1,776 Reply by Dirk B.

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

Will, don't forget to subscribe to other authors' threads that interest you in this forum, if you haven't already. Seabrass's Maiden thread and Kdot's Tia thread are both sci-fi. Ignore my Galaxy Tales thread. I've shelved that project until after I get The Lord of the Earth series done.

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1,777 Reply by Dirk B.

(4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Will, see if you can find a free image for your front cover for use on this site. It'll draw more readers than the plain red cover.

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1,778 Reply by Dirk B.

(4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Will, if you're interested, a bunch of us have gravitated to the Medieval Fantasy/Magic forum for brainstorming. It's a diverse group, including various fantasy, science fiction, and thriller stories. Create a thread with your book title and username as the subject line (e.g. 2000 Years Later - Will H.). Then whenever you want to brainstorm, ask questions, or have a discussion, just add a post to your thread, and everyone who is subscribed to it will be notified via email and usually respond in a day or so. Leads to interesting and very helpful suggestions that go beyond chapter reviews. I use mine all the time. There is a Science Fiction forum as well on the site, but almost no one posts there. If you need broader expertise, you can also post to Premium to reach the widest possible audience, although some of those have been known to go off the rails.

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1,779 Reply by Dirk B.

(1,492 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

Change of plans re naming chapters. I can't possibly think of appropriate chapter names when there are two threads running through every chapter. My new scheme is similar to Seabrass's, only simpler:

Chapter 1 - Scene 1.1
Chapter 2 - Scene 1.2
Chapter 3 - Scene 2.1
Chapter 4 - Scene 2.2
Chapter 5 - Scene 3.1
etc.

'Chapter' above refers to TNBW chapter numbers. My numbering includes my chapter number and the scene number within that chapter. I probably won't have more than two scenes per chapter until I get near the end of the first book.

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1,780 Reply by Dirk B.

(1,492 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

I'm feeling dense. I don't understand your comments. Whose pain & suffering do you think I'm hiding? Father Coppola? He's not particularly important beyond what I wrote. I doubt we'll see him again.

What am I missing?

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1,781 Reply by Dirk B.

(8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thank you, all. Meditate on this, me will.

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1,782 Reply by Dirk B.

(12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks, Sol.

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1,783 Topic by Dirk B.

(8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I'm almost afraid to ask another grammar question, lest I unleash another kerfuffle, but here goes. :-)

Can someone please tell me if the second sentence is considered grammatically correct? I prefer the way it reads, and I've seen it used by an experienced author with whom I trade reviews.

Alessandro never liked Connor, considering him too pious to be his friend.

Alessandro never liked Connor, considered him too pious to be his friend.

Or do I need to use a period instead of the comma?

Thanks
Dirk

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1,784 Reply by Dirk B.

(12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Google Chrome (on Windows 10) says it's waiting for www.thenextbigwriter.com to respond. That goes on for 5-10 seconds.

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1,785 Reply by Dirk B.

(12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

One case that is consistently slow is when I go to the Reviews screen and click on Inline Received.

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1,786 Topic by Dirk B.

(12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Is anyone else experiencing performance problems with the site? Or is it my computer?

Thanks
Dirk

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1,787 Reply by Dirk B.

(29 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I already researched it before posting here. See the first sentence of my first post. I was looking for an second opinion because one of my best reviewers told me to use "me".

I appreciate the feedback from those who replied to I. :-)

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1,788 Reply by Dirk B.

(4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thank you, Randall.

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1,789 Reply by Dirk B.

(29 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Goodness. All I wanted was for someone to verify my grammar. :-)

I agree that the second sentence needs rewriting. The new version is a clipped "Father Coppola, the paramedics, and I." The speaker is a senior constable, whom I felt would want to speak intelligently among his peers and, in this case, his superiors.

Thanks to all for your feedback.

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1,790 Reply by Dirk B.

(4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks, Don. Looking forward to it.

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1,791 Topic by Dirk B.

(4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Hi. I'm on the prowl for reviewers for my new series, described below. I'd be happy to reciprocate. Among others, I'd love to find a few Christians/Catholics interested in a supernatural thriller about the End Times prophesied in the Book of Revelation. I write about one chapter (two scenes) per month, except when life intrudes. My favorite genres to read are science fiction, thrillers/mysteries, fantasy, young adult, historical fiction, and religion, although I'm happy to try others. I generally don't read romance, erotica, or poetry.

Thanks
Dirk

About The Series

The End Times have come, and the Unholy Trinity — the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Satan — is gathering for war. But the Bible has already foretold their doom: Jesus Christ will return in power and glory to conquer evil forever. In a desperate bid to avoid an eternity of torment in the Lake of Fire, Satan has issued one last challenge to God the Father that could upend the prophecies, destroy the Messiah and His Church, and give Satan everlasting dominion. But why would the Father agree to such a dare? What is so important that he would risk it all? Find out in this exciting series who ultimately becomes … Lord of the Earth.

About Book One - Saving Connor

Fourteen-year-old Connor, an orphan in Rome, has special gifts. He comforts the grieving, heals the sick, and casts out demons from the possessed. As the Catholic Church struggles to understand his supernatural abilities, bishops and cardinals in the city begin dying at an alarming rate, either by accident, suicide, or murder. Soon the Pope’s Council of Cardinal Advisers concludes the Church is being stalked by the Antichrist, and Connor becomes his main target. The Council must move swiftly to save Connor, who may be their long-awaited Christ returned as a boy, something no one expected. Thus begins a desperate struggle between good and evil that will decide the fate of humanity.

This is a supernatural thriller set in Rome, the Vatican, and the Holy Land. It focuses on the End Times prophesied in the Book of Revelation. Unlike the Left Behind series of books, this one is based on a Catholic interpretation. There is some End Times violence, little cursing, and no sex.

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1,792 Reply by Dirk B.

(29 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I'm used to using "me" in cases like this when I speak, but wanted to go for accurate grammar in my old age. I suspect eventually me will triumph over I as the English language continues to devolve.

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1,793 Reply by Dirk B.

(29 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I'm sure I say "me" when I shouldn't lots of times. But in this case, I'm asking which is grammatically correct.

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1,794 Topic by Dirk B.

(29 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I researched the use of I versus me before writing the two sentences below. One of my reviewers flagged the "I" at the end as incorrect.

De Rosa asked, “Who’s been inside since the body was discovered?”
“Father Coppola, who is waiting at the police tape, the paramedics, and I.

I chose "I" at the end because I read the sentence as short for:

"Father Coppola, who is waiting at the police tape, the paramedics, and I have been inside.

Is my understanding correct?

Thanks
Dirk

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1,795 Reply by Dirk B.

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

We're cross-posting in real time! :-)

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1,796 Reply by Dirk B.

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

JeffM & Kdot, thanks. But I was looking for the capitalization rule for a title when used in place of a name in direct address (e.g., Sit down, Captain.) I found it in my grammar guide, noted above.

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1,797 Reply by Dirk B.

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I checked the Blue Book of Grammar & Punctuation (a US publication).
https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp
Rule 6a says to capitalize titles in direct address.

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1,798 Topic by Dirk B.

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I've had two reviewers today tell me that constable in the following sentence should not be capitalized:

"Don't allow anyone except tenants into the building, Constable."

Isn't the rule that when directly addressing someone, even when not explicitly using their name, it should still be capitalized? I did this all over the place in my first book and no one flagged it.

Thanks
Dirk

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1,799 Reply by Dirk B.

(36 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Temple Wang wrote:

Lordy, it’s a wonder you folks get any writing done at all...

LOL

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1,800 Reply by Dirk B.

(1,492 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)

njc wrote:

"For the end of the world was long ago ..."

Nice! Mind if I use it? It's like the opening of a Star Wars film.

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