Updating my biography was a topic I promised when it came to J for Jemima.  But Tuesdays used to be when I did haikus and I promised some during the A to Z Theme Reveal.  I like doing haiku, although the craze has passed, perhaps.  I wonder if I can do my biography as a haiku?

Tales of fantasy

Drawn from a scientist’s pen:

Jemima Pett writes.

You know what?  I can write haiku.  That jumped straight out of my head onto the screen in beautiful 5-7-5 scan. It does encapsulate my past, although maybe I’m a technologist rather than a scientist.

Updating my biography – v1

Horsey Cut 1978

Jemima once felt she could do everything she turned her hand to. Eventually she grew out of that a little, and learnt that while talent is one thing, hard work and dedication are the key to doing something well. So now she merely thinks she should try to do anything that comes her way, and continues to struggle with her writing, her drawing, her singing, her golf, and a dozen other interests, all in search of perfection.

The benefit of these struggles is that she has a vast store of knowledge about a wide range of odd things.  So when authors are told to write about what they know, she has at least tried most of the things she writes about. Surfing in the seas of Viridian C2? No – but body boarding in Indonesia, yes.  Mining asteroids? No, but she has been down three or four different mines, and has a theoretical knowledge of drilling technology and what works in a space station. Guinea pigs running castles and building flying machines? Second hand experience of both.

She also knows what it takes to become a successful author. She’s still working on the hard work and dedication, and most importantly, accepting criticism.  But it hasn’t stopped her yet.

Updating my biography – v2

When Jemima Pett discovered the words ‘portfolio career’ she realised she was an example of a new trend – having not only a number of different jobs, but in totally different fields. These included social work, business management, computer technology, environmental research. The thread running through all of them was communication – and that continued in her spare time with writing and editing club magazines, manuals, reports… Jemima loved words, and loved to learn, and to apply her learning to the real world.

Eventually the world just wasn’t big enough, and so she went back to inventing her own, as she had as a child.  First came the Realms, a feudal England run by prince in castles who just happen to be guinea pigs – although you can read them as people equally well.  Then came the Viridian System, a planetary area on the outskirts of known space where a frontier mentality mixes with big business and tourism.  Her next project could be anything from a D&D fantasy type world, to a children’s picture book about the real adventures of guinea pigs. The world is her oyster – now there’s a good name for a planet!

So there you have it… two versions of a new biography. Comments and gentle criticisms welcome!

 

 

 

Updating my biography #haiku #AtoZChallenge
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15 thoughts on “Updating my biography #haiku #AtoZChallenge

  • 25 April, 2017 at 10:10 am
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    Great post. I am opposite to you and suffer from lack of confidence in my ability to do anything successfully.

    • 25 April, 2017 at 10:25 pm
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      Oh, I soon realised my problem – doing things well is not my forte, so my outward confidence belies a deep inferiority complex and occasional depression! Have you come across the Insecure Writers’ Support Group yet, Kim? Watch out for the first Wednesday of the month.

    • 25 April, 2017 at 10:26 pm
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      Yes, I think doing something stupid to loosen up may be a good way to approach things. I thought you’d like to see both, though!

  • 25 April, 2017 at 2:02 pm
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    Think I favour V2 but can’t put my finger on why.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

  • 25 April, 2017 at 3:34 pm
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    I will buck the trend and say v1! I like the quirkiness.

  • 25 April, 2017 at 4:17 pm
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    I make another vote for #2, though I like what I learned from #1. I think the issue with that is that it too much emphasizes the struggle and the inability to meet the goal of perfection. While that is of course true for all of us (maybe the more so for those who don’t acknowledge it 🙂 ), I don’t think it makes as compelling a bio for a writer. I do like the way you bring up the things that you have done that allow you to imagine the things your characters do.

    It also occurs to me that for the actual books, you need to pick and choose parts of each to make a bio more tailored to the author of that book/series.

    • 25 April, 2017 at 10:29 pm
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      That’s a good point – picking and choosing. In fact I find the biography changes from website to website, although I usually copy one of them into the books, but not always the same one!

  • 25 April, 2017 at 6:53 pm
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    V2 is more professional sounding, Jemima – as Rebecca said, V1 emphasises the struggles and generates negative thoughts 🐵

  • 25 April, 2017 at 8:37 pm
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    I suppose version 2 if you are going to put it in a book. I am glad I had the chance to read #1 and #2 and the haiku.
    Finding Eliza

    • 25 April, 2017 at 10:30 pm
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      Thanks, Kristin. I enjoyed doing them, for a change!

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