Search found 72 matches
- Wed Nov 04, 2020 5:01 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q4 Volume 37
- Replies: 342
- Views: 47457
Re: Discussion: Q4 Volume 37
An honorable mention, which breaks my 5 R streak. *whew*. This story received a personal rejection 1 day before the deadline, so I submitted it without changes. But now that I've had the chance to ponder, I agree that if I use the skill mentioned in the rejection, it will make the story better. So, ...
- Wed Sep 30, 2020 4:51 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q4 Volume 37
- Replies: 342
- Views: 47457
Re: Discussion: Q4 Volume 37
After:
1 year of work
4 major drafts (which include scrapping the entire second half, and changing the POV)
3 rounds of beta readers
I am in.
I expect my rejection in three months.
1 year of work
4 major drafts (which include scrapping the entire second half, and changing the POV)
3 rounds of beta readers
I am in.
I expect my rejection in three months.
- Fri Jan 03, 2020 4:20 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Novel Structures - Pros and Cons
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2903
Re: Novel Structures - Pros and Cons
You may benefit from studying various story structures. There is the Hollywood Formula, which is based around the 3 Act Formula. There is also the 7 Point Formula, and others (one describes the story arc as shaped by an M, but I'm not remembering the name right now) Because the length of chapters ca...
- Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:00 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
Passing on this quarter. Had too much other stuff going on. Should have time to get things done for Q2 though.
- Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:56 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Accents/Diacritics and Pinyin
- Replies: 12
- Views: 4786
Re: Accents/Diacritics and Pinyin
Many bilingual authors are actually pushing back against the italicizing of foreign words such as Daniel Jose Older . Their reasoning is they don't want the foreign languages to be othered. They want it to feel natural, like it would to the speaker. Others disagree , believing that the italics help ...
- Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:38 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Neil Gaiman on short stories
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3231
Re: Neil Gaiman on short stories
I think that short stories help us with the requisite skills for novels - strong characters, tight plotting, interesting conflict, rich world building - without requiring the months or years of investment a novel needs. Many of the skills required translate to novels, if not all. This is exactly wh...
- Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:18 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Interior Dialogue
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3880
Re: Interior Dialogue
You're welcome!
- Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:35 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Interior Dialogue
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3880
Re: Interior Dialogue
I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person. What is indirect free speech? Could you give me an example? It sounds intriguing. ...
- Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:26 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Interior Dialogue
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3880
Re: Interior Dialogue
I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person.
- Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:23 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
Re: A Month of Writing Exercises
Great job, AJzach! I did most of the exercises, though in week 4 I only did 2 of them, as I was visiting family. I found the chastity exercise really enlightening too. I tend to be an underwriter, so my thoughts going in to the exercise were "I'm always needing to add details. How can I cut?&qu...
- Sat Nov 23, 2019 10:51 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q4 Volume 36
- Replies: 595
- Views: 90699
Re: Discussion: Q4 Volume 36
Got an R. Not surprising as it was flash fiction. Off to DSF it goes!
- Tue Nov 19, 2019 5:04 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
Re: A Month of Writing Exercises
You're welcome! I found the DREAM arc helpful too in addressing some critiques that a character's turn around was too abrupt.
- Mon Nov 18, 2019 7:43 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: How do you improve your writing output?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2476
Re: How do you improve your writing output?
I haven't focused on writing output as much as I have on time spent writing. When my kids were younger, I traded babysitting with friends, and spent my child-free time focused on writing. Now that my kids are in school, I block out a part of the day to focus on writing. Some days I get a lot of word...
- Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:17 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q4 Volume 36
- Replies: 595
- Views: 90699
Re: Discussion: Q4 Volume 36
I write because I can't not write. Last year, I trunked most of my stories in a depressive fit. But I couldn't quit. So I turned to fanfiction, where there was no expectations. Now I've come out of that pit with new ideas and determination. Short term, I want a pro-sale. Long term, I want to win the...
- Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:48 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
Re: A Month of Writing Exercises
How has everyone's writing been going? So far, I've done all the exercises, though I forgot to journal last Sunday. During the dialogue exercises, I noticed that even though I was supposed to focus on a variety of different techniques, but the things I kept pondering was what differentiated differen...
- Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:40 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Revision Tips and Tricks
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5916
Re: Revision Tips and Tricks
From author J Scott Savage on Facebook For me, the writing/editing process has four distinct phases. 1-Getting the words on the page. This is the hardest part, but also the most fun because I don't have to worry about perfection, I just get to splash worlds and characters around and see what happens...
- Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:02 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q3 Volume 36
- Replies: 576
- Views: 92190
- Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:47 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
Oh! I almost forgot. Here's an essay you CAN read for free on the web - "Let me Tell You" by Cecilia Tan which makes the same points as Robinson, though actually I think she does a better job of it.
- Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:49 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
Welcome crlisle! Don't feel bad about jumping the gun with entering your story. I know I've submitted stories before they're ready. At least here, we can always resubmit (unless we get semi-finalist or higher). Kim Stanley Robinson has an essay in Wonderbook (Sorry, I don't know where you could find...
- Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:43 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q3 Volume 36
- Replies: 576
- Views: 92190
Re: Discussion: Q3 Volume 36
I feel like I must be some kind of grinch. I don't even ask for the certificates (maybe if I make finalist or semi I will, definitely if I win :) ). But any certificates I've earned (Masters, Bachelors, Diploma, Certificate) are all sitting in a box mostly still in their envelopes or tubes unless t...
- Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:20 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: V37 Alternator Challenge
- Replies: 56
- Views: 17573
Re: V37 Alternator Challenge
czing, Michael, AlexH, how are your current projects coming along, old or new? Thanks for asking. It was going well until I took a last-minute trip overseas! I should get back into the swing of things next week. I think character arcs and theme are two of my weaknesses too. I find K.M. Weiland arti...
- Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:42 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
Re: A Month of Writing Exercises
November is here and I just finished my first exercise. Hope you do well with your writing!
- Fri Oct 18, 2019 4:18 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
Re: A Month of Writing Exercises
Glad to have you guys aboard! Life last year kicked me hard, so I completely understand if any of us miss out on some, or a significant portion of these exercises. Still would love to hear about what is accomplished.
- Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:44 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
All right, czing and storysinger, I've got my challenge posted in the Writing Craft forum. And if anyone else wants to join me, feel free.
- Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:43 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Month of Writing Exercises
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4928
A Month of Writing Exercises
I posted in the Q1 thread that I was going to do a challenge in November of doing a 20-30 min writing exercise every day, and some people said they'd be interested in following along. So, this is my plan. Any and all are welcome to join in. Feel free to adapt it to whatever situation fits your needs...
- Mon Oct 14, 2019 7:10 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q3 Volume 36
- Replies: 576
- Views: 92190
Re: Discussion: Q3 Volume 36
Getting back reader's responses for my Q3 entry. Nice to see such a clear reason for the R - the beginning was too confusing. I can fix that.
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 4:47 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
I'd love to get a discussion going. I found discussing exercises with others helps me to see things about the writing process I didn't realize. Most of the exercises I've found are online, so that would help anyone who wanted to join. I can start a new topic once I've chosen all the ones I want to do.
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:26 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
- Replies: 437
- Views: 80098
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 37
That sounds like a good challenge you are taking on. There are some good writing exercises in Ursula K LeGuin's Steering the Craft. Yeah, I'll be doing a couple from there. Right now I'm eying the ones that say to write a descriptive passage without adjectives and adverbs, and to cut a piece by hal...
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:19 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Revision Tips and Tricks
- Replies: 17
- Views: 5916
Re: Revision Tips and Tricks
My next question was actually going to be about critiquing. :) I really like Mary Robinette Kowal's guide to training your internal editor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgFE2W9qICo Specifically, a writer should ask those they are critiquing to address their reactions to things, which fall into 4...
- Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:06 am
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: Need Input on an Honorable Mention
- Replies: 12
- Views: 4251
Re: Need Input on an Honorable Mention
Ah yes, forgot about the email wonkiness. PM sent.