Wednesday, March 1, 2023

I'm not British Enough (#IWSG March 2023)

Hey, I actually worked on Gale Harbour book 3 this month! I think I wrote two new chapters and touched up several old ones. That's more than I've done in six months, so I'm pretty stoked about that. I'll get back into the groove eventually.

Also, I may be crazy, but I'm considering doing the April A-to-Z blogging challenge. Is that still a thing?

Since today's IWSG question is an excuse to post quotes from some of my favourite books, let's just right to that!

March Question - Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

I've said this before, but in case you missed it: I'm not smart enough to write like Kurt Vonnegut, and I'm not British enough to write like Terry Pratchett. Virtually everything they've ever written gives me author's envy.

Here's a few of my favourite quotes from a couple of my favourite books:

Terry Pratchett, "THE HOGFATHER," regarding children believing in Santa Claus:

“YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES."

"So we can believe the big ones?"

"YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.”


Also from THE HOGFATHER:

'You can't give her that!' she screamed. 'It's not safe!'

"IT'S A SWORD," said the Hogfather. "THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE SAFE."

'She's a child!' shouted Crumley.

"IT'S EDUCATIONAL."

'What if she cuts herself?'

"THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT LESSON.”


And one more for fun:

"Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time."

Kurt Vonnegut, MOTHER NIGHT:

“I had hoped, as a broadcaster, to be merely ludicrous, but this is a hard world to be ludicrous in, with so many human beings so reluctant to laugh, so incapable of thought, so eager to believe and snarl and hate. So many people wanted to believe me!

Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile.”

(Mother Night was originally released in 1961. In our world today these words are more true and appropriate than ever)


Also from MOTHER NIGHT:

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”

And just as an added bonus, here are a few from Douglas Adams, my other favourite author. 


The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

“The story so far:

In the beginning the Universe was created.

This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”


Life, the Universe and Everything

“The Guide says there is an art to flying", said Ford, "or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”


Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

“Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.”


That's all folks!

Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/.

8 comments:

Jeff said...

It is easy to have envy with comparing yourself to Vonnegut and Adams (I've not read Pratchett)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on writing two chapters. I'm not smart or talented enough to write as well as the authors I read that I consider amazing.

Loni Townsend said...

Woot woot for writing! I hope to do some of that soon.

Great quotes. They are excellent lines. I love Pratchett. He's so much fun.

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

A bunch of great quotes. I’ve never gotten back to Vonnegut after my college years, but Adams and Pratchett are two of my favorite authors.

Miffie Seideman said...

Absolutely love this one; “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”

Tonja Drecker said...

Congrats on getting those chapters written! Adams and Pratchett are two of my favorites, too.

Fundy Blue said...

Great quotes, C.D.! So suitable for our present time. And congratulations on getting back to writing your third Gale Harbour book. I am looking forward to reading it!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Great you worked on the book! And yes, the A to Z just posted the calendar for the next two months.

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