Dec

24

Let the Festivities Begin

Filed Under Stuff | 2 Comments

At around this time of year, I feel an urge to write a post listing everything I’ve done this year and setting goals for the next one. In fact, around this time last year I did indeed write such a post – then I took one look and deleted it. As it happens, I have achieved around half of the goals that I set myself, but that’s good (so I tell myself) because it still leaves something to do next year. Even if the remaining goals are all the really difficult ones.

All in all, it’s been a decent enough year, though, even if I have no idea where any of it is leading. And it is really nice to see the readership for this blog building over the year – unless of course you are all Russian pornbots. Either way, I hope you’ll all stick around to see what happens in 2010. I’ll certainly be fascinated to find out, because frankly it could go anywhere. Or indeed nowhere at all.

In the meantime, I shall wish you all a merry whateveritisyoucelebrateornot and see you in a day or two’s time when I’ll probably be going on about this Saturday’s episode of Mrs Darcy vs The Aliens. You are keeping an eye on that, aren’t you?

Have fun!

Aug

20

I’m Going to Regret This, But …

Filed Under Stuff | 4 Comments

… I’ve finally joined Twitter. So follow me here. If that’s your thing.

[EDITED TO ADD: And after just over an hour of me being on Twitter, it goes offline. Coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO.]

Jul

24

One Year On

Filed Under Stuff | 4 Comments

Hmmm. Looks like it’s a year to the day since I posted this. Doesn’t time fly, eh? Interestingly, I notice that I didn’t quite stick to my original intentions. Ah well. These things are meant to evolve, and when you’ve got your own platform, it’s hard to avoid the temptation to use it. I just hope that I haven’t been too boring and self-indulgent.

Anyway, I’ll try to avoid the temptation to rabbit on about everything that’s happened since that first post, although it’s certainly been an interesting twelve months. It’s a bit more interesting to look forward to the future, because the real challenge starts now. Time to start writing something a bit more substantial, I think.

Jun

7

So, Where Was I?

Filed Under Real life, Stuff | 4 Comments

Back from a week’s break in the Peak District – the excuse being that it was our daughter’s 21st birthday and she’s at University up there. Beautiful part of the world, and the sun even shone on the day we climbed Mam Tor. Nice one, God.

However, despite having plenty of time to let the mind wander, I didn’t manage to come up with as many ideas for stories (or even poems) as I’d hoped. I did manage to tie together most of the loose ends in one piece in time to finish it off in time for today’s deadline, but I’m still without either a story or a poem for Round Seven of the Whittaker Prize, and we’re over halfway through the fortnight.

As far as the Whittaker is concerned, I’m still (just) hanging on in sight of the leader in the story section, but things took a bit of a turn for the worse in the poetry in Round Six. I’d managed to lead the poetry section for the first five rounds, without really knowing how. And then I read this article about sonnets in the Independent, and I thought “Ooh, I’d like to write one of them”. So I did. And proceeded to come a serious cropper, scoring a stonking 59/100. However, on the bright side, it’s probably the first poem that I’ve ever written that Mrs P has really liked, which counts for quite a lot – especially as it is a love poem of sorts. Altogether now: aaah.

Apr

12

Blood on the Streets in Greyling Bay

Filed Under Stuff | 14 Comments

Or “When Collaborative Fiction Goes Bad”.

So let’s imagine that you’ve written a piece as part of a collaborative fiction venture, and you’ve created a character that you like and that you want to develop further. In fact, you’ve already written more about him, and you feel that you have something really interesting emerging here. But then, some nagging doubts are raised about the man’s – well – character. And finally someone else goes and uncovers his dark secret. What are you to do?

This is what happened next.

I’m not entirely sure where my sympathies lie here, to be honest. Douglas Bruton is a massively talented writer – he regularly wins decent competitions, and was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize last year. But, as one of the commenters says, I wonder if he’s being a little bit precious. After all, surely in a work of collaborative fiction, more than one perspective must be allowed? (In fact, I did this myself in my – so far – one and only contribution, by suggesting that Prospect Cottage might be in a slightly worse state of repair than previously indicated by the owner.)

Then again, I also have a vision of the other authors on the site marching with pitchforks and blazing torches towards where the poor character lives to administer mob justice, which doesn’t quite feel right, either.

Either way, a bit of controversy can’t be all that bad for Greyling Bay, can it? Go and have a read – it’s an interesting place.

Apr

8

Stumbled Upon

Filed Under Stuff | 4 Comments

Good lord. I was just checking my site stats when I noticed that the number of visitors to this site has soared over the last couple of days. Looking into it further, it appears that someone on StumbleUpon has recommended it (although I can’t find the actual post). Well, all I can say is many thanks to whoever made the recommendation and … er … a big

HELLO!

 

to everyone else. Make yourselves comfortable. Look around. Tell your friends. I’m quite friendly really.

Mar

1

“Greetings in Jesus’ Name!”

Filed Under Stuff | 4 Comments

Move over Jack Straw. I was contacted just now by someone who’d had this rather curious e-mail regarding an apartment in Nob Hill, San Francisco (yes, honestly), and was wondering if it was some kind of scam or not. Hmmm. All I can say is that we Jonathan Pinnocks don’t half get about, don’t we?

From: pinnock jonathan <pinnock.jonathan@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: nob hill apt
To: [deleted]

Hello,

 How are you? Thanks for been interested in my apartment.My name is Rev Jonathan,Owner of the apartment you are making inquiry about,My apartment is still available for rent and it is located at:1030 Franklin St,San Francisco,CA 94109….I only need someone that can take good care of my apartment at my absence because,right now am not around to show you apartment as i  have gone for a MISSIONARY  WORK OF GOD IN WEST AFRICA .I want you to note that you will only be able to View the apartment from the outside because am here with the Keys and Document of my apartment,i tried to look for an agent before i left but couldn’t get any in time because i did not stay long in the apartment and was unable to look for a trust worthy person to give the keys to,If you know that you are ready to rent the apartment and have a good credential you can email me back to secure and occupy my apartment at my absent, all i want is for who will take very good care of the apartment as i will be gone for a very long time.Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of  $850 Per Month including utilities like water, gas, heat laundry facilities, air condition and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing, if you are really interested in renting this apartment get back to me by filling the application form below so that all arrangement can be made on how you will be getting the Keys and Document to move in.See Application Form below.

                   *********RENT APPLICATION FORM**********
                   *********PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL**********

1) Your Full Name.
2) Your Full Address
3)Phone Number
4) Citizen or Country ?
5) How old are you ?
6) Are you married ?
7) Sex ?
8) How many people will be living in the apartment?
9) Do you have a pet ?
10) Do you have a car ?
11) What is your Occupation ?
12) Short or Long Term Lease ?
13) When do you intend moving in : Date ?
14) When do you intend to moving out : Date ?
15) Deposit : One or Two month Deposit are required
16) Occupant Picture
17) Reference Details

Landing  33′1″ x 6′10″ ( 7.83m x 2.88m )
Reception room  27′1″ x 26′1″ ( 6.28m x 5.98m )
Kitchen  23′1″ x 21′1″ ( 4.96m x 4.45m )
Bathroom  7′20″ x 6′20″ ( 3.18m x 2.88m )
Guest WC  6′1″ x 3′20″ ( 2.62m x 1.96m )

I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during when you have moved into my apartment. Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.  I can be reach anytime at +2348020671041 or 0112348020671041. Awaiting your reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys of the apartment to you.
Thanks and God Bless You
Regards
Rev Jonathan.

Jan

19

Didn’t Spot That One

Filed Under Stuff | 2 Comments

Ooh. Slipped up there. I’ve only just noticed that my first poem on Every Day Poets, School Uniform, was nominated in the Preditors and Editors poll for the best poem published in 2008 (weirdly, the only one from EDP as far as I can tell). The poll closed nearly a week ago! If only I’d known – I could have organised a bit of vote-rigging …

Jan

7

Not Giving Up The Day Job Quite Yet

Filed Under Stuff | Leave a Comment

Gosh, how exciting. My half-yearly royalty statement from John Wiley and Sons came through the post today, and I was amazed to find out that I’m still earning $$$ from software books that I gave up writing half a dozen years ago. Just under $150 in six months, no less. I promise not to spend it all at once.

Meanwhile, less impressive news from Public Lending Right. This is the first year that I’ve been signed up for this, and according to my statement, a grand total of 8 people borrowed a book which I have a 7% interest in, at 5.98p per loan. Which makes a grand total of just over 3p. So I’m not giving up the day job quite yet.

Dec

18

Best Blog Post Ever

Filed Under Stuff, Things I like | Leave a Comment

I was just about to put together one of those reflective posts that discuss the various wonderful things I’ve done this year and the even more wonderful things that I’m really going to do next year (win the Bridport, publish best-selling novel, that kind of thing), when I came across this, from Paul Klugman’s blog. Paul Klugman recently won the Nobel prize for economics. Now that is class.

What is slightly disconcerting about this is that when I saw it, I immediately got the joke. I described it to my daughter, who did not. She had not heard of lolcats. She is 20. I am somewhat older than that. I need to get out more.

Next Page →