Search found 119 matches
- Thu Jan 14, 2021 7:03 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
- Replies: 144
- Views: 7835
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
All joking aside, always read the latest for the current trend, as much to avoid writing something similar as to see what Dave currently likes. And then go back from there, latest to last, for about five or six years. Volume 31 is an important year. My friends Steve Pantazis, Martin Shoemaker, and ...
- Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:35 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 4276
- Views: 1153155
Re: Success!
RSchibler wrote:My story "The Wizard, the Watcher, and the Waif" will be published Friday at https://nightshiftradio.com/storytellersprint. Enjoy!
Congratulations!
- Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:19 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Average WOTF story word count?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 183
Re: Average WOTF story word count?
Check out Wulf's Super Secret # 31 where he talks about this. If you ever want any information about winning the contest, it's a good bet that Wulf's super secrets probably talk about it. Regarding minimum word length, see this thread It's my personal opinion from looking at non-winning finalists th...
- Sat Jan 09, 2021 4:52 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: The Word That
- Replies: 13
- Views: 211
Re: The Word That
Yes, "like" and "as" as also words that I try to cut out. If I can change a simile into a metaphor, I do. And usually when there's a simile (e.g. "her eyes were as dark as night") I try to cut the first like or as (her eyes were dark as night). Compare “‘I’m not actuall...
- Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:08 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: The Word That
- Replies: 13
- Views: 211
Re: The Word That
RSchibler wrote:I got my list from The Ten Percent Solution by Ken Rand.

Reuben Previously wrote:(which is a book that I do plan on buying sometime in the near future).
Well, I guess that leaves me no choice...
- Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:33 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Help a writer become a volunteer reader for a Literary Magazine
- Replies: 5
- Views: 401
Re: Help a writer become a volunteer reader for a Literary Magazine
Thanks! I think I know why I've been rejected--there's no way for them to tell I'd be a good fir in anyway. They didn't offer a trial or anything. I guess I'll just have to wait until I get something published, then try again (as my signature so tellingly says).
- Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:30 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: The Word That
- Replies: 13
- Views: 211
Re: The Word That
Thank you, everyone! And thank you Liz for the suggestions. Very helpful. Not to get on with the actual writing... wotf007 I do a CTL+F for "that" and a number of other words before submitting. It's quite frequently unnecessary. I'd love to hear what those words are, as well as anyone else...
- Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:18 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: The Word That
- Replies: 13
- Views: 211
The Word That
I've found that "that" is a word I use often without thinking, yet the sentence reads well without it, and in published fiction it's usually absent. It seems like it's one of those words that you use to cut the "ten percent" (which is a book that I do plan on buying sometime in t...
- Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:38 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Influenced by vs. too close for comfort
- Replies: 4
- Views: 213
Re: Influenced by vs. too close for comfort
So where is the line? Obviously people who read a lot are influenced by what they read. And beginning writers (consciously or not) try on styles of various writers they admire, write fan fiction, put new twists on old ideas, etc. Obviously no one should be using fanfic or revamped versions of someo...
- Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:13 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Help a writer become a volunteer reader for a Literary Magazine
- Replies: 5
- Views: 401
Re: Help a writer become a volunteer reader for a Literary Magazine
I just got rejected for an opportunity to be a first reader.
Any idea what they're looking for, aside from having professional sales? It's not as if we critique publicly.

Any idea what they're looking for, aside from having professional sales? It's not as if we critique publicly.

- Sun Jan 03, 2021 4:54 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
- Replies: 144
- Views: 7835
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
Uh oh. I would email Joni--definitely. Might be it just didn't go out yet, though. Since I'm paranoid, I usually go back into the site and click Enter Writers of the Future Contest, and if it tells me that my submission has been processed, I relax. I advise you to do that; also, check your spam mail.
- Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:40 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 4276
- Views: 1153155
Re: Success!
Wow! Congratulations!
- Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:34 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Mirror mirror
- Replies: 7
- Views: 235
Re: Mirror mirror
Ending where one began is a common and easy way to wrap up a story and make it look cohesive. Although there are other ways to achieve the effect, this is the easiest, whether it be through plot, or setting or dialog, although setting is the most common, I think. For example, the first time I saw th...
- Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:22 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Content marketing: a key to success
- Replies: 3
- Views: 173
Re: Content marketing: a key to success
Yup, looks like spam.
On the other hand, it looks pretty interesting once deciphered. It's teaching all the spam super secrets!

- Tue Dec 29, 2020 12:32 pm
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: 4.6k SF for critique exchange
- Replies: 1
- Views: 140
Re: 4.6k SF for critique exchange
Yikes, not much time left. I'm happy to offer my eyes. I've pm'ed you.
- Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:25 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
- Replies: 144
- Views: 7835
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
At this point, whoever you are, just submit something! If your a new writer or an old hand, got a sure winner or a rotten banana, SUBMIT. It's at least good practice and will lessen chances of technical difficulties when you really want to. Plus you have a cool R, or higher, for your signature pane...
- Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:07 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
- Replies: 5013
- Views: 1303687
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
By the way, I really enjoyed your story. Vol. 33 was the first I read (it was the most recent one one ebay that was cheap) and your story was at first the only one what really spoke to me. In fact, I sort of copied my third submission after your story (not intentionally, obviously), although that di...
- Sun Dec 27, 2020 12:32 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
- Replies: 144
- Views: 7835
Re: Discussion: Q1 Volume 38
Submitted at last. I feel like I sat too long on this story, although I have a good feeling about this one. Finally, I don't have to look at this story for another three months.
Not to finally start working on my other story for the quarter...hmmm, three days left.
Best of luck to everyone!
Not to finally start working on my other story for the quarter...hmmm, three days left.
Best of luck to everyone!
- Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:30 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
- Replies: 5013
- Views: 1303687
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
Wow. Impressive signature 

- Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:36 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: What's in a name?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 244
Re: What's in a name?
Jed and Sally. Ted's problem. Conflict frontiers. The savage gnome. Starship harriers. I'm not sure if any are good names but the top two are not. Or am I wrong? Yes, I think the first two are obviously bad. Firstly, because they don't say much. (What about Jed and Sally? What exactly is Ted's prob...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 5:21 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: What's in a name?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 244
Re: What's in a name?
I find titles fascinating. To your first question: Yes, they're important. Yes, Dave has said that he looks at titles, that the title is the first hook. I don't think anyone would discard a story because of a title, but there are good titles and bad titles. Professional ones and unprofessional ones....
- Fri Dec 18, 2020 9:08 am
- Forum: Problems and Troubleshooting
- Topic: Backwards world??
- Replies: 2
- Views: 249
Re: Backwards world??
Not nodnoL! Personally, I prefer the post comments with the latest at the top. Like the topic headings already seen to do. This avoids having to go to another page then scroll all the way to the bottom. Drives me batty! This has to have come up before? Anyone in my corner? Any chance it may be swit...
- Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:43 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Writing reference book suggestions
- Replies: 9
- Views: 489
Re: Writing reference book suggestions
I smell something fishy... On another note, talking about 7 point plot structure, there are actually two different ones. There's Dave's, but there's also Dan Wells'. It's not better or worse, just different, helps create a structure. He has a thing on youtube and a podcast about it on Writing Excuse...
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 8:50 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Can't read can't write
- Replies: 31
- Views: 921
Re: Can't read can't write
I feel the others are more throw away lines. Like the writers tried very hard to write a fancy string of words, rather than setting up questions that the reader asks but aren't told. Do you read just because it sounds interesting or because there's a definite question? The stock market report can b...
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 3:26 pm
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: Crit exchange 7,500 words
- Replies: 2
- Views: 209
Re: Crit exchange 7,500 words
Be happy to. I've sent you a pm.
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 3:26 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Can't read can't write
- Replies: 31
- Views: 921
Re: Can't read can't write
Wow. I suppose that first lines are different for everyone. Me, I couldn't have stopped reading after that first line. What kind of question is "Would you kill a child"? Who would ask such a question and to whom are they asking it? A similar first line that I think is ingenious, from Gene ...
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:49 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Can't read can't write
- Replies: 31
- Views: 921
Re: Can't read can't write
A hundred percent. It may be, however, that different people have different ideas for interesting hooks. For WotF? Every single story in the anthology has several hooks, raises several questions, just in the beginning. A personal favorite of mine from vol. 35 is: "Would you kill a child?" ...
- Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:46 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Do you have tips for brainstorming?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1287
Re: Do you have tips for brainstorming?
It's called "No Seriously, Where Do You Get Your Ideas" (season 10) and was one one the most eye-opening episodes for me. Mainly, it was Mary's parable of oranges that did the trick. I git several ideas from that one brainstorming exercise, and my current WotF entry is based on one of them.
- Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:48 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Can't read can't write
- Replies: 31
- Views: 921
Re: Can't read can't write
Writing is the basis of everything and you don't need anything to do it. Reading is optional. It is interesting that people find it hard to grasp that someone who doesn't read much can want to be an author. I don't mean to be confrontational, but what I find hard to grasp, is not regarding plain wr...
- Mon Dec 07, 2020 5:22 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Can't read can't write
- Replies: 31
- Views: 921
Re: Can't read can't write
Firstly, I hope you weren't offended by what I said; I didn't mean it as such. I just took for granted that there were books that you liked, and I was saying you should study (read: study, not imitate) those. And if there wasn't a single story you like reading, I was wondering why you wanted to writ...