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I write. Therefore I am.
01/08/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
What are we really? Not in the physical sense, asks Uncle Geoff, but here on the Internet. Think about it. As you read this editorial, what you are really seeing is a collection of symbols commonly called letters divided into consonants and vowels which are formulated into words and then meaningful sentence structures and grouped further into paragraph subject matter and expression of ideas that you can understand. Hello everyone
What are we really? Not in the physical sense but here on the Internet.
Think about it. As you read this editorial, what you are really seeing is a collection of symbols commonly called letters divided into consonants and vowels which are formulated into words and then meaningful sentence structures and grouped further into paragraph subject matter and expression of ideas that you can understand. Well, I assume you can understand. It's up to you as to whether you can do that and the help of any education you've had in learning what these symbols mean. At that point, unless those words are clearly written then they are up for your own interpretation.
Somewhere in all the melee is what you take to be me. Yep! That's me waving my hand here. I think, therefore I am. But as you read here, all you see are the words on a screen. That's me as well. Immortalised until next month when they are replaced by another topic. Well, not totally replaced. Just put in a different place on the website for those of you brave enough to look at my earlier material. I think you know what I mean.
Still, it brings up an interesting point as to what constitutes personality on the page. Invariably we see more than what is on the page as we build up what we know about a person. If you want to do a little experiment, look at the people you communicate with regularly on the Internet but have never met and sum up their personalities in single words like honest, stubborn, persistent or intellect. Choose your own words. How does it compare to your own self-image of like attracting like or is their a preference for dissimilar personalities to your taste and how much you take at face value?
Do you build up your profiles by what you imagine people to be like or what they are really like solely based on what they tell you or vice versa, you tell about yourself? Do you find contrasting knowledge interesting or irritating? Are you surprised when they say something that didn't fit into your personal profile of them? Yet all you're really reacting to are words on a screen unless you're using video link cameras. Would you be able to tell the difference between a human personality and an artificial intelligence persona solely by the words on the screen? After all, they are the sole basis for what you judge about other people in this electronic digital age.
Yet is there any difference between the words you see here and being in person? A little. There's nothing physical for instance. No reading of body language that gives unconscious visual clues as to how many pinches of salt you need to distinguish assorted truths. Here, you can always read again in case you missed something. I talk very fast normally which kinda leaves a lot of people behind. On paper or screen, I'm at everyone's normal reading speed. On a verbal level, arguments of ideas can rapidly change as different information is imparted.
Here, the words are more solid and unlikely to change by the minute. They might dare you to question something or put your ideas up for re-examination but you're not really discussing them. They're here just for your need to contemplate and it sure beats looking at your navel no matter how pretty your belly button is. But what does that make me? I'm still just the person at the end of the keyboard waving my hand. Actually I'm not really. I type with both hands and it would look kinda silly to do that unless I was showing off my dexterity in case I ever needed to fly a helicopter.
The Net is a great equaliser where everyone is made up of words and unless there is significant cultural differences, metaphors or unusual choice words that pin-point where you come from, when we use the same language we tend to have a firm grasp of most subject matters. The only area which might differentiate us is in areas where we with an interest in Science Fiction and related genres share in common is in imagination and ideas. The ability to discuss and re-formulate what we are based on what we learn and know has changed rapidly from going to conventions or monthly meetings.
The people base is larger and more people can join the conversations depending on where you spend your time on the Net, be it here, blogs, chatrooms and whathaveyou. The only difference is not everyone will you think should read you is where you think you are which is why website such as SFCrowsnest tend to grow. There is always someone there who will add to your knowledge, correct you or alternatively, you can do likewise back. Yet, its still only words that you are reacting to. That is the sum of our personalities when we are here.
The fact that we are not uncomfortable with words is probably because we are so versed in communication. That and computer literacy to some extent is what differentiates us from the non-users. We don't necessarily have to speak, just have an avenue to express ourselves to others. Even better, when we aren't interrupted. Yet another equaliser. Words have proven to be effective in so many ways. We can use them to stop wars to making peace, to incite against wrongs and even to anger people when they least expect to making you think which is usually why you read me here.
They are used for so much of our lives. It is the main tool of the personality that we take so much for granted yet never regard how important they are. They are our main gift and should never be under-estimated by how much or little we use them. They express you and what you stand for. The more versatile you are with them the more you will grow and the louder your voice become. If ever there was a joy to writing then this has to be the top of my list. It is something that is often missed by people who don't use computers is how keyboard skills and literacy are key talents that develop over time.
Without communication we would never develop or change. Whether or not we can tell ourselves apart without words would be hard to say but at least its better than waving and drowning in a bay of words we cannot read. It is only how we express ourselves with words that can tell us apart on the Net. It is the interpretation of words that tells us how much we trust what is said. It is even more remarkable how we can see so much behind the words that is here on the screen.
Outside of telepathy, which would suffer a similar problem without visual clues, words are just one step away from communicating at a distance. A precious commodity that we should all use regularly.
Thank you, take care, good night, be safe and think a lot and then turn it into words
Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk
Errror: Watching the first episode of 'Heroes' on British terrestrial television this week, Hiro or his scriptwriters can't be much of a Marvel comics fan if he thought the time travel story was in Uncanny X-Men # 143, which was Kitty versus an alien rather than the so well-known # 141-142 Future-Past storyline. Before someone raises a hand and says there might be a different numbering system for a Japanese reprint, one would think there would be fewer issues not more considering how the Japanese like their comic stories in large book formats.
A real Zen thought: Having things become second nature is often the way forward to having to think about something less and just doing it.
Another real Zen thought but this time for potential writers: If you can express an opinion independently of others and aren't likely to bend to the masses then you might show potential as a writer.
For all links, run your mouse across the last line of every entry. They are there.
BOOK REVIEWS
PS Do you love Science Fiction, horror or fantasy books? Do you read more than life itself? Have opinions that you think others would want to read? Able to string words into sentences? Live in the British Isles? If you have a love fantasy books, for which we have a big stack especially, then read on...you maybe what we need...we maybe what you need...Certainly we can offer some challenging reading that costs you no more than writing a review. If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything and give it a roadtest before giving a review.
You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. We roadtest books so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. That means we need people actually willing to read the book and tell others they're opinion in reviews. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers. Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more. Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't normally read. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things.
I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I? If you like reading books in the genre, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of new books, this has to be a good incentive to see if you have what it takes. We have one of the most popular and biggest SF review columns on the Net. Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff by sending me a sample review. Look up the Review Guidelines:
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN CONTRIBUTORS AND WRITING GENERALLY
PPS: For those keeping track, I'm still about 18 months (late December 2005 - this was a relatively quiet year so watch the months fly by shortly) behind. With going through the ebook samples, I have removed some who've gotten published elsewhere. Thank you for your patience but let me know if you've sold elsewhere so I can reduce my pile or if you've changed address, especially e-mail address. I can't give you my comments unless either is up-to-date. Currently, doing spot-checks to see if you're still there when I reach your sample in the pile is making it easier on my time and catching up on the slush pile. This isn't much of a repeat, just to show you're not forgotten.
Those sending in ebook samples, be prepared for a long wait and read the Guidelines with your mouse here: elsewhere on this website They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I'm repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn't be making. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work. As a writer, it is your command of the English language and its grammar that will show how serious you are about writing.
NOVEL-LENGTH AND OTHER WRITING
General advice for those who want to become writers of any sort: There's an old editorial adage, if you can't aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? If you're a writer, then you should understand the words, sentences and grammar of the job you're supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you're ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Put the time in researching any subject you're using in the story. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. Even I do that. A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn't see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted out and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best. Look up the Common Problems Link with your mouse here:
SHORT STORY SLUSH PILE
Please don't confuse the above link with my short story slush pile which is kinda low at the moment. We're always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can't pay for their efforts, your material will be seen by a lot of people. If you can get a short story written well then it'll make it easier to move up to novel length. Look up the Short Stories Link with your mouse here
FLASH OR ONE-PAGE FICTION
Don't forget also, we've got a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website. Flash fiction stories link : with your mouse here.
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