Search found 29 matches

by johndavid
September 8th, 2010, 9:02 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Word count of chapters
Replies: 3
Views: 1558

Re: Word count of chapters

I was told the chapter lengths aren't important...just try to keep them all around the same length.

If your average chapter is ten pages, keep them all around ten. Of course average means some may be 8 pages and some may be 12 pages.

But I don't think there are any hard rules about this.
by johndavid
September 1st, 2010, 11:38 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: How do you find your inspiration?
Replies: 8
Views: 2768

Re: How do you find your inspiration?

To be honest...most of my ideas come to me in the shower! I don't know why. I guess something about the warm water "frees" my mind and the ideas flow. Of course I don't work out the entire book in there(I would run out of warm water). I get the general idea in there,then build on it when I...
by johndavid
September 1st, 2010, 11:32 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: "The only thing we have to fear is..."
Replies: 5
Views: 1999

"The only thing we have to fear is..."

being sued for using a quote in a book. I want to use some quotes in my new book. How are the "famous" quotes by people (like Churchill) handled as far as copyright? Are these quips "owned" by the person that said them? Of course I would credit the person that said it. Does anyon...
by johndavid
August 23rd, 2010, 4:04 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Let's be honest....
Replies: 8
Views: 5309

Let's be honest....

When we query an agent we give them our home address, email, SASE, and phone number.

Don't you think if an agent wants to represent you...they are going to call?

Maybe I'm wrong.

Nathan?

Agented authors here?
by johndavid
August 23rd, 2010, 9:59 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: You know you've spent too much time editing when...
Replies: 23
Views: 7056

Re: You know you've spent too much time editing when...

J. T. SHEA wrote:Johndavid, are you really sure you need all twelve words? Have you removed all the 'thats' and 'thens'? Could you divide it into a trilogy with four words per book?

You have me thinking now. Guess I'll go back through it a couple more times!
by johndavid
August 22nd, 2010, 9:34 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: You know you've spent too much time editing when...
Replies: 23
Views: 7056

Re: You know you've spent too much time editing when...

You know you spent too much time editing when...

Your book is down to twelve words.
by johndavid
August 20th, 2010, 6:02 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: (This thread is not yet titled)
Replies: 38
Views: 19908

Re: (This thread is not yet titled)

The title from a line in the book reminds me of music. Some songs are titled right from the lyrics in the song. That is all some groups do. Some groups (Pink Floyd immediately comes to mind) hardly ever title their songs from the lyrics. Most people think Pink Floyd has a song called 'Dark SIde of t...
by johndavid
August 20th, 2010, 2:18 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: (This thread is not yet titled)
Replies: 38
Views: 19908

Re: (This thread is not yet titled)

Aimee... Go through your finished book and try to find a line that would work for the title (even if it's only used once). Even one or two words can work. As a quick example Sinclair used the term 'the jungle' once in his book with the same title. Your title is probably inside your book, you just ha...
by johndavid
August 19th, 2010, 6:12 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: References To Music In Novel
Replies: 15
Views: 5106

Re: References To Music In Novel

One problem I see with using songs in a book is if the reader has never heard of the song, the "mood" is never really set. I doubt many people would stop reading and go onto the iTunes store to buy a song mentioned in the book they are reading. Even so, I did use a brief refrence to a musi...
by johndavid
August 19th, 2010, 11:46 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: References To Music In Novel
Replies: 15
Views: 5106

Re: References To Music In Novel

From what I understand you can't put song lyrics in without paying for them.

I think TITLES are ok, but I would check and make sure.
by johndavid
August 18th, 2010, 3:12 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: Good Books - Bad Endings
Replies: 39
Views: 13242

Re: Good Books - Bad Endings

I recently read 'The Jungle' by Sinclair for the first time not long ago.

To me, the first 2/3 of the book was good and interesting. Once the banned word crap came into play it ruined it for me.

But the working and living conditions of the people in early Chicago kept me reading.
by johndavid
August 17th, 2010, 11:28 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: (This thread is not yet titled)
Replies: 38
Views: 19908

(This thread is not yet titled)

I was talking to a friend that is writing a book and he said he didn't have a title yet. I couldn't understand that! I LOVE thinking of titles for my books. I have titles for books I haven't even started writing yet. So... am I odd? Do you like thinking of titles or is it something you do not concer...
by johndavid
August 11th, 2010, 4:44 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: For the poets.....
Replies: 2
Views: 1655

For the poets.....

I don't know if we have any poets here, but if we do I'd like to share this song with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_wikdQ2Z0A

Roses are red
Violets are blue.
Here's a Jimmy Buffett song
Just for you!


Hey! I am a poet and I didn't even realize it!
by johndavid
August 10th, 2010, 12:54 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Its got a nice beat I can dance to....
Replies: 16
Views: 6279

Re: Its got a nice beat I can dance to....

down the well...

You are onto something there. I think a lot of musicans would make good novelist. (At least the ones that actually write their own music).

Jimmy Buffett has been writing songs for many decades and his books are great (ficton and non).
by johndavid
August 10th, 2010, 12:04 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Its got a nice beat I can dance to....
Replies: 16
Views: 6279

Its got a nice beat I can dance to....

The post by Leonidas about music playing while we write gave me a thought. I'll start a new thread for this. We are writers. We "pay attention" to words. We try to paint a picture with our words. Now I have always been a 'lyrics' person when it comes to the music I like (mostly 70's music)...