Search found 37 matches

by LydiaSharp
February 17th, 2010, 1:41 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Can you read while you write?
Replies: 23
Views: 9537

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...
by LydiaSharp
February 15th, 2010, 5:03 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Share your opening sentence!
Replies: 236
Views: 86076

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.
by LydiaSharp
February 15th, 2010, 4:51 pm
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: Blogs and Internet Publicizing
Replies: 8
Views: 3497

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...
by LydiaSharp
February 5th, 2010, 2:57 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Queries:E-mail vs Snail Mail
Replies: 2
Views: 1612

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...
by LydiaSharp
February 5th, 2010, 2:15 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query Critique--Aurumenas REVISED (again)
Replies: 18
Views: 7620

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...
by LydiaSharp
February 3rd, 2010, 4:44 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: What are you reading now?
Replies: 528
Views: 307833

Re: What are you reading now?

Just finished Kindred by Octavia Butler. That novel is a MUST READ for everyone.
by LydiaSharp
February 3rd, 2010, 4:42 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Creating Characters
Replies: 9
Views: 3534

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...
by LydiaSharp
February 3rd, 2010, 4:30 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Chapters in a Book
Replies: 5
Views: 3265

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 ...
by LydiaSharp
February 3rd, 2010, 4:25 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Length of novel issues
Replies: 19
Views: 7398

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 24th, 2010, 2:12 pm
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: A 2-page synopsis? OK ... define "a page."
Replies: 4
Views: 2392

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 24th, 2010, 1:48 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: Books and Movies Based on Them
Replies: 16
Views: 9120

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 24th, 2010, 1:35 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: Reading Rate?
Replies: 16
Views: 8052

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 24th, 2010, 1:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Original idea = the best query?
Replies: 6
Views: 3003

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 24th, 2010, 1:13 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Capital Letters or not in speech?
Replies: 10
Views: 4031

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...
by LydiaSharp
January 22nd, 2010, 6:18 pm
Forum: Books
Topic: Recommendations: How to Books on Fiction Writing
Replies: 24
Views: 11932

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.