New Year’s Resolutions. How many have we made and how many have we broken? If you’re anything like me, it’s a sad, sorry tale over the years. But last year I set out to actually keep my New Year’s Resolutions, and 365 days later I’m happy to report success.
I finished my novel! Or have I…?
Ahh… how satisfying; how fulfilling; how triumphant! I’ve just finished my book. This isn’t a theoretical scenario – my name is Bennett R. Coles and I just recently finished writing my latest novel Casualties of War. Or, to be more specific, I just finished getting the whole story down on the page. And this is what I want to talk about today. It’s a very common error that first-time authors make: thinking you’ve finished your book when in fact what you’ve done is finish the first draft.
Earthquake “Gang of Seven” Get Six Years
Here’s the news: a group of Italian scientists were put on trial for not correctly predicting a 2009 earthquake that killed 309 people. Yesterday they were found guilty. And what were they convicted of? Manslaughter.
Morality in War
What moral obligation do soldiers have in war? This is a tricky question, and one which I considered more than once during my fifteen years in uniform. There are many perspectives, and some can be equally valid even when they diametrically oppose one another. But is there a single, undeniable answer that applies to all? Is there a fundamental truth behind the morality of war?
Remembering Neil Armstrong – an old-fashioned kind of hero
When I heard that Neil Armstrong had died, I was struck with a small sadness. Not because of any dependency my life (or quality of life) might have had on him, nor because of any active role he currently played on the world stage. I was sad in a small way simply because I now will never get the chance, no matter how remote it might ever have been, to meet him and shake his hand.
Mayhem, Mistakes and Mastering the Motorway
So, this whole driving on the wrong side of the road thing: where was I? Oh yes, the Devon country roads so narrow and twisting they could have been a Tea Party policy seminar, with ten-foot high hedgerows crowding in on either side.
Danger, Daring And Driving In Devon
Today I’d like to tell you about a recent experience that might sound mundane, but which brings with it thrills, chills and a profound respect for another culture: driving on the wrong side of the road.
Crossing The Line
I hear that a teacher in Alberta is going to get fired because he gave out zeros to students when they didn’t even bother to submit assignments. Is the prospect of getting a zero mark for zero effort truly so terrible that a young person’s dignity will be destroyed? Or perhaps, is the lesson instead being taught that there are no consequences for laziness?
Tastes, Treats and Moments of Terror in Thailand
It’s always an adventure to eat in foreign countries. Strange smells, curious colours, tantalizing tastes. Lately I’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand. There are many pleasant surprises for the foodie in this tropical kingdom.
Artistic Freedom Under Fire
“It’s fabulous. I love it. No agent will ever touch it.”
Her explanation was that the book didn’t fit into any established category. It would be hard for an agent to create a snappy “elevator pitch” and harder still for a traditional editor to know how to work with it. It might be brilliant, but because it was so different it would be too much work (read, too much money) for the traditional publishing industry to embrace.