WRITERSoftheFUTURE.com

TimE wrote:I've been in this situation but didn't find a way out of it. Sorry for my lack of brilliance. I'll be interested in any other replies.

Sympathy is helpful in its own way

So like the title says, I've had a story in my head for a long time, but when I sit down to write it, it just feels off. I have the plot, the characters, the setting, conflict, try-fail cycles, satisfying conclusion. It's all there (which as a discovery writer, is weird) but I've started it three or...

Part of me hears y'all, and the other part is pushing through revisions on my novel while suffering from a terrible head cold. Writers gonna write!

I have a Q3 mentally plotted, will start writing in April while my book is out to beta readers. It's going to be a research-heavy one, but I'm excited.

Pretty scary stuff. I hope he gets the rest and medical care he needs.

Last year it was April. Results typically come in the afternoons and evenings west coast US time.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve had multiple nightmares about that 24 hour story. Not the writing, the first bit.

Talking to a STRANGER? On purpose?!

We all have our fears, I suppose.

That's kind of what I was getting at, the need to keep the tension and interest rising, the emotional investment of the reader climbing throughout the book. Compared to the way tv shows often end the scene before commercial break with a kind of "DUH DUH DUUUUUUUUUUUUH" moment, to keep thei...

I am not a conflict-lover by nature, and that's often reflected in my writing. I want everything to be happy, peaceful, and so I fix things for my protagonists too early, too often, and too easily. That's boring, though, and it's not going to drive the reader to find out what happens next. If everyt...

Tomorrow is both always, and never, Thursday.

Aidanka, I find it hard to write under 5k sometimes myself, but I always consider: SOMEONE is getting published in those anthologies, which means someone out there is writing shorter, tauter, cleaner fiction. If it is possible, we must believe we can do it! Just have to work harder wotf009 Dave has ...

They’re putting their name and reputation on the finished product, and were chosen for their curative and editing ability. They’re allowed and probably encouraged to bring their own flavor and style to the product. I don’t think it’s a violation of trust.

I would edit them out for submission to that market, personally.

I've waffled about submitting to them before, but often use a few swear words or have some mild violence in my stories so I haven't.

This http://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/ is a fun site for story ideas, character names, or funky words. This https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-7-types-of-short-story-opening-and-how-to-decide-w-5814687 is a format/creation site I like to peruse if I'm having trouble starting a story. This http://w...

Deep Magic explicitly says they're the dominant magazine for clean science fiction and fantasy, but I agree with Peony. Just because your story/writing is lighter doesn't mean markets that publish darker stuff won't like it. Your story might be the upbeat their issue needs, so send it anyway. (FYI D...

Scrivener has a goal and word count tracker. It’s far from free but it has a trial period.

I’m in. Always makes me chuckle to have two stories in to Dave at the same time.

I’m in with a fresh story for Q2. I have a plot for my Q3 but won’t even start it until at least April as I’m finishing a novel for the summer conference season. Best of luck to all.

I am always available for critiques, and this is why. Because I learn so much more from reading other stories, stories I don't have an emotional investment in, stories that aren't perfect in my head, than I do from working and reworking my own. I think critiquing through the forum, critters, and red...

Always up for crits

Hey- on the upside we have FOUR months to write the best story ever and go to Hollywood.

And I think it closes end of June, right?

At long last, promise fulfilled. BEHOLD, the secret of Story! Moon’s SUPER SECRET #20: Employ the 7 Point Plot model. In Algis Budrys’ WRITING TO THE POINT, he reveals the best secret I ever learned, the 7 Point Plot. I actually heard him teach it when our writing group flew him out to Eugene, Oreg...

Congratulations! That's great news!

Thank you, diligent mod!

So any guesses as to the purpose of this bot anyway?

I use business cards as bookmarks - that’s a brilliant idea. Much easier to carry and less likely to get folded and damaged. Plus that cover looks good in any format.

Talk about a trinity! You're going to learn so much just by basking in that wisdom. Superstars looked amazing - I bet your head is spinning with all you learned.

I'm hard at work beginning edits on my novel, but looking forward to more secrets. Hope everyone's quarter is going smoothly!

In my experience it’s usually closer to 2.5 months from the deadline. Q1 usually does move faster (slower- I had it backwards) because of the gala but I don’t expect results until March, maybe April.

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