Love the list! My favorites are listed here already. (then/than, immigrate/emigrate, less/fewer) What about unreal/ surreal? and the ever-popular its/it's? You would think these people had never gone to school, except that the teachers are often as badly informed as their students. I remember team-teaching with a very nice lady who taught her class that feel and field were homonyms. On the other hand, maybe those of us who are fixated on such things are missing out on something. I have an open mind. lol JP
702 2015-05-13 15:11:03
Re: Members speak up (12 replies, posted in Young Adult & New Adult)
I'm almost finished with Adventures of a Young Girl and would like to find a reader who'll read straight through and give me feedback on overall length, continuity, and anything else that comes to mind. Then I can make adjustments and have another reader comb through. I'm happy to do the same for somebody else in exchange. Can I find readers through this group?
703 2015-05-13 02:57:54
Re: Strongest Start 2015 Finalists (16 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Congratulations, finalists! I'm happy to say I've been reading all but one, and they're all great. Good show! JP
704 2015-05-12 17:54:57
Re: Marketing 101 (6 replies, posted in Young Adult & New Adult)
I just checked out the first link--Thunderclap--it seems more oriented to social causes than advertising a book. Did you try it? JP
705 2015-05-12 15:20:42
Topic: Essential Elements of Writing Crime (5 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
For discussion: What do you think is the most important element in crime writing?
706 2015-05-12 15:17:02
Re: RESOURCES FOR CRIME WRITERS (13 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
The sources below are good for getting you started on your next story.
http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/05 … g-mystery/
http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/10 … san-spann/
707 2015-05-10 04:36:25
Topic: MY APOLOGY (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
An apology from me: I recently had a reviewer suggest that maybe I was going in too many directions at once, and it does look like I am. I hit a dry spot with the two stories I was working, one a rewrite and the other a first draft, so I let a new one in the mix, thinking it would just be a short story, enough to give me time to think about the first two. Well, it's gotten longer than I expected. I'm trying to get it finished as quickly as I can, so I can get back to what I was doing. At the same time, I've posted homework assignments for the creative writing class, but those were things I'd already written, which I just posted anew. So, MY APOLOGIES TO MY REVIEWERS FOR SEEMING TO RUN IN ALL DIRECTIONS AT ONCE. THE LAST CLASS ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN POSTED, THE THIRD STORY IS ALMOST FINISHED, AND THINGS WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL IN A FEW DAYS. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE. JP
708 2015-05-05 22:08:45
Re: 7-line Poetry Winner (20 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Congrats, dags! Looks like you've really hit your stride this year. JP
709 2015-05-01 07:16:40
Re: contest theme & prize (3 replies, posted in Je Suis CHARLIE)
I found the perfect prize for the Je suis Charlie writing contest! A giant yellow pencil, the new symbol in Europe for freedom of expression. Check it out at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … lawmakers.
One place to get a big yellow pencil with a message is http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/cust … slxeDFVrTk
AND LOTS OF OTHER PLACES! Even Wal-Mart advertises them.
On the other hand, you can get a je suis charlie t-shirt at https://www.etsy.com/market/charlie_hebdo_t's
Please excuse, my French, but I found a free image to be downloaded and printed on t-shirts in memory of Stephane Charbonnier. at http://catrike.yuku.com/topic/7577/Je-S … UM3-flViko
710 2015-04-28 21:43:48
Re: Short Story Contest (25 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
Just thought I'd remind you and tell you not to worry--there's still a month to finish and post stories for the contest. The stories will be scored based on how well the posted requirements are met. Of course good grammar and all that technical stuff applies! If you have more in your story, fine. If you ignored or downplayed the requirements, your story will be scored accordingly. Don't worry about what other people are doing with their stories. If you get mad at me, let me have it. If you think something is wrong with the way things are going, tell me about that, too. BUT nothing will be changed at this late date--those with good ideas should have responded when I called for input in March. C'est la vie JP
711 2015-04-28 21:27:04
Re: Short Story Contest (25 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
!ONE MORE TIME! YOU STILL HAVE A MONTH! ALL MEMBER SUBMISSIONS WELCOME!
Open to all members of Cop Shop
Any genre
Of course, there has to be crime
LENGTH: NO MORE THAN 7500 WORDS
Stories that have not been previously workshopped on TNBW (If they've been sitting around your house, that's fine)
Not previously published
POSTING DATES April 15-May 31 (Designate groups Cop Shop and Prime when posting, then enter contest)
Winner to be announced July 1
Any questions, comments? Post 'em here.
712 2015-04-26 17:33:20
Re: Short Story Contest (25 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
Yes the limit is 7500 words, but if you go over 5 or 10, nobody's going to get mad. If, however, you enter a novella, I will cause you a serious hurt. en
Sorry I haven't been very attentive--I am moving out of my house, putting everything in storage, going to spend the summer in Oklahoma City. Have to catch a plane tomorrow. I'll be on line again Tuesday, for sure. JP
713 2015-04-25 00:08:27
Re: point of view problem (6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I have seen stories where God was given pet names, like Rover and Fido, which couldn't possibly be human. That works for animal lovers. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it doesn't become confusing to the reader. That's where tnbw comes in--reader feedback. If the reader can't handle it, he/she won't read it, and they will be less inclined to choose (buy) your book next time. There goes all your hard work. Just grit your teeth and go for it! JP
715 2015-04-24 14:27:53
Re: Release from prison (5 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
John Byram wrote:
When a person is released from prison what do they walk out the door with? I only know what I see on T.V. and in the movies. I have a number of assumption about how this works but no facts. In the movies the prisoner gives up his wallet and other personal effects and exchanges his street clothing for a prison uniform. The when he leaves I have always assumed his clothes and money are returned. He walks out the door and an old buddy picks him up in a rusting Dodge Charger. This may work if he was in for a short period of time. What happens if goes into prison weighing 180 pounds and comes out at 280 pounds. His old clothes may not fit anymore. How does this really work?
Hey, John--sorry to leave your question waiting for so long, but this is what I found: It looks like every prison system (state by state) has its own rules, but the federal prison system regulation is as shown below. I found it at the link below. But by typing in "prisoner release procedure" I got lots more. You can pick and choose. JP
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3624
(d) Allotment of Clothing, Funds, and Transportation.— Upon the release of a prisoner on the expiration of the prisoner’s term of imprisonment, the Bureau of Prisons shall furnish the prisoner with—
(1) suitable clothing;
(2) an amount of money, not more than $500, determined by the Director to be consistent with the needs of the offender and the public interest, unless the Director determines that the financial position of the offender is such that no sum should be furnished; and
(3) transportation to the place of the prisoner’s conviction, to the prisoner’s bona fide residence within the United States, or to such other place within the United States as may be authorized by the Director.
716 2015-04-22 18:50:43
Re: How to find works by genre? (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Sol--Thank you! I never knew it was there. JP
717 2015-04-22 18:16:39
Re: How to find works by genre? (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Finally! Someone who knows how to use the site! Thank you, Charles. It worked perfectly. JP
718 2015-04-22 06:28:56
Re: What makes YA or NA different? (21 replies, posted in Young Adult & New Adult)
Hello! Just popped by with a question: how do I classify my latest story. It's the story of a fourteen-year-old girl who wants to know what sex is all about, and she's not afraid to ask as she goes along. I've posted two chapters and got negative feedback. Evidently, it was offensive to some of the people who read my usual stuff. I thought it was funny, because I used honest questions that really came up in my personal experience but, you know, I was afraid to ask. I think it fits this definition:
YA - as defined by me
- main character is a teen
- deals with issues that teens typically deal with (leaving home, death, firsts -love, sex, etc)
but because I think it's funny, maybe somebody doesn't agree? Could somebody help me out? If it's in bad taste, tell me. JP
p.s. the title is Adventures of a Young Girl
719 2015-04-22 05:49:18
Topic: How to find works by genre? (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I was looking for a particular genre today, to see if my recent posting would find an audience, but as far as I can tell, we're unable to call up all the erotica postings (for example) as a group. This means I can't see if there are many things posted in a particular genre and by extrapolation, whether there is a readership (and reviewers) for such works. As a result, any decision I make to publish would be an uninformed decision, and I might be spending points for nothing. Remember how we used to call up the entire list in a genre? If there is a way to find works in a particular genre, I'd appreciate knowing how to do it. If there isn't, could we please get it? JP
720 2015-04-20 22:07:33
Re: RESOURCES FOR CRIME WRITERS (13 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
Got another one here--a whole smorgasbord of research sources.
http://addictivebooks.com/writers/writers_1.htm
721 2015-04-18 17:55:45
Re: What area of writing do you find most challenging? (22 replies, posted in Intro to Creative Writing - Spring 2015)
dags--That's just it--I don't know. I'm only guessing, but I know you can't sustain a whole book at that level. It would read like a Three Stooges script. I'm just wondering if low-key is a question of taste and style, or if there are rules about this show/tell issue. Can't wait to find out. JP
722 2015-04-17 23:03:51
Re: Does this make my butt look big (3 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
Qustion: Exactly what "household products" were being injected? Crisco? Yuck!
723 2015-04-17 20:51:52
Re: What area of writing do you find most challenging? (22 replies, posted in Intro to Creative Writing - Spring 2015)
I thought this was show:
"Jane, get that damned hat out of my face! I asked you twice already!" So saying, Bill reached over and ripped the big purple ostrich plume away, leaving the yellow ribbon sagging.
Jane squealed and slapped Bill in the face. "I hate you!"
Conflict, action, emotion, dialogue. Obviously, you can't write a whole book like this, so what do you do?
724 2015-04-17 19:27:00
Re: Site Bugs 2 (342 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Hi, Sol--Are we having fun yet? What's that they say about a one-legged cowboy in a shit-kicking contest?
A new reviewer tells me he can't use the in-line review because he's a new member. Is that right, or did he get a glitch?
Since I mostly do in-line reviews, I'm happy to see that the review is saved automatically if I leave the page, whether it's intentional or not. But how the heck do we access it to finish the review? I have to navigate through several other pages to get it back. It would be great if we could punch that little red button (or is it orange? green?) to pop right back into the unfinished review.
JP
725 2015-04-17 19:08:45
Re: 7-line Poetry Competition Closed (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Okay, you guys--I said it was an accidental discovery! I even embarrassed myself with those poems I wrote, just to prove my unpoetic nature. I may not know poetry, but I do know research. JP
