Search options (Page 10 of 18)
corra wrote:C J Driftwood wrote:I started using my phone to take dictation. It even types the words out for me.
I've done this! I love the voice to text feature. But I'm almost always with a crowd, so I feel funny, like I'm sending a note to the mother ship or something.
Just pretend you're talking to someone on the phone.n 
I started using my phone to take dictation. It even types the words out for me.
Just completed Matthew's Ch 20-21 ; book one.
If you haven't read any Jo Nesbo- I strongly recommended him. I also am a fan of the Micheal Connelly and John Connolly both. Sanford, Lee Child, Nelson DeMille, Douglas Preston w/Lincoln Child, Paul Levine's Jake Lassiter series, John Lescroart, Steven White, and Johnathan Kellerman, to name just a few.
njc wrote:Just reviewed Ch's 71 and 72 of The Raven's Curse. Are these the last chapters? I'll say again that this story has been a pleasure to read and an honor to review.
Thanks NJC, it's been a pleasure having you review it. There is one more chapter- a longer one that wraps things. Then there's the final one of the series- I need to get ready for posting.
Completed review on Jube's Chapters 20 and 21.
Reviewed Randy's Cartel's Revenge Chapters 8 & 9
Jube wrote:I tried to envision walking through a prison with a camera on the way to see a particular prisoner. Does the camera pick up some of the other inmates on the way? Now Maribel is not just brash but she's somewhat nosy/curious as to why she keeps questioning what she sees.
The boorkin will definitely be used in a later setting. I don't want to give away too much, but I've established the boorkin are loyal to the Foresters and later it is revealed that Talmas has the Forester blood line. So you can see how these can be connected later, I think. The other prisoner, Paldara, joins the story at a later point.
I have several things in the story that seem at first pointless, but do come into play later on.
I assumed when I read the detail of those creatures that they would be used later. The rule of thumb is to gloss over characters the reader doesn't have to remember, but make those that show up later, memorable.
Jube wrote:I was thinking it's about time I tried my hand at what many argue is the most difficult of all types of short stories--the comedy one. So, by writing this out I wanted to see if I can be funny. Sadly, it looks like the funny gene passed me by. I'll still take a run at it though, and my next short story will be a comedy attempt. Uh, any recommendations on if it's more advantageous to write a comedy SS in 1st person or 3rd person? Consider the writer (me) has no gift for gab, so which one do you think I can best squeak by on?
First person would be easier for a comedy, I would think.
I'm normally very good about getting back to people. Not only is it the right thing to do, it also helps a reviewer to know what kind of feedback you find helpful. Also to let them know how much you appreciate their time and attention to the help they are giving you.
Though I now find myself really behind, do to personal overcommitments, ridiculous deadlines at work, college submissions and scholarship searches for a graduating daughter, etc. I'm now trying to catch up.
I also spend a lot of time on both review and reply- which may also contribute to the reasons why I've found myself so far behind.
Rest assured, I'm working on it now!
Completed Reviews of Day of Darkness: chpts 18-20
Completed chpts 17-19 of Alkemi's Souring Seas.
Just completed Suin's chapters 9-12.
Completed Review of Jube's Chapter 16.
Completed reviews for Cobber's State of Vengeance: Ch66-75 (they were short) and Matthew's Girl Who Lost the Earth: Ch17-19.
Wouldn't it be "The Wives of Rhiannon"?
I like it! There's a certain symmetry to it.
Hey Gacela,
I haven't read that far- but is there anyway you can work those traits into other chapters? Do they really need to have a chapter to themselves?
Suin's not the only one- MY GOD Jube- where do you find the time to write, review and blog your gut out! But I agree with everything you said. Though I would add- only the writer knows where the story is headed. Some things we might think need changing as we read- could be put there to set up what follows. The reviewer won't know that until they get to the payoff.
I had quite a few reviewers tell me to cut "Fred's" part down in my first book because he wasn't that important, and since Hank was the killer I should spend more time on him. Then they got to the end and found out that Fred was the killer. The clues where all there- many with "cut this it's extraneous" next to it.
I mark up what, to me jumps out- and offer a reason why, and a possible way to rephrase. Take it or leave it, all the same to me. Only the writer truly knows their characters and their plot-line. They can decide where they need to make changes based on where they lose the reader.
I agree, you have to write what fits your "voice". And as the writer pick and choose the suggestions given. I've learned the "right" way is what works and the "wrong" way is what doesn't. Following the rules to rigidly, makes for an uncreative, rigid manuscript. The best advice I was given was to read your work out loud. The ear can tell a flat note on the page, whereas the mind can gloss it over.
Thank you for the post.
Jube wrote:HERE COME THE ORCS!
One of the cornerstones of the fantasy genre, the vilified Orc was a creature used when the author needed a fantasy version of a gang member from the mean streets of Sin City.
And now the Orc is soon to step from the pages of fantasy to reality if mankind follows its usual path of mishandling new breakthroughs:
"Researchers have created a viable hybrid part-human, part-pig embryo for the first time in history. According to a study published in the journal Cell Thursday, researchers were able to successfully inject human stem cells into a pig embryo and grow tissue that would form the early stages of human organs like the heart, liver and neurons."
We only need a handful of crazed scientists to build a real life Orc army and then J.R.R. Tolkien will join the likes of Jules Verne's submarine where fantasy becomes reality.
I'm less concerned with that than: global warming, war with Iraq over their oil, super viruses and the current administration.
Jube wrote:"Look, you can get a decent cover artwork for $40, and top masterpiece for $200."
She must mean in another country where $40 goes much further than here in the U.S. or Canada, right?
Nicolas Andrews once recommended the book cover guy he uses, Keith Draws, and that guy is considered a very good designer but doesn't do a custom ebook cover for less than $500 unless you catch one of his holiday specials where he cuts the price down.
A top masterpiece I've always understood is when the designer is hired to do the cover the hard way. They aren't going to use photoshop or other stock image manipulation program. Instead, they draw, paint, and digital image all from scratch. That's thousands of dollars in cost as I understand it. And there is a small group of elite designers that do this where you can't even hire them - they hire out only to publishers directly.
Like this guy who is rated #1 - http://www.michaelwhelan.com. When you look at his covers, you can see it's all done from scratch after he gets the writer's information and input on the scene to use. You wouldn't even get a sketch from this guy for $200.
Wow, his work is beautiful. There is definitely a difference between a 40$ cover and a professionally built cover. I honestly don't know how someone can do a quality job for 40 $ and make any money. It takes hours to plan, create and execute - even when using Illustrator and Photoshop. It's like asking someone to work for 3 dollars an hour.
I would not use InDesign for cover creation- suggest Illustrator for that.
Have not gone far enough to layout a book yet, but will be using InDesign. I'm very familiar with the program, use it in my current profession, Graphic Design. Is there a specific question you have about the program?
Posts found: 226 to 250 of 443
