Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


8 Comments

Nothing to say

Today I have nothing to write about here on the blog. I usually try and do at least one post per day, both as a good practice to keep the readers engaged, and as a form of self-discipline – because you see, I am a writer, and so I must keep the writing thing going. But today… what could I write about?

In fact there’s a few things on my mind.

There’s this beautiful book I’m reading, for instance. The sort of book that makes you go, ah, I’ll never be able to write something like this!

There’s the fact that I’d like to tackle the issue of working on a story featuring soldiers, and yet not being a “militarist”, and how labeling based on prejudice can be damaging for all parties involved.

There’s the strange matter of the Italian sword & sorcery fans suddenly veering to the right, and now claiming that “fantasy has its roots in our culture, not in the Britons'” (which is stupid, and ignorant – a word they have come to like a lot, the last).

And there’s this general sensation of hopelessness that comes with being snowed in in a village in which nobody talks to you, and for some strange accident of fate, you are supposed to sit here and invent whole worlds. And I still don’t know if it helps or not, this being totally isolated, when it comes to invent whole worlds.

So, with one thing and the other, today I will not write a post about anything.


5 Comments

Mixed blessing

Today I found out, thanks to a shot from a friend, that I am mentioned in a recent book published in Italy, about the national science fiction and fantasy scene. Suddenly, and unbeknownst to me, I have been placed on the map of the genre.

Apparently I’m good.
Well, good enough to be mentioned, and endowed with a fair amount of sense of wonder. I am also recognized an expert of fantasy literature.

A pity the paragraph in which I am mentioned opens with the word “Purtroppo” – “Alas”. The book mentions that I am good – just as many others – but we are stuck with small presses and digital publishing. Alas.

I am proud and grateful for the mention, of course, and there would be a lot to say on small presses and digital publishing, but not today. And I find ironic that this mention arrives just as I have stopped writing fiction in Italian.


5 Comments

Structure on the go

Structure is essential in a story, especially if it is a long story. Even more so if it’s being written in a loose, impromptu way – the way I’m writing Parabellum Serenade. Once the story is finished, it will have to have a symmetry, like a crystal, a rhythm like a piece of music. The trick, because I am playing fast and loose, is finding a way to provide the story with hooks, with hard-points that will be used during revision to strengthen the structure of the narrative.

Parabellum Serenade (note to self – nice title, now you’ve got to get yourself a cover) is a story about a bunch of characters that served in the army and that, ten and odd years later, come together again for one last mission, to help a friend. They will find out they are about to take a larger bite than they can swallow. So, for starters, I am using a typical set-up for this sort of stories – the Five Man Band.

Continue reading


7 Comments

Snowed in

The First of February came with a heavy snowfall, that started in the night and added up to the 30 cms we had got a week ago. This caused the day’s plans to go somewhat askew – we were supposed to drive to the supermarket for provisions, and will do it tomorrow instead, and spent the warmest hours of the afternoon shoveling snow off the lane.

This is the sort of thing I should post as an example of the funny surreal things that happen to writers when they should be writing instead. Shoveling snow or, like two days ago, running barefooted in the snow to try and catch the postman before he disappears.
What a cartload of laughs, uh?
You read of things like that and instantly you decide to follow me on Patreon.

But I’m being uselessly snarky.
I did need a bit of exercise, and shoveling snow was a good opportunity.

I keep writing, and tonight it’s going to be one long writing session. Also, I’m going to try a new writing trick. Then on the weekend I’ll be working on another project.