Index to Learn Writing with Uncle Jim

[Dawno]

I have taken it upon myself to do an index of the posts in the Writing with Uncle Jim Thread. It would serve as a quick reference where the Undiluted thread gives the posts in their entirety.

I hope this is helpful.

Dawn

------------------------------------

Edit: I've come back to the first post to put some topics right at the front so people who are searching for them can find them more easily. Please PM me with other suggestions.

Logical Chess: Move by Move (what you learn from the book is referred to as Positional Chess technique) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82327#post82327)

Agricultural work and Myrtle the Manuscript (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82374#post82374) and more about Ag. work in post #29, topic #512 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85030#post85030)

Evil Overlord Plot Generator (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82415#post82415)

Celtic Knotwork (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82992#post82992)

Outlining (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82509#post82509)

Key Lime Pie (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82651#post82651) (go to post 10 item #91 for the series of Key Lime posts) Link to Low Carb version of the recipe (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85214#post85214)

Good Advice given after reading slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82573#post82573)

Writing Sex Scenes by Hapi Sofi (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82911#post82911)

The Best of Hapi Sofi (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83156#post83156)

Unspeakable Horrors of Literary Life (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83466#post83466)

Hard truths about an author's life (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82771#post82771) (the death spiral) also see topics #419 & 422 on post #25 and #434 on post #26)

Begins discussion of first pages of two Grisham books The Summons and The Street Lawyer (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84767#post84767) (see posts #28 & #29 for the series of posts)

Truth v. Fiction about publishing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=118783#post118783)

Fun (and new) writing assignment (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176527#post176527) (you'll need to read upthread starting here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175825#post175825))

Royalties and Reserve against Return (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=332951#post332951)

Pricing books (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=336852#post336852)

The Unstrung Harp; or, Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0151004358/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)

Three things you should know about publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=406030#post406030)

(http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415062#post415062)A new Assignment! Due Dec. 25th 2005 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415062#post415062)



----------------------------------------------------


1. Novel vs. Romance defined

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82289#post82289 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82289#post82289)

2. KISS or BIC method
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82291#post82291 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82291#post82291)

3. Writing and revising

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82293#post82293 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82293#post82293)

4. Distractions and bad habits

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82294#post82294 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82294#post82294)

5. 25 Steps to becoming a published author

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82300#post82300 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82300#post82300)

6. Pen Names

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82301#post82301 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82301#post82301)

7. Chapter Length, Smallest Unit of meaning in a novel

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82302#post82302 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82302#post82302)

8. Pace

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82304#post82304 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82304#post82304)


9. More about BIC and distractions

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82306#post82306 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82306#post82306)

10. Fonts/Typeface

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82311#post82311 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82311#post82311)

11. One way to come up with wordcount

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82313#post82313 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82313#post82313)

12. Midlist author income, keeping books in print, what it costs to submit

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82321#post82321 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82321#post82321)

13. How to tell where your story begins

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82322#post82322 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82322#post82322)

14. Outline

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82324#post82324 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82324#post82324)

15. Time it takes Uncle Jim to write an outline

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82325#post82325 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82325#post82325)

16. On movement and art, Chess and the book Logical Chess

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82327#post82327 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82327#post82327)

17. Openings

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82328#post82328 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82328#post82328)

18. First Sentences
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82331#post82331 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82331#post82331)

19. Novelist techniques and non-fiction

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82333#post82333 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82333#post82333)

*** NOTE : fixed link ***

20. More on first chapters, exercise: re-type the first chapter of a favorite novel

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82335#post82335 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82335#post82335)

*** this too ***

21. Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses and rules governing literary art in domain of romantic fiction

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82340#post82340 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82340#post82340)

22. Surplusage
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82343#post82343 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82343#post82343)

23. Paper is cheap – submission format is so editors have room to edit

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82348#post82348 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82348#post82348)

24. Plot and Story

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82349#post82349 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82349#post82349)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82350#post82350 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82350#post82350)

25. How Uncle Jim finds time to do these posts

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82355#post82355 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82355#post82355)


(http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82340&postcount=68)

[JennaGlatzer]

Dawn, this is awesome of you. But... but... is it just me, or are all the links not working right?

[Dawno]

No, it's not you! I'm working on the links now...they worked fine from the index document, but I need to see why they're not working in the posts. Cut and paste the link and it works fine, go figure.


Update: Ah Ha!! What a difference 3 little letters make..."www" is needed in the links. Am fixing now!

[Kate Nepveu]

If you want to be super-anal about it, you could get the links to show the posts in context. Here's how:

This first URL:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82289&postcount=2

change the "post" to "thread"

and delete the end from the & and replace it with #post and the number in the first part of the URL.

So that would turn into

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82289#post82289

which ought to bring you to the post in the discussion itself.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an easy way to get the board to give you that link (I asked), and that might well be more work than you want to go to--which I completely understand! I just offer the information in case you suffer from the peculiar brand of anal retentiveness that I do.

[Dawno]

If you want to be super-anal about it, you could get the links to show the posts in context. Here's how:

This first URL:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82289&postcount=2

change the "post" to "thread"

and delete the end from the & and replace it with #post and the number in the first part of the URL.

So that would turn into

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82289#post82289

which ought to bring you to the post in the discussion itself.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an easy way to get the board to give you that link (I asked), and that might well be more work than you want to go to--which I completely understand! I just offer the information in case you suffer from the peculiar brand of anal retentiveness that I do.

Kate,

I really appreciate the research (I sure couldn't figure out how to do it!) and I'm thinking about it. Some of the posts stand alone well, others do need the context...I think for now I'm going to focus on getting the post by post index done and then see about doing it the other way.

Dawn

[Kate Nepveu]

Dawn, no problem. Let me know if you decide you want to convert the links and want a hand with the grunt work; it's the kind of nice mindless stuff that I find soothing cat-vacuuming.

[Dawno]

Kate, I'll PM you in the near future, I think it's a great idea and the help would be most appreciated.

Edit: Thanks to Kate I'm now updating these posts to take you directly to the discussion "in thread" instead of to a single post.

That said, here are some more lessons.

26. “Words are your tools. You must make them your friends.” Recommended reference books

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82356#post82356 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82356#post82356)

27. Characters

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82360#post82360 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82360#post82360)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82362#post82362 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82362#post82362)

28. Characters and conflict

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82364#post82364 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82364#post82364)

29. Characters and illusion

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82365#post82365 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82365#post82365)

30. Commercial fiction – part of the entertainment industry

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/sho...82367#post82367 (http://showthread.php?p=82367#post82367)

31. Advice to a writer about goals

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82370#post82370 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82370#post82370)

32. Fun reading, “agricultural work,” a rule of thumb, “Myrtle the Manuscript”

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82374#post82374 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82374#post82374)

33. The Idiot plot, plots are simple things, random thoughts on words, choose only necessary detail, on sentences (in this post I learned a new word: gallimaufry)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82386#post82386 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82386#post82386)

34. Centennial post. Contests, classes, Quick Slick Research Method

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82387#post82387 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82387#post82387)

35. A quick visual trick for analyzing your writing, two books to read

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82389#post82389 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82389#post82389)

36. Misery

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82394#post82394 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82394#post82394)

37. Write what you like

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82395#post82395 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82395#post82395)

38. Stephen King

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82397#post82397 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82397#post82397)

39. Golden Word Syndrome

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82398#post82398 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82398#post82398)

40. Some miscellaneous replies on formatting, plot, character and relationships

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82405#post82405 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82405#post82405)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82409#post82409 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82409#post82409)

41. About endings – respect for readers

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82414#post82414 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82414#post82414)

42. Evil Overlord Plot Generator

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82415#post82415 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82415#post82415)

43. Films and ideas

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82417#post82417 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82417#post82417)

44. Endings and the deal with the reader

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82419#post82419 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82419#post82419)

45. Another list, Elmore Leonard, POV (point of view)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82421#post82421 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82421#post82421)

46. More on POV (a response to a question) “you can do absolutely anything if it works”

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82423#post82423 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82423#post82423)

47. An article worth reading about POV and movies and television

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82429#post82429 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82429#post82429)

48. Looking at POV in Mary Higgins Clark’s Moonlight Becomes You

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82433#post82433 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82433#post82433)

49. More POV discussion using Moonlight Becomes You (note: Uncle Jim uses colors to highlight this post and these are not coming through on my screen, just the tags.)

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82437#post82437 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82437#post82437)

50. Uncle Jim re-writes Moonlight Becomes You scene from another POV

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums...82438#post82438 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82438#post82438)

[maestrowork]

Dawno, marvelous index, a good companion to Mac's thread.

[Dawno]

maestrowork, thank you. I wanted to do this for a number of purely personal reasons but as I was making my own index I thought others might find it handy, glad you like the idea.

Also, to those of you who so kindly made nice comments and gave me ‘rep’ points for this effort, thank you as well. You might have noticed that I’ve taken down some posts and am re-posting them...I discovered a major problem in the way I was posting the links. It’s still not perfect...I’m working on how to improve it. I appreciate your patience as I learn OTJ.

Here’s the next 25



51. More on “Positional Chess Plotting” and some moves to play out on one’s own chess board (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82443#post82443)

52. Another POV re-write from Moonlight Becomes You (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82444#post82444)

53. Grammar and a recommended book thereon (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82446#post82446)

54. Third Person Omniscient (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82447#post82447)

55. Top 10% of the slush heap, writing isn’t a lottery (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82450#post82450)

56. Moving a chess piece off the back row – getting the character to where he is active (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82456#post82456) also see this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82458#post82458) and this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82460#post82460)

57. Changing POV in revision – a link to Uncle Jim’s first published story (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82464#post82464)

58. POV uses with some examples (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82466#post82466), more on POV here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82468#post82468), here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82470#post82470) and a short take home lesson about POV with a question about your 2 hours of BIC and assignment in #20 above, re-type a first chapter (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82471#post82471)

59. An aphorism regarding readers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82473#post82473)

60. Two short posts about (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82475#post82475) fonts (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82494#post82494)

61. Short link post on guidelines and winnowing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82477#post82477)

62. Very briefly on self-publishing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82487#post82487) (the Bicentennial post, btw)

63. 2 posts about Dracula (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82488#post82488), the taxonomy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82488#post82488) (not coming to a theatre near you (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82521#post82521))

64. Revise, revise, revise revisited (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82495#post82495)

65. Short post about outlining (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82507#post82507)

66.Long post about outlining (details/how to ideas) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82509#post82509)

67. Proper attribution of an upthread quote (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82512#post82512), no grand theory of everything...yet

68. Short post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82513#post82513) wherein Uncle Jim explains his definition of “interest” in writing

69. On theme, the quadrigia, standing out from the slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82519#post82519)

70. On the naming of names and finding my own meaning (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82520#post82520)

71. Q&A on Character profiles (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82522#post82522), outlines (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82523#post82523), getting stuck (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82524#post82524)

72. Versions, change fonts for a ‘fresh eye’ view (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82527#post82527)

73. Prologues, editors are not the enemy, advice about cover letters (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82529#post82529)

74. Prologues and "is something missing?" reader's test. Writing a series (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82533#post82533)

75. Beta readers, flow chart (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82538#post82538)
(http://showpost.php?p=82538&postcount=251)

[Dawno]

How about a few more of these?

76. The Perfect Cover Letter post one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82541#post82541) post two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82549#post82549)

77. Answering a question about divergent storylines post one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82543#post82543) post two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82548#post82548)

78. Parasites (posted on Christmas Eve and Christmas 2003) post one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82551#post82551) post two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82554#post82554)

79. Tough Guide to Fantasyland and advice on plot problems (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82556#post82556)

80. Answers the question (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82569#post82569) "I'm not so sure when I do violence how credible it is."

81. Advice passed along after reading slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82573#post82573), does anyone really submit stories like those (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82576#post82576)?

82. Exercise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82578#post82578) ("bizarre bit of reading advice") memorize a speech from Shakespeare quoted here.

83. Very short inquiry in response to the statement (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82581#post82581), "For what it's worth, I've never found "advance planning" necessary for scenes that include sex or violence."

84. Readers can tell when the writer is bored (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82589#post82589), some idiosyncracies (second post after Tricentennial post on the thread)

85. "And then" posts one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82594#post82594) two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82596#post82596) three (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82604#post82604) four (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82610#post82610) five (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82650#post82650) (there is a lot of discussion about grammar between some of these posts)

86. Comment in reference to a cultural use of the Pathetic Fallacy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82605#post82605) (see advice in #81 above)

87. More on outlines and planning (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82606#post82606) "novel writing is like a . . ."

88. Very short post - BIC stands for (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82612#post82612) . . .

89. Response to earlier discussion, more idosyncracies, an experiment on dialogue (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82632#post82632)

90. Happy New Year 2004 post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82647#post82647) (micro short - just a greeting)
91. One (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82651#post82651) Two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82657#post82657) Three (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82664#post82664) Four (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82668#post82668) Five (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82674#post82674) Six (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82691#post82691) (number Six is 4 posts beyond the Quadracentennial post) posts on The best Key Lime pie in the world (and yes, these are about writing!)

92. Joke vs Comedy Routine (http://showthread.php?p=82658#post82658) Joke (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82659#post82659)

93. Uncle Jim's guideline for the discussion (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82692#post82692)

94. Using "now" post one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82694#post82694) post two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82698#post82698)

95. A general principle relating to dialog (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82700#post82700)

96. On quitting one's day job post one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82703#post82703) post two (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82706#post82706)

97. ellipsis (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82710#post82710)

98. OK vs. okay (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82734#post82734)

99. Brief query letter reprise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82749#post82749)

100. Brief revisit to First Chapter (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82758#post82758)

Time for a break!

[Dawno]

101. The importance of grammar (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82763#post82763)

102. Another thought about Key Lime Pie (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82764#post82764) (see #91 above for the first ones)

103. Hard truths about the writing life (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82771#post82771)

104. More truths: bad contracts, bad publishers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82775#post82775)

105. Self knowledge and an article about mistakes in writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82776#post82776)

106. Links to articles about slush (including Myrtle the Manuscript reprise) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82778#post82778)

107. Thoughts about topics to cover (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82782#post82782)

108. Dialect (the 500th post!) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82787#post82787)

109. The Mid-book (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82802#post82802)

110. What to do when you've finished your novel (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82803#post82803)

111. "Manuscripts are never so much finished as escaped" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82805#post82805)

112. Something you won't want to use in your cover letter (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82812#post82812)

113. Advice about endings (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82814#post82814)

114. Answers to how long, who to send it to and how much is the average pay (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82817#post82817)

115. About the challenge of Mid-book (http://showthread.php?p=82844#post82844)

116. Answers to questions about publishing works in the US that done in a different country and language (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82845#post82845)

117. Link post to info on pro and semi-pro SF&Fantasy magazines (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82846#post82846)

118. Transitions and chapter breaks (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82847#post82847)

119. Link to guide on markets, a good rule to know (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82848#post82848)

120. For revisions, how long to put away something to give it time for a re-read with fresh eyes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82863#post82863)

121. Answer to a suggestion about putting stuff on a list of Fun Things to include in ones writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82870#post82870)

122. A post from another thread about foreshadowing, being fair. A question to ponder about characters in Carrie (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82871#post82871)

123. Short post to elaborate on foreshadowing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82873#post82873)

124. Just keep writing until you get to the end then start writing another one (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82876#post82876)

125. When is the revision process done and it's time to send it out (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82879#post82879)

[Dawno]

126. Moving characters - reminder to read Logical Chess Move by Move (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82885#post82885)

127. Paragraphs (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82886#post82886)

128. Links where the thread is mentioned, hero vs. protagonist, hints about getting characters in motion, paragraphing, gentle prodding. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82893#post82893)

129. On Plots (copied over from another thread) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82894#post82894)

130. Establishing credibility (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82897#post82897)

131. Link to an edit of a first chapter in another thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82902#post82902)

132. An aphorism re: style (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82903#post82903)

133. Some recommended links for writers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82907#post82907)

134. Slush and the Pathetic Fallacy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82910#post82910)

135. "Guest Lecture" on how to write sex scenes by HapiSofi (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82911#post82911)

136. The six senses (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82922#post82922) and a description of the sixth (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82924#post82924)

137. Regarding edited work (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82930#post82930) (answers a question from just above post)

138. Will Jim edit WIP's and how long is a novella (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82932#post82932)

140. On writing stories for an established commercial character or TV series, etc. (e.g., Spiderman) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82940#post82940)

141. Figurative language (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82950#post82950)

142. Link to Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald's homepage @ sff.net (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82956#post82956)

143. A "general clean up" post responding to a number of questions upthread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82971#post82971)

144. Uncle Jim's Price of the Stars and the use of the chessboard (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82972#post82972)

145. Formatting advice, grammar is your friend (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82984#post82984)

146. Brief return to 'novel as a chess game' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82985#post82985)

147. Post 700! discussing use of the underline and double underline (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82987#post82987)

148. Celtic Knotwork: A picture of an outline (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82992#post82992)

149. On the climax (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83015#post83015)

150. Beta readers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83017#post83017)

[Fresie]

Dawno, you're a genius! What a lot of hard work!!

Wish I could lay my hands on this thread yesterday because a friend asked me about advances, royalties and such, and I wanted to refer him to the discussion at Uncle Jim's but couldn't for the life of me find it! You've done such a great job, we probably don't realise yet how good it is.

Thank you!

[Dawno]

Thanks! Only 96 pages to go. Or, about 2400 more posts to read :) I'm having a very fun and educational time of it. Come by often!

Hey, congrats to all of you who are doing the lessons and have come this far. If you find a link that seems wrong or doesn't work, please PM me with the details (if you use my numbering it will be easy for me to find) and I'll try to fix it.

Happy Writing everyone!

[Dawno]

Hi again! Ready for the next 25 lessons?


151. Answers a question about the climax of (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83019#post83019)Galaxy Quest (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83019#post83019)

152. One of the ills of "workshopping" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83023#post83023)

153. Short comment on prologues (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83027#post83027)

154. Longer post on prologues (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83034#post83034)

155. What writers should do with a wordprocessor grammar checker (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83035#post83035)

156. Uncle Jim re-writes a prologue (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83041#post83041)

157. "Cleaved" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83045#post83045)

158. Link to an online arts course (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83048#post83048)

159. Short post re: strange spelling in English (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83054#post83054)

160. Using poetry and song lyrics in a novel (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83064#post83064)

161. Who to contact when in doubt (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83067#post83067)

162. Question about a prior post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83069#post83069)

163. Hard copy vs. soft copy relating to editing and typesetting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83070#post83070)

164. An article in Salon, advances (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83072#post83072)

165. Comment about a software upgrade (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83079#post83079)

166. Links to a post with good advice and discussion of Salon article (see #164) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83086#post83086) (post #799)

167. One space or two? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83089#post83089)

168. Advice for the Jane Doe author in the Salon article (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83093#post83093)

169. How some reacted to Jane Doe's plight as written about in Salon (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83099#post83099)

170. What to do with 'an unheard of advance' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83102#post83102)

171. Uncle Jim comments on a paragraph someone posted and makes suggestions (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83118#post83118)

172. On plagarism and copyright (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83120#post83120)

173. All in one post round up of various books and movies Uncle Jim has recommended so far. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83133#post83133) Please note, the carryover from the old board means that most of these are completely "spelled out" links (I'm not a techie so I'm not sure how to explain it any other way) and you'll have to employ cut and paste of the url's. I think the "Undiluted" thread may have these cleaned up, you should go check there as well.

174. Simultaneous submissions and publishing guidelines (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83148#post83148)

175. Regarding above, disadvantage for the writer, yes, but... (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83151#post83151)

Whew! Time for a bit of breakfast...more later.

Don't forget your BIC time. Happy Writing!

[Dawno]

176. The best of HapiSofi links provided by Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83156#post83156)

177. More about submissions, types defined (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83162#post83162)

178. Answers the question, "How do slushpiles work" and revisits Myrna the Manuscript (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83163#post83163)

179. A wonderful submission font (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83168#post83168)

180. Uncle Jim promises two more metaphors to come, has had a busy time (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83172#post83172)

181. Part 1 of a longer series on Metaphors for Plot with some exercises (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83174#post83174)

182. More on modelwork (see above) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83185#post83185)

183. Advice on how much to reveal about a character (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83190#post83190)(post 903!)

184. About details in Science Fiction (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83196#post83196)

185. RAEBNC to an upthread story (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83199#post83199)(I had to Google that acronym...do you want me to tell you what it means? Will put it at the bottom of the thread for any of you who, like me, didn't know it)

186. Two links to more discussion of the Jane Doe article (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83201#post83201)


187. Indicating thoughts and a link to a piece with insights into the writing life (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83205#post83205)

188. Link to article on why 98% of the slushpile is unpublishable (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83207#post83207) - this link appears to be broken. I searched the referenced site but without more info (title of the article or author) I was unable to find where it's archived or even if it's archived.

189. The difference between two sentences (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83214#post83214)

190. Link to International Slushpile Bonfire day article and Brilliant Sri Lankan Novelists, go home! article (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83221#post83221)

191. Dictionary choices (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83225#post83225)

192. When a reader comments on your work, links (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83231#post83231)

193. Anything that doesn't add to the story subtracts from it (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83246#post83246)

194. Regarding putting all posts to date in one document (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83263#post83263)

195. Link to an online stylebook (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83274#post83274)

196. Post 999! About details (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83286#post83286)

197. Brief comment on the posts document mentioned above (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83293#post83293)

198. Three choices about POV question (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83301#post83301)

199. The difference between vanity publishing and recording your own music to sell after your gig, on scams and scammers, and a grammar quiz (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83302#post83302)

200. A brag and a digression about anthologies (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83329#post83329)


Well, I've hit 200 and gone through over 1000 posts! Much more to come, it's a rainy day and I feel like ignoring the laundry that's piling up. One of my cats (I have 3) is trying to help with this but he ends up deleting things! Seriously, he's napping on my desk and when he moves he sometimes hits the mouse or the enter key...always right the worst possible time.

Oh, the RAEBNC acronym in #185? According to various sites I Googled, it means: Read And Enjoyed But No Comment

[Dawno]

So, back for more, eh?

201. Link to a livejournal (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83333#post83333)(when I tried it I got an error. I did a search on the user name and the message at LJ said the journal had been deleted, sorry folks)

202. Brief revisit to Outlining (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83347#post83347)

203. General comments, self-publishing, Garfield the movie (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83352#post83352)

204. One more sentence about outlining (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83353#post83353)

205. Regarding the companion book to Terminator 3 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83355#post83355)

206. Thoughts on fan fiction (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83361#post83361)

207. More fan fiction (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83365#post83365)

208. Uncle Jim spins us a yarn illustrating some of the tools he's mentioned so far in this thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83367#post83367)

209. Who was telling the story? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83369#post83369)

210. Enough to start baking the pie, power of threes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83372#post83372)

211. What defines a writer, an assignment (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83374#post83374)

212. Uncle Jim links to, and talks a bit about, his writings (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83377#post83377)

213. Brief comments on a work posted in the thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83379#post83379)

214. Put it in a drawer (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83388#post83388)

215. Youthful writer, aphorisms about plot, natural state of a book (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83389#post83389)

216. Bestseller list, interesting exercise idea (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83390#post83390)

217. Where to start a chapter on the page, Quick'n'Dirty Story Injection Technique (an exercise) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83393#post83393)

218. Posting story bits for critique (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83399#post83399)

219. Brief commercial announcement (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83400#post83400) (note: I'm posting these as I read thru them in order. It appears that this was a 1 year limited offer and thus it may or may not be still available, I haven't gone downthread to see if there's an update)

220. Link to a story (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83405#post83405)

221. Links to prof. editors (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83407#post83407)

222. Fun with diagramming (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83415#post83415)

223. Keeping your book from being thrown across the room, consistency (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83427#post83427)

224. Research and icebergs (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83432#post83432)

225. Protagonists and parallel plots (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83434#post83434)

Time for a late lunch break. Happy Writing!

[Dawno]

Hi again. :welcome: The cats are ignoring me but I couldn't ignore the laundry any longer, this is being done between loads. :rolleyes:

226. The Master Rule (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83437#post83437)

227. A very good sign (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83441#post83441)

228. Assignments about making the illusion (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83444#post83444)

229. Pay attention to story-telling styles and modes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83458#post83458)

230. Googled (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83462#post83462)

231. Unspeakable Horrors of Literary Life (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83466#post83466)

232. Discusses a compilation of the thread to date (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83473#post83473)

233. CafePress option for compilation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83476#post83476)

234. Posting on another site, the way you practice writing, a link to Writers' Deadly Sins cartoon (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83483#post83483)

235. Writers Toolbag: Dramatic Irony (post 1200!) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83487#post83487)

236. Yet another annoying internet quiz: "What Kind of Writer are You?" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83491#post83491)

237. Where to send the compilation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83493#post83493)

238. Saving a file as a .RTF, some links on computer safety (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83504#post83504) (note: grisoft link comes up "404 Not Found" but all the other links are ok as of this post date)

239. Spellcheck does not relieve you of an obligation to proofread, link to a "crimefighter character" generator site (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83514#post83524)

240. Character and plot (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83530#post83530)

241. Has one tried Positional Chess or Celtic Knotwork method? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83532#post83532)

242. More on Celtic Knotwork (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83534#post83534)

243. Link to a story (done on 'assignment' upthread) posted in 'Share Your Work' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83538#post83538)

244. Every scene serves a purpose (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83540#post83540)

245. Link to Uncle Jim's homepage (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83544#post83544)

246. Some family history from Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83547#post83547)

247. Suggestions about dialogue writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83552#post83552)

248. UK and US English (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83566#post83566)

249. More on UK and US English "Be consistent with the language you're most familiar with" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83568#post83568)

250. Another bit about UK and US English in response to an upthread comment (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83575#post83575)

Hope your writing is going well. As of this post I've gotten to page 52 of 128 pages so we're not even at the halfway point yet. Lots of good stuff still to come.

[Dawno]

Welcome back. How's the writing coming along?

251. A look at a scene from a short story by Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83576#post83576)

252. What he was thinking when he wrote the scene (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83577#post83577) (note: this post is full of embedded tags that did not 'translate' over from the old board. However there is good news! The "Undiluted" thread put the color back in. Go to this post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=102461#post102461) and scroll about half way down to read)

253. More info about the scene (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83581#post83581)

254. About the story, the sale, why he picked it, etc. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83584#post83584)

255. (Post 1299) Link to some 'great guidelines' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83586#post83586)

256. On Core Dumps with a speech from (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83596#post83596)Shakespeare's Henry V, Act I scene ii and a link to a "translation" therof into Damon Runyon-speak by Mike Ford. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83596#post83596)

257. Answers to upthread questions about the scene (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83597#post83597) (#252-254)

258. Is it ready for Uncle Jim to edit? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83599#post83599) (answer to an upthread question about an assignment - see #243 and related)

259. Links to other, uh...versions, of Shakespeare's work (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83600#post83600) (sorry for the editorializing here but really, you just gotta check these out)

260. Response to a proposal upthread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83605#post83605)

261. Why outline? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83609#post83609)

262. Three things about writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83619#post83619)

263. Getting to Publishable Territory and moving on to Consistently Publishable Land (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83621#post83621)

264. Originality (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83625#post83625)

265. Asks again the question "Is it ready?" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83637#post83637) (see #258)

266. .RTF and great advice (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83641#post83641)

267. Response to a post upthread wherein much gratitude for these lessons is declared. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83648#post83648)

268. Asks, "What do you want to know [about punctuation]?" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83651#post83651)

269. Exclamation point rule (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83653#post83653)

270. Some clarification on the exclamation point rule (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83655#post83655)

271. Advice about the length of a novel (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83665#post83665)

272. On punctuation: Avoid total howlers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83667#post83667)

273. Short clarification on punctuation post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83668#post83668)

274. It's hard work (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83670#post83670)

275. A way to see if one knows the standard rules of punctuation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83675#post83675)

[Dawno]

276. Characters and empathy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83680#post83680)

277. Outlining using filecards (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83683#post83683)

278. Minor characters (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83688#post83688) (post 1401)

279. Making chapters interesting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83700#post83700)

280. Observe Stuff Happening (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83702#post83702) (links you to a Live Journal "Movie in Fifteen Minutes" post about Troy)

281. Make Uncle Jim happy, follow the recommendations on books and movies he's made upthread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83703#post83703)

282. Tracking submissions (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83705#post83705)

283. Photocopied submissions (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83707#post83707)

284. More on making chapters interesting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83710#post83710)

285. Example of foreshadowing from Poe's The Cask of Amontillado (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83720#post83720)

286. One word at a time... (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83722#post83722)

287. Agents (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83723#post83723)

288. One way to find an agent (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83725#post83725)

289. How far north? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83729#post83729)

290. Rules of thumb about chapter breaks, hooks (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83734#post83734)

291. Good vs. Evil (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83739#post83739)

292. Another thought about foreshadowing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83743#post83743)

293. It's an art, not a science (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83745#post83745)

294. See how easy it is? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83752#post83752)

295. Internal dialogue, italics or not? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83756#post83756)

296. A brief commercial announcement (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83760#post83760)

297. Answering questions about re-writes, agents, bios, slushpiles and passive voice (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83772#post83772)

298. Character names (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83773#post83773)

299. More on character names (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83776#post83776)

300. Anything that helps you get words on paper is a good thing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83781#post83781)

[Dawno]

301. On Beta readers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83786#post83786) (post 1499 of 3184 we're closing in on the halfway mark. That post is dated June 3, 2004)

302. A bit more about beta readers and genre (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83788#post83788)

303. Today's command (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83789#post83789) (hint: BIC)

304. Once the words are on paper we can play with them (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83792#post83792)

305. Link to thread in "Share Your Work" where a story is going to be discussed and re-written (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83793#post83793) (note, the links in the post are to the old board and when I tried them I got an error - deleted message. So over in the Undiluted (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=102953#post102953) thread (after just a bit of scrolling) there's a good link here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5319.html) if you want to go visit the story.)

306. Dialogue tags (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83801#post83801)

307. Tom Swifties (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83804#post83804)

308. Googling again (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83806#post83806)

309. Submitting '3 chapters and a synopsis' before the entire work is done (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83809#post83809)

310. A lengthy post tying up comments made in other threads relevant to the discussion (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83811#post83811)

311. Finish your book before you try to market it (additional comment re: #309 above) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83813#post83813)

312. Link to news item about discussing a favorite book and improved chances of getting a date (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83815#post83815)

313. Mocha latte (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83817#post83817)

314. Getting feedback (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83820#post83820)

315. Titles (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83826#post83826)

316. More on titles (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83829#post83829)

317. Two bits of advice about titles (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83835#post83835)

318. Synopsis (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83840#post83840)

319. Apostrophe use (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83846#post83846)

320. About classifying a genre in a query letter (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83852#post83852)

321. Link to a 'neat toy,' the ISBN Checksum Calculator (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83854#post83854)

322. Finding publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83857#post83857)

323. About an upthread post linking to a synopsis (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83863#post83863)

324. The "It Works" rule revisited (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83881#post83881)

325. Happy Bloomsday (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83882#post83882) (that's all he says, btw. Chronologically we're at June of 2004 and nearly to the 1600 post which is approximately the half way point in the thread as of this post date)

[Dawno]

326. Link to "How to write a best selling fantasy novel" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83892#post83892) (satire)

327. Today's fun thing to do while avoiding writing and a memorization assignment (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83895#post83895)

328. Advice to a poster about where to place a scene (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83899#post83899)

329. Refering to a scandal involving the Governor of Conneticut's wife (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83902#post83902) (NY Times article June of 2004. Access to NY Times online requires free registration)

330. Hope -- every single published author started in the same place (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83904#post83904)

A historical note here: between #330 and #331 there are many posts by Theresa Nielsen-Hayden (Editrx) of Making Light about our Uncle Jim, moving boxes, cat waxing, etc.

331. Two short catch-up posts, here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83981#post83981) and here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83982#post83982), and a longer one that discusses dialect (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83983#post83983).

332. Opinion on writing exercises (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83984#post83984)

333. Response to a question about a dream sequence (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83985#post83985)

334. Saving, backing up and organizing writing files (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83991#post83991)

335. Cussing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=83994#post83994)

336. Starting an sentence with and or because (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84001#post84001)

337. Aphorism about 'hard' and 'fun' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84004#post84004)

338. Characters are mixtures of traits (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84006#post84006)

Historical note: Posts around and about 338 - 339 discuss TV character Spike in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel

339. One disadvantage to TV Series (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84016#post84016)

340. Lie/lay - short definition (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84022#post84022)

341. A "more responsive" post about lie/lay (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84023#post84023)

342. Lie/lay -- adding to the fun and hang/hung (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84030#post84030)

343. How many tenses? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84031#post84031)

344. Rooftop vs. roof top (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84034#post84034)

345. Common questions answered and links to Key Lime and Celtic Knotwork (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84040#post84040)

346. More cussing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84043#post84043)

347. Career commentary (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84044#post84044) (includes publishers and marketing efforts)

348. Selling short stories to anthologies vs. magazines (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84047#post84047)

349. Getting into anthologies (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84049#post84049)

350. Bringing out backstory (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84053#post84053)

[Dawno]

351. Short addition to 'backstory' post above (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84055#post84055)

352. More about exposition and back story...Uncle Jim also wants to know if you've been doing your assignments (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84067#post84067)

353. Open Anthology and an assignment to write and submit a story to it (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84068#post84068)

354. A working editor explains Reasons Books Are Rejected (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84070#post84070)

355. Musing upon the question "how do you know you've written the wrong book?" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84072#post84072)

356. Jim's promise about this thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84075#post84075)

357. Links to all the assignments to date. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84081#post84081) (Note, these are links to the old ezboard and are no longer active links. The Undiluted thread has about half of them corrected as of today's post. Go here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104719#post104719) and scroll a bit, you'll find it)

358. Did all the assignments, now what? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84086#post84086)

359. 1800th post: Link to the collection with a dialogue only story by J. D. Macdonald and Debra Doyle (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84087#post84087)

360. What every writer should do (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84090#post84090)

361. Finding out who were the agents for specific books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84098#post84098)

362. Two suggestions to an upthread question about a character (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84111#post84111)

363. Character and Presence - first impressions (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84115#post84115)

364. Advice to get more input (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84118#post84118)

365. The (Beta) Reader Aphorism (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84121#post84121)

366. Advice to poster who was having trouble writing her way to the end (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84124#post84124)

367. Uncle Jim will be only intermittently on-line, Editrx was asked to check in from time to time (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84125#post84125)

368. Short check in post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84161#post84161)

369. Assignment post: "What to read, in view of becoming a better/stronger/more interesting/more commercial/happier/richer writer" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84162#post84162)

370. Look at what you're reading with your writer's eyes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84163#post84163)

371. ...being kind to your characters... (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84164#post84164)

372. Suggestions about choosing beta readers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84165#post84165)

373. Secret to improving as a writer (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84166#post84166)

374. More (briefly) about beta readers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84167#post84167)

375. About archiving the thread, about an FAQ, about advice he received as a young writer (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84168#post84168)

[Dawno]

376. Upthread post about the plotting of a story discussed (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84171#post84171)

377. Why the Hugo's were left off the reading list (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84177#post84177) (#369)

378. Using "were" (subjunctive) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84180#post84180)

379. Word count, what is 'book-length', the real goal is to have the right words (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84186#post84186)

380. Marketing categories, if the book's good enough, they'll invent one for you (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84195#post84195)

381. Publishers, word count and price (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84203#post84203)

382. A plea relating to Grammar Wars (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84217#post84217)

383. A brief mention of Grisham (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84220#post84220)

384. More about Grisham, the 'master rule', popular authors, and Jim's Worldcon (2004) schedule link (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84227#post84227)

385. Briefly on character name vs. pronoun (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84228#post84228)

386. Readers are wiley creatures (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84233#post84233)

387. About some word count advice - may be specific to certain authors (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84234#post84234)

388. Reading unpublished work, how to tell if you are good enough for someone to offer you money (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84240#post84240)

389. Final revision and a story about one of Uncle Jim's experiences (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84241#post84241)

390. Where do you get your ideas? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84243#post84243)

391. Dating the Muse (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84246#post84246)

392. Puzzling post refering to two pages of a Grisham novel The Summons (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84247#post84247) but nothing else is there...perhaps edited out later?

393. Some links to posts about WorldCon (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84261#post84261)

394. InfoDump (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84272#post84272) (was there a story here (i.e., first several pages of "Jenny Nettles") that got edited out?)

395. Post 2013 Foreign rights and a link to a good article by an editor (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84300#post84300)

396. Link to a 'fine article with much to teach us' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84301#post84301)

397. Pen names (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84319#post84319)

398. Some definintions relating to publishing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84320#post84320)

399. Copyright statement in a book is wrong? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84323#post84323)

400. Really short answer about sentence fragments (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84326#post84326)

Well, a bit under 1200 more posts to go -- that last post (my number 400) was posted in August of '04.

If you have a suggestion about a better caption or if you find a broken or incorrect link, please PM me.

How's that WIP coming along? Getting your BIC time in?

[Dawno]

I had quite a few new links done the other day, stepped away from my computer for a minute and when I returned my cat was on the desk and my open "Reply to Thread" page was gone. I know, sounds like 'the dog ate my homework' doesn't it? Anyway here's the next 25 -- writing in a 'cat free zone' today!

Proudly presenting my 101st post on AW:

401. Answers a question about income from writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84337#post84337)

402. Suspense and openings (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84358#post84358)

403. Another firm reply about the subject 'and then' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84366#post84366)

404. Suggests word by word analysis of some pages posted upthread from a couple of Grisham novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84373#post84373)

405. Page turning, interlibrary loan (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84381#post84381)

406. Multiple character problems in the first two pages of The Street Lawyer by Grisham (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84385#post84385)

407. Asks someone what's the difference between putting the hook in and engaging a reader's curiosity in the first paragraph (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84390#post84390)

408. On the way to Worldcon: formatting, pathetic fallacy, third person and a promise to get to the Grisham stuff (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84433#post84433)

409. Set piece, foreshadowing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84445#post84445)

410. A little bit more about foreshadowing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84448#post84448)

411. Give them room to work with in your finished manuscript (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84452#post84452)

412. Presents the first chapter of a new work -- unedited first draft (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84458#post84458)

413. Defines what 'first draft' meant in relation to the work in the prior link (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84467#post84467)

414. No longer has the prior version of the first chapter for comparison (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84469#post84469)

415. Reasonable expectation of copies sold for a first novel (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84476#post84476)

416. Distribution of that first novel into bookstores (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84481#post84481)

417. Show, don't tell (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84483#post84483)

418. Names and books and such -- second and third book letdown (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84486#post84486)

419. Pseudonyms, the Death Spiral (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84517#post84517) (also discussed in topic #103)

420. Link to anthology with a story from Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84519#post84519)

421. Whose family should have a copy? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84521#post84521)

422. Some thoughts on beating the Death Spiral (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84527#post84527)

423. Another anthology with a story by Uncle Jim (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84529#post84529)

424. JK Rowlings avoids the Death Spiral...but that wasn't the question (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84532#post84532) :o

425. Approaching romance between characters (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84537#post84537)

Well, that was post 2250 out of 3257, I'm getting closer to current events!
As always, if you find a bad link or think of a better caption, please PM me!

[Dawno]

426. Romantic subplot and The Fire Door Theory of Novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84549#post84549)

427. Wherein Uncle Jim wonders if he should do an index to the thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84552#post84552) :rolleyes:

428. Link to Borders bookstore locator (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84555#post84555)

429. Amazon.com, anthologies, and Edgar Allan Poe (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84558#post84558)

430. Comic books and novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84559#post84559)

431. It's Pseudonym Time (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84561#post84561)

432. Links to articles about reviving a stalled writing career (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84567#post84567)

433. The important thing is the fire door (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84568#post84568)

434. Advice on avoiding the Death Spiral (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84571#post84571)

435. Reprinting out of print books with a small press or change name and start again (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84575#post84575)

436. Out of print, out of stock, getting back rights (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84577#post84577)

437. Turning short stories into novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84586#post84586)

438. Recommends a book as an aid to understanding novels and stories in general (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84593#post84593)

439. Reserve against returns (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84594#post84594)

440. Multi-book deal negotiation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84596#post84596)

441. How to represent a character's thoughts - use or not use quotation marks (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84600#post84600)

442. A sad post - Jim's mother had passed away a week earlier (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84615#post84615)

443. Link to post-workshop sales from Viable Paradise workshoppers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84617#post84617)

444. Light stuff about the workshop - link to an LJ, pictures (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84620#post84620)

445. Distribution (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84621#post84621)

446. Vanity/POD and bookstore economics (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84622#post84622)

447. Quoting and 'based on a true story' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84627#post84627)

448. Link to recommended blog "Bookslut" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84628#post84628)

449. The quote referenced in #447 above (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84630#post84630)

450. Advice about book legnth (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84636#post84636)

[Dawno]

451. Google desktop search (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84637#post84637)

452. Research hints (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84643#post84643)

453. More about research (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84646#post84646)

454. Request about Murder by Magic (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84651#post84651)

455. References a blog reporting a story about a writer who was raided (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84654#post84654)
(note, you'll have to cut and paste the link (like most of the links from posts ported over from the old ezBoard) and I had to add "www". It takes you to the blog but you have to scroll down to nearly the bottom of the page to find the proper post - finding the date of the post, Oct. 24th, makes it easier)

456. A worthwhile contest (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84656#post84656) (had to enter by Nov 2004)

457. Luck (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84660#post84660)

458. Dealing with distraction (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84673#post84673)

459. Link to guidelines for a possible new market (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84683#post84683) (note: submission period apparently ended March 21st 2005 -- but the site has some good stuff anyway, IMHO)

460. Payscale offered in the above-mentioned link (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84685#post84685)

461. Niven's laws for writers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84686#post84686) (post 2399, btw)

462. Depicting emotions (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84692#post84692)

463. Read with hi-lighter in hand (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84697#post84697)

464. Writing licensed work (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84700#post84700) (a.k.a.: tie-ins, like Star Wars novels)

465. Pseudonym choice (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84702#post84702)

466. Apparently the thread got locked up on Nov. 17th? Mentions a "Son of Uncle Jim" and indexing again, too. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84718#post84718)

467. Link to Holly Black's Writing Resources (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84721#post84721)

468. Well wishes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84728#post84728)

469. Tie-ins (see #464) Uncle Jim has done (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84730#post84730)

470. Writing numbers and the titles of Uncle Jim's two Tom Swift novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84742#post84742)

471. Uncle Jim doesn't mind people making a personal copy for personal use of the "Learn Writing With Uncle Jim" thread. (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84744#post84744)

472. The master rule (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84753#post84753)

473. Does the date a manuscript arrive make any difference? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84759#post84759)

474. Link to a discussion about writing sex scenes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84763#post84763)

475. Two examples (via link) of rule breaking in the visual arts (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84764#post84764)

Well, the end is getting closer! I may catch up to current events before the weekend is out.

[Dawno]

476. Report to the Authors Guild Midlist Books Study Committee (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84766#post84766)

477. Discusses the first few pages of one of the Grisham novels posted upthread, The Summons (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84767#post84767)

478. Response to a question about waiting to use a character's name (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84769#post84769)

479. Genius is... (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84775#post84775)

480. Examples of pathetic fallacy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84785#post84785)

481. Can anyone produce publishable work? (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84786#post84786)

482. Another way of looking at The Summons (Post 2500!) (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84787#post84787)

483. Dealing with taxes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84795#post84795)

484. Midlist report (see #476 above) -- understand the business (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84800#post84800)

485. Describing characters (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84802#post84802)

486. Settings (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84804#post84804)

487. Speaking to readers, exercises and expectations, two new exercises (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84805#post84805)

488. Folding 1,000 cranes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84806#post84806)

489. Comment about POV from a question about using 3rd Omniscient POV (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84809#post84809)

490. For Uncle Jim, everything is about writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84813#post84813)

491. More on 3rd Omni POV - read other works (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84815#post84815)

492. Second person POV (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84818#post84818)

493. Another thought on 1,000 Cranes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84819#post84819)

494. Choose your own adventure books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84822#post84822)

495. Thanks for references upthread to 2nd person POV books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84827#post84827)

496. Getting beyond "they're not gonna believe this" in SF/Fantasy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84833#post84833)

497. Advice on SF worldbuilding (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84840#post84840)

498. Reading order suggestion for Uncle Jim's Mageworld books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84845#post84845)

499. First draft, fix it later (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84853#post84853)

500. First two pages of Grisham's Street Lawyer (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84854#post84854)

As of that last link they'd arrived at December 21st, '04. This is the home stretch folks...

[Dawno]

501. Grisham and POV technique (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84859#post84859)

502. More on Grisham's first sentence (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84864#post84864)

503. Continuing discussion of the Grisham pages (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84868#post84868)

504. One big whopper, literal meanings, balance (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84873#post84873)

505. Starting slow (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84879#post84879)

506. Looking at a paragraph (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84883#post84883)

507. Response to something said upthread in a post that appears to be gone (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84887#post84887) (post 2600)

508. Allowing the whopper (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84889#post84889)

509. Uncle Jim shares that he has a story in an upcoming anthology (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84924#post84924)

Several pages go by between 509 and 510 wherein many openings are analysed. Christmas 2004 happens in this interlude. The next link is to a Dec. 29 post which is #2708, for those of you still counting along.

510. How good one needs to be to break in (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84995#post84995)

Many more pages of analysis go by and we're now into 2005.

511. "Head story," beta readers, analysis (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85026#post85026)

512. Agricultural work, text twiddles, onward! (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85030#post85030)

513. Amusing links about the business of writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85031#post85031)

514. The reader will interpret, mantra about what words to use (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85037#post85037)

515. Announcement about the impending board move (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85047#post85047)

516. When are you finished, what about background description (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85059#post85059)

517. Where do story ideas come from (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85063#post85063)

518. Questions about a protagonist's problems (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85070#post85070)

519. Market for novella/long stories (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85084#post85084)

520. Short story vs. novel, markets (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85086#post85086)

521. Punctuation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85088#post85088) (post 2801)

522. Formatting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85094#post85094)

523. Presentation folders (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85104#post85104)

524. Link to article "Displaced Advice" from MakingLight (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85105#post85105)

525. It has to be enough of a problem to make the readers turn the page (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85107#post85107)

[Dawno]

526. The Whole Magic Secret to Getting Published (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85111#post85111)

527. Small publisher royalties (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85114#post85114)

528. Submitting to publishers vs. agents (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85120#post85120)

529. Debunking the "Grisham self-published" myth, how Grisham actually got famous (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85124#post85124)

530. Some tidbits of advice relating to an upthread comment about writing what you like to read, outlining and doing whatever it takes (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85128#post85128)

531. Single vs. double space after a period at the end of a sentence, link to a story dubbed "charming" from The Onion (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85156#post85156) (note: The Onion archives are only searchable with premium subscription, when I tried copy/paste on the link I got a 'sorry, page not found' reply and didn't find a cached verision using Google, either.)

532. Chess as one way of thinking about novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85166#post85166)

533. Analysing your novel (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85169#post85169)

534. Suggested excercise on fattening one's writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85175#post85175)

535. Writing vs. thinking about writing, write, finish and revise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85195#post85195) (post 2908)

536. Announces: Travis Tea's Atlanta Nights (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85197#post85197) (Feb. 2nd., '05)

537. More about Atlanta Nights (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85199#post85199)

538. The only two real questions in writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85205#post85205)

539. Short welcoming post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85208#post85208)

540. Possible meaning of "we like the story but it needs more work" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85212#post85212)

541. Lo-carb version of the Key Lime Pie recipe (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85214#post85214) (see my #91 upthread for the original Key Lime Pie posts)

542. Atlanta Nights makes the LA Times (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85215#post85215) (note:I get a page not found and no Google cache on this one. There were numerous mentions of this and other articles in the "Neverending PA Thread" in the Background Checks and Bewares forum with excerpts IIRC)

543. Link to "a great article" about marketing done for publishers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85218#post85218)

545. Imprints and a story about Uncle James in his younger days (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85220#post85220)

546. Author's real name vs. pen name choice (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85225#post85225)

547. More on authors' names (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=85227#post85227)

548. First post on the new board! (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=99315#post99315) Note: Uncle Jim brought over posts inside of this post, some were his - I can't put those in separate links. Topics covered by Uncle Jim: His Live Journal, ABM, Advice about publishers and where to submit, for whom the reviewer works.

549. A post asking when the new board goes live. Apparently there was posting going on behind our backs! (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=99357#post99357) ;)

550. Another 'behind the scenes' post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=99415#post99415)


That last one was posted Feb. 12th, '05 during the board transition. More writing lesson threads to come soon.

[Dawno]

551. Copyright (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=100381#post100381)

On a personal note I have now finally come to the first time I posted in the thread I am now indexing, asking whether there was an index :) Feb. 13th, '05.

552. Uncle Jim's guidelines for collecting the posts in the Learn Writing thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=100731#post100731)

553. Monday Morning Weirdness (a link) and miscellaneous replies (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101052#post101052)

554. Help for someone who is temporarily stuck (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101119#post101119)

555. Formatting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101121#post101121)

556. Why the Learn Writing thread isn't 'sticky' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=101616#post101616)

557. Editors consider pace (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=102890#post102890)

558. Why not contests (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=103144#post103144)

559. Writers of the Future (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=103460#post103460) (post 3005)

560. More about format (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104003#post104003)

561. More about contests (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104226#post104226)

562. Link to a page about scam contests (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104755#post104755)

563. Uncle Jim notes that he will be at U Conn talking to students taking a Publishing course (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=107041#post107041)

564. Back from U Conn "Printing isn't Publishing" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=107668#post107668)

565. Remove Poetry (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=107687#post107687)

566. Burning first novels (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=108449#post108449)

567. Collaboration (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=108452#post108452)

568. Submitting to US from outside of the US (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=111392#post111392)

569. Two links, one funny, one not (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=111536#post111536)

570. Brief aside relating to the not funny link from previous post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=111771#post111771)

571. Uncle Jim's use of song lyrics in his writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112047#post112047)

572. Atlanta Nights, slush and some links about slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112729#post112729)

573. Uncle Jim shares a lyric he's written (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112732#post112732)

574. Response to reading slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112737#post112737)

575. Fan-fic and slush and All That Jazz (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112810#post112810)

[Dawno]

576. Answers questions of a non-native-English speaker about getting published, markets and links to markets (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112827#post112827)

577. One can learn to write commercially acceptable fiction, re-write the joke exercise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=113111#post113111)

578. A refinement on the above exercise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=113167#post113167)

579. More on the comparison of fan-fic and slush (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=115747#post115747)

580. An observation about a writer's webpage (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=117210#post117210)

581. A short post with a welcome, a point about fan-fic and another about outlining (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=117758#post117758)

582. The best possible reason to write (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=117761#post117761)

583. Link to a page that helps you check the popularity of your web page (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=118437#post118437) (post 3100)

584. Long post brought over from another forum wherein Uncle Jim makes comments and discusses truth vs. fiction about publishing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=118783#post118783)

585. Everything you wanted to know about writing erotica (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119082#post119082)

586. The Mustard Problem (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119286#post119286)

587. Returns (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119311#post119311)

588. Brief comment about slushpile contents (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119319#post119319)

589. Longer post about slushpile contents (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119590#post119590)

590. Odds of getting published out of the slushpile (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=120001#post120001)

591. Getting a fact across vs. padding (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=120906#post120906)

592. Links to "The Best of Hapi Sofi" (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=121217#post121217)(these still work as of April 2nd, '05 but if someday they don't the very next post in the thread has the same links in the AW forum)

593. Re-querying an agent (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=121875#post121875)

594. To re-write or not re-write (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=122765#post122765)

595. What's an easier sale (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=122996#post122996)

596. What happens to publishers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=124765#post124765)

597. Philosopy about writing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=124777#post124777)

598. More about returns (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=124800#post124800)

599. Links to two pieces of fan-fic that would be publishable were it not for the legal problems (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=124873#post124873)

600. Uncle Jim recommends reading the Learn Writing thread in context (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=125019#post125019)

[Dawno]

601. Digital print tech, out of print books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126307#post126307)

602. Reminder that 'this is the novels board' (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126424#post126424)

603. Uncle Jim is writing about novels unless he says specifies otherwise, Elastigirl comment, hasn't looked to see if there's fan-fic about his books (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126433#post126433)

604. Fan-fic: not a recommended way to get an editor's attention (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126615#post126615)

605. Line by line through an excerpt posted upthread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126740#post126740)

606. Publishing erotica (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126813#post126813)

607. Write the book, see which publishers would be a fit (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126834#post126834)

608. A comment about the line by line excerpt (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127112#post127112)

609. Re-readability (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127243#post127243)

610. Re-watchable movies with twist endings (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127506#post127506)

611. Announcement about Writer's Weekend (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=128127#post128127)

612. Passage of time (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=130283#post130283)

613. Disable the grammar checker (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=131750#post131750) (post 3200)

614. "Secret history" and your publisher's legal department (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=134444#post134444)

615. Uncle Jim congratulates Viable Paradise alumni nominated for awards (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=136351#post136351)

616. Story excerpt posted above hasn't reached the climax (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=136503#post136503)

617. Some of the 'why's' left lying around in the excerpted story (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=136665#post136665)

618. Advice about a writer's 'fear of writing trash' and info about the next Viable Paradise (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=136994#post136994)

619. Very short answer to a short question on theme (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=137291#post137291)

620. Cut and paste, visualizing (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=140581#post140581)

621. A post Uncle Jim will explain someday (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=142491#post142491)

622. Some words of (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=142528#post142528)Encouragement (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=142528#post142528)

623. Answer to #621 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=142657#post142657)

624. Using a pseudonym (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143075#post143075)

625. Part one and two of originality (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143080#post143080)

[Dawno]

626. The story of Uncle Jim's first commercially published book (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143089#post143089)

627. You're welcome (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143092#post143092)

628. Being a writer means... (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143245#post143245)

629. Funny covers (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143408#post143408) (goes to same link as given in #569)

630. Follow the guidelines and submit (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=143433#post143433)

631. Hitting the dread mid-book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=144386#post144386)

632. More about moving through the mid-book challenges (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=144591#post144591)

OK, that's it! I'm caught up to date as of the date of this post. I'll edit in new posts by Uncle Jim when I can.

[Dawno]

Since my last post the thread has continued to grow...here are the most recent additions.

Edit: goodness! I messed up the numbers! :o

633. When do your past submissions become your new agent's business (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=145347#post145347)

634. Another 'historical' tidbit about Uncle Jim (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=145585#post145585) & another (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=145733#post145733)

635. Permission to write absolute garbage, no permission to stop before you reach "The End" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=146579#post146579)

636. Writing short stories vs. novels (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=148993#post148993)

637. Wordcounts (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=149221#post149221)

638. Quick question in reference to a previous post, (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=149597#post149597)a followup (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=149610#post149610)

639. Caring about characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=149635#post149635)

[Dawno]

I see I have some catching up to do with less than one month gone by since I last posted to this index. This post will be a bit longer than usual since it's intended to bring the index up to date.

If you haven't been back to the first post you might want to note that I have put some 'highlight' posts at the top. For example, rather than go all the way through the index to find the post on the Celtic Knotwork method you can just go to the first post and it will be at the top of the page.

If there are other posts you'd like me to move up there, PM me please and let me know.

Edit: fixed the numbers

640. Who should tell the story, rather than how (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=150034#post150034)

641. An excerpt edited by Uncle Jim (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=150062#post150062) (original version posted here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=149954#post149954))

642. Continue through to the finish, then reshape (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=150928#post150928)

643. Where the story begins (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=151022#post151022)

644. Supporting the comments in the post above it about a successful book by an AW member (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=151763#post151763)

645. Link to a Live Journal post "Authorial Worries" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=151784#post151784)

646. When in the processs of writing a first novel do you start shopping it around? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=154419#post154419)

647. Shopping the second novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=154692#post154692)

648. Answers to various questions about using an agent, novel length (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=154988#post154988)

649. What to do with the finished first draft (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=155675#post155675)

650. What to do when a character's whole backstory changes mid-way through your novel

(http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=156954#post156954) 651. Link that illustrates (humorously) the interaction between a writer and his character (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=156963#post156963)

652. A revealing look at a fun technique Uncle Jim uses in the first draft of his writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=157027#post157027)

653. Revising as you go (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=157335#post157335)

654. Finding time to write (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=158831#post158831)

655. Advice to someone writing a very long novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=159833#post159833) (see question upthread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=159684#post159684))

656. A follow up to the above advice on picking what to write (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=160045#post160045)

657. The value of friends in high places in publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=160369#post160369)

658. Agents, Slushkiller link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=160708#post160708)

659. Follow guidelines and keep writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=161924#post161924)

660. Starting back up after taking a break from writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162554#post162554)

661. Writing a scene that occurs later in the book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162601#post162601)

662. Link to a blog post "Varieties of Insanity Known to Affect Authors" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162748#post162748)

663. What an author can afford (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162850#post162850) (brief post, humorous)

664. Groupies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162870#post162870)

665. More about groupies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=163467#post163467)

666. Storytime continuing the groupie theme (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=163492#post163492)

667. Burning the first novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=163873#post163873)

668. Info Dump advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164079#post164079)

669. Uncle Jim shares part of a published story with much commentary on how it was written and what he was doing while writing it (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164189#post164189)

670. Requesting information from a person who posted an excerpt regarding what she would like Uncle Jim to do with it (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164265#post164265)

671. Uncle Jim's 'twiddles' -- first cut (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164356#post164356)

672. Uncle Jim explains some of the twiddling (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164538#post164538)

673. POV, refers to Celtic Knot exercise for question about complex plotting (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164756#post164756)

674. Backstory going into the first scene of a story to discuss downthread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164773#post164773)

675. Getting a good ending in mind (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164818#post164818)

676. Line by line through the scene (see #404) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164842#post164842)

677. Write it now (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164844#post164844)

678. Discussing the Celtic Knot (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=164896#post164896)

679. Where the beginning belongs (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=165181#post165181)

680. An ode to BIC and a warning about the fickleness of the Muse (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=165411#post165411)

681. Thanks and a progress report (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=165994#post165994)

682. More on Celtic Knot (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=166261#post166261)

683. Further Celtic Knot details (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=166375#post166375)

684. Welcomes a new reader to the thread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=166668#post166668)

685. Don't explain, show,"and then" rears it's head again (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=167398&post167398)

686. Another brief note about "and then" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=167581#post167581)

687. Brief example of don't explain, show (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=167761#post167761)

688. Further on showing v. telling (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=167773#post167773)

689. Over and out (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=167966#post167966)

690. Submission advice and a brief word about dialogue (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=169739#post169739)

691. A tiny bit of insight into Uncle Jim's writing career (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=169968#post169968)

692. First novels (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=170712#post170712)

693. Can you call it a novel? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=170934#post170934)

694. Recycling a story (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171182#post171182)

695. Quick query about an upthread question (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171270#post171270)

696. How far along is the book? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171365#post171365)

697. Encourages finishing the WIP (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171463#post171463)

698. A suggestion for 'road testing' characters in the ongoing discussion from upthread about a WIP with a large number of characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171599#post171599)

699. Further clarification of the road testing idea (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=171758#post171758)

And I leave you with the same advice Uncle Jim gives in the last post on the thread (for now):

700. Go BIC. (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=172091#post172091)

[Dawno]

I'm going to try and catch up over the next few days...here's a few to get things started.

701. How you become a writer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=172438#post172438)

702. Ways to indicate the year in which one's story is set, real vs. literary dialogue (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=172693#post172693)

703. Brief reply to a question about changing POV (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=173549#post173549)

704. How to show a linebreak, a link to a blog entry called Dealing Poorly With Rejection (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=174026#post174026)

705. Watt-Evan's Law of Literary Creation and Feist's corrollary, return of the Evil Overlord Plot Generator link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=174559#post174559)

706. A tip about copyedit marks and copyeditors, follow publication guidelines (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175161#post175161)

707. Why Uncle Jim's first novel wasn't submitted, what your beta readers will tell you about your writing, fate of the writer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175304#post175304)

708. Finish the first draft, valid concern, what happens in the second draft onward (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175308#post175308)

709. Advice to read widely (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175525#post175525)

710. Time, Romans -- Wacky Hijinks Ensue (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176136#post176136) (need to read upthread for the context)

[Dawno]

The "next couple of days" was over 2 weeks ago! yikes. Let's see how far I can get this weekend.

711. Pope Jim? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176482#post176482)

712. More Wacky Romans - a writing challenge/assignment (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176527#post176527)

713. Tips on POV from a question upthread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176701#post176701)

714. A Marketing Plan in Rhyme (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=177734#post177734)

715. Link to the Locus poll (now closed) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=179438#post179438)

716. Under what category will it be shelved? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=179691#post179691)

717. Line by Line on description using a bit of the song "The Gambler" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=179720#post179720)

718. Promotion (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=179754#post179754)

719. Got it! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=180054#post180054)

710. How long should it sit in the desk drawer? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=180442#post180442)

711. A suggested re-write of a sentence posted upthread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=180647#post180647)

712. How many words per day for BIC? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=181008#post181008)

713. The common term for spreading out the 'info dump' over the course of a story (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=181098#post181098)

714. Heinlein's advice about revisions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=181263#post181263)

715. BIC - how many hours? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=181554#post181554)

716. The dread mid-book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=182158#post182158)

717. The trunk full of unfinished novels (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=182310#post182310)

718. POV, consistency, don't confuse the readers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=182932#post182932)

719. A good thing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=183448#post183448)

720. A suggested change in wording (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=185155#post185155)

721. Encouraging words (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=185160#post185160)

722. the "-ly" tip (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=186601#post186601)

723. The "adverb catch and release" program (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=187174#post187174)

724. How important is it? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=188781#post188781)

725. Use the best tools (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=188784#post188784)

726. Try it, see if it works (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=189012#post189012)

727. Bad things can happen to good authors (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=189033#post189033)

728. On rules for novel writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=189803#post189803)

729. The Hot and Sour Soup assignment (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=190757#post190757)

730. After the "-ly" exercise what to look for next (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=190964#post190964)

731. Some excellent advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=191031#post191031)

732. Reading aloud (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=191872#post191872)

733. The rise of fantasy (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=198705#post198705)

734. Location of the slushpile & new authors (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=198808#post198808)

735. Short reply post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199206#post199206) (and post #4003)

I don't like these posts to get to long, so I'll submit and continue in the next one. We're in mid-May on the thread, won't be many more posts to catch up to date.

[Dawno]

736. "Preferred" slushpile? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199419#post199419)

737. Queries (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199518#post199518)

738. Protect your computer! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199520#post199520)

739. Star Wars humor (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199522#post199522)

740. Clarifying question about upthread post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=200050#post200050)

741. More on consistency (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=200761#post200761)

742. SASE (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=201203#post201203)

743. Guidelines link to audio market for short Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=201301#post201301)

744. Pseudonyms (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=201943#post201943)

745. a or an SASE? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=203705#post203705)

746. Inside or outside the quotes? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=203749#post203749)

747. Style standards (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=203770#post203770)

748. Juggling (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=203816#post203816)

749. More about juggling (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=204343#post204343)

750. Experience life with an author vicariously (link post) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=204875#post204875)

751. About that link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=204995#post204995)

752. Link to another reason to back up files (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=205150#post205150)

753. Link to a source for graph paper for working out Celtic Knots (see my 1st post for link to the knot post) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206014#post206014)

754. Paying market? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206262#post206262)

755. The "too many hatcheck girls" joke (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206271#post206271)

756. Romance heroine rules link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206731#post206731)

757. Theme and the second draft (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=208889#post208889)

758. LOTR and the slushpile (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=212609#post212609)

759. Gallup poll about readers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=214184#post214184)

760. An author's conundrum about his next book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215214#post215214)

761. Write another book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215282#post215282)

*whew* all caught up!

[Dawno]

762. Example of a book where the first person narrator dies at the end (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215752#post215752)

763. Use an appropriate amount of detail to regulate pace (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215754#post215754)

764. What readers asking for more of your work means (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215756#post215756)

765. Mostly first person Stephen King book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215800#post215800)

766. First novel author Kostova hits it big (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215818#post215818)

767. More info on the big advance for first novel writer Kostova (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215825#post215825)

768. Oprah's Book Club (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215863#post215863)

769. twisty little maze of messageboards (and read upthread one post for a link to a great essay) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=216378#post216378)

770. Liam's book and the Lulu Experiment (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=216611#post216611)

771. Opinion of No Plot, No Problem and link to Evil Overlord Plot Generator (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=217055#post217055)

772. Do readers care? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=217664#post217664)

773. Do what's best for your story, link to (and quote from) RWA definition of romance (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=217688#post217688)

774. Go to the conference, listen, network (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=217713#post217713)

775. BEA after action report link - TOR Giant Weiner Costume (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=217805#post217805)

776. Upthread poster gets invititation to submit MS, Jim inquires as to poster's submission status (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=218113#post218113)

777. Next steps after submission (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=218126#post218126)

778. Beware pique (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=218202#post218202)

779. Readers reaction to description (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=218382#post218382)

780. Story trumps everything (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=218816#post218816)

781. Styles change, stories are eternal (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=222709#post222709)

782. Handwriting ms, endpoint in mind at the start, reference to positional chess plotting (see index's 1st post for a link) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=223067#post223067)

783. Why experienced writers help new writers, homework for the rest of your life (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=223503#post223503)

784. What you should write (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=223512#post223512)

785. Welcome to a new poster (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=225344#post225344)

786. Dialog, Woo Hoo! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=225684#post225684)

787. Dialog tags - don't confuse the reader (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=225922#post225922)

788. Link to Uncle Jim story (audio format) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=227045#post227045)

789. About series books (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=227581#post227581)

790. The 7 point and 3 point plot outlines (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=228567#post228567)

791. An Assignment! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=228839#post228839)

792. em-dash v. ellipsis and Chicago Manual of Style (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229002#post229002)

793. Some notes on the assignment given above (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229116#post229116)

794. Covers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229587#post229587)

795. More about covers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=229893#post229893)

796. Blurbs (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=230093#post230093)

797. Blurb writer's salary vs. slush reader's salary (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=230408#post230408)

798. Eating, drinking, going to the bathroom (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=231591#post231591)

799. When does it matter? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=231639#post231639)

800. Brief comments on upthread discussions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=232467#post232467)

801. Technical advice on reading the thread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=233160#post233160)

802. Bullets (the kind you fire from a gun) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=233184#post233184)

803. Query letter (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=233524#post233524)

[Dawno]

804. Formatting a submission, link to a review of an older book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=235211&#post=2352114451)

805. Mixing up names on submissions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=235793#post235793)

806. Font (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=235796#post235796)

807. Link to an article on Making Light called "What Publishing Is" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=235838#post235838)

808. Synopsis (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=236878#post236878)

809. Anecdotes about submitting to a Literary Agent (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=236897#post236897)

810. Have a "running head" with your name on every page (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=236980#post236980)

811. More about the lost author info (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237299#post237299)

812. Use of "reply all" and the word funny (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237308#post237308)

813. Link to "Researching the Historical Novel" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237462#post237462)

814. Just sell the one book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237913#post237913)

815. Example link about brevity (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237926#post237926)

816. What you can assume about any novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237962#post237962)

817. Synopsis provides insight into a possible problem in a novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=237993#post237993)

818. Maybe story starts at the wrong place (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=238068#post238068)

819. A peek into the mind of JK Rowling as she adds backstory (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=239713#post239713)

820. Assignments!! (Happy Fourth of July and Canada Day Weekend) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=239765#post239765)

821. This is the 4500th post - Remark on the efficacy of the Logical Chess exercise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=240090#post240090)

822. Strength of prose as relates to strength of story (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264103#post264103)

823. Uncle Jim's desire to write a story using previous post's list of no-no's (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264216#post264216)

824. Average YA novel length (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264264#post264264)

825. Believer in finishing works (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264391#post264391)

826. Clarifying Heinlein's rule about not revising (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264402#post264402)

827. Whose opinion counts (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=264421#post264421)

828. Clarifying an Orwell rule (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=265110#post265110)

829. Bringing readers closer to characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=266253#post266253)

830. More about the characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=267771#post267771)

831. Write bios or not? Use what works for you (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=268752#post268752)

832. Choosing the right word, meaning and context (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=269845#post269845)

833. Filecards per character (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=270056#post270056)

834. Link to a thread about Agents Charging Fees (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=271667#post271667)

835. Time for a beta reader (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=271736#post271736)

836. Questions about an author's old YA books (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=272037#post272037)

837. More on the above (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=272147#post272147)

838. And a little bit more as well (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=272340#post272340)

839. Advice to someone re-thinking what they've written, link to an article (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=273265#post273265)

840. Beta readers, Delacourt's YA contest (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=277933#post277933)

841. What category a book is called is up to the marketing dept. (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=279070#post279070)

842. Story dating (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=279760#post279760)

843. A joke (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=279788#post279788)

844. Make BIC time for new and BIC time for revisions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=282933#post282933)

845. Brown the Tragedian (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=283047#post283047)

846. Making sure the MS is really ready for the beta readers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=284576#post284576)
(http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=284576#post284576)
847. Practice skills to obtain them (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=284922#post284922)

848. Brag on a student link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=286545#post286545)

849. Link to other works by Viable Paradise students (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=287222#post287222)

850. Start your next one today, consistency is key (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=291594#post291594)

851. Recommended reading links (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=292133#post292133)

852. On using recommendations in a query letter (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=307161#post307161)

853. Thank you and a brief comment on the coming hurricane (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=308305#post308305)

854. Book that isn't written isn't read or sold (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=308431#post308431)

855. Advice to writer with two novels vying for BIC time (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=308562#post308562)



I wanted to come out of my role as someone who is just linking to Jim's posts and editorialize a bit. I would like to suggest you read Mark Pettus's posts from here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=298817#post298817) downward. He's a student of Jim's and I believe expresses well how anyone who has benefitted from Jim's selfless gift of these lessons feels.


Again, I hope these index posts are helpful. If you find a broken one or have any comments, please PM me.

[Dawno]

Hello fellow students of James D. Macdonald. Yes, I haven't updated in nearly 4 months. But let's put that behind us now!

856. Where to look for information on stats/trends in publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=309991#post309991)

857. What to look for in a beta reader (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=317030#post317030)

858. More about the "ideal beta reader" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=317182#post317182)

859. Some general advice to would be novelists (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=322347#post322347)

860. Royalties and reserve against returns (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=332951#post332951)

861. Pricing books (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=336852#post336852)

862. Read other writers with your writer mind (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=336857#post336857)

863. When to send your novel out (with a link to The Unstrung Harp; or, Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=336859#post336859)

864. About sending out a revised work that's made the rounds before (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=342726#post342726)

865. Formatting question - Follow the Guidelines! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=360360#post360360)

866. Uncle Jim's Line by Line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=380368#post380368)of a first page suggested in this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84908#post84908)

867. Style vs. Story in the line by line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=380525#post380525)

868. Definition of Gothic (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=380531#post380531)

869. A quiz: "What Kind of Regency Hero are You?" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=380756#post380756)

870. Jim reveals some personal information (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=381516#post381516)

871. Regarding copyright questions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=383278#post383278)

872. Facepalm and Troy in Fifteen Minutes link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=383522#post383522)

873. Wordcount (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=385574#post385574) guidance for novel length works (be sure to read question (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=385485#post385485) upthread)

874. More on wordcount (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=386462#post386462) (this time about actually counting words)

875. COCOA petition link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=391760#post391760)

876. Boasting on fellow Viable Paradise instructor (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=393615#post393615)

877. About some Viable Paradise alumni (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=393671#post393671)

878. A west coast workshop Jim did, focus of Viable Paradise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=394568#post394568)

879. Short form vs. Long - no writing is wasted (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=396025#post396025)

880. Something Jim wrote gets mentioned on BBC (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=396837#post396837)

881. On a writer's productivity (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=399927#post399927)

Editorial Note: Some posts were lost in the host migration. There was one of Jim's in that group and they were all copied and re-posted - but the only way I could do it was inside of a post of my own. Scroll to the middle to see Jim's post mentioned above.

882. Three things you should know about publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=406030#post406030)

883. Dept of Labor's description of "Writer" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=411471#post411471)

884. On the job training (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=412028#post412028)

885. Plug for Making Light's nomination as Best Blog '05 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=413308#post413308)

886. Assignment due Dec. 25th 2005 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415062#post415062)

887. A Prologue from way upthread upon which Uncle Jim will do a line by line
(http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=416770#post416770)
888. The line by line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=416842#post416842)

889. Link to an inside peek at a publisher's office (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=416862#post416862)

890. Workmanlike writing - moving the story along (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417093#post417093)

891. Explains "dialog is privileged" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417568#post417568)

892. A grammar joke (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417800#post417800)

893. Taking a look at the opening to A Christmas Carol (line by line follows) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417806#post417806)

[Dawno]

Apologies for anyone who was looking for more recent posts. I'll get us caught up to date now.

894. A Christmas Carol, Page 1, Chapter 1, Line by Line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417963#post417963)

895. A grammar tidbit about prepositions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=417967#post417967)

896. What do do next with a finished story (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=418220#post418220)

897. What does the first page of A Christmas Carol establish? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=418445#post418445)

898. Getting the point across; casting yourself as a character (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=418474#post418474)

899. The plot, story and theme of A Christmas Carol (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=418790#post418790)

900. First two pages of Maltese Falcon (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=418827#post418827)

901. First two pages of Maltese Falcon line by line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=421290#post421290)

902. Some details from the first two pages of the Maltese Falcon (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=421750#post421750)

903. What you as the artist need to be sure of (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=422073#post422073)

904. First two pages of a novel published in 2005 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=422166#post422166)

905. A clue about the author of the above mentioned book (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=423040#post423040)

906. The name of the book revealed (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=423395#post423395)

907. Why adding characters helps (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=425465#post425465)

908. Whack a Mole characters; Cherish your minor characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=425677#post425677)

909. Part two of the writing assignment (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=431719#post431719) (see #886 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415062#post415062) ) -Christmas Day-

910. A news clip about the gov't of Turkey vs. a writer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=434703#post434703)

911. Tough, but not impossible (clarification about the assignment) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=436157#post436157)

912. The kind of an outline that James suggests accompanies the first 10k of a novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=438849#post438849)

913. More about outlining (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=439713#post439713)

914. What Viable Paradise is looking for (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=439935#post439935)

915. A brief off-topic interjection about the FDA banning a medication (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=440710#post440710)

916. Details of a sub-plot (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=442370#post442370)

917. Ideas are easy (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=442425#post442425)

918. More on "The Assignment" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=443407#post443407)

919. Link to info on Viable Paradise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=444541#post444541)

920. Acceptance into Viable Paradise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=444889#post444889)

Well, that's all for tonight. Only 11 more pages to go! :)

[Dawno]

921. About waiting to resolve unexplained conversation or references (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=456452#post456452)

922. Details about some of the "25 rules" posted earlier (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=457103#post457103)

923. Header formatting (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=457452#post457452)

924. Subplots that don't advance the main plot (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=457674#post457674)

925. More on formatting submissions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=459105#post459105)

926. Everything needs to support the theme, advance the plot, or reveal character (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=459498#post459498)

927. And more on formatting submissions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=459508#post459508)

928. Scene break hash mark formatting (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=459759#post459759)

929. Complaints about scene switching (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=462236#post462236)

930. Number of manuscripts in each category of subs to Viable Paradise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=463154#post463154)

931. Capitalizing, The Peter Crossman book of short stories available at Lulu (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=465924#post465924)

932. About rights (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=466994#post466994)

933. "Something useful to tell a person" method of instruction (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=470899#post470899)

934. Short story vs novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=471828#post471828)

935. Amazon comments (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=472996#post472996)

936. Opinions on Macdonald's books (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=472998#post472998)

937. Using names of public persons, song titles (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=473761#post473761)

938. Points to cover in a query letter (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=474213#post474213)

939. Link to blogpost with good advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=479187#post479187)

940. Offsite backup of your MS - don't worry about theft (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=480633#post480633)

941. More about MS theft (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=481138#post481138)

942. Viable Paradise subs (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=483212#post483212)

943. Next step in recent writing exercise (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=483480#post483480) (see #886 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=415062#post415062))

944. About submissions, acknowledgement postcards, simultaneous submissions (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=483518#post483518)

945. Noting 'simultaneous sub' on a cover letter, don't include your rejection slips (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=483774#post483774)

946. Long-ish post chock full of advice about simultaneous submissions to agents/publishers (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484144#post484144)

947. Submitting multiple stories to same market (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpthread.php?p=484347#post484347)

948. RITA-eligible publishers from the RWA website (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484480#post484480)

949. Poetry publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484496#post484496)

950. Writing short stories vs novels, follow your heart (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484638#post484638)

I'm going to post these now, since I spent quite a while on them earlier, lost the whole thing somehow right at this point and I don't want to do it all over for a third time :D

I'll be back with more soon

[Dawno]

951. Please the reader (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484647#post484647)

952. What the synopsis of a sub to VP should cover, how short can a short story be? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484762#post484762)

953. How short stories function (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=484769#post484769)

954. Gender of a pen name (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=485104#post485104)

955. "Professional" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=486536#post486536)

956. Advice about expanding a sub plot (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=486649#post486649)

957. More advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=486736#post486736)

958. The difference between writing for publication and writing for a living (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=486828#post486828)

959. On "rejectomancy" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=487131#post487131)

960. The trick is... (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=487650#post487650)

961. Writing a book a year (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=487861#post487861)

962. Dealing with trouble, following Jim's book's trip to the publisher (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=489326#post489326)

963. Starting a new book while still working on the current one (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=489438#post489438)

964. The 'post turn-in haze' (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=496135#post496135)

965. Litfic vs Genre, how close to get to your characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=498600#post498600)

966. Off to Boskone! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=498951#post498951)

967. The beta readers will tell you if it works, novellas (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=506465#post506465)

968. Featuring a Russian-accented giraffe (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=508330#post508330)

969. Beta reader qualities (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=510596#post510596)

970. Each chapter should contain a reason to go on reading (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=511557#post511557)

971. Question to poster about a query posted for critique (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=511559#post511559)

972. Query letter advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=511782#post511782)

973. Advice on the cover letter, query, & synopsis (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=512763#post512763)

974. SLF Mentorship program (probably closed now) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=512840#post512840)

975. Advice about characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=514869#post514869)

[Dawno]

976. A thank you post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=517051#post517051)

977. An inside look at publishing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=522408#post522408)

978. Proprioception (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=524315#post524315)

979. What are novellas more like - novels or short stories? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=524319#post524319)

980. On sending a partial of an unfinished novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=527636#post527636)

981. Link to devilish rejections (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=531932#post531932)

982. Using strings of numbers, "somehow" and workshop comments (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=537239#post537239)

983. The best way to tell if you've started your novel in the wrong place (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=537255#post537255)

984. Link to a LiveJournal post showing how one figures out how many words are in a ms & how many printed pages that comes to (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=537428#post537428)

985. Link to a site full of old, odd and outdated words (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=539085#post539085)

986. A new "first two pages" post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=549593#post549593)

987. Advice on whether to focus on plot or character (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=549693#post549693)

988. Line by line of the above "first two pages" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=550616#post550616)

989. Comment on the "first two pages" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=552443#post552443)

990. How to tell that the characters know they're characters in a novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=552445#post552445)

991. Getting the info into the story - is it really necessary? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=553824#post553824)

992. The "first two pages" title revealed, two fun quizzes (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=553828#post553828)

993. Clarification question in response to a post about English vs American spelling and punctuation (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=556100#post556100)

994. Be consistent and make your story compelling (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=556997#post556997)

995. The big difference between English and American punctuation, consistency revisited, the genius exception (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=557529#post557529)

996. Third person omnipresent POV (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=557996#post557996)

997. Discussion about the author's role in publicizing books

(http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=558524#post558524)998. Standards for synopses, queries, etc. (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=559042#post559042)

999. Where to put punctuation when using single quotes inside double quotes (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=561137#post561137)

1000. Link to the Absolute Write chat channel for Uncle Jim's AW Chat (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=569176#post569176)

1001. Thank you and assurances of a transcript of the chat (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=569402#post569402) (you can obtain the transcript at this link, btw (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=571090#post571090))

Wow. 1001 links. And I still have PAGES left to index to get up to date. More to come soon!

[Dawno]

1002. Show vs tell example (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=575753#post575753)

1003. Link "How Books Make Money" (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=579260#post579260)

1004. Link to written techniques as see from a game developer's POV (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=594197#post594197)

1005. Submitting a book that's already published via Lulu (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=604143#post604143)

1006. Uncle Jim goes to his son's graduation and other places (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=606380#post606380)

1007. When to introduce major characters (the Page 100 Rule) (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=616520#post616520)

1008. About that BIC time (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=618164#post618164)

1009. Encouragement (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=620448#post620448)

1010. Introducing characters - play with it (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=624682#post624682)

1011. A tidbit about Mist and Snow (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=626070#post626070)

1012. Request for Google Caches of the thread from May 24 to June 30, '06 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628914#post628914)

1013. A number of Jim's posts are embedded here recovered by Andrew Jameson (thanks!) after the site crashed and lost a month of posts. (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628928#post628928)

1014. More recovered posts (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628940#post628940)

1015. More recovered posts (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628957#post628957)

1016. and more... (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628969#post628969) I hope everyone who is reading the recovered posts gives Andrew a rep. point of thanks for the great job he did!

1017. Back to Uncle Jim's regular posts wherein he shows that he has kept his sense of humor (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=628979#post628979)

1018. Dialog, Dune, declines to post in SYW (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=632701#post632701)

1019. Reserve against returns explained (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=633211#post633211)

1020. Line by line answers to questions about 'earning out' an advance (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=633259#post633259)

1021. Misapprehension about 'earning out' (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=634228#post634228)

1022. Doing dialect - Preorder Mist and Snow as a hedge against a hard winter (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=635228#post635228)

1023. Readercon agenda (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=635242#post635242)

1024. Planning on vindaloo at Readercon (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=635439#post635439)

1025. Don't worry about how the book will be classified (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=643317#post643317)

1026. Lose nothing with the cuts if the reader would skip it, do what works (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=643898#post643898)

1027. Use said words other than 'said' lightly (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=646112#post646112)

1028. Ruined as a reader (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=647292#post647292)

1029. Frequency of the unnamed character in fiction (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=652793#post652793)

1030. Mist and Snow cover, link to first chapter of same (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=652820#post652820)

1031. More on those unnamed characters (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=653837#post653837)

1032. Advice on ending a chapter, get Magic and Showmanship (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655226#post655226)

1033. First two pages of Mist and Snow (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655412#post655412)

1034. More about that chapter ending (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655475#post655475)

1035. Mist and Snow first page line by line (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655586#post655586)

1036. Where to find Apocalypse Door (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655842#post655842)

1037. An interesting sentence from "A Visit From St. Nicholas" to diagram (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=659327#post659327)

1038. The sign on Uncle Jim's door (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=659354#post659354)

1039. First person POV in novels (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=661162#post661162)

1040. An editor's feeling about trilogies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=664602#post664602)

1041. A lament about fantasists (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=665710#post665710)

1042. Prediction about trilogies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=665960#post665960)

1043. Uncle Jim to be on the radio talking about publishing, scams, etc. (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=670580#post670580)

1044. Uncle Jim is consistent with his advice to be consistent (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=673734#post673734)

1045. Bad habits and writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=674212#post674212)

1046. Punctuation - don't confuse the reader, link to a review of a lit novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=674302#post674302)

1047. More about punctuation, the famous (infamous?) serial comma example (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=675872#post675872)

1048. Theme defined by example (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=679549#post679549)

1049. A song about bad habits and writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=681935#post681935)

1050. More about theme (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=683049#post683049)

Break time! I'll be back soon...

[Dawno]

1051. Info from Jim about Mist and Snow (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=686764#post686764)

1052. Welcome post (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=688097&#post688097)

1053. Mention theme in query letter? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=689704#post689704)

1054. Another mention of the radio show with Uncle Jim (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=703282#post703282)

1055. 15 minutes till air time... (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=704590#post704590)

1056. Jim assures us he'll post the replay link when he knows about it (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=705061#post705061)

1057. Jim gets a bad review on the Barnes & Noble site (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=705249#post705249)

1058. Link to post about finding the start of one's novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=707294#post707294)

1059. On outlines, link to a series of posts about how publishing works (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=708112#post708112)

1060. When backstory isn't (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=708468#post708468)

1060. A succinct answer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=708654#post708654)

1061. Jim will be away from his computer for a week (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=709554#post709554)

1062. Briefly checking in and mentioning his trip (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=729431#post729431)

1063. More about the trip (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=735610#post735610)

1064. The taste of iodine (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=736072#post736072)

1065. Don't forget the master rule (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=736859#post736859)

1066. Link to a new Mist and Snow excerpt online (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=737134#post737134)

1067. Plot Bunnies link (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=739357#post739357)

1068. A companion on the trip was also a writer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=742835#post742835)

1069. More meat to the thread bump (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=766227#post766227)

1070. Another game - Plans One through Eight from Outer Space! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=770724#post770724)

1071. The next task of the game (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=773738#post773738)

1072. Homework and being a writer (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=773844#post773844)

1073. The three hardest things in getting started with a novel (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=774977#post774977)

1074. Jim posts his books in AW Library (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=776120#post776120)

I did it! We're up to date now. :D

If you catch any bad links or have suggestions for better captions, please PM me.

[Carmy]

Awsome Dawno. Thank you.

[Dawno]

Trying something new with the new multi quote function

1075.Copying your first draft to the computer is a good thing. As you go, you can change things. If something seems short or rushed -- expand it. If something doesn't seem to be worth the trouble of retyping it --don't.

As to whether you should write your next novel de novo on the computer ... try it. See what happens.

You're allowed to start original writing on your next while you revise your current book.

1076.I just spotted this in the Google Ads of another writing-related site:

Whitmore Publishing
Quality book publishing since 1961 No publishing fee. We pay you.
whitmorepublishing.comLet's count up the lies in that ad, shall we? Like the sign in the Dashiel Hammet story*, it threatens to have more lies than words.

We can start the first lie with the name of the firm. Whitmore Publishing (http://www.whitmorepublishing.com/index.html) isn't really Whitmore Publishing: it's Dorrance (http://www.dorrancepublishing.com/) (the well-known (not to say infamous) vanity press).

Oh, they try to disguise the fact: Whitmore gives its address as 926 Liberty Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA. Dorrance's address is 701 Smithfield Street, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA. But a brief glance at Google Maps will show you that those two addresses refer to the same building: Whitmore (http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=926+Liberty+Avenue,+Pittsburgh,+PA); Dorrance (http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=701+Smithfield+Street+Third+Floor,+Pittsburgh,+P A).

There was a publisher called Whitmore, back in the 1960s. And they did (as the current Whitmore boasts) publish Warren Adler's first book. What the current site doesn't mention is that the Whitmore that published Adler went out of business in the early 1990s. All the books are long-since reverted, all the editorial, production, sales and marketing staff has long-since moved on to other places. So "since 1961" is a shocking lie, as is their claim to quality book publishing. Or book publishing at all -- the current Whitmore arose in 2003, some ten years after the real Whitmore disappeared.

"No publishing fee" is a red flag. When is there ever a publishing fee with a legitimate press? It's also a lie. This current Whitmore follows PublishAmerica's business plan: they print, POD, and their market is their own authors. They sell overpriced books and expect to make their profit on the small number of sales that come from self-purchases. The fee is hidden in the cover price.

"We pay you." Indeed. They pay an advance that's ten times higher than PublishAmerica's. They expect to get many times more back from the author. That's the equivalent of cutting off a dog's tail and handing it back to the dog, saying, "Here you go, Fido! A nice piece of meat!"

"whitmorepublishing.com" -- lists as its technical contact a person with a dorrancepublishing.com email address. Dorrancepublishing.com's IP number is 65.39.195.54. Whitmorepublishing.com's IP number is 65.39.195.56. They're both hosted by Peer 1 Network.


A lot of writing (and other) sites don't realize that they can block URLs from advertising with them. The Google ads you see on writing-related sites (based as they are on keywords) are almost universally for scams: Vanity publishers, fake agents, unneeded services. The rule is this: If you see a publisher or an agent advertising through Google, they're either scammers or worthless.

===========*I was reading a sign high on the wall behind the bar:

ONLY GENUINE PRE-WAR AMERICAN AND
BRITISH WHISKEYS SERVED HERE

I was trying to count how many lies could be found in those nine words, and had reached four, with promise of more, when one of my confederates, the Greek, cleared his thoat with the noise a gasoline engine's backfire.

1077. Not all that difficult. You know, if you see a publisher or agent advertising with Google, that they're bent somehow.

Meanwhile, Allynegirl, the general solution to problem scenes:

Flop it, crop it, or drop it.

That is, rewrite, showing the scene from a different POV. Or, make it lots shorter. If those don't work, delete it and see if the story still works.

1078. From the archives of SFF Net (http://archives.sff.net/newsgroups/sff/publishing/scams/00000011.html) (where I was looking for something totally unrelated), I find this list of The Lies of Publishing by the learned Teresa Nielsen Hayden (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/):

-- We'll fix that in the proofs.

-- We regard ourselves as having made a serious long-term commitment to
your career, but we can't give you any more money.

-- The manuscript is very clean.

-- We'll fix that in the second pass.

-- Don't worry, this is standard industry practice.

-- I've already started reading your manuscript, but I don't want to
comment on it until I've finished the whole thing.

-- We'll fix that in the actual book.

-- The art will look a lot better when it's printed.

-- I'll get back to you on that.

-- You don't need to put that in the contract.

-- When you've been a pro as long as I have, a few rejections don't worry you.

-- We'll fix that in the paperback.

-- The copyeditor must have done that -- too late to fix it now!

-- The cover will look a lot better when it's foiled and embossed.

-- Bad reviews don't bother me. I don't even read 'em anymore, and I
certainly don't obsess over them.

-- The sales force is very excited about your upcoming book.

-- Of course I'll have the book in on time.

-- Nobody'll notice that typo anyway.

-- We'll do whatever it takes to make it right.

-- The check is in the mail.

1079. Author lies? In addition to "Of course I'll have the book in on time," "A few rejections don't worry me" and "Bad reviews don't bother me" are total fibs.

1080.
Originally Posted by T. Nielsen Hayden
Aaaargh! Did I actually post that in public? How young and irresponsible of me.
Indeed you did, right out in a public newsgroup where the world could see it.

I feel bad for anyone who's heard all four. (I also envy them.)Heck, I've gotten a fifth, after "We'll fix that in the paperback": "We'll fix that in the next printing."

1081. (DamaNegra asked "who's Yog") http://www.sff.net/people/yog/

1082. Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/). Arrrr, Matey!

A couple o' off-topic things, then an on-topic thing:

Learn CPR at Home (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3034292) (for $30). I be a big believer in CPR (an' in public-access AEDs -- if yer community dasn't be havin' `em, be seein' if ye can get th' program going).

Chapter Three (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/Mistsnow3.htm) o' Land o' Mist an' Snow (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060819197/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) be now on line. (An' a very nice article in one o' our local weeklies (http://www.colebrookchronicle.com/mainpage.html) last Friday.)

Now th' on-topic thing:

Crawford Kilian has a series o' articles on Writin' a Novel (http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/novel/) that ye might find useful.

1083. CPR an' AED courses (http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/aed.html) be available in lots o' communities. Prices (an' times an' places they's offered) vary: try callin' yer local ambulance squad or hospital t' be seein' when they'll be gi'en an' what they'll cost.

Th' courses range from Free on up, dependin'.

(In our community, me ambulance squad puts a wee kit wi' ever' public-access AED, consisin' o' a ziplock baggie holdin' a pocket CPR facemask, a couple o' pairs o' gloves, a set o' EMT shears, a washcloth, a disposable razor, an' a couple o' alcohol swabs.)

I be seein' CPR work wid me own eyes (that be, a guy down an' dead, subsequently walkin' ou' o' th' hospital wi' nay neuro deficits). `Tis worth 't t' know how t' do that.

(Particularly if ye`re a 50-60 year old female. Ye`re th' one most likely t' witness a cardiac event; th' shipmate sittin' across from ye at th' breakfast table goin' down hard. Ye dasn't want t' be seein' that an' nay know what ter do next.)

While th' modern public-access AEDs be havin' pictures on 'em an' a voice chip in 'em what will talk ye through th' whole procedure, 'tis good t' familiarize yersef wi' them first. Th' number one reason they dasn't work in th' field si th' swabbie operatin' them dasn't take th' pads ou' o' th' package. Th' number two reason be th' swabbie tries t' stick th' pads abroadside o' th' patient`s clothin' rather than on th' patient`s bare chest. If ye`re suddenly faced wi' a Dead Swabbie, things get excitin' in a hurry an' 'tis easy t' get flustered. Havin' had th' machine in yer hand once in a classroom settin' can take away a wee bit o' th' high-pucker-factor that I promise ye're goin' t' feel.


If ye wants ter buy an AED (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=13585) for yer church or home or office, they start around $900 (http://www.aedprofessionals.com/).

1084.Here are a couple more links for y'all:

First is to many of the books and movies that we've talked about in Learn Writing (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/UncleJim.html).

Next is to a bunch of books that would be interesting to writers (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/books_for_writers.htm).

All the associate income from sales of these books go to AW (and y'all remember the down-time we had a couple of months ago? Legal fees and such continue....)

1085. A reading list for fantasy writers: http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/

1086. Well, Casi, that sounds like a book you need to write.

First, get everything on paper. Then use novelists' techniques to make it interesting to others.

More than that -- we have a non-fiction section here at AW. You might want to hang out there, too.

------------

Oh. I've just heard that Amazon now allows folks to comment on the reviews posted there.

If I catch anyone from here commenting on reviews on your own book, I will come to your house and mock you in person. ABM, y'know?

1087. Oh -- funny coincidence. A good friend of mine woke up this morning at about 0130 with a panicky feeling. Yep, he was having a heart attack. (He's fine, in the Cardiac Care Unit right now.) And he's younger than me....

1088. Remember that the moral of the "sour grapes" story (http://www.pacificnet.net/%7Ejohnr/cgi/aesop1.cgi?2&TheFoxandtheGrapes2) was "It is easy to despise what you cannot have."

When a self-published author says "Bookstores are lousy places to sell books," that's "sour grapes."

1089. From another thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=806104):

Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie

There are many, many Muslim terrorists, and not writing about them out of fear of audience reaction is what writing should never be about.
"What's in the slush today?"

"A book about Muslim terrorists, a book about Muslim terrorists, a book about Muslim terrorists, and a book about terrorists who are Muslims."

"Okay, put 'em in the 'Muslim Terrorist' pile."

"Which one?"

"The one that hasn't fallen over yet. What's that in your hand?"

"A book about West Florida Separatist (http://www.answers.com/topic/dominion-of-british-west-florida) terrorists."

"Hey! Is it any good?"

--------------------

Allen, I'll be in Maryland around Thanksgiving. I understand Virginia isn't too far from there? (Blue Cheese Chicken is fine with me.)

1090.Mike Ford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Ford) is dead. The world is a poorer place.

It is given to no man to know the day or hour.

1091.Mike was in fragile health for a long time. Diabetes, a kidney transplant ... we all knew he was chronically ill. Still, it came as a shock. He'd posted a witty poem just the day before.

While looking for his old posts, I came across this discussion: How Books Sell (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002858.html). Folks who read this thread might find it interesting.

1092.Mike Ford on Romance (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006306.html), or, See! He agrees with me! I must be right!The shortish version (and there are much, much longer ones) comes from the division of stories into didaxis, mimesis, and romance -- teaching/instruction, the representation of reality, and idealization. (Or, as I said in another book someplace, lectures, reportage, and lies.) A "romance" in this sense is an idealized story, rather than a "realistic" one. It comes from an earlier usage, meaning stories told in the vernacular (the "romance languages") rather than Latin. Most of those vernacular stories were, well, pulp yarns. Amadis de Gaul, Alonso Quejana's version of the Jack Ryan series, was in the language of everybody who could read.


1093.There is no one as selfish as a reader standing in front of a shelf in a bookstore.

1094.If you don't have subplots, what you have is a short story.

Subplots add depth and richness to your novel by comparing, contrasting, and supporting the theme.

Think of counterpoint and harmonies in music. Those are subplots.

1095.Replying to reviews is always problematical. I'd avoid doing it. If you must, write a review of your own.

1096.Snowflake, it might be time for you to read closely and analyse some of your favorite books to see how those authors did it.

1097.Our friend Sherwood Smith has been publishing under that name since her first book. This isn't in any way even close to her legal name.

Without having read Miss Snark's remark I can't say anything about her specific issue. In my own experience, the name on the cover of the book is a matter between you and the publisher.

1098.No one needs TV.

1099.Rather than subplot, when I use these I work with theme and characters. Thus, it's time for a scene with Randy, and the theme will be Honor.

It helps move things along, shows your progress, and provides inspiration for what the next scene will be. And, it's pretty.

1100. Originally Posted by FennelGiraffe
But I also thought that where the strands crossed was saying something about where subplots should be connected.

It can be anything you want it to be. Theme can also connect. One can be brought to the forefront.

I'm sorry that that isn't clear -- it's an ideosyncratic method of my own.

1101.Speaking of chemical fires and such, it's time for me to plug by Jump Kit (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/emerg_kit.htm) page.

1102. In response to: Originally Posted by Theo Neel
In fact, talking out loud can be very helpful in clarifying your thoughts so that when you do get precious keyboard time, you're not wasting it staring at a blank screen. (Talking out loud helps your brain process creativity -- a left brain/right brain kind of thing.)Talking to yourself also gets you a seat to yourself on the bus/subway....

1103.Don't tell the readers anything until they care.

1104.If the readers don't care, they won't remember a word you've said.

1105.May I again recommend Henning Nelms' Magic and Showmanship (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486410870/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)? Many of your questions about getting the reader to care will become clear when you read that book.

Dan Brown's book is a poor example -- it's a thriller, true, but it's also a fad based on American anti-Catholicism. Its faults (lousy plotting, lousy writing) have been widely commented on in many venues.

If I wanted to package Margaret Atwood's book as science fiction, I could. The difference would be in the cover painting, in the back-cover blurb, and the logo on the spine.

1106.Let's talk about Getting the Reader to Care:

Time to play the analysis game. This time, a classic work. Best seller, multiple editions ....CHAPTER I.
Say, ye oppressed by some fantastic woes,
Some jarring nerve that baffles your repose,
Who press the downy couch while slaves advance
With timid eye to read the distant glance,
Who with sad prayers the weary doctor tease
To name the nameless, ever-new disease,
Who with mock patience dire complaints endure,
Which real pain and that alone can cure,
How would you bear in real pain to lie
Despised, neglected, left alone to die?
How would you bear to draw your latest breath
Where all that's wretched paves the way to death?
--Crabbe.
It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at
occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which
swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling
along the house-tops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the
lamps that struggled against the darkness. Through one of the obscurest
quarters of London, and among haunts little loved by the gentlemen of the
police, a man, evidently of the lowest orders, was wending his solitary
way. He stopped twice or thrice at different shops and houses of a
description correspondent with the appearance of the quartier in which
they were situated, and tended inquiry for some article or another which
did not seem easily to be met with. All the answers he received were
couched in the negative; and as he turned from each door he muttered to
himself, in no very elegant phraseology, his disappointment and
discontent. At length, at one house, the landlord, a sturdy butcher,
after rendering the same reply the inquirer had hitherto received, added,
"But if this vill do as vell, Dummie, it is quite at your sarvice!"
Pausing reflectively for a moment, Dummie responded that he thought the
thing proffered might do as well; and thrusting it into his ample pocket,
he strode away with as rapid a motion as the wind and the rain would
allow. He soon came to a nest of low and dingy buildings, at the
entrance to which, in half-effaced characters, was written "Thames
Court." Halting at the most conspicuous of these buildings, an inn or
alehouse, through the half-closed windows of which blazed out in ruddy
comfort the beams of the hospitable hearth, he knocked hastily at the
door. He was admitted by a lady of a certain age, and endowed with a
comely rotundity of face and person.

"Hast got it, Dummie?" said she, quickly, as she closed the door on the
guest.


====================

End of page one. Well, do you turn the page?

What do you know, and do you care?

1107.One thing y'all should remember about 19th c. novels is that they were meant to be read aloud -- by the pater familias in the parlour as an evening's diversion, for example.

1108.The opening of The Hobbit is a great example of providing description by taking away information. First we're told that a hole exists, then we're told all the things that the hole isn't.

Tolkien had an idiosyncratic style. He also created a new genre. Later works in that genre have refined the concept so much that the earlier work seems crude in comparison, and reworked some parts so much that they've become cliches. That doesn't mean the original work wasn't groundbreaking.

Of course it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. What work is?

The lesson is to write your passion. Tolkien's passion was linguistics.

1109.CHAPTER I.We're in a chapter book, not a short story. Expect a slower beginning, since each part is in proportion to the length of the piece.Say, ye oppressed by some fantastic woes,
Some jarring nerve that baffles your repose,
Who press the downy couch while slaves advance
With timid eye to read the distant glance,
Who with sad prayers the weary doctor tease
To name the nameless, ever-new disease,
Who with mock patience dire complaints endure,
Which real pain and that alone can cure,
How would you bear in real pain to lie
Despised, neglected, left alone to die?
How would you bear to draw your latest breath
Where all that's wretched paves the way to death?
--Crabbe.The epigraph; perhaps a prologue. This is the stating the theme. The poet contrasts the rich hypocondriac with the genuinely ill poor person.
It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the house-tops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness. Setting the scene, providing a backdrop for the action to come. A stormy night is naturally dramatic. Opening your novel with a weather report has become a cliche; it became a cliche because it works so reliably and so often.

Through one of the obscurest quarters of London, and among haunts little loved by the gentlemen of the police, a man, evidently of the lowest orders, was wending his solitary way. A rough neighborhood, and we're introduced to our first character two sentences in. Remember that most stories start with a person in a place with a problem. Our person here is a common laborer, or perhaps a ruffian. He is certainly not afraid to walk out in a bad part of town. The first reason we have to care is this: The question "What brings a guy out on that kind of night?" Most readers have been out in bad weather and know what it's like, and know that only the most compelling reason will force it.

He stopped twice or thrice at different shops and houses of a description correspondent with the appearance of the quartier in which they were situated, and tended inquiry for some article or another which did not seem easily to be met with. He's well-known in an area where the police fear to tread. This is characterization. Also, we're given his problem. He's looking for something, something rare in that quarter.

All the answers he received were couched in the negative; and as he turned from each door he muttered to himself, in no very elegant phraseology, his disappointment and discontent.Very hard to find; and the man is a brute. Everyone knows what it's like to search for something they can't find, whether it be a cup of sugar or the car keys. What he said would have been literally unprintable in the 19th century, thus the circumlocution.

At length, at one house, the landlord, a sturdy butcher, after rendering the same reply the inquirer had hitherto received, added, "But if this vill do as vell, Dummie, it is quite at your sarvice!"We're given the man's name. We care what the man's name is by now, since we've known him for four sentences and are sympathetic to his plight. Dialect has fallen out of favor since the 19th century. Its main purpose was to guide the person reading aloud in how to pronounce the words in the proper accent. With more silent reading by individuals this is less important.


Pausing reflectively for a moment, Dummie responded that he thought the thing proffered might do as well; and thrusting it into his ample pocket, he strode away with as rapid a motion as the wind and the rain would allow. Indirect discourse. A bit of a cheat, since while the POV is close enough to hear the words a description of the object isn't given. More reinforcement of Dummie's character and of the severity of the weather. (The mention of the ample pocket is the first note of Dummie's profession -- he's a pickpocket -- but we won't be told that until later. At the moment we don't care what Dummie does as his day job, so we aren't told.) We're gaining more sympathy with Dummie, and learning that despite his appearance he's capable of thought.

He soon came to a nest of low and dingy buildings, at the entrance to which, in half-effaced characters, was written "Thames Court."Pure description. Nothing much happens between getting the object and arriving at the destination, the reader has no reason to care about the interval, so it isn't given. Because it's where Dummie (who we care about) is going, we care, so the name of the place can be given.

Halting at the most conspicuous of these buildings, an inn or alehouse, through the half-closed windows of which blazed out in ruddy comfort the beams of the hospitable hearth, he knocked hastily at the door. Description. We care about what it looks like since we know its name and need a mental picture to tie that tag onto.

He was admitted by a lady of a certain age, and endowed with a
comely rotundity of face and person.Character two. We don't care about her yet, so no name, and the description is spare enough that if we forget it, it doesn't matter.

"Hast got it, Dummie?" said she, quickly, as she closed the door on the guest.This woman (again speaking in dialect), ties herself into Dummie (she knows him), and to the object. She's now important enough to care about.

==============

For the sake of the folks who are wondering exactly what Dummie was after that was so hard to find in that district, it was a Bible. What the butcher gave him, instead, was a leather-bound copy of the works of Shakespeare. The reason the landlady wanted a Bible was because one of the young ladies there is dying; it doesn't matter that what's provided isn't a Bible because she can't read.

We're starting a story comparing and contrasting life in the upper and lower parts of society, and highlighting the injustices of the English penal system. "Knowing yourself" is a compelling reason for any reader to pick up a novel.

Paul Clifford had the largest first printing of any novel up to that time; it sold out on the first day. This was a crime novel, and of an entirely new subgenre within crime novels: the hero is the criminal himself.

Bulwer-Lytton wrote the novel with the intent of reforming English criminal justice. Its current obscurity (other than as a bad joke) is further proof of Sam Goldwyn's dictum: "If you want to send a message call Western Union."

1110.Blast from the past time. I found today I needed HapiSofi's post on Decent Typesetting, and discovered the link back early in this thread was no longer valid.

Here's the new link to HapiSofi on Decent Typesetting (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=94054&postcount=18).

1111. Originally Posted by jpserra
McAllister, in your first post you cited the plagerism cases and outlined the laws, as it pertains.
Sorry, jpserra, but I don't know which post you're referring to. (This is a long thread....)

1112.No. There's nothing in Star Trek that didn't already exist -- decades before -- in written Science Fiction. Nor can ideas be copyrighted, only the specific expression of ideas.

Some popular characters that would be public domain from the 20th century include Sherlock Holmes -- but only from the stories that were published before 1923.

Tarzan would be public domain, but Edgar Rice Burroughs cleverly trademarked the character, so copyright doesn't apply.

1113.Ideas can't be copyrighted. Klingons are probably trademarked, however.

1114.Ken's example is by Charles Dickens. It's really a bit short; I doubt that's a full page.

1115.I posted this elsewhere, but I think I'll repost it here....

=================

Why are you thinking of Amazon Shorts and ezines? Isn't The Paris Review (http://www.theparisreview.org/page.php/prmID/32)taking submissions any more? How about Harper's (http://www.harpers.org/SubmissionGuidelines.html)? Woman's Day (http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=18304)? F&SF (http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm)? Cemetary Dance (http://www.cemeterydance.com/page/CDP/Guidelines)? Hitchcock (http://www.themysteryplace.com/ahmm/guidelines/)? Where do you find the fiction that you yourself read?

If you don't have a copy of Writer's Market (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582974276/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) go out right now and get one.

Aim high, people. You won't know if you're good enough to play in the big leagues until you've submitted your stuff there. You should work down to the 1/4-cent-a-word and 4theluv places. You won't work your way up from them.

Fast, Easy, Good. Choose two.

1116.I was an AFLA fencer (foil and epee), and fought broadsword and mace in the SCA. During my Navy days I'd sit with my back to the wall in waterfront taverns, observing the degradation of my fellow man, and taking mental notes during the fights.

What I can say about describing swordfights is -- keep it brief, and don't use technical language. Who the hey among the general readership will know what a parry in quarte looks like? Or exactly what a coupe is?

Later on I'll see if I can find one of my swordfighting scenes and type it in, with commentary.

Like anything else: research. Find someone who's an expert and run your scene past him or her.

Make sure the fight scene advances plot and reveals character.

And don't bore the reader.

[Dawno]

I like using the multi quote function! Remember, you can click on the blue arrow beside Uncle Jim's name to read the post in the context of the thread (recommended).

1116.In The Lord of the Rings we don't get a whole lot of backstory until the Council of Elrond, by which time we've been chased from the Shire to Bree to Rivendell by Black Riders, gotten trapped by a barrow wight (and a willow), and much else besides ... and the reader cares about the characters and is asking "What the foo is going on?"

We also have the hobbits, who don't have a clue themselves, and so need to have everything explained them.

Giving the reader the impression that they're studying for a test is bad. Few people read geography books for fun.

1117. Originally Posted by anodyne
What in the world does that look like? I keep trying to visualize it in my head. I'm not the type of girl who giggles often, but that worked.
From The Gates of Time (work in progress):
"I don't have a plan," Satan said. "And this miracle isn't my doing. Angelo ... he's won. We're outside time and I can't touch him. Not only that, we're stuck here."

"Liar."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." He went over to the open doorway and pressed against the air. His hands stopped at the threshold.

"Then I have some things to do," I said. I pulled the elfstone out of my pocket and screwed it into my eye. Johnny was standing in the corner, having performed some vital function that the author will think of later. Perhaps he was the one who brought in the relic of St. Eloy and the pistol and gave them to me after I'd been searched. That would be a good thing for an invisible servant to do.

Anyway, I turned to Johnny. "I'm ready to hear your confession," I said.

"This might take a while," he said, coming toward me.

"No worries; we've got all the time in the world."

1118.A database of which agents sold which books to which publishers (in the SF & F genres) over the past two years:

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/%7Emgoodin19/locus.htm

1119.What we're up to these days:

Publicity for our most recent book.

Yeah, I know, I keep saying that authors aren't in charge of doing publicity, yet here I am, doing publicity. So, what have I done?

Answer: I've put stuff about the book on my web page (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/). This is wonderful, and free (I already have a web page because, face it, who doesn't?). Whether it will lead to any sales, who knows?

I've talked about the book here, and in my news group at SFF Net (http://webnews.sff.net/read?cmd=xover&group=sff.people.doyle-macdonald&from=-10).

I have it in my sig line here at AW (I rotate various things through there) -- the sig changes, and by the time y'all read this perhaps something different will be in the sig. (Look at the bottom of this post.)

I posted the book in the AW library (http://webnews.sff.net/read?cmd=xover&group=sff.people.doyle-macdonald&from=-10). (More content for AW! Woo!)

I've been doing readings from works-in-progress at SF conventions for years. Since this book has been in progress for years....

When the publisher sent us a bunch of ARCs, I dropped them on various places (including my two local weekly newspapers). I live in a town of 2,000 people; those guys are personal friends of mine (the writers' community), and we got a couple of very nice newspaper articles out of 'em. Hurrah, go us!

Now the signings and such. Where did these come from?

Answer: from the publisher. They found the bookstores, and worked out the dates and times. (We talked to the publisher's publicity guy, he talked with the bookstores.)

And this leads us to the next bit, when we got an e-mail from New Hampshire Public Radio, asking if we'd like to be on one of their programs, about our upcoming book. The answer was, you betcha.

So yesterday we had a telephone pre-interview (to find out, perhaps, if we're the sort of authors who can actually talk, and have anything to say that might fill a half-hour). Upshot of that: We'll be on The Front Porch (http://www.nhpr.org/taxonomy/term/15000) on Monday, 27 November, 6:30PM EST.

This is New Hampshire Public Radio, and the show is available on the air, as streaming audio, and archived afterwards.
88.3, Nashua, WEVS
89.1, Concord, WEVO
90.3, Nashua, WEVO
90.7, Keene, WEVN
91.3, Littleton, WEVO
91.3, Hanover, WEVH
97.3, Plymouth
99.5, Jackson, WEVJ
103.9, Portsmouth
104.3, Dover, WEVO
107.1, Gorham, WEVC
MP3 Player Stream (http://peace.str3am.com:6400/listen.pls)
Windows Media (http://www.nhpr.org/nhprLIVE.asx)

1120.Rules for Writing: http://mumpsimus.blogspot.com/2006/11/rules-for-writing.html

As far as mechanical text-to-voice solutions: they can be fun. But reading it aloud has its own advantages. Machines won't get out of breath during over-long sentences. You will.

1121.Here's Woman's Day's essay guidelines (http://www.womansday.com/contact/5811/writers-guidelines-page3.html): $2,000 for 650 words.

Here's their article guidelines (http://www.womansday.com/contact/5811/writers-guidelines-page2.html).

Woman's Day isn't a fiction or poetry market in the USA.

Woman's Day in Australia (http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=18304) is.

============

Brenda, if your story is good fit at Not One of Us, then sell it there. But really, do let the top markets reject it first. Don't reject it for them.

1122.If it was me, I'd leave the first and cut the second (put in the actual number, maybe).

Making the reader pause to figure out what you meant probably isn't a good idea.

Rewriting now, before you've reached "The End," probably isn't a good idea either. Unless you really gotta.

1123.Abnormal? Not at all. If there are 25,000 words that aren't the right words, cut 'em and replace 'em with the right words.

Our novel, Groogleman (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152002359/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) (in French: la nuit des hommogres (http://www.amazon.fr/Vertige-vertige-fantastique-nuit-hommogres/dp/2012098185/sr=11-1/qid=1164729023/ref=sr_11_1/402-3882111-9884118)): at one point we cut everything after Chapter One and rewrote fresh from there. (I may still have the other book that it could-have-been around here somewhere.)

1124.I hope you like it.

Meanwhile:

Y'all know the three-point-plot outline:

1.) Get the hero up a tree.
2.) Throw rocks at him.
3.) Get him out of the tree.

And the seven-point plot outline:

1). Introduce the main/viewpoint character
2). Present him with a problem.
3). In a particular setting.
4). The character tries to solve the problem...
5). And fails.
6). The character tries to solve the problem again...
7). And receives validation.

Well, here's a very detailed working-out of those general plot outlines:

http://www.miskatonic.org/dent.html

Y'all can try writing a story based on that plot outline as your Christmas Challenge. As always, the challenge is to actually submit the story you wrote to an appropriate paying market.

The Post Office is closed on Christmas, and the mail is nuts in the days before ... shall we say the deadline for mailing your completed story (in accordance with the market's guidelines) is 26 December?

(If you finish your story early, lay it aside and give it a final read-through-and-polish on Christmas Day.)

1125.I intended the third, last, longest and most detailed plot outline; the one at miskatonic.org. Not because I think that paint-by-numbers, cookie-cutter storytelling is a good thing to aspire to, but rather for the same reason that one might do scales if one intends to become a concert pianist.

Consider it a wordgame.

Consider also doing the crossword in your daily newspaper every day. If your daily newspaper doesn't run a crossword, get a book of crossword puzzles.

1126.If you look around you can also find an 8-Point Plot Structure (http://www.jmarkbertrand.com/fictionblog.asp?p=2004_03_01_archive2.htm) (Stasis, Trigger, Quest, Surprise, Critical Choice,Climax, Reversal, Resolution), a Nine-point Plot Structure (http://www.dce.harvard.edu/extension/2006-07/courses/syllabi/10771/creae45.pdf), (apparently from Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060391685/madhousemanor/) by Robert McKee (http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/TimeSpace/form.html)) and probably any number of other numbered plot structures.

1127.Meanwhile, in Russia: http://medlarcomfits.blogspot.com/2006/11/books-in-russia-true-story-by-friend.html

To what should be no one's surprise:


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1128.The radio interview went pretty well; the host mentioned the title of the book several times. It's archived in streaming form here: http://www.nhpr.org/node/11869

The first signing went well; the bookstore had 24 copies and sold 12 of them. (We also got 40% off on anything in the store. Hoo hah, Christmas shopping!) Folks were coming by and chatting all evening.

The second signing didn't go so well. Of course it was also bucketing down rain, there was thunder and lightning, and 50-60 MPH wind gusts. If we didn't have to be there we wouldn't have gone either. The bookstore had 14 copies and two sold. On the plus side, we each got a $25 gift certificate to that bookstore. (Hoo hah! More Christmas shopping!)

We signed remaining stock at both places, where they're now out with Autographed stickers.

A benchmark for success is Anyone At All Shows Up.

1129.The nice lady from the radio station had one of the advanced reading copies of Mist and Snow. That had come from the publisher.

At the Book'em event (http://bookemfoundation.org/lebanon/), back in September, we sold a bunch of books (I didn't count), from the freebie author copies that publishers have sent us over the years. Eventually the revenue sharing brought back about thirty bucks.

It was interesting. At Book'em, even though there wasn't any assigned seating at the place (a school gym with tables arranged in a large horseshoe around the walls), the folks separated out naturally into the published authors, the publishers and bookstores, and the self-and-vanity-published authors.

I was amazed at how slick the self-published guys were in their presentations. Balloons with their titles imprinted on 'em, pens, bookmarks, stands, custom printed tablecloths.... I was impressed. Over on our side of the room we were just putting piles of books on the tables and sitting there with the little "Hi, My Name Is" stickers that the event organizers handed out on our shirts.

One of the self-published folks (who had driven there from Virginia -- that was something else: a lot of the self-published folks had come a long way) was handing out full-color flyers for her book, Take the Mystery Out of Promoting Your Book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1928662439/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/). The flyer tells us that her book is available in bookstores everywhere, and has a tear-off order form at the bottom to buy a copy from the author.

Anyway, that flyer also includes an inventory list for "A Booksigning In A Bag." Here's the list:

Tablecloth
Candies and dish
Flowers
Props
Scissors and tape
Pens -- booksigning and other
Mailing list
Book cover stickers
Business cards
Water/water bottle with screw-on cap
Change for parking meters
Emergency personal supplies/first aid kit
Book marks
Posters/flyers/advertisements
Loudspeaker announcements
Book stands
Blank card stock and marker
Presentation materials (projector, flip chart, etc.)
Lightweight table
Lightweight folding chair
Camera
Thank-you gift for store employee(s)

------------

I feel like such a slacker. Doyle and I had one pen between us at the first signing (until one of the visitors gave us another). We had to borrow new batteries for our camera (Doyle usually carries a camera in her purse). In the past we'd done the dish of candy thing, but forgot this time. I'd intended to build a nice model of a Civil War ship (perhaps USS Kearsarge) as a prop, but never got around to it. We did have change for parking meters (that usually rides in the car) but we didn't need it. My big EMT jump kit was in the car (but we didn't need it either, thankfully).

The bookstores provided the tables, chairs, water, book stands, and books. They had posters and signs (and flyers, too).

I'd taken it on myself to send press releases to the local newspapers a month before the signings, with a cover flat from the book included in each. Might help, couldn't hurt. I don't know if anything was ever printed.

Maybe next time I'll try to do better.

1130.I'm doing the Christmas Challenge myself. First page: http://mist-and-snow.livejournal.com/18656.html

1131.I've also been having way too much fun with the Official Seal Generator (http://www.says-it.com/seal/index.php):

1132.My pseud for tie-ins.

1133.Woo! An interview with Doyle and me, including Doyle on "Constructing Villains":

http://www.andwerve.com/october06_featured_artist

1134.How about telepathically creating the impression of a human body?

If you can answer the question "why must this character be a feline?" you might find the answer to "how can it communicate?"

1135.My latest Eos/blog post (http://outofthiseos.typepad.com/blog/2006/12/where_do_you_ge.html) is up, and it has more of a discussion on the secret origins of Land of Mist and Snow. A bit of How I Dun It. It's about Civil War songs.

Oh, and I've finished the Christmas Assignment (first draft), over on our LiveJournal (http://mist-and-snow.livejournal.com/). It's friendlocked, but I make friends easily. Doyle will do her magic on it next.

If it ever gets published, y'all can compare the first draft to the finished piece.

1136.Welcome, lfraser -- I'm glad you're finding it informative. Please let us know how it all goes.

1137.For folks interested in an agent's perspective on what to do if a manuscript has been making the rounds for a while with no nibbles, check out "Giving up on it" in Rachel Vater's LJ (http://raleva31.livejournal.com/27462.html).

(Rachel is an agent at Lowenstein-Yost Associates.)

My advice is this: By the time you know that a particular book isn't getting any nibbles, you should have a new book ready to make the rounds. So start sending the new book around and begin work on your next.

1138.Beats the heck out of me. I haven't read your book.

This may well be in the put-it-in-the-desk-drawer-for-six-months-then-reread area. Or it may be in the "What do the betas say?" area.

Is there some reason that you can't just leave your antagonist drifting in a lifeboat/working at Burger King under an assumed name/returning to his Fortress of Silence to work on his plans?

1139.Y'know, if he's the last of his species, he's going to have a very hard time finding a date for Friday night....

1140.Some seriously brilliant writing advice.

Unfortunately it's a PDF, but it's worth it.

http://homepage.mac.com/noteon/Sites/Snyder_on_writing.pdf

1141.Whatever works for you, Writerdog.

Me, I'll turn off the monitor sometimes and type blind. That way I don't get distracted by the words on the screen.

1142.And here it is in HTML:

http://journalscape.com/keithsnyder/2006-12-19-12:05/

1143.It's well-over novel length. Just my own contributions come to over a thousand pages in standard manucript format.

1144.Yes: See Uncle Jim, undiluted (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7987).

Be advised, though, that there's an awful lot of meat in the other posts, and some of my comments are pretty meaningless out of context.

1145.For reasons that seemed good to me, I just added the rest of the Mageworlds books and the Crossman short stories to the AW Library: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40178

1146.Happy/Jolly/Season's/Merry
Christmas/Holidays/Greetings

[Dawno]

1147.Today's the day to send your Christmas Challenge Story out to a paying market. On your mark, get set, SASE!

1148.And today's surprise news: got royalties on the reprint of "Stealing God" that appeared in My Favorite Fantasy Story (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1596870559/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/). (Also available as an ebook (http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/parent-0742091406/My-Favorite-Fantasy-Story.html).) That means the silly thing's earned out. (This story is another of the Gift That Keeps On Giving stories. Reprinted several times, inspiration for two other stories and a novel, and earning royalties right the way along.)

Only $15.82, but when you consider it's a pro-rata share of 1/2 of the royalties from the period when it earned out ... well, it's $15.82 that I didn't have yesterday.

1149.Please notice that it took six years for that anthology to earn out. Between 2000 and 2006 all the money we saw on that sale was the advance. (That was the second of three (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0446601381/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) times (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0765340038/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) we'd sold that story though, so it's okay, and no one expects to make a lot of money on short stories.)

1150.So far all of our short-fiction sales have been to anthologies, so I guess yeah, we like doing 'em.

The criteria? A well-known editor, and a publishing deal with a known decent publisher. Plus the advance, of course. Look for $0.05/word and up, paid on acceptance.

Stories in anthologies don't get the award recommendations that stories in the magazines get, but ... they can stay in print for years (decades, really), and keep on earning. A reprint from an anthology and a reprint from a magazine are still both reprints.

Think of anthologies as single-issue magazines that stay in print for more than a month.

1151.
Originally Posted by Monty
...could I use a puppy love type romance to involve the reader deeper with the characters emotions in my book?
Yes, you could.
Originally Posted by Monty
If so please explain how in some examples please.
No, I can't.

This isn't something that I can do in a sentence, or a paragraph, or even a chapter. It's organic to the whole.

Here's what you can do ... take some of your favorite books that have the sort of romance you're looking for, and re-read them specifically to see how and where the author included the romance in the whole narrative.

Then write your book. If romance develops between the characters, you can strenthen it and refine it in the second draft.

1152.I've been spending the day updating and correcting my list of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Bookstores (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/bookstor.htm). Still not done, but at least the dead links have been cleaned up.

My next convention will be Arisia, in Boston (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/bookstor.htm), January 10-12. Here's my schedule:

Friday, 7:00 PM Reshaping Grimm & Goose
Saturday, 11:00 AM Playing in Someone Else's Sandbox
Saturday, 12:00 noon Magic and Christianity
Saturday, 3:00 PM Reading
Sunday, 12:00 noon Pen Names: When and Why?

1153.That's my attitude. If the topic has worth, it'll stay on the first page. If it doesn't -- people who are interested can still search while other, more interesting, topics move to the head of the line.

1154.Speaking of which... I posted this in another thread today, and lest it sink and be lost I repost it here:

Write the best first draft you can, but if, while you're writing it, you look at it and say "This is crap," keep writing anyway.

If it helps: print out and frame this certificate (http://www.sff.net/people/yog/permission.pdf). Hang it above your desk.

1155.You can't make a vase if you don't have the clay on your wheel.

1156.Nicole -- read your printout, out loud, marking in the margin the places that you'll have to come back and fix.

And/or:

Write a flowchart from your cruddy draft. See the overall shape.

You will need to get the entire work into your mind.

Also -- have you aged 'em in your desk drawer yet?

1157.The goal isn't to write badly -- the goal is to ignore the saboteur in the back of your head that's trying to stop you by saying "This is lousy! Give up!"

1158.It all boils down to "To carve a statue of an elephant, get a block of marble and remove everything that doesn't look like an elephant."

Yes, eliminate greetings, unless they reveal character, advance the plot, or suport the theme.

1159..I went to a science fiction convention this last weekend. I brought along a half-dozen copies of our latest (from the case of books our publisher sent us, free) to put on the Freebies Table on Friday evening. They vanished within minutes.

By noon on Saturday, the book dealers in the Dealers' room had sold out of our books.

The reading of the new story went well on Saturday afternoon. That's "Philologos," which was the Christmas Challenge story.

1160.The stuff on the bookstore shelves may also reflect what didn't sell. The stuff that sold hasn't been restocked yet.

Write what you want to, what you're passionate about. If you write to the market, editors may be saying "Why is it that suddenly everyone's sending me Southern Cats Duct Taped to the Fender books?"

1161.Looks like everyone's getting into the "contest" thing. First Simon & Schuster, now Crown Publishing Group.

What the hey -- if you're unpublished and unrepresented, why not? There isn't an entry fee.

http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/blindsubmission/

1162.Why not try? Either treat it as a first draft, or treat it as an outline.

There isn't any one way to play this game. And if you've been growing in skill, problems that may have stopped you the first time may be surmountable now.

If the book is fatally flawed -- you'll find out.

1163.Due to routing problems in the northeast USA, Making Light (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/) appears to be down at this hour.

Details here: http://sideshow.me.uk/

Pass the word to those who need to know.

1164.In the case of Land of Mist and Snow, the publisher asked for cover suggestions, we sent several, they went with something else. We saw the finished art (which, BTW, is totally gorgeous, even better than the final printed version).

In other cases, we've been asked for cover suggestions and have had them used. Or asked for scenes from books that the artist might find useful. For interior art we've had more of a chance to comment, and have worked with the artist. But mostly -- the first we've known of the cover art was when the cover flats came in.

Complaining about the cover art is the author's traditional right. (See Mr. Earbrass (http://www.infinity-bound.net/TUH/tuh24.html) for an example.)

1165.I'm probably the wrong guy to ask, because we published a short story that was 100% dialog (not even any 'said' tags).

Okay, here's what you can do. Print out your chapters and tape the pages to the wall on the far side of your living room. Look at the grey areas. Too many big blocks? Break them up with dialog. Too thin and jaggety? Add a few paragraphs of narrative.

Be certain that you aren't writing a "head story" (the one where the story is in your head, not on the paper).

Okay, now go to your favorite book, with a couple of highlighters in hand. Highlight dialog in yellow and description in green. See how that author handled the mix.

I can't give you a formula, or an easy trick. This is where you'll be making your own art.

1166."Yog" is a character from Lovecraft, and a name from India before that. I expect that it's a horror 'zine of some kind?

1167.At half-a-cent per word, I hope you've tried some of the higher-paying 'zines first.

1168.Change in POV entails ... changing the Point of View. If the POV character calls this person "Smith," then that's what he calls him. I don't see a problem.

How else will we know that POV has changed than that there are differences between the voices?

1169.I'm going to port in some posts I made in another thread, (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54611) because I think they can be of general interest. Folks who want to see 'em in context are invited to do so.

=============I'm going to go way out on a limb and guess what was going on from the OP's post.

Wizardry was a series of computer role-playing games from Sirtech. These date back to Apple II days. Their last game, Wizardry 8, came out for the PC in 2001. (Their website http://www.sir-tech.com/ hasn't been updated in some years.)

The OP apparently wrote a trilogy using characters and situations from this game series (essentially, fan fiction), then contacted the copyright holder in an attempt to sell it to them. Discussion with Sirtech, however, did not prove fruitful.

Some time later, Sirtech sold the rights to Wizardry to another company. This second company is interested in publishing the novels (even though they may never have published anything in their lives). One possible point of difficulty might be that while this second company bought the rights to the Wizardry games themselves, it's unclear if they bought the right to make derivative works (which a series of novels would be).

It strikes me that that's a problem for the second company and their lawyers to hash out with Sirtech and their lawyers, and of little concern to the author. If they get the right to make derivative works, well and good. If not, no sale, everyone moves on to other projects.

Other points of contention might revolve around characters and situations. The characters and situations that come directly from the game are clearly the property of the copyright holder. The original characters and situations that the OP created, however ... the author would want to keep the rights to them, while the game company would want to acquire those rights (this would simplify their lives in case they ever wanted to make more games in the series and might want to use those characters and situations (or ones similar enough to arguably be them). It would also simplify their lives if someone wanted to make a movie out of the games, and use the books as a source.

I can see where a lawyer might get involved in all this (though an agent working on commission rather than a lawyer might be a better choice for the author).

I could be entirely out to lunch on all this -- it's pure speculation based on the clues in the OP's message.

Now some personal notes. I've done a bunch of tie-in work. The usual thing is for the copyright holder to approach the author with the idea for the novel, and negotiate from that point. The work is usually work-for-hire (though if you have a decent agent you can get profit participation in the book sales). The contract will spell out in nauseating detail exactly what rights are in play (and if you can get away without the copyright holder getting all rights, you're doing very well indeed).

Another personal note: Going with a game company as a publisher is a path strewn with landmines. Going with a first-time publisher is a path entangled with barbed wire. Going with a first-time publisher that's also a game company is a path that's mined, entangled with barbed wire, and under sporadic artillery fire. It's way easy to get hurt.

I really don't know enough about the OP's present situation to give any useful advice. A bit of clarification would be very handy. (Particularly what's meant by "option" in this case.)
================I'd say, find an agent.

If the agent can get a $12,000 advance (which isn't out of the ballpark for three books), it'll still cost the same $1,800, but it'll be painless (and after the sale).

All the money that comes in from the book goes from the publisher to the agent, the agent subtracts 15% (or whatever the agreed-upon commission is) and passes on the rest.

There's a list of Science Fiction/Fantasy agents here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42019

There's another list here:
http://www.sfwriter.com/agent.htm

As always, research, research, research any agent on any list you find.

If you already have an agreement in principle with the owners of the Wizardry copyrights that they will buy these books, you shouldn't have any trouble interesting an agent in representing you.
================The way I see it, the big problem is that there's exactly one company on the face of the earth that can legally publish this trilogy.

(That's one of the reasons why writing fan fiction is a bad idea.)

The first company wasn't interested.

Now the second company potentially is.

Let's say that the second company has the right to make derivative works.

Let's say that they are interested in publishing these books. Let's say that they've never published anything, aren't clear on how to go about it, and have never seen a publishing contract.

One of the things that they can do is call up a regular publisher on the phone and say, "Hi, this is Game Company X. We want to publish some books based on our games! How about you edit, print, and distribute them?" The publisher will say "Sure!" and their lawyers will work something out. (To my direct knowledge, Roc, Warner, and Tor have all published books on exactly this basis for various game companies. I'm sure they have boilerplate contracts on file to cover the situation.)

Now the usual thing is for the publisher to come up with the contract, offer it, and the author either accept or not accept that contract. (Having the author coming up with the contract is ... bizarre. I think that derives from this being a first-time author dealing with a first-time publisher.)

Generally the first contract that the publisher offers has some clauses in it that aren't too favorable to the author, so the agent works things out. Generally, the agent's major weapon ("Well, if we can't come to an agreement, I can take this manuscript elsewhere") has vanished, since there is only one company that can possibly publish the book, and the company is well aware of that fact.

Three options right now:

a) Get an agent who will work on commission to hammer out the deal with the company that now owns the rights.

b) File off the serial numbers and attempt to sell the re-written work to another publisher.

c) Forget this trilogy. Move on and write another novel.

No matter what else you do, you'll want to move on and write another novel in any case ... so start doing that while searching for an agent.

(Or: Look, I can write you a contract for free. Here goes:

[Author] grants all rights in [Name of Work] to [Name of Company] for the full term of copyright in return for $20,000 paid on signing. [Company] agrees that [Author] will be identified as the author of [Work] on the cover, title page, and in any promotional materials when/if the Work is published.

Signed: [Author]
Signed: [Company]
[Date]

There, that wasn't so tough, was it? They'll come back with "$20,000! Are you smoking something?" and offer $10,000. You'll say, "Do you wish my children to be beggars? $15,000!" They agree to it, you both sign. It's a lousy contract from the author's point of view, but it does bring closure to the whole affair. And you do get a professional publishing credit.)

Seriously, get an agent. And write a new, different, better book while you're looking.
========================Wow. Crossposted again.

Please be aware that if you don't come to an agreement with Company B, that publishing the works on your website is still publishing, and is a copyright and/or trademark violation. If Company B wants to be complete dicks about it, they can shut you and your website down and make your life exceedingly unpleasant. Since they know about you and this work ... the odds of their finding out about web self-publication are pretty good. That may require them to Do Something about it.

Since you know Ms. Duane, why not take her out, buy her a beer, and ask her what she advises at this juncture?
==================Reading more about Sir-Tech (the original company that created Wizardry) -- they're apparently bankrupt. Which means that their various rights (including the right to make derivative works) are assets controlled by a bankruptcy court until they can be sold to pay off the company's debts, adding yet another layer of mess to an already messy situation. Resolving something like that can take years even with all the good-will in the world. (Horrible things have happened to authors whose books were bought by publishers who've gone bankrupt.)

This discussion has rambled a long way from Paul S. Levine's lousy phone manners. Perhaps it should be moved to the Ask The Agent forum?
================Oh -- one more thing. One of the reasons I caution about publishing books with a game company is that "doesn't know what it's doing" is pretty much Standard Operating Procedure.

Bottom line: no matter what happens, The Author Writes a Check is not an option. If you reach that point, you're at a dead end. Back up and try another path.
===================

1170.Alas, that clause, while it is a standard part of every publishing contract, is worthless.

A publisher's publishing rights to works make up the bulk of their assets, and a company in bankruptcy simply can't give away its assets. The publishing rights might wind up in the hands of a third party which is not bound by the original contract with the author, with very bad results (from the author's point of view).

Consider a non-book example: Company A rents its office furniture from Company B. Company A goes bankrupt. That office furniture might get sold at auction to satisfy Company A's debts -- and the only chance Company B might have to get its furniture back would be to bid on it.

Also: as far as any money the publisher might owe to the author, the author is an unsecured creditor. All of the secured creditors stand in line ahead of the unsecured, and the money that is left in the till or that comes from the sale of assets usually runs out long before the unsecured creditors see any.

If a company goes bankrupt while holding your publishing rights, in the best case you won't get any income from that work, and won't be able to resell it, for a period that can be measured in years. In the worst case, while you still hold the copyright, you've lost the income from that work and lost the ability to resell the work at all.

As always, if you have a legal question, ask a real lawyer. For a real-world case the answer to your particular situation is "It varies."

1171.You will need the rights to the English translation. The question is, does the translator have the right to make that translation?

1172.Does he possibly already have rights to the English translation of that poem?

The danger is, a second cousin twice removed may pop up from nowhere claiming to own the rights to that poem if lightning strikes and your book goes all DaVinci Code. Best to straighten out the rights-and-permissions questions now, and have 'em all in writing.

1173.The exact legalities of permissions require the services of a real lawyer to untangle.

However, it is my impression that a hard-copy letter with a real signature on it is required to grant rights.

1174.Ah, Hillgate -- you're in the UK. Things may well work as you've stated in the UK. I wouldn't know.

Over here, the standard "in the event of bankruptcy all rights revert to the author" clause is just flat worthless. In the event of bankruptcy the rights are assets, and the assets become the property of the court, to dispose of as they please. This happens at the instant of bankruptcy and, depending on state laws, retroactively for a period of time before the bankruptcy. That is, if the company returns your rights today, and declares bankruptcy tomorrow, those rights become the property of the court anyway.

Nor does the court transfer the contract -- the court tranfers the publication rights (the asset) without any of those details like royalties and such attached. The creditor is trying to get his money back from the publisher and cares not a fig for the writer. It really is messy, and it really is bad for the writer. I can give real-world examples of this happening.

In the example I gave of the furniture -- the managers of the company aren't disposing of the property. As you point out, they can't. The court has taken that property, and the court is disposing of it. The court can, and may well do just that.

[Dawno]

1175.I can boil it all down to three words:

Write, submit, repeat.

Everything else is commentary.

1176.A lot of the books in the Best SF thread are quite old.

For What's Happening Now:

Anything by Ken MacLeod. Anything by Robert Charles Wilson. Last year's Nebula winners. This year's Hugo nominees. Three books chosen at random from the SF shelf of your local bookstore, provided you've never heard of the authors.

After that ... write your book.

1177.I don't know how most writers do it. I know that I personally write new stuff and revise older stuff on the same day, just at different times of the day.

This is another case of whatever works for you.

You will eventually have to revise the material you've written (unless you're capable of doing publishable first drafts (and there are some people who can do that)). How your writers' group decides to count that is up to them.

Please let us know what they decide.

1178.
Originally Posted by Raphee http://absolutewrite.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1152779#post1152779)
Just as an aside to above: East of Eden by Stienbeck was published from the original MS without any changes made by the publisher. Well at least the copy that I have.
Hunh?

Do you have any information that it was the first draft? How many drafts did Steinbeck write before the version he submitted?

(Oh -- publishers don't usually make any changes to a manuscript (other than correcting typoes and applying house style). They may request revisions, but it's the authors job to either make them or not, as the author pleases.)

(Example of house style: Numbers below 99 are expressed in numerals, numbers one hundred and above are expressed in words. (Other publishers may have another style for numbers.) Another example of house style: Extracts such as poetry or letters are set off by linebreaks, indented, and set in italics. (Other publishers may have other styles.) Yet another example of house style: The serial comma is used. (Other publishers may not use the serial comma.))

1179.Yes, write the darned book anyway.

Now Wilson -- top talent, top of his game. But you can be certain of one thing: there exists a writer of whom Wilson says, "I can never be that good. I'll never be in his league."

You might try re-typing the first chapter of Spin to see exactly what he did and how he did it. Observe his technique.

It's the chess metaphor again: we may say of a Grand Master "I'll never be that good," but on a move-by-move basis we can understand each move.

1180.See also: Mikhail Tal and his hippopotamus story (http://felixstowechess.tripod.com/quotes.htm). It is illustrative.

1181. Originally Posted by allenparker http://absolutewrite.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1162239#post1162239)
In other words, how accurate does the history have to be?
As accurate as possible provided you're still able to tell your story.

1182.No novel is ever perfect. It's just the best you can make it at the time. Let other people tell you if they enjoyed it.

The other day I watched Hoodwinked (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000EQ5UHS/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) on DVD. That's an animated re-telling of the Little Red Riding Hood story. Pretty good film.

What I did afterward was watch the special features, with the director's commentary. Particularly the deleted scenes and the extended scenes. What struck me was how many times the director said words to the effect of, "I loved this bit, but the point had already been made," or "I cut this for pace."

1183.You're learning, growing, and getting set to wrestle with stronger angels.


Also: I just posted this in another thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1165175&postcount=8), but thought I'd put it here, too:

A scene is a unit that has a recognizable beginning, middle, and end.

The scene ends with a mini-climax that leaves the reader wanting to continue. The next scene usually has moved in time, space, or viewpoint.
__________________

1184.Not so much.

The only real rule is: If It Works, It's Right.

The thing you should never forget is that you are writing for your readers.

Beyond that, it's all art. There are nine and sixty ways of construction tribal lays....

1185.Here's what I might suggest: Take a writer you admire and attempt to "channel" him or her. Pretend to be that person and have him or her write your book for you.

(Don't worry that it won't be your book -- no matter how talented a parodist you might be, the work is original.)

Now other stuff: Found in another thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1168905) here at AW, a piece of submission-tracker software. http://www.download.com/3000-20-10027591.html

It looks like it would mostly be useful for short stories, but still....

Now, how to do it by hand.

Get yourself a file folder for each of your stories.

In that file folder, put a hard-copy of your finished story. Put in an archive electronic copy of the finished story. Come up with a list of all the possible markets for the story, arranged in some order that pleases you (highest-to-lowest paying, most prestigious-to-not-so-prestigious, or something else). Print that out and put it in the folder.

Make a photocopy of that story. Send it to the top market on your list. Note the date on the hardcopy list. When/if you get a rejection, write in the date, cross out that address, and send out fresh photocopy that same day to the next market on your list.

Continue until either the story sells, or you reach the bottom of the list. If the story sells, put a copy of the contract in the file folder. Note on the top of the folder when the reprint rights will come back to you. If you see any reviews of the story, clip them and put them in the folder.

If you reach the bottom of the list, after you've crossed out the last address, put a date one year in the future on the top of the file folder, and put it your file drawer. One year on, re-read the story and see if you want to revise it and start sending it around again. See if new markets have opened.

1186.You, only better than before, is everyone's goal.

1187. a question was asked about the "and then" discussion in the thread. You could go to one of the digest pages (Undiluted (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7987)) and use your browser's "Find On This Page" function.

For more general stuff, use Google.

Go to Google and in the search string type site:absolutewrite.com "Learn Writing With Uncle" (yes, use the quote marks) then your search terms. That seems to work pretty well.

1188. more on finding the "and then" discussionThe "Search Within This Thread" feature apparently ignores "common words."

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&hs=XYL&q=site%3Aabsolutewrite.com+%22learn+writing+with+u ncle%22+%22and+then%22&btnG=Search

1189.The idea is to use a different part of your brain when seeing your work. Getting a fresh view. Revision = re-vision. Looking again.

If this trick doesn't work for you ... there are others.

1190.How about ... copying the book out by hand? Retyping it from hard-copy. Turning the pages upside down and reading it.

All of these are mechanical ways of making the work different. Of using other parts of your brain.

The classic is putting the book in your desk drawer for three months.

If you've read your book on-screen up to now, read it in hardcopy. If you've read it in hardcopy, read it on-screen.

Oh -- here's a cheapie: Reprint your book in two-column justified ten-point Times New Roman, and read it in that form (presuming that you've been reading it in standard manuscript format). (On the other hand, if you've been setting your reading copy in TNR two-column -- set it in standard manuscript format and re-read it like that.)

I do like reading aloud, though. You don't have an audience other than yourself, so your public speaking skills don't matter.

1191.Something else I recommend is that you start writing something else while you're letting your work marinate in your desk drawer. That too will help cleanse your mind.

1192.What should you do?

Write 250 words of original fiction before you post on this board again.

They don't have to be perfect -- they don't even have to be good. They just have to be there.

Cut the crap and write.

1193.A working outline and the outline you send to a publisher are two different things.

The first is Whatever Works For You. The second is a sales document.

1194.As William Faulkner said, "I only write when I'm inspired. Fortunately I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning."

Were I in your place, I'd put in the daily BIC on the new work, and plan out a time period every day to edit/rewrite/revise one of the old works (flip a coin to figure out which one). By the time you've done editing that one, the new project should be about done, so put it into the editing queue. Start writing a new story. At the same time edit the second story you have in inventory. When you're done with that ... you'll have the story that you just completed about finishing up its three months in your desk drawer.

So, you might consider arranging your time like that.

Remember that what works for you is what's right.

1195.Sure. Write the ending. You can do that right now.

Also, see the idea of flow-charting the story by way of an outline.

1196.Find another couple of beta readers, keep this one, and wait three months before revising.

1197.Oh, and what you say to a beta? "Thank you very much!" And mean it.

1198.That's another "How long is a piece of rope?" questions. Write as many words as you need to.

1199.As you know, Bob, Doyle and I are regular instructors at the Viable Paradise workshop.

On one occassion, Doyle had a particular author's story to comment. Her comment was "This story presses too many of my buttons. Have Maureen McHugh look at it."

For us, Sherwood Smith has been our beta reader since we were all unpublished together. We also found beta readers for each of our Mageworlds books who hadn't read any of the previous books, to see if they made sense to readers just coming to the series.

So it's an ongoing thing -- reliable beta readers who you've known for years, a rotating cast of new readers. Be aware that sometimes a story will hit a reader in a non-typical way. In that case get a second opinion.

1200.A perennial thread-topic on the Novel board is "What's Wrong with [1st/2nd/3rd] Person [Omniscient/Limited/Closed/Open/Grayscale] [Past/Present/Future] POV?"

Usually we start with some vague reference to unnamed "experts" who allegedly say that a writer should [always/never] use the named POV. This is followed by a bunch of posts claiming that those [still unnamed] "experts" [do/do not] know what they're talking about.

Listen, people: Here's the actual answer. There is nothing wrong at all with any POV. It only has to be done well.

1201.The difference between a query letter and a cover letter:

Query letter: "Would you like to see my book?"

Cover letter: "Here's my book. Hope you like it!"

1202.I don't say that anything is absolutely true, except that the Reader is King.

1203.Plots, plots, and more plots. (http://thepulp.net/PulpCompanion/03summer/plot.html)

1204.I usually find theme by re-reading the text, then using that knowledge to help make decis
ions in the revision stage.

1205."Clarified" and "simplified" are generally good.

[Dawno]

Goodness, it's been ages since I updated this!

Because I'm using the multi-quote function, if Jim embedded a quote in his post it, unfortunately, doesn't show up - click the blue "arrow" button in the quote to see the entire context and read the posts around it. (ETA: I think I've edited in most of the quotes now - if I missed one that's important, please let me know.)

In the earlier parts of the index I tried to come up with a helpful phrase for each link, thinking it would make searching easier. I'd be interested in hearing if readers preferred that or just having the entire post quoted.


What? You've never heard of George I, George II, and George III?


As to the use of 'they' ...?
I'm not quite sure what you mean here.

Are you referring to this line?

You have to ocassionally remind the reader who they are reading about...

If so, that's the singular 'they,' the word used in English to mean an individual of unknown sex. (This is the correct singular. "He or she" is a barbarism; "he" (or "she") alone is silly.)

See for example:

"Singular they": God said it, I believe it, that settles it (http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/%7Emyl/languagelog/archives/003572.html)

Everybody loves their Jane Austen (http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/austheir.html)

It's all looking for clarification. The names for the different POVs are mutable things; use them if they make the concept clearer for you. If not, not.

And the master rule is that if it works, it's right.

Let's take a look:
"Do you spook easily, Starling?"

"Not yet."

"See, we've tried to interview and examine all thirty-two known serial murderers we have in custody, to build up a database for psychological profiling in unsolved cases. Most of them went along with it--I think they're driven to show off, a lot of them. Twenty-seven were willing to cooperate. Four on death row with appeals pending clammed up, understandably. But the one we want most, we haven't been able to get. I want you to go after him tomorrow in the asylum."

Clarice Starling felt a glad knocking in her chest and some apprehension too.

"Who's the subject?"

"The psychiatrist--Dr. Hannibal Lecter," Crawford said.

A brief silence follows the name, always, in any civilized gathering.

Starling looked at Crawford steadily, but she was too still. "Hannibal the Cannibal," she said.That's the narrator, the person who is telling the story, interjecting himself into the narrative. It's a bit of a distancing mechanism. It's "I'm telling a story." And it's the exposition. The narrator is telling us something that the two characters can't mention to each other because they both know it perfectly well.

Other places, the drop into present tense is POV. When seeing the characters' thoughts, they're present tense because the characters aren't thinking about what's going on in front of them in past tense.

Character thoughts aren't always set in italics.

I'm going to annotate some of these.


“What follows is a list of the most common shoulds, musts, and have-to’s that many of us have been taught about writing. Each of these is either useless, irrelevant, or just plain incorrect:

*A writer must be unhappy, or lonely, or cynical, or 100% serious, or neurotic, or a little crazy, or downright nuts.



You don't have to be crazy, but it helps.

*If you wish to be published, you must do whatever editors ask.

Depends on what degree of granularity you're looking for. At its most basic what the editors ask is "Send us something we can use!" and this is completely correct. If you wish to be published you must send something that suits their current needs.

*You must dress and act in a certain way, and/or associate with certain people, in order to be a successful writer.

The propeller beanie (http://costumestock.com/product/B000H8H8GO/Merchant/Adult-Propeller-Beanie-Hat.htm) is absolutely necessary. By great good luck I have a number of them here. May I sell you a couple? Oh, yes, and you must associate with me.


*You must keep each of your manuscripts circulating among editors until it is accepted for publication.

Or until you've hit every reasonable market. Then retire it for a year, re-read it, see if any new markets have opened, and consider either rewriting it or permanently retiring it.

*If manuscript is rejected, you must get it back out to another editor within 24 hours.

That's a darned good idea. Six hours is better. Three better still.


The only sane response to any of these pronouncements is a loud and emphatic, “NOT SO!” None of them is universally true. Some may be useful or true for some writers, or under certain circumstances. Some may be helpful as generalities, but are not absolutes. Many-the last seven, for example-are pure baloney through an through.

If it works for you, do it. If it doesn't work, don't.

In addition to the shoulds, writers also face a barrage of equally worthless shouldn’ts. Here are the most common examples:
*Never write about yourself.
*Never write in the first person, or use the words “I,” “me,” or ”my.”
*Never use curse words, slang, or colloquialisms.
*Never use italics.
*Never use exclamation points.
*Never use foreign words.
*Never start a sentence with “and,” “but,” “anyway,” “however,” “nevertheless,” “therefore,” or “I.”
*Never use incomplete sentences.
*Never stray from correct grammar and usage for any reason.
*Never write in dialect; always use standard English.

Has anyone ever actually heard anyone say any of those things?

*Never send something you’ve written to more than one editor at once.

This one is true. Just plain don't do it, unless all of the editors involved clearly state that they take simultaneous submissions.


*Never submit photocopied manuscripts to editors.

This one dates back to the days when photocopies a) came out as negatives (white print on a black background), b) were on an odd slick paper that tended to stick to other sheets of odd slick paper, and c) smelled rather odd. It was true at that time. I don't know if that's been true any time in the last thirty years, though, and I don't recall anyone saying not to send photocopies any time in the last thirty years either.

*Never rewrite, except to editorial order.

Edelstein has completely misunderstood this one, but that's okay: many people misunderstand it. This rule doesn't instruct you to send out only first drafts. Once you've written, rewritten, revised, and made your work the best you can ... send it out. After that it's a trap to rewrite it every time it comes back. A waste of time. You've already made the story the best you could or you wouldn't be sending it out, would you? So send it out, and send it out again, until you've hit every reasonable market. Then retire it, as above. The exceptions are: if someone says "I will buy this if you make the following changes," by all means do so. Or, if the story's sat around in your Retired file for a year and you see a way to make it better, you can rewrite it and send it back on its travels. (Or, suddenly an inspiration strikes and the Muse won't let go of your throat until you rewrite the sucker.)

I repeat: all of these are worthless at best, harmful at worst. Ignore them all.

And ignore that, as well.

There is yet another type of nonsense that we writers often face: strange beliefs about what makes a writer.

What makes a writer is this: the act of writing. If you write, you are a writer. If you dont -- you aren't.

It really is that simple.

The actual rules:

What works is right.

The reader is king.

A compelling story compellingly told trumps everything.

A story that's submitted may be accepted. A story that's never submitted won't be accepted.

I believe that there is a difference between the POV in this:

Never have I felt quite so worldly as I did on my very first real date, when, after considered perusal of the wine list, I masterfully commanded the waiter at the Log Cabin restaurant in Lenox, Massachusetts, to fetch me a bottle of Mateus Rosé. In its distinctive Buddah-shaped bottle, with its slight spritz, it represented a step up from the pink Almaden that my friends and I sucked down in order to get into the proper Dionysian frame of mind for the summer rock concerts at Tanglewood. (And that seemed a classic accompaniment--rather like Chablis and oysters--to the cheap Mexican pot we were smoking at the time.) Later, of course, as I discovered the joys of dry reds and whites, I learned to sneer at pink wine; it seemed--as Winston Churchill once remarked regarding the moniker of an acquaintance named Bossom--that it was neither one thing nor the other. A few summers ago a bottle of Domaines Ott rosé in conjunction with a leg of marinated grilled lamb cured me of this particular prejudice; I thought I'd died and gone to Provence, though in fact I was at my friend Steve's birthday party in the Hamptons.
and this:

You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning. But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy. You are at a nightclub talking to a girl with a shaved head. The club is either Heartbreak or the Lizard Lounge. All might come clear if you could just slip into the bathroom and do a little more Bolivian Marching Powder. Then again, it might not. A small voice inside you insists that this epidemic lack of clarity is a result of too much of that already. The night has already turned on that imperceptible pivot where two A.M. changes to six A.M. You know this moment has come and gone, but you are not yet willing to concede that you have crossed the line beyond which all is gratuitous damage and the palsy of unraveled nerve endings. Somewhere back there you could have cut your losses, but you rode past that moment on a comet trail of white powder and now you are trying to hang on to the rush. Your brain at this moment is composed of brigades of tiny Bolivian soldiers. They are tired and muddy from their long march through the night. There are holes in their boots and they are hungry. They need to be fed. They need Bolivian Marching Powder.
and this:

When Christopher Ransom opened his eyes he was on his back, looking up into a huddle of Japanese faces shimmering in a pool of artificial light. Who were these people? Then he placed them. These were his fellow karate-ka, members of his dojo. And there stood the sensei, broad nose skewed to the left side of his face, broken in the finals at the Junior All-Japan Karate Tournament fifteen years ago. Ransom was pleased that he could recall this detail. Collect enough of the details and the larger picture might take care of itself.

The sensei asked if he was okay. Ransom lifted his head. Turquoise and magenta disks played at the edge of his vision. He was hoisted to his feet; suddenly the landscape looked as if it was flipped on its side, the surface of the parking lot standing vertical like a wall and the façade of the gym lying flat where the ground should be. Then the scene righted itself, as if on hinges.
We might as well call the difference first person, second person, and third person. If the terminology doesn't work for you, try something else that eases composition. They are, essentially, I'm talking about me, I'm talking about you, and I'm talking about that guy over there.

In the end, while you can flip between POVs between scenes, you'll probably want to stick with one or another inside of the individual scenes to avoid confusing your readers.

Oh yes -- and for the excerpts above, the question is: would you turn the page?

Most of us are pretty laid-back here.

Well, golly. Look what the mail brought today!

Tekno Books (http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0001158247-page.html) sent me a contract today. They want the rights to reprint one of my stories for Sony's new e-book reader (non-exclusive electronic, World English, five years).

Well, shucks. No advance, but this is for a reprint. 25% of purchase price as royalty.

I can do that. It's found money.

A small brag here: This story is by Dave Thompson, one of our students at Viable Paradise last year, and this story was one that he wrote at the workshop:

http://pseudopod.org/2007/03/30/pseudopod-031-last-respects/

This is, BTW, a paying market.

Story Idea, Free!

Take The Bourne Identity. Imagine that Jason Bourne, escaping from the Swiss bank, rather than hooking up with dodgy Eurotrash femme Marie instead got a ride from Maria from The Sound of Music.

How does the story go from that point?

Work on one, then work on another -- if that's what's natural for you, that's fine with me.

Don't send them out until they're finished, but when they're finished, send them out. You have permission to do anything except not-write.

Congratulations, you are a Writer!

(Everyone, give Jennifer a round of applause. And thank her in the best way: Read her book. Then Will Come Night and Darkness (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1879378523/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/). Buy one; better still, buy a dozen. They make excellent gifts.)

a) Good writers are more fun to read than bad writers. One of these days I'm going to do another line-by-line, and these will do.

b) He's written at novel length in the three basic POVs, so a comparison, same writer to same writer, is more interesting.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd say something like, "All rights reserved. For reprint permission, write to" and an email address.

When you do grant permission, spell out exactly what rights, where, and for how long, and what language you want as far as identifying it as your work (linkbacks, and so on).

I posted this before in another thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581). I'm going to put it here, too:

==========
What type of "promotion" should one expect from a publisher once a book deal has been struck?

I'm going to talk about novels here, because that's what I know about.

Things vary, of course, but the minimum you should expect:

1) Review copies/advance reading copies well in advance of publication to major venues (Booklist, Library Journal, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly) plus major newspapers, and any specialized magazines that deal with your subject matter (you'll work with your publisher on this -- you know your subject).

2) Ads in trade publications.

3) Listed in the catalog.

4) Talked up by the sales force.

5) Press releases to state and local newspapers (you'll work with your publisher on this, too -- they'll already have a list, you can add to it.) Press releases should have copies of the book attached. (A press release without a copy of the book is wasted paper.)

Attractive cover, carefully written back cover blurb ... those should go without saying.

TV/Radio/Newspaper ads, book signings, book tours ... they're a waste of time and money for a first novel. There are other resources a publisher can use, depending ... they vary from foiled-and-embossed covers, up through endcaps, shelf talkers, front-of-the-store placement ... depends on whether they think that the book will get enough extra sales that way to pay for the extra expense.

The single biggest reason someone buys a novel is because they read and enjoyed a previous book by the same author. The next biggest reason anyone buys a novel is because a trusted friend recommended it. All the other reasons fade into single-digit percentages.

A first novelist doesn't have that earlier novel that someone read (that's one reason selling short stories is important, even though there isn't a lot of money in them). So you have to rely on the early adopters, the adventurous folks who pull books off the shelf even if they've never heard of the author, to tell everyone in their carpool or in their bridge club, "You have to read Nameofbook!"

This is tough. But the single most important thing to do is write your second book. Make it better than the first. Then you will have all the people who read and enjoyed your first book buying it, and talking to their friends.


The truth about the literary life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt_7KhSbExE

Action is movement.

That movement may be physical, it may be mental, it may be emotional, it may be moral ... but ... it's moving.

Kurt Vonnegut offers advice on writing:

http://puppetmaker40.livejournal.com/326453.html
Some writing advice by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on the subject of short stories from Bagombo Snuff Box
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0399145052/ref=nofollow/madhousemanor/)
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Monday, April 23rd, is International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day.

That's the day to post a complete story or novel, your best work, on your webpage for anyone to read absolutely free.

Details here: http://papersky.livejournal.com/318273.html

One of the dead yesterday at Virgina Tech was Christopher J. "Jamie" Bishop, son of science fiction writer Michael Bishop.

It is given to no man to know the day or hour.

I've just learned of a new time-and-energy waster for writers: http://charteo.us/

These nice folks will make automatic graphs of your book's Amazon sales rank.

Naturally my first move was to add Mist and Snow's ISBN (http://charteo.us/amzn/items/0060819197). Please help move the graph-line upward. You can make little Jimmy smile, or you can turn the page....

Why -- yes! Yes, you can!

In the meantime, buy my books....

You can indeed still get a copy of Atlanta Nights (http://www.lulu.com/content/102550). The perfect book if one leg of your dining room table is too short!

Yet another POD-cast: http://podibleparadise.com/?p=24

(Who says I don't like POD?)

In honor of International Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch Day, I've put up one of our short stories, The Queen's Mirror (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/L_queenmirror.htm).

Y'all enjoy.

http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/pixelstained.jpeg


That was so much fun I did it again: On Suivi Point (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/L_suivi.htm)

It's been a while (since March, 2004, if you must know) since I've done a wrapup of the books and movies and articles we've discussed and linked to from here. So that can be this morning's project.

The Best of HapiSofi:

Lee Shore Literary Agency (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15560&postcount=2)

Need Advice (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=956)

Agents Charging Fees (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=978)


Sex Scenes, version II (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82911&postcount=624)

Typesetting (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=83076&postcount=789)

1st Books was OK (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14844&postcount=83)

Prologues (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82531&postcount=244)

Midbooks (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82834&postcount=547)

Tone (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82453&postcount=166)

PA Authors (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1860&postcount=367)

ST Comments I Love It! (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9283&postcount=62)

All PublishAmerica Titles are in the Library of Congress (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11316&postcount=142)

Decent Typesetting (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=94054&postcount=18)

================

Font:

Dark Courier (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?locBasepartNum=lj611en)

====================

Books:

Cut and Assemble Victorian Shingle-Style House (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486290824/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Cut and Assemble Victorian Cottage (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486273113/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Modern English Usage (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0192813897/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560252758/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
New Skies (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0765340046/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Between the Darkness and the Fire (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880448564/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Apocalypse Door (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0312869886/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Werewolves: A collection of original stories (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060267984/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Otherwere: Stories of Transformation (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/044100363X/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Murder by Magic (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0446679623/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Writers Digest (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005NIPH/madhousemanor)
The Killer Angels (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345348109/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Price of the Stars (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812517040/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Stars Asunder (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/TSAHEAD.HTM)
A Working of Stars (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/awoshead.htm)
Hunters' Moon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0425143627/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Marvelous Max: the Mansion Mouse (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964993449/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Tournament and Tower (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/WIZ2EXPT.HTM)
Aquatech Warriors (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/swift6.htm)
Tiger Cruise
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0812568591/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)Camelot (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/0399225404/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0261102591/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0921149921/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Vampires (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0060502223/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0809001608/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Conjure Wife (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812512960/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Starpilot's Grave (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812517059/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Summons (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440241073/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
The Street Lawyer (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440225701/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/059025930X/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Understanding Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/006097625X/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Psycho (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812519329/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Silence of the Lambs (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312195265/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
The Foxfire Book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385073534/ref%3Dnosim/viablparadthewri)
Cosmic Tales: Adventures in Far Futures (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743498879/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
====================

Links:

Advice from Bookslut (http://www.bookslut.com/blog/archives/2004_03.php#001776)
Parody of Jane Austen Doe (http://www.teevee.org/archive/2004/04/01/arts-fanfic.html)
Harry Potter and the Horrid Pain of the Artiste (http://www.geocities.com/school_idiot/hp.htm)
Why 98% of the slushpile is unpublishable (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-2835-p-2.html)
International Slushpile Bonfire Day (http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.html?id=950)
Amazon.com without the BS (http://www.kokogiak.com/amazon/)
H. W. Fowler (http://www.bartleby.com/116/index.html)
Yetanother Variant (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/001541.html#001541)
Warnings and Cautions for Writers (http://www.sfwa.org/beware/general.html)
How Gramatically Correct Are You? (http://www.quizilla.com/users/BaalObsidian/quizzes/How%20grammatically%20correct%20are%20you%3F%20%28 Revised%20with%20answer%20key%29/)
Medieval Numerology (http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Numerology.pdf)
The Last Real New Yorker in the World (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/NEWYORK.HTM)
Bestseller Lists 1900-1995 (http://www.caderbooks.com/bestintro.html)
Windhaven Press (http://www.windhaven.com/home/)
Viable Paradise Student Sales (http://www.sff.net/people/greg/vppubs.html)
The Certainities of Life (http://books.guardian.co.uk/posysimmonds/page/0,12694,1152704,00.html)
The Literary Life (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/005104.html)
You're Published. Now the Fun Begins? Think Again. (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/books/14HUMI.html?ex=1397275200&en=1a6d0536eb304c28&ei=5%20007&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=print&position=)
Scrivener's Error (http://scrivenerserror.blogspot.com/)
CafePress (http://www.cafepress.com/viableparadi,yog_1,yog_2)
Print On Demand (http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/books.aspx)
Five Deadly Sins (http://books.guardian.co.uk/posysimmonds/page/0,12694,1201995,00.html)
What Kind of Writer are You? (http://www.quizilla.com/users/edeainfj/quizzes/What%20kind%20of%20writer%20are%20you?/)
The Fight Crime! (http://www.theyfightcrime.org/)
Celtic Knotwork (http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knots.html)
Harry of Five Points (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/005174.html#47815)
Pericles, Prince of Tired Plots (http://www.yarnivore.com/francis/archives/000405.html)
Skinhead Hamlet (http://www.sa.rochester.edu/drama/skinhead.html)
Romeo and Juliet, as performed by Peeps (http://www.theplainjane.com/peep_plays/rj_scene01.html)
The Cask of Amontillado (http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html)
Viable Paradise (http://www.sff.net/paradise/)
ISBN Checksum Calculator (http://www.morovia.com/education/utility/upc-ean.asp)
Fold a paper pressman's hat (http://hotlinecy.com/images/hat.pdf)
Speed Writing (http://www.writing-world.com/basics/block4.shtml)
On the Getting of Agents (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004772.html)
The Walrus and the Carpenter (http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/walrus.html)
Panel Looks At Financing of Book by Rowland's Wife (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/11/nyregion/11impeach.html?ex=1177819200&en=3f7645ade81d1f13&ei=5070)
The F-word Song (http://members.aol.com/berrymanp/alyrics/fword.html)
Hang on the Bell, Nellie (http://www.scoutorama.com/song/song_display.cfm?song_id=241)
A Visit from St. Nicholas (http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/stories/niteb4.html)
Sovay (http://www.garrygillard.net/carthy/songs/sovay.html)
Lime Pie (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=82651&postcount=364)
Slushkiller (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html)
Susanna Clarke's Magic Book (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/magazine/01CLARKE.html?ex=1249099200&en=2fea0b3cbfbd17d9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland)
Jump-starting a Stalled (or Dead) Career (http://www.sfwa.org/writing/restart.htm)
Stalled Careers, Writer's Block, and Monsters Under the Bed (http://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/articles/stalled.htm)
Bookslut (http://www.bookslut.com/blog/)
Writers are Terrorists (http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_10_24_digbysblog_archive.html#109864025365506 773)
Bakeless Literary Prizes (http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/blwc/bakeless/)
Holly Black's Writing Resources (http://www.blackholly.com/writingresources.htm)
Storytelling (http://www.tiedtothetracks.com/storytelling/)
Report to the Authors Guild Midlist Books Study Committee (http://www.authorsguild.org/miscfiles/midlist.pdf)
Le Bar aux Folies Bergere (http://www.gymsm.krefeld.schulen.net/tric/ecrivo/ville_manet.htm)
L'Empire des Lumieres (http://www.essentialart.com/acatalog/Rene_Magritte_L_Empire_des_Lumieres_1954.html)
Origami Crane
(http://www.monkey.org/%7Eaidan/origami/crane/)
====================

Movies:

Jose Chung's "From Outer Space" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000BOH990/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
Jose Chung's "Doomsday Defense" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000667HBS/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
A Fistful of Dollars (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K0DM/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
Shakespeare in Love (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001U0E1/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C8ART/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)
28 Days Later (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005JMA8/ref=nosim/madhousemanor)





Looks like that thread has been removed. (Occasionally inactive threads -- ones that haven't gotten post in year or two -- get trimmed.)

Not to worry -- most of the same material was reposted in this thread and this thread isn't going away.

I'll delete the dead link.

If there's a magazine that still serializes novels ... work it out with the editor. Generally they'll go with chapter breaks. Your chapter breaks should all end on a strong note, at a natural breaking place, with the urge for the reader to start the next chapter built in.

Royalties are trickling in. Just got the money from Harcourt, with the three "Dozens" anthologies: A Wizard's Dozen (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/wizahead.htm), A Starfarer's Dozen (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/starhead.htm), and A Nightmare's Dozen (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/nighhead.htm). Total around forty bucks, but then these have been going, twice a year, since 1993. A tank of gas....

Royalties from novels come via my agent. Short stories they send me directly.

Write the book.

Later, in the rewrite, you can figure what goes into chapter one and what goes into chapter two.

For all we know the second draft will start with a chapter you haven't written yet and both your current chapter one and chapter two will be in the discard pile.

Get the words on paper. When you reach The End the contents of chapter one will be clearer to you.

One way to tell who your protagonist is is to look at your last chapter and see who's in it.

If the protagonist isn't in the last chapter, or isn't the main topic of conversation in the last chapter, perhaps you should rethink who the protagonist is.

I should mention that it's entirely possible for someone who died before Chapter One to be the protagonist.

============

Meanwhile, Good News! This year's Christmas Challenge story sold, to Fantasy & Science Fiction (http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/). They have up to three years to publish it, but they pay on acceptance. Go team us!

Gosh 'n golly you betcha!

Our first novel we had eight.

Main character, protagonist, antagonist, all these fiddly definitions are more of interest to academics, I think.

As long as you have characters that your readers can identify with, and you reveal those characters to those readers, you will not have gone far wrong.

Where Margaret Mitchell got the title for her novel:

Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae sub Regno Cynarae


Last night ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine
There fell thy shadow, Cynara! Thy breath was shed
Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine;
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat,
Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay;
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
When I awoke and found the dawn was gray:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,
Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng,
Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, all the time, because the dance was long:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.

I cried for madder music and for stronger wine,
But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire,
Then falls thy shadow, Cynara the night is thine;
And I am desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea hungry for the lips of my desire:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
-- Ernest Dowson

Department of Oh, the Humanity! (http://www.unfogged.com/archives/week_2007_05_20.html#006831)

When we married, it was with the well-intended but overly optimistic understanding that she would support my writing until my writing could support us both. And so I have written short stories and poems and novels and essays and newspaper articles and much more. I have spent thousands of dollars attending writing conferences and hiring professional editors to help me perfect my manuscripts. And I have never made more than a pittance in return for these literary labors.

Make sure you read the comments.

[Dawno]

..
Many years ago, Doyle (my co-author) was teaching college freshmen.

She was approached by a student who wanted to know why it was that, even though nothing had been marked wrong in her essay, she nevertheless got a B.

Doyle said "For an A paper I expect something more than technical correctness. 'No errors' is not good enough."

The student said, "You mean I have to be interesting too?"

And in this moment the student achieved enlightenment.

You may learn what you really believe in.

Or you may not.

Right now I believe I'll have a cup of coffee....

My Favorite Font (http://www.slate.com/id/2166947/): Anne Fadiman, Jonathan Lethem, Richard Posner, and others reveal what font they compose in and why.


========

On the subject of openings, I recall the (perhaps apocryphal) story of the author whose short story had been rejected from a magazine that specialized in "spicy stories."

"There isn't enough sex in it," said the edtior.

"Whaddaya mean?" said the author. "There's sex on the very first page!"

"Yeah, but it's near the bottom."

(This would have been in the days of the pulps, when authors dropped by the editors' offices in New York City to hand in their stories and pick up their checks. Ah, the golden days! We'll never see their likes again....)

=======

Do y'all remember when, back on page 246 (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710&page=246), I posted this and asked, "Would you turn the page?"Never have I felt quite so worldly as I did on my very first real date, when, after considered perusal of the wine list, I masterfully commanded the waiter at the Log Cabin restaurant in Lenox, Massachusetts, to fetch me a bottle of Mateus Rosé. In its distinctive Buddah-shaped bottle, with its slight spritz, it represented a step up from the pink Almaden that my friends and I sucked down in order to get into the proper Dionysian frame of mind for the summer rock concerts at Tanglewood. (And that seemed a classic accompaniment--rather like Chablis and oysters--to the cheap Mexican pot we were smoking at the time.) Later, of course, as I discovered the joys of dry reds and whites, I learned to sneer at pink wine; it seemed--as Winston Churchill once remarked regarding the moniker of an acquaintance named Bossom--that it was neither one thing nor the other. A few summers ago a bottle of Domaines Ott rosé in conjunction with a leg of marinated grilled lamb cured me of this particular prejudice; I thought I'd died and gone to Provence, though in fact I was at my friend Steve's birthday party in the Hamptons.Well, ask yourself, punk: Would you?

That's the first page of a published novel. In a bit, a line-by-line to see what the author was doing.



Should I write this new character in third limited as well?

Alas, I don't know that answer. In general, only if it works best that way.


At the moment I have written it in third omni but it just doesn't seem to hold as well as previous chapters. Ah, then it isn't working.

Try another POV. See if it works better. That's the re-writing stage, though. For now I'd bull through to THE END. But that's me -- something else may work best for you.


Following this, if I write both charcters in third limited how do I write it when they come together?Try third limited. If it doesn't work ... try something else. No one but you will read your first drafts.

Ken, I can't answer that. The length of the new opening should be as long as it needs to be, but no longer.

I would advise that you wait until you reach "The End" before you add it, though if it's screaming to be written by all means write it.

Next:

Yesterday I watched Pan's Labyrinth (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B00005JPA6/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) on DVD, then immediately afterward watched it again with the director's commentary. What a lovely example of storytelling! May I suggest to y'all that you do the same?

Do y'all know what the one unforgivable sin is? It's being boring. You can get away with almost anything -- as long as you aren't boring.

Pseudonym.

Really.

One of the Things That Happen is the major chain bookstores order to net -- their preorders equal the sales of your last book. But changing your name (as little as using or not using your middle initial) makes you a new author from their point of view.

Write the novel, make it non-boring, and be prepared to have this discussion with your editor.

(As to the question of the sales affecting the sale of your book to another publisher, they'll be looking at sell-through: the ratio of books printed to books that went home in a customer's hand.)

You know what 100% sell-through means? It means the publisher didn't print enough copies.

Optimum sell thorugh? Probably 60-70%. Long before you hit 80% the publisher should be going back to press.

Remember: printing the books is one of the cheapest parts of the entire operation.

It is with great joy that we report that Karen Joy Fowler's novel, The Jane Austen Book Club (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0452286530/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/), is written in the first-person plural.

Now that's a point of view we don't see every day.

Should I just put it aside and work on something else... book five in the other series (my agent's taking a look at those after this one sells), another stand-alone (I have two started)?Yes, put it aside. If the one on submission doesn't sell it won't have a sequel.

No, don't work on something in another series.

First, write a short story to clear your palate. (See above, this year's Christmas Challenge for one possible way to do this. Hey, mine sold.)

Next, write a totally stand-alone book. Do it this way: Three pages a day, without fail, for three straight months. At the end of that time you will have a book -- and you'll probably have a call-back from your agent.

And watch a couple of movies along the way. And read a few novels just for fun. You have to top off your fun tank. It may be getting low.


(I noticed that there was talk about making a compilation of the more salient bits. Did that come to any fruition? It might be a bit crazy to ask now, considering how long ago that was, but it can't hurt to check.)
Well, yes.

There's the Uncle Jim Undiluted thread, but more than that, there's a book that's in progress based on this thread. My beloved wife and co-author is whipping this raw material into shape. We'll see what comes of that.

Just my posts alone come to over a thousand pages in manuscript format so you see there's some room for trimming and condensation.

You have my official permission to Write Crap.

http://www.sff.net/people/yog/permission.pdf

So there I was, reading the Writer Beware blog (http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/06/victoria-strauss-queen-for-day.html), when I read this:



And I was instantly inspired.Bunstable. Willard Bunstable. The name alone was enough to bring a strong man to his knees. Now Edwin sat in his rented room -- rented by the week, semi-furnished -- and awaited the coming of Willard Bunstable.

A footstep on the stair. A floorboard creaked in the hall. A knock sounded on the cracked door. Edwin opened it timorously. The words came out in a rush:

"Mr. Bunstable! I have it. I mean I'll have it. Thursday. All of the money. I swear!"

Then he noticed that the person standing in the door wasn't wearing a greasy yellow-plaid suit. Wasn't wearing a sneer. Wasn't, in fact, a man. It was flame-haired Jasmine, the smiling minx from the corner donut shop.

"Bunstable problems?" she asked. "Lots of folks have them 'round here. How'd you like to get out of his debt ... permanently?"

For the first time in a month hope suffused Edwin's features. He waved his hand in a gesture of welcome, sweeping her into the room. She walked to the sofa by the window and sat, crossing her legs high up, and leaned back. Edwin shut the door and turned to face her.

"You mean it? Permanently?"

She nodded her head in assent. "Depends on how bad you want it."

"Anything!"

"We'll see." Her smile turned predatory. "We'll see...."

She opened her handbag and pulled out a Colt .45 automatic. She laid the pistol on the couch beside her.

"You aren't asking me to kill Bunstable, are you?"

"No. Nothing that easy." She stared into Edwin's eyes. "But Bunstable will be out of your life. Forever."My friends, inspiration is all around us. And you don't even have to hear a scam agent speak at a writers' conference to get it.

Crap? Of course it is! It's first draft. But it's over a page in manuscript format, which means I'm well on the way to a nice, satisfying 6,000 word (24 pages in manuscript format) short story.

Race ya to the end!

Ported from Another Thread (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69217):Should I register my novel's copyright before sending it out to an agent?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: The book probably won't sell anyway, so that's $45 you'll never see again.

Even longer answer: Copyright exists automatically from the moment the work is first fixed in tangible form. The records you make in the course of doing your everyday business, your printouts, your rough drafts, provide more than adequate proof of your original composition.

Longer answer still: Publishers routinely copyright works in their authors' names. Breaking that routine slows them down and costs them. When a new book comes out with a copyright date that's some years earlier (and face it, if you sold your work tomorrow it probably wouldn't hit the shelves for a couple of years) readers in bookstores looking at that date would figure that the book was old, or a reprint. Many would put it back in search of something new.

Go ahead, copyright your book if you have money to burn and can't get to sleep otherwise, but understand that you're wasting your time and money. There is no market for pirated slush. None at all.

Among agents there are two basic kinds: Honest and dishonest. Honest agents aren't going to pirate your work because they don't just want this book, they want your next, and your next, and your next.... Someone who can write a publishable manuscript is rare enough that they aren't going to throw him or her away for a one-shot advantage, and if a book is successful the odds that you wouldn't learn of it approach zero.

A dishonest agent isn't going to pirate the book either, because they couldn't sell a book, even a publishable one, if you held a gun to their head. How are they going to sell a pirated work? Their source of income lies in the fees they collect from writers. Plus, again, if the book has any kind of success, you're certain to find out, and their cheese will be in the slicer for sure then.

An honest publisher isn't going to buy a pirated manuscript because, not only they are honest, but they're going to want to work with the writer to improve the work. No one but the original author could possibly do that.

A dishonest publisher isn't going to "buy" a pirated work because their business depends on the author himself buying multiple copies of his own book to peddle at flea markets. Who's going to have so much ego invested in a manuscript they stole to pay thousands of dollars to pretend to be its author and go from bookstore to bookstore begging the managers to carry a copy?
andI don't know why you feel you have to say that. I'm not sure what your publishing success is, but the fact that I'm not sure what it is may in fact say something about it. Be that as it may, I don't know if my book will sell. What I do know, is that you certainly don't know whether or not my book will sell. Even if it never sells, you only guessed lucky, 50/50, not because you are aware of my potential in some greater measure than I am.


If one hundred people that I never saw before in my life leapt to their feet in front of me, each one waving a manuscript and saying, "It's my first novel! Will it sell?" I would say to each, "Probably not," without reading a word because for ninety-nine out of those hundred it's true: The book won't sell.

Yes, you have to write the book the best you can.

Yes, you have to polish it until it shines.

Yes, you have to send it out 'til Hell won't have it.

But yes, you have to start writing your next novel (and not a sequel to this one!) the next day, because this one probably won't sell.

Simplifying and moving over out of novels for a minute for the sake of example:

Let's say that you're a short-story writer. Let's say that you write ten stories, and copyright them all. Let's say that one of them sells for $450 (and both of those numbers are completely believable for professional-level short story writers -- selling one out of ten is typical, and $450 for a 9,000 word story is reasonable). At that point, had you copyrighted every one of them your profit would be zero.

Why would you bet $45 on very long odds that have no payoff at all even if you win?


No, you can't copyright plot twists either. Just the actual words on actual paper.

There was one fellow who tried patenting a plot, I think, but I don't know if that was ever challenged in court, and I think it's more a symptom of how the patent system is broken than a real solution to a real problem.

Any plot twist has probably been done before, hundreds or thousands of times, all the way back to Gilgamesh. Plot is only one element of your novel in any case. And ideas -- everyone has ideas. That's why "I have a great idea for a book! You write it and we'll split the money!" is so funny.

By the time you have a unique enough description of your plot twist to copyright it -- you have your novel.

Information like that comes from the literary equivalent of learning about sex by hanging around on streetcorners talking with the other kids who have never done it either.

Say the first word that comes to mind when I say:

Reclusive.


"Author," right?

Authors are frequently solitary, introverted, and not terribly socially ept. The only reason to do a signing is if you think it's fun. Signings are so notoriously ill-attended that there are cartoons: An author sitting behind a table with a pile of his books. The bookstore manager and no one else is present. The manager is talking: "Since it's only the two of us could you read my manuscript?"

The stories about how all authors are expected to go on tours, and how only Beautiful People who will Look Good on Morning Talk Shows can get book deals are just that: stories. Forget them. Go write a good book, then write another.

A book signing, or a launch party, is a bit of a celebration for the author. Think of them as parties and you won't be disappointed. Think of them as Selling and you will be.

Spammer.

Stupid fool thought it would be a good idea to spam one of the threads one of the mods takes a personal interest in?

Bad idea.

(I edited your post to remove the links he was touting.)

Hi, J. A.

Your advice is good as far as it goes, but consider this: America is about 3,000 miles across. My driving range is about 200 miles. If I hit every single bookstore in my driving range it would be a fraction of a percent of all the bookstores in America.

Los Angeles alone has ten times more people than my entire state, and I'm not going to fly out to Los Angeles, rent a car, drive around to bookstores just to introduce myself, and so forth and so on.

And what do I do about my books for sale in Poland? I don't speak Polish and I sure can't afford to fly there just to drop by the bookstores.

Do it if it's fun, but don't go nuts if you can't -- or don't want to.

(BTW, it isn't true that only one in five books make a profit. It may be true that one in five earns royalties beyond the advance, but that's the way the system is designed to work. Publishers start making a profit long before the book earns out.)

I think you're just being paranoid. Your writing credits are to show that someone else thinks that you're writing at a professional level and is willing to bet money that total strangers will agree.

This is all assuming that the book sells to a decent market, of course. The credits that you're listing are your most recent and most prestigious. A string of 1/4 cent-a-word crudzines means that you're writing at that level and have been sucking bottom for a long time. That's more likely to fill an editor's heart with dread than someone with no credits at all, so I'd just leave them out. (I don't list my credits with "little and literary" magazines anywhere.)

There's no percentage in trying to game the system, though. Just tell the truth and go forward.

I don't recommend newspaper ads or printing up bookmarks, either.

True: Obscurity is a far greater problem for authors than piracy will ever be.

Meanwhile:

The reasons people buy books:

#1: Read and enjoyed another book by the same author.
#2: Recommended by a trusted friend.

All the other reasons fade into single-digit percentages.

That's why I say that the best way to promote your book is to write and publish another book.

That's true only you get a chance to publish another book. If your first book doesn't do well enough, book #2 won't sell.

The real gap is with book #3. Book #1 goes out, and it sells what it sells. Book #2 goes out, and you hope it sells better than #1. If it doesn't ... that's when there isn't a book #3 and you have to go to a pseudonym.



Book #1 will only benefit from book #2 if book #1 is still in print.Write a book a year and this isn't a problem. The other nice thing about putting out books on a regular basis is that when the new book comes out the publisher will often reprint and resolicit your backlist.

Good, free advertising is selling short stories and articles. You reach new audiences, and people who like your writing will seek you out. I've bought many books by new authors after reading shorts by them.
Sure, if you're the multi-talented guy who can write shorts as well as novels. It's as much work to sell a short as a novel, though, and there aren't as many markets. But yes, people who like your short stories will seek out your novels. A short story is less of an investment in a reader's time, so readers are more willing to give a new author a try.

(And if you subscribe to Fantasy and Science Fiction (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B00006KDW3/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) now, you'll be certain to get my next short story ... coming soon!)

(Or, go to my webpage and read some of my stories absolutely free. (http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/L_queenmirror.htm))

I really have to disagree. As authors we need to write the best books we can.

If you want to understand "giving the reader something on page one that makes him want to turn to page two" as marketing, well, yes, that's an author's job. If you want to understand "give the reader a last chapter that's so strong he wants to run out and get your next book," as marketing, that's a good way to look at it.

Any other marketing we do is invisible if the publisher isn't already doing its job. As far as running around to bookstores takes time and energy away from writing, it's counterproductive.

Do I do signings? Heck yeah. Most recent one was this last Sunday (and my book sold out, thank you very much). But selling eight, ten, twenty, forty books here and there ... I also saw a couple of movies while I was down there and ate some Indian food (the town where I live is so rural and remote that it's an hour's hard drive to the nearest stoplight), and that was the real purpose and the highlight of the weekend. Getting out of the house.

==========

Everyone: Go here: http://www.lulu.com/content/219003 Buy a copy of my book.

Let's just agree to disagree about this.

Selling an extra 500 books is a 1% difference when you're moving 50,000.

Visiting bookstores in New York makes no difference to my sales in California, nor to my sales in Oregon. But I'd better have sales in California and Oregon, too, or I'm out of business.

If it's fun for you, if you enjoy gladhanding, more power to you. It isn't a requirement.

Look at all those self-published guys with double-digit sales. That's what author-promotion without publisher-promotion gets.

Getting more interviews and getting invited to speak at more places don't strike me as major inducements. I did a four-state seven-city tour once. Never again. I'll schedule elective oral surgery instead.

Well, I'm just a mid-list SF/fantasy author, and you know my attitude toward self-promotion. I'd rather drive a spike through my hand than do most of that stuff you've listed as Good Things ... and you know what? My results are about the same as yours, as far as selling and earning out.

So no, I don't see self-promotion as having all that much to do with it.

Self-promotion: People who do it well and enjoy it should do it. People who don't do it well but enjoy it shouldn't do it. People who do it well but don't enjoy it shouldn't do it. People who don't do it well and don't enjoy it definitely shouldn't do it.

There are also agents who are in cahoots with " professional editors." They recommend that you get your book "professionally edited," and supply their chum's name. The "professional editor" sends a kickback.

See, for example, the Edit Ink (http://www.sfwa.org/beware/Editink.html) affair.

Here are some notes on Point of View: link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.
This is, dare I say it, from the point of view of a filmmaker, but all the arts are related, and the story-telling arts more closely so.

Anodyne, have you been a good little girl? Did you eat all your vegetables? Did you write at least two pages of original prose fiction today? Very well!

Your assignment is to pick up a magazine that you've never previously read, preferably in a genre you don't like, find a short story, and read it from beginning to end.

Then go to your public library, find a novel in that same genre, and read it from beginning to end.

The reason for the short story is to give you an idea of the reading protocols for the novel.

Now: what worked, and what didn't, in that novel, and why?

Or:

If this is too onerous (or if you really, really want that creepy crawlers gross-out treats factory), go to a video-rental store. Get a movie you've never seen before (or read any reviews of). Watch it with the sound off. (Films with subtitles don't count.)

Now write a short story based on the story you think you just saw. You have a week for 6,000 words.

If you're a natural novelist, write a novel instead. You have three months.

Let me know when you've done it....

For Celtic Knotwork, I'm not necessarily talking about characters. I'm talking about themes, I'm talking about moving foreground to background and back.

It's partly mechanical, it's partly as a reminder that things have to change, partly because readers have constantly moving focus of attention.

Mostly, though, it's (one of the many) ways I Do Things. If it's useful to you, if it helps you get a grasp on your plot -- then that's good. If it isn't useful, move on to another mode of construction.


I'm working my way backwards through this wonderful thread.

Thank you, and you're quite welcome.


And I ran across something I'd forgotten, which is the power of the complete rewrite; pick up your first draft and then type it all back in again, adapting as you go....


I burned---oh how I burned---through text as quickly as I could.

...

How I do love writing. I'd forgotten. How could I forget. I feel possessed.

You have to love it. Make it burn, light your world. That's the joy. That's what this art is all about. Publishing? Pfah! Nice, but not the biggest reward.

(Oh -- and I recall my AP History exam back in High School, where the essay question was on the outcome of WWII, and I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that the sole unique outcome of WWII was the composition of the song "Dirty Gertie from Bizerte." During the course of the essay I quoted most of the lyrics. (Dirty Gertie, among her other adventures, hid a mousetrap 'neath her skirtie, baited it with fleur-de-flirtie, made her boyfriends' fingers hurtie, and made her boyfriends most alertie. (She was voted, in Bizerte, 'Miss Latrine' for 1930.) I got an 800.....)


Hey Uncle Jim and all,

I finished my novel. First book, third draft.



Woo hoo! Go, you!

Go, have a pizza! See a movie! Have a long chat with a friend! ... And write the first chapter for your next book.




Congratulations!

Mitch, I see you've been a member here for two years, and I see your first post has been in this thread. I am honored.

Sounds good, but I used to do the same, and found that 3.5 floppies are very prone to damage, even when carefully placed in a protective case.

and

Saving to Amazon S3 does. So far I have been paying maybe 5 cents a month for storage and transfer, access from anywhere, all encrypted, and things don't get lost.

Save, save, save. Every day. And save some more.

The thing that I find is the absolute best, though, is Save to Paper. Hardcopy has some real advantages....


Oh--and how I spent my morning. Sitting in my favorite coffee shop (Le Rendezvous, in downtown Colebrook) going over the galleys for "Philologos; or, A Murder in Bistrita" coming soon (probably December) in Fantasy and Science Fiction (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B00006KDW3/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) (Subscribe now! Don't miss a single thrilling issue!)

First paragraph (I'm really happy with it):

William Sharps (Ph.D., Harvard, 1844) sat in the dining room of the Coroana de Aur hotel in Bistrita and listened to two men plotting to kill him.


I'm going to go along with Allen and Stew21 -- get it written, out to The End, then reread, revise, rewrite.

And 250 pages per day is a novel a year. Which is Perfectly Respectable.

There are still plenty of markets for short stories. Check out Duotrope (http://www.duotrope.com/index.aspx).

Arrrrgh! Words per day! Not Pages!

On my very best day I've only managed a bit over a hundred pages.

(250 pages a day is three novels a week.)

http://www.sff.net/people/yog/permission.pdf

Permission To Write Badly. Suitable for framing.

Things I've Learned Since My First Book Got Published (http://cmpriest.livejournal.com/879864.html) by Cherie Priest

Why books get rejected: Example #528907 (http://tontopress.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-not-to-approach-publishers.html)

Give it three months in your desk drawer while you write something else.

This isn't even the longest thread at Absolute Write.

Meanwhile, here's an Index to Miss Snark (http://wyrdsmiths.blogspot.com/2007/09/truly-garagantuan-miss-snark-index-post.html).

Beginning tomorrow I'll be away at Viable Paradise (http://www.viableparadise.com/).

Here's how that ended up last year (http://isbw.murlafferty.com/?p=160).

[Dawno]

.
Duotrope needs help to stay free. If you can donate, please do so.

http://www.duotrope.com/

(Note: I am not affiliated with Duotrope in any way. I just think it's a heck of a neat service and would serve all writers better by staying open and available to all writers.)

Adsense is a blot on the face of the 'net.

But don't ask me. Ask the Duotrope people -- I don't know any of them.

I mean the Adsense ads. Google ads.

Anything you see advertised that's writing-related is usually an ad for a scammer. Perhaps that extends to areas I don't know as well, perhaps not, but for writers, it's scams all the way down.

Much of the time the ads that are served are hilariously mis-aimed.

If someone wants to be supported by advertising, well and good, but they ought to pick their ads, not accept whatever random stuff shows up.

===========

Having said that, here's a place that supports itself with Adsense ads, but is nevertheless useful.

http://nine.frenchboys.net/index.php

Go, and pick up Random Stuff to use in your stories (for those days when the inspiration just doesn't arrive on time).

My secret shame revealed.

In the Boston Globe. (http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/10/16/the_new_adventures_of_old_skywalker/)

Where I'll be tomorrow: Book 'Em (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/009519.html#009519).

This is your chance (O ye New Hampshire/Vermont/Massachusetts/Maine fans) to visit.

A very clever thing indeed:
Stephanie Zvan's Very Smart Writer's Spreadsheet (http://wyrdsmiths.blogspot.com/2007/10/stephanie-zvans-very-smart-writers.html)


It's a tool for looking at a story scene-by-scene, and making each scene explain why it's in your story. You use the spreadsheet software that you probably already have to make this work.

Heck, the first draft you're still groping around trying to figure out what the book is about. Second draft is where it starts coming together.

Speaking of which, we're starting to run some bits of deleted draft from one of my old novels in our LiveJournal over at http://mist-and-snow.livejournal.com/

These are scenes that were cut early on from The Apocalypse Door (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0312869886/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/).

Do you remember way back here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710&page=246) when I posted...

Never have I felt quite so worldly as I did on my very first real date, when, after considered perusal of the wine list, I masterfully commanded the waiter at the Log Cabin restaurant in Lenox, Massachusetts, to fetch me a bottle of Mateus Rosé. In its distinctive Buddah-shaped bottle, with its slight spritz, it represented a step up from the pink Almaden that my friends and I sucked down in order to get into the proper Dionysian frame of mind for the summer rock concerts at Tanglewood. (And that seemed a classic accompaniment--rather like Chablis and oysters--to the cheap Mexican pot we were smoking at the time.) Later, of course, as I discovered the joys of dry reds and whites, I learned to sneer at pink wine; it seemed--as Winston Churchill once remarked regarding the moniker of an acquaintance named Bossom--that it was neither one thing nor the other. A few summers ago a bottle of Domaines Ott rosé in conjunction with a leg of marinated grilled lamb cured me of this particular prejudice; I thought I'd died and gone to Provence, though in fact I was at my friend Steve's birthday party in the Hamptons.... and asked "would you turn the page?"

The time has come for a line-by-line, to discover what this author was doing and how he was doing it.

That's the first page from Bacchus and Me: Adventures in the Wine Cellar (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/037571362X/ref=nosim/madhousemanor/) by Jay McInerney. Five sentences; 201 words.


Never have I felt quite so worldly as I did on my very first real date, when, after considered perusal of the wine list, I masterfully commanded the waiter at the Log Cabin restaurant in Lenox, Massachusetts, to fetch me a bottle of Mateus Rosé.Never have I felt ... is an unusual word order. Primacy of place in the sentence, and the whole book, to "Never." The author introduces his main character, who happens to be himself. The book is in First Person. "So worldly," combined with the never, tells us that the author feels less worldly now. "Very first real date" tells us that we're looking at a young adult (probably a teenager, from the days when the drinking age was 18). Certainly someone who's callow, and mistaken about being worldly at all. The "wine list" contrasts with the "Log Cabin Restaurant in Lenox, Massachusetts" to produce an irony--the waiter there would hardly have been a wine sophisticate--which leads us to the punchline "Mateus Rosé." This is a lovely description; we can see a young man trying to impress his date, (the "lengthy perusal"). What kind of a wine list would a place called the Log Cabin have? Nothing there would be anything other than common, and probably cheap.


In its distinctive Buddah-shaped bottle, with its slight spritz, it represented a step up from the pink Almaden that my friends and I sucked down in order to get into the proper Dionysian frame of mind for the summer rock concerts at Tanglewood.Pure description at the head of this sentence, leads into a memory within a memory, from that first real date, to earlier, and even more callow teenager invoking the Roman god of wine. Dionysus (another name for Bacchus), suggests wild, larger-than-life, heroic drinking and merrymaking. We're tending to the orgy side of the scale. This, by someone who has never been on a date. He's trying, oh yes. The author is looking back on his younger self with amusment and fondness. The horrors of pink Almaden are explained by example: the use it's put to by young men heading to second-rate rock concerts.


(And that seemed a classic accompaniment--rather like Chablis and oysters--to the cheap Mexican pot we were smoking at the time.)Comparison--Chablis and oysters--pink Almaden and cheap Mexican pot. We're putting rose wine in a category, one that only the young, inexperienced, unsophisticated, would enjoy. This parenthetical is the shortest, simplest one on this page. The other sentences are grammatically complicated, revealing the speaker's character as a someone who is infinitely worldly.

Later, of course, as I discovered the joys of dry reds and whites, I learned to sneer at pink wine; it seemed--as Winston Churchill once remarked regarding the moniker of an acquaintance named Bossom--that it was neither one thing nor the other."Of course." With a historical allusion, a slightly risque joke that slows us down to get the flavor. This sophisticated person speaks of the "joys of dry reds and whites." He sneers at pink wines. Three sentences in and we have a very good idea of this character. We also have the first inkling of the plot: the classic "The Man Who Learned Better."


A few summers ago a bottle of Domaines Ott rosé in conjunction with a leg of marinated grilled lamb cured me of this particular prejudice; I thought I'd died and gone to Provence, though in fact I was at my friend Steve's birthday party in the Hamptons.Our speaker is a true gormand; "died and gone to Provence." No longer are we in Tanglewood, we're in the Hamptons (well known for being an expensive neighborhood just chock-a-block with urban sophisticates. Marinated grilled lamb is a world away from the Whoppers that we can imagine the author's younger self eating when the cheap pot gave him the munchies. We've also met a second named character: his friend Steve. The date he took to the Log Cabin and the nameless friends who went to rock concerts aren't important and the reader won't think about them. Now we have someone to keep in mind. The author is also breaking out of the total self-absorption of the young and into a wider head-space, developing his own character.

And who is Steve? Someone who lives in the Hamptons, serves grilled lamb, and is able to teach someone who thinks he knows about wine, and who apparently is a world traveler, something new about the drink.

So. Character revealed in every sentence. Complex compound sentences. Using the Flesch-Kincaid scale, this piece of writing is at the 16th grade level (senior in college).

We've seen several tricks used to slow the reader down, to make the reader sip the prose the way our narrator would sip his wine.

And so... would you turn the page?

In the big divide between Character-Based and Plot-Based writing, this book seems to me to be very firmly on the Character-Based side.

But let's look at the genre a bit: there's a sub-genre called "Bob and Me," in which two people learn something together. It's a novelistic approach to non-fiction. You can find it anywhere -- from the columns in Byte magazine through Popular Mechanics and on. The reader will be aware of the book's title: Bacchus and Me. We're being promised a Bacchanal: an orgy characterized by heavy drinking. The subtitle promises "adventures." The wine cellar is a low place. That tension, the urban sophisticate we're meeting now and the reveler that the title promises, can drive us a bit.

McInerney's works ought to have a little disclaimer on the cover: Warning, professional stunt writer on a closed course. Do not attempt this at home.

But there is nothing that a writer should not attempt at home.

A perennial question on the boards here is, "Can I write about an unlikeable main character?" The answer is, "Yes."

Even if this main character is utterly loathsome (and I don't really see him that way right now), casting him in first-person means that the character will attempt to justify himself. Since every man is the hero of his own story ....

If you do find yourself trying to write an unlikeable character as your protagonist, consider going the first-person route.

The secret to getting your readers to follow any character (likeable, unlikeable, sympathetic, unsympathetic) is to make that character move. You can't follow someone who's standing still. (The best you can do is mill about in that person's general location.)

The eye always follow the object that's in motion.

Readers don't consciously drag this stuff out. They find the meaning they need. Writers don't necessarily put the material in cold-bloodedly, either. It could (should?) be just what feels right.

Please notice that the act of building the character started in the first sentence of the first paragraph on the first page. There isn't a line that isn't devoted to defining the character.

...and we're all caught up!

[C.bronco]

Check out the ad at the top of the page! Woo Hoo! :)

[ArcticFox]

Just wanted to say I had a lovely time meeting "Uncle Jim" and Debra last Saturday! They were both awesome and had candy!!!! If you get a chance to go to one of their signings go, go!

[sherry2012]

Thanks for that, it's much appreciated！