Saturday 12 March 2011

Repetitive Strain Ramble

Have you noticed that you tend to revisit ideas in your writing? Maybe it's a similar theme or particular words. Is this a good or bad thing? Some and some, methinks

I know, without a doubt that I have an obsession with fabric. It makes sense - I studied fashion design in the 80s but didn't like the bitchy or practical side so ended up making my own ball-gowns, costumes and tutus to wear to the pub. I've been making costumes for decades now. Love a ribboned, bony corset - easy-peasy.

There's a mercer in London's Berwick Street called Borovicks where I bought the taffeta for my four bridesmaids' dresses - I'd roll around in fabric in its thin corridors if only they'd let me.

Demons

Since I started writing in earnest, a sense of the demon has frequently manifested itself. I can observe this from afar, detached - and am enjoying the eruptions. May they continue - although I have felt compelled to dole out some conditions.

I've never forgotten an evil blighter that plagued me in the 1990s. He called himself 'Malcolm' as if that wasn''t earthly and tawdry enough - he/it was a nasty beast that used to descend my staircase and laugh right in my face. I learned to push him back; you can do it with your eyes you know. But - you do have to give as good as you get, 'cos they're feisty buggers.

Lovely Words

So. Words - I've done this before on The Feardom, but I'm asking again, What do you like? For me its fleshy words:

  • flesh
  • pulpous
  • fat
  • pale
  • gorge
  • skin etc
Reality

Today's observation is that people can surprise you. I met the world's most natural father today. Big love to him.
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12 comments:

  1. I don't recall our meeting, Lily! :-)

    I love your words and can now relate to some of your stories a bit more.

    My favourite words are all profanities. Hey, what would you expect from a Mancunian??

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  2. Oi! My Mr H is called 'Malcolm' ! (but I don't think he's anything like an apparition ;-p )

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  3. Eff, I'm 'ckin stunned David! Ah, but in reality you are loveliness. I enjoy a rollicking good swearfest too, truth be known - Mancunian or not.

    Sorry Sue, no offence to Mr H. This creature was a languid, pale thing about 5ft tall. Thought himself a sardonic dandy but had wig-like hair someone-else had obviously died for. His name wasn't really Malcolm either - he wasn't the cleverest of entities.

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  4. I love me a good onomatopoeia (thank you spell check...twice[once for spell-check])

    a drawling sunset
    a shoe sucking bog
    the crackling of righteous immolation

    the schlucking sound the knife made as it exited (all right - not a word, but I'd use it.)

    Mr. H? Anything like Mr. B. Gone? (lol)

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  5. *imaging you rolling around in fabric*
    Interesting that your love of bulbous, tactile words is so similar to they way you love to touch fabric. No wonder your work is so fleshed out, real and touchable.

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  6. I like the way certain words SOUND, even if I'm only pronouncing them in my head: torpid... juxtaposition... ephemeral... paradigm... proximity. Saying them is like a verbal caress.

    As for revisiting ideas... death and revenge spring to mind.

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  7. Like mimi, I too love the sounds of words - for instance:

    lugubrious, fulminating, paraphernalia....

    (ooh, those would make for an interesting 'prediction' challenge!)

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  8. Loving all your thoughts and words.

    Sue - I think my head would implode if I tried to use those in a drabble - gorgeous though they are!

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  9. I do love words. Serendipity sends ripples of its own, others, like forever, can send a ripple of chill, depending on context.
    I wrote a mini guide to writing erotic literature, mentioning fabric as something that is often left out, along with touch. Writers use the senses of seeing, hearing, speaking, not always smelling (spirit come to me with perfume or after shave which is why I never wear any myself) and mostly not touch. Fabric is a big part of that.
    Interesting thoughts here.

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  10. visceral, apotheosis, effulgence, tenebrous...
    (not that I get to use them often, except visceral, maybe)

    And I like bulbous for the way it sounds, the way you can roll it round in your mouth, the way that it actually feels phonically bulbous...

    In terms of stories I try and mix things up, genre and cliché and trope. I guess I have a weakness for the classic hero, in some fashion or other... The low made mighty, the wronged become righteous, the unlikely lad stepping up at just the right moment...

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  11. I've noticed that most words above are long and almost unpronounceable (did I pronounce that correctly??). Short words are also great, and I bet you know what's coming next.

    My favourite is Twat. Hang on a mo and don't start beating me down with a stick for thinking a swear word is great. Just think of the different ways Twat can be used.

    As a term of endearment: "Oh...[laughter], you daft twat."

    As anger: "Oi, you TWAT!"

    When in pain: "Oh you twwwat!"

    The list is endless, and the same goes for the word TIT!

    I had a chat with Col Bury last week and the above was discussed at length. Us Mancunians know what we're on about, you know!

    Happy Sunday!

    HA!!!!!

    Word verification: kuntz - there's another good word.

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Lily Childs is a writer of horror, esoteric, mystery and chilling fiction.

If you see her dancing outside in a thunder storm - don't try to bring her in. She's safe.