Search found 1119 matches

by dios4vida
May 6th, 2013, 11:26 am
Forum: Ask Nathan
Topic: Editing Credentials
Replies: 1
Views: 3263

Editing Credentials

Hi Nathan. I'm getting ready to query soon and I have a question about what actually qualifies as a credential. My critique partner is self-published, and since I did the majority of his editing he's graciously listed me as editor in his copyrights. His novels are fantasy, like mine, and they've had...
by dios4vida
March 19th, 2013, 4:12 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Accuracy in Inspiration
Replies: 4
Views: 5144

Accuracy in Inspiration

For the very first time, I'm basing my new WIP on actual cultures and places. It isn't in any way supposed to be alternate fantasy or an accurate representation of said histories; I am merely using them as templates to build my world upon. The culture I'm looking at is at least 200 years dead. The p...
by dios4vida
March 12th, 2013, 11:55 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Worldbuilding Tips from Patrick Rothfuss
Replies: 3
Views: 4966

Worldbuilding Tips from Patrick Rothfuss

Every year the University of Arizona holds a Festival of Books which is a haven of bookworms and author signings and workshops and every manner of literary utopia a writer/reader could dream of. It's one of my most favorite things on earth. My wonderful husband absolutely thrilled me to pieces when ...
by dios4vida
March 12th, 2013, 11:34 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Why you'll never be any good....
Replies: 11
Views: 6802

Re: Why you'll never be any good....

Well, let me start here... I read very quickly so I plow through books left and right, English has always been my best subject, and I do enjoy a smattering of the classics (but don't you dare try to make me read Austen!), but...yeah. I hate poetry. And you're right, so many people say poetry teaches...
by dios4vida
February 7th, 2013, 2:44 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Stars and White Spaces
Replies: 4
Views: 4683

Stars and White Spaces

When do you use which? So here's the situation: my WIP has two POV characters. I've been using the three stars (* * *) to signify a change in POV. But I also have time lapses, where I need to set aside the following section as something different from the previous, within the same POV. I've been lea...
by dios4vida
January 23rd, 2013, 2:06 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: 2013 Writing Goals
Replies: 9
Views: 8642

Re: 2013 Writing Goals

Wow, guys, those are some amazing goals!! In some cases I'd be happy to achieve ONE of the ten y'all have listed.

And Kristie, congrats on the baby!
by dios4vida
January 22nd, 2013, 11:13 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: 2013 Writing Goals
Replies: 9
Views: 8642

2013 Writing Goals

Does anyone have 'em? Here's where to share 'em! Personally, my goal is to finish edits on my WIP and get it ready to query. (eep!) Summer would be great, but I'm thinking more like fall since I need to have my critique partner and some betas give it another go-through before I'm ready. Obviously I'...
by dios4vida
January 22nd, 2013, 11:07 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

So I have some bullet-point thoughts that I want to say before I have anything coherent and/or new to add to the conversation: First, Hillsy has amazing advice. Listen to it all. Second, you seriously need to drop that one beta. They are poison to your writing. Someone who will dictate how your book...
by dios4vida
January 16th, 2013, 1:57 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The Current Trend of Using Action Noun Titles
Replies: 6
Views: 4929

Re: The Current Trend of Using Action Noun Titles

I...don't really know. On one hand I have one-word titles like Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series ( Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, Timeless ) and Karen Marie Moning's Fever series ( Darkfever, Faefever, Bloodfever, Dreamfever, Shadowfever ). I love those books and the titles. A...
by dios4vida
January 8th, 2013, 12:14 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: FINISHED
Replies: 8
Views: 5628

Re: FINISHED

Read through it once while fighting the urge to change things, even grammar things, because you want to look for plot holes. (Ie. OMG I used a magical artifact in chapter three that isn't mentioned ever again...!) Section it into chapters if it isn't already, take the first chapter, and start makin...
by dios4vida
January 8th, 2013, 12:12 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Strangely Quiet
Replies: 8
Views: 5567

Re: Strangely Quiet

A bit of both. Normally November and December are horrible months for my writing (I have three family birthdays plus all the holidays and my husband having lots of time off) but this year I was actually, gasp, productive!! I finished the draft of my WIP and sent it off my critique partner just after...
by dios4vida
December 20th, 2012, 5:25 pm
Forum: Ask Nathan
Topic: Stand-Alone Fantasy
Replies: 1
Views: 4251

Stand-Alone Fantasy

Hi Nathan, I hope you're enjoying New York and getting settled in!! I've got a general market trend question for you. The last several books I've written have all been stand-alone fantasies with little to no potential for a sequel. Looking at the market, though, the fantasy genre is flooded with ser...
by dios4vida
December 12th, 2012, 11:31 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: FINISHED
Replies: 8
Views: 5628

Re: FINISHED

CONGRATS!! <cupcakes and confetti!> As for tips, you're already doing #1 and stepping away for a good while. That's the most important. Don't let yourself get all doe-eyed remembering the beautiful moment you conceived this particular twist/character/turn of phrase. Be brutal. If you think it should...
by dios4vida
December 6th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The Rule of Three
Replies: 15
Views: 10319

Re: The Rule of Three

I just read a great book series that was terrific about this. I was almost constantly surprised by the twists and turns the story took, but I couldn't complain, because the writer totally earned everything. All the clues were there. :) I highly recommend it for studying, since I think this is your ...
by dios4vida
December 6th, 2012, 12:01 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The Rule of Three
Replies: 15
Views: 10319

The Rule of Three

One of my lovely critique partners is hammering the Rule of Three into my head. He's pointed out a lot of places in my story where the Rule would be helpful. This is good. I appreciate it very much. So I was watching Elf the other day (bear with me, I promise this will make sense shortly!) and I was...