#novel writing machine

[thoughtportal]

Julia was twenty-six years old... and she worked, as he had guessed, on the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department. She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor... She could describe the whole process of composing a novel, from the general directive issued by the Planning Committee down to the final touching-up by the Rewrite Squad. But she was not interested in the final product. She "didn't much care for reading," she said. Books were just a commodity that had to be produced, like jam or bootlaces.                         

From 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four),              by George Orwell. Published by Secker & Warburg in 1948 Additional resources -          

[vhstown]

reminder that ppl who make stuff on the internet for free don't actually owe you anything at all like ... as sad as it is that ur fav comic / fanfic hasn't updated in god knows how long that person has a life 😭 can we not harass people and be compassionate and patient and understanding thanx

[eloquenthubak1982]

Dark academia

[frank-olivier]

Against Romanticism: The Case for a More Nuanced Literary Approach

Iris Murdoch's lecture, delivered in 1959 at Yale as part of the Bergen lecture series, presents a thought-provoking exploration of the connection between literary problems and broader political and moral issues. In her critique of the liberal democratic theory of personality, Murdoch argues that it is inadequate due to its romantic elements, which prioritize individual freedom and autonomy over human complexity and relationships. This critique is rooted in the philosophical background of Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and existentialism, which emphasize reason, self-knowledge, and individual will over emotional expression and social connections.

Murdoch's notion of "romantic" differs from common understandings of the term, which typically emphasize emotions, beauty, and individualism. Instead, her critique of romanticism focuses on the overemphasis on individual freedom and autonomy, leading to a neglect of human complexity and relationships. This perspective is reflected in the works of great novelists such as Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens, who create characters that are free and separate beings with their own distinct personalities. These novels exemplify the "display of tolerance" mentioned in the lecture, presenting a plurality of characters with mutually independent centers of significance.

Murdoch's argument has significant implications for literature, particularly in the context of 19th-century novels. However, her critique of modern philosophies, such as existentialism and linguistic empiricism, suggests that contemporary literature has shifted away from this liberal tradition. The emphasis on individualism and subjectivity in these philosophies has led to a decline in nuanced character portrayals, a rise in experimental and fragmented narratives, and a focus on individual struggles over social dynamics. This trend is reflected in societal trends, including increased social isolation, polarization, and the erosion of tolerance and empathy.

According to Murdoch, great novelists are those who exhibit a distinct set of qualities, which are termed "unromantic" in the sense that they eschew conventional norms and personal psychological conflicts. These authors are characterized by their ability to create vibrant and realistic social scenes, well-developed and independent characters, and a willingness to accept the accidental and unpredictable nature of life. Murdoch's central argument against Romanticism is that it leads to a devaluation of the individual and the real world. By seeking a "timeless, non-discursive whole," Romantic writers create self-contained, symbolist works of art that are separate from the messy, individual, and boundless nature of real life.

This approach results in a loss of freedom for characters, a lack of respect for the existence of other persons, and a failure to appreciate the complexity and uniqueness of individual human experience. The tension between the Romantic pursuit of the "Timeless, non-discursive whole" and the portrayal of individual, contingent characters in novels creates a tension between two conflicting artistic and philosophical goals. The Romantic ideal of the "Timeless, non-discursive whole" emphasizes the universal, the necessary, and the eternal, whereas the portrayal of individual, contingent characters in novels emphasizes the particular, the individual, and the ephemeral.

To resolve this tension, authors can seek to integrate the particular, individual experiences of their characters with the universal, timeless themes and ideas that shape their lives. They can use literary devices, such as symbolism, metaphor, and imagery, to create a sense of unity and coherence while still portraying individual, contingent characters. Authors can also emphasize character development, exploring the complexities and nuances of human experience, while also seeking to reveal deeper, more essential truths about reality. The novel's unique contribution to the spiritual experience of readers lies in its ability to engage readers over an extended period, providing a sustained and immersive experience that can facilitate a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.

The novel's capacity for complexity and nuance, its use of language and symbolism, and its ability to reflect the human search for meaning also make it an ideal medium for facilitating a profound spiritual experience in readers. The importance of respecting the autonomy and individuality of fictional characters is essential for creating realistic and nuanced portrayals of human experience. By recognizing the complexity and richness of human experience, literature can capture the uncertainties and ambiguities of life, rather than imposing a preconceived form or meaning on it. Ultimately, Murdoch's argument highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of human complexity and relationships, and the importance of literature in promoting empathy, understanding, and social cohesion in contemporary society.

Iris Murdoch: On the Sublime & the Beautiful Revisited [Yale, 1959] (Philosophy Overdose, December 2024)

Friday, December 27, 2024

[justafriendofxanders]

sorry for the meme format that's apparently nearing a DECADE old but i unironically feel a shiver down my spine any time someone mentions buffy being rebooted

[quietwingsinthesky]

(For the game) I think the doctor should have more diverse companions. Give them more non human alien companions! Give them a companion is who fundamentally bad, who they have realize they can’t fix

strongly agree | agree | neutral | disagree | strongly disagree

yeah!!!!! oh and can i add to that! one thing i'd love to see? just like. a companion who is religious. in a way that is taken account into in the narrative and that is like. discussed? you know, how does going on time travel universe hopping adventures effect one's religious ideas. that would be fascinating to me. i think we've gotten like blanket statement things about future humans adjusting their religious beliefs or whatever but that's not what im interested in exactly. i want like. what does it do, to a modern human with modern religious ideas, to have to adjust that to aliens and shit. and how does their way of incorporating this life with the doctor reflect their character!

i think that'd be fascinating!!! and someone definitely smarter than me out there could probably write an incredible buddhist companion for the doctor and draw on the obvious cultural influences borrowed about cycles of reincarnation in constructing the doctor's whole regeneration thing to discuss shit. maybe one day. i'd love to see it.

[blueberryblowfly]

the self checkout attendant is a vital part of the ecosystem... do not mistreat them... they have a pack bond with the machines and the machine CAN sense your intentions (not theft related, they kinda suck at sensing that. more like they can sense if ur in a hurry or if ur a bitch.)

[jennablackmorebooks]

I finished writing the first draft of my science fiction manuscript The Mind Game Machine this evening. I started writing it on November 1st.

In a little while, it will enter the editing process, where it will become better, and also longer (this is my shortest first draft in quite a number of years, and I already see places where I'd like to elaborate on ideas and characters).

[frereamour]

there's something so crazy about reading a book and from the language having the impression it's set in a certain period, and then here come the words 'video games' to give you mental whiplash.

[ahb-writes]

"They don't gotta burn the books, they just remove 'em."

from "Bulls on Parade," Rage Against the Machine

[k-the-kartoonist]

Heeey it's been a while, but I've been working diligently on Dr. Malice. I've had the idea to include my art by making illustrations for each chapter, thus giving them more life and interest. I won't be sharing ones that contain major spoilers, but I'll likely be sharing some of the smaller ones like this one here, featuring the main protagonist of Dr. Malice, Cammy Karnell.

Currently, the book is at a little over 80k words with about 200 pages. I'll likely be finishing the book this year and working on editing and advertisements before I finally publish it. Stay tuned!

[hungryven]

Aimi commission I got from PasilyRose

[hanktalkin]

AI art is pretty convincing at this point, but AI writing still feels very “nothing burger”. If i were reading someone’s AI generated fanfiction I probably wouldn’t be able to tell, since so many writers *do* write like that, just characters doing things and then at the end you ask yourself what you were meant to get out of it.

[thepedanticbohemian]

A song that inspired some of the action in the 5th Crais Chronicles novel, LEGACY.

[thatonecrookedsmile]

I know that at this point the release of the third novel is practically around the corner (and I know I'm also very late to talk about this) so there's really no need to post about it. But I haven't seen anyone commenting on this on Tumblr before, which is kind of surprising, I'm not going to lie. (And I checked the tags and I used the search bar, I didn't find a soul who posted this before. Either that, or they posted it and I didn't see it (words/tag filters working maybe))

Anyway.

SO,for those who are excited for the new book and didn't already know this (either because you don't use Twitter, haven't seen this here on Tumblr before or are behind on the news) a new extended preview for Bendy: Fade to Black was released a while ago!

The first preview had already been shared here back in June, and it only had the first chapter of the book + the first page of the second chapter. This extended preview has the prologue of the book, chapter 1 and more extra pages for chapter 2 (I don't think it's the entire chapter,tho)

(Also, the book has 33 chapters in total. Nice)

Again,I know it's too late to be able to talk about this at this point (I got busy in September and was prevented from talking about it before), especially since this book is coming out like. This week lol. There's not much point to talk about this now. But repeating myself, I didn't see anyone commenting about this here on Tumblr. I checked the tags and used the search bar, and nope, nobody. Which is surprising considering the other official (I think?) things people decided to share here. And hey, maybe there really is someone out there who doesn't know that this preview hasn't been released (because I'm sure at this point some of you reading this will have already seen this preview before I posted it here) so consider this post as a helping hand/a reminder perhaps.

And just so this isn't just *a* post sharing the preview, here's a reminder for everyone to remember to tag your spoilers if you're going to talk about the new book! And for those who won't be able to read this book anytime soon (Me), remember to mute/block tags and words so as not to be spoiled! I have to definitely do that after posting this.

But yeah, that's all, have a good night everybody! (or day, whatever time you are reading this)

[braveryhearted]

Cain 🤝 Vash:

Being the annoying twin.