Search found 155 matches

by sbs_mjc1
September 9th, 2011, 1:50 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Where do characters come from?
Replies: 14
Views: 6085

Re: Where do characters come from?

Michael, my co-author, basically 'meets' his characters fully formed, which inspires major jealousy for me :?
I tend to build up a concept, but when I start writing my characters never cease to surprise me-- always some lurking backstory or hidden motives *I* didn't see coming.
by sbs_mjc1
August 13th, 2011, 2:49 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Running and Writing
Replies: 13
Views: 5599

Re: Running and Writing

Totally true, EricOlsen! When I'm stuck on writing, I go for a run (assuming I'm not trapped in the office). Haven't convinced Michael of this yet, he usually plays video games instead.
by sbs_mjc1
August 13th, 2011, 2:45 pm
Forum: Ask Nathan
Topic: Ivy League on the down low
Replies: 1
Views: 2168

Re: Ivy League on the down low

Obviously not Nathan :roll: but my coauthor and I went to a Very Posh School which we don't mention in our author bios simply because it's not very relevant. Also, it occasionally puts people off, since they tend to then assume wildly inaccurate things about our backgrounds, or simply think we're pr...
by sbs_mjc1
August 13th, 2011, 2:42 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: Rave about your Significant Other, Friends, or Family!
Replies: 15
Views: 10517

Re: Rave about your Significant Other, Friends, or Family!

Don't know what I would do writing-wise without my coauthor (not sure what he'd do without me, either). We work by bouncing ideas off each other almost continually.
by sbs_mjc1
July 3rd, 2011, 12:48 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Peace Blogfest September 2011
Replies: 16
Views: 8660

Re: Peace Blogfest September 2011

What a lovely idea! I'll join the party.
by sbs_mjc1
May 28th, 2011, 6:28 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Making Time to Write
Replies: 18
Views: 7548

Re: Making Time to Write

I hear you-- no kids, but a postgrad thesis (which doesn't go to bed ever, but it does eat less). What I do is block out small chunks of time every day for writing, plus I think about writing (and sometimes take notes) throughout the day (like if I'm on the bus, etc) so that when my 25 minutes or so...
by sbs_mjc1
May 11th, 2011, 6:05 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query: All That Glitters (YA)
Replies: 10
Views: 4671

Re: Query: All That Glitters (YA)

I agree with JMB: Great concept, great conflict and hook, but the voice comes off as disinterested. Short sentences tend to help with this issue-- for example: 16-year old Belén owes her life to retired Navy man Señor Rossi. So when a ghost appears in her backyard claiming he is a war criminal, she ...
by sbs_mjc1
April 10th, 2011, 4:35 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: A to Z Blog Challenge Participant Posts
Replies: 127
Views: 45087

Re: A to Z Blog Challenge Participant Posts

S is for self-promotion!

Oh, wait. No. Wrong day. I is for "Idiot Plots vs. Flawed Characters": http://sb-writingtheother.blogspot.com/
by sbs_mjc1
April 5th, 2011, 4:04 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Forgotten Gods Query (Yikes-- Again!)
Replies: 4
Views: 2800

Forgotten Gods Query (Yikes-- Again!)

We're trying to get this query polished and ready to send out (and thus stop bothering all you lovely people). Thanks in advance for the feedback. * Winter, 1745. Scotland is losing a war for independence. Desperate, Robert Maxwell and his fellow soldiers beg for supernatural aid from the daione sìd...
by sbs_mjc1
March 19th, 2011, 2:58 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Do you have a new blog post?
Replies: 2655
Views: 818666

Re: Do you have a new blog post?

I in fact have a whole new blog!
http://sb-writingtheother.blogspot.com/
by sbs_mjc1
February 19th, 2011, 7:03 pm
Forum: Connect With a Critique Partner
Topic: Need a YA Fantasy Critique Partner!
Replies: 2
Views: 2542

Re: Need a YA Fantasy Critique Partner!

My coauthor and I would be game. Our WiP is a historical fantasy novel set in 18th century Britain. Although it's not really a YA piece, there is a major teen character.
by sbs_mjc1
February 9th, 2011, 4:53 am
Forum: Books
Topic: THE GREAT GATSBY
Replies: 5
Views: 2689

Re: THE GREAT GATSBY

I think his prose is brilliant, but I couldn't connect emotionally with the characters. However, I'm pretty sure this is a function of my life experience, not of the characterization, which is excellent.
by sbs_mjc1
January 31st, 2011, 6:53 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: To all Gaiman Fans!
Replies: 3
Views: 2473

Re: To all Gaiman Fans!

Haha, brilliant!
by sbs_mjc1
January 30th, 2011, 2:44 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Revision frustration
Replies: 3
Views: 2124

Re: Revision frustration

It really depends on the book, so I can't offer specific advice unless I know what the big reveal is. However, there are ways to break the information up into chunks, like having the character figure out pieces of the "big reveal" earlier (and possibly jump to incorrect conclusions?), so t...
by sbs_mjc1
January 27th, 2011, 4:31 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Your first Pargraph!
Replies: 80
Views: 42699

Re: Your first Pargraph!

Jumping in with our first paragraph (first chapter, not prologue) He had lost a lot of blood. Robert knew this from the way his muscles felt hollow and shaky, and the way his thoughts wavered in and out of focus, like shattered reflections on a pool. One of Gordons had lent him a feilidh-mhòr, which...