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Topics - LizW65

Pages: 1 2 [3]
31
Author Craft / Dumb tech question
« on: January 16, 2009, 08:28:10 PM »
Okay, anyone know how to get the accent marks into French phrases in Word?  When I try to do it by clicking "insert special character" and then the accent mark, it appears between the letters instead of over them.  This is driving me nuts!  Help!

32
Author Craft / Querying agents -- breaking out of the slush pile
« on: December 07, 2008, 02:23:55 PM »
Can anyone recommend some legitimate web sites that offer useful information on how to go about querying agents?  Thanks.

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Author Craft / This is hilarious
« on: September 06, 2008, 10:46:32 PM »
Aparently there's an annual prize for oddest book title:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/aug/30/oddestbooktitleprize.awardsandprizes

These seem to be limited to non-fiction, unfortunately; I think the previously discussed Big Spankable Asses should have made the cut.

34
Author Craft / Odd clause in Random House contracts
« on: September 02, 2008, 01:03:59 PM »
Smart Bitches, Trashy books has recently drawn attention to the following clause in the contracts of some of Random House's YA authors:

<<If you act or behave in a way which damages your reputation as a person suitable to work with or be associated with children, and consequently the market for or value of the work is seriously diminished, and we may (at our option) take any of the following actions: Delay publication / Renegotiate advance / Terminate the agreement.” >>

I'm curious as to whether any of the published authors here have encountered such a clause in their contracts, and if so, what exactly it's referring to.  It's been assumed over at SBTB that it refers specifically to pedophilia, but on the other hand it's written so broadly that it could constitute a serious invasion of privacy.  Does RH have the right to terminate a contract over an author's political or religious views, sexual orientation, or because he/she is:  divorced/polyamorous/likes to dress as a Goth/enjoys a cocktail in public/whatever?  Thoughts?

35
Author Craft / '08 Bulwer-Lytton award winners!
« on: August 18, 2008, 12:15:22 PM »
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/scott.rice/blfc2008.htm   ;D

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Author Craft / ARC question
« on: August 03, 2008, 03:35:46 PM »
Hopefully one of the published authors can answer this one: 

I've been hearing a lot lately about Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) and I'm wondering if these are the same as the free copies of a newly published book given to a writer by his/her publisher, which traditionally were given away to family and friends.  If they are, are writers now expected to use them instead for promotional purposes, by sending them for review to professional critics and/or other writers in the same genre?  Is there some sort of professional etiquette writers are supposed to follow in this regard?  Thanks.

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Author Craft / Cover Art!
« on: July 09, 2008, 05:00:20 PM »
Dunno if this is the right place to post this, but you can click here:
http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2007/intro-res07.html
to see the winners of the year's best in cover art in different genres.  And be sure to go to the last page for the very worst!  They're ROFL, shoot-liquids-out-the-nose funny.

38
Site Suggestions & Support / What's up with....
« on: May 15, 2008, 10:44:26 PM »
....so many people here changing their board names lately?  Has there been some kind of problem with online harrassment or identity theft?  Just wondering.

39
Author Craft / writing habits of Dresdenarians
« on: April 27, 2008, 01:50:37 PM »
Inquiring minds want to know!  Do you:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
-Set aside a time every day to write?
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
-Have an outline, or just start with an idea?  If an outline, how detailed is it?
-Have a room or area specifically for writing?
-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
-Start with plot, or with characters?
-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?
-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?
-Talk about what you are writing to others?

40
Author Craft / Fun With Tom Swifties
« on: April 26, 2008, 12:37:06 PM »
This is a game of silly dialogue attribution. :D 
For example:
"I want to be a carpenter when I grow up," Tom said woodenly. 
"You need to watch your cholesterol," said Tom heartily.

Can you think of some more?  Here's one more to get things started:

"What's that, Lassie?  Timmy's in the well?" said Tom doggedly.

41
Author Craft / Any correlation here?
« on: February 18, 2008, 12:57:37 PM »
Since I've begun writing more or less steadily again (at least 2 hours a day if I can manage it) I've noticed that not only am I dreaming vividly all night, I'm also sleeping more soundly.  I can't help thinking that it may have something to do with the increased brain activity, and am wondering if anyone else here has noticed the same thing when they write.  Input, anyone?

42
Author Craft / Present tense
« on: May 09, 2007, 09:58:54 PM »
I was wondering what you all felt about this.  Personally, I go with option 2 - trying to read a novel written in the present tense makes me nervous and jittery, as though I'm wired on too much caffeine.  Plus, there doesn't seem to be any concrete reason for it, except to be "different".
Well, OK, Damon Runyon could pull it off. :)

43
Author Craft / Is your character a Mary Sue?
« on: January 30, 2007, 03:10:40 PM »
Here's a fun test you can take to find out:
http://www.onlyfiction.net/marysue2.html
It doesn't work on all types of characters; for instance Crowley of Good Omens scored a whopping 74 points (irredeemable) and I doubt many of us would accuse the Gaiman-Pratchett team of poor writing technique.  But it's entertaining.  You can try it out on real people, too.  ;D
-Liz

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Author Craft / These are %@#!ing hilarious!
« on: January 26, 2007, 04:25:43 AM »
http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2006/01/crapometer-got-you-feeling-bruised-and.html

Apparently they're taken from actual submissions to Issac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.  Enjoy!
-Liz

45
Author Craft / Technical Question
« on: November 07, 2006, 01:39:04 AM »
I feel like a complete idiot for bringing this up, but could someone please explain how to program a word or phrase to a single keystroke in Windows XP?  You know, so one can just hit F1 instead of typing "Clarissa Ponsonby-Sutcliffe" (or whatever) 500 times?  Thanks in advance and apologies if this is the wrong forum for this type of question.
-Liz

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