Thank you, Janet. Have a happy holiday!
3,652 2015-12-24 23:40:14
Re: Listings of new stuff (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
While we're at it, can you change the number of displayed new works published by our connections from 7 to 10? Most of the other new listings are ten.
3,653 2015-12-24 22:40:04
Re: Listings of new stuff (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
SolN wrote:
How about New Book Chapters?
Good idea.
3,654 2015-12-24 05:33:12
Re: next series (1 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Then I better get back to reading it, otherwise I'll have to pay for a copy. :-)
I've been watching your posting rate, BTW. Mind-blowing. Very impressive.
3,655 2015-12-23 04:39:29
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
During the Carter years, mortgage rates were so high, one couple was featured eating cat food just so they could make their payments. Of course, I don't remember those years personally. According to Amy, I'm much too young for that.
3,656 2015-12-23 01:56:18
Topic: -ing vs -ed verb forms (26 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)
One of my reviewers has recommended that I avoid verb forms that end with -ing and write the sentence using -ed verb endings.
Here is an example with -ing verbs:
As each remaining ship’s shields failed, it dove down at the palace at maximum thrust, plowing into the superstructure,
and setting off enormous fireballs that shook the bunker.
Here it is with -ed:
As each remaining ship’s shields failed, it dove down at the palace at maximum thrust, plowed into the superstructure,
and set off enormous fireballs that shook the bunker.
Verb police, please weigh in.
3,657 2015-12-22 15:38:11
Re: RM Matthew's thread (56 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
amy s wrote:
Maybe I'll just use the alphabet that K loves so dearly when naming characters.
I thought I was the only one who loves using the alphabet to name characters: Ensign Ecks (X), Dr. Ess (S), and Lady Kay (K).
3,658 2015-12-18 14:51:17
Re: I saw SNOW!!!!! (48 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
janet reid wrote:
Just had the first snow for the year. Well, what I call snow. I don't even think it was half an inch and it's already starting to melt, but it was AWESOME. I was a kid again today. I've touched snow twice in my 42 year existence before today. But I have never ever ever seen snow falling from the skies. It was AWESOME. At first, I thought, nah, it's slush. But then it became real snowflakes. And then it started to cover the roofs, lawns, streets, and everything. Everything is covered in white right now. Just in time for Christmas too!!! I'm super excited.
I also ate snow. It tastes like cold water!
We're still planning to go snow hunting a couple of times over the next 2 weeks over the school holidays. Proper snow, measured in feet, not inches. With sleds, we're going snow hunting and then we're going to have fun. With sleds. whooo-hoooo! And build a snowman. We have to, right?! *high 5*
Have I mentioned how AWESOME it was?!!!!!!! It was. I'm enjoying the feeling while it lasts.
Ha' ye been drinkin' a wee barrel o' mead, lass?
Enjoy.
3,659 2015-12-08 20:26:40
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
How about not knowing if the end of the book is going to blow up in my face? :-)
3,660 2015-12-01 05:56:50
Re: New writer (8 replies, posted in Spirituality & Religion)
Join christianforums.com for research purposes. There many people there who ask/answer questions. It's beeb very helpful to me as I am writing a similar book. Also, post your questions in this group, and someone will probably help you. Also, the obvious source is the Bible. My story characters prefer the King James version, which is primarily due to my preference for that version. There are also good books for and against Christianity at Amazon that helped me a great deal in defining a conservative Christian world.
3,661 2015-11-29 19:45:16
Re: Suggestion for inline review points (69 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Although this thread has gone off the rails, I'm in the mood for fun. This may have already been suggested, but points could be proportional to the number of comments left. No minimums, no maximums. If you do a detailed review, whether regular or inline, you get more points than the lazy drive-by reviewers looking for a few quick points. That being said, I've only ever had one reviewer come in, leave five comments at the beginning, then bail saying that he had no helpful feedback to give. Had he left before leaving the fifth comment, I could have respected that. In my case, I've found reviewers who are very helpful to me and work hard to keep them. Since they do better reviews than I do (not for lack of trying), I reciprocate by reading more of their work than they do of mine.
Fire away.
Dirk
3,662 2015-11-25 09:43:04
Re: Self-made flyer (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Perhaps if you said book *signing* events, then it would be obvious. Better yet, include Kindle pricing somewhere on the page.
3,663 2015-11-25 09:40:27
Re: Self-made flyer (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I'm looking at it from my cell phone (Moto G). Everything seems cramped. Also, I'm surprised at the high price of the books. That must be for the printed copies. I didn't notice an explanation of pricing on the page, although it may be buried in all that red ink which I didn't read fully. Back to have another look...
3,664 2015-11-25 03:43:23
Re: Places to find reference reading (32 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I read a few. These should prove useful for getting oriented in a field of study so as to at least be able to ask intelligent questions. Nice find. Thanks, NJC.
3,665 2015-11-24 14:22:39
Re: Word processor compatibility with foreign language characters? (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It would probably require rebuilding online reviews from scratch to work with pdf files.
3,666 2015-11-23 01:49:16
Re: Word processor compatibility with foreign language characters? (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Charles_F_Bell wrote:
. . . like I said. For you do to that in fiction, in anything other than for something instructional, would be more than annoying.
Thanks for the info, Charles. I appreciate it.
Should I put you down for one annoying copy or two? ;-)
Dirk
3,667 2015-11-22 23:49:14
Re: Word processor compatibility with foreign language characters? (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Actually, the use of macrons to denote long vowels dates back to the time of Ancient Rome, often used by the Greeks (not the Romans), who had trouble distinguishing long and short Latin vowels. They're found on papyri from that period. Most modern Latin textbooks and dictionaries use them, although primarily for pronounciation. Wikipedia does as well whenever giving Latin translations (e.g., the names/titles of Roman emperors). I prefer them as they add a bit of flair to the Latin words in my text.
I'm curious to know why IE/Wordperfect work and Google/Office don't. I would have expected the reverse.
3,668 2015-11-22 05:07:53
Topic: Word processor compatibility with foreign language characters? (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Sol, are there any plans to support foreign language characters in the site's word processor? I have to strip all of the long vowels (āēīōū) out of my Latin words because the posted chapters become illegible with ? characters. They show up all right as I'm pasting them into the edit window, but then all display as ? on the site. Subsequently reopening the edit window shows that they have all been converted to ? in the stored text.
I'm using Windows 7, Google Chrome, and Office 2007.
Thanks.
Dirk
3,669 2015-11-18 04:12:09
Re: Suggestion for inline review points (69 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
You two make a cute couple.
3,670 2015-11-14 21:19:45
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I just farted.
3,671 2015-11-14 01:58:19
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Pfft to you both.
3,672 2015-11-13 21:33:30
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Janet Reid wrote:
Apart from not being able to really contribute, most of the time, I have no idea what you guys are talking about in the forums too.
That's never stopped me.
3,673 2015-11-12 17:45:55
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
amy s wrote:
People keep shooting each other. They are doing a major wreck-job on my ability to relax at work.
There's nothing like a family gathering for the holidays.
3,674 2015-11-12 01:10:46
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Amy, I've read it but haven't reviewed it yet. Will do soon.
I think it's a big improvement. I now see the timeline of events within Mandates and between Mandates and Acts. I assume you'll flip the POV to Anver experiencing some of these same events in Acts to reinforce these events.
I agree with K that there is a lot going on crammed into this chapter and that it needs either cutting (e.g., the dragon) or expansion. Him healing at the school is excellent since it creates the connection needed between the two stories.
My main criticism is that I think the opening of the chapter is weak. This is the beginning of your saga. Starting with a climb is not going to grab me right away if I open your book and start reading it. I think the strongest place to start would be in the cave after the cave-in. That's the time of highest tension in the chapter. Give us Kha catatonic, but still able to sense somewhat and struggling to think straight. Let us experience it as he would. The cave is dark. He can't see. There are no sounds. He can't hear his friends. Have him wonder if this is the end for him. Have him worry if anyone has died. Have him think that he may have triggered the cave-in when he grounded. (I don't know if he's responsible, but he could be thinking it.) Make him unable even to maintain his body temperature. Eventually, have him sense light coming from an opening as Anver clears bolders. Have it warm his face. Have him hear conversations as they find dead bodies around him.
I have to go back and read it again, but I got the impression that the cave-in happened just as he grounded. When would he have had time to take the other staff?
That's it so far. Nice work.
Dirk
3,675 2015-11-09 20:12:50
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
There was an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where they were stuck in a time loop that destroyed the ship each time through the loop. With each loop they gathered more information (e.g., deja vu) that ultimately helped them escape. Point is, they had to tell the loop story three times without boring the viewers. They used different camera angles, showed a number of events from different POVs, and some details of the story that were unique to the POV.
If I remember correctly, Kha is catatonic at the beginning of Mandates, but he's not dead. As a result, you could have him sense some of what's going on around him, without him being able to respond. He could sense that first ray of light from outside the cave as Anver moves the rocks. He could also hear the sound of the rescue going on, and feel himself being carried out. Once you get to Acts, tell all of that from Anver's POV: he gets his first glimpse into the cave as he moves the rocks, etc.
It's fun telling other people to rewrite their stories. Payback's a bitch, huh Amy? :-)
