h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why do I write?

At the lowest level it's playing games with words - seeing what I can do with them.

When it comes to factual writing, it's understanding things that interest me and presenting the findings to others.

fiction is interesting. I wonder whether it's looking at the disasters that can befall people and putting a line round them, making them safe?

Your last point is interesting! Because last night, we watched the film 'Testament', from 1983. The film was directed by Lynne Littman and based on a short story by Carol Amen.

You might find that this film speaks to you. There are no visible explosions. There are no he-man survivalists charging around a la 'Mad Max', no military people at all. There are no zombies, tidal waves, or other ridiculous epiphenomena. The story is about families, or what's left of them, facing the end of their world with as much courage as they can manage. Nobody else came up with the idea of the apocalypse as domestic drama. I think it took women - and I include the main actress, Jane Alexander, who was nominated for an Academy Award.

Here's a short clip that I think will show you what I mean. Jane Alexander is the mother who's sewing, and the voiceover is the journal she's keeping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvyr_0sJrM0

There was a bumper crop of antinuclear films that year - some people believe they helped stave off the apocalypse. But this is the best one I've seen.

I don't think the work of the director (or original storyteller) contradicts what you're saying about 'making them safe'. I think the filmmaker *wants* to make them safe - but can't. Watching that happen is where the lesson comes in. At least, that's how I read it.

Perhaps there are some things the writer can't make safe. But the audience can still go home and think "At least that hasn't happened yet." And you get an Aristotelian catharsis- pity and fear

"People read for a lot of reasons: to get information, for relaxation, for mental escape, to stimulate their own thinking,"

Sums up why I like to write, that and a very poor sleep pattern!

Sounds about right.

Writing can also be responsible for a poor sleep pattern.

You remind me of one of the strangest stories of all time 'On the Beach' Over half of the worlds population are dead when the story begins and the rest will be soon - we know it and so do they http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBvrVp0-KJk The novel was , of course, even better. I haven't watched it in years, so I know what I will be doing for the next couple hours

F S

I've never read that one, though I've heard of it, thanks!

One of the best episodes of the 90s 'Outer Limits' series was 'Inconstant Moon', on a similar topic, but with a twist ending.