Dagny, I think you're incorrect for the following three reasons:
1.
2.
3.
1,851 2018-07-16 19:20:25
Re: Groups languish (24 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
1,852 2018-07-15 18:10:13
Re: Groups languish (24 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
We may have to rename the group to "Where did everybody go?"
1,853 2018-07-15 03:07:36
Re: Groups languish (24 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Kdot wrote:@Debbie: You don't need those elements to join the group. All genre are welcome
Really? Okay. I'm joining.
The usual format for the thread name is Story Name - User Name, although there are exceptions. The definition of "Story" is up to you (novel, trilogy, series, etc.). I now have two active threads, one per trilogy.
1,854 2018-07-14 21:44:14
Re: Groups languish (24 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
The Medieval/Fantasy Magic group is very active. A bunch of us set up shop there years ago, each with a single thread about our respective WIP. We use the threads for brainstorming, writing questions, additional feedback about a review, and sometimes just for fun. I sometimes encourage new users to create a thread there for their own stories. Some of the threads aren't even about fantasy. At least three are sci-fi. My new thread is for a supernatural thriller. I considered placing it in the Mysteries & Thrillers group, but no one posts there. I tried out the Sci-fi group years ago, but couldn't get much feedback, so I moved to the Medieval group. I'm surprised people don't set up little cliques like ours in other groups. I've found the threads invaluable to my writing.
1,855 2018-07-13 05:40:50
Re: How to avoid repetition when referring to a character in a scene (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Thanks, Jeff. I'll check out the links.
1,856 2018-07-13 03:35:00
Re: How to avoid repetition when referring to a character in a scene (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Thanks, Jeff. I misunderstood your review.
I'm still interested in the original question, though. Do I use both Joseph's mother and Regent to reduce repetition, or stick with Joseph's mother? Ditto for his father, the Prince Consort. What about Crown Prince instead of Joseph? I do at times refer to Joseph as a teen, which I think is fine. The others I'm not sure about.
1,857 2018-07-13 02:32:25
Topic: How to avoid repetition when referring to a character in a scene (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
One of my reviewers noticed that I make a staggering number of references to one of my characters, Joseph, throughout one of my chapters. It's partly because his father and mother are also in the scene, so there are references to 'Joseph's father' and 'Joseph's mother', adding to the problem. For example,
Joseph's father said, “‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.’”
Joseph's father is the Prince Consort to Joseph's mother, the Regent. I could replace some references to Joseph's father with Prince Consort and some references to Joseph's mother with Regent. That would allow me to mix it up a little. However, other reviewers have told me that Joseph wouldn't think of them in those terms (Prince Consort and Regent) and I should stick with calling them his father and mother.
Similarly, I used to replace some references to Joseph with his title, Crown Prince, for the same reason.
Having eliminated all of those, I'm stuck with dozens references to Joseph in one chapter.
How do others handle this?
Thanks
Dirk
1,858 2018-07-11 00:29:04
Topic: Recent list of failed publishers (1 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
1,859 2018-07-11 00:25:55
Topic: Removing a book from Amazon when a publisher goes under (0 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
1,860 2018-07-10 00:07:32
Re: Best book on learning to write well? (11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I returned Write Great Fiction - Revision and Self-Editing. It's a good book on writing, but I'm looking for a book on editing. Found one called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, written by a pair of professional editors. It's in its 2nd edition and highly rated (500 reviews).
1,861 2018-07-09 22:38:10
Re: Best book on learning to write well? (11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Thank you, all. I finally figured out what type of help I want and found a primer on Amazon called Write Great Fiction - Revision and Self-Editing. Highly rated. I have less than a day to figure out if it's garbage and return it, so I best get cracking.
1,862 2018-07-09 03:34:25
Topic: Best book on learning to write well? (11 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm looking for one or two great books to help improve my writing. My grammar and punctuation are decent. I'm looking for something at the next level: how to create compelling characters, interesting secondary characters, balance between description and dialogue, compelling dialogue, world building, story pacing, when to show vs tell, etc. I understand that one book won't cover all of these perfectly, but you get the idea.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Dirk
1,863 2018-07-08 22:54:48
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Which of the following is better? Both are for the shoddy tech firm that builds everything in the book.
Rock Solid Systems
Lowest Bidder Systems
1,864 2018-07-08 04:02:14
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
If you produce garbage tech, you need a lofty name.
1,865 2018-07-08 03:08:57
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Rock Solid Systems is in the lead.
1,866 2018-07-08 02:43:54
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
TCME The Company that ...
OCME One Company to ...
One Company to Rule Them All
1,867 2018-07-08 02:13:30
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Rock Solid Systems
100% Uptime
1,868 2018-07-08 01:30:58
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Since T^3 reminds Amy of Terminator 3, what about: Reliable Systems?
Fyi, I reserve the right to go with T^3, although the name probably won't be explained until well into act one.
1,869 2018-07-07 21:41:21
Re: Projects (15 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I'm reading all about for serial killers. :-)
1,870 2018-07-07 21:12:39
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Technically, it will be called T to the power of 3. I'll consider T-Cubed, although I don't like it very much. A search for T3 in Canada doesn't even bring up a match for Terminator 3, although Wikipedia in the US lists it as an alternate name for Terminator 3. Maybe T-CUBED. Meh.
1,871 2018-07-07 19:56:51
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Since I'm bored, this would probably be a good time to revisit my use of Acme Corporation for all my book's tech. The cartoon spells it ACME, which is short for A Company that Makes Everything. My Acme is not an acronym, although the company makes all the tech in the book by virtue of their monopoly on all advanced tech, whose designs are believed to be sent back in time by Hinkley.
ACME is actually owned by the road runner, so it's technology works perfectly every time in preventing the coyote from catching the scrawny bird.
Acme is owned by Hinkley and its technology fails quite often. The AI that becomes sentient/loony in the middle of the opening battle is made by Acme. In all, there are four references to Acme in the first two chapters and a few dozen more throughout the book.
Obviously, everyone is going to equate Acme with ACME, which may be too silly, especially given the tech failures. I can already see the cease and desist order from Warner Brothers.
With that as a preamble, the best alternative to Acme I can think of is Troy's Technology Titan (written as T3 (T-cubed)). Its unique and I get to cause as many failures as I want without the obvious link to ACME. It will take a while for the reader to discover that T-cubed produces consistent garbage, which is part of the fun.
I'm open to other suggestions.
1,872 2018-07-07 19:19:11
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Troy Hinkley!
Love it, but will the overstaffed legal department at Warner Brothers convince Amazon to take it down? I can't imagine they would.
EDIT: I meant CBS, not Warner Brothers.
1,873 2018-07-07 17:52:31
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Roy Hinkleburg it is.
Thanks for the help.
1,874 2018-07-07 16:04:18
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Joy is a woman's name, although a female professor would completely eliminate the IP issue.
Royal Hinkley is very good. I've toyed with it in the past.
I think it's down to Royal Hinkley, Roy Hinkleburg, or Joy Hinkley.
I'm leaning towards Hinkleburg or Hinkleburger. The latter is more in keeping with the nonsense of the book.
1,875 2018-07-07 11:53:16
Re: The Galaxy Tales - Dirk B. (1,217 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Hinkledorf
Hinkleburg
Hinklemeyer
Hinkledolt
Hinkleierkopf - Hinklegghead
Hinkleveruekt
It's down to the first two.