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Messages - 42

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16
Writing Group / Re: Chapter Length
« on: February 19, 2009, 03:09:58 AM »
I also prefer regular length chapters. When I'm reading, I like to be able to plan how many chapters I can read in a sitting before reality interferes. It bothers me to place my bookmark into a book mid-chapter.

I find that I write chapters that are around 3,000-4,000 words long, which is just a little shorter than what most of my short stories come out as.

I have noticed a trend towards shorter chapters in a lot of books. Sometimes it's only the opening and/or final chapters that get shorter. I think psychologically, shorter chapters are less intimidating and may encourage the reader to keep reading.

I have actually stopped reading a book because the chapters were too long. I just felt I couldn't commit the time to read a whole chapter in one sitting so I figured it wasn't worth it to read the book. I actually think I might get annoyed with chapters that take longer than a half-hour for me to read.

17
Movies and TV / Re: Coraline - Digital 3D
« on: February 18, 2009, 03:32:28 AM »
I think this was well done. I first saw Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D. It was good, but when I compare it with what is happening now, I think there have been some big advancements. A lot has to do with the animators taking more advantage of the technology.

For example, in Nightmare Before Christmas, there are only a couple scenes where you can really see object coming at you. In Coraline, they are every where and they do even more complicated sequences playing with the viewers depth perception (like the flying dogs during the end credits).

18
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: February 04, 2009, 03:50:41 AM »
My pet ferret has a tumor on her kidney that is malignant and has infect both her kidneys and her liver. She only has a couple of weeks left to live at most.

19
Role-Playing Games / Re: Adapting Novels to RPGs
« on: January 22, 2009, 01:24:15 PM »
There are a lot of flexible systems out there you could use.

True D20, Mutants and Masterminds, Storyteller, GURPS, and Champions could all work for what you want. You would have to put some work into making the combat system how you want it. The most adaptable rules systems often have the fewest restrictions (and the most options). I have found that it helps if you write out your house rules for your players. It lets your player's get a better idea of how you plan to play things.

20
Movies and TV / BSG - final episodes **spoilers**
« on: January 17, 2009, 05:30:59 AM »
So they're giving up on Earth.

Dee is dead.  :'(

A lot of other people are thinking of killing themselves.

Starbuck is dead...and isn't dead ???

The 5th cylon is ... Helen  ???

And apparently, we're all cylons.

I'm not taking a lot of what was shown at face value. I'm still pleased with the show and I'm hoping it ends well. If the series ends on a depressing note or a cliffhanger, I will have to strangle someone.

21
Everything Else / Re: Public School Writing Teachers
« on: January 01, 2009, 11:43:40 PM »
Yes there is a correlation between reading a lot and writing better. However, this doesn't mean necessarily that reading more will make every person a better writer.

There are more direct ways of teaching writing. In my opinion, many English teachers could be more active in teaching writing skills.

I really didn't learn to write until college and most of what I learned about writing came from non-English classes. In fact, I often did more writing in my non-English related classes than the English classes I took.

22
Everything Else / Re: Public School Writing Teachers
« on: January 01, 2009, 09:15:40 PM »
When I was studying education, a lot of the aspiring high school English teacher's I met said learning to write the most important thing they taught. That said. Most felt that it was the job of elementary teachers to teach writing and most I met had a strong preference for teaching literature over writing. Many had the attitude that if kids just read a lot they will learn to write on their own. It also doesn't help that teaching literature tends to be more entertaining for both the teacher and students than teaching writing.

I just find that the desired outcomes of English teaching tend to get muddled quickly.

23
Site News / Re: Happy Birthday
« on: December 27, 2008, 01:58:41 AM »
Happy Birthday Lost One.


24
Suggestions Box / Re: Holiday Survey!
« on: December 24, 2008, 08:15:41 PM »
What about gifts and presents?

It's not the first thing that comes to mind, but I do always remember the small warehouse of presents my family would open on Christmas morning and into the afternoon. (We don't actually give each other a lot of gifts on Christmas, it's just a large family.)

25
Movies and TV / Re: Heroes: Season 3 *SPOILERS*
« on: December 03, 2008, 04:08:59 AM »
Yes, Seth Green's cameo is awesome!

Too bad everyone else's lines can't be as good.

26
Writing Group / Re: National Novel Writing Month 2008
« on: November 23, 2008, 05:05:29 AM »
50,107 words.

Made it.

27
Writing Group / Re: National Novel Writing Month 2008
« on: November 22, 2008, 05:48:47 AM »
Congrats Necro!

I'm at 45,000. I might just reach 50k tommorrow if I'm really dedicated.

28
Writing Group / Re: National Novel Writing Month 2008
« on: November 19, 2008, 10:48:09 PM »
Just passed 40k. Into the home stretch.

Unfortunately, It looks as though I'll only finish about half of what I have outlined. It looks like I'll have some writing to do in December.

And it's possible to write 5k a day for those who haven't started yet. I just break it down to 100 words every few minutes. Usually I pick put on some music  and say to myself "I'm go to write about this description or this action or this character dialogue before the end of the this song." It usually works out. 100 words is only about 8-10 sentences.

29
Writing Group / Re: National Novel Writing Month 2008
« on: November 18, 2008, 12:08:08 AM »
I have bronchitis slowing me down. Good think I got a little ahead at the start.

On the good side, I've completely loss my voice so I don't have things like conversations distracting me. And I get to take some time off of work, so maybe I'll get some good writing done in between the coughing and wheezing.

At 35,207 right now.

30
Writing Group / Re: National Novel Writing Month 2008
« on: November 15, 2008, 05:38:22 AM »
I'm at 30,903.

I've gotten sick the past couple days and I'm surprised how it's killed my writing flow. The consant desire to let my mind wander with the cold-medication mind trip is not helping me conserve writing time.

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