2,601

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

It's a short speech and I'm tweaking it now. I decided I like it (the offer to go into exile to serve God), but I'm adding some of Joseph's thoughts and shouts from the crowd to show that Cain is full of s***.

2,602

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

I use brain scans as lie detectors, so I can use them if needed.

In v2, he didn't actually speak. I just said he have a rambling speech about the unjust conditions in the havens. I think I need to go back to that while still allowing him to actually talk (show don't tell). The current speech had the advantage of being Christian-oriented, but I'm sure I can do the same with a different speech. The setup for the old speech is already there. Joseph and Moses discussed the conditions in the havens in an earlier chapter, and the Galactipedia article notes that NB has the lowest standard of living in the Realm because of its huge defense expenditures.  Also, it's supposed to be an escalating battle between the government and the inhabitants of the havens as the chapters progress, so that's where the focus belongs.

2,603

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Hmm. At least two reviewers who thought he was being sincere. Definitely needs work.

2,604

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

GT?

One of the changes I could see making is having the crowd remain largely silent at the hanging (until they realize Andrew is choking). Everybody crossing themselves as the bodies drop, with only a few (or no) cheers? I'm trying to compare this to 9/11, where there was a near universal consensus in the US to go after Bin Laden. The treason/murders on NB is a similar offense, except to the whole world.

Also, you took Cain's speech as a potentially valid point of view for some on the planet, which it wasn't meant to be. I wanted it to come across as BS he's making up to save his own skin, hence the chamber exploding with outrage after he speaks.

Welcome back! I'm glad it went "ok" so far. Did they remove the growth? What do you mean everything goes to hell in a hand basket in about a year?

Any further word from/about Amy?

2,607

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

K et al, what do you think about setting up rival viewpoints in the Senate, both for and against execution? It's a pretty bloodthirsty crowd for a Christian world, although conspiring with the Imperium is the worst crime on NB, by far. Should it just be the crowd that's conflicted, or should the Senate vote be split as well? I wrote it so that the division really centered around Andrew. There's less impact without the thunderous applause and cheering, but I don't want this to come off as a planet full of butchers. However, neither are they a world of popes.

Thoughts?

2,608

(11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I've experienced both of the following:
- posts I've read remain visible on the home page
- posts I haven't read disappear before I've read them, sometimes in a matter of hours

I'm running the latest version of Google Chrome on a Windows 7 desktop.

I recently renumbered my chapters (in "Into the Mind of God v3") because I decided the first chapter was really a prologue. Now the list of all inline reviews I've received for the book no longer show the chapter and version numbers. I'm lucky in that I'm only a few chapters in and have only a handful of reviews. If I'd been further along, this would have been very painful.

On a related note, the filter on the inline tab doesn't allow filtering for reviews of prologues.

Thanks
Dirk

2,610

(11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

SolN wrote:

Problem is everyone has a different pet peeve and one person's fix is another person's pet peeve. Bug we will fix regardless but we're very cautious now with new enhancements since we made a bunch of changes  based on user feedback and they weren't well received by everyone.

Sounds reasonable. However, the algorithm by which new forum posts disappear from the home page is a mystery. It's been inconsistent since the new site went live. Some posts disappear within a few hours while others seem to hang around for about a day (my preference). It's either a weird algorithm or a bug. I'm not sure if time zones are involved.

2,611

(11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

This tool will probably get only limited use, since there are probably more aspiring authors on the site than published ones. Personally, I'd prefer it if the effort went into improving the site based on outstanding enhancement/bug fix requests. My favorite pet peeve, as you know, is that new forum posts disappear from the home page before I know they even exist.

2,612

(43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

How many people fail to reply to reviews? Is it a large number? And if they do forget/decline to do so, the reviewer currently has the choice to move on. It would probably help new members learn the ropes, though.

2,613

(43 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

vern wrote:

Once upon a time, if you didn't respond to a review, then you couldn't post any writing until you did, but I don't know if that is still the case.

I think that would be a good and simple feature. If I get no reply or recip for reviews I've given, I may do another review to let them know I'm interested in their feedback. However, after that I can take a hint and move on. I almost always get a reply, except from new members who don't know the process.

Don't you dare spend the next few days reviewing my crap. It'll keep. Seabrass, K, and Bill will suffice in your absence, although no one rewrites my stuff like you do. Much as I want to tone down the violence in v3, I still can't bring myself to remove the death scene you wrote for Ensign Ecks in chapter one. Chests exploding right and left. Jane Austen should write so well. :-)

Truth be told, I really think K needs you more than me though. And then njc. And then Dirk. They know it's true, but they'll never admit it.

This is what I get the day after writing Aussie's second appearance? Does the word "snip" mean anything to you? Although you did list me third, so that's a backhanded compliment.

2,616

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Chapters 6 - 8 are up. Ch. 6 is a slightly modified version of the Galactipedia - New Bethlehem article, including a few extra paragraphs at the end to flesh out the society a bit more before we get to ch. 7.  Ch. 7 is a redo of v2's "I Will Shake the Universe", which contains the trial of the traitors who attacked Joseph and his parents at the palace. It also includes the unveiling of Joseph's destiny. The biggest change is Joseph's homophobia and its consequences for Andrew. Also, Aussie makes her first reappearance (in the epigraph) since ejecting from Windsor's ship in Ch. 1.  Ch. 8 is the Galactipedia - Rise of the Julii article that I had up out of sequence. I think only Seabrass reviewed the original before I took it down. It's essentially unchanged, except for the Further Reading section.

Quick, go read!

Thanks
Dirk

Perhaps a Pope's skullcap, although word has it he only gives those to fast-acting three-year-olds. Glue on some gold streamers for bangs and you're all set.

2,618

(17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Funny thing. As the opinions were rolling in, I realized I needed to change the sentence, eliminating the need for this post. :-)

If you're curious, the final version is:

Your destiny is to create a new paradise across the stars for all humanity. You won’t just prevent the Apocalypse, you will end all suffering everywhere.

Thanks to all for their input.

Oh, wow, Amy. I'm so sorry. Barely know what to say. I hope everything goes well.

2,620

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

I think caps would work for King where there's clear context (the reader knows we're talking about Joseph), just as the reader would know Regent is Joseph's mother. Otherwise, you get things like: I'm king and my mother was the Regent. That makes it seem like Regent is more important than king.

Based on that, "No king (among many) and much less a regent (among many) has ever pardoned a traitor" should use lowercase for both, since that's the only thing that reads right.

If I understand you correctly, you're definitely saying that "no king (among many)" should be lowercase.

That suggests "You will become a Prophet, not a King" should be "You will become a prophet, not a king." However, that still leaves cases like "You will become a prophet, not the (one) King." So be it.

Let me know if you disagree.

Thanks.
Dirk

2,621

(17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

No, I got that. Thanks.

2,622

(17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks. I went with njc's suggestion. I came across several more instances like this, and they're all clear with just the one comma.

2,623

(17 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I was wondering if someone can tell me which of the following is the correct (or best) way to use commas:

1. You will create a new paradise across the stars for all humanity and, with it, you will end all suffering everywhere.
2. You will create a new paradise across the stars for all humanity, and with it, you will end all suffering everywhere.
3. You will create a new paradise across the stars for all humanity, and, with it, you will end all suffering everywhere.

1 seems cleanest. However, I believe "and" is functioning as a conjunction, so that would suggest 2 or 3. I believe 3 is the only one that would have made it past my fifth grade English teacher.

Thanks
Dirk

Amy, I can't recall if there has been more than one Lance in your story's history, but if there were, would you refer to them as Lances or lances?

Thanks.
Dirk

2,625

(1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

K, I'm using caps for titles like Prophet, King, Regent, etc. using your "rule of one".

What would you do with the following: "You will become a Prophet, not a King"? Since it's 'a' Prophet and 'a' King, it's one of many, but the line clearly refers to Joseph's future, not anyone else's. Caps?

What about: "No King, much less a Regent, had ever pardoned a traitor"? Should King be capitalized in this case? In this case, Regent refers specifically to Joseph's mother, even though Joseph's POV is worded as "a" Regent, so I assume caps on the latter.
What about: "New Bethlehem is ruled by kings"? I assume lowercase.

Man do I hate this stuff.

Thanks
Dirk