There are all types of sneezes, too. My grandmother used to have a run of 5 or 6 in a row with a two-second breather: Chee-chee-chee-chee-chee. My wife stifles them - or tries to: Snork-snert. Me, I just let it fly: Waaah-hooo. Ha-phoob!
I've never put a sneeze in one of my stories, maybe I should.
~Tom
JP suggested that I submit The Cat and her Ship, Chapter 3 as an example of meeting dialog. Those that wish can take a look at it and comment.
~Tom
I'd leave them the same name. If anyone remembers, or has even seen the movie, they will either not remember the characters names, or really care if they do. If the plot is totally different, it doesn't matter either.Write on!
~Tom
Good for you guys. Well done.
~Tom
I think all you have to do, JP, is to go to your Portfolio, select the story you want to submit, and use the drop-down to choose "Publishing Setup". Once you're viewing the setup, at the top right is a "Contests" button. click that and put the story into the contest. When you save the publishing setup, it will submit the story.
At least I think that's how it works.
~Tom
I don't think there is any way around it, Dill. It would be nice to be able to send PM's to anyone registered, but that can't happen under current restrictions.
~Tom
I have never had square brackets do anything in any forum/review I've given. In fact, I usually quote the sentence fully, using [xxx] to indicate the error and (yyy) to indicate the proper word. In this manner: "I see [your] (you're) happy now."
Works every time - even here on this site.
~Tom
Murphy did have quite a career. In "To Hell and Back" he managed to play himself - something fairly rare in Hollywood.
~Tom
Janet:
Try making the same comment WITHOUT the double angle-braces. This is because HTML interpreters "see" the angles as a precursor to HTML commands and try to interpret it. Since there are two, both facing the same way, the interpreter thinks they are nested and tries to find the ending angle-brackets facing the other way. Since it didn't find them, it tossed the remainder of your comment on the floor.
I've had this happen to me also. Don't use "< - -" either, because that can be a comment. I suggest using "[" and "]" to bracket your question.
~Tom
I was more of a shmoo lover. Even tried to dress as one for a Sadie Hawkins Day dance in 1957. Ended up as Fearless Fosdick because I needed my arms. But this is now off-topic. Cheers...
~Tom
I’d like to work a variation of it into the dialogue of my novel, if that is okay with you?
Cheers Dill
No problem, Dill. I have no idea where I heard/read the little blurb, but I'm sure it is in the public domain.
Happy you liked it.
~Tom
I am reminded of a saying that means the same thing, but in "American" English, it makes sense. In "British" English, it just sounds strange.
American English: "Americans eat whatever food they can, and what they can't, they can."
British English: "Americans eat whetever food they can, and what they can't, they put up in tins."
See what I mean?
~Tom
Before I came to this site, I wrote and posted on Booksie. There, if chapters weren't under 2500 words or so, they just didn't get read or commented upon. Booksie isn't set up to do in-depth reviews either. As a result, my chapters hang in between 1900 to 2500 words.
~Tom
I'd go with Ronan. The description fits what would be called "Ronin" in Japanese, which is a dishonored Samurai who fights when he feels like it, but is the best at everything.
~Tom
wow, Janet. That is just awesome. Wonderful review.
~Tom
An update to the current computer crisis:
I have now determined that what I may have is a Linux driver problem. I Booted up the machine and put it into terminal mode. (It looks like a DOS screen in B&W). I ran some diagnostics, moved around the file system, and generally played around for over an hour. No screen problems at all, and no freeze/crash.
The instant I went to a GUI, it messed up and froze. Now I have to figure out how to install new video drivers from the command line.
Boring stuff for most here, I know. I'm still here for one more week, and then back to normal.
@Elishiva: I've always loved UNIX and Linux. We used it on loads of military projects when I was in the Navy.
~Tom
Definitely. I gather you are not a fan of M$'s Windoze. I can relate to a free OS.
Last time I turned the comp on, it developed a "hot spot" on the underside. But, since I don't have my tools, I can't investigate. That shouldn't happen so fast - if at all.
~Tom
Well, first off, I messed up the thread title. That should be "Dead in the water". This keyboard is really slow and I type fast.
Windoze is not on my laptop. It runs Ubuntu 14.04 Linux. The original problem started with the screen flashing rapidly. Then it calmed down a little, but started tearing sideways, but on only the upper third of the screen. I thought it might be a chunk of bad video RAM, but running memtest didn't turn up anything. Now when I boot up, it is normal for a few minutes and then goes awry once more.
I didn't bring my computer tools, so I can't check the motherboard, but it is entirely true that a cap may have popped. So, it stays off for now until I get home. I didn't smell burning electrolyte though. A good sign. My 60 years in electronics tells me it wasn't catastrophic.
This computer I am on now keeps hopping out of this edit window and going off into cursor heaven. I have to drag it back and click to reenter this box. Sometimes the cursor hops to a different part of the post. Very unstable.
~Tom
No, this isn't the title of a new novel, it is my current status computer-wise. The night I arrived in Boulder, I fired up my laptop and it ran for 5 minutes. Then I heard a pop, and the video went nuts, tearing sideways and generally messing up. I am fairly sure the video controller has packed up.. Then the computer locked up. That is the current status. I am stuck here for the next 7-10 days with no means of working the web except for my daughter's computer.
When I get back home, I'll catch up.
~Tom
I still enjoy reading. I am constantly nosed into a book. I selectively pick them, mostly by the jacket blurb, but favorite authors comes into play too. I rarely toss a book, though, for any reason. Maybe it's because I'm chintzy. I have noticed, however, that I now read with an editor's eye and can see some glaring mistakes at times. I owe this entirely to having joined this site. I don't like electronic books, mainly because of my eyes.
~Tom
*waves back*
~Tom
Good question, Elisheva. Most of the time I write serially, sticking to my plot timeline in chronological order. But, if I get a great idea for a scene, I'll jump ahead and write it, even if just a rough outline. My OCD doesn't kick up because I rationalize it by saying "well, it just an outline". I will NOT put in in a designated chapter, but just label the file with "fight scene" or "Landslide" or whatever.
~Tom
I use 2 "T"s. I think of it as a contraction of "out-tuv". I have seen it either way, however. It probably has to do with regional dialects.
~Tom
While we are on the subject of comment boxes: why is it that when I put my longer comments into paragraphs they will be mashed together when saved and re-opened? I put comments into paragraphs for a reason, not to have the all run together. We have 1000 words in those boxes so why not let us use them properly?
~Tom
That's happened to me a couple of times, Dirk. Extremely annoying.
~Tom
