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« Show all entries for MARCH 2008
Monday, 10 March 2008 05:08:50
Hello, Firefly People! Due to some comments on my last posts I feel the need to clarify some fic issues. I first set out to write one fic. Then, I discovered I liked the process so here I am going on and on... So, yes, each fic is a part of a continuing series. I should probably do chapters but I'm not nearly that organized. So, here is my attempt at organization. Please note that if you are reading the stories, stick to this order otherwise it ain't gonna make a lot of sense! [b]The Aftermath Series[/b] This series takes place after the battle on Mr. Universe's moon and continues to the end of the BDM. Fallout:
Monday, 10 March 2008 18:04:31
Finished [i]Company Aytch[/i] on the ride back from Branson (much sooner then I expected) and so here’s some of my thoughts (and a mini-review): For those who don’t know, [i]Company Aytch[/i] is a memoir of a private soldier in the Army of Tennessee, Sam R. Watkins, who enlisted in it at the beginning of the war and served with it until its surrender in 1865. Of the 119 other men who enlisted with him at the start, only six others came back home with him at the end. Sam was wounded (not severely enough to be sent home) several times and one of his final wounds was (if nse of horror and fear he must have felt that day. Sam isn’t a professional writer and while that is evident, it isn’t really a problem. To me it came across as just an average guy trying to tell his story; he never makes himself out to be a hero and I respect him for it. That’s not to say I agree with everything he says (or that I think he’s completely correct). For example, he’s writing about some action after the Army of Tennessee has abandoned (and set fire to) Atlanta and he makes a claim that (paraphrasing) “Other then Lookout Mountain, we’d licked the Yankees”, which is a bit of bullocks. If they’d won every battle except one, why had they been forced out of Tennessee and into Georgia and were now on their way up to the Carolinas? I can’t speak for Sam, but I think it probably has to do with the fact that he only saw his company’s point of view, so battles like Shiloh, where his unit was only in action the first day would seem to be victories (even though they lost it on the second). I also disagree with him on his views on the war and the Union, but he fought against it and that’s to be expected. All in all, I liked the book a lot. One of the best things about [i]Co. Aytch[/i] is that most of the story isn’t the battles, but the stuff that happens in camp or on the march. Of course there are the battles, but most of a soldier’s time isn’t fighting and this book is spot on for that. The book is good on showing what an average soldier’s point of view was of the fighting, but I won’t be able to use it as a stylistic guide for writing it (I may try the sort of serial in a newspaper approach). Now I’m starting [i]The Highland Brigade in the Crimea[/i]. We’ll see if I finish it as quickly; I was worried that I was picking too many books, but I may have a shot since I finished the last one in less then a week. I had originally planned to outline some of the challenges ahead, but I think I’m stopping here for now and I’ll give myself sometime to think that part over. Fundamentally, the biggest challenge is understanding the universe (times, dates, planets, how the military will function) and I’m sure there’s resources out there, I’ll just have to find them. As promised, here are the lyrics to the Civil War song "Short Rations", transposed from a Bobby Horton CD and a google book. [b]Short Rations-Dedicated to the Cornfed Army of Tennessee[/b] [i]Lyrics by Ye Comic, Music by Ye Tragic[/i] Fair ladies and maids of all ages Little girls and cadets howe’er youthful Home-guards, quartermasters, and sages, Who write for the newspapers so truthful! Clerks, surgeons, and supes—legislators, Staff officers, (fops of the Nation,) And even you, dear speculators, Come list to my song of starvation! [i]Chorus[/i] For we soldiers have seen something rougher Then a storm, a retreat, or a fight, And the body may toil on and suffer With a smile, so the heart is all right! Our bugles had roused up the camp, The heavens looked dismal and dirty, And the earth looked unpleasant and damp, As a beau on the wrong side of thirty; We were taking these troubles with quiet, When we heard from the mouths of some rash ones, That the army was all put on a diet, And the Board had diminish’d our rations! Chorus Reduce our rations at all? It was difficult, yet it was done— We had one meal a day—it was small- Are we now, Oh, ye gods! To have none? Oh, ye gentlemen issuing rations,
Monday, 10 March 2008 18:27:30
Ok, I'm wound tighter than a drum right now. As some may know, inspired by the people at this site, I took a writing course and have entered several writing contests. Four to be exact. A total of 6 pieces. Well, I got word this weekend that I am a top 10 finalist in a humour writing contest. The top ten are now being judged by some pretty big radio talents here in Canada. Roger Ashbey and Erin Davis. Even if I don't win, this is huge considering my class went from Sept. to Dec. '07, and these are the first contests I've entered...EVER. It's also the reason I haven't been around much. Now, I'm not saying I'm of Mal4prez's calibre, or some of the other great writers here, but for a guy who's highest mark in high school english was 68%, this is a huge accomplishment. Thanks for listening.
Monday, 10 March 2008 21:46:21
for all of those Browncoats out there i have a question. Who is your favorite character and why? this for anyone