Search found 685 matches

by cheekychook
June 1st, 2010, 11:44 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)
Replies: 13
Views: 13236

Re: Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)

Thanks Nathan! I look forward to reading it.
by cheekychook
May 30th, 2010, 12:46 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?
Replies: 52
Views: 18362

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

I don't think there should be a blanket rule like "get rid of ALL" your adverbs. When an adverb is the best way you can say something, leave it there. I was given the same "adverbs are bad" lecture in my critique group. The woman who started our group is a writing teacher, a publ...
by cheekychook
May 28th, 2010, 1:47 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Words I Can't Stop Using
Replies: 30
Views: 12429

Re: Words I Can't Stop Using

I'm definitely just one of those "just" users----I just can't help it.

I also have a tendency to overuse "as". As if I need to add just one more thought to the same sentence.
by cheekychook
May 28th, 2010, 1:35 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Long Abandoned Projects Suddenly Seem Interesting?
Replies: 4
Views: 2283

Re: Long Abandoned Projects Suddenly Seem Interesting?

I came up with the plot and characters for my current WIP over six years ago. Back then I wrote down the entire idea and even a few scenes, but something was a little off; I couldn't figure out what it was, but something wasn't quite right. I thought about it off and on for years, occasionally writi...
by cheekychook
May 28th, 2010, 1:27 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Open or closed endings?
Replies: 11
Views: 3740

Re: Open or closed endings?

Generally speaking, if I get involved with the characters enough to read through to the end of a book then I want to know what happens to them at the end, so I don't like totally open endings. I'm definitely closure-oriented. That doesn't mean the entire life of every character needs to be wrapped u...
by cheekychook
May 27th, 2010, 9:23 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)
Replies: 13
Views: 13236

Re: Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)

Thanks for all the responses! I love reading different opinions on issues like this. This afternoon I asked my writing group why they liked the flashbacks in my WIP (these are the people who were encouraging me to add more) and I was told that "they add something" to the story. They didn't...
by cheekychook
May 27th, 2010, 8:58 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The rules of "stronger" writing... lol?
Replies: 52
Views: 18362

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

"...it's writing. It's meant to entertain people." I agree with that 100%. I hate it when I catch grammatical errors in text books or news articles, but in fiction, like in conversation, I tend to feel like (within reason) anything goes. I love books that leave you feeling like you persona...
by cheekychook
May 27th, 2010, 4:41 pm
Forum: Queries
Topic: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie" (Take 3)
Replies: 12
Views: 5543

Re: Query for "Problem Child: Confessions of an Aspie"

Your letter is well structured, informative and passionate; it's clear that you believe in both the significance of this memoir and its place in the market. I am not an agent, nor am I an experienced query writer, but I think the third paragraph is probably where you're losing the reader's interest....
by cheekychook
May 27th, 2010, 2:21 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The first chapter of a novel
Replies: 9
Views: 4038

Re: The first chapter of a novel

For me the most important thing about a book's opening (whether it's a first chapter or a prologue) is the voice. It doesn't matter if there's crazy action going on, or the character is sitting quietly thinking, or there's something mysterious....if I'm comfortable with the voice I will keep reading...
by cheekychook
May 26th, 2010, 9:28 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)
Replies: 13
Views: 13236

Flashbacks (writing them, not having them)

While reading through the messages in response to Nathan's recent Prologue Opinion Poll I noticed that a number of people declared themselves totally anti-flashback. That surprised me. I can understand how overuse of flashbacks can be annoying (too much hopping around in time or using continual flas...