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Post by Pru Freda on Nov 24, 2015 1:38:34 GMT -5
Thanks, lou. Most interesting to read what others struggle with. Daniel - Daniel, are you able to give any examples of the use of stronger verbs? I seem to be constantly writing to have, to be, and to get, and as for to look... my characters faces are repeatedly smiling, grinning, frowning, or twisted with a grimace. My books read like a description of a blasted gurning competition!  |
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Post by Daniel on Nov 24, 2015 8:44:39 GMT -5
Daniel - Daniel, are you able to give any examples of the use of stronger verbs? I seem to be constantly writing to have, to be, and to get, and as for to look... my characters faces are repeatedly smiling, grinning, frowning, or twisted with a grimace. My books read like a description of a blasted gurning competition! I know exactly what you mean. I'm sure that's partly why my writing was termed "pedestrian" by one reviewer. I opened Lamberton's book to a random chapter, and this is what I found:Lamberton wrote the book ( Chasing Arizona) in first-person-present, slipping occasionally into third-person-past to offer historical perspective on his subjects. His present tense writing seems to benefit the most from his active writing style. Maybe writing present tense encourages better verb use. When he does use passive structure or a form of "to be," it is deliberate and appropriate. P.S. You added a new term to my vocabulary today: gurning. |
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Post by lindymoone on Nov 26, 2015 7:26:03 GMT -5
yesterday's post. How to write a two-sentence review of a book.I have a pal who reads almost entirely indie books and never reviews. She has read some of yours, even! She just finished Alan's. But she never reviews. So I wrote this with her in mind. Feel free to link to it. Just came across this, Lou. (Late, as always!) So I shared it on my author facebook page. So many people have told me they feel too intimidated to review, and this is such a smart solution. Thanks. |
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Post by lou on Nov 26, 2015 8:55:10 GMT -5
Thanks, Lindy. I wrote it for my friend, and she still doesn't review! She reads 5 indie books a week, too. Damned shame I can't get her to do it.
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Post by lindymoone on Nov 26, 2015 10:04:23 GMT -5
Thanks, Lindy. I wrote it for my friend, and she still doesn't review! She reads 5 indie books a week, too. Damned shame I can't get her to do it. It IS a damned shame. Seems like you ought to be able to guilt her into it somehow. Maybe remind her that she could make up, in her small way, for the evil reviewers who leave one-word reviews like "loser!" or who admit they didn't read the book -- but they didn't like the cover, so gave the book one star. So far, none of those evil reviewers have found me, but it's only a matter of time. |
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Post by carlos on Nov 30, 2015 15:53:19 GMT -5
To encourage reviews you could provide a multiple choice form at the back of the book--linkable to Amazon.
E.g., for The Gardener's Apprentice:
"TGA offers a [check one box]
(boring) (clumsy) (slightly amusing) (wonderfully jolly) answer to Freud's question: What do women want?
I recommend it to all [check as many as apply] (bored secretaries) (stay at home mothers) (women on the bus) and their (lovers) (husbands) (hot guys at the airport whose flights have been delayed.)
My (husband) (lover) and/or (passing acquaintance at the Houston Airport) read the part about the apprentice in the sauna, and (laughed scornfully, saying 'utter nonsense') (winked seductively saying, 'sounds hot') and carried me to bed where it (a) worked for me [choose up to five stars] or (b) proved to be complete nonsense. [no stars.]
Absolutely the (a) best (b) worst, sexy romance since (a) Lolita (b) Fifty Shades, and (all too)(mercifully) short. A (bargain) (swindle) at 99 cents. [choose up to five stars for the book.]
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Post by Daniel on Nov 30, 2015 20:02:32 GMT -5
Thanks for liking my Facebook page, Lou! I would like you back, but pages can't like "regular" accounts.  |
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Post by lou on Dec 1, 2015 7:04:33 GMT -5
Thanks for liking my Facebook page, Lou! I would like you back, but pages can't like "regular" accounts. YW (I'm still figuring Facebook out, and my friend is helping me, but she's more familiar with regular, not biz, accounts and functions. FB honestly isn't that important to me, but they say you must be there, so I'm there and trying to learn it now, but man...nothing about it appeals to me, and it sort of creeps me out. I'd love to harness the time-suck hours it clearly is for millions upon millions of people and...I dunno. Do something useful for the world instead? Pick up roadside trash? Talk to a lonely child? Something, surely, is a better use of collective human time than that.) |
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Post by lindymoone on Dec 1, 2015 8:33:14 GMT -5
Oh, for God's sake, I just had the longest, smelliest brain fart.
Couldn't remember what "YW" meant. Actually had to look it up, because the part of my brain that usually knows this stuff just kept repeating "You Wanker" and I was pretty sure that is NOT what you meant, Lou.
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Post by carlos on Dec 1, 2015 12:05:02 GMT -5
(I'm still figuring Facebook out ... but man...nothing about it appeals to me, and it sort of creeps me out. I'd love to harness the time-suck hours it clearly is for millions upon millions of people and...I dunno. Do something useful for the world instead? Pick up roadside trash? Talk to a lonely child? Something, surely, is a better use of collective human time than that.) Facebook is a wonderful invention in many ways, but it's more than a 'time-suck'--it's a 'mind-suck'. I am taking an internet sabbatical, while I can still pull myself free (if I can  .) I will seriously miss stopping by the Pub (if only I could drop in for ten minutes a day) but I seem to be a mediaholic--so, for December at least, I am going to try Cold Turkey. Which reminds me--what happened to Fred? |
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Post by Suzy on Dec 1, 2015 12:11:04 GMT -5
(I'm still figuring Facebook out ... but man...nothing about it appeals to me, and it sort of creeps me out. I'd love to harness the time-suck hours it clearly is for millions upon millions of people and...I dunno. Do something useful for the world instead? Pick up roadside trash? Talk to a lonely child? Something, surely, is a better use of collective human time than that.) Facebook is a wonderful invention in many ways, but it's more than a 'time-suck'--it's a 'mind-suck'. I am taking an internet sabbatical, while I can still pull myself free (if I can .) I will seriously miss stopping by the Pub (if only I could drop in for ten minutes a day) but I seem to be a mediaholic--so, for December at least, I am going to try Cold Turkey. Which reminds me--what happened to Fred? Ah, Fred's dad passed away about a month ago. I hope he's okay and that he'll come back soon. We'll miss you, Carlos. Don't you disappear forever!  If we don't see you until January- have a very Merry Christmas! |
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Post by lou on Dec 20, 2015 9:43:45 GMT -5
First week in a while I've talked about natural disasters. I chat (a bit circuitously, I fear) about hurricane forecasts, accuracy, and the role of politics in weather forecasts: goo.gl/XValy1 |
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Post by lou on Mar 8, 2016 12:22:47 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Oct 31, 2016 9:39:43 GMT -5
You guys remember last November I interviewed you all for a post about your writing? I don't write often about writing, but I do every November, every Sunday, to link it into NaNo. The posts are all prewritten and ready to roll out.
Last Sunday: A chart on attrition among writers (from people who say "I want to write a book" through those making a living from writing) based entirely on made-up numbers. (bad scientist-me)
11/6: My total fail in a plan to write 1,000,000 words of fiction this year
11/13: I don't believe in talent
11/20: I do believe in luck
11/27: Two ways I invent characters
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Post by lou on Jan 8, 2017 13:17:16 GMT -5
I started a new series today, four posts about my fossil-hunting/preparator experience. I kinda like it. Tell me if you don't.  I also posted a short story first draft written today from a Chuck Wendig prompt combined with a Writing Excuses prompt from months ago. 950 words, perhaps the shortest story I ever managed. |
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Post by Suzy on Jan 8, 2017 13:51:05 GMT -5
I'd love to read it, lou. Could you give us the link?
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Post by lou on Jan 8, 2017 16:58:25 GMT -5
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.) I will seriously miss stopping by the Pub (if only I could drop in for ten minutes a day) but I seem to be a mediaholic--so, for December at least, I am going to try Cold Turkey.
