Congrats to all selected as finalists and to all who won by entering. Take care. Vern
1,276 2015-05-12 22:45:33
Re: Strongest Start 2015 Finalists (16 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
1,277 2015-05-10 16:35:49
Re: Giving and receiving points? (6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Mike Roberson wrote:
Sol, If you read this I have a question. Is there a way to edit your post while you are looking at the X line review. When I see something I want to apply, I would like to apply it while in the review. Maybe its there and I don't know how to use it.
Not Sol here, but you can switch back to the regular in-line and make whatever edits you wish and then switch back again if desired. If you think you will be making edits to numerous comments, it might be simpler to just stay in the regular in-line format. Another good reason not to make the x-line the default imho. Take care. Vern
1,278 2015-05-10 16:22:46
Re: How to make a chapter Inactive? (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Open your portfolio and click on the "Action" button to the right of the novel you wish to deactivate a chapter. Then click on the "publishing setup" and when the screen pops up, just click the appropriate chapter where it says "Active" in order to select the deactivate option. Take care. Vern
1,279 2015-05-06 10:30:02
Re: Print added to content pages (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Does it print disabled chapters? The old site had a glitch where it would show disabled chapters by clicking on the little + sign. Take care. Vern
1,280 2015-05-05 02:22:08
Re: Contest Updates (3 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:
And where is this post of winners?
It's not tomorrow or next Monday yet. Take care. Vern
1,281 2015-05-04 14:02:49
Re: New Feature: X-lines (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
njc wrote:
Am I missing something, or is it not possible to reply to inline items in X-lines format?
If you click on the highlighted area, a comment box opens just as in the regular in-line. Take care. Vern
1,282 2015-04-29 12:32:00
Re: New Feature: X-lines (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Norm d'Plume wrote:
X-lines are great, by the way, in case I haven't said that enough.
Dirk
Ahh, yesss, couldn't agree more. And well worth a fleeting mouse click - or two even, lol. Take care. WC Fields/Vern
1,283 2015-04-29 02:15:59
Re: What happened to GP? (27 replies, posted in HodgePodge)
GPyrenees wrote:
Tmi, my dear John. Certain bodily functions are best kept as silent as they are deadly.
When my daughter was young, she would try to gross us out with talk of bodily functions at the dinner table. It didn't work, but we finally laid down the law there would be no discussions of such at the dinner table - she had to find new avenues to test her parents tolerance level, lol. She was fighting a losing battle anyway since I grew up with 18-20 (sometimes more) "disgusting" kids at the dinner table. Take care. Vern
1,284 2015-04-29 02:05:16
Re: New Feature: X-lines (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Norm d'Plume wrote:
At the risk of incurring Vern's wrath twice, I was just using the new feature to read reviews given to another author (as opposed to those received by me). In all those cases, the x-line tab should definitely be the default. I can't imagine a reason why someone would want the other view, having to click on each inline. Unless there's an issue with tablets or phones that requires it to be otherwise... It's more than just one mouse click per review; I open the review and begin to scroll down looking for comments, then when I see them, I realize I have to scroll back up to switch to the x-line tab, then scroll back down to continue where I left off.
Besides, if you change the default, I might shut up for a while and go away. :-)
Dirk
Hell hath no wrath like ... well who knows, but not me, lol. Anyway, logically speaking, it is still only one click if you wish to use the x-line; just click it initially. And just to point out one obvious reason for someone not to use it - moi for instance - is that you get more of the context to set the comment in when they aren't all listed in a row. I've looked at several where you have a word or two and no other context because the text is blocked by a dozen comment boxes. Still, as stated it's only one click and I for one still have the stamina to make it in either direction. Now, if I were Sol, and had to change the programming, it might burn a few more calories, but that's his weight loss to ponder not mine. And besides, who else is going to play the devil's advocate in writers' ever expanding desires for saving a mouse click. How on earth did they ever survive the quill and ink well, lol. Take care. Vern
1,285 2015-04-28 02:09:53
Re: New Feature: X-lines (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Norm d'Plume wrote:
vern wrote:Seems like a low priority to me; you're talking one click for crying out loud. But hey, if we're trying to alleviate any effort on anyone's part, how about a respirator to breathe for me, and I can probably think of a few more things which could reduce the burning of one-and-a-half calories and save a nanosecond or two. Or maybe just link us all up to a Matrix; don't forget to roll us over so we don't get bedsores, lol. Take care. Vern
LOL. Best single piece of advice I ever received from my business counterpart while I was working in IT was, "Count the mouse clicks." I deployed Customer Relationship Management systems for call centers that have to be very efficient/intuitive/self-teaching. I extended his advice to include scrolling and mouse movements. It's a trivial change and will almost certainly be the preferred default. Besides, there's no harm in asking.
Dirk
Amen, brother, no harm at all. Speaking of counting clicks, do you know how many we've spent on this subject. No, I'm not counting them, lol. Take care. Vern
1,286 2015-04-27 23:06:49
Re: New Feature: X-lines (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
SolN wrote:
Default to X-display makes sense.
If enough members tell me they like the X-line view more than we can make it the default.
Seems like a low priority to me; you're talking one click for crying out loud. But hey, if we're trying to alleviate any effort on anyone's part, how about a respirator to breathe for me, and I can probably think of a few more things which could reduce the burning of one-and-a-half calories and save a nanosecond or two. Or maybe just link us all up to a Matrix; don't forget to roll us over so we don't get bedsores, lol. Take care. Vern
1,287 2015-04-25 12:19:35
Re: Interesting article on the future of publishing (17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
"Progress is never considered progress until it is the norm." - Luke Peters
Take care. Vern
1,288 2015-04-24 23:13:51
Re: Interesting article on the future of publishing (17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Once upon a time, radio would replace books, then television would replace radio, then computers would replace television, then phones would replace computers, then watches would replace phones .... There is always something to come along which is going to replace the existing something. Things have a way of balancing out and the old will most always have a niche even as the new takes over. And now I'm going to go write a letter with my quill. Take care. Vern
1,289 2015-04-24 22:58:02
Re: point of view problem (6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
First off, it's your story, so split God's voice any way you like - only one MC at a time or both in the same chapter. What difference does it make anyway? As long as you identify which God it is, then it is no different than adding another character. Simply make it clear Who is speaking. If you can distinguish between two MC's then you can distinguish between the two Gods in the same way; that is what speaker tags and modifiers are for. Let the gods speak how and when you wish - after all, You are the one true God for your story. Take care. Vern
1,290 2015-04-20 17:05:05
Re: Writer Income Distribution in the UK (1 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Not much different than overall income disparity in the US. An article in the Seattle Times showed that top 1% of US earners took in over 20% of all income in 2013. Take care. Vern
1,291 2015-04-19 02:53:25
Re: Blame It On The Alcohol, Says Genesis (51 replies, posted in HodgePodge)
GPyrenees wrote:
Okay, Vern, ch 13 is finally up. I just realized it took me FOUR MONTHS (I thought it was three, which was bad enough!) - I need help re gaps etc.Yohann has already spotted a few that I'll fix tonight, so let me know if you see any, too, if you have a chance!!
I read it when it first went up, but haven't had a chance to review; will get to it this weekend sometime - have company so will have to sneak away at some point. Take care. Vern
1,292 2015-04-17 02:19:58
Re: 7-line Poetry Competition Closed (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Hmm ... research for poetry? No wonder I'm not a poet, I thought it was all about passion; dang it, blew another one, lol. Take care. Vern
1,293 2015-04-09 12:21:08
Re: Simisez is back!!! (10 replies, posted in HodgePodge)
GPyrenees wrote:
How did we end up on my Simisez thread anyway?!
Because you started the thread; if you open it, they will come. Take care. Vern
1,294 2015-04-08 23:10:03
Re: Two Homepage Changes (46 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
SolN wrote:
And that would be automatic filters for different types of works. Basically links for novels, poems, articles, connections, etc. that would take you to a page filled from top to bottom with the newest works each category has to offer.
This already exists. The orange buttons under each category on the homepage do this.
But the orange button exists after a list which is as far as most folks get; they never bother with the orange button. Without that preceding list, the orange buttons would mandate a much broader exposure for all works, not merely the few on the current front page. And lo and behold, all those entries on the front page some are afraid of missing would still be the first ones you see on a more inclusive list.
As noted earlier, I would think the broadest exposure for all works (from new and established members alike) would be the primary goal. Just clarifying my opinion. But, I'm flexible; I can live with or without the changes; a click here or there is not going to drain all my energy or ruin my day. Take care. Vern
1,295 2015-04-08 22:47:06
Re: Two Homepage Changes (46 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
mikira (AKA KLSundstrom) wrote:
[
Vern, I fully get where you are coming from. If Sol considers this idea I just have one tweak to add to it. And that would be automatic filters for different types of works. Basically links for novels, poems, articles, connections, etc. that would take you to a page filled from top to bottom with the newest works each category has to offer.
Thanks for the input. I took for granted that would be the case. Take care. Vern
1,296 2015-04-08 12:32:52
Re: Two Homepage Changes (46 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
KHippolite wrote:
vern wrote:...I don't see where adding any more works to the front page does anything more than take up space. It only makes folks depend on that and only that to find works to read. Just as on the old site there was constant complaining about not spending enough time on the front page and missing out on reviews, it doesn't make any sense.
Othe landing page, there's that yellow box "Find more Books" which lists everything else... I rarely click that. I've hit it maybe six times since the inception of the new site.
Hello, KH, I understand; that's my point. Most everybody depends on the front page, so if something disappears from the front page before it is seen, it just as well have never been posted for a great many folks - probably a vast majority.
If the goal is to get the most exposure for everyone - naïve as that may sound - then the listing on the front page is a deterrent to that end imo. Oh well, to each their own. Take care. Vern
1,297 2015-04-08 02:33:03
Re: Two Homepage Changes (46 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Maybe it's just me, but I don't see where adding any more works to the front page does anything more than take up space. It only makes folks depend on that and only that to find works to read. Just as on the old site there was constant complaining about not spending enough time on the front page and missing out on reviews, it doesn't make any sense.
The site, we, should be encouraging everyone, new and old members alike, to look at the extremely broad selection of posted works available. The only way to make some folks go beyond the front page in search of material to review is not put it on there at all. Make a link to all the works, latest first, which can be scrolled through with ease (without all the book covers taking up valuable space; they could appear only when you opened the work) to find something of interest - connections and/or favorite authors could be highlighted in some manner. If anyone, new or old, can't find something to review so as to get reciprocation from that list, then they're really not trying very hard imho. Of course it might not hurt to tell new members up front to expect to have to review three or four works for each one they receive, then they shouldn't be expecting gazillions of instantaneous reviews. Well, that's my thirteen cents worth - inflation, you know. Take care. Vern
1,298 2015-04-08 00:34:13
Re: Simisez is back!!! (10 replies, posted in HodgePodge)
GPyrenees wrote:
Hoping to have ch 13 of Genesis up by the end of the week, so Vern doesn't serenade me virtually with a Neil Diamond song...
Just to give you a bit more incentive; I'd hate to have to post them all, lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE0R8Kpd8f4
Take care. Vern
1,299 2015-04-04 12:39:56
Re: Draft Inline review (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:
Hey, vern. The few times I commented on another's reviews they got bent out of shape if I didn't agree.
Good thing about that is you find out the people you don't want to waste your time on. Point is, the comment on the review is for the author not the reviewer though it would be nice if there could be a cordial back and forth to defend the various positions taken from both sides. That would/should be extremely helpful to the author and also any open minded reviewer.
No one knows it all and we many times have different opinions on the same thing; doesn't necessarily mean one is right and the other wrong, only different ways of expressing and the more info and options an author has to base their decision upon, well, it should be a gold mine. Of course that is just my opinion and I'm sure others will disagree, but so what, I don't expect to be right all the time, just most of it, lol. Take care. Vern
1,300 2015-04-03 22:44:19
Re: Draft Inline review (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
And you can comment on other people's reviews - but, alas, hardly anyone ever does. Take care. Vern
