Tanuki Racoon

... my Blog has been removed as of today. I'm sure it won't be missed. My website remains and in fact it was extensively updated today, but it will very likely be the next to go, though I am not sure of the timetable. I do promise two weeks notice just as I did with my Blog. There are more changes in the works, and I will share some of them with you guys here as they become available. Most of you have been very supportive on the boards, and some precious few via e-mail and I appreciate that. I hate change, but sometimes it's necessary. People and/or their lives change and sometimes it's necessary to reevaluate -- sometimes that means moving on to something new and leaving the old behind. Other times it just means some minor changes for a whole new outlook. Life is always in a state of flux, turmoil, entropy, and chaos. Four words mean almost but not quite the same thing. I really like awesomedude and our favourite King Dude The First and plan on sticking around as long his majesty is willing to put up with me so don't take this post as a "My God, He's Leaving" post. It's not time for that, yet. But I've become close to some of my fellow adults* here and I feel like I need to warn you all, change is coming -- WBMS * Not that we all necessarily act like adults all the time. After all, growing up sucks sometimes.

EPILOGUE? IT'S OVER? I HATE YOU! I was going to write you a long post and tell you how much I really, really, really, liked this chapter and how I was happy and sad and emotional all at different times. And then you ended it. Now, I'll have to kill myself. :: :: Okay, I admit I didn't see it ending right there, but you did a bang-up job as far as I'm concerned. I still wish it wasn't over. Or is there a sequel coming "Newer Brother"? I know, like I'm one to talk.... Seriously, nice work. Good job. Etcetera. YAY!

That's why friends are good. If my friends recommend something I'll read it even if it's not something I'd normally get at. That's how I ended up reading Ender's Game, for instance. Dude hasn't steered me wrong. No offfense to anyone, but NOBODY HERE is a Jo Rowling or Michael Crieghton. If you don't capture your reader quickly, you will lose that reader. (Less skilled authors on Nifty general begin the first sentence with a "His long thrusting...." which attracts many readers but makes me run screaming away...) Plus if you paid money for it, you're giving it a full and fair shot. But I've read published novels that a horrible. Once I wrote a publisher and demanded my money back. I'm still waiting. I still disagree. Your opening should speak for itself. Your hook must, well, grab something. (Does that make you a hooker???? ::)

I think you're wrong :) I think you've added 2 + 2 and got 5. Let me try and be a bit more clear -- I'm always in a hurry and as a result don't always explain myself as well as I should. That's my problem not yours.... Specifically: you don't need action to get a reader's attention. Look at AWMS. Not a damned thing happens really. Getting a reader's interested (as Berkeley said) can be rather simple. New Brother begins with a great premise and it doesn't take much more than that to make a reader want to turn the page.

Yea and verily for it is so. What about some of us who are both author and editor? :) Of course both hands must work together: that's what makes great onanistic sex :) That is a fantastic point. I think that is the crux of the argument. Huh???? DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE That really depends. Sometimes I edit because I am dying to read the author's work (Driver) and sometimes I edit because I am asked a favor (various authors). But I really don't treat the jobs differently. If something is good it comes back with very little colour and if it doesn't, it's laden with red and green and blue. When I teach someone a bit about grammar, I do feel better knowing I've made the world a more literate place.

Well, I must disagree my esteemed Codey. I will not speak for anyone but myself, however when I give something to an editor I want him/her to do their very best job. I do not like an editor who tries to pull punches or even worries about my feelings too much. Their job is to make my story better and if my feelings get hurt, well that's part of the deal. (That doesn't mean they should be mean, but if something sucks -- just say so, and don't beat around the bush.) My best editor was absolutely brutal with comments like "I know you can do better than the dreck in this section" -- and she was absolutely correct. Very rarely did I overrule her comments unless it was for a good reason. (Serial editors don't know what's coming next and may demand, for example, and explanation of something you're deliberately keeping a secret.) Editors should show NO MERCY when it comes to spelling and basic grammar. Complex grammar should come with appropriate explanations especially when dealing with a beginner. However if you write "Your going to far" or "I like it's color" and your editor buys a gun and shoots you, you probably deserve it. In fact, I'll pay for the bullets. If you want an editor and unruffled feathers, get your mom or dad to proofread. Otherwise get ready for a bruised ego. Remember, as you get to be a better writer, you will have less trouble. And I don't get discouraged by my editors often. I enjoy the challenge of trying to improve my writing to meet their absurdly high expectations. As an editor, I don't edit much because most people think I'm a bit harsh, but I do Driver's more recent work and a few others. He fights back and I don't mind. But other than the comma bit he doesn't require much work except I pay attention as a reader. Do what you want but if you want to get good at something, it's going to be hard work. It doesn't matter if it's writing or skiing. Fun things require work just as much as not-fun things. My two pence.

Yeah but if you lose the reader at the first chapter nobody ever GETS to the second chapter. Most online stuff I give up after three pages if SOMETHING doesn't get my attention. This particular story I got about 6 paragraphs in before I said "fuck it" and clicked away. This has nothing to do with the story or whether or not it's good. I'll never know. It was very hard to read the text on that very pretty background and I felt confused which made me decide to leave rather than read. And I love sci-fi which I assume it is based on the background.

Right, which is why I look forward to your historical piece "Roaming with Gay Dinosaurs...." ::running like hell:: :twisted:

So far, I really, really like it. It has huge potential. I like the details about the settings very much. F/T has another hit on his hands to be sure :)

Next year? Just kill me now, why don't you. Happy. Hmph. Indeed. :)

Lord, almost a month. You nearly killed me. Arse. I loved it though :) You want to get me a present? Write faster!!! (As if I'm one to talk....) Good work on the new NB chapter. Really and sincerely.

First, sorry, I obviously misunderstood what you were asking. Second, I like your writing (but you know that). However, I stopped reading the WOT series at book 8 because he goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on without saying anything. Don't fall into that trap. He started nicely and became awfully full of himself. Blathering becomes no-one. So, give it a shot. It CAN work.

From a readability standpoint you're missing a word: one WHAT? (game, point, etc). If the reader can't clearly figure it out, then it's not good. There is no technical fault with the sentence though. From a technicality, I'd have missed it too but VWL caught it. There's no way I'm that good of an editor :)

One POV per novel is generally enough. One per chapter is often used with great effect. Two per chapter will drive your readers to suicide.* Don't do more than one per chapter. That's my two pence. * Flashbacks excluded as flashbacks are often in a different POV

I'm sorry, but I'll have to totally disagree with you. I think the second chapter is better than the first :P (I would like to beg that future chapters stop using blue text on a blue background. My eyes hurt.)

Tease. ::grrrrrr:: Good for you. That's great. Everybody here's got someone*. YAY! *except me

Yes, but Bob's been playing with his rocks.... ::drum roll:: but to keep on topic, the original point is valid. If you're going out of character you need to have either a good, plausible explanation or you need for your character to stay IN character. I think the reason my stories are so good is the characters. I don't think the story itself is anything special one way or the other. Or, let's pick on Jo Rowling. Her characters are awesome, but the story, boiled down, is another fantasy novel that you've read many times over by many authors. (I am not criticizing, but pointing out that without a good character most stories become terribly weak.)

Yes, it's a work I greatly admire and have read multiple times, though the time between chapters makes my Hiatus look like the express train :)

The humour section of course.

This picture is very reminiscent of Rocky. That's what I thought of when I first saw it.

Referring to the photos or the hot guy who originally made the post? :)

I will wait like everyone else -- it's the fair thing to do. Just don't expect me to be happy you're busy having a life whilst I wait to see what happens next :)

By the way you're the first person to ever actually NOTICE I've done that. If someone doesn't give you the right straight* line, you're obligated to make your own, because it's all about the joke. * pardon the use of the term

NB 22 was great. Sorry it took me so long to read it but I'm busy and old and (despite what TR says) not sitting around on my Hiatus... I am DESPERATELY awaiting NB 23 :)

It depends a bit on my author. I edit all grammar errors, syntax errors, diction errors, and such. I will comment on continuity errors (because those just serve to embarrass the author). I don't comment on content unless specifically asked to by the author or unless a character just does something that doesn't make sense for that character. I never, ever, ever, ever, ever change an authors words myself. All my comments are done in color and in-line. The author always has final say on my editing. (Punctuation fixes I will do in-line or just fix depending on what my author wants. ) You asked. I answered. Joy.