Search found 24 matches

by paravil
November 12th, 2013, 2:31 pm
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: On the intoxicating effects of a positive review:
Replies: 0
Views: 2892

On the intoxicating effects of a positive review:

Backstory: I briefly self-published my first novel through Amazon Kindle last year. I say briefly because I was embarrassed by meager sales and wanted to put my energy toward pursuing traditional publication. Anyway, during the time it was out there, it ended up on Goodreads. Today, in a moment of n...
by paravil
September 20th, 2012, 10:53 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: The hardest part of the novel
Replies: 26
Views: 12590

Re: The hardest part of the novel

When you get to the end of your mental notes, characters start doing things you didn't anticipate and you have to sort out the repercussions of those actions. It's hard, but also the most fun part.
by paravil
September 20th, 2012, 10:50 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Using different fonts
Replies: 5
Views: 2766

Re: Using different fonts

The goal of manuscript formatting is clarity and ease of use. I don't think there's any sense tinkering with fonts when it's all going to be changed when the book is printed. Italics (or underlining, depending on which you're using) the sections in question should suffice.
by paravil
August 20th, 2012, 11:51 am
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Is a low-selling self-published book considered baggage?
Replies: 5
Views: 20215

Re: Is a low-selling self-published book considered baggage?

Thanks for the helpful replies. Good advice.
by paravil
August 17th, 2012, 9:08 am
Forum: Finding An Agent
Topic: Is a low-selling self-published book considered baggage?
Replies: 5
Views: 20215

Is a low-selling self-published book considered baggage?

There have recently been a couple of helpful threads on the issue of seeking representation post-self publishing (See here: http://forums.nathanbransford.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5087 , and here: http://forums.nathanbransford.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5021), so I don't want to rehash what was c...
by paravil
May 31st, 2012, 9:48 am
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: Thoughts on retroactively switching to a pseudonym
Replies: 2
Views: 2121

Thoughts on retroactively switching to a pseudonym

Would any potential damage be done by taking one's name off of an already-published Kindle novel and replacing it with a pseudonym?
by paravil
March 21st, 2011, 10:19 am
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?
Replies: 9
Views: 17221

Re: Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?

Thanks for giving me some different perspectives on this. Sommer, you make good points, and you've confirmed my suspicion that this may be a totally subjective thing. So while you, and I'm assuming a lot of other readers, might like that extra peak into a writer's world, I generally prefer to only k...
by paravil
March 18th, 2011, 12:22 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?
Replies: 9
Views: 17221

Re: Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?

Thanks for the replies. Re lvcabbie's and Nathan's points, I don't doubt that at all. Social media can be highly effective at getting word of mouth out about a product. I don't think you can deny that a a good viral campaign these days can be priceless. Re Claudie and Sommer Leigh, you both make goo...
by paravil
March 17th, 2011, 4:51 pm
Forum: Social Media and Book Promotion
Topic: Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?
Replies: 9
Views: 17221

Could self-promotion through social media be a bad thing?

I'm going to admit some confusion about the push for authors to self-promote via social media. I understand that this is the way things are trending, and I understand what a powerful tool it can be. However, in our culture people no longer become famous for doing something. They become famous for be...
by paravil
March 15th, 2011, 9:18 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Does grammar matter, and will it?
Replies: 17
Views: 10110

Re: Does grammar matter, and will it?

I know I'm late to the discussion, but two things: 1. It sounds like the writer you corrected has an attitude problem and just didn't appreciated being told something he didn't know. Honestly, only someone who did not care at all about the craft of writing would say that grammar doesn't matter. If y...
by paravil
October 8th, 2010, 12:21 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Ambivalence and the murder mystery
Replies: 7
Views: 2840

Re: Ambivalence and the murder mystery

Personally, I'd much rather be slightly annoyed by an ending that I didn't see coming than bored to death by one that I'd seen coming for 50 pages. As long as the ending is logically consistent with the rest of the story (no "it was all a dream" BS), I think it's perfectly fine for it to e...
by paravil
October 7th, 2010, 11:20 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Age Progression
Replies: 13
Views: 9129

Re: Age Progression

Comes down to whether or not the charater's childhood matters. The Phantom Menace sucked because it absolutely did not matter at all.
by paravil
October 7th, 2010, 11:17 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Past Tense & Present Tense Blunders
Replies: 24
Views: 38606

Re: Past Tense & Present Tense Blunders

I do this too. There's no right or wrong, but the present and past tenses have an effect on the way a piece reads. Present tense (obviously) makes it more immediate, and gives it a sense of urgency. I guess my point is that there's no right or wrong, but the two tenses are not equal.
by paravil
October 5th, 2010, 5:43 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: On Sharing Your Work and Avoiding Being a Clueless Jerk
Replies: 0
Views: 1116

On Sharing Your Work and Avoiding Being a Clueless Jerk

I hate watching kids sing. Don’t get me wrong--I love kids. I have two of my own and they are the world to me. But there are few things more uncomfortable than sitting through a nasally rendition of “Paparazzi” sung by a vamping eight-year-old; or worse, an emotionally overwrought Celine Dion solo s...
by paravil
June 4th, 2010, 12:24 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?
Replies: 52
Views: 18362

Re: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?

For me, there are two basic "rules" that I use to assess the strength of writing at the sentence level: 1. The sentence or phrase should read smoothly and clearly. When you read the sentence, do you stumble over the syntax or become confused about what the subject is? For example, the reas...