Recent posts in 'Writers'

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

True Tania. And literature is so many things, not the least of which is an escape. Yet reality TV blossoms. I loathe and detest it, but the mainstream loves it (although 8 years of big brother seems to be its limit). I’m hoping that is a sign of the times re RT!

Then you get the likes of Danielle Steele and such wonderful books as Princess Daisy and Palamino (the latter being the only one of hers I’ve read – enough to put me off). But also Jacqueline Susanne and Valley of the Dolls, Love Machine and other bodice rippers. Soaps are no less dark than horror, just a lot fluffier.

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

Maybe reading dark writing takes the reader into an opposite place to their normal reality. I mean, i would like to think that most people don’t live in a permanent state of darkness. We’re escaping reality

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

Thanks everyone. There certainly is a common thread. Perhaps the next question is, why do readers seek out the darkness in literature? The more popular books globally have dark themes. Stephen King has become legendary from it – so too has JK Rowling, Agatha Christie, Xavier Herbert, Patrick White, Peter Carey, Mathew Reilly, David Morell, Isobel Carmody, et al.

In so many ways, popular authors delve into darkness and take their readers with them. Why do we willingly go! Especially when for the characters we learn to love on the journey, many don’t survive!! We know this but still we read on. Why do we love to cry at a fictional character’s ephemeral existence?

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

Hi Anne,
Only just seen this post. I don’t check this forum regularly as posting seems to be sporadic with long lapses between posts.

Why darkness in writing … why write? I think many writers start out because they want to explore thoughts, feelings, emotions they find it difficult to talk about, often because these things have overwhelmed them, and often because they are unpleasant.

I also think some writers dwell on the dark side because they think it’s cool and it’s worked for authors they admire.

A lot of my private (unpublished) work explores dark themes.

Topic: Writers / World's religion

When wealth is worshipped in the midst of
extreme poverty and degradation,
jealousy, hatred and infliction stirred
in the hearts of the poor,
poisonous emotion
is the seed of
Terrorism.

When wealth is worshipped in the midst of
extreme poverty and degradation,
the sacredness of all life is dismissed
from the human heart,
acting as semi-god
is the seed of
War.

When wealth is worshipped in the midst of
extreme poverty and degradation,
the teachings of science and religion
fall on deaf ears,
worshipping a false god
is the seed of
Collective suicide.

Topic: Writers / The big "D"

Big “D” is standing for
Damnation
by
Depression

Clusters in the living statue of society
plagued with streets of sorrows
filled forever with children’s cry,
emerging from the dust of war
is a curse:
Damnation
by
Depression

Mad state’s man ordering war
to establish peace is a murderer
for many generations,
emerging from the dust of war
is a curse:
Damnation
by
Depression

Depression, the many headed monster is
ready to infiltrate the heart of the living statue of society
while the mad man is sharpening his sward,
emerging from the dust of war
is a curse:
Damnation
by
Depression

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

I tend to only write about the darkness when it’s a particularly depressing story, etc.

And like Tania, I’m a muso too -though amateur, and there are certain moods that are created by using certain keys. to reflect a mood,

Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony no. 6 is a good example of this – one movement is quite peaceful and tranquil, and the next is a thunderstorm.

Often at church, the pianist will comment that a certain song seems too dreary, and we just transpose it into another key.

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

I clicked over to your journal, and because you went into more detail there, i guess it seems to make sense to comment there.
However because i am spending a lot of time lately lurking in the forums, i thought i’d add a comment here.

I’m a musician by profession, so darkness is something i guess which get’s explored a lot within my line of work, similarly to writing. I guess there’s a few different motivations for dark explorations, not least of which is creating an opportunity to purge one’s own demons. This doesn’t necessarily mean writing directly about ones own tangible experiences, but it is a vehicle to express and let go of one’s own internal sense of darkness, or release the imagined darkness of our perception.

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

Wow, no posts here. My journal may have seen most who commented perhaps, with 80 odd hits, and lots of comments in three groups where it was also posted. But I am a bit disappointed that the general writing community didn’t care to comment.

Tell me what you want to inspire you?
Tell me how we can get discussion rolling?
Or is this forum truly redundant?

I hope it’s a big no to the last, but if that’s what writers on Redbubble want (or don’t want), I will be guided by this.

It’s all good, everyone. I know most writers are active within their own writing groups.
But do tell what you want or need.

Topic: Writers / Exploring the Darkness

Hi all
I have posted a journal about an informal, random research project I’m doing about the proliferation of darkness in writing, particularly on Redbubble, but also in general terms.

Although I have a personal position on the subject, I am more interested in exploring the concept than expressing my opinion. I really want to draw out what people think about the ‘lust for bad news’ or the delight we find in the twisted and the downbeat in fiction.

If you would like to see the background, or to express your opinion or participate or even just read what people have said so far, then pop along to my journal here .

Of if you would just like to put your own ideas forward, I’d love to see a response in this thread.

Topic: Writers / write the news

Interesting. Something on that website seems to crash Firefox 3.0 under Ubuntu. Could be an addon I have installed that’s causing the problem though I guess.

Topic: Writers / write the news

I stumbled upon this website and thought… now that is something the redbubble writers could really use to their advantage.

just sharing the love

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

I would pu some money toward a themed graphic novel collaberated on by artists and writters here such as one built on the story by Damian for the spirit walks competition and some of the artwork from that comp as well. Similar comps for different tastes of course.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Maybe do it as a pay for ezine in pdf first to see what recipe of things works best and then progress to a printed version. And use the ezine time to encourage the quality of the work and have peers providing proofreading and editorial help to those that need it.

Because with a printed version I can’t see it easily being a print on demand product you would have to do a proper print run (otherwise not cost effective) I am thinking and if you can’t guarantee a circulation figure then it is a lot of money wasted in printing. Just my 2 cents.

Also with a printed magazine it would be better if distributors outside the bubble could also be found to increase readership and also entice other quality writers to be a part of the bubble. Maybe also provide sample copies to a selection of libraries where they are seen by a lot of people.

Then there is if it is a magazine are you going to sell advertising space either to other members of redbubble or related products. That would help reduce production costs

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Hi Biddlio
I believe offering a publication outlet would help to improve the quality of the things presented on Redbubble. Doing nothing would be providing no motivation.

As for who would choose, like I have posted before, a professional editorial team!!! I think that’s the way to go.

Thanks for your comments.
:o)

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

I like the idea of using a magazine of newspaper format, which showcases a mixture of writings from different artists and nice images to go with some of the writings.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

I agree that the writing here is not professional or polished enough to present to the masses. There are some pieces that are, but who would decide? Some of the best writers on this site have very few comments, no one seems to know about them and some of the more popular pieces are really not very polished or professional. Putting those in a printed format would cost more than they’d make. RB is a showcase, not a workshop. Perhaps introduce a workshop and keep the printed book/magazine idea on the backburner until there are more really polished and publishable pieces to put into it.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Soooo, is the general consensus to date an anthology or magazine put together by a professional team? Either of those ideas are my own personal faves to be honest. But as many have said, THEY MUST be done on a professional level and I’m afraid a great deal of the writing here, while the ideas are often wonderful, is not polished and needs editing into shape. I don’t mean to sound arrogant when I say that so apologies if it comes across that way.

The point is, it needs to be something that people not devoted to Redbubble would want to buy, perhaps even something Redbubblers would be proud to resell themselves. Imagine the circulation that could generate if the product was good enough in terms of polished content? (respectfully).

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Great work Anne with getting the question out there. It’s been an interesting read to this point.

As a reader, there are stories here on RB that I’d love to buy, even though I’ve read them already. I totally agree with the people who’ve said that nothing beats holding a book (magazine etc whatever) to read.

So I’d like to be able to select the stories I know I love and buy them, either one at a time as a minishot, or all together in a paperback anthology.

I’d need to trust the person putting together the selection of writers if the ‘writing chosen by someone else’ option was to run. That person would make or break that idea.

I like the mook idea, as the images here are great. A cool magazine would also get my money.

A collection of just RB poetry would not get my money. I’m completely against newspapers. I wish they’d hurry up and die so we can get on with the 21st century.

A collection by the same author could get my money, as there are some writers here who are fantastic.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Magazine

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

How about the idea with the magazine using it as a teaser for novellas that could be purchases in full as pdfs or a link to a published paper version. i.e. publish the first chapter of the novel or novella to tease people into buying the full version.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

Vonnie, I’m canvassing writing product, not something else for images (respectfully). A magazine is doable – I honestly don’t believe there are a lot of magazines devoted to fiction and prose. Certainly collaboration with image people would come into it, but I believe a hidden gallery/group for written work is needed to even get the idea of a mook off the groun – i.e. only synopses or descriptions available to the public. It would need an editorial team and perhaps by subscriber. I don’t believe a pick and choose situation is viable, but a regular (say quarterly) magazine of high quality writing could get a guernsey, with nominal payment to those published in each magazine. There would not be a lot of money in it for the contributors but there could be something and it provides an avenue of real publishing exposure for writers.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

I like the magazine idea.

How about articles on “how-to”? For example, Digital Photography magazine is going to have a new column called “Inside the Image”. The editor is going to give her opinion on the image as well as some information from the photographer. My picture “White and Pink Flowers” is going to be one of the first pictures to be in the columun. Due out in September. Just an idea.

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

A selection of Redbubble writers chosen by you
+A mook

Topic: Writers / What would you as a reader ... ???

A magazine with stories, articles and images
A mixture of fiction, nonfiction, prose, poetry and images