Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Just a few thoughts occur to me at the moment, Brian. Capitalize the 'W' in 'Wonderland'. “Each crime scene is different from the last and there is always a gift box left for Atoms at almost every crime scene.” I would omit the word 'always' as it conflicts with the phrase 'almost every' and isn't n...

A good question! Looking back through the 'EXCERPTS' section I could not find a similar example. Back at the start in 2010, Nathan's Guidelines suggested: “Also, if you revise your excerpt, please continue to post it in the original thread you started rather than starting an entirely new thread.” Th...

A good question! Looking back through the 'EXCERPTS' section I could not find a similar example. Back at the start in 2010, Nathan's Guidelines suggested: “Also, if you revise your excerpt, please continue to post it in the original thread you started rather than starting an entirely new thread.” Th...

Depends on the Point of View, I'd say. Are you telling the scene from the POV of one of the characters or both or a more general God-like POV?

Interesting, Brian. Just a few thoughts:- I've bolded and italicised words I've added or moved, and struck-through those I think could be omitted. You don't say what it is Rebecca tries to fight out of. The Point of View change is unusual and might irritate some readers, but not me. I don't understa...

Happy New Year to all on the Bransforums!

Nathan is right. Helen Hoover Santmyer's huge novel “...AND THE LADIES OF THE CLUB” was published when she was 87 and sold over 2 million copies in paperback alone. There is no real flavor of the moment, since each moment has many flavors, which will change before any novel begun now is published. B...

Hello and welcome, Marie Beth. I claim no particular expertise regarding poetry, but none is required to enjoy a poem, and I enjoyed yours, its images and rhythm and strong simple message. Modesty is fine, but I wouldn't apologize for your writing.

I don't know the subject of your workbook, but it sounds like you're addressing your future readers well as it stands. Even if in a technical manual, you can still use a personal style. Changing to the third person would distance you from your reader and sound artificial too.

Welcome, Joe! These Bransforums, as I call them, and Nathan's blog are mines of information about writing, publishing, and monkeys. Well worth study, though you'll have to go back a few years for the monkeys.

DO yell multiple obscenities into the abyss! Then write a scene where your protagonist yells multiple obscenities into the abyss. Then we'll all join you both in yelling multiple obscenities into the abyss. Maybe the abyss will yell back, to paraphrase Nietzsche.

Agatha Christie is the highest-selling author of all time. Her 80 novels have topped 2 billion sales and are still going strong. I've never heard of anybody criticizing her writing of her most famous protagonist, Hercule Poirot. Likewise J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter. And Rowling more recently manage...

I agree with Nathan. Minimalist monsters work better in movies and on TV than on the page.

Interesting. A few thoughts occur to me:- I would round up the word count to 84,000 words. Unfortunately, this novel may not really be very 'speculative'. Many drugs and psychiatric procedures like ECT are already implicated in destroying creativity, among other ill effects, particularly on teens. S...

In my WIP a billionaire buffoon attains high political office. I wrote the scenes years ago and worried a little that readers might find them improbable. Not anymore!