Search options (Page 12 of 22)

Good to hear you're okay, Jack.  I saw the videos of your town with the streets flooded and more to come.  Also saw the downed power lines in places.  I wondered if you'd evacuated, or if you rode out the storm. 

The dam held just fine.  It didn't get as bad here as they had predicted, thank goodness.  The brunt of it went just east of me.  We had some high winds and torrential downpours, but since I'm on high ground, no flooding.  No big trees blown over.  There's a measuring pole in the water where I live, and it indicated the lake had risen only about a foot, so the Corps of Engineers didn't have to take any drastic measures to open the floodgates.  All in all, it could have been much worse for us.

Hope it stops the deluge up your way soon.  Stay safe!

MJ

Have you tried this page?  https://www.agentquery.com/publishing_ip.aspx 
On the left, you'll see an agent query column.  Enter your info and you'll get a list of agents accepting queries.  Each one has a profile and a list of some of their accomplishments. 
Another source is https://www.pnwa.org/page/agents_editors? 

I can't personally recommend any of them but ran across these compilations in my own search for an agent.

Hope this helps.

MJ

I don't mind when our threads stray a little, but I do detest ultracrepidarians.  Some closed accounts are a reason for celebration.  With that said, I personally have changed POVs in short stories, but I separate them with ***. More a matter of preference for me.

That would be a hoot!  It's funny when folks read For the Love of Mellie and come across the two donkeys named Hunky and Dory.  But in real life Hunky and Dory are alive and well and living on my farm!

Ha!  I just finished Clive's 'Raise the Titanic' and I couldn't enjoy it for those very reasons.  I read it years ago but decided to refresh my memory.

Another thing that annoys me:  classified ads.  I read one this morning in a newspaper:  For Sale:  White woman's purse.

I 100% agree with you, Alan.  I have all but quit posting in forums because we have some self-appointed forum monitors who take it upon themselves to comment on things that don't apply to them.  If I read a post that doesn't pertain to me in any way, I move on without commenting.  Not true for some who can't let an opportunity pass by without trying to show their superior intelligence in a condescending way.  But since I don't participate in confrontations and insults because I have better things to do with my life, often I will just delete my post with a promise to myself to never post again.  As you said, an ounce of courtesy goes a long way.  And I'm not talking about writing reviews here, but forum posts.  While I love a good healthy discussion and thrive on differences of opinion and/or suggestions, I don't like condescension.  I've seen too many longstanding and good members here cancel their memberships because of these forums that got out of hand.

So to answer JP's call for opinions, mine for what it's worth is the forums haven't worked for me because of the reasons above.  Therefore, I quit posting in all of them except this premium one, and it's headed for the chopping block, too. 

MJ

Hi, L.A. and welcome to the site.  Posting your first chapter is always the hardest, but I suggest you jump in and see how it goes. You'd be surprised how much my writing improved after joining in 2008.  We're all here to help.  So before your trial period is up, take the plunge and we'll all offer our suggestions (if needed).  Good luck, and we're looking forward to reading your story.

Cheers,
MJ

Every writer goes through this.  Periods of self-doubt are building blocks to see how sincere you are.  Or at least they are for me.  When I get to that point, I close what I'm working so hard on and write something light.  Something far removed from the one story or chapter that weighed me down.  Variety helps.  Then, if all else fails, a big shot of tequila works magic!  (just kidding!)

You're not alone with your feelings.  There are times when I open my manuscripts and wonder what I was thinking when I wrote that.  I let someone else read it, someone I trust to tell me the truth, and then go back to the drawing board and either start over, or delete sections that don't feel or sound right.  As I shared with you in a review, there is never a time when a writer is completely 'finished' with their stories.  If I think I'm finished, all I have to do is open that word document, and every single time I make changes.  Maybe small changes, but changes nonetheless.

A sign of a good writer is always thinking there's room for improvement!  You will have self-doubt days, and writer block days.  They disappear because writing is in your blood.  You didn't become a good driver overnight.  It took time and practice before you felt confident enough to pull out of the driveway and face other drivers.  Now, as the years have gone by, you don't even think of your driving abilities.  You just drive.  Same for writing.  Just write!

Cheers,
MJ

Wow!  Congratulations, Randy!  I am so very happy for you.  What an honor!

Cheers,
MJ

C.  separating a preceding dependent clause from the main clause (“Depending on the size of the entrée, I might not order dessert”)

It falls under C above in the original thread post, but in your case the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence.  It works the same.