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Saturday, Sep. 28, 2024

7:28am EDT

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Writing Blog Number 2

by severed head

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2311764

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.

An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

QueenNormaJean gettinPomsready

about 21 hours ago
In response to "20240318 Keeping Dialogue Real"

Good information. I like to read aloud as I go. Does it sound authentic?

I am currently reading a book - 'The Lost Journals of Sacajawea' - and what a wonderful idea this author had. She is, of course, doing a fictional telling of Sacajawea's capture by the white men invading her village. This author needed to invent words, some sounds which came from her own native background, Bitterroot Salish. I am just getting into the 'meat' of the story, where Sacajawea has been gambled away to the French man, Charbonneau. I think everyone knows that she went on to be interpreter and guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition, the only woman on that trip. Being a young woman with a group of men is challenging enough, and to be on that epic journey with an infant as well, I cannot but think this will be a dramatic novel.

FYI: Bitterroot Salish or Flathead originally lived in an area west of Billings, Montana extending to the continental divide in the west and south of Great Falls, Montana extending to the Montana–Wyoming border.

(The author is Debra Magpie Earling.)

GhostlyPotato welcomes October

a day ago
In response to "20240926 Story Structure Writing Methods (Personal)"

I have a feeling that the composers of the Romantic era would agree with you. So do I, the restraints put on creativity by the trite, "Classical" methods really make it a little hard to let loose.

Sum1's In Kalispell Montana

Sep 20, 2024 at 12:13am
In response to "20240920 Writing A Play"

The only play I can recall seeing was "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum." at Schofield Barracks on Oahu, Hawaii. I Loved it!

1 Like

severed head

Sep 15, 2024 at 8:11pm
In response to "20240916 Paragraphing In Fiction"

Wordsmitty ✍️ - Great question. Sally cringing in your example should be a separate paragraph.

Bob screamed, "I think you're sister is nasty!"

Sally cringed as though struck.

"She just does things to hurt people!"

Sally wiped her face. "Sorry," she whispered.

Hope that makes sense.

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Sep 15, 2024 at 8:08pm
In response to "20240916 Paragraphing In Fiction"

Quick question on "Person." When someone is speaking, sometimes I've seen a paragraph include a ahort sentence of the listener's reaction even as the speaker continues speaking.

Bob said "[something scary]" and 'Sally cringed' while Bob grinned and kept on talking. (terrible example)

Is this acceptabele to stay in the same paragraph or does Sally need her own paragraph?

Sum1's In Kalispell Montana

Sep 12, 2024 at 6:19am
In response to "20240912 Alternate History"

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a couple (few?) books that at the beginning of them involved Alternate History. I remember that one book dealt with the US never being involved in WWI, and instead remained isolated. As a result, all communication with any country in Europe ceased. Years later, we explored Europe once again. From there, my memory lapses, I don't recall what happened. Interesting book though.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Sep 2, 2024 at 1:04am
In response to "20240902 Update"

I did quite a bit of reading and writing in August. Never my favorite month growing up but it was always a time to estivate and that can be productive.

I made a list of September contests but I'll be skipping a few as I don't like the prompts. Fortunately I'm inspired by what I'm reading.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Aug 29, 2024 at 12:45am
In response to "20240829 Australian Poetry Problems"

We have 'cowboy poetry' in the Western US. It keeps itself separate from literary works. It is related in theme and structure to Australian Bush Poetry. Both are ballads relying upon rhyme. And therefore related to traditional British songs still sung in Appalachia.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Aug 28, 2024 at 4:10pm
In response to "20240828 In Defence Of Professional Wrestling"

Yeah... I don't like it... not at all. But as you aptly mentioned... I have a different definition of fun.

I did like high school wrestling though. I didn't have to use my eyes. Position, leverage, anticipation, perseverance... it was more of a mental challenge for me. Also great for smaller, slower people. No need to be huge, speedy or tall.

Ned

Aug 28, 2024 at 7:01am
In response to "20240828 In Defence Of Professional Wrestling"

When I was growing up, wrestling was Saturday morning television in my house. My older brother would watch wrestling and in those days, everyone watched the same thing on the lone family TV, so we all watched wrestling. This was in the old, old days of the legends - Bruno Sammartino, Freddie Blassie, Chief Jay Strongbow, Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski and others whose names don't come to mind right now, but would spark a memory if mentioned. I don't watch wrestling now or even since those days but I recognize the names of popular wrestlers through the years as wrestling is entertainent and part of pop culture. Chacun à son goût, as they say. Everyone is entitled to their own taste in entertainment.

April 12, 2024 at 12:19am

#1068569

20240412 How To Get Your Manuscript Rejected

How To Get Your Manuscript Rejected

People always ask me how I manage to get my short stories accepted. Well... I dunno.

Sorry.

I just sell things.

But...

I can tell you how to NOT sell your story! Follow these 10 rules to ensure you never get looked at again.

1. Use your cover letter to beg the editor to buy your novel so you can afford to pay for your grandmother's hip replacement.

2. Write a cover letter telling the editor how you are the next coming of Stephen King, Isaac Asimov and JRR Tolkien all rolled into one. There is selling yourself, then there is making yourself look like a jerk.

3. Look at what the place you are submitting to is asking for and usually publishes, then just send them your favourite piece. really good to send a poem to a prose magazine, or vice versa, and horror editors love getting historical romances.

4. If the submission process says send an email, send it by snail mail; if it says send by post, send an email; if it says use the submission portal, send it by email AND snail mail (just to make sure).

5. Tell the editor that it's his job to edit your work, because you have the most unique ideas and he should be happy to just get the story; grammar and punctuation and spelling and homophones are the editor's problem.

6. Put that little copyright symbol © on each and every page, or, better yet, as a water-mark on the pages. In addition, warn the editor you will get a lawyer if he dares steal your ideas.

7. If you are rejected, respond by sending the editor the most hate-filled email telling them how stupid they are for having rejected your story.

8. If the editor makes suggestions to improve your work, in the same email, tell him that he knows nothing. How could he - he rejected you! If he makes those suggestions so he might accept the story later, tell him he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body and how dare he stifle your artistic vision.

9. Use emojis instead of words. Everywhere. In fact, don't use words. Just use emojis.

and the best way:

10. Send the manuscript without using the formatting they ask for. Use the fanciest font you can. Use large fonts and no line spacing. Colour the text; multiple colours work best. Add background colours, pictures and/or designs. After all, you're the artist! What better way to stand out than to ignore everything the editor asks for?

I hope that helps you. If you want to be rejected, these rules can help you achieve that goal.

3 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

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