Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Great suggestions everyone! The only thing I can add would be to look at it from a cultural, gender and character perspective. For example, you raised the issue of peasants. I'm assuming that around that period peasants may not have had the same educational opportunities as others? Therefore their l...

I have to agree with Margo and Polymath. The more I write the more I see that adverbs really do weaken, or prop up, rather than add or grow the dialogue/scene. For me, on almost every occasion I find I end up with a much stronger result if I show what the adverb is trying to tell. If that makes sens...

Three things for me: a) I guess I don't buy a book with the intention of analysing it. I buy it with the intention of reading it and hopefully enjoying it. So the issue here is whether one buys a book to (primarily) educate oneself or for entertainment. I realize the two crossover and are not mutual...

I enjoyed your story... and was hoping you would end up married to the girl who delivered the newspapers, but alas, 'twas not meant to be. Ha, I too got wrapped up in the story and thought there might be some later connection (relationship wise) with the newspaper girl. Sorry, Polymath, I realize t...

Thanks for the link, it looks great!

Congrats, it's a great place to be! I'd have to second Sommer's views on when to have people read through your story. I say that because to me, first round edits are simply that. First round. It's the first chance you have to take off your writer's hat and put on an editing one. Unless you are the s...

Wow, polymath, talk about perseverance. That's impressive. Seriously. Quite apart from not knowing how to do any of things you did to resolve the problem, I was also amazed at the number of themes one could draw just from this quick insight into problem solving. Could be a good case study as it stan...

Historical fiction, so far. I have lots of ideas that cross over genre's, but one story at a time.

Good question. So far, I've found that some characters appear in my head fully formed, with names attached. Others appear in their physical form, but without names. I tend to choose names based on a character's qualities, values and characteristics, then test them against my own internal filters. So...

I second Mira's wow. It's great hearing about your journey and getting a real feel for what's involved. Thanks for sharing. I wish you the best of luck going forward and I'm so happy you're really enjoying the learning. That's nine tenths of the battle. Polymath - I would also love to see your work ...

I second Mira's wow. It's great hearing about your journey and getting a real feel for what's involved. Thanks for sharing. I wish you the best of luck going forward and I'm so happy you're really enjoying the learning. That's nine tenths of the battle. Polymath - I would also love to see your work ...

Thanks for passing this on, Nathan. It looks interesting!

Nathan has a good post on this one somewhere (apologies I don't have time to go look for the link). I think if you need to use a pen name, (for security or other reasons) the issue is resolved for you. If it is a matter of choice, then weigh up the pros and cons of responding to a different name etc...

Good question. I find I get too swept up in the story and all my energy goes to keeping up with my characters, so no I've never paid attention to word count. There are too many possibilities to explore. But once I've gone back over the plot, and really spent time delving into the twists and turns, t...

Preacher, go back to whoever told you that, hit them with an iron (not space) bar five times and indent their head. Then tell them I sent you. Sorry this is off topic, but I've had a hard day and that is the funniest thing I've read in a while. Cheered me right up! Thanks. Back on topic, these are ...