Writing Meme Day 15

15. Midway question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not!

This is too huge to answer comprehensively. I treat authors in much the same way as I treat music – I like some tracks, I don’t slavishly love ALL – and it’s the same with authors, I love some books, I don’t necessarily love all.

For example, I love love the Charioteer by Mary Renault, there’s not a bad line in that book- even though much of it goes over my head, but the themes, and characterisation and treatment of the time, and the way it deals with the major gay relationships are so bloody amazing I just wish I could smash my keyboard. But I'm not mad keen on her ancient world books, probably because the eras don't interest me.

I can’t really say “I admire Jamie O’Neill” (although I do) because I’ve only read his At Swim Two Boys and find that amazing, but I can’t say “I wish I wrote like that,” for to do so would be imitation. All I can hope is that one day I write something AS good, in my own style.

I suppose that’s it, really – I admire people’s style, and if there’s prose that makes me think “Oh GOD I might as well give the hell up, because I ain’t NEVER going to be able to be as good as this,” then that’s someone I admire.  RW Day – who if you haven’t read, you NEED to – is a writer like that, and along with Alex Beecroft and Parhelion are probably the two writers writing now in my the gay historical genre that I really really admire and would want to have their talent.  *trundles off feeling fangirlish*

well an exciting day!

We has DUST. Sadly not the Dust that denotes that we are all covered in original sin (or the opposite, I never really understood that, to be honest) but volcano dust and I am sure you all already know about it.

This is England and this Affects the Weather and grinds the country to a halt, so despite the fact that TV history is going to be made this evening with the first ever “prime ministerial debate” between the three main parties (Whigs, Tories and BlackAdder party I think) all the news has been about THE BIG DUST CLOUD OF DOOM and British Airspace being shut down for the first time evah.

Woot! Though… Big Cloud of Doom!  Very exciting.  Perhaps this will presage another Year Without A Summer – although being England, how would we tell?

People around Heathrow have been running into the garden to listen to the skylarks.  (although I have to say wtf did they want to live there in the first place…)

I watched the first episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand yesterday and I’m sorry. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, so far. 

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