Well, at least you're writing, if only to the forums. As Doris Day would say, "Que Sera Sera" so go with the flow. Life comes first. When you're ready, it will come again. Good luck. Take care. Vern
176 2019-06-25 01:57:27
Re: The Hurrieder I go, the Behinder I get (3 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
177 2019-06-21 22:57:39
Re: How to confuse and frustrate readers (20 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
At the risk of starting a feeding frenzy, I agree with Mariana. Head-hopping done well is often more concise. The following is from a scene in the POV of Father Romano, listening to Alessandro talk to a third person.
Without head-hopping:
Alessandro attempted to speak several times but seemed to have trouble finding the right words. Finally, he said, “...”
With head-hopping:
Alessandro attempted to speak several times but had trouble finding the right words. Finally, he said, “...”
When it's obvious to the POV character from context (omitted above for brevity), why spoon feed the reader "seemed to have"?
Naturally, I follow the herd, but it doesn't mean I always like it.
I wouldn't consider it "head-hopping" in either case. You don't have to be in someone's head to see they are having trouble with words. You would have to be in their head to know what particular words they were searching for, but that's a different scenario. Anyway, that's my totally non-professional opinion. Take with a large block of salt. Take care. Vern
178 2019-06-21 01:47:47
Re: How to confuse and frustrate readers (20 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Rules are made to be broken, so break all those and you're on your way to being a great writer. Take care. Vern
179 2019-06-17 22:51:03
Re: Skills Necessary for Writing Well (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Does anyone knows of a good writing book that encompasses most (all?) of the writing elements highlight in this blog post? I'm currently reading the Write Great Fiction series, but it's just an excuse to charge $10 for each major story element.
I seriously doubt any book will cover all or even most of the elements listed -- probably too much territory for too little demand. Take care. Vern
180 2019-06-16 03:52:37
Re: Minor vs. major scene breaks - Writing Craft (3 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Any of those methods will work or you could simply change the scene through the narrative. Authors differ in how the breaks are handled so you get to choose what seems right in your case. Whatever you decide should transition smoothly for the reader. The mind fills in gaps constantly in life and will do so within the novel unless blasted with something to throw it for an unintentional loop -- you have to work hard for that, lol. Take care. Vern
181 2019-06-08 02:00:55
Re: How to word this? - Writing Craft (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It seems to me that whether you are Catholic, non, or atheist, etc., in reading the passages, you would understand that a prayer is being given and that certain rituals coinciding with such prayer are being practiced and there would be no need to explicitly explain every detail let alone repeat those details. You could simply start the prayer and end at some point … and go on to your next scene. All the minute detail is akin to describing someone about to drive off by saying, "they open the passenger door, get in, put the key in the ignition and start the engine, look both ways down the street, back up slightly to get around the black Chevy with a busted tail light which is parked in front of them, then put the car in drive, and turn the steering wheel slightly to the left and after looking both ways again, slowly steer onto West 63rd St heading northeast, blah, blah, blah" Virtually no one is going to care about that minute detail imho. I expect even Catholics don't go through life reciting every detail or expecting to read every detail as though it were a religious service. But you are the author and can write it any way you wish. Take care. Vern
182 2019-06-07 02:11:45
Re: Old-time slang (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
"Like a fish" for anything someone says which you don't believe (late fifties -- could've been regional, don't know.) Take care. Vern
183 2019-06-03 14:21:53
Re: How to format book quotes? - Writing Craft (6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I'm probably the last person to listen to on this, but I'll say it anyway, since you're telling us it's a remembered quote from Macbeth, you might use italics or quotes but probably don't need both, or could even stretch and use neither if phrased just right. How's that for clearing it up, lol. Just be consistent with how you use italics and quotes throughout. Take care. Vern
184 2019-06-01 22:48:57
Re: GOT-Tennis anyone? (30 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I dunno. Maybe I'm crazy, but... No matter the medium, I want the people informing the medium (all y'all next big writers, for instance) to be informed. Before you attempt to try and inform (or entertain) the rest of us.
Cheers
John
Yes, John, I think you're onto something there, lol. Jeez, it's hard to get excited about something you've never seen or desire to see, GOT Milk? Now, that's something to toast anyway. Hmmm, guess those writers of GOT had a cow, or didn't have a cow, who knows. Take care. Vern
185 2019-05-15 23:01:00
Re: GOT-Tennis anyone? (30 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
P.S. Jon Snow shouldn't be king. He clearly knows nothing.
Oh, so he's a Trump derivative. Now I know I'll never watch it, lol. Take care. Vern
186 2019-05-14 22:52:47
Re: GOT-Tennis anyone? (30 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
SPOILER SPACE
grievance : Cersei. She deserved a better send off. There's a good vulture article on it (same article acknowledges we're all armchair quarterbacking this series).
The exchange between (Cersei and Jaime) is moving, but it also lands as though it were beamed in from some other show.
Cersei: haha! I'm the villain you've hated for years. Arya thinks she can kill me? Bring your worst
Later: *randomly trips down stairs and dies*That's what I feel like they gave us
Glory be, that confirms I haven't missed anything; Jeez, they have better stuff than that on the commercials I sometimes watch for variety, lol. Take care. Vern
187 2019-05-14 11:45:22
Re: GOT-Tennis anyone? (30 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Well, now I know why I've never watched a single episode or had any real desire to from the tid-bits of commercials which pop up before I can hit fast forward. Alas, all the big hits seem to wander into the doldrums after a few great seasons of entertainment. And damn-it, The Voice is no exception with this seasons mediocre crowd for the most part with poor song choice adding to the disappointment. But ya'll carry on and don't worry about any spoilers, the revelation of which might be better than watching the descent into the abyss. Take care. Vern
188 2019-05-09 22:37:33
Re: The Results of the 2018 CIBA Awards Are In! (24 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Congrats! Take care. Vern
189 2019-05-08 22:28:29
Re: Giving extra points for reviews (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Giving extra points for reviews would not be logical. If people only wanted more points, they could easily review works which already offer more points -- either longer works or poems which offer far more points per word. Giving points away is not much different than bailing out someone who doesn't want to do the work to gain them on their own merit. If they want or need points, they are there for the taking by reviewing to your hearts content to gain all those points to give away when they become meaningless. Giving away points for reviews is tantamount to bribing someone to review your work rather than another which they might otherwise decide to do. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Just my opinion. Take care. Vern
190 2019-05-08 11:47:57
Re: Giving extra points for reviews (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Nope, not at this time. Been requested before, but still a no go. Used to could sell them, but believe that's also a no go now. Just tell anyone you want to have them to throw you some fluff reviews with no work or thought or even reading the piece and all will be "write" with the world -- well, you might get some push back from the pc police (kind of defeats the purpose of having points) but nothing major will happen. Your decision. Take care. Vern
Edited for PS: Okay, there is a way you could do it, but I've shared it in the past and it can open another can of worms so I'll leave it be. Some other devious souls have used it bassakwards and wouldn't want to encourage them.
191 2019-05-06 02:10:11
Re: How does one get their Mojo back? (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I expect it's an individual thing and no one can answer it explicitly for you. For me, it's just something I'm in the mood to do or it is not. When I first started my novel, I simply set out to do it in Hawaii (hand written) until I ran out of money and had to come home. I didn't write again for years because of life getting in the way and putting food in the belly literally. When I started again I wrote the entire thing in about a month (375 pages) and set out to get an agent. I quickly received positive response and first sent a few chapters and then the entire manuscript upon request. Unfortunately, I had edited those first few chapters, but not the rest of the manuscript so was rejected for the whole thing. I began the process of rewriting, but at the time it was all on a typewriter using carbon copies and I stopped again for several years until I broke down and bought a computer to make easy changes. Been revising and sending out queries periodically ever since when the passion strikes. Work on contests and other projects in the mean time to keep my mind on writing. Postpone if need be, but never give up. The desire and passion will return in due course as that is also a part of life. Good luck. Take care. Vern
192 2019-05-01 21:30:01
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
accurate deduction
193 2019-04-30 11:29:00
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
three (LOL)
194 2019-04-30 02:08:06
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
sharpie
195 2019-04-29 21:15:43
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
soul-mate
196 2019-04-29 21:13:52
Re: Prologue or not? (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Rules are not absolute, but to prologue or not will absolutely depend upon what agent/editor/publisher you might end up working with in the end. Until that time, git 'er done. Take care. Vern
197 2019-04-27 02:08:09
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Tea-party
198 2019-04-26 22:40:04
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
radical
199 2019-04-25 22:32:06
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
licked-finger
200 2019-04-25 02:39:03
Re: Say the first word that comes to mind... (1,634 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Trump (PeePee/PP/Putin's Puppet)