Imma Charge You Like the Light Brigade
Hello giant clams,
As threatened a little bit back now, I'll be charging you with this post if that's quite all right. The title is a silly reference to a poem you might know – we were forced to read it in school in England repeatedly until we all started screaming. And the poem is in turn a reference to when the British launched an assault against the Russians in the mid 1800s. Which does get me thinking a bit about why as English speakers we have such weird names for countries that have entirely different names for themselves.
The Japanese call their country Nihon, Hungarians call Hungary Magyarország (Major-ru-sag, I think), and if you're from the country Georgia, you'll call it: Sakartvelo. If you introduced yourself as Alice and I replied, “Hey Jeff, nice to meet you,” I bet you'd start fantasising about taking my legs off with a scythe.
I initially thought there'd be a short and easy colonial answer about why we've ended up being so stupid about substituting the names other people have given their own lands, but it turns out to be extremely boring and complicated in the fashion the real world usually is. A load of the names we use in English are derived from the names the countries themselves used to use – the Qin Dynasty for China for example – and to be fair, the Chinese hardly call the US the United States but: Měiguó – the beautiful land, so yes. All these are 'exonyms' anyway, as the linguists will know, and language is extremely silly, and I'm not sure why I'm laying all this on you.
With the last post, some of you were kind enough to say not to rush anything until it's done. I appreciate that sitting around the apartment, hanging out with the cat, and writing stuff in a Word document when it seems fun is a pretty fucking indulgent thing to whine about, but that was a huge balm, thanks. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing until it's done – perhaps you've had the same experience in your own work, and the waiting around is quite a scary experience since you can't just make it work because you want it to. It's a bit of a weird metaphor, but if you meet someone rather special at a party, it'd be a bit off-putting if you suddenly jumped to proposing. Sometimes you bump into a weird ideology or a good line of Epictetus' and get terribly enamoured, and desperately hope it will bloom into a script, but the hoping never really works – you just have to wait to see what it'll do in your head if you leave it a few weeks. Usually it goes nowhere. Every now and then you get fixated and carry on and have no idea why. And in both cases, it's a ridiculous way to pay one's rent. So, I can only compare it to falling in love, which is just as mysterious really. Lots of creators (I hate that word; I'd prefer to be called a video bullshitter, frankly) seem to put stuff out every week or so, and while that looks fun, I think I'd just make nonsense out of the pressure of obligation - I don't have the internal industry. So yes, thank you for waiting, friends.
I spend the time recently alternating between the new script and trying to finish the new book, and both will only come out to play when they feel like it. I am extremely excited to share the new book with you - I've been playing with several of the plots for years, and it now feels like taking the most cathartic of poops. I'm quite sure I asked this before in a previous post, but while the idea of providing Patreon pins and badges or whatever else for you kind folks seems terribly trite, if there's something you're interested in or would like to see more of, do let me know - I can't tell you how grateful I am that you're still here. The new book is basically five rather long short stories all knitted together in a way I hope is at least not horrible to read, but a bunch of plots got abandoned and thrown out halfway through and never ended up in the cake. When everything's ready, I'd be more than happy to share all the discarded junk with you (wow, what an offer! Trash!) if you'd like to know just how much worse it all could've looked. If you write, or make stuff of any kind, I'm sure you're aware how weird it is abandoning those things you believed in so strongly while you were working on them, and how much they keep meaning to you all the same now they're gone.
Anyway. I hope you're still alive and having a fun time on the Great Earth. Again, a huge thank you for the support, and if you could give me just a little longer to finish everything up, the cat and I would extend more gratitude than we can even explain – especially her, her English is awful.
Massive love as ever,
Ex
P.S - I've been editing these days to this in the background a whole bunch. Isn't it great?
Comments (38)
I am blown away by your creatively and insight. This shit is something else! I have read 3 of the four books offered here. ( I can't believe it's free and I thank you for your humanity). I am grateful for this. I stay safe. Your are an inspiration , random kind stranger from somewhere else.
Happy new years to my favorite British person
If you haven’t already, lovers all, may I’m I suggest watching/ listening to the most amazingly existential and creative show out there? https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3z_BeCdbr-vDylOpsfFBqdI8qG6dv0RQ&si=GnUELylQx_qoSdwk This guy got a bit viral for a video shooting down Rogan, and then I discovered these three hour long, gorgeous creations. Whether it’s Randy Bachman ( of Bachman Turner Overdrive) secreted in his bunker from the CMP, or Neil Degrasse Tyson having a breakdown and trying to create the ideal “combo”, all set to a soundtrack from my 90’s vivid dreams, it’s excellent. Thanks for letting me share. I am not affiliated hahab
Thanks to you, I’m not sure if my IQ tripled or if I need to have another chat with my psychologist again. Probably better book an appointment just in case, I am not normal. On a serious note, thanks for sharing this channel. I have never heard of it and can compare it to Adult Swim’s, “Off the Air”. It’s art that not everyone will appreciate. I guess that’s why we are all here.
Love your mind 🩷 you’re my favorite video bullshitter
Thanks Erin!
Love you ex!
Thank you ever so much - right back at you
Gee i was wondering when you where going to take a bite out of my bank account. How am I supposed to support you?😁
nice
Your writing skills are excellent, please do more of ... um everything, I am really hoping to see more of you both in scripts and YouTube. Do not falter, we would love more of your work and it doesn't need to always be a masterpiece.
Thanks Rwin, that's much appreciated. Will do my best not to disappoint, promise
Hi ex, I enjoy all your video (and other) bullshittery immensely! And it's no problem to receive them as a rare treat (compared to the frequency I finish my creative endeavours they are not even that rare). As always, I'm looking forward to whats coming. Cheerio and all the best!
Ohhhh thank you Tjark, that's lovely of you. All the best on your own creative adventures too
I feel indirect references here 😂 it felt nice when you wrote about the lines/ideas that stick with you and you let them grow to see if anything will come out of that or not. I had this so many times. And recently one line has been stuck in my head and don't want to give up 🙂 Anyways! Waiting patiently for more of your art.
Thank you kindly, Łukasz. Well, as always I hope I don't disappoint - massive love, man
Lingustics mentioned! Didn't expect to see a paragraph dedicated to toponymes here in Ex's posts, that is a nice surprise indeed. As many people here already said, take your time and don't rush, I'll wait for the stories. Поздрави от България 🇧🇬
Ey, много благодаря, Yavor - best wishes
I'm grateful to be able to support someone who's work has always wowed me. Your outlook, way with words and creativity in world building is a treasure I hold dear. I posted a few month ago about offering my animation skills, I wouldn't say I'm amazing or anything but I have a lot of free time due to my disability. I'll have to get around to sharing them with you when I can let go of them needing to be perfect. Anywho, am always ready to support your endeavors financially. Much love from Quebec 💗
Oh, thank you massively. My stuff is miles past perfect myself, and apologies for missing your post there - hugely negligent of me. Thank you ever, ever so much, and much love over to Quebec.
[omg its happening.gif] As most have already said, we really are looking forward to the new book, and the new video(s(?)) Hope you are excellent, cuddles to the kitty
She has been fussed, brushed, and fed, I can confirm, Owen - cheers and big love
Always great to see a new post! I’ve been getting into writing short stories for competitions as an excuse to develop a world I’m building — and wow is this hard. I can only imagine how much effort it takes for writers like you to release full books and videos. Take as much time as you need man, from clam to clam, I hope you are at least somewhat enjoying the process!
Hola Grapples. It's a wicked tricky pursuit, I know. What I'm going to recommend now I don't set as homework or anything as obligatory, but I would gently recommend this if you're getting into the ole' writing biz: https://youtu.be/_W-r7ABrMYU?si=KWqlkZXoJArKAj7F Not to patronise, and I'm sure you have your own style already, and I don't mean to imply you're just starting out - I always feel like I'm just starting out - but that talk has brought massive comfort over the years. Clam to clam, I wish you just so much luck in your writing endeavours, you don't even know. If you ever want a fresh pair of eyes: exurb1achannel@gmail.com, and I'd gladly read whatever you're working on. Cheers for sticking around, and massive love.
babe wake up exurb1a posted on patreon
AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL
Always a pleasure to hear from you, slightly gianter clam! I am really excited about the outline of the book being 5 short stories. I enjoyed the setup of The Fifth Science very much, and something akin to this sounds amazing. Now, you see, Ex, you got me too excited about that delicious garbage that is not making the cut (cake?). That's an issue. I personally would love to read and hear your reasoning for why it didn't make it, since I love to write myself and can genuinely feel the pain when the stuff you pour your heart in just does not work out in the long run. Something similar to, again, Fifth Science, where you describe your thoughts on each story, if you have the time and energy to do that, of course. Thanks for the update, keep cooking, stay healthy, yada yada yada. Much love from Germany!!
Ey, who are you calling an oversized clam, huh? Danke schön, Alex - I hope you don't hate it when it's out, cheers massively for still sticking around and thanks for bothering with The Fifth Science, that's lovely of you.
Thanks for the gcse flashbacks dude!
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That's it. I'm loading canister shot.
You just wait until the shrapnel
Really excited to read your book ! I've already read The Fifth Science and I loved it a lot, can't wait to read the next one !
Ahhhhh thank you, Srishty - ever so kind, hope it doesn't disappoint
I’m quite excited for the new book. Your previous two are some of my favorites, standing next to The Ugly American and The Stranger in my rankings. I hope that you’ll continue making these intriguing little diatribes for years to come. I’m in the midst of my sophomore year of high school now and I hope that I’ll be able to enjoy new works from you until I get my Bachelor’s, at least.
Hello there Paul - you know, I'm not sure I've even come across The Ugly American, will try to get hold of it - the synopsis makes it sound enormous, not sure how it passed me by. Thanks for my next read, anyway. And thanks ever so much for sticking around, though I must say I would much prefer you were spending coin on studying rather than funding my stuff. In any case, massive love and thank you
More than happy to support you ex! Much love to you and your cat like always, if you want more support feel free to let me know! Also I was wondering if I’d be able to send you some poems I’ve written? Just think you’d enjoy them and want to share with another writer. Much love.
Hello there Ryan - would be my pleasure, absolutely. Would you be kind enough to send them to exurb1achannel@gmail.com? Massive love, looking forward to reading them