Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Reading Excuses => Topic started by: AvalonDreamer on November 18, 2008, 02:34:25 AM
-
I figured I'd start this for anyone who has a question about something writing-related, or to put up ideas to be critiqued (read: shot full of holes).
NOTE: This isn't for posting swathes of story or anything that large, wait for submission dates for that.
-
I don't know if you had this in mind when you created it, but...
When I submit and want to put on a warning label (lets say L). Are there certain words that I might not recognize to be offensive to others but not to me. (I know common sense should rule: the acronym; for unlawful carnal knowledge is obvious) Nevertheless, society is getting more and more accepting of the way expletives are used so I was wondering if some of you might want to PM me with words you would want to be warned about.
Or something, this seems a stupid idea now that I read it but I can't think of a better way. :-[
Also, are made-up expletives offensive to others in our group?
-
One of the things this thread is for precisely.
If you aren't sure, throw a warning on it. At least then if someone gets mad at you, you can say that you fairly warned them - and you did. As for made-ups, I'd personally say no: Robert Jordan used made-ups all the time ("Blood and bloody ashes" anyone?), and so far as I know, nobody got on his case about it.
I'm not saying to slap on an S (sexual content), just because two characters kiss, but be mindful. Authors are supposed to be the most sensitive to the human condition (it's what we write about, after all), so pour a little sensitivity into your thoughts.
Questions about specific words can be posted here (I'll make sure it's cool with Raethe and Chaos), but make sure you put up an Explicit Content warning (like a spoiler warning). Worst thing that happens is that we take it down. ^^
-
I can do that.
What would be the preferred Font of choice to send?
What about spacing (I like 1.5 but then again I'm weird so...)?
-
Yeah. There's no need to go hog wild with the labels, but if in doubt, slap a label on it.
Personally, I'm not going to be offended by pretty much anything that comes up in writing. I mean, I'll whine at you if I think it's gratuitous, but that has more to do with the writing than the content... I don't really believe in censoring for the sake of censorship.
Of course, not everyone might feel the same way, and while it doesn't look like we have anyone really young on this list, you never know.
-
Didn't we talk about some really simple labels that we would use way back when in the Email List topic?
-
Yeah. I think what Ben was asking was if there are specific words outside the usual cusses that would get peoples' hackles up.
Edit: Times New Roman or Courier are manuscript standard. (Though I personally thing Courier is butt-ugly.) But, we'll take anything readable. Just no Wingdings.
Double spacing is standard manuscript format, but I think 1.5 is fine. (Anyone object?) I will say no single spacing, though - 1.5 or double spacing is much easier on the eyes.
-
Didn't we talk about some really simple labels that we would use way back when in the Email List topic?
Yes, but I just wanted to clarify what to do, somethings that are obvious to some are not so obvious to others.
I would rather be safe than sorry.
-
In my opinion just use common sense. Don't send out your manuscript in any form that might hinder people from reading it :P ie don't put it in a size 6 cursive font single spaced :P
-
Put it in whatever font, size and colour you like, as long as it's in an editable document that allows us to change things to a readable format. 8)
-
I'd like to object to the "whatever colour you like" part. Black is easiest on the eyes.
-
Yeah, there's no need to make things fancy. You don't get brownie points for having a special color or font. We're here to critique writing, not your font style :P
So, let's just keep it perfectly plain. A clear font (Ones that come to mind are Courier, Times New Roman, Palatino Linotype. Things like those. There are more, of course), double spaced (1.5 works; it isn't a big deal. Just as long as it isn't single spaced), and black font color.
Oh, and size 12. That's pretty much the standard.
-
According to an author I spoke with once, manuscript submitions should be in times new roman, courtier (new), 10 or 12 point, black font, double spaced. Why don't we just go with that so that when we're all done if we feel like it's ready to be submitted we don't have to make any changes?
I mean, I've even gone so far as to put my italicsed words as underlines instead, and use a pound sign to signify a break.
-
I've never seen anyone say 10 point font. It's always 12.
I've started using the pound sign for line breaks but underlines for italics annoys me. I'm hoping the trend will die out by the time I'm ready to start sending out my manuscript. ::)
-
I mean, I've even gone so far as to put my italicsed words as underlines instead, and use a pound sign to signify a break.
Let's not go crazy here :P
(Because I don't do that. Italics are just so much fun!)
Otherwise, those guidelines sound good, except let's standardize it for 12 point font.
-
*sigh* I guess. I mean, it's going to be such a pain to go through and fix all of my chapters, but oh well. *peace*
-
Well, it's not a huge deal. If you want to do the underlines, feel free to do so. It's not incredibly productive to go back and change it. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't require underlines to be used.
-
No, I was teasing about the font size thing. I've been typing everything at 10 pt. I agree that it should be a personal choice thing for underline/italics.
-
I don't care either way, I'll be reading your stuff on my fancy eReader anyway, which blatantly disregards all formatting options. 8)
-
*ahem*ctrl+A, change font size...
-
*ahem*ctrl+A, change font size...
Likely the major problem she is having is that she wrote chapter titles in a bigger size than the rest or something like that.
-
Pfft. Chapter titles. Who needs 'em? ;)
-
Or maybe she was just being sarcastic.
-
Sarcasm? I'm unfamiliar with the term. Perhaps it is a corruption of Latin sor and chasma? I am uncertain what a deep rift has to do with our discussion. Was she being rude and trying to end this conversation by becoming a deep rift, thereby spreading our posts and us as a group further apart? I must find out more about this sorchasmal paradox. It has split my mind. On one side I believe you are actually talking about tearing off my flesh, but on the other I just think that there's a separation between us.
I say we submit in webdings. It's a code unbreakable by even the most knowledgeable security expert.
-
Sorry everyone, I've been having a lot of problems. I'm running a few weeks behind. I might be able to have something to submit by the end of next week though.
EDIT - Oh, I just read that I don't have to submit until the fifteenth. ha ha. Sorry about that. Yeah, I should have something by then. I just suddenly got a bunch of e-mails and was like. . .ah crap! ha ha.
-
Same here. Turned on my PDA, and it went crazy downloading all the emails and attachments into Outlook. ^^ This looks like it's going to be fun.
-
This is going to be buried pretty soon, http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6252.0
-
I believe Chaos PMed Fell about us not actually being able to pin things and stuff, so we'll just have to wait and see for the moment. I kind of hate to pester them...
-
Since this seems the place to ask questions, I'll add mine here.
Looking at the boards I see six threads on stories I haven't read. One of those was due to the docx format and the converter patch not working on my vista 64 system, but that leaves five stories that I simply didn't receive in the mail.
Where those stories sent out to only a limited amount of people, or is it due to technical issues that I didn't receive them?
-
All stories should have been sent to everyone. If you let us know which ones you are missing we can request they be resent.
Hmmm... now you've got me wondering if I received them all as well... I have 8 saved, but may have a couple more still attached to emails. I'll check.
-
Which 6?
If Crasher's was one of them, there's a good chance it's technical issues, because I'm looking at who I sent that to, and your e-mail's on there...and I copy/pasted from the "to" of someone else's e-mail to me, so...yeah.
-
Since this seems the place to ask questions, I'll add mine here.
Looking at the boards I see six threads on stories I haven't read. One of those was due to the docx format and the converter patch not working on my vista 64 system, but that leaves five stories that I simply didn't receive in the mail.
Where those stories sent out to only a limited amount of people, or is it due to technical issues that I didn't receive them?
Well, I just checked my "Sent" folder, and I definitely had sent my submission to you. Though I wouldn't rule it being something like Hotmail just deciding to block the email with the strange attachment. I've had that happen to me before.
I'm sending off my submission to you again, just to make sure.
-
Chaos - For some reason yours went through to 'junk mail' on mine... that's a hotmail one..
So maybe others are having the same problem?
-
Hotmail really just has an overzealous spam filter, in my opinion.
-
It likes to keep us all safe :P
-
I just checked but didn't receive the resent either unfortunately. However I just realised that is my own doing... Due to the amount of spam I got I sort of blocked Yahoo from my hotmail.. And seeing the mailing list that already excluded about four of you... sorry 'bout that.
I now have Yahoo unblocked again so I should be able to receive again.
The ones missing are:
Scepter of infinity
Aspirations
Crystalheart
Fateshapers (Edit: I Already have this one.)
Spectre's end
And Phyles is the one I couldn't open.
If you guys would be so kind to send them again I'd be at my most humbliestly gratefull.
-
Does anyone have an FTP server they'd be willing to let us use? That way instead of having to deal with email issues, we could pop them up there and people could download them (password protected of course). It'd serve as an archive too...
-
I've resent mine Manyang, blast away! ;D
-
I've resent mine Manyang, blast away! ;D
same. afraid i changed it a bit based on the comments, although I haven't done a full revision yet.
-
I've resent mine, Manyang. Enjoy!
Does anyone have an FTP server they'd be willing to let us use? That way instead of having to deal with email issues, we could pop them up there and people could download them (password protected of course). It'd serve as an archive too...
That's a good idea, if there is one to use. This way, if a new person joined a day after submissions and wanted to read it, all he or she would need to do is look onto the server.
By the way, guys, after the 17th, I promise I will review all of the stuff. Once finals is over... I shall get to breathe, and start writing myself. Sorry that's taking so long.
-
Manyang, mine was just resent.
-
My initial reaction was "buh FTP server we need what why?" but now that I actually, yanno, THINK about it, I like the idea. :D
-
Excellent guys, I received all of them. Thanks!
Chaos, yours ended up in my junkbox for some reason but otherwise it seems to have gotten here fine.
I'll try and get them all done before the next wave arrives.
-
Excellent guys, I received all of them. Thanks!
Chaos, yours ended up in my junkbox for some reason but otherwise it seems to have gotten here fine.
I'll try and get them all done before the next wave arrives.
That's a little bizarre. Though really, with a username like 'Chaos2651', I can somewhat understand why it could be blocked. The four digits at the end don't help.
-
OK, to date I've only received submissions from:
Raethe
Hayley
Frog
Reaves
Dangerbutton
Spejoku
M
I don't know if the ones I'm missing didn't get sent or that I just didn't get them.
Anyway, I can still read more if you want to send them to me. Better late then never.
I'm missing submissions from the following people:
jjb, wcarter4, Miyabi, Plantation Monsta, Sortitus, Tamyrlin(?)
-
I'm fairly sure Tamyrlin said somewhere that s/he will not be sending out submissons.
I believe all those names you listed have not created a topic for their potential manuscripts and are therefore readers only
-
No problem. I just wanted to be sure. ;D
-
wcarter4 sent out a submission this time.
-
For some reason every time I try and send you an email necro it bounces back. I've checked to make sure I have the right address. I'm going to try one more time today then I'll probably give up for this round. If worse comes to worse I'll switch to my gmail account which is exactly the same [email protected] instead of uga.edu
-
If you want me to, I can forward Ben your submission.....
-
That would be great because it bounced again. At this rate, I'm going to have to call the University EITS so I can make sure there is nothing wrong with my actual account.
-
wcarter, I forwarded your submission onto Ben. (Not to step on your toes, Wilson, but I was on and you weren't. :P) It doesnt' seem to have bounced, so hopefully that worked.
-
Thanks
-
Oh no problem, Silk. I was working, so it's better this way....I just knew that it wouldn't bounce for me if I sent it because Ben and I are Windows Live friends (whatever that means.....).
-
I think it means I'll get it one way or another.
Thanks Silk, I got it.
wcarter3: I'll read it as soon as I can. Probably sometime this weekend.
-
Well this is writing related... I think. Anyway, have any of you hear of this agency?
Writers' Literary Agency
http://www.wlwritersagency.com/?gclid=CNL-lr2VkpgCFRJ4xgodWS9lnA
It almost sounds too good to be true, but I haven't been able to find a lot about them on-line. I'm interested in submitting to them, but I'm worried that this is a bogus agency who would just steal my work. Any suggestions?
-
Unfortunately, I think it is. I looked at it before and found several sources that said so. They probably wouldn't steal your work, but I think they are just out to charge you for a service that they may or may not actually give you. Here are a few sites that it came up on:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080221075051AAkokib
http://www.sfwa.org/Beware/twentyworst.html
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/008839.html
-
Something doesn't feel right about it... :(
-
Thanks Y'all! I totally missed the sfwa list. I had found some of the other names they had used and dismissed them, but I didn't connect them with the new one. Oh well, thems the breaks. :P
-
If you're ever not sure about something, write to Writers Beware. I don't have the email address offhand, but it's somewhere on the swfa page. Also, check Preditors and Editors (http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/).
If it comes up on Writer Beware and Making Light, then in this case they're probably not someone you want to submit to. But if you're ever not sure, Writer Beware invites people to contact them about that sort of thing.
Edit: Okay, yeah. There's just way too much on this website that's totally off. They keep saying how honest they are, they "specialize" in unpublished authors, and they don't have a list of works sold. They've got this lovely long list of authors with impressive-sounding biographies... That say absolutely nothing. No last name. No book titles. No publishing houses. Those things should be front and center.
There's a whole bunch of other weird stuff on this website, but yeah. I call bogus even without checking P&E or Writer Beware.
-
Sounds like the case is closed on this one, but if there is ever a site you aren't sure of don't be afraid to ask for references.
-
Yeah, good writing groups should have the goal of helping each other get published, so I guess we have to talk about the scary A word every once in a while. *shutter*
-
*blinks* What's the A word? You mean agents? Or, rather, Agents? :P
-
Yes, that would be the one. Thanks Silk. *shutter again*
-
Do any of you know where I might find: The Japanese Sword Arts: Kendo, Kenjutsu and Iaido.
Specifically, pictures of the different sword forms.
-
There are books on Samurai sword forms. "The Sword and the Mind" by Hiroaki Sato and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi would b e fairly useful Ben.
-
There are books on Samurai sword forms. "The Sword and the Mind" by Hiroaki Sato and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi would b e fairly useful Ben.
Thanks, I'll see if they have it at the UGA library.
-
If you were in a position where you could get it from the UGA library I could simply give the books to you to borrow in person since I'm at UGA. Are you??
-
I'm in Athens, over off Lexington. There abouts.
My wife is finishing up her 3rd year at the vet school.
-
There is also The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It is not specifically about individual fighting, but about war tactics. It is good for getting into the Asian military mindset.
-
There is also The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It is not specifically about individual fighting, but about war tactics. It is good for getting into the Asian military mindset.
Good call. I've always wanted to check that out but now I can say its for research.
-
There is also The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It is not specifically about individual fighting, but about war tactics. It is good for getting into the Asian military mindset.
That one I do have. I've read it about 4 times so far. Actually, I found out that it's also required reading in the US military for some of the high ranking officers. At least my dad and uncles had to read it.
-
Sadly, I must admit that I firstr learned aboout Sun Tzu by watching Star Trek: TNG.
"He will win who knows when to fight, and when not to fight."
-
It's also required reading for most fortune 500 execs as is "The Prince" by Machiavelli
-
Yeah, I remember hearing about that.