What is brown, black and blue and laying in a ditch?
The last brunette who told a blonde joke.
326 2016-02-15 19:20:39
Re: Joke's on you (52 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
327 2016-02-09 18:10:01
Topic: Short Story Contest (0 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Accepting Submissions through February 29th!
The Kenyon Review is pleased to announce the 2016 KR Short Fiction Contest.
The contest is open to all writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Submissions must be 1,200 words or fewer.
The Kenyon Review will publish the winning short story in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue, and the author will be awarded a scholarship to attend the 2016 Writers Workshop, June 18th-25th, in Gambier, Ohio. Additional info on the Writers Workshop is available here.
Click here: http://www.kenyonreview.org/contests/short-fiction/ for the submission guidelines and to enter the submission site.
328 2016-01-21 09:31:59
Re: Cat screaming. (36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
You could compare the sound to something the reader is familiar with like a train whistle or the screeching of a rusty screen door.
For example:
The night was as dark as the inside of a tomb.
Everyone knows that's pretty dark.
Just a thought.
329 2016-01-16 06:10:07
Re: Acknowledgements (10 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
JACK,
THIS MADE MY DAY BUDDY! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU DESERVE THIS!!!
DAGS
PS...I JUST SAW THIS: D. A. Amberson THANKS FOR REMEMBERING!
330 2015-12-14 00:21:05
Re: Happy birthday (3 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
j p lundstrom wrote:
Thanks, Janet! Today is my first day on the computer since the seventh. I was in the hospital on the ninth; I got a new hip for my birthday. It hurts like a you-know-what, but each day is a little easier. Don't expect me to keep you posted; I don't want to talk about it. Instead, I've been reading housewife's porn--it can be distracting. LOL JP
GET WELL JP! AND HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
331 2015-11-17 22:50:59
Re: True Detective or The Killing (3 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
The first season of True Detective rocked. But the plotline of the second season didn't appeal to me. As for The Killing I saw the first few episodes and I agree with JP too depressing for me.
Jack to answer you the publisher is working on an ebook and no, no picture. 
Dags
332 2015-10-26 05:21:51
Re: Build it and they will come...sorta (6 replies, posted in Fight Club)
j p lundstrom wrote:
They're at it again--over in Premium group. Fighting over the use of dialogue tags. What you're allowed to use and what's strictly forbidden. I've noticed one thing--the people who are most willing to jump in and air their opinions are those who haven't posted any new work since 2010. Maybe they haven't had an idea since then. I think they just argue to see their words in print.
I NOTICED THAT IT'S THE SAME NINE OR TEN CHATTERS AND THEY KNOW ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WILL SEE THEIR POSTS IF THEY FIGHT HERE COMPARED TO BEING EXPOSED TO EVERY MEMBER IN THE MAIN FORUM...AND THE SHIT THEY ARGUE ABOUT IS LIKE JACK SAID...IT'S TO LAUGH...
333 2015-10-15 01:27:27
Re: Short Story Competition (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
This means we can use previously published material as long as we republish it?
334 2015-09-24 23:45:02
Re: Yogi, gone but not forgotten (12 replies, posted in Thriller/Mystery/Suspense)
jack the knife wrote:
Predicting is hard, especially about the future, but I bet anyone who doesn't go to Yogi's funeral will not see Yogi at theirs.
LOL Jack...Is that a Yogism or were you just channeling your inner Yogi?
I wanted to let you know I got your email...thank you for your concern and I apologize for not responding. I am overwhelmed by my circumstances right now, not much of an excuse for neglecting a good friend, but the only one I got.
Back to the topic: Yogi was one of those people I thought would always be around, like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building and New York City Baseball.
335 2015-09-23 17:59:13
Re: Question: Do we still have access to the old forums? (43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Dill,
Whatever, dude.
336 2015-09-23 08:56:14
Topic: Yogi, gone but not forgotten (12 replies, posted in Thriller/Mystery/Suspense)
My favorite Yogi Berra story:
Earnest Hemingway's agent took him to Yankee Stadium and introduced him to Yogi Berra:
Agent: Yogi do you know who this is?
Berra shook his head.
Agent: This is the writer Earnest Hemingway.
Yogi: Yeah, what paper do you write for Ernie?
********
Rest in peace.
337 2015-09-18 23:07:43
Re: Question: Do we still have access to the old forums? (43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
corra wrote:
dagnee wrote:My experience with lahg ynuihj etc.
I can't follow your logic. You are disproving your own case every time you post here to say that posting here is unnecessary. The only way to prove your point is to stop talking! (That's by your own logic -- not mine!)
I didn't say posting in here is unnecessary. I said I didn't understand why you needed ANOTHER place to post, that is a centralized forum divided up into sub-categories, when you could just start a thread in this group's forum, which reaches every member.
338 2015-09-18 18:39:30
Re: Question: Do we still have access to the old forums? (43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
My experience with a centralized forum was quite different. I saw people bullied, made fun of and called out to fight over the way someone reacted to a review. I myself was called crazy because I believe in a deity by people who did not know me. Those posts lingered in the forum for every new member to read.
I don't understand why the members in this thread just don't start a group of their own to congregate in. The only reason I can think is that you want a wider audience. If that is the case start a thread here.
If you notice the same people keep complaining and they represent a small percentage of the membership, the same small percentage that haunted the forum on the old site.
339 2015-09-17 19:45:39
Re: Question: Do we still have access to the old forums? (43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I think the old site focused too much on what went on in the forums. People got banned from the site simply because they had the poor judgement to post something disagreeable about another member.
I think it would be a mistake to return the focus of this site back to a centralized forum. This is not a social site, it is a writing site whose main purpose is to improve members writing through feedback.
Sol has provided group forums in which you may duplicate the subjects in the old forums, plus a main group forum if you want to post something that reaches every member in the community. If you develop relationships with other writers he has provided several ways besides forums for you to communicate.
340 2015-08-28 06:27:02
Re: emotional scenes (62 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Norm d'Plume wrote:
Depending on which college professor you ask, there are only a very small number of archetypes in fiction. For Star Wars, George Lucas did research for about a year, getting ideas from fairy tales, war movies, a Japanese Samurai film called the Hidden Fortress, and the Flash Gordon serials. He added the Force (in lieu of an almighty God) and lightsabers, and came out with magic. Until Episode I, that is. I like to pretend that doesn't exist. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm was bought by Disney for a mere $3B (including all rights to Star Wars and Indiana Jones), yet Snapchat (which is only four years old) is worth almost $20B. Doesn't anyone remember AOL Time Warner?
Good artists barrow, great artists steal.
341 2015-07-14 21:51:53
Topic: Taking a break (1 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
I'm taking a break from the site for a while. I am overwhelmed by the publishing of Ronan, my job and a few problems I have to concentrate on. Something has to go and this is it. I'll be back soon, until then, take care and happy writing!
dags
342 2015-07-14 21:51:15
Topic: Taking a break (1 replies, posted in Thriller/Mystery/Suspense)
I'm taking a break from the site for a while. I am overwhelmed by the publishing of Ronan, my job and a few problems I have to concentrate on. Something has to go and this is it. I'll be back soon, until then, take care and happy writing!
dags
343 2015-07-12 00:15:46
Re: Bonus Points (23 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Mike Roberson wrote:
How about an adjustment to the computations. I posted a poem last night over 7 points. I read a chapter in line review for 1.6 points. I think the base of the problem is in the calculations. Not to be whiny but just sayin. Mike
Did you post to different groups requiring points to post in that group?
Otherwise, that's a lot of points for a poem.
344 2015-07-08 23:42:57
Topic: link for book lovers (5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
345 2015-07-08 01:49:09
Re: AND THE WINNER IS… (16 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
When I read Don's entry I knew it was the best. I am so glad I was right! This is his moment and I want him to know in my mind the best story won.
Congratulations again, Don, for an excellent tale well told!
346 2015-07-07 16:20:24
Re: Link to Crazee Sharon's Lessons (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Why don't we cut and paste them in this forum under Sharon's name?
347 2015-07-07 06:09:58
Re: AND THE WINNER IS… (16 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
Yay Don, I knew it! Congratulations!
Thanks JP for putting on a great contest!
348 2015-07-04 05:32:38
Re: Prologue's (37 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
MrsPiddles wrote:
My two cents worth. I enjoy reading prologues. It's like the appetizer before the meal. I also love a good forward. Those make me love the author and the reason the story was written. As in all writing, a poorly done prologue is a turnoff. But then, if the teaser is poorly done, what does that say about the rest of the book? I say, if the prologue fits, wear it. If it squeezes your toes, rebuild the entire shoe. Okay, I've been working outside all day and had a few beers to keep going and it's late, so I don't think I made much sense.
But I do like a well written prologue
Write On!
You agree with me so you're making perfect sense!!
349 2015-07-04 03:44:48
Re: Prologue's (37 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
njc wrote:
I understand and use the term to mean a break in the story that moves back in time to present something that came before the time of the story's opening, followed another break that returns to the point where the first break occurred. This may be a character's memory, or the events that a character is remembering or recounting, or something else.
The lack of the leading break is why I don't think a story opening, prologue or not, can be called a flashback.
Thanks NJC.
I agree with you. Prologue means: an introductory or preceding event or development.
A flashback means: interruption of chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) by interjection of events of earlier occurrence; also : an instance of flashback. Meaning you have to establish a chronological sequence to be interrupted.
I suppose you can create a flashback within a prologue...but a prologue which describes an event before the novel begins is not an interruption of a sequence of events by itself.
That's clear as mud, isn't it? I still think that since each of us would tell the same story in a different way, there are no hard and set rules on how that story should be told and the author is the creator of the narrative and can choose how to tell it. If you think the story requires a prologue then write one.
My motto has always been: write the book you want to read.
350 2015-07-04 02:03:53
Re: Prologue's (37 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I want a definition of terms...
Is having your character experience a memory the same as a flashback? Or are we talking PTSD flashbacks, where the victim actually relives a past event?
