Why I Write
I did a blog tour in April, and one of the guest posts I did was titled “Why I Write”. I recently came across an article detailing a list in an essay written by the great George Orwell also titled “Why I write”. I found it rather interesting, so I thought I’d do a post on it. I’d be interested to find out what others think of Orwell’s opinion on the motives of writing.
“Why I Write” is an essay written by George Orwell and first published in 1946.
Orwell lists “four great motives for writing” which he feels exist in every writer. He explains that all are present, but in different proportions, and also that these proportions vary from time to time. They are as follows:
- Sheer egoism- Orwell argues that many people write simply to feel clever, to “be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups in childhood, etc.” He says that this is a great motive, although most of humanity is not “acutely selfish”, and that this motive exists mainly in younger writers. He also says that it exists more in serious writers than journalists, though serious writers are “less interested in money”.
- Aesthetic enthusiasm- Orwell explains that present in writing is the desire to make one’s writing look and sound good, having “pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story.” He says that this motive is “very feeble in a lot of writers” but still present in all works of writing.
- Historical impulse- He sums this up stating this motive is the “desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity.”
- Political purpose- Orwell writes that “no book is genuinely free from political bias”, and further explains that this motive is used very commonly in all forms of writing in the broadest sense, citing a “desire to push the world in a certain direction” in every person. He concludes by saying that “the opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.”
Here’s what I said in my Guest Post for Michelle Pickett’s blog “These Words Tell A Story”:
“You only live once.” Okay, so you’ve probably heard that phrase a few times, right? Well, if that is the case, then you might as well live life to the fullest. And that’s why I write. I write to experience life in every way I possibly can. Every time we read a story, we step out of our world and into someone else’s world, so we are, in a sense, experiencing a different reality.
When I first started to write fiction, I wrote because I had a story I wanted to tell. It was getting to the point where it was nagging me, so the only way to get my mind to stop ticking away like crazy was to get the story out of my head and onto paper. After doing that and jumping out of the world of my book, I had a good read of what I had written and had an urge to continue with the story. I fell in love with not only the characters but also the reality of the world in which I had created. It was not only a life changing experience but also an adventure – one that took me to places I did not know existed.
I write because I love to explore the world. I write because I have something to say that can only be said through written words. Often, the problem I have with many books is the lack of explanation of why certain things happen and how they come about. So, last but not least, I write to satisfy my own appetite.
Hmmm …
Now we come back to Orwell’s list. Orwell has listed some good points. I’m not sure where Orwell would place me, but I would say my writing perhaps gravitates somewhat towards 3 and 4.
What do you think? Where, if anywhere, does your writing belong?
Pon De Replay
Current Playlist:
1. Titanium – David Guetta ft. Sia
2. We Are Young – Fun. ft. Janelle Monae
3. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye ft. Kimbra
4. Read All About It – Professor Green ft. Emeli Sande
5. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
6. Take Care – Drake ft Rihanna
7. You and I – Lady Gaga
8. Domino – Jessie J
9. Many Of Horror (When We Collide) – Biffy Clyro
10. Lego House – Ed Sheeran
11. Next To Me – Emeli Sande
12. Life For Rent – Dido
13. My Love – Justin Timberlake
14. Lies – Marina and the Diamonds
15. Cosmic Love – Florence + The Machine
Popcorn Reads – Book Review & Giveaway
Okay, time for a review of Talisman Of El and a Giveaway. Since I still have a few paperback arcs, I thought I’d start giving them out.
The Giveaway Ends: 6/2/2012 at 11:59 p.m. EDST.
1 Paperback arc
Open to US
Popcorn Reads reviews Talisman Of El.
Check out the review below.
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Blake has nightmares. The problem is that when he has a nightmare, it comes true. Still he’s afraid to tell anybody because they won’t believe him, just like they didn’t believe him about the prophetic dream he had the night before his dad died four years ago. He’s terrified to go to sleep and it makes him feel like a helpless freak. He’d give anything to be normal …
Read the full review at Popcorn Reads.
Talisman Of El
Talisman Of El is finally here!
Here is a little info to refresh your mind on all things Talisman Of El.
It is the first in a trilogy titled Talisman Of El.
Visit the website and find out more about the characters and get a sneak peek inside the book. Don’t forget to share it with a friend.
www.talismanofel.com
Join the facebook fanpage for the latest updates.
www.facebook.com/talismanofel
Watch the trailer!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDXdlrfbHJU
It’s May 20, and you know what that means. The hardback is now available for orders!
The Talisman Of El ebook is also available for orders on Apple’s iBookstore and Amazon’s Kindle Store. It will also soon be available on Barnes and Noble Nook and from Kobo and other online retailers.
Grab Your Copy Now!
Talisman Of El Blurb:
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?
One Planet.
Two Worlds.
Population: Human … 7 billion.
Others … unknown.
When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He’s afraid to tell anyone. No one would believe him … because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.
Charlie doesn’t know why this is happening. He would give anything to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home.
He belongs with the others.
Check out the Talisman Of El interview below.
Come and explore the world of Arcadia in Talisman Of El.
Talisman Of El Interview
Interviewer: J.A. Beard
Tell us about your book.
TALISMAN OF EL is a story about acceptance, about accepting one’s destiny no matter the consequences. Charlie Blake is a young boy, who, in a bid to find out about himself, discovers a reality he knew nothing about, but that he is so much a part of.
What inspired this book?
To be honest, my curiosity about the mysteries of the world inspired this book. The planet we live on is so fascinating and full of history that I just had to explore its secrets. The great thing about writing a fantasy story is that anything goes. You can write a story about aliens, alternate dimensions … anything. The topic of people who vanished without a trace came up and I decided to take it one step further. The story just took on a life of its own.
What fundamental themes does your book explore?
The book explores many themes including, but not limited to, things are not always what they seem, self discovery, the importance of relationships and fear of failure. I think many people will be able to relate to the themes of the book as we’ve all experienced them in some way.
What’s the appeal, you think, in fantasy stories that initially ground themselves in the real world and then pull in a character from that world into a fantasy world? In urban fantasy, there’s still an overlap, but in contemporary stories where characters end up in a more discrete separate world, the relative link to the real world seems less important on first brush.
Personally, I think it’s the adventure and the idea that there is more out there than what we see that is the appeal of fantasy stories. We often hear about the universe being of vast proportions, so, naturally, anyone would want to explore more than the eyes can see. It is also a means of escaping one’s own reality for a certain period of time. Sometimes, our own reality can seem somewhat limited and restricted, so when I pick up a fantasy book, it’s almost as if I’m breaking the rules by stepping out of the ordinary.
World building is a big part of any fantasy book, but you went so far as to even create a language. Can you tell us a little bit about that and why you chose to do that?
When the story first popped into my mind, I hadn’t set out to create another world much less a language. When I created the world and saw how fascinating the characters of this world were, I knew they would have to have their own language. The people of Arcadia are mystical beings who can do things we can only imagine, so they needed a form of communication that they alone could interpret. They are, after all, from another world.
Besides your lead, do you have a favorite character in the story?
This is a hard one as I have many favourite characters. If I really had to choose one, besides the main protagonist, Charlie, I would have to choose Alex. I had such fun with her character. There is so much to her. She’s smart, witty, feisty, a bit crazy and so much more.
People tend to want more of what they like. Do you plan to write a sequel?
Yes, I do. I’m currently writing the sequel. There’s definitely more to come, as I’ve planned this as a trilogy.
The Queen of Teen Fiction Reviews Talisman Of El
The wonderful Katie over at The Queen of Teen Fiction has reviewed my debut novel, Talisman Of El. I absolutely love the review. Thank you for the wonderful review, Katie.
You can check out the full review at The Queen of Teen Fiction.
Talisman Of El Hardback and Paperback
Okay, so I finally got my camera working – by working, I mean it wasn’t broken, I just couldn’t be asked to look for it as I haven’t used it in a while and didn’t remember where I’d put it. Found it now, though. So, I received the Hardback copy of Talisman Of El a few weeks ago and recently received a few paperback ARCs. I’m so excited as there are only a few more days until the book’s publication date.
So, I managed to take a few snaps of the books that I’d like to share with you all.
Here they are.
So I kind of rearranged one of my shelves a little to squeeze in Talisman Of El between two series I happen to enjoy very much – Percy Jackson and Hush Hush.
It’s my book!!!
(This is the point I remind myself to breathe) Seeing a book with your name on it makes you forget things, I guess.
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this day. It feels great seeing my name in a book. (Inside, I’m screaming with joy.)
Now that the publication date is fast approaching, it seems almost surreal.
I’m not a dab hand at photography, people. Work with me here. Remember, I’m a writer not a photographer … yet.
I love how the book has turned out.
So, there you have it.
As I said, I have a few paperback ARCs I’ll be giving away, so keep your eyes peeled. Okay, so I’ll be going on book tours soon and will keep the events page updated. Now, I have to get back to writing the sequel. I’m looking forward to sharing my stories with you all.
7 DAYS
OMG! I can’t believe it’s only seven days until the release of my debut novel, Talisman Of El. It’s the first in a planned trilogy. I’m over the moon. The feedback have been great. I’m looking forward to finding out what the young adult market make of the book. The marketing for the book has been going great. People have been so supportive.
I think what I’m looking forward to most is going out on book tours and talking to people about the book. While it will be a nerve-wracking experince, I also think it will be somewhat of a life changing experience. I’ve already achieved so much by taking the plunge and actually writing a book. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and now that I actually have a book, it just seems so surreal. So, I can now officially tick this one off my Life Dreams list. Just three more to go. Oh, you can check out my list below.
Life Dreams:
Publish a book – been there, done that, thought about making the t-shirt, but I didn’t have time! (I’ll get a mug instead)
Marry Johnny Depp – working on it (I’ve been told I can’t kidnap him, so onto Plan B)
Write a Feature Film Script – I’ve only written short screenplays, so one step at a time
Marry Joseph Gordon-levitt – What? A girl needs her options
What can I say, except, why aim low when you can aim high?
Again, thanks to everyone who have showed their support and have purchased a copy of my book. I look forward to sharing all these wonderful adventures I’ve been having with you all. There are definitely more adventures to come, so keep your eyes peeled.
Also, keep a lookout for upcoming promotional giveaways. Giveaways are listed on my website sidebar.
Talisman Of El Blog Tour May
Talisman Of El Blog Tour
May 7th – 13th
Guest Posts, Reviews and Giveaways!
Join me on the blog tour for my debut novel, Talisman Of El, and get the chance to win physical arcs of my book, which comes out on May 20.
To view the tour schedule, click on the tour banner below.
Cover Love – Taste
So, I came across this book recently and just loved the cover. It was released April 29th by Crescent Moon Press. Can’t wait to read it.
Goodreads Blurb:
At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.
When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.
You can purchase the ebook from Amazon.
Check out Kate’s website HERE.
Amazon Bestseller!
About Me
- Alecia Stone
- Essex, England, United Kingdom
Hi, I'm Alecia Stone. I write young adult fiction, poetry and screenplays. My debut novel, Talisman Of El, was published by Centrinian Publishing Ltd. Talisman Of El is the first book in a trilogy which features fantasy, mythology and adventure.
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