Search found 7 matches

by Whirlochre
July 2nd, 2012, 2:39 am
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: CreateSpace, LuLu, SmashWords...Which One?
Replies: 20
Views: 13548

Re: CreateSpace, LuLu, SmashWords...Which One?

Smashwords is surprisingly easy to use. If you can edit and format a manuscript, the extra instructions for preparing your document for publication are no problem at all to follow. My only concern with Smashwords at the moment is that it seems to be attracting a glut of trashy looking porn and eroti...
by Whirlochre
December 5th, 2011, 8:25 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Passive vs. Active Voice - who is winning in your WIP?
Replies: 9
Views: 6866

Re: Passive vs. Active Voice - who is winning in your WIP?

The active voice has its place, for sure, but let's not fall into the trap that all things 'passive voice' are the death knell of readable writing. Take the trees example. In raw active vs passive terms, yes, it makes much more sense to write 'the wind blew down the trees' rather than 'trees were bl...
by Whirlochre
February 23rd, 2011, 3:07 am
Forum: Books
Topic: Habit: skipping parts or passages in a novel
Replies: 53
Views: 21652

Re: Habit: skipping parts or passages in a novel

It isn't for the reader to know what's important and what isn't until they get to the end of the book.
by Whirlochre
September 10th, 2010, 11:39 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: The importance (and difficulty) of gestures
Replies: 55
Views: 48390

Re: The importance (and difficulty) of gestures

This is a conundrum. Too much shrugging, sighing and eye rolling, and you have a sci fi novel where humankind is slowly obliterated by evil aliens with irritating nerve agents. Too little, and you have a play. The gestures to watch are the common ones, like those I've listed. In every chapter, I try...
by Whirlochre
July 27th, 2010, 6:44 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Tips for Dialogue Among Multiple Characters?
Replies: 21
Views: 7936

Re: Tips for Dialogue Among Multiple Characters?

'I'd rather read dialogue tags,' I said, 'than trawl through a morass of one liners interspersed with descriptions of nervous tics, ways of playing with food, and other distractions far, far worse than any exasperation, ejaculation or gasp.' My dinner guests convulsed as one, threw up their spaghett...
by Whirlochre
February 28th, 2010, 1:56 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Are dialogue tags really that bad?
Replies: 44
Views: 17033

Re: Are dialogue tags really that bad?

I get very confused by long passages of dialogue without tags. Plus, if I want to witness people just speaking, I'll go and watch a play. It's true that tags used badly are annoyingly visible, and elaborate variations on the theme of 'said' moreso, but my take is that since these words exist, we may...
by Whirlochre
December 15th, 2009, 1:53 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Hand vs. Type
Replies: 24
Views: 9554

Re: Hand vs. Type

The computer is great for finished edits, but not so good for first drafts. I hear what people are saying about the usefulness of DELETE or CUT n PASTE — but simple scribbling out is a Godsend, as is an ability to insert notes anywhere on a page. I wouldn't be without either when the first ideas are...