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Messages - Silk

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31
Books / Re: Review: Julian Comstock
« on: June 10, 2011, 09:05:38 PM »
Thanks, Steve!

I liked the characters a lot overall, and most of the characterization issues I had were minor. It was Adam and Calyxa that really threw me. I see what you mean about not knowing Julian too wel, thoughl--he's definitely supposed to be an enigmatic character.

You might be right about the ending, too. As you say, not even close to a deal-breaker, but I still can't quite decide how I feel about it.

Definitely City and the City and Julian Comstock were over and above the other Hugo nominations last year. I'd say the same thing about Palimpsest, though, which I'm quite fond of (though it's definitely not a book for everybody).

Guessingo: Spin was an excellent novel, absolutely. Wasn't it Jason's dad that was in charge of the project, though? I could be wrong--it's been quite a while now since I've read it.

Too bad about the sequel. I've purchased it and haven't had a chance to read it yet. Hopefully I'll still enjoy it. :)

32
Books / Re: Has Anyone Read the Wild Cards Series
« on: June 08, 2011, 05:53:48 AM »
I haven't yet read any of the Wild Card books (though there's one on my shelf) but I've been told they're good. Also, Tor.com just posted a short story called "The Rook" which is in the latest Wild Cards novel, if you're still looking for a taste of it.

33
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 08, 2011, 05:51:40 AM »
Finished Carriger's Blameless (WAY improved over Changeless) and the first volume of Gaiman's Sandman. Just started N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

34
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: June 05, 2011, 11:41:42 PM »
You're in.

35
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: June 03, 2011, 07:35:39 PM »
You bet.

36

So the forum called "Writing Group" is the wrong place to find a...er...writing group?


Nah, you looked in the right place. Reading Excuses is a particular writing group, and some of TWG's writer types are members, so I think it's become something of a default recommendation.


The Reading Excuses Group seems like a good way to get feedback, but it seems like feedback for a particular individual could be pretty few-and-far between because the group is so large. I'm looking for a more intimate group with more consistent submissions for every individual.



In a lot of ways the group isn't as large as it looks. We generally only have maybe six to twelve people active at one time, and we cap submissions at six a week (and in the two and a half years we've been running, we've only hit that ceiling once). I think most people get fairly consistent feedback--my completely unscientific guess would be that people get in the range of 2-5 critiques per submission.  And most people who want to are able to submit weekly.

We still may not be right for you,  but that information might help.

Fireflyz and dhalgirl:  I think writing groups are also well-suited to short stories. I think novels work too if you're one of those people who doesn't mind getting feedback as you write. Also, I suspect RE's process is a little slower than most because of our higher member count. But yes, there's a reason I'm not trying to feed my finished novel draft through the group, absolutely. Well, that's one reason. ::)

37
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 01, 2011, 04:29:10 AM »
I really enjoyed it--it's a very different book. Not a whole lot of action, and it makes you work a little harder than a lot of books do (which I don't think is a bad thing, necessarily). But yes, neat setting, good characters, and some VERY interesting concepts.

I'll probably write a review of it in the next little while, but that's the condensed version.

38
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 01, 2011, 12:40:38 AM »
Just finished The Dervish House by Ian McDonald.

39
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: May 29, 2011, 11:18:23 PM »
Yep. Looks like a quiet week so far. Go for it!

40
Writing Group / Re: non-battle scenes
« on: May 29, 2011, 07:48:49 AM »
Oh, I see--my bad. But yes, I second Fireflyz's suggestion--that's what I usually do too.

41
Writing Group / Re: non-battle scenes
« on: May 24, 2011, 05:12:46 AM »
This is going to be a really broad answer, but hopefully it's helpful anyway.

First some clarification is in order: Are you writing non-battle scenes, or space-filling scenes? They're two quite different things, I'd argue. And if the scenes you're writing only serve to take up space... I might question why you're writing them. :)

As for writing mundane scenes, they're not inherently less interesting or anything. You must have some conflict other than people whacking the heck out of each other, can you exploit it? And there must be a reason your people are fighting--can you explain it, resolve it, make it worse, that kind of thing?

Okay, well, that was just as sweepingly broad a suggestion as I said it would be. Sorry about that--hard to be more specific without more information though. Hopefully it helps anyway?

42
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: May 22, 2011, 07:39:21 PM »
Will and Hubay, you're on for tomorrow.

43
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 21, 2011, 05:04:05 AM »
The Dervish House - Ian McDonald.

44
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: May 12, 2011, 03:51:15 AM »
Jovarus: Go ahead and submit this Monday. Looks like we've only got three people so far anyway. :)

45
Reading Excuses / Re: Email List + Submission Dates
« on: May 09, 2011, 02:17:24 AM »
Sure thing.

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