Author: johnrsermon

I’m a writer from Stockport, Manchester, England, who mainly enjoys writing short stories in the soft sci-fi genre. I do like writing in other genres, fantasy in particular, but I’ve settled on soft sci-fi because I enjoy adding fantastic things that could exist right now or in the near future. I’ve been writing in my spare time since around 2001 with varying degrees of discipline. I’m always looking for ways to improve myself and my writing, and I use my blog to showcase my writing and discuss things on my mind. Every so often I’ll talk about other things in my personal life (Football – I support Manchester United, Holidays, Food, amongst others). I enjoy writing short stories, but I have also finished a few novels and completed NaNoWriMo a couple of times. Writing makes me happy, and thankfully, I can’t see that changing any time soon. My interest in writing began when I took a Film Studies Course at College in 2001. One of the assignments was to create a character and give him or her a back story. I did this and got some good feedback from my tutor, and I loved the feeling of creating a character from scratch. My other interests include running and listening to rock and metal music whenever I’m running. I enjoy watching a wide range of films and TV to relax. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is my favourite film, and Arcane is my favourite TV show. My favourite authors are Giles Kristian, J.R.R Tolkien, JK Rowling, Bret Easton Ellis, Gareth L Powell, and Robert Lewis Stevenson. Thanks for reading. If you like the sound of the above, I’d be more than happy to discuss all manner of writing-related stuff. See my contact page for details.

And the break continues…and a few pictures of what I did.

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Hello

Since last time I have still been keeping on with this break thing. I’ve had the last week off work which has meant I’ve had to focus even more on my writing break and not giving in to temptation. And this is how it went…

I spent Monday with my girlfriend, which was awesome and very relaxing. Having no work the next day was a refreshing change as one or both of us usually has to get up early the next morning.

Tuesday was the day I visited the famous, and largest in Europe, set of Christmas markets in Manchester. It does have a daft amount of stalls but I usually only end up buying some fudge and a huge rocky road muffin. I’ve not bought any fudge yet but I did buy a smartie chocolate muffin the size of my head which was gone in no time. I managed to buy a Christmas jumper and a present for my nephew as well. Then, in the evening, I did nothing at all. It was lovely.

Wednesday had me going to see my friend and her new baby. It was good to catch up as I’d not seen her in a long time. Afterwards I  went home and did naff all. Although this didn’t stop me from coming up with another idea for the twist in the story I told you about in my last post. It was something that had been playing on my mind since I finished writing story a few years ago. I knew I needed to make sure the twist was clearly explained and had a reason behind it. As long as I can do that, which I think I’m close to doing, I’ll be happy. Then I’ll probably discover that something doesn’t make sense and start all over again. I mentioned the story in a few posts previously and posted some rough drafts of the first chapter. Its called The Town of the Mountain. And then there was…

Thursday which saw me going to watch West Side Story at the Palace Theatre in Manchester with my girlfriend. I’ve wanted to see a big show at the theatre for years and she made that want happen by getting us tickets for a birthday present for me back in June. I wanted to see a show that was established and up to a high standard. The show was everything I hoped it would be and I enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks again Michelle.

Now on to Friday when I went to Leeds with a few friends to celebrate another friends birthday. We started drinking on the train there and polished off a fair amount of alcohol before we eventually went out in Leeds in our Christmas Jumpers. That night rolled on nicely as wearing those jumpers got us and everyone around into the Christmas spirit. The Saturday consisted of more alcohol and pizza followed by another night out. Out of the two nights, I preferred the Christmas Jumper one. The reason being I got chucked out of a bar on the Saturday night for something I didn’t do. Some bint accused me of pushing her off a chair. And managed to mistake me, a six foot, bearded man with short brown hair, with a five foot nothing bloke with long blond hair and no beard. How could this happen you may ask? Because we were both wearing black tops. She knew the manager so I got shown the exit. Even the bouncer said it wasn’t me. I could explain more but I may start to ramble and become more angry and go round trying to push more people over. So here are a few pictures instead.

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This is me being proud of my Christmas jumper. Just before we went out.

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This is me and a few mates. Not sure what we’re doing to be honest.

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By this point we were all fairly drunk and one of us had gone missing. It turned out he’d just gone home.

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More drunk now.

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This one was from Saturday night. I didn’t get many good pictures but this is us trying to do Gareth Bale’s heart celebration thing he does when he scores. Only a few of us managed to master it. Dan at the front, who’s birthday weekend it was, hand’s seem to have fallen apart when he tried it.

Well, that’s all from me. Hope you enjoyed a small slice of my life. Good luck as always with your writing and see you soon.

Cheers

 

Keeping on with this break thing…

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Hello

This self imposed writing break of mine is working out quite well. I like having not much else to do other than watch TV or play on my Xbox. It also helps having Christmas to distract me as well. I’ve pretty much bought all the presents I want to buy for my nearest and dearest and only have a few more things to buy. I’m even more organised than I was last year. Big smiles about that, I thought I’d be worse.

But, with all the thoughts about Christmas and all things in that area taking up most of my head space, those lovable writing thoughts keep floating to the surface.

I’ve been making notes as I usually do when this happens and the few notes I’ve made over the past week have been about a story I finished a few years ago and did a small amount of editing on. I was hoping to start editing the NaNoWriMo story I wrote last year but now I’m thinking of editing a the one from a few years ago. Or maybe another one. Or write a new one. As dilemma’s go, it’s not so bad really.

Ok, I’m going to get back to my break. Hope all your writing is going well and your enjoying your December so far.

Good Pie

Taking a break. Well, only a little.

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Hello again

After the awesomeness that was nanowrimo, I’m going to do what I did last year and take a break from writing any stories. I found that doing this and coming back to writing my stories after a month off, really revitalised me. I got straight back into it so I’m thinking, why break a successful formula?

Because it could be better, that is why.

In my month off, I’m planning on getting back into writing on this here blog and to reading more stories on the websites I’ve neglected over the past few months. I think it will be a good change of pace and although I do and always will like to write, I think my back and my mind will benefit from it. Because….

My mind can rest and take in others work and help to get it back into sharp and creative condition heading into 2014.
My back will love it as I tend to hunch over my laptop as I write and cause it to hurt.

Anyway, I’m going to get started on my grand plan but before I go for now, just one more thing,
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This was my set up for when I completed nanowrimo. And I ask of it applies to you…how did you prepare for and get on with your nanowrimo?

Bye bye

The reason I’ve been so quiet (if you noticed that is)

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Hello

Just a quick one, I’ve completed NaNoWriMo for the second year in a row! I’m really happy and have ordered a t-shirt to celebrate. Its a bit geeky but it also contributes to this brilliant challenge and helps to keep it running.

So, here is a synopsis of the story I have possibly given myself a back problem partly writing;

My novel, which isn’t finished yet but is well on its way like last years, is about a government that rules with an iron fist. They will let you live your lives but if you get caught talking or doing anything against them, and they are listening all the time, you will be killed or ‘removed’. This government has made the UK a very rich UK. It has also, since the now Prime Minister took over, discovered that a chemical runs through most human beings bodies that, if it’s in a high quantity, will cause that person to commit a crime. The higher the chemical level, the worse the crime. This can be removed however and the remove-ee (not a word) can re enter society and never commit a crime.

In order to make sure all those that should, in the governments eyes anyway, have the chemical removed do have it removed, they want to create an End Solution. Someone who can smell the chemical and suck it out of someone on the spot like a vampire. The End Solution ends up, after years of experimentation, being created but by accident. Now, the End Solution, a once normal, middle of the road man, is now a super charged, walking deterant to crime. Will he help the government or will he go out on his own? Will his friends find him before its too late? Will the Prime Minister get what he wants? Will the Government be brought o its knee’s? will he go for pizza?

Who knows? I only roughly know myself. If you would be interested in reading a snippet of this, let me know. If not, I’ll post a snippet at some point so you’ll see it anyway.

And now, this…

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Cheers

My nano progress. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

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Hello

My progress so far is pretty good with this years nanowrimo challenge. I’m a little behind on my word count (which is 18,000 I think so far) but I have some time off work so I’m going to catch up. I’d be fine if I didn’t have a daft amount of good things going on so far this month.

My flat mate managed to apply successfully for tickets for five of us to go to the Manchester United vs Arsenal game on sunday (which we, United, won) and then this meant we had to go out and celebrate. That’s sunday without writing but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Then I went to visit my sister, brother in law and nephew in the Sheffield on monday and Tuesday. It was a brilliant two days and I’m so glad I got to know my nephew a lot better. But alas, no writing. But alas, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

These are excuses I’ll grant you that but all it means is my focus is a lot stronger on catching up on my word count.

Well, that’s my nanowrimo progress so far. Hopefully those of you taking part are doing well and enjoying it. I know I am.

Good pie

Friday Funday: Great Novels Remade by Cats

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Hello

Thought I’d reblog this as:

1. Its pretty awesome.
2. It reminds me of a game I play every so often at work. The game involves replacing one word out of a film title with the word cat.

For example, iron cat, the cat, the bad and ugly, cat on the hot tin cat and so on.

Bye

The Bewildered 20-Something Writer's avatarThe Bewildered 20-Something Writer

Happy Friday dear readers! I hope your last work day before the weekend is going as smoothly as possible.

A few years back, Buzzfeed put together a list of some of the best Photoshopped book covers of all time, altering classic novels as if they had been written with cats in mind. These fictional works of kitty fiction (how meta) feature adjusted titles and book covers, and the writers over at Buzzfeed even included brief synopses. All of them are great, so be sure to check out the entire list here, but in the mean time, here are some of the highlights. Enjoy!

Crossing between London and Paris, this Dickensian story of disparate lives of alley cats versus aristocats paints a stark portrait of feline famine in prerevolutionary France and the inequities inherent between tabby cats and pure breeds.

Catsby, being a cat, doesn’t really care all that much…

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As with last year, nanowrimo for the win.

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Hello

So nanowrimo is in full swing. And I’m getting back into it easily enough. I was worried I’d struggle but its getting easier as I find my routine.

I’m also enjoying how my story is moving along. As with last year, worry crept into my head as I wondered how to move my story along.

But as I wrote, as with last year, I found myself crafting a story I’ll be proud of.

I’m also enjoying coming up with new characters as I write. I’ve managed to work in a bounty hunter somehow.

For all those who are taking part in nanowrimo, I hope you’re having a good time and continue to throughout the month.

Bye bye

Oh Dear. There’s blank spaces at the end of my calender.

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Hello

After a week of barely reading I managed to make up for it by finishing 1984!

All in all it was a brilliant read. Initially I thought it might be a struggle as its not lay out in chapters as such but in three different parts each with several different sections broken up with a roman numeral. These would come in the middle of the page so, as is my way of reading, I would have to read until the end of a sentence at the start of a page. I don’t like to stop half way through a page but sometimes, only due to the tram getting to my stop, would I be forced to do so. But anyway…

Once I started I realised that it wasn’t going to be a problem. It is not too easy to read but not to difficult either. The balance is spot on and everything from the descriptions, dialogue and how the story pans out is well paced and planned out. I may read it again. I was also struck by relevant reading this book was to my NaNoWriMo challenge attempt.

The story I’m going to write is about a non to distant future which has a government ruling over it with an iron fist. It’s not as brutal and astonishing as Big Brother, nor is it the main focus of story, but it does play a big part in how the story will progress. The main character in my story was a creation of the government. The government in my story does allow the people its runs to live relatively normal lives. They only intervene when they think anything close to them, mainly their policies and ‘weekly and monthly reports’, are questioned. Which will turn out to be a fair amount as the story goes on and their creation starts to find out more about them. I’ll stop there as I’m in danger of giving to much of it away.

Ok. So, I checked my calendar yesterday I there were two blanks squares at the end of it. Which belong to the next month. Which is November. Which is NaNoWriMo. Oh dear.

I’m not that scared really. But, I know I’ve got something planned on Friday and Saturday but I make sure I start NaNoWriMo off well and keep it going. And I hope everyone else who is taking part who has given this little blog of mine a glance, does the same.

Laters

Does it have to be a novel?

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Hello

I took part in nanowrimo last year and successfully wrote 50,000 words of a novel I ended up finishing the following May.

I remember reading last time round that 50,000 words of a novel is good enough and it doesn’t have to be a the total word count for it.

So, should I aim to finish my novel in November or try and get as close as I can?

Cheers