes to break that one!

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

For a writer, is there a place for the Red Herring?

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50 Shades, deception, divorce, garden path, Red herring

I’ve just read in a newspaper that, as a result of 50 shades, a couple have decided to divorce. It seems that sex is the problem; the woman wants to spice it up a bit but, the man doesn’t want any of it. Now, I can’t believe of any man, that he wouldn’t be up for a bit more adventure in the bedroom department, or anywhere else for that matter, so I’m surmising that the journalist has it wrong (no surely not, I hear you say) or, that there must be a deeper reason for their divorce, 50 Shades being only the trigger.

In a similar vane (okay, not that similar, but equally ridiculous), I once heard of a couple divorcing over stollen mushrooms. That is to say, she was preparing dinner and he kept stealing and eating the raw mushrooms as she peeled them. Very irritating I’m sure, if she’s in the wrong mood, but divorce material? I don’t think so.

These two examples show how people in real life make up reasons for why episodes happen in their lives; the ‘red herring’, and it seems people are prepared to accept them.

This all helps when writing, leading a reader down a path that might have little bearing on the actual plot. This could be particularly useful when trying to draw a story out, if you’ve got too close to the conclusion too soon in a story, and could save hours of rewriting. However, I think it would have to be used carefully; if you feed your reader too much bull, they will not thank you for it, but a well written diversion could be fun. Or would it? Perhaps, in the way that I read between the lines on the 50 Shades reason above, the reader will accept it only if they just don’t care? Actually, on reflection, as I write this piece, I don’t believe that at all! If you have to ‘fill a story’, it can’t be a very good one. So, bite the bullet, ditch that work and re-write it.

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

Is ‘The Café’, a writer’s retreat?

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café, Coffee, excess, Observation, people watching, writing

Now I like coffee as much as the next person but in my little village there are six cafés, with two more planned, I hear. That’s one café for every 1,800 of the population. Surely, that can’t be sustainable even if it does give diversity of choice.

Personally, I prefer the privately owned small outlets rather than the larger chains but the very reasons I like them, might be a cause of their possible demise. They are less busy, so quieter; the Yummy Mummy brigade with their pushchairs and wailing kids seem to prefer the chains (thank god), but they are regular spenders that the small cafés miss out on. Often, the smaller places don’t have wi-fi and that’s a major deficiency now, especially for a writer.

On the other hand, sometimes it’s good to frequent the multiples just to people watch. What is that meeting all about, are they plotting against someone; why does the man of that couple keep looking over his shoulder, are they married but not to each other; that lady looks lonely and sad, I wonder if she’s recently bereaved?

So, what’s the verdict, large or small, private or corporate, or do both have their place in our time? Probably, but eight in one small village?

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

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Have you heard the one about … Writing comedy.

Tags

Apollo, comedian, Comedy, family, funny, jokes, sexist, strictly

The trouble with humour is it isn’t always funny. For instance, I’ve been at London’s, ‘Hammersmith Apollo’ when all around me are in stitches, whilst I am silent and wondering what they find amusing. Conversely, I’ve found fun in a comedian’s quips whilst some others remain silent. So, either I’m weird or, humour is very personal; I think I’ll go for personal.

On occasion, I do hear of a comedian, ‘tailoring’ their material to the audience they have before them. In doing so, they often play on class; the upper classes being picked upon for their reserve. ‘What do you call a public schoolboy who was buggered once during his schooling? Frigid’.

The working classes receive attention too. ‘If a miner and a veterinary assistant marry, what do you get? A dead miner, she won’t let the canary down the mine. ‘Was that sexist by the way? Did I just assume the man was the miner and the woman the veterinary assistant.

Then there’s personal satire. ‘After a few beers, a man admits to his drinking buddy that he likes period dramas. His mate laughs and asks him what his husband likes.’ Not to everyone’s taste and an alternative, and closer to the mark, punch line might be, ‘ Really? I normally arrange to be out that day.’

Humour is quite difficult in the cold light of day; nothing better breeds laughter, than laughter and one liners are great for drawing that. Tommy Cooper was the master of one liners and many try to emulate him. ‘ I’ve just sent my wife to the West Indies’.
‘Jamaica?’
‘No, she went of her own accord.’ Boom, boom! Actually, I think that was Groucho Marx, another brilliant early humorist who had some great throw away lines. And in case your wondering, I wrote this blog a week ago, before Brucie massacred that joke on Strictly (UK) last night (except that bit obviously, otherwise I’d have known the letters numbers too).

Situational awareness is also popular where a comedian makes fun of day to day life. For instance, Michael McIntre’s, ‘man drawer.’. Every man has a man drawer with many single and bunches of keys and he no longer knows what they’re for but won’t throw away; old foreigh coins, some from bygone currencies; batteries, some charged, some not and old woodscrews. After all, who knows when you might have a need for a half dead battery, a French franc and a rusty flathead screw?

Family humour is also popular. Making fun of wife, kids, brothers, sisters, mother in law, whatever. ‘I’ve just suggested my mother in law take up walking for exercise.’
‘Really.’
‘Yes, five miles a day should do it, by the weekend she’ll be twenty five miles away.’ Classic.

In my writing I’ve tried to introduce humour, but I don’t find it easy. In real life, I believe I’m quite funny (well I think people are laughing with me, not at me) but in my writing I have to go back and act out the conversational pieces to think of the humour and then add it in. It’s a good way of editing though, makes it more interesting.

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

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Writing tips. My particular method of writing.

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hyperlinks, mac, playing pool, strategy, structuring words, wordsmith, writer, writing

I don’t know about you, but when I am writing a book, on my Mac Air, I quickly get the concept down, and then I stop writing and structure the chapters. Within these chapters, I create bullet points as reminders as to what I expect to write about at that part of the story. I choose an arbitrary number of chapters, say twenty, but nothing is set in stone and that can increase or decrease. The book I’m writing now, Drifting Sands, has only twenty-five thousand words written at present, but I’m up to twenty-six chapters.

I then, create a dynamically linked index (a hyperlink to chapter numbers with a short overview of proposed content). This basic structure allows me to move quickly to a particular chapter, to check back on what I’ve already written or, to add chapters in the correct places.

I don’t write my books from start to finish, I dart about writing about what has come to me recently on a subject and sometimes new discoveries will change my storyline (I write science fiction adventure). The linked index permits me to choose which part of the story I want to write about on a particular day without wasting time searching for where my thoughts should go. I can see an overview of the bullet points in the chapters and pick what I want to write about. As I flesh out a bullet point, I remove it from the list.

This reminds me of the way pool is played, if I see a ball over a pocket that’s a dead cert, I might bank it for later and play a ball against the cushion. In the same way, if I see a bullet point, and I know what I am going to write on that subject, I might not pick that and choose a harder subject instead. Unlike pool however, when all the bullet points are potted, the game is not over.

Ken Balneaves also wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)

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A writer’s research, a murderous business.

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ballistics, iPhone, murder, notes, Paranoia, suicide

I was making a few notes the other day after researching on the Internet, something for my latest novel, when it suddenly struck me. If someone close to me were to die under suspicious circumstances there’s a whole load of potentially incriminating material on my iPhone. I have, in Notes, subjects such as war, rioting and ballistics as well as the effects of Cesium-137 and methods of committing suicide.

All of this is of course so I can use it to knowledgeably write about these subjects in my latest novel (honest), but I now realise that in the event of me being investigated, the Police might misinterpret this. And, if I died, they may think it was suicide, so no payout for my wife on the life policy. Haha. (Oops, did I say that out loud?)

My immediate action was to inform my wife what sort of content I have recorded; thank god I don’t write about children or pornography or both! That would take some explaining (Remember Pete Townshend?). However, when I told her the nature of my research including ways of committing murder, she just gave me an incredulous look and said, ‘okay’; what a trusting woman.

I jest but in the words of the prayer,

‘If I should die before I wake’,
Will someone please delete my iPhone notes, for goodness sake.

Ken Balneaves wrote, The Greatest Gift, available at http://amzn.to/QF7RLd (US), http://amzn.to/O12kgX (UK)