Congratulations! It’s a well-deserved victory.
1 2020-09-28 10:37:30
Re: Carnage in Singapore - First in Category Winner! (21 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
2 2020-09-16 22:17:23
Re: Anyone out there? (8 replies, posted in Young Adult Writers)
Hi Mrs. Piddles.
So sorry to hear about your husband.
Pony stories tend to do pretty well, or so I hear. I'd say, go for it.
Lawrence
3 2020-08-30 11:33:19
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
My work has me learning new computer programs and new Covid19 procedures. This keeps me busy well into the evening. So, I’ve started doing reviews on my lunch break through my phone. It’s irritating because I’m unable to do In-Line reviews.
On another subject, I’ve become bored with medieval-inspired fantasy and begun to think about doing fantasy anchored in a later time; perhaps Golden Age Persia. Are there any examples of this in published works you’re aware of?
4 2020-08-29 22:45:54
Re: Anyone out there? (8 replies, posted in Young Adult Writers)
Greetings! I've been a member for a while, but usually spend most of my time writing and reviewing. I do need to speak to other writers on these forums, though.
My experience with writing Young Adults has been that readers of the genre want stories which add an extra dimension to their lives. Young adults are in their formative stages, and their brains are already grasping at complex emotional and social situations. Yet they long to prove themselves adept at life's hard choices. This is what fuels their ideals that they're ready for anything. their muscles are strong,, their emotions are raging from the hormones in their body, so as writers it is our duty to give them stories which provide these things to them: mystery, monsters, forgotten secrets, haunted houses, espionage, trails to castles, ghosts. These are the things they want because it adds thrills and hard choices which they seek from their own lives.
5 2020-06-22 14:32:17
Re: The Gathering Darkness (the Connor series) - Dirk B. (1,415 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Dune Messiah remains my least-liked book, while the prequel series are new favorites. House Atreides, is, I think, the best of the lot. Duncan Idaho as a child worked out perfectly. I cross-checked in Dune (a book I read again at least once every couple of years) to see if they got all the casual notes that Herbert mentioned. They did.
I’ve met both Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. They’re both friendly guys, with a love of the writing craft. Herbert is, I think more meticulous, while Anderson is more inspirational. I can understand that, as my co-author, Jim, and I have the same kind of writing relationship.
I didn’t like Machine Crusade, and because of that, I’ve not seen their treatment of the legendary Butlerian Jihad. That all felt forced, and a forced novel is always a mistake. I’ve let storylines wither rather than push them.
6 2020-06-02 20:37:07
Re: Newbie hello (9 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Welcome aboard, Monica!
7 2020-05-06 03:29:52
Re: My Covid-19 nightmare (18 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
So sorry for your troubles! Glad to hear that you're back among the living. Be well, and I hope all goes well.
8 2016-05-26 16:45:05
Re: World Building (13 replies, posted in Fantasy World Builders)
One of the first things that I did when constructing my world was figure out where I wanted the story to go, then built the world to frame the story. After that, I took the characters and decided where I wanted each one to come from. Which part of the world did they come from? Why did they leave home? What were they looking for? And, once I had the answers to those questions, what did my world need to offer in order to satisfy those needs.
After I laid the groundwork, I began to build a history for the world. That takes some doing, but at the same time can be a lot of fun, and it is so important! Right now I have a five-page abbreviated history to fall back on when writing future chapters.
9 2016-05-26 16:33:04
Re: What are the best spy fiction novels? (5 replies, posted in SPY FICTION)
I used to read a fair amount of Robert Ludlum, though his stuff has become a bit dated since the end of the Cold War. The original Bourne Identity was very well done, and remains a good read. The use of the agent-provocateur scenario is something that has not been done in quite a while.
10 2015-01-07 04:29:52
Re: Miss Forum Conversations (37 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Speaking for myself, I have found the new site rather intimidating. Having just spent some time reading the Conversion Assistance page (Thank You Very Much) I now find it less so. That being said, my first reaction to the new look was, Oh great! They've gone Facebook! Not being a FB user (safety issues & time-bandit) I had to think twice about using TNBW. And that alone is definitely not the kind of reaction this site wants to instill in its regular users.
It's going to take me a while to get used to using this site in its new incarnation, but I'm definitely going to stay a member. The feedback and useful tips I've been getting have been great. And I've made some good friends here.
