126 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thank you, Treewoman61, for bringing this up. One problem may be that unless a reviewer pulls up your profile, Chapter 2 looks like a stand-alone chapter. I'm not eager to start reviewing a book on chapters 2 or 3 or any other chapter besides 1. If you go to your original chapter 1, there's a place for "add a chapter." That way, when a person sees Chapter 2, there's a pull-down tab showing the reviewer they can start on Chapter 1 and then go to 2. Does that make sense?  LOL!  It makes sense in my head, but maybe not to everyone. I'm just saying keep them all in one book and do "add a chapter" rather than making it look like two separate books.

Another reason you may not receive reviews is that we lost several members in the site Crash of '23. Some regulars have not found their way back yet, and confusion ran rampant. The site was repaired, and we're trying to rebuild it stronger and better.

I will be happy to start on Chapter 1 and review your writing, then go to Chapter 2. I've been "under the weather" for a few months, but I'm back up and running, so I'll give your chapters a whirl and see if I can offer you any suggestions for improvement. As for reciprocation, I have nothing going on at the moment.

I hope others will also review this. We certainly don't want you to feel the need to leave because this is a wonderful site for learning. When I came here in 2008, I jumped in and posted an entire book, thinking I knew everything there was to know about writing. Boy, was I ever wrong!  I had some talented writers politely point out my mistakes, which I appreciated. So this is a site for helping each other.

Happy trails,
MJ

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127 Topic by Marilyn Johnson

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So once again we were down for more than a day? Is there some way, Sol, for you to receive an email or a notice when we are down? Since your email is on the same server that went down, is there a way to have carrier pigeon service to alert you? That was a joke, of course, but the outage brought back visions of the Crash of ‘23 when we were down for a much longer time. I know Booksie keeps you busy, but TNBW is “home” for many others besides me, and I just doggone miss it when it goes down. Just wondering.

Sleepless in Georgia,
MJ

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128 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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George FLC wrote:

And I hope your wife likes hot weather.

George FLC

Randy, you are only about 60 miles from me now, and if the “Southern hospitality” doesn't get you, the 87% humidity on a 98-degree day will! “Bless yo’ heart” (and make sure you say ”heart” with two syllables) and “Y’all come back, now, ya heah?” will become staples of your conversations with the natives of the South! 

Welcome to the sauna,
MJ

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129 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(35 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Dirk B. wrote:

Following are the bugs extracted from our Bugs & Maintenance Requests thread that ought to be fixed before the next influx of trial users (preferably before the start of the contests):
1. Label changes on the Quickee interface to prevent new users from leaving themselves quickees that then, naturally, never get answered. See bottom of page 1 of the Bugs & Maintenance Requests thread for details/solution.
2. Label changes needed to prevent users from accidentally creating new books when they intended to add a chapter to an existing book; see my post timestamped 2024-05-19 03:24:56 on page 2 of the Bugs & Maintenance thread for details and the suggested solution (ignore the discussion about this problem that followed the post)

Thanks, Dirk. These two have been problems for quite a while now, especially the Quickee one. Good job with keeping tabs on all this!

MJ

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130 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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tdp457 wrote:

Oh, I learned that you can't use BOB, the AI, but five times a month. That critter is something else. Come August, I'll let it check some other stuff.
Terry :}

Be careful with AI. Using it is called plagiarism.
https://libguides.sjsu.edu/plagiarism/a … lagiarism.

I hope you have great success with the contest!   

Happy trails,
MJ

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131 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(16 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Dirk B. wrote:

Marilyn, did I forget anything?

Thanks
Dirk

I think you get the blue ribbon for remembering all the stuff you and I have discussed over the last week (even if I did accidentally call you brain-dead... LOL)! Good job, because you and I have burned up the New Message department here.

I think the main thing new members do not understand from the beginning is they will receive a bunch of blue marks on their work, but it's only to help them grow in their writing craft. In the other thread, Alan mentioned how the blue marks seemed to bother the writers he knew who looked at our site, but I think it's because they don't understand the purpose of it. Where else can you get a free line-edit?  We should also, maybe in a welcome letter of some kind, encourage them to respond to the reviews they receive here. Most of the other sites I've checked out don't require any acknowledgment, and they may not be expecting it here. But that's how to develop friendships on this site.

I like the contests, and I think it encourages new members. Whether they stay depends on how we, as older members, respond to them. Maybe we should have a welcoming committee. I will do my part to encourage the newbies to post more than just their contest entry.

Overall, Dirk, you nailed it with everything we have discussed. Now it's up to Sol to decide what our next steps should be. Let me know how I can help, and hopefully some of our current members will throw some suggestions our way.

Happy trails,
MJ

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132 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(35 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Sideman wrote:

I'd hate to see TNBW disappear. Although I have life issues (most of you know about them) that keep me away from the site for extended periods, I always know this site will be here when I have the time to engage. And that's a huge comfort for me.

Alan

I hope things are better for Di. Please give her my love. I hope you're able to take a break now and then because being a caregiver is without a doubt one of the hardest and least appreciated jobs on the planet.

Hugs to you both,
MJ

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133 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(65 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Harry Kevin
Have a look at that one. He appears to be an advertiser to me.

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134 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(65 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

also jackhead418

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135 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(65 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

andrew23

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136 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(65 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

genaomatilda is advertising... though I like his/her/its name

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137 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(65 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Ho hum... we have more advertisers joining than members. Anybody else noticed?  (What is wrong with MJ today? That's the mouthiest she's ever been. Too bad that doctor didn't work on her brain instead of her cecum, or whatever that gross thing was he took out of her!)

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138 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(50 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

By the way, where is Barry Campbell?  He hasn't been here in over a month and I need the rest of his story. Gone... like a feather in the wind. (It must be my meds, or lack thereof.)

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139 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(50 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Dirk B. wrote:

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to create a group/house in Booksie that is essentially public but with a requirement for a moderator's permission to join? According to the on-screen instructions for setting the Access field (where you make a house either public or private), public access means you don't need a moderator's permission to join, so I chose private. Once I clicked the button to actually create the house, it took me to my own home page (no confirmation screen), but I'm neither a member of the new house (assuming it even got created), nor can I find/access it in any way. I named it "Under Construction". It's just not visible.

Thanks
Dirk

Sorry, I can't help... it's all Greek to me. I tried to leave a review for someone over there, and their chapter was quite long, so I wanted to copy and paste it into a Word document so I could make the type larger (bad vision and old age go together, but since I'm neither...), but the system wouldn't let me copy it. What gives with that?  I mean, it wasn't like I wanted to steal the wording or anything because, goodness knows, the poor writer needed some help... but nobody was willing to offer anything except "I enjoyed it very much" or "You've improved it since I last read it." Maybe if they had to write a minimum of 50 words like we do here, and they worked on a point system like we do here... well, you get the idea. Anyway, maybe one day I will understand why THIS site is not working like it used to, but... in the meantime... uh, what was that question again? Oh, yes, about the disappearing house under construction. I.Don't.Know.

Unhappy trails,
MJ :-(

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140 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

(50 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

tdp457 wrote:

Hey,
There were two places to check where you want your story to go: TNBW or the Classic. TNBW is private, the classic lets everyone read it. As far as the internet, I know only that it said internet. I see Booksie on my FB page, but not anyone's script. Only ads about this or that story or blah blah blah. I'm sticking to the TNBW site. No problem. It's private.  :}

Terry, I found the same thing. I do not want any of my comments, writings, or posts to be put on Facebook. My account there has been hacked too many times for that. Since the other groups don't SEEM to be private, I won't post there. Though the copyright notice may be on each page of our writing, social media seems to have little conscience.

I had a brilliant idea - why doesn't Booksie move HERE instead of us moving THERE? 

"Okay, MJ, go drink your coffee and try not to get up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow."

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141 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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jack the knife wrote:

I didn’t know TNBW was in danger of folding until Dirk posted his warnings. I started out in Booksie and quickly saw that the site was strictly for beginners - that if you were serious as a writer, you needed something more advanced. I did learn some things there, but knew this was the “ minor leagues.” Maybe it’s changed in the interim, I don’t know. But I’ve been happy at TNBW and have run all my books through here. But if the site goes down, I’ll labor on without it. I’ve seen bestselling authors commit errors I naively considered disqualifying, based on what I’ve learned here, and lord knows I have my own recurring faults. But I’ve been in the business long enough to realize that these miscues don’t matter all that much if you’ve got a good story to tell and are reasonably competent enough to have it engage a reader. I know of several good writers who have left the site, presumably because they felt it couldn’t make them any better in ways that actually counted.

Basically, I use TNBW now as a Beta-reader audience, and I plan to continue as long as it’s possible to do so. I’ve made some good friends here over the years, and I’d like those relationships to continue, regardless of what happens to TNBW.

Jack, you and I joined within a month of each other, and I can relate. We've weathered the transition from the old site to this newer one, and despite its ups and downs, it's become a warm haven to share our writing among like-minded souls. I noticed the site's traffic dwindling since the Crash of '23, but it hit me only recently that the message board has grown stagnant without any fresh posts coming in. I initially joined because of the Strongest Start contest, and I've remained loyal ever since.

I've been advocating for a new writing contest here for months now—something more substantial and inviting to new writers, much like how I was drawn in. The newcomers use their free points and then disappear, but perhaps a longer contest would encourage them to stay beyond the initial excitement of free points.

However, I admit I'm not familiar with the inner workings of this site, so my suggestions may be off base. I've never been a fan of the other site; it lacked the depth I found here. I value constructive feedback more than mere praises like "Good job!" or "Keep writing." Here, I've accumulated over 2000 points over the years, tokens of the laughs, conversations, camaraderie, and friendships forged here. If this site were to close, those points—though of no value to anyone but me—would be lost, sort of like kicking old friends out the door.

For now, I'll observe how things unfold and reluctantly migrate to the other site if necessary, but not without a sense of loss for the community we've built here.

MJ

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142 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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Dirk B. wrote:

To avoid having to deal with elitism complaints, I suggest the Advanced Writers group be open to anyone to join but that we document expectations of group members in the group's description and forum. We may get people who join without regard for the expectations, but we can always remind them on a case-by-case basis. That's a lot easier than having to review applications and applicants' writings. The honor system. smile


Bill, what do you think?

Well, I'm not Bill, but I'll add my two cents worth to that, if you don't mind. Many writers consider themselves Advanced Writers, though their writing doesn't show it. I remember the first time I posted on TNBW back in 2008. I thought I knew everything about writing a book! It only took one chapter for me to discover I knew nothing because some REALLY advanced writers on TNBW tore my work apart and spit it out. I had thin skin then about my writing, and my first thoughts were, "Well, hell, I just won't post anything else on this stupid site." But that was 16 years ago when I was young and dumb! After I slept on it for a few days, I went back and read the remarks (this was on the old TNBW site when we could only give regular reviews, not in-lines, but the members who commented copied my writing, then showed what I should consider to make my writing better. I decided I'd stick around a few more weeks, and here I am still today. I learned to write on this site, and I'm still learning from all of you great people.

But, back to today... if a person joins Advanced Writers, and it turns out they're greenhorns in writing, do we kick them out, keep them there in hopes they will re-write their work using some of the suggestions we offer, or what? People love their own words, as we all know. So it's something to think about when we finally morph over to Booksie. Maybe we could consider "by invitation only" for that group and keep it "private" as well. If we find someone willing to exchange reviews and offer worthwhile feedback, we could send them an invitation to join. Whadaya think about that?

Oh... Bill... what is your log-in on Booksie?  I couldn't find you there.  So far, I've only found Dirk, Lynn, and Terry.

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143 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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Though I set up an account in Booksie a few seasons back, I am not a full-fledged Premium grade member. So, will I be picked up as a premium member?  Or do I need to join under a new name?  My email is attached to the current Booksie account, but I never paid for any kind of membership... so, I guess I am a nothing... poor, pitiful me!  LOL!

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144 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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SolN wrote:

Hi all,

I wanted to remind members that TNBW authors also receive free Booksie membership valued at $69.95 per year. To help members get the most of Booksie, I've also created a TNBW group on the site. If you are interested, register with Booksie and let me know your pen name. I'll upgrade your account.

https://www.booksie.com/house-thenextbigwriter-2546

Booksie is also running a short story contest which members of TNBW might be interested in joining. Check it out.

https://www.booksie.com/contest/the-boo … contest-35

Sol

Hi, Sol,
I joined Booksie a while back, but have seldom used it because of the whacky responses I got in the past... "Good job" doesn't help me when I'm looking for more precise growth comments on my writing. But I'm on there as Marilyn Johnson. Please let me know how to find the TNBW group because I don't want to lose contact with my friends that I've had since I joined in 2008.  This site has been 'home' and I'm sentimentally attached to it, but it's time to move on since the traffic here is nominal.

Also, one more question:  will anything in our portfolios here transfer over to Booksie?  I've got a lot of work here... yes, I learned my lesson during the Crash of '23, but most of my titles were recovered.  So, should I transfer my things to Booksie, or will it automatically be put in my new portfolio?

Thanks,
MJ

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145 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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Thanks, everyone. Today has been my best day since February. David and I went to the gym, and he walked 17 laps and I walked 2, but hey… I’m only three weeks out from surgery!  I’m actually cooking dinner tonight!  No more Chinese take-outs or frozen dinners, at least not tonight!  Our good health is something we often take for granted, but what a blessing to be on the road to recovery.

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146 Topic by Marilyn Johnson

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Hi, All,
I'm thrilled to be back with some amazing news to share regarding my recent health journey, and let me tell you, it's been quite the rollercoaster ride! Over the past two months, I've been through a whirlwind of doctors' visits, tests, surgeries, and infusions—all stemming from a cancer scare that had me on edge.

But here's the incredible part: I am overjoyed to announce that I am now officially cancer-free! It's been a tough road, but I've emerged victorious, thanks to the skilled hands of some remarkable medical professionals.

From my electrophysiologist's PA, who ordered tests after my complaints concerning lack of energy and erratic blood pressure following a heart ablation in December, to the oncologist who delivered good news, I've been surrounded by a team of angels in scrubs.

It all started with a visit to a gastroenterologist, who ordered iron infusions to address my low hemoglobin levels and scheduled a colonoscopy. That colonoscopy brought a frightening diagnosis of cancer in my cecum—a part of my anatomy I never knew existed! But thanks to the skilled hands of a specialist surgeon, I underwent a hemicolectomy (yes, I learned some new medical jargon along the way!), and I'm thrilled to report that all 18 lymph nodes removed during the procedure came back negative for cancer. Talk about a sigh of relief!

Next up was a visit to an oncologist, who delivered the best news I could have hoped for: "No chemo for you, young lady!" With that weight lifted off my shoulders, I'm now focusing on the road ahead, which includes a few more iron infusions to boost my hemoglobin levels and kick-start my energy levels.
Throughout this journey, which has seen me shed 32 pounds—definitely not a weight loss plan I'd recommend—I've been surrounded by the love and support of friends, family, and, of course, the incredible medical team who guided me through every twist and turn. My sweet husband learned the secrets to feeding feral cats and even how to clean litter boxes! 

So here I am, filled with gratitude for the early detection of my cancer, the expertise of my medical team, and the countless prayers and well wishes that have lifted me up during this challenging time. I'm eager to dive back into life with renewed energy and enthusiasm, and yes, I'm even dreaming of writing a new book!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. Here's to health, happiness, and many more adventures ahead! Blessings to you all, and I can't wait to reconnect here soon.

MJ

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147 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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Glad to hear you're back up to snuff, Bill!  Keep us informed, and you're in my prayers!

MJ

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148 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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So sorry to hear this, my sweet friend.  But I'm glad to know she's receiving help. I know exactly what it means to have your home turned into a hospice facility... been there.  I will remember you both in my prayers.  Please keep us updated. Get some rest when you can.

Hugs to you and Di,
MJ

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149 Reply by Marilyn Johnson

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Thanks for the kind words and well wishes.  I appreciate all of them. 

Happy trails… until we meet again!

MJ

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150 Topic by Marilyn Johnson

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

It's been a long season of "not doing so well" for me, especially since my normal level of activity is go, go, go! 

Heart ablation Dec. 29, 2023 for aFib.
From Feb. 15 until the present:  Shortness of breath, unable to walk twenty feet without huffing and puffing... unexpected weight loss of 20 pounds.
Hemoglobin level is normally a minimum of 11, but mine was down to 8, so there was an internal blood loss going on somewhere.
Finally had a doctor REALLY listen to me and who sent me for tests.
Iron infusion last week to bring my hemoglobin level back up, which gave me more energy than I'd had since February when all this started.
Colonoscopy first on the agenda yesterday.
Colon cancer on the agenda for today and who knows how long.

So... I will be away from my desk for the next couple of months while surgeons and oncologists determine the best course of action for this tired and exhausted human being who has had to close her animal rescue sanctuary for good... all the animals except one dog and about twenty barn cats have been placed with other rescue organizations and my barns and stalls are completely empty.

I've been here since 2008, and this place feels like home. So I didn't want to disappear completely without a goodbye (for now).  Take care, and best wishes to all. 

MJ

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