Comments on: Answers to Some Questions http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:09:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2714 Daan Van der Merwe Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:34:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2714 Is it okay to begin a second scene with another POV character directly after the disaster ending the first scene and after the second scene proceed with the sequel to the first scene? Is it okay to begin a second scene with another POV character directly after the disaster ending the first scene and after the second scene proceed with the sequel to the first scene?

]]> By: Lynn http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2717 Lynn Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:35:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2717 Randy, Thank you for answering my questions. It is helpful to know. I guess as I work on my craft, I'll save my pennies and see what I can do in the end. Randy, Thank you for answering my questions. It is helpful to know. I guess as I work on my craft, I’ll save my pennies and see what I can do in the end.

]]> By: Mary E. DeMuth http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2718 Mary E. DeMuth Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:38:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2718 Randy, you get twenty-eight gold stars for what you said about reviewing and recommending. It's a funny thing. I'm happy to read an unpubbed piece if it's my idea. But I simply don't have time to read everything folks want me to read. Same thing at conferences. I love recommending writers to agents, but it's a pretty rare thing. But when someone asks me to introduce him/her to my agent, I shut down. It's no longer fun, and I feel pressured. What Randy says is right, folks: If you have spent time honing your craft, and have graduated from Freshman to Sophomore to Junior to Senior, you will stand out. A great deal of what I see at conferences (when I'm critiquing) is simply not ready for publication. Randy, you get twenty-eight gold stars for what you said about reviewing and recommending. It’s a funny thing. I’m happy to read an unpubbed piece if it’s my idea. But I simply don’t have time to read everything folks want me to read. Same thing at conferences. I love recommending writers to agents, but it’s a pretty rare thing. But when someone asks me to introduce him/her to my agent, I shut down. It’s no longer fun, and I feel pressured.

What Randy says is right, folks: If you have spent time honing your craft, and have graduated from Freshman to Sophomore to Junior to Senior, you will stand out. A great deal of what I see at conferences (when I’m critiquing) is simply not ready for publication.

]]> By: DC Spencer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2721 DC Spencer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:09:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2721 Randy, I know you've moved on from male POV, but I just want to tell you how your information and discussions improved my male character. It was primarily verb choices that were affecting his image. As a female writer, I think I was subconsciously using softer verbs, so I edited them out for stronger verbs. For instance, my character whispered a prayer under his breath. After reading your teaching (that's what it is to me) I changed "whispered" to "muttered" and it read more like a guy sort of thing. Thanks so much for your great email/website/blog/Snowflake/etc/etc/etc! Randy,
I know you’ve moved on from male POV, but I just want to tell you how your information and discussions improved my male character. It was primarily verb choices that were affecting his image. As a female writer, I think I was subconsciously using softer verbs, so I edited them out for stronger verbs. For instance, my character whispered a prayer under his breath. After reading your teaching (that’s what it is to me) I changed “whispered” to “muttered” and it read more like a guy sort of thing. Thanks so much for your great email/website/blog/Snowflake/etc/etc/etc!

]]> By: Carrie Neuman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2722 Carrie Neuman Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:46:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2722 Thanks for the numbers, Randy. I realized my problem was my first fourth was too short. I even found an organic way to stretch it out without forcing it. Hooray for structure! Thanks for the numbers, Randy. I realized my problem was my first fourth was too short. I even found an organic way to stretch it out without forcing it. Hooray for structure!

]]> By: Mary Burch http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2732 Mary Burch Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:11:24 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/16/answers-to-some-questions/#comment-2732 I have a question that I hope someone has an answer to. What doors are open to the disabled writer. My disability has kept me chair-bound for four years. I had spent the time improving my craft and have a short story coming out in an anthology soon. I don't have the ability to go to conferences and meet agents and publishers. I have finished two science fiction/fantasy novels for young adults, and am currently working on book 1 of an adult sci-fi trilogy. As my health allows, I research publishing houses until I find one that sounds like it prints what I write. Then I send my manuscript. To this point my health has only permitted me to submit by e-mail. I know I will need to have an agent in the long run because of my poor health. I have started two new treatments that promise to increase my energy so I can start submitting to agents. But from what I read, agents don't usually like unsolicited manuscripts from unknowns any more than publishers do. Thanks for any suggestions you can make. I have a question that I hope someone has an answer to. What doors are open to the disabled writer. My disability has kept me chair-bound for four years. I had spent the time improving my craft and have a short story coming out in an anthology soon. I don’t have the ability to go to conferences and meet agents and publishers. I have finished two science fiction/fantasy novels for young adults, and am currently working on book 1 of an adult sci-fi trilogy.

As my health allows, I research publishing houses until I find one that sounds like it prints what I write. Then I send my manuscript. To this point my health has only permitted me to submit by e-mail.

I know I will need to have an agent in the long run because of my poor health. I have started two new treatments that promise to increase my energy so I can start submitting to agents. But from what I read, agents don’t usually like unsolicited manuscripts from unknowns any more than publishers do.

Thanks for any suggestions you can make.

]]>