@alanr
Active 6 years, 4 months ago-
John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago
I’m working to finish this month’s competition entry (come on, you lot!) and fiddling with the Room with a View thingy. Had a piece published in Across the Margin, always a little boost.
Real life is quite demanding right now, also, so just popped in to say Merry Christmas! -
Daedalus replied to the topic For Those in Peril… in the forum Blogs 7 years, 5 months ago
The Penlee lifeboat disaster was 37 years ago today, Twitter reminds me. If you haven’t read Richard’s blog about it, above, I highly recommend you do
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John S Alty replied to the topic Writing Advice in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 5 months ago
I came across this piece of writing advice by Sol Stein which appeals to me:
“….be sure you don’t stop the story while describing. You are a storyteller, not an interior decorator.”
Probably a shot across the bows of so-called literary prose. King likes to emphasize this point too, but doesn’t do it quite as succinctly.
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Daedalus replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 5 months ago
Well done Stevie, that’s a great accolade. And nice to have the story in your back pocket too.
Be amazed at yourself – the link works!
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Daedalus posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago
A poem, for our new bot friends…
This is just goto PRINT
I have input the plums
That were in the
Folder
And which IF
You were probably THEN
Saving for breakfastForgive me
They were SQR
So EXP and so RND -
Daedalus posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago
“Writing a book is like filling a teapot with an eye dropper. Only every now and then the teapot springs leaks and there’s always a risk your elbow will knock it off the counter and it will shatter on the floor.” ~V.E. Schwab
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 5 months agoMy SloMo has virtually been NoMo so far. Interrupted sleep patterns and disruption from house repairs, not to mention preparations for puppy, have just left me with little mental energy in the evenings. Nice to hear about and vicariously enjoy other people’s progress though!
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Gah, @daedalus, that’s rough. But maybe trust that your writing brain will be whirring away in the background and when you have the time and energy again, the ideas will be there.
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Thanks @philippaeast, I hope so. The other day I really wanted to just drop everything and start reading through my WIsortofP so that’s probably a good sign. I feel I should just read it through without making any notes, let alone editing, to try and read it as much like a reader might, and get a feel for what I might cut without overthinking it.…[Read more]
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Do it Daeds.
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@daedalus I’m pleased the impetus is there. That IS a good sign. And I think an “open-minded reader’s” read would be a great place to start. (Tip: If you’re like me, lock up the pencils / pens before you start. I find it so hard to resist marking stuff up and it always gets in the way of absorbing the story as a whole)
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John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago
I see we have four new members who could use a vowel or two in their name. What’s that all about?
Anyway, Wlcme! -
Daedalus replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 5 months ago
Exciting about the antho launch Hil, have fun!
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 5 months agoAll I did today was trim 500 words from a short story so I could submit it to Barren magazine, which has an upper limit of 4000 words. It was worth doing as it tightened the prose a bit, and I spotted a few mistakes as well, which was unsettling as I’d submitted that version a couple of times. I’m pleased I did that much tbh, as it’s been a diffi…[Read more]
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Well done Daeds and I hope you have a less disturbed day today.
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Thanks Jane. The main problem is that they get here early so I have to be up early, so my usual sleep patterns are ruined and I’m permanently exhausted
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I hate the getting up early and having to talk to strangers in my house!
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Me too.
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Me three
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Me a billion. I feel your pain. Great work on the short story though, and good luck for the submission
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 5 months agoTrue to form I am late to the party with this. I had a very good start to NaNo and a terrible end – but the good start enabled me to finish the first draft of a novel I’d been working on since 2013. It’s currently a 178,000 word monster, but I will use SloMo to start the long editing process, and also to write a couple of shorts.
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Oh wow, @daedalus, that’s a HUGE achievement. Congratulations on getting that whole draft done. SlowMo editing. I like it. And the shorts too.
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Thanks @philippaeast – I don’t think I will set a target for the amount to edit, as I’ve no idea what’s realistic. I’ll just try to do some every day. Like yours, my editing will be pretty structural, looking at character arcs, in their own right and in relation to others. As well as seeing if it’s possible to lose about 50,000 words.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 5 months ago
Well done, Raine.
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Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 5 months ago
Well done Raine, fantastic competition Jonathan, many thanks for the feedback
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Jules replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago
Well done, Ath 🙂
And well done other fellow NaNoers
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Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 5 months ago
(Sorry, 500 words not inc title)
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Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 5 months ago
Stairway
In the church in my village was a staircase that went nowhere. It was not such a very rare thing. Lots of mediaeval churches in my part of the world have a little alcove near the pulpit that used to lead to the rood gallery – an actual gallery, often beautifully decorated, high above the congregation from where the priest would deliver t…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 5 months ago
Superb Raine, I love that story. Any idea when the antho will be out?
And that’s a real endorsement about the flash piece. I’m sure they wouldn’t have nominated it if they didn’t think it had a shot at winning.
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Jules replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 6 months ago
Brilliant, Raine. And very well deserved 😊
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Have a good one.
Thanks Kate, you too.
And a Very Merry Christmas to you too, John. And to you, Kate.
Wish you all the best, John x
Thanks Athers, thanks Janette.