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Showing posts from 2018

Dropping F-bombs on Mars

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So here’s an interesting topic: profanity in art and entertainment. Obviously, art and entertainment are subjective, so some people will be fine with profanity while others will not be. But is there a middle ground? When is profanity acceptable or perhaps even appropriate in a book, television show, or movie? Some people would say it never is. Other people say as much as is needed to tell an authentic story. Other folk might say the more the better. Surely it varies. But is there an appropriate time and place for it? Perhaps it’s a you-know-it-when-you-see-it kind of thing. An occasional swear word here and there when used in context can underscore the emotional component of a scene. And it is certainly often representative of “real life”. People use profanity in their daily lives all the time, some more than others; young people probably more; parents with small children trying to set a good example probably less. But is there a standard

10 Questions with Debut Writer Jamie Adams @JamieAdStories

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Short Dates a Collection of Short Stories by Jamie Adams This author spotlight features Uk-based writer Jamie Adams, author of the new short story collection Short Dates , available now on Amazon. Jamie is  a 40 year old teacher who is looking to find an outlet for his creativity through the medium of writing both short stories and Novellas. 1.How did you get into writing and why do you write? I write because lots of interesting story snippets are whirling around in my head and I want to let them out. As a teacher I have taught English in school for many years and studied many genres along the way. I want to explore my own style and have some fun along the way. 2.What do you like best (or least) about writing? I like the process of making a story up, or as I say, letting it out! The hardest thing for me is writing endings so I keep them short and sweet, as for me, stories are all about the build up and twists. 3.What

What Makes a Good Book a Good Film?

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What makes a book a candidate for a good film? Answer: it depends. On many things. Sometimes, it's the visuals; the story is quite cinematic, begging for a visual representation.   Blade Runner certainly comes to mind. Also, a thoroughly-visualized world (one perhaps not recently seen) is important. Think Harry Potter (the novel manuscript of which, you'll recall, was roundly rejected by all publishers for over a year; oops). For other books, it's not about the visuals so much as it's about the story, the theme, the message, whether it be serious, quirky, or otherwise. Cohen Brothers films come to mind. You always know you're going to get something wacky yet thought-provoking with them. No Country for Old Men , for example; which, interestingly, began as a screenplay, became a novel, and then became a movie; so, there are no rules; like William Goldman said: If it works, it's right. And, finally, it is very muc