IMAGINING CHINA AND THINGS
Posted by anthonynorth on May 13, 2008
Since reinstating my Diary of a Writer only yesterday, I’ve been filled with many ideas. As usual Brian set me off, concerning the problem of blogging being driven by the reader, yet without readers, you’re shouting in a vacuum.
Getting the balance right is difficult. But to me, the actual act of writing is only part of the craft. Writing is about communication, so the end product must be in the mind of the reader. Hence, it is a two way street.
I suspect all bloggers think this.
And in that spirit, I’ll continue trying to communicate. Today I’m doing so by incorporating Blogtalkers, who ask for me to write about my imaginary life. Well that’s easy.
You’ll find my imaginary life all over this blog, ‘cos I’m a writer, and expressing my imaginary life is what I do. It is at the heart of writing, placing different characters and situations in my mind and seeing what comes out.
I’m also trying to imagine the situation in China today.
Suffering another earthquake, 10,000 are believed to have died, with another 10,000 buried. My heart goes out to the casualties.
Yet I’m sure the survivors will cope much better than those in Burma. Why do I bring this up? Because China is a regional power in the area, and wants to be accepted by the world. They can begin by putting pressure on the Burma Junta to let the full aid package in. But I’m not holding my breath.
Crime is also on my mind today.
In the UK a couple of years ago the Serious and Organised Crime Agency was set up – a kind of British version of the FBI. I thought at the time that an organization with an acronym that sounded like a popular sport would be a failure.
Well, how right I was! It seems they have just shelved their 130-strong hitlist of top villains. They’re too hard to catch. Now there’s something to write about in the ‘imaginary’ category.
Call again tomorrow.
© Anthony North, May 2008
May 13, 2008 at 8:57 am
As such then I will accept my responsibility in your demise imagining all the blogs yet unread and prompts yet unprompted. Or something like that.
What’s on my mind at the moment is getting some breakfast and being at work in two hours. However, I do also think about those dead and those alive and suffering not only in Asia but everywhere around the world.
May 13, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hi Brian,
I don’t see that you hold responsibility, or that ‘demise’ comes into it. Rather, I feel gratitude and liberation - after so many years, my ‘creativity’ (if I’ve got it) is allowed to flow. And I’ll keep my urges well under control, I promise you
May 13, 2008 at 9:55 am
It’s a lovely and wide two-way street that is full of interest. Readers may drive the blog, but the blogger is a reader, too. So it’s a mutual mutual interest at work.
The natural disasters of the last week are horrifying. Would be lovely if all those hard-to-catch villains were the ones falling into the hole and not the innocent. So it goes. Let’s hope China does right.
May 13, 2008 at 10:05 am
Hi Sandy,
Very true. But I think the problem is, the degree to which we do it. At what point do we become obsessed with it? Keeping it under control is the secret.
I think I manage that - just. And have met some interesting and fascinating people in my need to communicate. It can be a marvellous two-way street.
Oh, if only the villains would disappear down that hole - any hole! I’ll dig it myself.
May 13, 2008 at 11:48 am
Here’s a Zen kōan for you.
Why then is time considered to be one-way when thirty-one years spent with a partner seems like one day?
May 13, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Hi Brian,
Okay, I’ve tried to figure it out but can’t. Comedy Plus has some good riddles on today, by the way. But the thing that amazes me is, you’ve seen a comment by me somewhere, or you’re psychic.
Tomorrow’s post will begin with me pointing out it’s my and Yvonne’s 31st anniversary.
May 13, 2008 at 5:46 pm
They’re too hard to catch? What? Are you kidding? What is the world coming to? Okay we can’t catch Osama either. Too hard there too. Good grief. Have a great day.
May 13, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Hi Sandee,
As for Osama, I guess, with the supposed death of ideology we just need bogeymen out there to frighten us. The politics of fear. As for the big crime unit here, it was supposed to ape the FBI, but it looks more like the Keystone Cops
May 15, 2008 at 3:20 am
Who cares about China? I certainly don’t.
May 15, 2008 at 8:21 am
Hi God,
But I bet you bought the t-shirts.