Good for you, Mark. Well done!
Bill
277 2018-11-14 14:52:24
Re: Site Bug (19 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Looks like everyone got hit.
Bill
278 2018-11-08 17:55:12
Re: Welcome (260 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Helena:
I finished my review of your short story and came away with the same impressions as JP did. It's a good story, and with some editing, can be a great prologue.
Bill
279 2018-11-05 20:02:48
Re: Dangerous Alliance Now Published (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Outstanding, Randy. Good for you!
Bill
280 2018-10-15 20:23:44
Re: Sharing Some Good News (16 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
How wonderful, Denise! It is a great book. Congratulations.
Bill
281 2018-10-05 20:57:27
Re: On Writing (6 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
“When male authors write love stories, the heroine tends to end up dead.”
― Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Ain't She Sweet
'Tis true.
Bill
282 2018-10-01 17:36:11
Re: Writing software (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Welcome to TNBW. I use ProWritingAid as my editing software after a rough draft and edit with Word (or Open Office Writer on LINUX). It is a subwcription service, but I highly recoommmend it. There is a free version, but if you want all the features, buy the subscription. There isa desktop/laptop application as well as a web-based version so you can edit anywhere you want as long as you have Internet capability. I used it while on cruises.
PWA will run over 20 checks on your manuscript from Grammar to Style and offer pointers along the way.
Here's the URL: https://prowritingaid.com/
Bill
283 2018-09-27 13:40:45
Re: Killing off Characters (spoilers?) (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
As with life itself, a "life story" book often ends in the death of one or more of your characters. This isn't necessarily a sad thing, but simply the end of a portion of the story, which continues on.
Bill
284 2018-09-22 15:20:55
Re: Opinions desired on "Wanderlust" (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Okay. It's full steam ahead then.
Bill
285 2018-09-22 14:36:15
Re: Opinions desired on "Wanderlust" (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
There haven't been any naysayers, Don. A couple of questions in my mind regarding the swiftness of the romance arose from comments and I thought maybe I'd check to see if I was rushing things despite my own experiences.
Brad and Molly still have yet to meet Molly's friend who's older and decidedly set in her ways. Could be a major event.
Bill
286 2018-09-21 19:05:11
Re: Opinions desired on "Wanderlust" (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Oops. I didn't make it very clear that the brief story of the Navy man's romance is my justification for the rapid progress of the two in my novel. The story is true, the novel isn't. The navy man isn't Brad.
Bill
287 2018-09-21 14:23:40
Topic: Opinions desired on "Wanderlust" (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It's been mentioned in reviews that Brad and Molly's romance has been moving much too fast to be realistic. I ask for those who've read and reviewed the story thus far for their input. Has their attraction and further involvement moved at a more than realistic pace?
A brief story to justify the novel's speedy progress: A navy man, home on Christmas leave from Pensacola, FL, met a high school senior at a Christmas party (one which he was chivvied into attending by his younger brother--a sophomore). A romance developed full-bore at first sight. They dated for only 10 days until his leave expired and he departed for Florida once again to complete training. They corresponded by letter (no email in 1962) until the Senior Prom in June of '62, when he escorted her to the gala in full, not so popular, uniform. They enjoyed another intensive dating session for a week until his leave expired once again and he headed overseas to the Azores for an 18-month tour.
Twelve months later, in June of 1963, after exchanging numerous letters and one barely comprehensible, static-ridden telephone call later, they named a date for the wedding. He arrived at the end of July and they were married on 1 August, 1963 after a TOTAL of just 20 days of personal contact. That marriage has lasted for over 55 years.
Now, I ask for an opinion. Is Brad and Molly's romance running a little too fast, or are they taking full advantage of a chance encounter and living life to the fullest?
Bill
288 2018-09-21 12:19:53
Re: Welcome (260 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Nkechiyerem Emenike wrote:
Hello, good to be here! I am Kech. Is TheNextBigWriter still active? I see only three books on home page.
There are many books being posted every day. I don't know why you are onlys eeing three books.
Bill
289 2018-09-13 14:48:15
Re: Hurricane Florence (20 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Hang in there, Marilyn.
Bill
290 2018-08-22 18:53:16
Re: Can poverty take a life? (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
How about something like: "My parents lived in poverty. Poor diet and lack of adequate shelter eventually claimed their life."
291 2018-08-08 14:57:28
Re: Seeking Professional Editing (8 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
You might ask Janet Taylor-Perry if she'll take a look. She is a member of tNBW.
Bill
292 2018-07-28 15:00:59
Re: Two novels available on Amazon now (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
My thanks to everyone. That's fine, JP. Just as long as there isn't a space in the middle of the word.
Bill
293 2018-07-27 22:01:25
Topic: Two novels available on Amazon now (4 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I just today finished uploading and approving the Kindle version of my second novel "The Long Trek Home". The paperback version is 'under review' and should be available by the weekend.
Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYQLKDY/
And to think that only a decade ago I could even spell arthur.
Bill
294 2018-07-27 02:27:01
Topic: Is this group inactive? (0 replies, posted in Don't Push This Button!)
I'm looking to move from inactive groups to make room for others. Is everyone gone from this group?
Bill
295 2018-07-24 14:43:02
Re: I hope this is okay to post here (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Which book was that, Ann? Having a senior moment.
Bill
296 2018-07-20 14:02:20
Re: reflected or refracted (21 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Correct. To add some obfuscation to the game, if there were glass, diamond-cut sequins on the streamers, it would be 'refracted' as they twinkle with various hues when light strikes them.
Bill
297 2018-07-19 16:42:20
Re: reflected or refracted (21 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Reflected would mean the light isn't changed by them hitting anything like a mirror. It only alters the path of the light.
Refration is the same as passing through a prism and forming a rainbow. For example: Cut crystal chaneliers will refract light and splash rainbows on the walls.
In your case, I don't think either would be the correct word as the streamers you refer to could be due to, say, tree braches filled with leaves. At the breeze blows, they would make the streamers dance, but not necessarily sparkle or dazzle unless you're looking directly into one or there is dust in the air. If dust, this would mean sparkle as well. You could describe the scene like this:
The trees [or whatever is breaking up solid sunlight] shifted in the light breese and shafts of sunlight danced across the yard and shined brightly [or shining brightly] into our faces.
The choice is, of course, up to you.
Bill
298 2018-07-04 14:17:26
Re: Beginner eager for advice (12 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Welcome to TNBW, L. A. As Randy said, you've landed on a great site. I joined a few years ago and, after having my romance novel critically reviewed here (version 1 and version 2) with suggestions galore, published it last October. This is a wonderful place to help you find your voice as well as learn the trade. To post your chapters, you need to review others to gain points. Points are the coin of the realm, so to speak. The more you review, the more points you have available to use on your own posts. When you review, don't be reluctant to point out something that may no be obvious to the author. I've had plot holes, grammatical errors, and simple errors found by my reviewers.
Jump in and paddle around with the rest of us.
Bill
299 2018-06-18 16:47:43
Re: Self-Doubt (9 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It's easy to say "shrug it off" but there's more to it. I get the same self-doubts all the time. I usually take a short break and work on something else unrelated to writing, like my Train Sim or Flight Sim. Even playing a series of Solitaire games helps take your mind off it.
At my age (76), I'm way past making writing a career choice so I've relegated it to the form of a hobby that pays royalties.
Bill
300 2018-06-15 16:52:41
Re: Many thanks to TNBW Reviewers (15 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
It was aslwyas a pleasure to review your work, Randy. Congratulations!
Bill
