Crossed

Posted on March 5, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Finally got round to reading Crossed this week. It’s a 10 issue comic series by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows. I’ve wanted to read it for ages, being a fan of Ennis, and I saw it on sale on Amazon. The book has a reputation for being graphic and extreme. Read any review on Amazon to see that. But everything Ennis writes is like that. Look at Preacher, a brilliant book but it’s gross. Crossed takes this too another level. The first couple of issues just takes shock level to a new level with double page spreads of people being ripped apart. It must have been hard to draw that. I hated the first half of the book, it was just a rampage of over the top death and horror. It lived up to its name. I paid for it though, so I read the whole thing. I’m glad I did. The second half of the book is much calmer and enjoyable. The characters finally started to develop. It is no where near the best thing Ennis has written but it was decent.

I went over chapter two, of To The Other, again last Friday. It amazes me how no matter how many times I go over it I still miss double words and really bad sentences. Some of them I crossed out and then cringed. How could I have written that, and then let people read it. And how did those people not hit me? I really deserve it. The problem is that I wrote the start of the book about 3 years ago and it really shows. I’d just read Dracula for the first time and some of my description was “borrowed” from that brilliant opening chapter. I don’t know what I was thinking, but that isn’t the worst part. I used the word metaphor to describe something. I can’t believe I left that in after editing before, but I suppose I was in a nicer mood back then. I also can’t believe how bad I am with tenses. I swap them all the time. It’s just plain annoying. Am I selling the book well enough?

I’ve been reading a bit of poetry recently. I’ve never been a fan, but I think I get it now. (I’ve always been the person who sits there silence in class going “What is this” and then someone says something I say oh and then nod still not really getting it.) I like Simon Armitage, Pound’s Modernist stuff, Yeats and Ted Hughes at the moment. I’ve been inspired by these writers to start writing poetry and post it online. I know I can’t write poetry, but I want to push myself. Also I’m hoping it will help me writing prose. (I’ll figure out how later.) I’ve written a few poems about what I see around Northampton. If you’re interested you can check out this page (Scroll down for the poems.) I’d really like feedback on this, because I know that I can’t do it. I’m sure this is only temporary though so expect updates quite regularly for a while and then no more.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley.

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Another Week

Posted on February 26, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Second year of uni near enough finished. It’s going by fast. Just fell into the routine and then it’s gone. There’s been quite a few disruptions though. Changing teachers, and illnesses. I guess that’s why it seems like it’s gone so fast. I’ll have more time for writing, which is a good thing. I also know that I’m going to get on with it. I’m enjoying writing at the moment. I’m getting on with 2 assignments. A biography of John Lennon, and my fantasy piece. If anyone’s interested I could upload them when they’re finished.

Last weekend was the second London Super Comic Con. I won’t bore you with the details, but it was awesome. Met two of the guys who created Wolverine, and many other writers/artists. Only got one sketch this year, but I really like this one. (It’s Wolverine by Herb Trimpe.) If you want to read more here’s a handy link to a post about it written by me and a friend.

Getting tired of next door. They’re up all night and now have music incredibly loud during the day. I’ve banged on the wall a few times. They shut up, but only for a bit. I was watching something earlier and couldn’t hear it over their music. It’s getting boring now. Everyone else in the house is annoyed as well but they don’t see a point in doing something. I think my Dad told one of them to keep it quiet once and that worked for a couple of days. I see it as another reason (On an ever increasing pile.) to leave this house.

It’s been a good week. My feet still hurt from the two days of standing up, and my shoulders ache from the memories of the bags they were holding. I also have a big pile of Spider-Man comics to read, which isn’t a bad thing.

Thanks for reading,

-Ashley

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Liebster Award Part Two

Posted on February 19, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

Can’t believe that I’ve been nominated for this award again. I can’t express how much I appreciate my readers. Thanks to Lilly for nominating me. Check out her blog here! Thanks!!

The Rules:

  • Post eleven facts about yourself
  • Answer the questions posed by your nominator
  • Pass the award on to eleven new recipients – preferably under 200 followers
  • Post eleven new questions to your bloggers

You can post a copy of the badge onto your blog, just put ‘Liebster Award’ into google and there are lots to chose from! Also remember to put the links of your nominees on your post, so everyone can see why you think they are so great!!

11 Facts About Me

  1. I live in Northampton, England.
  2. I’m quite shy and don’t speak a lot during lectures. Whenever I do the tutor is put into a state of shock. One actually slammed his book on the table. That may have been because of how stupid I was being though.
  3. I have two brothers and I’m the middle child
  4. A lot of people I know have a problem with Americanisms and the changing of the English Language. I think change is good and don’t see the problem as long as we understand each other.
  5. I can’t remember wanting to be anything but a writer.
  6. I’ve written one novel which I’m currently editing.
  7. I hate editing.
  8. I’ve skipped the editing for the meanwhile to focus on writing the second book.
  9. I’m going to London Super Comic Con this weekend, and can’t wait.
  10. I have a Thomas the Tank Engine clock above my desk that hasn’t ticked in over 10 years, yet I don’t want to take it down.
  11. The colour of my wall is blue apart from the bit in front of me which is yellow. I hope I don’t one day see someone inside it.

My answers:

1. What are you currently reading? – Loads of things. LotR. White Boy Shuffle. Mrs Dalloway. The Wrongs of Woman

2. If you could meet any three people (alive, dead or fictional) who would it be? – Jonathan Hickman, John Lennon and Bram Stoker.

3. Your favourite book? – Dracula

4. What is your most embarrassing moment? – Falling asleep in a lecture and then waking while thinking I was falling.

5. Can you make any anagrams with your name? – I don’t know. Odd question.

6. What would you rather read, Harry Potter or Twilight? – Got no problem with Twilight but Harry Potter.

7. One skill you wish you had? – To sew buttons back onto my coat. They fall off all the time.

8. Your favourite song at the moment? – Holiday by Green Day

9. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? – Django Unchained.

10. Your best childhood memory? – Couldn’t say.

11. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? – New York

My nominees.

  1. http://journalofanordinaryman.wordpress.com/
  2. http://hollybee42.wordpress.com/
  3. http://charlottefrances.wordpress.com/
  4. http://wetinkpresspublishing.com/
  5. http://www.writewithwarnimont.com/
  6. http://tolkieniskloneit.wordpress.com/
  7. http://litwist.wordpress.com/
  8. http://sueperryauthor.com/
  9. http://realmofthegoddess.wordpress.com/
  10. http://amandagreyfiction.wordpress.com/
  11. http://badhorrorgoodtimes.com/

My Questions:

  1. What are you reading at the moment?
  2. Have you seen The Hobbit? Did you like it?
  3. Django Unchained is Tarantino’s best film. Yes or no?
  4. Why are one direction covering Blondie?
  5. WHY?
  6. Do you like Dinosaurs? Would they make good pets?
  7. How many Hamsters do you own?
  8. Do you keep posters rolled up or on display?
  9. Analog or digital watches?
  10. Pac-Man or Sonic or Batman Arkham Asylum?
  11. Potato?

Have fun.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley

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Censoring

Posted on February 19, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

One of the big things a YA author has to tackle is how much is too much, especially when writing horror? Too much violence? Too much language? Should there be none of the above? Anyone whose read Darren Shan’s work knows that there really isn’t a limit. (Shan’s novels have been banned in schools. Which is something to think about.) There is also swearing in the first Harry Potter book, which according to my copy is aimed at 9 year olds.

I was 11 when I read my first Stephen King book, Dreamcatcher which has some pretty freaking things going on. Was I too young to read it? I don’t think so, but others might. A lot of my friends, and family, have all read similar stuff at a similar age. I don’t think the author should censor their work at all. If a parent is really that bothered about what their children read then they should pick up the book, skim through it, read it, check out the website/reviews of the book. It would take 5 minutes to find out the content. If a teenager picks up the book in a library then either their card will stop them from taking it out, or in a school the librarians SHOULD (I know some won’t) stop them. The librarians at my school were really good at this. They didn’t patronise people about what they shouldn’t read, yet they managed to keep younger ones away from the more graphic books. (They did have Maus, a graphic novel about the holocaust portrayed through animals. Jews were mice. And that should be read at any age. True story as well.)

Personally I think that if the child is grabbing a book and reading it. Who cares what’s in it. They’re reading. Of course there are limits, but then again there are parents. My mum stopped me from reading a couple of books when I was younger, although she did give me Endless Night by Richard Layman when I was 14 which was stretching it. Don’t let anyone else read that book. I didn’t mean to turn that into a rant, so don’t be offended if you disagree. I’m just talking as a 19 year old who remembers really clearly at the age of 13 being told to put away Red Dragon and keep it at home, while being given Romeo and Juliet. (There is some pretty racy things in there. Innuendos, murder and suicide. But it’s literature so then it’s acceptable. Red Dragon is just pure filth about murdering people, which is wrong. I admit that part was a rant.)

Anyway as part of the new writing project I’m involved in, I’ve started a Facebook page, you can find HERE. I’ll appreciate it if you check that out. Also HERE is the actual site, which at the moment has a few reviews I’ve written. Have a look. That book I’ve been reading, Shiverton Hall, I’ve reviewed that and you can read that HERE. Did I put enough links there?

In less than 6 weeks time I will have finished my 2nd year of uni. I’ll have some essays and one exam to finish but the actual lessons will be all over. A weird feeling. Time has gone fast, but I feel like this year was a lot better than the last one. I also know how to manage my writing a lot better now so I can get on with a lot of stuff over the break. I’ve also got to start my reading on Romanticism poets. I don’t really get along with poetry, but I’ve been getting better at that. I’m willingly reading Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes (Which I bought thinking it was on a book list somewhere, but I haven’t come across it since.) Hopefully by September I will find poetry reasonably easy and be able to get on with it. Anyway I need to stop thinking about the summer and get back here in the winter with Neil Gaiman’s new novel as a light at the end of the tunnel. Roll on June.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley.

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Assignment Help

Posted on February 18, 2013 by ashleymanningwriter

My assignment for Fiction Writing this term is Fantasy. I should be doing really well on this one. But I’m not. I’ve written the first 400 words and would appreciate you looking over it and giving some feedback. For this section I was aiming for a slow building pace, with a quicker pace for the rest. Thanks in advance.

***

I kept on looking up at the clock. Still had nine hours before the exam, so there was time. Didn’t need that much sleep, anyway. The page on the computer never seemed to end, and when it did there was the next button. I’d read it before, but I kept on going over and over. I stopped reading, thinking that someone had called my name. It sounded like my mum, but it couldn’t have been. I was staying at dad’s house that night. I paused the music and listened. Nothing but the faint snoring from dad’s room. The music continued and my eyes carried on scanning the screen. A few moments later I heard it again, as if it was etched into the background of the music. Playing it again proved it was in my imagination. Just as I clicked the next button again I heard it. It was louder that time. I stopped the music. I heard it again. Sounded like it was coming from the window. Again. I stood up and walked over. Opened the blind. Across the street was a small floating orb. I was called again and then it disappeared.

Something took over me and I left the house. I’d slipped on my shoes, crossed the road and stood where the orb had floated. The street was silent. I heard someone whistling to the right. I turned and followed. Between two houses was an alley. The whistling was louder. I walked down the alley. I wasn’t completely sure why, but I needed to know what was calling me. At the end of the alley was a small path leading behind the houses in both directions. In front of me was a fence, small hill and a motorway. I could see cars speeding past, but they didn’t make a sound. The whistling was coming from the right. I followed. The path carried on beyond the row of houses. A small underpass and then a field. The path stretched out to the right, leading to more houses. The whistling had stopped, but I knew that I had to leave the path and follow the edge of the field. Soon a tree came into sight, and I knew where I needed to go. The branches were hanging low, creating a small private pocket. I brushed on of the branches and ducked inside. My mum was sitting in the middle of the small area, legs crossed and eyes closed.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley

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