[a pleasurable headache] blue hair and spats
Top Gun: Maverick
https://www.patreon.com/posts/top-gun-maverick-80420500
Priscilla Page does it again, this time with a great read on the blockbuster sequel. This deep dive on the movie touches on fatherhood, grief and legacy.
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The French Understand That Work Sucks
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2023/03/the-french-understand-that-work-sucks
Nathan J. Robinson at Current Affairs magazine on the current wave of protests that have hit France. The protests follow proposed legislation that would increase the retirement age. Meanwhile, here in Britain people continue to piss and moan about the strikes here whilst simultaneously bemoaning the cost of living and stagnant wages.
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The Bluestocking: On Writing
https://helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluestocking-on-writing
Whilst this insight into Helen Lewis’ writing process is focused on long form journalism I still feel there are some excellent nuggets to dig out of this one that pertain to all writing.
“Many writers now feel uncomfortable about physical descriptions, in case they sound judgemental. That is a risk—you should not be cruel—but if someone has blue hair or wears spats, they are trying to tell you something about themselves and it’s OK to notice that.”
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Writing in Bits & Pieces
https://apex-magazine.com/for-writers/for-writers-writing-in-bits-pieces/
This writing advice piece by Steve Rasnic Tem speaks to me a lot right now, with writing occurring in spurts (baby nap time) via my phone and Google Docs or scribbles in a pocket notebook.
The advice of writing (and planning) in fragments before bringing it all together is splendid.
As an aside, I highly recommend Yours to Tell by Steve Rasnic Tem and his late wife Melanie. It’s one of the better books on writing that I’ve read and consists of conversations between the pair about writing, structure, character, etc. Seek it out.
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The Hibernator’s Guide to the Galaxy
https://www.wired.com/story/mars-hiberators-guide-to-the-galaxy/
An older story, but one I only just got around to reading. If we are to make it to Mars when hibernation will likely be a key factor.
This Wired piece looks at efforts to replicate biological processes in the animal kingdom in humans.
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Taxonomies for Storytelling
https://litreactor.com/columns/building-a-mystery-taxonomies-for-storytelling
Roy Christopher at Lit Reactor talks about story as tapestry, pulling disparate topics into a whole and how they influence the story, as well as the balance needed when bringing multiple factors and influences into play. It’s a short piece but one that gets the noggin working.
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Sy Hersh: No follow-up to explosive Nord Stream story
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/03/15/sy-hersh-no-follow-up-to-explosive-nordstream-story/
Colour me shocked.
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I am off to stumble through another fortnight. See you in two!