Haha, I can understand your point of view. When you have so many characters, at some point, a few need to either die or leave the story in some other way. I am so picky with character names that I think I don't want to kill them off just for the fact that I don't want to lose that perfect name I worked so hard to find.
301 2015-10-11 16:57:11
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
302 2015-10-10 20:25:49
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
No, but at least one of them is in trouble. 
If I let anyone get eaten, they will either be severely hated or it will be devastatingly tragic and rare. I get too attached to my characters.
303 2015-10-10 20:11:48
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
For those that reviewed Chapter 5 (I'm looking at you, K), I have extended it. Didn't do much in the way of editing, but it does end on a more suspenseful note now.
-Elisheva
304 2015-10-10 17:18:15
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Much appreciated, njc. I won't be editing or rewriting that chapter any time soon (otherwise I will get stuck and never finish the story) but your suggestions will be taken into account. I promise. 
One of these days, when I get in one of my OCD/Review moods, I'll most definitely go through a few chapters for you. I have to warn you, though, that I am not the best at reviews yet. Most of my comments will be along the lines of "this doesn't sound right" or "this looks funny". Much less eloquent than the reviews you've given me. 
I had to look up what a vignette was. It is now on my list of favorite words.
305 2015-10-10 04:20:23
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
amy s wrote:
Boom whacka wacka boom! (Pulls out baseball bat and then reconsiders. Picks up a rake with long handle and smiles with satisfaction)
With this statement, I somehow picture you swinging a flimsy green plastic rake at a colorful horse pinata and crying out with glee like some cartoon Disney witch. o.0 ...I am also frightened by this image.
Hey njc, if I want to review your work, where should I start? I am a wee bit OCD and hesitant to dive in, so a suggested starting point would be appreciated. This question also applies to Amy and K, but I'll just leave it here...
-Elisheva
306 2015-10-09 21:01:56
Re: Testing the waters (7 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Just read the first few paragraphs of what you have posted, D.A. I don't think you'll have any troubles. My only issue is the constant urge to put an "E" on the end of Steel, but that's a personal thing.
-Elisheva
307 2015-10-01 23:05:04
Re: Ask the Expert. (62 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
I have never heard the word tin used in that way, so I'd say go with can for sure. Of course, I'm west coast and that can be very different from east coast, at times.
-Elisheva
308 2015-10-01 23:01:50
Re: The crickets are all DEAD! (30 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
This conversation about the weather somehow makes me feel so under-traveled. 16+ years living just one state away from the border and I still haven't actually been to Canada. o.0
I am such a lurker...
-Elisheva
309 2015-09-30 16:12:22
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Haha, I can imagine the difficulties that might pose. I honestly believe I'm just thinking too hard about it. I keep trying to line up the exact days, but then I think, "What kind of Dragon actually keeps track of what day it is? Probably none."
-Elisheva
310 2015-09-29 04:13:07
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I have recently discovered that timelines are a b*tch, especially when the middle of your story is somewhat of a blur. Of course, I may also be thinking too hard on this one. I do that often.
-Elisheva
311 2015-09-25 16:33:52
Re: My great self-editing secret (5 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Nice tip on the e-reader thingy.
I prefer a notebook vs. an mp3 player/recorder.
-Elisheva
312 2015-09-18 03:11:56
Re: Deas in the water (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Tom Oldman wrote:
My 60 years in electronics tells me it wasn't catastrophic.
I have officially been outclassed.
Congrats on Linux, btw. Of any operating system, Linux always seems to be the cleanest. Hope you get it back online without too much trouble. Also, enjoy your vacation!
-Elisheva
313 2015-09-17 23:40:02
Re: Deas in the water (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Mike Roberson wrote:
I had that once. It's the kinnibling pin. I falls off the wabble washer and makes a mess. Open the framus and hook the rubber band back over the whatsit, and you'll be fine.
mike
This made me laugh so hard. Thank you, Mike.
-Elisheva
314 2015-09-17 21:24:06
Re: Deas in the water (13 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Yikes! Sounds like a serious hardware or operating system issue. Good luck!
-Elisheva
315 2015-09-17 21:21:39
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Haha, alright. Thanks for your help. I am a total perfectionist, which is probably a bad thing in the early stages. I usually end up rewriting my chapters so much that I don't continue with the story. I'll keep pushing on this one, though.
-Elisheva
316 2015-09-17 03:51:07
Re: Kurt Vonnegut: Eight rules for writing fiction (20 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
janet reid wrote:
Yes, much better. But as far as I understand (haven't read the books), the millions and millions of Fifty Shades of Grey readers disagree (side-note - I sincerely doubt EL James deliberately broke any of the rules). And therefore "breaking" the "rules" do not automatically equals "no readers, publishers, agents or editors" and only lonely, isolated islands. YMMV. Neither am I saying I think EL James is a good writer. *shudders*
Haha, that last bit made me chuckle. I have actually read all of the 50 Shades books, primarily because the story itself was intriguing. I'm a sucker for a unique plot, even when it's poorly written. I even made it a book and a half into Twilight before I threw it to the wolves.
-Elisheva
317 2015-09-16 20:56:50
Re: Kurt Vonnegut: Eight rules for writing fiction (20 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Ah, I see what you mean. Nice example. I guess my style of writing doesn't involve very many speech tags in the first place. I'm not very good at dialogue, so I generally lean towards descriptive writing.
-Elisheva
318 2015-09-16 16:29:55
Re: Kurt Vonnegut: Eight rules for writing fiction (20 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
A.T.Schlesinger wrote:
1. You must not write in Third person omniscient.
2. You may not use too many adjectives.
3. You may not switch POV in Third person, single point of view.
4. You must avoid "was" whenever possible. You may never use "very" except in dialogue.
5. You may not use any speech tag other than said, asked, answered or replied.
Regarding that last rule, I've actually been told the opposite on a few occasions, one of them being an actual Creative Writing 101 class.
I think all writing rules should be followed except when you are purposefully breaking one. I can't think of an example at the moment, but I've read books that have gone against one or two "rules" and it's actually worked. Thing is, the authors were obviously aware of these rules and went against them with intention.
-Elisheva
319 2015-09-16 05:54:31
Re: Awesome TV shows you should be watching (8 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Norm d'Plume wrote:
Commercials are the best way to find out that something better is on. And when I've run out of news channels, I surf my dozen free HBO channels and realize the commercials were actually better. That's when I bring out the big guns: Wolf Blitzer doing 24/7 coverage of the latest minority group that Donald Trump has insulted, including new camera angles of that squirrel on Donald's head.
I'd laugh at what he's doing to the Republican party, but then I watch the Democrats and realize that the smartest person among both parties is the one who likes to call himself a socialist. Do I renew the U.S. Green Card or the Canadian passport?
Unfortunately, I don't follow politics and news very well, but that last bit almost made me snort my root beer float.
-Elisheva
320 2015-09-16 05:50:41
Re: The Colorless Dragon Thread (354 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
New chapter. Yay! I know it's not exactly in order, but at this point in the story, it's not a big deal.
-Elisheva
321 2015-09-16 04:53:27
Re: Awesome TV shows you should be watching (8 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
For me, TV time basically counts as cuddle time with the boyfriend (plus a few intrusions from the cat), but I still don't watch a whole lot. There's the occasional binge-day when I get sick and that's probably when I watch TV the most. Plus, some shows can actually spawn inspiration.
I agree with no commercials, though. I usually wait until something is out on DVD or on Netflix before I watch it. It's just not worth the commercial time.
-Elisheva
322 2015-09-14 23:13:11
Re: Awesome TV shows you should be watching (8 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
This is what I'm really looking forward to in 2016. The Shannara Chronicles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crjkQHnDYu0
Other than that, my current obsessions have been of the more modern variety, Elementary and Blacklist. I've also just finished the most recent Game of Thrones, but I'm a bit peeved at it right now, so we're just going to exclude it from the list.
-Elisheva
323 2015-09-14 22:55:57
Re: Post your inspiration (5 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
That first one reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, only less childish than the film.
The second image, however, gave me a "Wtf?" moment, then my brain went off on all kinds of theories. Thanks, A.T. Now I'll be thinking about erotic mechanical aliens for the next few days.
-Elisheva
324 2015-09-14 19:35:45
Re: Kurt Vonnegut: Eight rules for writing fiction (20 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Very good rules, although I think I have most definitely failed on #8.
-Elisheva
325 2015-09-14 19:32:24
Re: Post your inspiration (5 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
That is a really neat video. I usually find my inspiration in a wide variety of places, but my go-to when my muse leaves me is usually deviantart.com and the many amazing artists there. Here are a few:
"theDURRRRIAN"
Anna Marine
"Ironshod" - Anne Stokes
