I think this goes way beyond English Literature departments. There’s a lot of overthinking and overfeeling going on that results in what’s known in our house as WankyBollocks.
The picture sent me Georgina 😂 🦈 The writing too of course. I do feel like studying art, including literature, sucks the enjoyment out of it. Just read the book and enjoy the story. Does that make me a philistine? Failing that, take a picture of yourself holding a giant fish with glossy hair.
Georgina, I love you, but when I read "I had avoided being lured into a giant wicker man and set on fire for the crime of having never read a Stephen King novel", whilst on a panel of horror writers, I thought the punishment a bit harsh. Still, some sort of punishment is needed.
Perhaps locking you in a room with a copy of The Shining is in order?
In all seriousness, in spite of his success, he is an incredible writer. He can scare the shit out of people just with words. A few hit and misses, but his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is considered one of the best memoirs out there by important people. Yunno, like me.
I've read On Writing. No doubt he's a great writer, but his books have never appealled to me. I don't like scary books or horror, either. Happy to acknowledge King as a great writer that I'm not into!
You always make me laugh and I appreciate the way you look at the world. It's good for us to admit when we don't know something. Much better than riffing, as it creates the potential for someone to believe us and want us to elaborate. Then we experience terror and horror and no one needs that.
I really enjoyed reading this and it made me want to read whatever stories of yours made it into horror anthologies by subterfuge.
I love horror intensely and passionately, but there’s also nothing more boring than reading genre fiction written by someone whose sole source of pleasure lies in reading the same genre. That sort of snake eating itself nonsense led to 50 years of fantasy filled with pointy eared elves and orcs unironically declaring that meat is back on the menu. Rather than, you know, any imagination.
Hey, glad you enjoyed it. My short stories are somewhat available but less so these days as two of my books have recently gone out of print. Totally agree with you on the genre thing. I also hate any kind of gratuitous violence so that cuts out a lot of horror for me too!
I know nothing of horror. But I do know about academia. I taught at a uni in the evenings over a decade for shits and giggles. Let me corroborate some of your points:
- One of the issues with being a teaching academic is that you spend your life surrounded by people less knowledgeable (but not necessarily less smart) than you. Which I have observed plays havoc with people’s egos.
- Becoming the world’s expert in some tiny domain is weird.
- Academics are incredibly conformist. They are the people who got top marks at school and want to keep on getting top marks forever.
- Despite all that, I know and like plenty of academics and use a lot of academic research in my work.
Oh I wish my critiques of the culture weren't so ranty and were more humourous like yours. I am trying!
You can only be educated into believing that a man can get pregnant or that JK Rowling is a fascist. There's a theory (how well-observed I don't know) about how only a high IQ can persuade a person to believe that something a below average child would laugh at.
And then, of course, there's those that confuse education with intelligence.
Oh I can get ranty too at times! But I like to leave room to laugh at myself too 😂 You're definitely a funny writer - I very much enjoy people's humour on here!
I think this goes way beyond English Literature departments. There’s a lot of overthinking and overfeeling going on that results in what’s known in our house as WankyBollocks.
Haha yes, that sums it up nicely!
Wanky Bollocks— hot damn A Jones can’t stop laughing/smiling at this— Thank You
The picture sent me Georgina 😂 🦈 The writing too of course. I do feel like studying art, including literature, sucks the enjoyment out of it. Just read the book and enjoy the story. Does that make me a philistine? Failing that, take a picture of yourself holding a giant fish with glossy hair.
We can be philistines together, Sara! I was particularly proud of the illustration this week, so thanks for noticing :)
Georgina, I love you, but when I read "I had avoided being lured into a giant wicker man and set on fire for the crime of having never read a Stephen King novel", whilst on a panel of horror writers, I thought the punishment a bit harsh. Still, some sort of punishment is needed.
Perhaps locking you in a room with a copy of The Shining is in order?
That's a good idea - I could eat it.
Love you, too :)
In all seriousness, in spite of his success, he is an incredible writer. He can scare the shit out of people just with words. A few hit and misses, but his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is considered one of the best memoirs out there by important people. Yunno, like me.
I've read On Writing. No doubt he's a great writer, but his books have never appealled to me. I don't like scary books or horror, either. Happy to acknowledge King as a great writer that I'm not into!
Fair enough. I will slather some icing on a copy of Cujo and leave you to it.
Ooh icing!
Horror = repulsion;
Terror = fear.
Next!
You can't just give an answer, Ian! You have to give an answer that other people can't understand. Or how will they know you're better than they are?
You always make me laugh and I appreciate the way you look at the world. It's good for us to admit when we don't know something. Much better than riffing, as it creates the potential for someone to believe us and want us to elaborate. Then we experience terror and horror and no one needs that.
Thanks Lyndsey! I'm very comfortable not knowing what I'm talking about 🤣
Me, too! The lack of pressure is lovely. ;)
Terror is real. Horror is throwing coins on the back of a caged croc.
Please send my PhD to…
You shall be known as Dr Trey from now on!
The difference between horror and terror is... wait, I can do this.
Hahaha no rush!
I really enjoyed reading this and it made me want to read whatever stories of yours made it into horror anthologies by subterfuge.
I love horror intensely and passionately, but there’s also nothing more boring than reading genre fiction written by someone whose sole source of pleasure lies in reading the same genre. That sort of snake eating itself nonsense led to 50 years of fantasy filled with pointy eared elves and orcs unironically declaring that meat is back on the menu. Rather than, you know, any imagination.
Hey, glad you enjoyed it. My short stories are somewhat available but less so these days as two of my books have recently gone out of print. Totally agree with you on the genre thing. I also hate any kind of gratuitous violence so that cuts out a lot of horror for me too!
I know nothing of horror. But I do know about academia. I taught at a uni in the evenings over a decade for shits and giggles. Let me corroborate some of your points:
- One of the issues with being a teaching academic is that you spend your life surrounded by people less knowledgeable (but not necessarily less smart) than you. Which I have observed plays havoc with people’s egos.
- Becoming the world’s expert in some tiny domain is weird.
- Academics are incredibly conformist. They are the people who got top marks at school and want to keep on getting top marks forever.
- Despite all that, I know and like plenty of academics and use a lot of academic research in my work.
I said I know nothing of horror. But that may be a lie as I have experienced the world of academic publishing: https://tempo.substack.com/p/the-dumpster-fire-that-is-academic
Thanks Matt! Just as I suspected, then... :)
Oh I wish my critiques of the culture weren't so ranty and were more humourous like yours. I am trying!
You can only be educated into believing that a man can get pregnant or that JK Rowling is a fascist. There's a theory (how well-observed I don't know) about how only a high IQ can persuade a person to believe that something a below average child would laugh at.
And then, of course, there's those that confuse education with intelligence.
Oh I can get ranty too at times! But I like to leave room to laugh at myself too 😂 You're definitely a funny writer - I very much enjoy people's humour on here!
I think humour and storytelling are key.
You're great.
Aw thanks :)
Lovely!!!
Thanks Graham!
Hahaha! Sending to my English Lit academic daughter who has an excellent sense of humour.
The difference between horror and terror? I dunno, either!
Haha I hope she finds it funny! Or maybe she'll have the answers I lack... :)
It doesn't really matter though, does it? ;)
I love words too (obviously) but it's not what the post is about. Moira is fabulous though - on this, we agree!
I get it :)