tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post4586312988865269633..comments2024-03-28T16:06:50.879+00:00Comments on FICTION on the WEB short stories: A Life Examined - Found in a Recorder of the Deceased by Doug HawleyCharlie Fishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04834189452905372024noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-16145788267989470802023-05-26T16:54:48.102+01:002023-05-26T16:54:48.102+01:00Thanks for this and all the support. You are now ...Thanks for this and all the support. You are now up there in my supporter (athletic?) hall of fame with Maysam and the LS gang.Doug Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01614693152638319363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-78537631877340134632023-05-26T11:59:19.228+01:002023-05-26T11:59:19.228+01:00
Doug, I enjoyed this story very much: and you’re ...<br />Doug, I enjoyed this story very much: and you’re right, not every character needs to be “developed.” I had to laugh at the way you told your highly self-regarded critics to shove it when they criticized you. You wrote, basically, the tale of an asshole, and assholes deserve their print, just like anyone else. I’ve written about assholes (figuratively speaking) a lot (see: Ronnie B’s). Nice job!Bill Topenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-29341402580120296762016-01-13T16:28:17.599+00:002016-01-13T16:28:17.599+00:00I don't think there are absolute rules in writ...I don't think there are absolute rules in writing. It's fine for the character not to change in a very short piece like this. He's unapologetic, honest in a way. You could admire that, or not. It's a matter for long debate. But whatever anyone thinks, I enjoyed this piece of writing!<br />S.LucasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-34754724567664371732015-06-03T11:10:51.292+01:002015-06-03T11:10:51.292+01:00I do read these comments!
My favourite film of la...I do read these comments!<br /><br />My favourite film of last year was "The Wolf of Wall Street". I've seen dozens of films about an amoral crook who got his comeuppance in the end - but in this case the glamorised criminal suffers no negative consequences, and is even hugely rewarded for his crimes. Why did Martin Scorsese make such a film?<br /><br />Because it reflects our times. When we watched Oliver Stone's Wall Street in 1987, or Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas in 1990, we were shocked by how the world really works, shaken out of our naivety. But now, in the 2010s, we know how the world works - and even though we claim to be good people, we know that we are complicit in the evil and dysfunction that forms the foundation of our society. Bankers steal our money because we let them. Footballers get paid millions to set terrible examples because we let them. Chickens are battery farmed because we let it happen. We know the only way our shoes could be this cheap is because somewhere in the world someone has been horribly exploited BUT WE BUY THEM ANYWAY.<br /><br />That's what was in my mind when I decided to publish this. We can't keep demanding our stories to have morals, our endings to be happy, when we are guilty of turning a blind eye to the rot.Charlie Fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04834189452905372024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-57659945620836696722015-05-30T20:26:57.678+01:002015-05-30T20:26:57.678+01:00Meta-criticism - I strongly feel character develop...Meta-criticism - I strongly feel character development is both unnecessary and unrealistic. Would the Hannibal series have been better if he became vegan? Would "The Killer Inside Me" by Jim Thompson been better if the narrator took everyone out for cake and coffee at the end rather than blowing them all up.<br /><br />Some writing teachers (I took an online course from one and was the only one who thought it was a load), some writers and some genres require formulae with little relevance to real life. Most characters don't develop, they just have minor changes through life, and most real stories don't have twists at the end.<br /><br />Rant over.<br /><br />Charlie, if you read these comments, want to start a debate or forum? I'd like to know what others think. Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-9344938211347605162015-05-30T16:04:33.552+01:002015-05-30T16:04:33.552+01:00It is the diary of an asshole who sees no point in...It is the diary of an asshole who sees no point in changing. That is exactly the point.Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-24055028893810822712015-05-17T06:19:51.821+01:002015-05-17T06:19:51.821+01:00Where's the twist? This sounded like diary of ...Where's the twist? This sounded like diary of an asshole. I was hoping for some kind of ending that wasn't just "hey I haven't changed and I'm a dick head." What's the point of a story if there's no character development?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13800244766592594222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-64658173166618761812015-05-15T21:06:36.904+01:002015-05-15T21:06:36.904+01:00That's a life. Good one.That's a life. Good one.Tony Acarasiddhi Presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14808091702243409739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-51959649428565875202015-05-15T17:42:52.321+01:002015-05-15T17:42:52.321+01:00A sense of fragility and the devil, life doesn'...A sense of fragility and the devil, life doesn't line up? This challenges our selfish impulses, de-romanticises them and demands that we face consequences. A timely story,<br />Thanks,<br />Ceinwen<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com