1,476 Reply by janet reid

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

I'll get busy then with catching up!  What I've seen so far of Tazar was impressive, you've really done an awesome job with him, I like him and is from the get go emotionally vested with him.  <----- I'm really not that easy to impress, but I do recognise a job well done.  You're seriously talented.

I was thinking to wave my dainty white handkerchief as a peace offering, otherwise this is never going to end, until you yelled Battle!  We're on!  smile  I propose to tie at least one of Matthew's hands behind his back when he meets this mysterious Tazar lad from the past, just to even things up, I'd say.  Don't want a blemish on Tazar's (so-called) impeccable record.  You haven't seen Matthew in action yet, so just believe me when I say this is the way to go.

I won't name that movie with John Travolta!  Unless it's Bolt ...  smile  I have more of a Gladiator theme going in my mind - you can say a lot of things about old Russ, but that man can rock a dress and is welcome ANYTIME to kick his shoes off under my bed!  wink

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1,477 Topic by janet reid

(6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Question to all romance writers out here.  Let me know if you think there would be any value in starting our own group, and then I'll do something, like creating a romance group.  smile  But I don't want to do it if it's not going to be used or add value, so I thought to first put the idea out there.
Cheers
Janet R

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1,478 Reply by janet reid

(217 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

For new listings, when we click on the work, could we please be taken to the most recent chapter?  It's really annoying to have to use the drop down list each and every time.
* I agree. This is something we will work on. Probably will be a few weeks out.
** Guess you need to sleep as well!  Thanks for doing this!

Can you please add our home tab to the top right drop down menu (the one right a the top with your name on that's always visible)?  That way it's easier for me to return to my home page to look for new message, reviews etc. when I've gone away to things like forums etc.
* You know the logo at the top of the page is a link to the homepage? Do you will want it in the drop down?
** Nope.  Thought it would take me to the site homepage, not my own.  I've learned something new, and since your way will save me a click (you'll pick up a trend here), no need to add it to the drop down, unless someone else insists.  I've also made a note to myself to be more adventurous!  wink

When we do in-line reviews, can the cursor automatically go into the feedback box?  It's really annoying to have to click with my mouse inside the box before I can start to type, and if you add 30 suggestions/nits to an in-line review, that's a lot of unnecessary clicking.
* Will look into that.
And why when I've replied to a review am I taken back to the first chapter of the novel and not the review page?  This means another 5 clicks to get back to my review page to continue on with the rest of them.
*Yes, we are working on this. I agree.
** Sounds great!  Thanks!

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1,479 Reply by janet reid

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I have been thinking, lots.  And it does hurt, thanks for asking!  So here goes ...

Matthew and the guys reach the valley, Catherine gets shot, really badly.  They can't move her far, so returning to Dacre Tower is out.  I'll have them take her to a nearby cottage, have an old village wife treat her there - they were always prepared for forays and shit given the general situation on the border.  Matthew won't mind, because Catherine isn't going anywhere fast with a wound like that.  So he'll come back for her later when she's better.

Matthew and the guys look at the arrow and look for Isaac - it will take longer because Isaac went into hiding, his father and sister don't know where he is, yadida-yadida.  But yeah, no way Isaac can hide from Tom or Matthew for long.  Two days MAX.  And just before Matthew loses his mind, he returns to the hamlet to have the confrontation with Catherine - let me know the earliest he can do that please?!  Every day here makes a difference, because I have to keep Matthew busy with all kinds of shit while not making him look like an incompetent idiot in the process.  And he can't have any spare time to think about going to Aiden Tower and asking a few pertinent questions - that would totally fuck-up-excuse-my-French the COMPLETE plot.  But I guess I can keep him busy, have some sort of real trouble somewhere to go and sort out or some such.  He finally confronts Catherine - desk will become a (sturdy) trestle table wink - and we're back to where I am now.

So this means most of the chapters will have to be updated.  BUT, it would be worth it, because I have a really good idea what to do with her arm later.  A REALLY good idea (well, I think!).  So yeah, back to the drawing board, I'll repost as I go.  Activity on the new site has picked up considerably, so it seems as if everyone was just spinning wheels waiting for it ...

LOL!  It's one massive one-inch, this is romance after all!  big_smile big_smile

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1,480 Reply by janet reid

(217 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Hi Sol, first of all, great work and thank you for the support.  You must be exhausted by now.  Hopefully things will settle down really quickly and we'll be back to business as usual before long. 

I have a couple of suggestions (geez, don't think you have enough of these, but here's some more, sorry!)

* For new listings, when we click on the work, could we please be taken to the most recent chapter?  It's really annoying to have to use the drop down list each and every time.
* Can you please add our home tab to the top right drop down menu (the one right a the top with your name on that's always visible)?  That way it's easier for me to return to my home page to look for new message, reviews etc. when I've gone away to things like forums etc.
* When we do in-line reviews, can the cursor automatically go into the feedback box?  It's really annoying to have to click with my mouse inside the box before I can start to type, and if you add 30 suggestions/nits to an in-line review, that's a lot of unnecessary clicking.
*  And why when I've replied to a review am I taken back to the first chapter of the novel and not the review page?  This means another 5 clicks to get back to my review page to continue on with the rest of them.

Or let me know if I'm doing something wrong or am missing something?!  Always possible!

Thanks Sol!
Janet R

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1,481 Reply by janet reid

(26 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic &amp; Sci-Fi)

Hope you have twenty thousand gold to get Tazar out of prison, you're going to need him.  Because, when Matthew gives you "the look" while taking a slooowwww bite out of your cheese, and you realise with wobbly knees you've chewed off WAAYYYYY more than what you can handle (and there's no kissing yet), don't come running to the ruler of the northern skies world to save your sorry arse ...  big_smile

*swears vividly while she tries to untangle her arms*  &%$# this, forget I've ever mentioned a secret handshake, we're good!  wink

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1,482 Reply by janet reid

(30 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

I write and read romance, with crime a close second (reading only that is).  If you need a first hand account from someone that's never been arrested or questioned, I'm the go-to person.  smile  I have no law enforcement expertise other than what I've picked up watching Sherlock Holmes and CSI ...  I do like doughnuts and badges though.  Looking forward to reading/reviewing stuff that will make me bite my nails (no pressure!).

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1,483 Reply by janet reid

(26 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic &amp; Sci-Fi)

I'm in!  BUT ....... I hit apply, and was immediately a member?!  Expected a bit of a process to be honest, a questionnaire, a blood test to see if it's blue-greyish-green and then a reply sealed with wax saying "Accepted" and instructions to a secret handshake.  And pushing it here, but a sword or a lance of some sorts would've been nice.  Oh well, I should get back to writing, want to find out if posting a chapter is as easy as joining a group around here.

Cheers
Janet

ps - Amy, Matthew wants his castle back!  wink

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1,484 Reply by janet reid

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Heya Amy,

The devil might be in the detail, but I think you're right, this idea of yours could make the first chapter, well, a first chapter!  It's definitely not the easy way, but then again, no one ever said writing first chapters is a breeze.  LOL  But I actually like your idea.  Heaps.  It would keep the reader in suspense what the hell Catherine was doing there etc. etc. (and all the things you've mentioned).  <------ I'm stubborn, yet open-minded!  WTF?  big_smile 

I'm fast running out of ways to thank you, and others, on this site for all your wonderful suggestions and ideas and support ...  But in any case, a big thank you for investing in this and all your help/support!

I've also been thinking of ways to only have her move her arm after a week, but Matthew isn't a virtue of patience, so, so far, I've only been hitting walls (he's also not incompetent, so them taking a week or more to find Isaac is also not going to happen!).  And I don't want him to be an abuser - if she's that badly hurt, he won't lock her up or do anything more than asking and yelling.  But I haven't completely discarded your opinion yet ...  (just so you know!)  It could actually also work out better later on if she actually did hurt her arm really badly.  But I'm still thinking on that one.  Having her arm in a tight sling to keep it from moving is what I have for now.  *Yawns*  If all else fails, I'll put in a disclaimer for all ER professionals that Amy told me so and to just go with the flow!  smile

Re your other thoughts, absolutely, I keep all of them and do make changes based on those kinds of feedback.  So when I explained to you about the size of the towers and the bathing, I actually meant to say it will be expanded and those kind of details will be worked into the scenes to make sure there will not be any confusion again.  So that kind of feedback is really great to smooth things for others!  big_smile

ps - Matthew isn't happy with you (and he has a sword).  He was 1-inch away from getting some nooky when I saw this post, and now he has to wait until I've redone the first chapter before he's going to see (get) some action ....  LOL 

I know what you've said about getting the first draft done, but given it's a big change, I'll interrupt the flow to do it now, otherwise I won't be able to concentrate on writing the rest of the chapters ...  I'll just wrap up the chapter I'm busy with now, go back to START, don't collect $200, and then I'll be going again on the rest of the story soon.  smile

I'll probably repost the first chapter, and then I'll review some work for njc, and that way, someone would have a good look over the reworked chapter.  <----- that's the plan for now, at least!

Thanks a mill for this! 

Janet

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1,485 Topic by janet reid

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

OK, here is a thought for you, Janet.  Discard if you want, but at least consider the option.

If Matthew started the book from his perspective, he would be racing to save the hamlet, worrying about a horse breaking a leg on the moor, concerned that more reivers are working in his lands.  He hears a woman's scream, finds Catherine, realizes who she is and that she is injured, and knows that there is at least one archer who is possibly trying to kill him.  This way, the underlying plot would be revealed, the scene-safety concerns with the archers would be detailed, and the description of C would be given so the reader knows exactly what she looks like.  A basic history would be available as Matthew contrasts C's mature appearance to what he remembers.

Then flip the last couple paragraphs to C's perspective, detail her pain, and have her lean into Matthew's warmth as he takes her to safety.  End the chapter with the 'failed miserably' line.

If the second chapter is about C, you can detail the healing and medical care and start to address the concerns about Anthony and keeping the plot a secret.  She dresses up after the 2 day respite and goes down to confront Matthew as the Viscountess.

It is just a thought, but I wonder if this would strengthen and streamline the story to relay information more smoothly.  (instead of the flip-flop order issue I discussed before.)

Oh, one last thought.  You need to make it clear that the tower is only one room per floor.  Most Americans will think of a tower as multiple rooms, but this is a smaller tower built as a residence.  That will explain the lack of furniture that you describe in the story. 


Last thought, don't just say 'bath' and leave it at that.  When Catherine takes a bath, describe a rinse from a bucket with another bucket to wash her hair.  Any average person would expect a bathtub in the room, rather than the equivalent of a sponge bath to clean off the blood and sweat from C's injury.

Later,

A

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