I've been considering various aspects and issues and problems with my portfolio, one being how to condense my (typically epic) ideas into the word-limit, and have decided to 'simplify' the storyline by only pursuing the 'Alena' storyline, and leaving other other storylines and sub-plots out for the purpose of this portfolio and work on them in my own time. I've also been considering the settings in which Glass Dresses will take place and have discovered that I need to brush up on workhouses and various poverty-related laws of the time, including the obvious Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 and the issues of child labour and prostitution.
I've also just finished reading Kim Newman's Anno Dracula, an alternate history set in the Victorian period under the premise that Van Helsing never killed Dracula, allowing him to take over Britain, and leading to the spread of vampirism.
Anno Dracula is set in 1888 - the period in which the infamous 'Jack the Ripper' was haunting London, mutilating and murdering prostitutes; in this case, all vampires. I was advised to read this by K.S. - a tutor in another module - and have really enjoyed it. The setting is - as far as my research and knowledge of the era goes - historically accurate with obvious exceptions. I will be looking at the book in more detail now that I have read it through to look at how Victorian London is constructed, and which details are used to solidify the image in the reader's mind - examples being the fashions, sensibilities, and currency.
I'll write more when I have more time, but for now - busy, busy, busy! ;)
I've also just finished reading Kim Newman's Anno Dracula, an alternate history set in the Victorian period under the premise that Van Helsing never killed Dracula, allowing him to take over Britain, and leading to the spread of vampirism.
Anno Dracula is set in 1888 - the period in which the infamous 'Jack the Ripper' was haunting London, mutilating and murdering prostitutes; in this case, all vampires. I was advised to read this by K.S. - a tutor in another module - and have really enjoyed it. The setting is - as far as my research and knowledge of the era goes - historically accurate with obvious exceptions. I will be looking at the book in more detail now that I have read it through to look at how Victorian London is constructed, and which details are used to solidify the image in the reader's mind - examples being the fashions, sensibilities, and currency.
I'll write more when I have more time, but for now - busy, busy, busy! ;)
1 comment:
Dear Zoe - I think this is right, to be thinking about the word limit, and how your "epic" ideas can be honed down to fit into the portfolio limits. In 7500 words, you can really only do so much - rather than encompassing a whole world, a short story of that length will typically consist of one main plot and one (or two) main character(s). Think about the time span, too, of the piece - and think about the crucial "moment of change" or climax to which the whole piece is building. You should only have one moment of this kind.
Thanks, Jonathan
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