tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018776340723375949.post5937820819979497412..comments2023-05-11T17:43:23.208+10:00Comments on Musings from an Outer-Spiral-Arm: Telephones, or why technology is bad for writers.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946630852168034040noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018776340723375949.post-62760926414541820132012-04-25T07:03:54.538+10:002012-04-25T07:03:54.538+10:00Dear Anthony,
I wouldn't bother so much abou...Dear Anthony,<br /> <br />I wouldn't bother so much about being behind with technology. ... I recall a drive with some Burundian woman I drove home and I talked with her about my sf I had written - but still not finished - and she was amazed about the story itself, about my prescience of modern-day society. About how we are checked on everything, just as I know how technology works, or rather, how nature works (more or less). This is all based on the 4 (or 3) forces of nature (gravity might not be one of them after all). ... What I did learn about my mistakes is ... well ... to be vague about technological developments ... like the way Sir Pratchett uses sex in his novels: do not be explicit about it. ... Sex being sex, it is easy to relate to it, but I am sure you are aware there are awards for the worst scenes depicted every year. The same goes about technology. Personally I do not bother about it so much, it is the story that counts after all, and I like to make tons of fun with it; but that is my approach to the thing. <br /> <br />However I can feel with your story, as one year ago this computer of mine went to the eternal fields of BSOD, and due to poverty (as a writer becomes) I had to resort to the age-old technology of the dead-tree format as I could not replace it. It did me well. I am still behind on my work with that, and I wished by times that I didn't have another typewriter connected to the rest of the planet. ... I hope I will soon have that luxury again, for the stories I had in mind are still great ... and sometimes do wish I have the time to write for I am to busy writing. But I am sure you know the problem.<br /> <br />I selected "anonymous" as a poster, but I believe I am going to have dinner tomorrow with somebody you know, for that is how I got here. And since I am not a coward, here is my full name:<br /> <br />Albert van der Heijden. <br /> <br />I hope to write to you soon again, ... <br />groeten uit nederland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com