Category: Stray Toughts
-
Foreign Languages in Literature
Recently, somebody complimented me for my English. That’s always a boost, but on the other hand, it would be a terrible idea to write in a language one doesn’t master. It gave me food for thought though. What makes any writer chose to write in a language different from his or her native tongue? For…
-
Blogs — Are They a Headache?
Struggling to find a balance I just had a pleasant encounter with somebody who writes speculative fiction, probably with a hint of fantasy. Nice guy too. It was fun — and nobody can convince me that conversations between writers aren’t productive, as well as educational. I believe that it is time to do some…
-
Uncomfortable Questions
A few days ago, I watched an interesting film about the Vatican State during WWII. It gave a good sense of the times, even if it was a narrow view. Narrow only, because it played out in the Vatican, and the actors mostly portrayed the Pontifex and his staff (nuns and clericals of various rank).…
-
Snakes and Symbols
And there the snake throws her enamelled skin. . . (Shakespeare) A few days ago, I watched Grimm’s fairy tale The White Snake. It made me think. Perhaps, because the film version was beautiful and went beyond the original narrative, adding new psychological levels. I must add that the subconscious plays a huge part…
-
An Unjust Society
A few days ago, they grabbed a shoplifter in the local supermarket. That made me think, not because of his so-called crime, but it suddenly struck me that many people are driven to crime through the way this society works. This particular guy is probably a junk-addict and alcoholic, but that doesn’t change the fact…
-
Questions to Ask
I don’t think one can be too cautious in choice of language these days. It is too easy to misunderstand. If somebody constantly pulls Muslims into focus in rants about radicalism and criminality, I find it difficult to see this person as anything but bigoted. It isn’t easy to talk about these issues, but it…
-
Thoughts at the End of the Year
2017 was the year I decided to publish independently. So far, it is exciting but there’s also much to learn. I must learn to balance social media involvement with writing time. I must learn how to make sales and get reviews, something I never thought of before I published. Looking back, I wonder why…
-
Christmas Thoughts
This morning I listened to Danish Christmas songs. I started to cry. And asked myself why. It wasn’t difficult to figure out, the pure voices stirred up emotions and memories, but the obvious answer didn’t satisfy me. There had to be more to it than that. Over the last days, social media has been filled…
-
Romance: Treat or Trick?
Like the next person, I do love a good romance, but if, and when, I get a romance overload, I start to question the idea of the whole thing. If girls, or women, always get portrayed as suckers for love, isn’t there something to worry about? Even when the (female) protagonist is successful, it seems…
-
Equilibrium?
How do you balance your time between writing and the business of being an indie author? Well, today I spent my free time interacting with people on Facebook. It may not sell books directly, although a strong presence on the internet should boost my career. But regarding balance, it is a tricky question. How does…