301

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

All taken care of now. Changing the numbers put the chapters in proper chronological order. I just had to issue a note in front of Chapter 27 not to read it until having read the new Chapter 26. Whew. Thanks for the help, JP and Ann.

302

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

JP - I did change the numbers of the chapters, so Chapter 27 comes before Chapter 26, but they're still out of order.

303

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Too much work, Ann! smile

304

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

JP - I didn't want to drop a chapter and then add it again. When you post a chapter, the last chapter posted is given, and the arrow only goes one way. Unless I'm missing something, there doesn't appear to be a way to change chapter numbers to reflect an earlier chapter - like making Chapter 27 Chapter 26.

305

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Well, the chapter I just posted isn't up on the site yet. It'll be titled Kang's idea. Again, please read that before reading Negotiations.

306

(13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I made a big mistake in posting chapters for The Telltale Tattoo - I forgot to post a chapter! So when you come to the second-to-last chapter posted so far, please read the last chapter first. The site won't let me change chapter numbers, so Chapter 27 is actually Chapter 26 and Chapter 26 is actually Chapter 27. Sorry about that, peeps. I got all discombobulated by going to the PGA golf tournament last week. At least, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it. smile

307

(5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

All my childhood dreams/aspirations came true though, by necessity, it took decades to realize them all! smile

Yeah, but you had to go to Facebook, where they would be outed. That's why you then got the response you should have had at the beginning.

On the other hand, publishers say they will reject out of hand any submissions not meeting their requirements, so if this were the reason for Bill's rejection, I wonder why they even bothered to respond, or why, on doing so, they didn't say that was the reason.

Good point, Dags. Nine minutes is just long enough to spot a miscue in the submission and send back the rejection. Not nearly enough to read the letter, blurb, etc. think about it and then reject.

311

(6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Welcome, David. I hope you'll find your time here as rewarding as I have.

Thanks for the strokes, Randy. smile

Rachel (Rhiannon) Parsons wrote:

Congratulations, Randy.  That's why you're my favorite thriller writer (in fact, my only thriller writer, as I usually don't like that stuff.)

Aw, gee. smile

314

(6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

In another Forum thread, there's a discussion about ways writers could earn more reviewing points. The zero points your posting rewards a reviewer would tend to turn away potential readers of your story, M.J''s and M.D.'s  kind words notwithstanding. You're obviously serious about the craft, and this site can help you hone it - if there's an inducement (points) that makes the valuable time spent by a reviewer worthwhile. Since you are a member of Premium, where most of the good reviewers reside, perhaps it's your settings that should be checked. Make sure that you allow anyone who is a member of ANY of your groups to review and receive points for doing so.

Mariana Reuter wrote:

2000 points??? 3000 points??? Wow! Do you guys only review and never publish?

I'm like Seabrass. I'm always short on points.

Kiss,

Gacela

I've posted 8 novels on TNBW and am working on my ninth, so it's not for the lack of posting I've accumulated the points.  smile

I've been here since 2008, Dags. That helps! smile

Seabrass - You could maybe try posting shorter chapters. smile You'll get more reviewers, methinks.  I'm retired, so I have the time to read a long chapter - especially if it's well-written. But others might be intimidated by, or have an attention level that can't survive, a lengthy review. I know from experience that your reviews are both  thoughtful and eagle-eyed. I try to do the same with my reviews. It's just math. Do more reviews, get more points. I've got over 4000 points that never seem to go down. Each chapter I post costs me an average of 6-8 points, and every chapter I review gains me 1.2 - 3 (yours!) points. So you have to review more than you post. I like the system Sol has set up, though maybe the points for reviewing versus the points to post could be tweaked to make it a tad easier to post.

318

(9 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Good interview, Randy. I'm so glad you found a publisher who believed in you and your stories. And Ann Everett - thank you for offering the platform for TNBW writers! That goes above and beyond. I'm looking forward to Sept. 22!

319

(11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I'll give it a go, Ryan.

320

(12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Some would say speaking to the audience - in an aside way, not just a self-descriptor, a la, "I hate spinach," by the first-person narrator - is wrong. But a few well-known writers, Harlan Coben among them, do this frequently. It's like they're bringing the reader into the club, as it were, to participate with the character, rather than being a passive observer. Personally, I try to avoid this, though sometimes I let an aside slip in. smile

321

(3 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

Welcome back, Allen!

322

(5 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

OMG. I Googled them. I didn't know Harry Bosch was in a TV series. Amazon TV, but still! An iconic character created by Michael Connelly.

323

(5 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

Oops. Some of my answers must be wrong, because I can't think of any TV shows for them. Perry Mason, Dragnet, and Spenser are the only ones I can think of. Sorry for not reading all the rules! smile Oh, and Raymond Burr, Jack Webb, and Robert Urich were the actors in those shows.

324

(5 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

(Not sure about #4)
1. Hercule Poirot
2. Miss Marple
3. Nick and Nora Charles
4. Perry Mason
5. Lord Peter Wimsey
6. Nero Wolfe
7. Spenser
8. Joe Friday
9. Nancy Drew
10. Harry Bosch

Extra credit: Colombo

325

(3 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

There's a middle ground, Denise, between being agented and self-publishing. (And, BTW, having an agent doesn't ensure you'll get published.) That is small- to medium-sized publishers who don't require an author to have an agent before reviewing a manuscript. In fact, these publishers would prefer you not have an agent to get between you and them and muddy the waters. Anyway, it's another option.