Search found 67 matches
- Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:37 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Tim Power's "Power Reading List"
- Replies: 15
- Views: 165
Re: Tim Power's "Power Reading List"
Thank you for the additional suggestions. I doubt Tim would mind expanding his book list. I wish I'd been well-read enough to swap opinions with him. I think his main intention was to give me a broad range of stories to show what's been done before. We talked about the importance of knowing what's e...
- Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:54 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Tim Power's "Power Reading List"
- Replies: 15
- Views: 165
Tim Power's "Power Reading List"
Hey, forumites! I have a special gift for you from Tim Powers. During the workshop last week, I became painfully aware of my lack of familiarity with the sci-fi and fantasy heritage. Tim Powers throws out references like candy at a parade. He is so well read. I had to very honestly confess that I've...
- Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:59 am
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
- Replies: 57
- Views: 9240
Re: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
amyhg wrote:Hey, got another story going through Critters this week (March 14-March 21). Look for "Little Eyes" by Amy Henrie Gillett. I'd appreciate the input!
It got pushed back a week so look for it on Mar 21st.
- Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:26 pm
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
- Replies: 57
- Views: 9240
Re: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
Hey, got another story going through Critters this week (March 14-March 21). Look for "Little Eyes" by Amy Henrie Gillett. I'd appreciate the input!
- Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:26 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Can I plagiarize my own material?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 466
Re: Can I plagiarize my own material?
Thousands of examples. Ender's Game started as a short. Flowers for Algernon started as a short. Martin is just turning his Clarkesworld short Today I Am Paul into a novel. I can't think of a flash turned into a short--which arguably compete more than shorts v novels--but chances are it would take ...
- Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:12 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - Volume 35
- Replies: 285
- Views: 11507
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - Volume 35
My winning story was actually a third rewrite. It was a good learning experience for me though. I'd never seriously written before coming across WOTF so when I started submitting, I just dusted off a old short story from a college creative writing class. I at least knew from my college class that it...
- Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:54 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: writing books
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2784
Re: writing books
You've already got a slew of suggestions for books so I thought I'd throw in some audio options if you don't already know of them. Brandon Sanderson has posted his Creative Writing college course lectures on Youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH3mK1NZn9QqOSj3ObrP3xL8tEJQ12-vL ). This i...
- Mon Nov 27, 2017 4:15 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Can I plagiarize my own material?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 466
Can I plagiarize my own material?
I'm just beginning to practice flash fiction, but something occurred to me... If I write a flash piece and sell it, then write a fleshed out version of that flash piece, can I also sell it or would that be unprofessional since they originate from the same ideas, characters, and/or setting?
- Thu Nov 23, 2017 5:06 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 523
Re: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
Don't take me as any kind of example unless you too wish to spend a month coding a website from scratch for fun and entertainment! Uh...no thanks. 12 weeks Java in high school was enough to teach me that I never want to write my own code again. Stupid brackets! On another note related to this threa...
- Sun Nov 19, 2017 1:29 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 523
Re: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
Glad you brought this up. I've been researching the issue as well and just took the plunge this week to launch an official authorial website. I figured it'd be unwise to not provide a link with my bio on the ebook version of the anthology. But Dave and Galaxy Press needed the info ASAP so I had to j...
- Thu Oct 26, 2017 7:30 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Four in Thirty-Five (4 in 35!)
- Replies: 111
- Views: 4944
Re: Four in Thirty-Five (4 in 35!)
After a year-and-a-half, this forum is still one of my favorite entertainments. If I composed a story using the personalities expressed in these threads, would I get in trouble for using direct quotes? I'm sorely lacking in wit and there's an abundance of it in these threads. Of course, I'd bury the...
- Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:36 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 3929
- Views: 772453
Re: Success!
Thanks for replying, y'all. Your responses have helped me "buck up" for another week. Golly gee, I love this forum. ;)
- Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:11 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 3929
- Views: 772453
Re: Success!
I always enjoy keeping up with this thread because it's so encouraging. You'd think that seeing other people's successes and not having one to report myself would be a bummer, but somehow it's not. It's like seeing all the successes reassures me that editors are actually accepting stories and not ju...
- Sat Oct 07, 2017 10:27 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: A Sense of Belonging
- Replies: 5
- Views: 422
Re: A Sense of Belonging
In a way, my winning story dealt with this theme. I think this theme requires additional conflict--in terms of why they don't feel they belong or what's stopping them from belonging--to add more complexity. For example, my story was about my character wanting to have a sense of home, but he feels he...
- Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:00 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q4 - Volume 34
- Replies: 285
- Views: 15144
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q4 - Volume 34
I tend to imagine that is what I am doing, adding important details, it's why my stories end up in the 9K-10K range. People on this forum tell me I need to cut a lot of it, too much world building haha. I am doing my best to take that advice to heart. I want to get down below the 7K range like you....
- Fri Sep 15, 2017 1:34 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q4 - Volume 34
- Replies: 285
- Views: 15144
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q4 - Volume 34
Just curious. What happens when WOTF just gets too big for Dave to handle the load? Will they get a second "gate keeper"? Does he actually have slush readers or does he really glance at every single story? I can imagine that working in the past, but with the competition gaining popularity ...
- Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:21 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: ESP Short Story Competition
- Replies: 2
- Views: 436
Re: ESP Short Story Competition
Correction: I just read the prompt again and it does not specify a place or time period. It just says "world" and "society" so I'm guessing it doesn't have to be a real-world setting.
- Wed Sep 06, 2017 2:58 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: ESP Short Story Competition
- Replies: 2
- Views: 436
ESP Short Story Competition
Hey, folks! Just thought some of you American writers might be interested in this competition (only US citizens can submit). It's hosted by the Economy Security Project and sponsored by the Hopewell Fund and Gizmodo. Anyway, $12,000 to the first prize winner and $1000 to the "short list" w...
- Sat Sep 02, 2017 1:23 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Flame Tree seeking short stories
- Replies: 56
- Views: 15292
Re: Flame Tree seeking short stories
I've been poking around Flame Tree Publishing and noticed that they accept novel submissions. I've been trying to find out what novels they've published so I have an idea of what they're looking for, but I haven't been able to find any novels published by them. I know they're new to the speculative ...
- Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:32 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q3 - Volume 34
- Replies: 312
- Views: 23952
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q3 - Volume 34
So excited to see three finalists from the forum! Congratulations, all! Wouldn't it be awesome if y'all sweep the slots? So, I got an HM for 3rd quarter? ... ha. It's possible that I submitted under a slightly different name so my story wasn't pulled. Kind of cool to still get feedback. Goes to show...
- Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:00 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Story in a Day Challenge
- Replies: 295
- Views: 57929
Re: Story in a Day Challenge
Not sure if I'll be able to accomplish this or not, but I want to give it a try.
- Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:00 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 3929
- Views: 772453
Re: Success!
My story, The Broken Karwaneer , is now free to read on Beneath Ceaseless Skies! Check it out: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-broken-karwaneer/ Just read it. Thoroughly enjoyed it too! Beautifully written. Did you use a similar style with your winning story? I look forward to re...
- Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:10 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
- Replies: 425
- Views: 34444
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
Thank you, everyone! Technically, I wrote this story for a college class like 8 years ago and it took over a year and 15 drafts, a round through Critters, and like 8 flat rejections to get it in shape. So totally worth it though. Even though I'm excited to have placed, I'm even more excited to have ...
- Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:47 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
- Replies: 425
- Views: 34444
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
And the results?
Joni giggled.
I got SECOND PLACE! *happy dance*
If I understand correctly, that removes me as a contender for the Golden Pen, which means I can officially stop twitching and kick back until April.
Joni giggled.
I got SECOND PLACE! *happy dance*
If I understand correctly, that removes me as a contender for the Golden Pen, which means I can officially stop twitching and kick back until April.
- Wed Jul 19, 2017 6:41 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: "We regret that we cannot accept children's stories." Define "children!"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1086
Re: "We regret that we cannot accept children's stories." Define "children!"
sounds like yours is YA, rather than a Children's Story. Yes, it probably is. So is WotF an appropriate publication for a YA story? Offhand, I can't recall reading any winning stories that were targeted for a predominantly YA audience. There's been a few that could be considered YA. Personally, I c...
- Wed Jul 19, 2017 6:31 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: "We regret that we cannot accept children's stories." Define "children!"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1086
Re: "We regret that we cannot accept children's stories." Define "children!"
I agree with pretty much what everyone else said. I think when they say, "children's stories," they mean stories whose content and themes remain only at a children's level. E.g. Peter Rabbit, The Ugly Duckling, Amelia Bedelia, or Wind in the Willows. However, it may not include books like,...
- Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:58 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Writing Room/Office/Space
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1926
Re: Writing Room/Office/Space
I have my desk tucked in a corner where I get lots of natural light, with the bird feeder outside the window so I can watch the birds bird while I'm searching for the right word. *cue music* A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word... (wish they had a dancing emoticon) Agreed on the view o...
- Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:17 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
- Replies: 425
- Views: 34444
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q2 - Volume 34
Conga rats dancing for you, Amy! Sorry it's not over yet; best wishes on the judges recognizing your skills. Either way, it's a hard won honor, and kudos to you! Later, you can tell us if you wrote a story about twins being betrayed by their government! Wait? Wasn't that already done by Schwarzeneg...
- Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:24 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Writing Room/Office/Space
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1926
Writing Room/Office/Space
I couldn't find another discussion on this topic so hopefully I'm not rehashing a discussion. About six weeks ago, my husband started working from home. We've done this before and already had a space allotted for a home office. However, over the last three years of him working out of the home, I kin...
- Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:57 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Surprise Endings
- Replies: 4
- Views: 744
Re: Surprise Endings
I think this is something that comes from experience and study. I think one of the best ways to achieve it is to study the archetypal (and often cliche) plot/character evolutions being used in popular books. Some of the best twists I've seen make it seem like the story is going that way and then, in...