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
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
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
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
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
"Progress is never considered progress until it is the norm." - Luke Peters
Take care. Vern
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
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
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
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
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
And you can comment on other people's reviews - but, alas, hardly anyone ever does. Take care. Vern
As they say, there are deadlines and then there are deadlines. And of course there are moving deadlines. Anyway, if you made one those deadlines - some count, some don't; take your pick - then, good luck in the contest. Take care. Vern
How long will it take to decide the winner?
Per the rules:
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The deadline to submit material for Round I is March 31, 2014. The names of the six finalist in the Competition will be posted on TheNextBigWriter.com approximately four weeks later.
Round II: The manuscripts of the six finalists will be reviewed by the panel of final round judges. The judges will be asked to evaluate how interested they would be in continuing onto Chapter 4, if it existed. This is the main criteria for judging the submission although grammar and punctuation will also be judging factors.
The winners will be announced on or arouond June 1, 2015.
***
Take care. Vern
Hi - As a new member I admit i procrastinated but the sales pitches advertised to outsiders was deceptive
Hmm, have you ever seen any advertisement that wasn't "deceptive?" It's kind of like politicians you know. Take care. Vern
IT'S NOT TOO LATE. The deadline is midnight, so do what you wish until that time. We all must learn from our mistakes; not to do so, now that is what I would consider unprofessional. Take care. Vern
As long as the transition shows the timeline for each chapter as you switch back and forth, I don't see that it would make any difference as far as the reader following the story or timeline. If the chapters are from different character POV, why would anybody expect them to be on the exact same timeline? If you follow the storyline from each character's perspective, then it is not really a flashback if you continue where you left off with that chapter previously, regardless of where the other character has gone in the meantime. One character could be a year ahead of another and what difference would it make until the two characters meet and hopefully by then they are in the same timeframe. Just my opinion. Take care. Vern
If life were balanced, we'd all be sitting on a teeter-totter with no ups or downs and hence nothing to write about. A wise person once said, "If you want something done, ask the busiest person you know." Counterintuitive perhaps at first glance, but once you think about it, you realize that a busy person has found the determination and a way to get many things done without stopping to worry about not having enough time. If it's important, the time will come, if not, all the time in the world will make no difference. Hence, for me, my teeter-totter doesn't stay in one balanced position; it moves up and down with the momentum of my priorities at the moment. Take care. Vern
