Tag Archives: books

Yen, The Word-Bender (our unofficial literary avatar)!

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by S H Israel

EXPLORING DIFFERENT AVENUES OF WRITING BECAUSE WRITING AS A CAREER CAN BE MORE. 

Today we had the privilege of listening to a talk by Yen Ooi, a notable narrative director, writer and editor—whose catalogue of work explores cultural storytelling and its impact on identity. She’s a science fiction fanatic who unearths stories exposing and exploring the variations of culture between genres. Yen is an author of profound works such as ‘Rén: The Ancient Chinese Art of Finding Peace and Fulfilment’, ‘Sun: Queens of Earth’ (novel) and ‘A Suspicious Collection of Short Stories and Poetry’ (collection) and she is also a narrative designer on ‘Road to Guangdong’.  

As a person who has only understood writing (as a career) to be limited to specific roles in which one can succeed, this talk with Yen has expanded my perception as to what is possible. Typically, when people ask me what I’m studying these are the responses they dart at my ego; ‘Oh you want to be a teacher, then?’ or personal favourite ‘A writer?! They don’t make much do they?’. 

What Yen did with this talk not only gave us a portal into what is possible for writers, but she also shared a life-changing revelation; if there is something you want to see, create it. 

Yen disclosed the two things she did when she decided that she wanted to be a writer; first, she joined an online writing course run by Oxford University and second, she created a website where she could share her short stories and other pieces of writing. This eventually led to her pursuing a master’s degree in English Literature at the University of Westminster. She stated that this enabled her to explore how “literature and stories come about in a specific time and space and culture” which helped in shaping her focus on the practical aspect of writing, in terms of skills, genre, etc. Moreover, she lists the practical things she did to push start her career, she volunteered, sought internships and other entry-level work in publishing. Yen credits ‘The Literary Consultancy’ (where she began as an intern, shadowing some of the managers) which helped to give her a practical framework for the business of writing.  

The scope of her career expanded when she collaborated with a friend on a trans media story *(is a narrative structure that breaks through both language and media) and mobile games. She explained that writing for games taught her the importance of timing, the quality of your writing, the platform and whether your audience is aware and involved.  

Listening to Yen share the early parts of her career whether it’s her starting out living in Japan where she joined the online writing class or pursuing her master’s degree, collaborating with a friend on writing for mobile games, to being a managing director in publishing, to publishing her novels, short stories and now pursuing a PhD exploring ‘East and South-East Asian Culture Identity and Values, her ever-expanding career incites both pride and jealousy. 

What is very clear is this: Yen is an exemplary writer who has forged her path within the field of writing and applied her talents through different mediums.  

This was not a simple talk about Yens’ career and consequently her successes, no this was a discussion of what is possible. 

To keep abreast of the exciting works by Yen Ooi then, please check out her website and Instagram! https://www.yenooi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yenooi/?hl=en

Spectacular Science-Fiction: Yen Ooi’s Speaker Session

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Image by GooKingSword from Pixabay

By Heide R. Orleth

My favorite guest speaker session this year was Yen Ooi’s talk about her writing journey. She has a fascinating career in the publishing industry, and got her master’s at Westminster! She was a finalist for the 2023 Hugo Awards, and is co-editor of Ab Terra, Brain Mill Press’s science fiction imprint.

I really enjoyed her presentation, especially because of her clear enthusiasm for the science-fiction genre and the projects she has been involved in. Yen even dressed up as a zombie to help develop a mobile game! I have not yet read her fictional prose, but her novel Sun: Queens of Earth is on my to-be-read list, along with the Ab Terra short story anthologies she edited.

I am a big fan of nerdy conventions, so hearing about her experiences promoting her work at WorldCon (a global sci-fi convention) was exciting. I think conventions are some of the best places to express your nerdiness and knowing that I could theoretically display my work in a similar way was encouraging.

Image by Pikurā from Pixabay

In addition to her novels and publishing career, she also has experience in a lesser-known writing form: writing for video games. It is an entirely different beast than ordinary prose writing. The game she writes for is called Road to Guangdong, and it is simulation racing game set in China.

According to Yen, there are key differences to writing for games. Unlike readers, players of a game have agency within the story. They can shape it and interact with the world to variable degrees. However, it is impossible to account for every single decision a player might want to make. Writers must toe the line between letting the player feel like they are in control and making an impact in the story, while also leading them to a finite number of outcomes. I find this to be a really intriguing challenge.

The video games I usually play are more sandbox/simulation types, but thanks to Baldur’s Gate 3 I’ve been obsessed with the sheer volume of writing that goes into a roleplaying-game of its caliber. Constant choices, countless moments that make or break relationships with NPCs (non-player characters), and the ripple effect of every decision can be felt as you make your way through the adventure. It speaks to how I want my readers to feel: immersed in the story and emotionally invested in its outcome.

Perhaps I will try my hand at games writing someday. I can only hope that someday my career is as fascinating and fulfilling as Yen Ooi’s!

Heide R. Orleth is a 2nd year Creative Writing & English Language student at the University of Westminster. She loves to write fantasy & science-fiction, and is an avid reader, anime enjoyer, and occasional cosplayer. Instagram: @aechrwrites.

TOWN OF MIDHURST OR AS I LIKE TO CALL IT, A WRITER’S HOSPITAL.

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Bashiru Kargbo.

(credit Pixabay)

A casual perusal through googles maps towards the southernmost part of England, right about 45 degrees to the right of Portsmouth harbour is a tiny town, situated right between Petersfield and Petworth. Midhurst. My first impression of the place was that it was creepy, eerie, and had too much forestry. After living next to a high-street all your life, the sound of crows waking you up in the morning will leave an impression to say the least.  And then there is the silence. It is not so much as silence but the absence of livelihood. I imagine that is what time standing still would sound like. And that would be an applicable statement to the buildings themselves. 

WHAT’S A PUB’S AGE GOTTA DO WITH WRITNG?

What an off-license shop is to Central London is what a pub is in Midhurst. The unique thing about the pubs is their history, more precisely their ages. The swan inn pub I sat in on a hot afternoon I found out to be over four hundred years old. The fire hearth next to one of the dining tables, the wooden beams, the ceiling. Even though these frameworks must have been changed over the years it felt like it contained enough stories to fill a library. At first sight it looks like a normal pub. But that revelation itself sent my mind reeling of what secrets this structure hides. Many other pubs in every corner in Midhurst would boast that uniqueness that I believe can inspire the creative mind towards wild imaginations. Especially a writer.

I’VE MET PEOPLE BUT THEN I MET PEOPLE IN MIDHURST

I met a man with no thumbs petting his dog and he offered me a room for rent. I met a man in a suit that offered me a spot in a football team, he said he wanted to be my friend. I met an old lady with juicy gossip, a bad hip, and much to say about young girls dressing inappropriately in public. I met a girl with twenty questions within the first minute I said hi. I met a boy in love and in need of my advice. I met a man who loved speed and taught me how to drive. I met a bartender who men and boys alike argued and fought over. I met a man who chased love all the way to Thailand based on a scam online. I met many people. Each their own main character of their own story.

I SEE WHY THE COUNTRY IS OFTEN SAID TO BE BEAUTIFUL

 The sound of nature is ever so present, birds chirping, squirrels, badgers, and other critters. To relieve my boredom, one afternoon I roamed about the forest and came by a place where the trees lined up horizontally like tall pillars in a monastery. Six on each side of the path with the sun filtering gold rays where the leaves were not swaying. It was an ethereal sight. The stars I can vouch is a remarkable sight at night. I felt like I could lasso the moon and befriend it. A writer’s block could easily be remedied in Midhurst. It disconnects you from the bustle of it all effectively while offering you content like hidden treasures around the town, waiting to be discovered. I won’t go in too deep about the old hidden railway station I and some friends found in the forest. The stories hidden within is something I will leave to your curiosity and interest in visiting Midhurst.

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Perseverence

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Hamzeh Ghaderi

This week, on the module, we had Katie Hale. She is a novelist and also a poet. She is famous for her two books, “My Name Is Monster”, which is a novel, and “White Ghosts”, her poetry collection. During the online session, I paid attention well because the information she provided to us was useful. I found her a persistent person. Looking at her face, I recognised her as a person passionate about writing and patient about the journey. She talked about her background and mentioned all about the ways she’d passed to become a writer, which I believe can be helpful for me, as a new writer, to use her experience and find a way to get published.

   She studied at RHUL between 2008-2012 and then at St Andrews between 2012-13. She has worked as an arts admin and a freelance writer ever since and has attended workshops and professional development seminars that have helped her throughout these years to gain more knowledge about the industry while writing. For instance, she said, according to her observations, a writer could earn up to £10,500 per year, which is well below the minimum wage and represents a 42% drop in real terms since 2005. But she also mentioned that a writer should not give up if their earnings are low at the beginning. If they are perseverance and have written something worthy, they may win prizes and make royalties out of their books. Moreover, attending festivals as a speaker and also TV and radio programs can increase earnings.

   The other ways which were mentioned are facilitation, funding and residencies. For the first one, Katie said that the writers can create workshops in schools and for adults, either in person or online, and by charging an amount, they can make money in exchange for teaching people (a private tutor). For funding, the writer can apply for grants on creative projects, asking some specific companies for support. Moreover, for the third way, residencies, the writer can get paid by accepting residents in different places that allow them to focus on their job, writing.

   After this online session ended, I thought about what Katie said. I tried to reconsider my expectations. Before getting to know her, I used to think it could be so easy for a new writer to get published and make big money. I was living in a dream. I used to think as soon as my book became ready, there would be an agent and a publisher waiting for me to sign up with them, but now, I have come to the conclusion that I need to lower my expectations. I have to convince myself that I’m not a famous writer. No one knows me yet, so I can’t be published on day one. I have to keep my morale and be perseverance, because persistence is key.

Time Travel: Innovative or Incomprehensible?

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By Heide R. Orleth

My favorite icebreaker when meeting new people is simply asking “What are your thoughts on time travel?” I find that it gives me an impression of the person and whether or not we will get along.

Time travel has been a tool in fiction writer’s metaphorical toolbox for generations. From Star Trek to Tokyo Revengers, it applies to a wide range of mediums and scratches our innate human itch to imagine what we might do if placed in an era outside of our lifetimes.

I have a complicated relationship with time travel, because if it’s done poorly, I become more infuriated than entertained. I tend to avoid things with time travel because it is so easy to fall into a classic time paradox, or alternate timeline shenanigans. There are countless plot holes that can spawn from a poorly designed time travel mechanic, and if the story continues without consequences from such fallacies, it kills the magic for me.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Time travel fails

  • Primer – It’s a decently produced movie for an indie film, but the timeline is utterly incomprehensible and loops back in on itself a ridiculous number of times. The main characters meddle with their past selves and the editing makes it unclear when they travel back, and how many times they do it.
  • Avengers: Endgame – if you want an understandable time travel tale, this is not the best choice. Not only do you need to have seen all Avengers movies to understand the context, but the alternate timelines created make the plot muddled and contradictory.

Time Travel Excellence

When the time-meddling is unique, fleshed out, and follows a semi-logical path (pseudo-scientific or not), I am more on board. There are many time-travel-centric books and films, but these are a few of my favorites.

A couple books including time travel that I’d recommend are:

  • The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle By Stuart Turton – [Murder mystery, Time Loop, Body swapping] A super creative take on a typical mansion murder mystery. The main character wakes up in a different character’s body each day, and his hosts vary in helpfulness. The final twists are excellent, and I had a lot of fun reading this rollercoaster of a book.
  • Furyborn By Claire Legrand– [YA Fantasy, Badass women, Grey morality] This story is told in 2 time periods, a thousand years apart. As the story goes on, the lives of the heroines become more and more intertwined, and there is a compelling corruption arc in the earlier timeline that plays out in real time, and its effects had a massive impact on the present from the outset.

Movies with time travel that I recommend:

  • Arrival – [Aliens, Drama, Linguistic nerd heaven] This is an Oscar-nominated film that richly deserved that prestige. It is beautifully shot, well-paced, has an excellent allegory, and the time aspect is understated yet essential to the story as a whole. Plus, the deep dive into linguistics is compelling for a language nerd such as myself.
  • The Terminator – [Robots, Apocalyptic, Action] The first two movies in this franchise are a masterclass in science-fiction action. The story is fast-paced and connects with the era’s fear of nuclear war and rising influence of technology that is still relevant to this day. **I only really recommend the first 2 movies in this series as they are a full story on their own, and the following sequels cheapen what made T1 & T2 so special.**
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

There are, of course, exceptions to my standards. The Back to the Future film trilogy has alternate timelines, a “what if my parents never met?” debacle, and more holes than a sieve, but its infectious charm compels me to overlook inconsistencies in favor of riding along in the iconic souped-up DeLorean.

I hope that you all develop your own thoughts on this wild sub-genre, and beware, if I meet you in real life, I will absolutely ask you what your thoughts on time travel are.

Heide R. Orleth is a 2nd year Creative Writing & English Language student at the University of Westminster. She loves to write fantasy & science-fiction, and is an avid reader, anime enjoyer, and occasional cosplayer. Instagram: @aechrwrites.