@libby
Active 5 days, 10 hours ago-
JaneShuff posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 8 months agoCongratulations to my fellow December SloMo members on all your achievements in December. I know there is a third of the month to go but I am about to disappear in Christmas – ferries permitting. December hasn’t worked out for me quite how I thought it would and has ended up being more of time to reflect. I have written and edited a lot in 2018…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic For Those in Peril… in the forum Blogs 7 years, 8 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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Athelstone replied to the topic Getting An Agent Blog in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
Fascinating then and fascinating now! I think one thing that you express so well here is the sheer workload of writing a successful book. OK, not everybody is going to make the huge changes that you did, but the fact remains that ‘tinkering’ is almost never enough. Great blog.
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Athelstone posted an update 7 years, 8 months ago
Coast walk this morning with a steady 40 mph wind off the sea blowing hail horizontally. Not nice round stuff either: jagged lumps with sharp bits that stung like hell. Got hit in the eye and it felt like a punch. Couldn’t see properly for 10 minutes, but cobwebs all blown away and once my fingers had thawed out managed to scribble some ideas down.
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Win.
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Absolutely 🙂 or possibly ;(
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JaneShuff posted an update 7 years, 8 months ago
Ha! The bots think they can get in by sneakily adding vowels.
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Sneaky devils. When they learn how to space them we’ll be in trouble.
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They do make pretty pictures though…
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JaneShuff posted an update 7 years, 8 months ago
Has anybody ever had to write a long synopsis – 3 to 10 pages? If so, any tips?
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If it was me? I’d set out to write a one-page synopsis.
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To be less flippant, though… you could probably give a bit more detail to character arcs
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I’ve done a shortish one page version but this press asks specifically for a 3 to 10 page version so I think they want a bit more detail. I’ve started writing a summary of each chapter to see where that gets me but it will still be on the shorter side.
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Sorry just seen your second reply. Yes, I think you’re right. Character arcs. And funnily enough, I don’t have too much of a problem keeping my synopses short these days.
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Maybe put in the subplot(s), assuming you haven’t done this with a shorter synopsis? And anything else which is important to you such as themes, settings, similarities/differences between main characters. Ten pages is a lot so I’m wondering what they want which wouldn’t be in a standard synopsis.
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I was asked for a chapter by chapter breakdown once. With secondary characters plotted too…
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I can’t help feeling it’s so they can unerstand the book without the bother of actually reading any of it.
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“I can’t help feeling it’s so they can unerstand the book without the bother of actually reading any of it” – I’m sure you’re right. But perhaps also to get a feel for how much you understand your own book, in terms of thinking about it structurally and thematically
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The wall is doing that thing again when it says there have been seven replies to this comment but is only showing me one. Anyone have any idea how to view the whole conversation?
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There should be an eye icon with a “show all n comments” link after the initial post, but some kind of bug is stopping it appearing reliably. No ideas I’m afraid.
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Is it a browser thing? I see the ‘show all comments’ thing.
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I’m seeing it now. I suspect it’s intermittent, especially on my browser
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Revenge of the vowel-challenged, perhaps.
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Out of curiousity, which press is that? (only if you don’t mind sharing)
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*curiosity
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I don’t mind sharing at all. In fact I’d be interested in hvaing a separate group/thread on the Forum for people to share their experiences of the Indie Presses and Imprints that you can submit direct to. I bought the Indie Press Guide from Mxlexia which is useful but personal experiences are always better. Anyway the imprint wanting the long,…[Read more]
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Oh, interesting! I hadn’t heard of them. Out of interest, are you also planning to submit to agents? Or going purely down the indie route? I agree a dedicated thread for indie processes might be a good idea, to get lots of info all in one place.
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I’m going purely down the Indie Route @philippaeast. I’m staying with my agent but she’s happy for me to try and sell this to an Indie myself as suggested by Raine and Debi. Speculative fiction is apparently a bit of a hard sell…
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I was wondering what happened in the end with your agent and that book @janeshuff – that sounds like a brilliant plan. You get to keep the agent relationship and also your (wonderful) book has its chance, independent of that. I do love all he options open to writers these days, even if publishing is so much harder in others. Good luck!!
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*in other ways
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Thanks @kazg.
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JaneShuff posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 8 months agoI’ve had a few days off as we went to London to see children and grandchildren as far as Mr Janeshuff was concerned although I’d organised two surprise birthday celebrations for him as well. We’re back now after a wonderful but exhausting time and I’m hoping to restart tomorrow. I’ve spent the best part of a month planning this WIP and after only…[Read more]
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Great work on making a start, even if it went in a different direction! I think there must be something about trusting your instincts on this though? Sounds like a good plan to take a step back and relax and switch to something else for a while to allow your brain a chance to catch up with your muse!
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I agree with Philippa, @janeshuff.
Sounds like you’ve achieved a lot with the writing, what with family celebrations as well.-
It’s exciting when things veer off plan, especially when there’s energy in the veering, rather than just a ‘I’ve lost momentum and don’t know where to go now’ type of thing. I would listen to it if I were you @janeshuff. Might, just might be something great bubbling up from your subconscious? An early Xmas gift perhaps??
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How right you all are. It is exciting. The new ideas are much better. It’s all part of the process. I have been trying to keep a diary this time so I can remind myself next time how tortuous the process of coming up with and writing a new WIP is. I have let the diary slip because of everything else, but must get back to it.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Writing Advice in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 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, 8 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, 8 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-
I’m changing my name to jhnlty and starting a group – should be very popular.
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🙂
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Hello. I’m rn. Less a bot than a nanobot.
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BLLM here. Sounds like what I say when I really want to swear but we have company.
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Daedalus posted an update 7 years, 8 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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I have cats. My teapot spends most of its time getting knocked to the floor…
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Oh God, this analogy is all too apt….
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Ah yes. So true.
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 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, 9 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!-
Suspected bot. Jules has squished them
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Daedalus replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 9 months ago
Exciting about the antho launch Hil, have fun!
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JaneShuff posted an update 7 years, 9 months ago
Am bored. Am very bored. Hairdresser is running an hour late.
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JaneShuff posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 months agoGot my 500 words done. The first 500 words of a new WIP. Had to remind myself several time – Don’t get it right, get it written! Suspect it might show that I loved doing my research a bit much! Tomorrow’s target is the same – 500 words. Then I’m off to London for a big weekend so won’t get anything written until I get back. Hope you’re all doing…[Read more]
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Good stuff. Every 500 words adds up
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Good going! Starting new wip is definitely something to be pleased with.
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Oh well done! Any words on a new WIP is great. And that research all counts too.
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 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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JaneShuff posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 months agoI didn’t have a lot of time today but I think I have got the planning to the stage where I need to start writing. So that’s the plan for tomorrow. Although I won’t have a lot of time, so I’m going to do the background research for it tonight and set myself a gentle target of 500 words.
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JaneShuff posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 months agoI am loving redaing what you’re all planning to do in December.
Having spent yesterday and today running and manning the local twinning committee’s ‘sell English products to the French’ Christmas stall in between dodging the Gilets Jaunes to take my OH to the airport, my aim tonight is to do enough RL work to free up tomorrow morning for a bit…[Read more]
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*reading
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That would be a very good end of year @janeshuff. I hope you are all ok over there. Awful to read about all the anger and destruction x
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Thanks @kazg. Luckily we are far from the mayhem of Paris and the gilets jaunes here were peacable enough. However they’ve started blockading the Port du Commerce which means no petrol deliveries and there was a spate of panic buying over the weekend which means the pumps have run dry!
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Oh yikes! Hope the blockade lifts soon, although I have to admire their protest power! Good luck for the writing today – and without the OH to interrupt!
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Oh no, hope you don’t get stuck! yes, the French know how to get protesting, don’t they? Phlegmatic they are not. Good luck with the writing @janeshuff
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Daedalus posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 9 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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I sympathise, Jane – my SloMo has been NoGo. A continuation month – CoMo? – in January would be great
I’m the same as you Daeds…NoGo. I’ll plump for CoMo, and try to get something out for RWaV 😉
I’m also a NoGo. Hoping January will be more of a GroMo or a FloMo 🙂
It is really helpful isn’t it? Seeing others’ updates and getting little boosts. Lets go for a SomethingMo. If only to get me through the most miserable month of the year…