1,051

(57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Okay, so where do we start? Or rather, how do we start?

1,052

(57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

njc wrote:

I'm going to sit this one out.  I've got enough going on right now.  And I inspired this?

And guess who is going to review it? wink

1,053

(66 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Not knowing the rebel's cause, what we think of Silas can still go both ways. If the rebels are bloodthirsty greedy pigs, we root for Silas. If not, then we might have a little problem with Silas, so if the rebels have a just cause, I'd strongly suggest that Silas realises that, feel bad about killing them by the hundreds and see to justice being done despite the personal cost to him as a son/brother. Basically, I'm still open-minded and it's up to Shearluck to make me go either way.

This is one of the reasons I plaster my thoughts all over my reviews - to let writers know whether they've succeeded to convey their intent to readers (or, at least this reader).

1,054

(66 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Shearluck wrote:

So I've run into a rather, tiny, gigantic, ever so wonderful problem.  There are several things going on in the war that Silas could be involved with given his recent, shall we say, murder extravaganza.  I have no idea which one to choose, they all seem interesting, but I want to pick the most interesting one, suppose I should just share what I've got so far.
Silas joins a rag tag group of blood thirsty bastards for a shadow campaign behind enemy lines, looting, burning pillaging, etc etc
Silas joins a group going to the eastern kingdoms hoping to bring the undecided Khans under the kings banner
Silas discovers the true meaning of Christmas
Silas and his Brother both join the King as body guards because of increased assassination attempts
Silas joins the secret police and murders people who seem to be getting uppity

Going to the eastern kingdoms gets my vote. It will take leadership diplomacy and probably some more fighting to do that. Epic comes to mind. It will be a massive final battle, brother against brother type of thing.

Not sure if I read the rest of the tread correctly, but are you worried readers won't "like" Silas because of what he's done in Ch1? It was pretty out there, but it's war and I'd rather that than someone "romanticising" things- cutting someone with a sword gets messy real quick. In any case, other than toning down Silas in Ch1 ie making him less bloodthirsty and more in control yet still effective at slaying rebels, you can always make readers hate the rebels more ie have them slaughter a few babies. You'd be amazed how quick readers will cheer Silas on next time he meets some rebels ...

Or, like usual, I might just have no idea what we're talking about here! smile

1,055

(57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

KHippolite wrote:

This is a tricky proposition since at least three of us don't have such a date.

And at least one of us don't have a clue what she's doing ...

David, contact Sol - I think there is an "age limit" of 13, but I could be wrong.  As to appropriate, there are mature work on the site; most writers indicate adult content in the chapter descriptions for what it's worth.  Also, there's an active young writers group - so if he joins them, I think there shouldn't be a big problem (Sol moderates that group which would also give you some piece of mind).

Cheers Janet R

1,057

(9 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

Ditto to what JP and JTK said  *chews doughnut*  big_smile

1,058

(57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

I think SS2016 it will be for me!  So I can join you lot to write a story about some poor sod who made the mistake of being born on Doomsday, 1085.

1,059

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

Haha figures that it would be me sad

I sent him a message about ten or fifteen minutes ago on his profile

It won't be long now, and then you'll know what you did wrong and that we are useless as site technical support ...  *starts writing again*
Let us know when it's solved?!

1,060

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

There is no published column next to the active for some reason.

So, in the table under the heading that says "Chapter Settings" where you would see columns with the following headings:
Ch# - Version# - Ch title - Points - Total Cost - "PUBLISHED" - Action - View
you don't have a published column?

Melissa, you just broke the site!  Nah, just kidding!!!  I think this is a Sol problem - send him a quickee on his home page (username SolN), because he can't read all the threads as much as he wants to.

1,061

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

njc wrote:

It's over 20 between meli2235's post here and mine.

It shouldn't work that way.  It shouldn't w............ .... ....  ....  ....   ...   ...   ...    ..    ..    ..     .     .

That's because Aus is special and Sol likes us!  wink

1,062

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

njc wrote:

Well, as of about 40 seconds ago, I don't see it.

njc - that's the other problem, it can take up to 10 minutes before it will show.

1,063

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

Tje chapter says active and I have thenextbigwriter premium group checked and I confirm the uodate as well.

Just to be clear, to the left of where the green active block is, does the block have a green "yes" in the published column?

1,064

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

I've received a few replies but no offers to review mine plus I can't get mine off private!! It won't let me set it to allow groups and connects to view my story. I paid the 8.99 points to the nextbigwriter premium but it won't allow me to change the setting. I don't know what to do.

Once it's off private, you'll be okay.  There is nothing wrong with what you are otherwise doing - keep on reviewing and things will start to happen!  Promise!

1,065

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

Everytime I choose allow group members and connections to view and confirm it, it goes back to private. It says that I used points to publish it to the writers group (the one that you are automatically in) I've tried to get it to go to connections and groups only about six times.

Meli

On the publish page, select "group members and connections" and tick the boxes of the groups you want to publish to.  Then click on that red button that says "update publish settings".

Then you have to go down the page, and also publish the chapter separately.

Fingers crossed this works, otherwise, you need to ask Sol (username SolN) if he can find a problem.

Cheers Janet R

1,066

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

meli2235 wrote:

Thank you! Any suggestions for receiving reviews? I've reviewed seven writers books but have received none in return and with the seven I reviewed two books or chapters each unless they only had one book and chapter. I'm new and I don't really know what to do. Any tips would be helpful smile

Have you received any feedback from them yet?  Most of us indicate when we reply whether you can expect a recip (majority of writers will recip around here) and when.  Sometimes you just have to have patience, but it will happen.  Just keep on reviewing, and don't limit yourself to YA either, I know it's a daunting concept, but you will really get the hang of it!

1,067

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Mentioning character names are perfect, you're good! And good luck with this, for some it's not as easy, but it does get easier over time!
JR

1,068

(520 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Also, thanks for the support!  And that last bit of advice, it's on-board!

ps - your last chapter was 100% what romance readers expect to see BTW!

1,069

(520 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

KHippolite wrote:

For what it's worth, I didn't think you'd broken any of the rules in yours, but I'm a toddler in the field, so what do I know?

Nah, in nappies and all you know more than this person about romance. So I take it from who it comes.  I suspect the review was personal, had nothing good to say too.

In any case, I also do the same, read reviews and comments by romance readers and try and avoid it. I also realise you will never be able to please everyone, but I'll still try my best!

And what Philisha said- do I even have to say 50 ....

1,070

(9 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

1.  Charade - Gary Grant
2.  The Untouchables - Sean Connery
3.  Chinatown - Jack Nicholson
4.  The Godfather Part II - Al Pacino
5.  Bonnie and Clyde - Gene Hackman
6.  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Paul Newman
9.  Dirty Harry - Clint Eastwood
10.  Is it "I got a motive which is money and the body which is dead?"  In the Heat of the Night - Rod Steiger

7-8  no idea

1,071

(1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

KHippolite wrote:

Even Google can't explain to me what you guys are talking about

If google doesn't work, the wiki it.  If google doesn't work, and wiki doesn't work, you're screwed ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_train

1,072

(24 replies, posted in Literary Fiction)

garth hallberg wrote:

I'm new to this, so please excuse my ignorance. But why is a group focused on literary fiction worried about some rules that are/might be more appropriate to a first-year college composition course? Long sentences and "useless" words are often what distinguishes a fiction writer's voice, unless you plan on being Hemingway redux.

Hi Garth

For starters, not everyone on site is a professional writer.  Some only started to write recently and are new to this whole thing.

And once you start to post work, and receive reviews, you'd be surprised at how many people, with good intentions, will tell you: don't do that, don't do this i.e. use shorter sentences, delete "useless" words, basing their views on articles/blanket rules like the one Charles mentioned (me included).  It gets challenging to keep true to your own voice/style when the majority of reviews agree on using shorter sentences and using less words ...  So it's good to hear some alternative opinions in the form of these discussions.

Not sure what to think of your last statement.  It may be taken personally by someone with a natural (understated) writing style that make use of short sentences and as few "useless" words as possible.  It doesn't make them a Hemingway wannabe or redux, it's probably just the way that they write.  And there's no need to be insulting.  My opinion of course.

Otherwise, welcome to the site!  If you have any questions on how things work around here, just hit the forums.

Cheers Janet

1,073

(9 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

Are we allowed to use google?  Yes, I'm desperately clinging onto my last doughnut!  smile

1,074

(1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

njc wrote:

Triple-trailer lashups are also part of life in Australia, I believe, but I don't think you find them west of the Rockies or east of the Appalachians in the US.  I'm trying to recall if I've seen them on the western miles of the Pennsy Turnpike.  Not sure.

Called road trains over here.  Usually triple trailers, have seen a couple with four on road trips into the bush.  You get longer in the northern territory, but haven't seen them yet in person.

1,075

(6 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

j p lundstrom wrote:

Janet--You can't hand in your badge.  I'm sure you know the answer to #9.  Positive.  As to your question: #1 was a wise guy, whereas #10 was an undercover FBI agent pretending to be a wise guy.

Never knew it was made into a movie - I was pretty young when the movie was made (as was Meryl Streep).  So see, now I have to hand in my badge, my gun and my last doughnut.  sad