Monthly Archives: September 2015

The Astonishing Power of a Book about Nothing: Woolf’s “Orlando”

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

I have just finished reading Virginia Woolf’s Orlando: A Biography. It is a shocking, confusing, and engaging book. I am reeling from this … well, I’ll call it a novel. And I can say almost nothing about it or it … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged A Room of One's Own, art, C.S. Lewis, culture, feminism, gender, literary criticism, On Stories, Orlando, Theology of Culture, Virginia Woolf | 19 Comments

A Beautiful Night for an Apocalypse

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Last night was the Supermoon, that time in the moon’s elliptical orbit when it is at its closest to earth and looks about 14% bigger. Last night was also a full lunar eclipse, which happened within 3 minutes of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Adam Sandler, apocalypse, biblical studies, Christmas, Demi Moore, film criticism, Hotel Transylvania, Kirk Cameron, lunar eclipse, Nicholas Cage, Pentecost, Star Wars, Supermoon, Theology of Culture | 28 Comments

“You Shall Not Pass!” A Little Feature Friday Fun

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Because it’s Friday, and because we need a little fun on Fridays, and because Hobbit Day was this week–and because it is more than just a little ridiculous–I thought this would be a perfect piece for this week’s Feature Friday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday | Tagged Gandalf, hobbits, humour, Improv, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson, Sir. Ian McKellan | 11 Comments

A Depressing Book Announcement: Women and C.S. Lewis

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

It is with great sadness that I announce the release of Women and C.S. Lewis by Carolyn Curtis and Mary Pomroy Key. A clean, diverse, and full collection of papers by established and emerging scholars, poets, and writers, this collection … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Crystal Downing, david downing, feminism, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joy Davidman, Malcolm Guite, Monika Hilder, Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, women | 42 Comments

Creative Writing Contest! Submit and Vote!

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on Ekphrasis: Allentown's Fellowship of Christians in the Arts:
Dear Creative Writers and lovers of fantasy, mystery, and speculative fiction! I am happy to announce Signum University’s “Almost an Inkling” Creative Writing Contest!! Meanwhile, Register for the…

Posted in Reflections | 9 Comments

Elves and Fairies and Yokai, Oh My!

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on the traveller's path:
“Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.” – J.R.R. Tolkein Elves are fascinating creatures of legend, and their roots go deep into our history. And…

Posted in Guest Blogs, Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Discarded Image, faerie, fairy tales, Friday Feature, guest blog, J. Aleksandr Wootton, writing | 10 Comments

A Playful Prologue from my @3DayNovel “Pants Are Evil, and Other Lessons from Outer Space”

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Since a number of 3 Day Novel Contestants are posting their first chapters–for example, you can check out the Ekphrasis artist collective here–I thought I would post mine for Work-in-Progress Wednesday. You can read about my older 3 Day Novel Contest … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative Writing, Reflections | Tagged 3 Day Novel Contest, 3DNC, books, literature, novel contest, Pants are Evil, WIP, work in progress, writing | 8 Comments

A 3 Day Novel Contest Post-mortem: Thoughts After my 7th 3DNC

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

For the 7th consecutive year I have been a contestant in the International 3-Day Novel Writing Contest. This is literally the exercise of writing a full novel in 72 hours. No extensions, no extra time, no time outs. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in On Writing, Reflections | Tagged 3 Day Novel Contest, 3DNC, Hildamay Humphrey's Incredibly Boring Life, On Writing, prewriting stage, Stephen King, writing | 18 Comments

A 3 Day Novel Contest Post-mortem: Thoughts After my 7th 3DNC

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Posted in On Writing, Reflections | Tagged 3 Day Novel Contest, 3DNC, Hildamay Humphrey's Incredibly Boring Life, Horror, Middle Grade Novels, On Writing, prewriting stage, Romance, Stephen King, writing, Young Adult Novels | 8 Comments

9/11 Memorial: Charles Williams on War

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on The Oddest Inkling:
I decided to post something short today in remembrance of 9/11. The previously announced post on CW’s writing style will appear tomorrow. Charles Williams was deeply affected by war and public tragedy. He was…