Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Blog

Tis Friday - end of the week, beginning of the weekend. Time for fun and frolics. Today's article is about writing Horror - a much misunderstood genre, as I recently learned from a room full of people - not writers - that told me they never watch horror movies or read horror stories. For an ardent fan of the genre, this is like saying you don't like breathing... I explain why below. The above title comes, famously, from Joseph Conrad's short story, Heart of Darkness, later reworked for Francis Ford Copolla's movie, Apocalypse Now. It's used to describe - in the book and the movie - something so awful that it is beyond description. It's potent because just the words have the power to evoke our darkest subconscious fears - without actually showing us anything. Clever trick. Horror fiction - especially in the movies - balances the desire to show and describe horror images while at the same time leaving something to the imagination. There's an irony here. Becaus...

Isn't life wonderful? I don't think we say this often enough. I read a great quote yesterday from Alan Clark - a UK politician you've probably never heard of. He said, "If you want to be great, you should always start from the position that you can do anything and that anything is possible." Okay, so I've probably paraphrased (ie misquoted) a little - but the sense of his wisdom is there I think. In the spirit of pushing ourselves, I've been rehearsing with a theater group recently - acting in a play, actually a farce, due to open on the 31st of March. Should be a lot of fun. Today, my article is about the "Fantasy Fiction Formula" - and how it's the basis of every fantasy novel out there - from Lord of the Rings to Eragon - and everything in between. Now, most fantasy writers have been constructing their fictional world since childhood. It grows with them; they add to it as they develop as writers until it's so real to them that writing...

It's hot and sticky here today - almost too hot to write. Ah well, better stop complaining and get on with it! As you probably know, I always put out a newsletter on Fridays, come rain or shine. That's the kind of commitment writers need to make, I always advise. When you decide to do something, you must do it, finish what you start - because if you get into the habit of doing something, the habit makes you stronger. That's my theory anyway! What happens when you can't think of anything to write about? People ask me this all the time - especially young writers, who feel the overwhelming urge to write, or at least BE a writer, but when it comes to sitting in front of a screen, nothing comes out. Nothing interesting enough to write down anyway. Do you get days like this? I think all writers do. It's worst when you're half way through a novel and you can't think of an interesting way to get to the next plot point. There are various ways of getting through block...

Our thoughts go out to all those in Queensland Australia, hit last night so heavily by Cyclone Yasi. We hope all those displaced will soon be able to rebuild their lives. We'll be there for you. Many writers and writers' groups in South Australia have already pledged support, emotionally and materially. We too, wish you well. Ask any successful writer. You can't be a great writer unless you read voraciously - and for all the right reasons. There is a huge difference between reading for pleasure and reading as a writer. Sometimes this is a subtle difference - and actually quite hard to delineate and practice. As a writer, you'll find you'll need to constantly remind yourself that reading is, for you, a form of study - not just of the information you pick up but, more essentially, the way that information is related. Reading for Pleasure Many writers start writing as a way of giving back. Over time, they receive so much pleasure from reading that the natural extension...

Thanks to everyone who voted for me on the Critters 2011 poll. Much appreciated. I think we made it to Number One again! Woohoo, as Homer says - Simpson, not the famous Greek writer. This week I'm going to do the one thing that modern physicists apparently hate most - to try and equate quantum mechanics with self help. I say 'modern' because before Newton, scientists included lots of free thinking alchemists and philosophers who saw no conflict in mixing metaphysics with scientific practice and experimentation. Ironically, Newton himself wrote more about astrology, numerology and alchemy than he ever did about gravity. You'd think that scientists everywhere would learn from his example. Anyway, recently I've been reading a lot about the latest theories on quantum mechanics - you know, all that stuff that says that at the smallest point of existence, there seems to be nothing rational going on - nothing we can record 'properly' anyway. It seems nowadays quant...

How are things? Good I hope! I need a favor. I need you to vote for me on Critters . Last year the Easy Way to Write was voted Number One Writer's Information Source - and I'd really like us to get there again. Will you help? You just need to go here , scroll down till you find "Rob Parnell's Easy Way to Write" and vote. Pretty please - I'd really appreciate it! Thank in advance. Have you noticed that if you work in an office and have the temerity to criticize a system or a set of procedures, your boss will often counter with the suggestion that you write a report. I know. This used to happen to me a lot - when I worked nine to five. My own fault of course. I shouldn't have opened my mouth in the first place! Actually I used to like writing reports. One, they gave me an excuse to write. Two, I could analyze the system, the problem or the sets of procedures and then come up with improvements or solutions to offer to management. Reports are often the only wa...

Many people email me and ask if they need a college degree or a set of special qualifications to be a professional writer. The answer is a resounding NO! Writing is not like other ways of making a living, especially if you want to be freelance - that is, independent. Your education, while potentially a useful advantage, is not a prerequisite to success. In fact, I 've noticed that the more writing qualifications a person has - or aspires to get - the more difficult it seems for them to keep inspired enough to pursue a professional writing career. Which seems odd but not really... Writing is about creating, and loving the act of creation. Yes, it's about being a type of mini-god. It's about being continually inspired. And most times an inspired writer is a thousand times more compelling to read than any kind of formally educated writer. Have you ever noticed how dull a scientific or philosophical thesis can be? Have you thrown away a non-fiction book by a professor or a doct...