Once Works Well was pure technology. Now it seeks merely to divert.
Pansy subjects - Verse! Opera! Domestic trivia! - are now commonplace.
The 300-word limit for posts is retained. The ego is enlarged

Sunday 22 November 2009

A blogger redeemed

Two hundred and ninety-eight posts ago Works Well set out to turn technology into a cantata, a Hawksmoor church, a Blake couplet. Camshafts that resonated with plainsong, printed circuits spilling out free verse, Brancusi in a power drill. Against which the sound of the Fireblade would be heard throughout the land.


As any fule know it didn't happen. And the author of this quixotic venture found himself tarnished by a misinterpreted text, seen as low-brow, incapable of responding to J. K. Rowling, frequently laddish, a curtain where there was need of light, celebrant of the obvious, prophet of polystyrene rather than fine thoughts. Desperate references to Sterne and Messiaen failed to alleviate his condition and he was for ever type-cast: a man preferring a pacemaker to a real heart because he liked watching the wheels go round. Suspected of spending too much time in his shed.

A condign fate for one who set out to steal virtual fire from Microsoft. But lately, disappointed and forced into contemplation, he has recognised a form of redemption. To his circumscribed world has flowed enlightenment. About language, cooking, flowers, ordnance, parenthood, the plastic arts, the deep waters of medicine, life in remote parts, forgiveness, encouragement, jousting. At his age he will not change but he can be touched.

It is over a month early and the tone is suspect but if I were to send out a Christmas card this would be a likely prototype.

Novel progress 25/11/09 (Working titles: The ruined con-rod. Or Con-Rod. Or The Connecting Rod. Or how about something based on bearings?). Chs. 1, 2, 3, 3A (Interlude), 4: 15,288 words. Ch. 5: 6136 words. Comment: Huge chapter, not finished yet.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Bravo!

Rouchswalwe said...

Hear hear!

And now, if you'll allow me a moment of mooshiness, BB!
~ a toast ~ to the man who keeps me hopping! I would need several dozen hands to count all of the things I've learned from Works Well. Here's to many more!

marja-leena said...

Bravo! Your creativity and humour in all subjects has been rewarding in many ways, to you and to me. Isn't that what the best of this beast,?!

Eleanor said...

Yes, blogging IS absolutely fantastic!

herhimnbryn said...

Onwards!

The Crow said...

Congratulations, BB - on both your blog count and on your word count.

It certainly was my lucky day to have stumbled onto your blog, lo these many months ago.

Best wishes for continued success!

Roderick Robinson said...

All: I put it in then cut it out; put it in and... dithered. Without any disrespect to Plutarch, Relucent Reader, Sir Hugh and Avus, all of whom I love for a variety of reasons, I am now - scarily, fearfully - adding: "the thoughts of remarkable women". After all, there's always seppuku.

Avus said...

I count it a fortunate day when we "met", BB. Yours is a blog with a difference and one I always turn to with anticipation.
I have often wondered why we do it (blogging) and this post of yours helps towards understanding.
As a certain daughter has already said - "onwards!"

Julia said...

And upwards to 300!! I add my "na zdravi" to the toast!