Search found 37 matches
- February 17th, 2010, 1:41 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Can you read while you write?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 9657
Re: Can you read while you write?
I'm shocked by how many people here admitted that they don't read regularly, or can't read while "working on a novel." What? Reading is an occupational requirement. That's like a screenwriter saying they don't watch movies. You want to be a novelist, you better be reading novels. Lots of t...
- February 15th, 2010, 5:03 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Share your opening sentence!
- Replies: 236
- Views: 87340
Re: Share your opening sentence!
Lots of good stuff here!
This is from a sci-fi short story in progress:
When they told me that waking up from cryo-sleep was the worst kind of pain, I knew that none of them had ever lost a child.
This is from a sci-fi short story in progress:
When they told me that waking up from cryo-sleep was the worst kind of pain, I knew that none of them had ever lost a child.
- February 15th, 2010, 4:51 pm
- Forum: Self-Publishing
- Topic: Blogs and Internet Publicizing
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3536
Re: Blogs and Internet Publicizing
I can't speak for anyone else, but this is why I blog: It publicizes my work I am able to connect with others in the industry (guest blogging on other blogs and hosting guest authors on my blog has given me a boost in readership every time) I am able to help new writers, which is something I enjoy I...
- February 5th, 2010, 2:57 pm
- Forum: Finding An Agent
- Topic: Queries:E-mail vs Snail Mail
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1628
Re: Queries:E-mail vs Snail Mail
I don't have an answer for you, but I look for agents who either only accept e-queries or who accept both. I can't afford paper, ink, or postage in the amounts required to query fifty or more agents. That stuff adds up quick. And in the query phase, I don't see why a hardcopy is necessary. But it ma...
- February 5th, 2010, 2:15 pm
- Forum: Queries
- Topic: Query Critique--Aurumenas REVISED (again)
- Replies: 18
- Views: 7721
Re: Query Critique--Aurumenas
Her enemies kept her in prison for a reason and they’ll do anything to get her back, even sacrifice their millions of soldiers at the hands of the one planet in the whole galaxy foolish enough to harbor her. 1. "Her enemies"... who? 2. "kept her in prison for a reason"... what r...
- February 3rd, 2010, 4:44 pm
- Forum: Books
- Topic: What are you reading now?
- Replies: 528
- Views: 312616
Re: What are you reading now?
Just finished Kindred by Octavia Butler. That novel is a MUST READ for everyone.
- February 3rd, 2010, 4:42 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Creating Characters
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3553
Re: Creating Characters
For me it comes from knowing the characters background. But often times the nuances of that background are built while you're writing. I'm probably not the best example to follow on this. Sometimes I just throw stuff into my story and hope it sticks. If it does, I use it and move on. If not, I try s...
- February 3rd, 2010, 4:30 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Chapters in a Book
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3317
Re: Chapters in a Book
I'm not sure about YA, but I still see chapter titles, section titles, and tables of contents in science fiction and fantasy all the time. And not just in old writing. I'm talking about novels that were released in '09. Some don't, though. I think you should do whatever works for the story. Chapter ...
- February 3rd, 2010, 4:25 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Length of novel issues
- Replies: 19
- Views: 7485
Re: Length of novel issues
Ditto what Scott said. Except I don't write screenplays. I think this comes from practice and from knowing your word count goal at the start. I write fiction in all different lengths (flash fiction, short stories, novellas, and novels). You'd be surprised how easily you can get a story to flow withi...
- January 24th, 2010, 2:12 pm
- Forum: Finding An Agent
- Topic: A 2-page synopsis? OK ... define "a page."
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2402
Re: A 2-page synopsis? OK ... define "a page."
I've heard conflicting advice about the spacing. When writing a synopsis I single-space and fit it into a single page, then double-space it before sending it out. However many pages that makes it, so be it (it's usually under three full pages). If the agent wants more, I can expand it. Better to kee...
- January 24th, 2010, 1:48 pm
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Books and Movies Based on Them
- Replies: 16
- Views: 9205
Re: Books and Movies Based on Them
Haven't read the book yet, but the film version of Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice, re-titled Sins of the Mother, is going to air on Lifetime Movie Network, Sunday February 7. I've ordered the book and hope to read it before then. I've had bad experiences in doing so previously, though. I tho...
- January 24th, 2010, 1:35 pm
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Reading Rate?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 8160
Re: Reading Rate?
I was talking about this with The Rejectionist the other day. Apparently, she averages 100 pages per hour, and reads STACKS of books within a week. I was highly impressed, and recently timed myself. The result? 50 pages in an hour, and it usually takes me about a week to finish ONE book, depending o...
- January 24th, 2010, 1:27 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Original idea = the best query?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3024
Re: Original idea = the best query?
"Of all her visits to Rasa, this was the first time Olessa believed she might not make it off the planet alive." Since then, I offered this project to a slew of trusted beta readers/fellow writers for feedback, and they all said it stunk as an opener. So I've changed it, and changed it ag...
- January 24th, 2010, 1:13 pm
- Forum: Writing
- Topic: Capital Letters or not in speech?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 4077
Re: Capital Letters or not in speech?
It is extremely rare because, more often than not, it's unnecessary. I'll add to that, obnoxious. It's as if the writer is saying, "Just in case you weren't sure about what I meant to convey here (even though I already used an exclamation point and paired the dialogue with actions that make the...
- January 22nd, 2010, 6:18 pm
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Recommendations: How to Books on Fiction Writing
- Replies: 24
- Views: 12158
Re: Recommendations: How to Books on Fiction Writing
All my top picks were already mentioned. I recently added a new one to my list, though. Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder. It's a book on screenwriting but much of it can also be applied to novel-writing. I'm about a third of they way through and so far, it's excellent. Highly recommended.