Search found 67 matches

by Seamus
February 8th, 2010, 9:08 pm
Forum: Town Hall
Topic: Forum Suggestions Box
Replies: 97
Views: 139409

Re: Forum Suggestions?

I am enjoying the forums and checking them entirely too often. Does anyone else think there is room for some modest critique. Nothing as high-commitment as critiquing chapters -- maybe no more than 400 or 500 word jags. You'd have to figure out how to make that day's writing sample all there is to t...
by Seamus
February 8th, 2010, 6:59 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)
Replies: 48
Views: 18764

Re: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)

Do you remember when a new snowfall meant going out after dinner and experiencing a silence so profound that it was nearly startling to hear your own voices? Do you remember the plump flakes resting on your eyelashes and landing on your delighted tongues? Do you remember losing a boot in the snow on...
by Seamus
February 6th, 2010, 8:13 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)
Replies: 48
Views: 18764

Re: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)

I hurt in places I didn't know I had places. It took about six hours to dig the driveway out, which, of course won't mean a thing if they don't plow the street. We have something just over 30 inches. The guy next door who generally numbers his grass blades so he doesn't lose track, has a big womping...
by Seamus
February 5th, 2010, 7:05 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)
Replies: 48
Views: 18764

Re: East Coast Blizzard (Friday, Feb. 5)

We're in the Washington suburbs, the epicenter of it all. Our county (Montgomery County, MD) is supposed to see between 20 and 30 inches between tonight and Saturday at 10PM. Bill, the guy next door, already has the snow blower out, which I take to mean that we should be shoveling early and often. I...
by Seamus
February 4th, 2010, 1:26 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: Time Suckers
Replies: 6
Views: 3493

Re: Time Suckers

My first manuscript, finished more than a year ago, was accomplished through strict nightly time allocation that was motivated by a writers' group deadline every month. The group disbanned and now my WIP is languishing with only 20,000 sorry words in the can. When I look at what I'm doing instead, I...
by Seamus
February 3rd, 2010, 12:43 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: Band Names if I had a band
Replies: 15
Views: 7757

Re: Band Names if I had a band

Whenever I do this, I don't end up sounding cool and edgy at all. I sound like something Goober would have come up with on the Andy Griffin show. I was in a pool hall / bar last night with some friends. The place was an odd mixture of those in penny-loafers and those with chains hanging from their j...
by Seamus
February 2nd, 2010, 4:19 pm
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: Favorite quote
Replies: 55
Views: 30616

Re: Favorite quote

Maybe not my favorite, but one that struck me as I read Louise Erdrich's The Plague of Doves.
When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experiences, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.
by Seamus
February 2nd, 2010, 11:30 am
Forum: Procrastination
Topic: 500 Word Challenges
Replies: 0
Views: 1227

500 Word Challenges

I recently issued a challenge to my fellow forum members to write a 400-500 word dialog with certain restrictions. This was on the "All things Writing" forum, where I heard a giant "thud" as the idea hit the pavement. No prizes were involved. I got one immediate entry, then added...
by Seamus
February 2nd, 2010, 11:11 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Creating Characters
Replies: 9
Views: 3534

Re: Creating Characters

Exciting topic. I've only been at this for 4 or 5 years but I find that my characters (other than the leads) materialize out of the setting and time. I ask myself, "who would be likely to be standing there at that moment." That being said, I’ve experimented with short-stories in which I th...
by Seamus
January 29th, 2010, 7:15 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Scrivener and Windows Alternatives
Replies: 15
Views: 6802

Scrivener and Windows Alternatives

I'm trying to organize my writing a little bit and have read some exciting things about Scrivener. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in PC land until I win the lottery and Scrivener doesn't work with Windows. Scrivener says they might be ready with a Windows version as early as this summer. Does anyone have ...
by Seamus
January 26th, 2010, 4:10 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: How many of you write while tipsy?
Replies: 18
Views: 8117

Re: How many of you write while tipsy?

You guys are much more skilled than I am. I find that I can't remember where my characters have been when I've had as few as two glasses of wine. Then I have to look back at the previous chapters and forget what I was looking for (sort of like going into the kitchen and forgetting why by the time yo...
by Seamus
January 26th, 2010, 12:45 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: 1st post on here: 2010 ABNAs
Replies: 3
Views: 2264

Re: 1st post on here: 2010 ABNAs

I seem to recall Nathan warning people about the rights you give up in some of these contests. I'm sure it's easy to find on his Blog. However, I think there was a strong admonishment to read the fine print.
by Seamus
January 26th, 2010, 8:31 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Sharing Someone's Story
Replies: 3
Views: 1637

Re: Sharing Someone's Story

Thank you. I am grateful for the helpful advice on how to handle the discussion with the family. I'd also welcome some comments on structuring the legal/fiscal realities going in so that there are no hard feelings coming out? What is customary when you are telling someone else's story?
by Seamus
January 25th, 2010, 2:05 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Quick Writing Challenge - Dialogue between 3 generations
Replies: 9
Views: 5088

Re: Quick Writing Challenge - Dialogue between 3 generations

To A_R_Williams: Nice post. I really enjoyed the tension you built between a romantic and a cynic.
by Seamus
January 24th, 2010, 6:10 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Quick Writing Challenge - Dialogue between 3 generations
Replies: 9
Views: 5088

Re: Quick Writing Challenge - Dialogue between 3 generations

So much for generating activity. Anyone care to hazard why the lack of interest? (I have a thick skin, really. Sniff Sniff)