Where do you write? What do you write? Do you use pens or pencils? How do I get an

Sassenach · Jul 12, 2006

agent? What about copyright? How do I get a beta reader? My parents don't respect my writing--what should I do?What about this 250 characters to a page thing? I need a beta reader. Should I write short stories first? What's the difference between a novel and a novella? What's the difference between a query and a cover letter? Why didn't the agent get back to me? Can I submit directly to a publisher? I don't understand the difference between showing and telling. I heard you shouldn't staple a manuscript? How can I tell if an agent is legit? Should I pay an editor?

[My good-natured jab at newbies who haven't discovered the "Search" function.]

reph · Jul 12, 2006

Sassenach said:
My salute to newbies who haven't discovered the "Search" function.]

We're calling an extended middle finger a salute now?

Elizabeth Slick · Jul 12, 2006

Yes, Yes, Yes, Maybe, I don't know.

DamaNegra · Jul 12, 2006

Sassenach said:
agent? What about copyright? How do I get a beta reader? My parents don't respect my writing--what should I do?What about this 250 characters to a page thing? I need a beta reader. Should I write short stories first? What's the difference between a novel and a novella? What's the difference between a query and a cover letter? Why didn't the agent get back to me? Can I submit directly to a publisher? I don't understand the difference between showing and telling. I heard you shouldn't staple a manuscript? How can I tell if an agent is legit? Should I pay an editor?

Anywhere. Anything. Anything. Faith. Luck. Asking. Hit them in the head with a tuna. Ask. Maybe. What's the difference between a house and an apartment? A yes or no. You have to bribe him with a sports car. Yes. I'll show you.... No. Ask. No.

There

All the AW knowledge summarized in just a few lines.

ETA: Maybe a FAQ about this will be of help? I think I'll do it.

Sassenach · Jul 12, 2006

reph said:
We're calling an extended middle finger a salute now?

It's joke, for the love o' Pete. A satire, if you will, of the phenomenon of the same questions asked.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 12, 2006

Oh, sarcasm. Now I get it. We don't get much call for that hereabouts.

Sassenach · Jul 12, 2006

I didn't say sarcasm. That's for amateurs.

Dollywagon · Jul 12, 2006

Nope, I don't think it comes under the definition of satire.

Scrawler · Jul 12, 2006

Ha! And I was curious about the answers to "Do you use pens or pencils?" LOL

Simon Woodhouse · Jul 12, 2006

You forgot 'should I outline or not'.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 12, 2006

Sassenach said:
I didn't say sarcasm. That's for amateurs.

So, it would appear, is satire. :tongue

ChunkyC · Jul 12, 2006

Let me just say that I received a message from a newbie who didn't see the humour in the opening post of this thread.

People ask questions when they don't know the answers. Yes, newbies could search, but maybe they're new to message boards as well and it's just easier to ask a question and hope for a friendly response, not to be made fun of.

Respect your fellow writers, folks. Let's not lose sight of that, okay?

/AW PSA off

DamaNegra · Jul 12, 2006

Hey Chunky, wouldn't it be a good idea to have a Novel Forum FAQ stickied in this forum?? Just so it would be easier for newbies to find the answers they're looking for and that have been asked and answered a million times already. Just a thought.

ChunkyC · Jul 12, 2006

That's always a good idea, Dama. We have been putting together as much as we can for the new members in the various forums. There's already a sticky thread in here on manuscript formatting.

Then there's the Newbies forum, which began as just a meet and greet, but is growing into a pretty big resource for just these kinds of questions. Jenna and CathyC have put up some impressive posts over there.

DamaNegra · Jul 12, 2006

I remember when I was a newbie. I didn't discover the Newbies forum until a long time after I'd been here

Branwyn · Jul 12, 2006

Innkeeper said:
I have it on good authority that if you strip yourself naked, paint yourself purple, and dance seven times around a telephone pole while loudly singing "Paperback Writer" by the Beatles in the light of a full moon ... you WILL be published ...

Oh and PeeDee wants pictures ...

I knew I had the wrong spell.

brianm · Jul 12, 2006

It was days before I found the newbie forum as well. Perhaps, it should be right at the top, on it's own. That way you'd have to scan past it before jumping headlong into the rest of the site.

The excitement of finding an incredible site like this tends to make you want to jump right in and ask questions rather than doing a wee bit of research and exploring. I was guilty of that and I appreciate that not one member made fun of me or reprimanded me for asking a question that had been asked numerous times before.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 12, 2006

DamaNegra said:
I remember when I was a newbie. I didn't discover the Newbies forum until a long time after I'd been here

There's a newbie forum here? :Shrug:

Birol · Jul 12, 2006

I don't know if it existed when I was a newbie. If it did, I never posted in it. Maybe I should correct that oversight and go introduce myself now?

JennaGlatzer · Jul 12, 2006

Nice going, Brian... I think all the mods agree with you. I'll go switch around the order.

Lori: I'd say it's about time. This ought to be good.

Birol · Jul 13, 2006

Stay out in the open, Red. Everyone has their days; we're all just human, but you know what? We were all newbies once, too. If AW had existed when I first started puzzling the basics out, one of my first questions would've been "What's an SASE?"

reph · Jul 13, 2006

Red Shonja said:
I have to admit that I'm now terrified from starting a post and asking questions that I've been wanting to ask.

There's a middle ground, and it's easy. If you start with an archive search, it may answer your questions. Any questions that remain unanswered can be asked in a post without embarrassment.

Inkdaub · Jul 13, 2006

Red...ask whatever questions you want to. If someone responds in away that insults your question then ignore them. Asking questions isn't embarrassing. Don't lurk...ask away.

henriette · Jul 13, 2006

we forget that there are real people behind these posts who return a little while later to read responses, hoping for insight. people who might be a little sensitive, a little embarrassed, a little frightened.

i can say from experience that after spilling my guts about a personal issue in the "dejection" thread, i was so hurt by an insensitive and cruel reply that i didn't return to this website for over a month. the reply literally made me sick to my stomach. eventually i gave myself a good shake, got over it and here i am, thread-killing again.

yes, i am one of those sensitive types, and yes, i understand that not everyone is diplomatic. but i do feel that we should be a little bit kinder to each other. exposing one's self online can be scary.

ChunkyC · Jul 13, 2006

Yup. Even those of us with thousands of posts need to occasionally remind ourselves we weren't born knowing how to format a manuscript.

Where do you write? What do you write? Do you use pens or pencils? How do I get an

5 W's & an H

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