The Word Cloud

The question in the title was one asked in therapy a long, long time ago; has popped into my mind this evening ~ and I am still not sure I have reached a definitive answer.

Is this an appropriate subject for a blog in a writing community, as we loom towards Valentine's Day?  Who knows?  Who cares?  We shall see, maybe.

At this point, when I've done an awful lot of these blog,s I have to check back every now and then to make sure I haven't already talked about someone, especially when it's someone whom it seems like I should have already covered. How To Marry a Millionaire (showing on film4 this Wednesday at 12.55pm) was written by Nunnally Johnson, about whom I have considered writing on several occasions but have always gone with someone else simply because I knew that there would be another chance to write about Johnson. He's one of a handful of writers who seem to have written almost everything during the golden age of cinema. So where to begin? Well a full career overview is out of the question, IMDB lists 72 writing credits and although that includes films based on his earlier scripts that's still a lot to cover. Plus, unlike many writers of his generation, Johnson's career did not seem to peter out as he grew older, his last film credit at the age of 70 was for The Dirty Dozen. He didn't exactly get off to a slow start either, writing the story for the silent film Rough House Rosie in 1927, a Clara Bow vehicle. Despite this start he apparently was not looking for a screenwriting career as he continued as a journalist and short story writer for another 6 years before relocating to Hollywood in 1933. Like most writers of that era Johnson's screenplay is a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, there are westerns, war films, dramas and comedies, and, of course, there's a lot of uncredited work because that's how it was then. The stand out is The Grapes of Wrath, and when a writer has one script that stands head and shoulders above 70 odd other films it's quite tempting to give credit to the director, especially when that director is John Ford. That's probably fair but does also raise the question; would more of Johnson's films be better known if they had been directed by men of Ford's calibre? Who knows? but I think it's interesting that another of his best films The Three Faces of Eve was one of the rare ones he directed himself. We always remember how directors enhance the screenwriters work and are quick to give credit (quite rightly) to men like John Ford, David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock et al, but we sometimes forget how many great scripts were ruined by incompetent direction. And there's a lot more incompetents than there are John Fords. I think it's fair to call Johnson one of the backbone writers of classic US cinema but, given the paucity of 'classics' (by which I mean films we remember today) he wrote, it might surprise people to learn that he was the highest paid screenwriter of the 1950s. This certainly reflects his reliability and versatility but I think also reflects how few films make the posterity cut. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was one of my favourite films of last year but will it be remembered in 50 years time? If reading about Nunnally Johnson has taught me anything then it's that there are more great films out there than the list of approved 'classics' would have us believe.

Ever since I joined the cloud the concept of POV has caused me a lot of torment.  Even though I have listened and followed the advice clouders give on this, I still find myself reading published books that do not follow the rules...  So, in plain english - pretend I'm a child - can someone explain the different types of writing narrative, i.e. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  And if possible, let me know what the popular one is.

I get the impression 1st is in for YA novels.  Then again, it depends on the story.  I have read some YA novels written in 2nd (I think).  And Harry Potter is written in 3rd - am i right?

To put it in context...I prefer to write from a female POV, but at times I want to slot in the male POV.  How do I do this, without having to switch all the time?  How can I do this smoothly?  I am just working on a brand new novel, and I want to get it straight in my head before I get sucked in and then have to edit a lot!

Thanks a lot for you help... it's really appreciated.

The Winner of our Joke Competition has only recently been subjected to a rather in-depth 'probe' from the gorgeous Debi & Emma. It has left his work in a near perfect state but unfortunately he is still quaking in a corner and not up to another session with them!

With the blessing of Guero Davilo the Cloud is passing the prize to the next best joke...so the new winner is Steve for his tattoist joke:
Bernard goes into a tattooist’s.
“I’d like you to tattoo my girlfriend’s name on my penis. Can you do that?”
“I can,” says the tattooist. “But it’s very painful. I’ll have to give you an anaesthetic. What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
“She’s called Wendy.”
So the tattooist does his stuff, but when Bernard comes round all he can see is a ‘W’ and a ‘Y’ on his cock.
“Don’t worry,” says the tattooist. “When you get an erection, your girlfriend’s name will be there in full. If you like, go into the toilets in the back and check it out.”
So Bernard goes into the toilets, does what he has to do, and there is his girlfriend’s name in all its glory. He’s very pleased. But just then another chap walks into the toilet and he’s got ‘W’ and ‘Y’ on his cock as well.
“Is your girlfriend’s name Wendy?” Bernard asks.
“Naaaah, mine say Welcome to Jamaica and have a nice day.”

Brace yourself Steve - Debi & Emma will be heading your way!

Hi everyone! Kobal and I have teamed up to write a story together. To avoid messing up the Cloud with random ramblings, we have put the sections in our own blogs.

Kobal's is here, or:

http://cognisumpstories.posterous.com/tag/godsstory

Mine is here, or:

http://randomjaxx.posterous.com/

Mine won't be updated very often as I'm still busy with Southlander, but Kobal's section may be more productive.

**Feedback welcome!**

Thanks,

Jaxx & Kobal.

Thanks for all your variously silly, cheeky and witty entries for the joke competition. After much guffawing and chuckling the office has decided that the joke from Guero Davila was the one that tickled us the most!

 So Guero, you now have the absolute pleasure of a Prose Probe from our fab duo Debi & Emma.

Special mention goes to Steve for his Tattoist joke and Barb for her Four Fonts... we really did like them all.
For all those who weren't so lucky don't despair, Emma and Debi's fabulous self-editing course is still bookable, still has space enough for you and still stars the gorgeous gals themselves  just pop along to their super-fandabulous SELF-EDITING course

... here's the answer. Visit the website and find out.

stephenterry.weebly.com

Lately I haven't had the energy to write. My paid gig is running me at full speed and there's simply hasn't been anything left over to use to focus on my WIP. I tried for a while, but all I was producing was stilted awful stuff that sounded way removed from the usual me. I gave myself permission to stop.

I was sent some great DVDs for Yule which I've now watched. I also put together two flat packs that have been waiting patiently for several months. Then I felt like writing again - but not like researching or cross-checking, or even plotting. What the hell, I decided to write only with the view of seeing where it took me.

The most bizarre story has formed. Characters that I'd never even thought of in an abstract way have arrived and started bossily demanding how things are going to be. It gothic, dark and murder ridden. But most importantly, I've realised it exactly what I'd like to be reading at the moment.

Regardless of whether it's any use at the end, I'm having an absolute hoot. Anyone struggling - I recommend taking your filters off for a while.

Now then, I left a ghost setting fire to the printer's shop...

My week is not complete when I lack this one activity, even if it's the only thing that I wouldn't miss in my schedule. That would be jogging in the park two blocks away from the building where my office is located. I work as a writer who barely have time to eat lunch for a full hour or take breaks in their allotted duration. A whole day is not enough for the amount of writing that I have to do to meet my deadlines. I might not have enough time for everything else outside of work, but I have at least thirty minutes of my time four times a week for my much-needed jog.

While some people would be happy to spend a precious hour at the gym, I would be happy to have half an hour to sweat, listen to the music on my sleeve, and break into a run during my final round. That is jogging. It's as simple as it is. But this simple activity allows me to refresh my mind, get a regular physical exercise, and feel happy afterwards. It's like eating a slice of strawberry shortcake that lets you forget about your current worries because it's a sin not to mind each bite. Then I can go back writing a thesis long paper without throwing a fit.