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Get $150 off per day and get to hunt BIG KuduLast Post By: HuntingGoldReplies: 33 Posted: Dec 10th at: 07:47 PM |
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If you have any questions about handling the recoil I suggest that you fins someone with a DR in your area and ask to try them out. A 450 NE or a 470NE are about a dead even race with the same specs....
AkMike Today, 01:33 AMI have 2 Blues. One is a SCI book animal which will be a shoulder mount. The other will be a euro mount and flatskin. Just waiting on the tanneryand such.
If I get a chance to go back I want a...
I'm finally ready to purchase my double. I'm thinking I am going to go with B.Searcy instead of Chaupis(they don't offer .500NE and I'm kinda set on that caliber).
Now here is the "kicker"...
Beautiful gun for sure! Hope it shoots straight for you.
sestoppelman Yesterday, 10:26 PMWelcome
My family comes from Center County PA My grandmother was born in a now gone town of Mt Eagle in 1880. I've got 6 generations back into the mid 1700s buried in a cemetery named Sand Point...
Reviving an older thread-
spiket is correct and this is from someone who spent a career in the airline business.
A direct flight to Windhoek will in all probability never happen from North America....
I tried to upload pictures but the site is saying I don't have permission. I'll have to work with Jerome to figure out why the system isn't letting my do that. Once I get that fixed, I'll...
The Development of Modern Bow Hunting in South Africa
by Stewart Dorrington
About three

subset: commoncrawl


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The U.S. State Department is countering Russian criticism of how American authorities are handling of case of a 3-year-old adopted boy who died in Texas.
"What is very troubling about this case is that the Russians are making very wild accusations against the (adoptive) parents before they have information," a senior State Department official told CNN. "I think it is irresponsible of the Russians to say the parents did x, y or z before we find out what happened.
In West Texas, the Ector County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating because of the "suspicious" nature of the boy's death, investigator Kim Harrington said.
Russian officials Tuesday met with the boy's unnamed adoptive parents and his surviving brother, also adopted from Russia, after the State Department coordinated the session through Texas Child Protective Services. U.S. officials said.
Meanwhile, a Russian governor halted the foreign adoption of orphans in his region after the boy's death.
"If we know the facts and they are as the Russians claimed, they have every right to be upset just as we would be upset if an American child was adopted in Russia and the same thing happened. But there shouldn't be a rush to judgment when these parents might be in terrible pain over what happened to their son," said the State Department official, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the sensitive issue.
The case of the 3-year-old's death has aggravated State Department efforts push through more than 500 adoption cases in which American families have already begun the process to adopt a Russian child before Moscow in December passed a law banning adoptions of Russian children by Americans.
That pending law would ban adoptions by Americans ostensibly because of documented cases of abuse by adoptive parents. But others say the Russian move is in retaliation for a U.S. law that places restrictions on Russian human rights abusers.
"This is a very difficult case for us and the timing couldn't be worse," the State Department official said. "We are trying to revolve the rest of these cases, but having a case like this makes it more difficult."
Officials said, including the death in Texas, 20 of about 60,000 Russian children adopted by Americans in the past two decades have died in the United States.
"We share one hundred percent the Russian concerns about these cases of death and abuse," another senior State Department official said. Acknowledging that 20 Russian children have died with U.S. families, the official added, "We do not disagree this is unacceptable."
State Department officials said they hope to travel to Moscow to discuss the pending adoption cases.
Adoptions halted in one Russian region
The governor of Russia's Pskov region is not waiting for the national ban to take effect, and announced Tuesday that all orphan adoptions to foreigners would be temporarily stopped.
"Another cruel crime against a child was committed in the United States," Pskov Gov. Andrey Turchak said.
The boy was born on January 9, 2010, and died on January 21, said Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's special representative for human rights.
Dolgov said the child suffered injuries to his head and legs, as well as to his abdomen and internal organs. The wounds, he said, "could only be caused by strong blows."
Authorities in Texas have not released such details. But they have offered some specifics.
The child was found unresponsive at his residence and his mother called 911, Ector County Forensic Death Investigator Sondra Woolf said. The boy was transported to the emergency room by the fire department, then pronounced dead by an emergency room doctor, she said.
The body has been sent to Fort Worth for an autopsy, and results could take weeks, she added.
Patrick Crimmins, of Texas Child Protective Services, said his office is investigating allegations including physical abuse and neglectful supervision, or neglect.
Sgt. Gary Duesler, a spokesman for the Ector County Sheriff's Office, said his office also is investigating. No arrests have been made, and officials are waiting for autopsy results, he said.
Governor wants brother sent back to Russia
The boy's death is confirmation of Russia's decision to ban U.S. adoptions, the Pskov governor said.
"We need to do everything and create all necessary conditions for the orphans to find families here in our Pskov region and in Russia," he said.


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Welcome to CowboysZone! Join us! Come on! You know you want to!
You cannot post in the chat room because you have not posted enough in the forums!
I think Garretts play calling will be very creative tomorrow
Discussion in 'Fan Zone' started by Howboutdemcowboys31, Oct 13, 2012.
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You're watching...
No Job? Don't default to grad school
USAA's Scott Halliwell on the key decisions you need to make early in your career
Feb 18, 2013
You're watching...
USAA's Scott Halliwell on the key decisions you need to make early in your career
Feb 18, 2013
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Trade out to Texas where we have Scott how well the financial planner with USAA.
Joining us from last stand and tell me -- The topic and that we're discussing is whether graduates college graduates after their bachelor's degree.
Should or should not go to graduate school.
It big to top picking up there's lots of different ways you can pick this one up -- basically there are one and a half million college grads.
In the spring 2012 class and one at a five of them.
Said we're gonna get a job which is gonna keep educating ourselves by some time what do you make of that Scott.
Well I -- I think it done it could be good strategy if you've got a good came plan in place but honestly I think that's one of the biggest concerns that I see is a financial planner.
Is that folks do that without necessarily having a game plan they don't look at it from the cost benefit analysis side of things and figure out what am I gonna get for all of the additional expense -- -- -- So how do you conduct that cost benefit analysis in your head and then explain -- your parents.
Well it's a great point frankly I think the parent should be involved in the discussion because if you go back I mean I know.
You know it's been a long time ago now but -- I was eighteen or 22 years old I.
Probably wasn't the most thoughtful as a related to financial matters so to the extent that these students -- and I think they should have somebody involved to help them make this decision.
But essentially I think what you need to do is sit back and say.
What's it going to cost me in order to go to school how much money is it going to actually flow allowed in terms of our real cash flow and our assets we have now.
Plus how much debt and my get a -- on top of what I might already have.
We think about it though -- I think needs to be taken a step further is.
Don't just think about that debt in terms of the dollar amount of debt but think about in terms of the monthly payment that you're gonna have to make.
One of the nice things about the the student loan industry is the US Department of Education has on its website an opportunity for people to do that calculation you can plug and that -- interest rates and dollar amounts Tom what your loans would be.
And then see what your pain it would be for -- periods of time whether to ten year repayment or an extended payment term so.
That's right start I start with figure out -- payment so -- -- then know what's gonna take to cover that when you get out school.
Graduate students upon graduation on average do we know how I know it's it's hard -- say positioning different feel as you can go -- you.
But -- -- -- -- do we have a gauge for how much debt they're graduating with undergraduate plus grad school.
They're number we like to use.
What it truly is a wide gap are well it's a pretty wide range and in I think if you look at.
Some some of the studies that -- out -- say that.
People graduate from undergraduate degrees with about 30000 dollars in -- on average.
-- but depending on where you go and what type of graduate degree you could be pushing up tens of thousands I've seen people you know 8090000 dollars in debt.
Right suing your career is at a crossroads some things you should and should not do -- or don't kick can down the road make sure like you said to do the math.
Understand how much your graduating with and don't be lulled by.
-- get a deferments or one of these things that I see so many people he caught up with recently and a deferment basically is.
Will let you deferred the -- of your payments for various reasons but you can basically delay them to some future point in time.
-- for the for the desperate financial person it might seem like a great idea.
Because hey I can push these loans often have to make the payments -- my cash flow -- -- going to be is challenge is what it would have been before.
The one big challenge with these though it is when you defer in many many cases you're essentially your loan is getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
So all of that interest that you should've been paying is adding to the the loan.
I actually had a case once where annual woman who had borrowed 75000 dollars ended up a 10025000.
Dollars in debt after the deferment period ended.
Again I guess -- being to remember raise while it's great they're gone on for an advanced degree so many other people are as well.
See you don't have the healthy job market where you can say -- my first job I'll make that.
That those loan payment back you know in one year's time that's not always the case case silly -- -- study survey done in May from Rutgers University.
With the help from the John held -- center for workforce development and -- based ask people what do you think of your current job.
Said it weighs just Ed job beard is doing it -- -- by.
30% considered -- a career and 33%.
Stepping stone to a career I feel like that's awfully -- your thoughts.
Yeah I mean you're literally talking about and only 13 of the people there are saying that they thought they were in it for the long haul rights have come in so to me I think -- in in -- any job market that we have.
That's sort of the way things are almost you know I know you know I started ought to have a degree in accounting I started out as an accounting personnel working for a big firm.
Com and I got -- financial services you know so I didn't at the time think it was going to be stepping stone but it worked out to be a great when foray.
I would just encourage folks who are in those jobs don't -- necessarily you or your life glory to your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the current job.
As the end of the road or the way it's always going to be because the fact is if you do well -- -- job in -- -- and you're you keep the income coming in you keep yourself afloat financially.
And there's always an opportunity hopefully at least a move on did something that you might enjoy later once you sort of the lay of the land and and have a better understanding of what you really might want to do.
Scott how well thank you so much for that greeted by thanks for nine.
Thank you are OK and a that -- website on the screen right now and as we are doing -- it turned to the -- isn't anyone listening says.
To graduates have to go on to graduate school because they have nowhere else -- -- and then and they can also stay on their parents' insurance hunger.
That's my kind of true --
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I can't tell you how much that Espeon brightened my day. It is perfect, the way it is posed, everything just makes it look like a badass. I guess I am trying to articulate that its body language gives it personality, and what it is saying fits that perfectly. I was feeling kind of down today. Thanks so much, Rocket Grunt. You seem like a pretty cool dude. Espeon is my favorite Pokémon. I would love to see him colored!
Shit man. I haven't posted here in like forever, but i really felt compelled to let you know that i love your stuff. Its pretty much the perfect style. Blending comedy, badassery, and that dark humor really makes it unique and refreshing. You deserve something, but unfortunately all I am qualified to give you is praise. So, your work is dank man. And you better keep it up. Aiight, ima go smoke some medical right now and look at your stuff again. :)
Hai again guise. Just got back from work and weguijeznrihzedtjn. I went back and updated the Espeon, so he's got a gem on his head or whatever that is. Also, here are some more doodles. I'm gonna try to outline and color the Marowak and Espeon next, then I'll do Whailord and Arcanine and the rest of the list. This will be me in about a decade. Fun times at groupboard.com Also! When I am procrastinating or jerking off or something, I can sometimes be found at groupboard.com doodling and stuff. So, if you guys want to hang out on the internet, come on over there. There was some thread before about anyone that would be interested chillin in an openCanvas applet, and that would be fun too but I think groupboard is just easier and I'm lazy. Thanks again for the love and fruit baskets <3
EDIT: Okay, I made them all the same size, so I hope they fit ... you just gotta put them in MS Paint and cut out the one you want, and then make sure the borders are all the right size and whatnot. If you're still having trouble, I'll just put the one you want all together for you in Photoshop or something, because sometimes forums require a .gif or .jpg file and won't take .png and the MS Paint .jpg and .gif conversion looks like crap. Soooooo, okay here you go! Oh, and if anybody else wants a different picture made into an avatar and is having trouble, just let me know and I'll see if I can do it up for you. Also, come to groupboard if you're ... bored. It usually starts to get moving at like 9PM EST and until much much later, so show up whenever. I'll be there under the name Grunt. EDIT: actually, everyone there is retarded or an asshole haha nevermind
Could you make the one that I'm currently using as an avatar more...avatarish? like a black border and more squarish? I'm kind of a n00b at doing stuff like that... EDIT: Thank you <3
My gosh. Period. I love you, seriously. But the file is too large =/ `m a noob, how can I solve it. Fell free to do it, if you want, but i can do if you explain me
Quagsire (methinks that is his name, I never used him) is fantabulous. Every time I see him I crack a smile.
Oh, my goodness. You're epic. Your artist skill is epic. what's not epic about you? I love that grotle one. made me lol. :D
Just want to make sure that its ok if I use one of your works of art as an avatar. I'm pretty sure you said it was, but I wanted to double check. I'll definitely give some credit though. Maybe put a link in my sig or just yer name.
Just wondering if I can request a Shiny Mothim? Anything you want to do with it ^^ I think with your amazing art style, you could really make this pokemon come to life!
This guy might be in a comic a friend and I are writing. Also working on some stuff for the upcoming issue of The Smog. Hair on top of the skull? I dunno. Maybe there's a hole in it... ? Fffffffffffffffffffff
Awesome drawings. Is it just me, or does the parasect on page 1 look like the alien from Independence Day?
Entrees for the next installment of The Smog's CaP article! TooeyNooey did this great thing with Cyclohm where there's like an eye of the storm on its chest, and I thought that it was like totally awesome so I lovingly ripped it off ;^; I hope that's okay. Urk~ CYCLOHM KITSUNOH


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Nurses / Recovery - Page 24
Register Today! Nurses and Recovery is about addictions and recovery. Nurses and other health care professionals can find information, education and support. Posts seeking medical/legal advice relating to criminal history are not allowed. Members must contact their individual State Board of Nursing for that information.
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Author: Stand For Israel | October 29, 2012
Posted in:
"informing, equipping and mobilizing individuals and churches to support the
State of Israel"
State of Israel"
Rabbi's Commentary
Wherever You Stand,
You Do Not Stand Alone
To protect the innocent, Israel's fighting men and women must stay in top shape, both in body and spirit. The Fellowship supports these needs, for wherever these brave and selfless soldiers stand, they do not stand alone.
Recent Posts
Israel Grants Citizenship to World-Renowned Pianist Evgeny Kissin
What Does Iran's Demographic Precipice Mean?
U.S. Tries to Reassure Jittery Gulf Allies
Photo Friday: The Deep Surrounded Me
Iran Deal Validates Nuclear Blackmail and Hurts Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process


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Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American Westby Stephen Ambrose
Staff Pick At the heart of the immense and growing interest in Lewis and Clark in recent years stands this book. WWII historian Stephen Ambrose had long harbored a private obsession for the Expedition of the Corps of Discovery, and in Undaunted Courage he was able to capture this passion, successfully conveying it to countless readers across the country. Though Ambrose lends Lewis and Clark's story a sense of historical immediacy by quoting the original journals freely throughout, what makes this book so successful is Ambrose's readable, jargon-free writing style and his thriller-writer's talent for shaping a compelling story. Whatever the reason for its success, Undaunted Courage not only topped every national bestseller list, it also inspired a Ken Burns PBS documentary about Lewis and Clark, a second, beautifully produced Lewis and Clark book in conjunction with National Geographic (Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery), as well as our current national fascination with the most famous and historically significant expedition in our history. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:In this sweeping adventure story, Stephen E. Ambrose, the bestselling author of D-Day, presents the definitive account of one of the most momentous journeys in American history. Ambrose follows the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Thomas Jefferson's hope of finding a waterway to the Pacific, through the heart-stopping moments of the actual trip, to Lewis's lonely demise on the Natchez Trace. Along the way, Ambrose shows us the American West as Lewis saw it — wild, awesome, and pristinely beautiful. Undaunted Courage is a stunningly told action tale that will delight readers for generations.
Review:"Ambrose, his wife and five children have followed the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark expedition for 20 summers, in the course of which the explorer has become a friend of the Ambrose family; the author's affection shines through this narrative." Publishers Weekly
Review:"Specialists will appreciate this biography, but general readers will also be enthralled by Ambrose's well-written account." Library Journal
Review:"Stephen Ambrose is that rare breed: a historian with true passion for his subject. Here he takes one of the great, but also one of the most superficially considered, stories in American history and breathes fresh life into it. Lewis comes alive as we've never known him." Ken Burns
Review:"Ambrose's epic, a combination of rhapsody and reality, feels like a final glimpse at a pristine Eden before the crowd of trappers and settlers altered it forever." Booklist
Review:"This lively survey of Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the opening of the American West is recommended both for leisure readers of American history and for students." Midwest Book Review
About the AuthorStephen E. Ambrose is the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller D-Day and multi-volume biographies of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He is founder of the Eisenhower Center and President of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. He lives in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and Helena, Montana.
Table of ContentsContents
INTRODUCTION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 Youth 1774-1792 2 Planter 1792-1794 3 Soldier 1794-1800 4 Thomas Jefferson's America 1801 5 The President's Secretary 1801-1802 6 The Origins of the Expedition 1750-1802 7 Preparing for the Expedition January-June 1803 8 Washington to Pittsburgh June-August 1803 9 Down the Ohio September-November 1803 10 Up the Mississippi to Winter Camp November 1803-March 1804 11 Ready to Depart April-May 21, 1804 12 Up the Missouri May-July 1804 13 Entering Indian Country August 1804 14 Encounter with the Sioux September 1804 15 To the Mandans Fall 1804 16 Winter at Fort Mandan December 21, 1804-March 21, 1805 17 Report from Fort Mandan March 22-April 6, 1805 18 From Fort Mandan to Marias River April 7-June 2, 1805 19 From Marias River to the Great Falls June 3-June 20, 1805 20 The Great Portage June 16-July 14, 805 21 Looking for the Shoshones July 15-August 12, 1805 22 Over the Continental Divide August 13-August 31, 1805 23 Lewis as Ethnographer: The Shoshones 24 Over the Bitterroots September 1-October 6, 1805 25 Down the Columbia October 8-December 7, 1805 26 Fort Clatsop December 8, 1805-March 23, 1806 27 Lewis as Ethnographer: The Clatsops and the Chinooks 28 Jefferson and the West 1804-1806 29 Return to the Nez Percé March 23-June 9, 1806 30 The Lolo Trail June I O-July 2, 1806 31 The Marias Exploration July 3-July 28, 1806 32 The Last Leg July 29-September 22, 1806 33 Reporting to the President September 23-December 31, 1806 34 Washington January-March 1807 35 Philadelphia April-July 1807 36 Virginia August 1806-March 1807 37 St. Louis March-December 1808 38 St. Louis January-August 1809 39 Last Voyage September 3-October 11, 1809 40 Aftermath NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX MAPS The Lewis and Clark Expedition Up the Missouri Headwaters of the Missouri Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains Exploring the Mouth of the Columbia f0 Traveler's Rest What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
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Gilbert France Official Replica Rugby Ball
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Animal Diaries Archive
2007 - january february march april may june july august september october november december
Enriching Jinki!
18 May 2007
Guests come from all over the world to see Australia zoo and the feedback we receive is always what a clean place it is to visit and also how happy the animals are.
Through previous articles you would have noticed just how hands on we are with our animals and this being for a number of reasons. Our animals always come first! These animals are in captivity so we need to make their special lives as exciting and as enriching as possible. Constant interaction with all our animals whether it be hands on, food related or with exciting new toys this keeps our animals thinking and also happy. Different animals have different enrichment activities depending on what they like and what/how they respond. Some animals get their food in a parcel like package and have to un-wrap it to see their surprise.
Now with Jinki our beautiful near 4-year-old Tasmanian devil (born 13th May 2003) loves interaction of all types, we rotate this so she doesn't know what to expect on a daily basis. Often we will jump into the enclosure and spend a good 30min of bonding to constantly build and maintain our great relationship that we have. While we are in the enclosure we are also educating the public about Tasmanian devils: the devil facial tumour, clearing up any myths and misconceptions that these beautiful little creatures have and of course answering questions too. We will often bring some great toys along for Jinki to play with which means chasing and chewing and her number one favourite game tug-of-war (Of course she always wins!).
Other small carnivorous mammals also share these toys so you can imagine the great smells Jinki encounters. We will smear exciting smells on the toys like fish smells and honey, some toys allow us to put insects in them for Jinki to find and when our Camel and Dingoes malt their fur or hair - yes that's right more enrichment for Jinki! We hide this in her enclosure and this makes for another great game.
Now if this doesn't keep Jinki busy we also take her out for walks in the zoo. That's right we can put a harness on Jinki and off she goes. Tasmanian Devils actually have poor eyesight so you can imagine the different smells and textures that keep her active and also very happy. I guess this is sort of equivalent to us reading a newspaper, watching television or going to the beach. For your pets at home like your dog this is like going for walks, digging up buried treasures, receiving cuddles, taking baths and playing ball! Enrichment is very important but also can be very fun for all!
So next time you visit Australia Zoo be sure to ask the keeper which animal is actually having the most fun the keeper or the animal?
Till next time Devils rule!!!!!!
Our Amazing Tasmanian Devils
Tasmanian Devils are the largest living carnivorous marsupial (Dasyurid) in Australia. They have sharp powerful claws and a backward facing pouch. Male dev ...more


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Sunday, April 17, 2011
12 Signs Your Novel isn't Ready to Publish
84 comments:
- jbchicoine said...
Oh my goodness! I made far more mistakes than I care to own up to! My biggest embarrassments were dialogue tags and adverbs...okay, and heavily weighted descriptions, info-dumps--overall wordiness. The good news is that I can recognize these issues now, and although I'm still in the learning curve, I don't think any of these are large enough obstacles to hold me back much longer.
Anne, I do so appreciate these posts--it's no wonder so many rave about them! - April 17, 2011 at 11:49 AM
- Ruth Harris said...
Excellent post! Let me add one more beginner's mistake.
Please, please, please don't bore readers with descriptions of your character's dream(s). No better way to stop plot/action! Guaranteed to bring your narrative to a dead halt & put your reader into a coma. - April 17, 2011 at 12:06 PM
- Clare C. Greenstreet said...
I am so guilty of the Episodic storytelling. I've tried many times to stop and for one book just can not seem to be able to break it up.
- April 17, 2011 at 12:45 PM
- Michelle Davidson Argyle said...
Nice list, Anne! I think it's important for writers to get good feedback on their work before even thinking about self-publishing. Sadly, many writers don't - or they get feedback from useless sources. Also, first novels rarely make great material for self-publishing, but I have seen exceptions. :)
- April 17, 2011 at 1:51 PM
- Ben said...
Once again, you take many advices other have said but failed to make understand, and you get the point across. I think my biggest problem with storytelling is wordiness. I hate to take many words to get where I want to. Accuracy is my ultimate dream.
- April 17, 2011 at 2:23 PM
- Elaine AM Smith said...
That was a great post. I was addicted to passive construction.
- April 17, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- markwilliamsinternational.com said...
All valid points, Anne. You've got me busy now rewriting my draft blog which draws heavily on your previous two!
But a quick query. You reference the Kindle as if it's the primary focus of indie writers. Is that the case there?
Here in the UK it certainly is, because we have no direct access to the Barnes & Noble nook.
B&N, in their infinite wisdom, think anyone without a US zip code is beneath them. We cannot even buy an electronic download from them because we live outside the USA. Thank goodness for Amazon!
Yes, we can upload to B&N indirectly via Smashwords, but then we get totally ignored by the B&N algorythms, and worse still we can't buy our own book from them to see if the formatting is right. - April 17, 2011 at 2:46 PM
- Judith Mercado said...
Your shout-outs were well deserved. Your blog has become a must-read for me. Congratulations.
- April 17, 2011 at 3:15 PM
- Darke Conteur said...
I think I did everything on your list! I found an old story (wrote it several years ago) and there wasn't a 'sadi' in the whole thing!
*so embarrased* - April 17, 2011 at 3:44 PM
- graywave said...
Great piece, Anne. There's a book on craft you might enjoy called "How Not To Write A Novel" which takes the same 'bad novels do this' stance and is full of hilarious examples (well, it had me ROFLing, anyway.)
- April 17, 2011 at 4:40 PM
- AderuMoro said...
This was fun to read and very insightful. I think it would be even more fun if someone could generate a "quiz" that writers can take and see just how guilty they are , haha.
I'm still confused about how much prose writers ought to include nowadays. When does it become excessive? - April 17, 2011 at 4:46 PM
- graywave said...
@AderuMoro It becomes excessive at about a tenth of the amount China Mieville uses - yet he won a Hugo Award last year. Go figure.
- April 17, 2011 at 4:52 PM
- Anne Gallagher said...
Which is why I love Sunday nights. I get to sit down and talk to you.
My biggest mistake in earlier writings was POV. I could never get it straight. From Head Hopping (in the same paragraph) to omniscient 3rd, to second and first all on the same page. Yikes. I still can't believe that book got 7 partial requests. (But it was a great query so I sort of can see it.)
I think I can safely say I don't do anything on your list. Well, maybe #1 just an eensy bit. (Okay, maybe a little bit more than eensy.) - April 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
jb--Isn't it nice when you can look back and say "I don't do that anymore!"
Ruth--OMG, guilty! I always used dreams to show feelings because I was terrified of inner monologue (that theater thing.)
Clare--I still fight it, so I totally relate.
Michelle--Sadly, it's true. Pretty much every first novel is just for practice.
Ben--Writers are in love with words. That's why we write. So it's painful to have to cut any of them. I relate.
Elaine--oh, yes--all those passives. They sound so high-falutin' and literary don't they?
Mark--I'll be looking forward to your post. B&N doesn't know the UK exists. They'd never list the books I had published in the UK. Don't they know you have more readers per capita than any other country? - April 17, 2011 at 5:09 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Judith--Thanks! Glad people are enjoying it.
Darke--Yeah. I didn't get these from random reading--these are my own bads, too.
Graywave--I love HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL. I read it some time ago. I wonder how much I'm subconsciously stealing from him...
And yes, when those wordaholics win prizes it doesn't help the rest of us, does it?
AderoMoro--I love the idea of a quiz. I'll have to work on that.
Graywave's answer is a good one. These days, most people are in a hurry. They want short. So I'd say follow Elmore Leonard's advice and "cut the parts that readers skip."
Anne--POV!! I forgot POV!! Head-hopping and god-like narrators who know what the dog is thinking. Maybe that needs its own post. - April 17, 2011 at 5:19 PM
- fOIS In The City said...
This is another great addition to what you have been discussing for weeks. What I am also concerned about is the one in one million who does make a splash (Kathryn Stockett) and puts stars in an aspiring authors head ...
or the recent article with Konrath ... talking about Barry Eisler turning down a half-million from St. Martins. How many other established authors are likely to follow?
I am not at all surprised that you blog has gained the widespread recognition it so deserves. Were that I could be this astute? Gees ... is that grammatically corrent :):) - April 17, 2011 at 5:30 PM
- Solvang Sherrie said...
Great list! I'll admit a few things on there made me squirm. Thank goodness we learn from those early mistakes. Well, most of us :P
- April 17, 2011 at 9:05 PM
- E. Arroyo said...
Great list. This is a keeper.
- April 17, 2011 at 9:12 PM
- Clarissa Draper said...
The alarm clock thing is such a pet peeve of mine. Or opening with cloudy weather. What a great post! Another one...
- April 18, 2011 at 8:20 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
fOIS--I think we need those starry-headed fantasies. If we didn't all think we might be that one in a million who gets to be a Katherine Stockett, we probably wouldn't be going through this slog. And yes! How many big name writers will follow in Eisler's footsteps is the HUGE question in the business right now. Stars pay the bills. If they leave, the whole industry is out of business.
Sherrie--I did some squirming as I wrote this.
E. Arroyo--Thanks!
Clarissa--Alarm clock is #1, but Weather reports are definitely #2. - April 18, 2011 at 9:08 AM
- Sue McGinty said...
Don'cah love it that Anne takes time to reply to her commments! I do.
- April 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM
- nataliefaybooks said...
I read number 4 and it felt like I was caught eating chocolate in the middle of the night.
- April 18, 2011 at 10:01 AM
- Sue McGinty said...
Aargh! Make that don't cha.
As in don't cha love it that Sue can't correct her typos until she clicks the Post Comment button. - April 18, 2011 at 10:03 AM
- Ann Best said...
I can't believe it. Blogger just ate up my well-crafted comment! Does anything work the way it ought?!
Anyway, I said, true, true, true. Wait, wait, wait. Hone the craft. Get feedback. Learn how to write!
I've read some pretty good self-pubbed books lately, good plots, interesting characters. But all of them, some more than others, suffer from grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation errors that drive me up the wall!
I used to be wordy. I was wordier than I thought in my early drafts of my about to be published memoir. If I'd self-pubbed it, not only would I have been very embarrassed, I would also have suffered what you point out here: loss of authenticity.
Excellent. I can see why your previous post, which I read also, got so many hits. Does all this ever need to be said and absorbed by all of us who call ourselves writers!
p.s. You wrote this wonderful comment on my post yesterday: "Alas, if the strong-arm politicians have their way, we will all need rich friends to help with our medical bills, since they plan to take away our Medicare.
After all, the billionaires need solid gold toilets on all their yachts--gold plate is SO tacky. So much more important than the lives of 99% of Americans."
Also true, true, true. All those children in Washington playing around with our lives. Let them give up something so they'll know how the rest of us feel!
As ever, your friend and follower:
Ann Carbine Best, Long Journey Home - April 18, 2011 at 11:09 AM
- Courtney Cantrell said...
Adverbs! Oh, how I loved my adverbs once-upon-a-time. I'd read what Stephen King has to say about them (i.e. that we should give them no quarter), but even then, I didn't quite get it.
It took a kind yet honest beta reader to point out to me that while my characters and plot were good, adverbs were weighting my writing with a load no reader wanted to carry.
Finally, something went "click" in my head -- and out came the Red Pen of Adverbial Death. I haven't looked back. ; ) - April 18, 2011 at 12:03 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Sue--It's all good. That just makes it look as if I have more comments ;-)
Natalie--I think story is the hardest lesson to learn.
Ann--I'm glad you weren't offended when I went off on that rant. Any mention of stealing our Medicare and turning us all over the Mafia that is Blue Cross makes me so mad I can't see straight. 1% of the people have stolen 99% of the wealth in the last 20 years. How much more do they need to take before they have enough? Talk about redistribution of wealth! Reverse Robinhoodism is now the modus operandi of the GOP. I think it stands for Gobs Of Plunder.
Courtney--Me too. I used to sprinkle adverbs lavishly and gleefully into every sentence. - April 18, 2011 at 2:27 PM
- Orlando said...
That is a good list, helpful and very true. I especially agree with 10 and 11, but it was all well stipulated.
- April 18, 2011 at 2:42 PM
- Jennifer Tanner said...
Hello Anne!
I got hung up on what was considered a proper/correct dialogue tag...like said, exclaimed...vs... breathed, growled. Now, I rarely use dialogue tags. The same goes for adverbs. But back story is my real nemesis.
Thanks for a great post! - April 18, 2011 at 4:38 PM
- elisamichelle said...
I'm guilty of number four. My WIP starts with the main character waking up. Now that you mentioned that, I know exactly how it can be reworked. Are there any times that kind of opening actually works?
- April 18, 2011 at 6:39 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Orlando--Yeah. Obsessive verbiage and bad grammar are pretty much an immediate no for me. If I'm constantly editing in my head, I can't enjoy the story.
Jennifer--That's one of the major newbie mistakes. I do blame Nancy Drew.
elisa--That means you're like 78% of writers. If you had a time machine so you could write it before everybody else has, you'd be good. It's not wrong. Just so overdone it doesn't work any more. In the sidebar you'll see a link to my post on "12 Do's and Don'ts for Introducing your Protagonist." That might help. - April 18, 2011 at 7:07 PM
- Ranae Rose said...
I'm one of those people who doesn't like to let a book go without finishing it. But lately, I began one that was too painful not to. The book had two seriously major flaws: 1) Characters placing themselves in life-threatening danger for virtually no reason. (It was like the author was too lazy to think up a real reason for them to do it.) 2) Ridiculously unrealistic dialogue.
Reading it was sort of like listening to fingernails scratching against a chalkboard. Eventually I gave up, but the question still haunts me... What kind of editor could have let all those glaringly horrible mistakes go?!?! :( - April 18, 2011 at 8:14 PM
- Elisa Michelle said...
Anne, thanks for replying and answering my question. I'll definitely read that post!
- April 18, 2011 at 9:56 PM
- Rachna Chhabria said...
Thank God I don't use the alarm clock opening. What about the staring in the mirror opening?
Like you, I too cringe when I see my first book. After my editor told me its way too long, needs atleast 20,000 plus words chopped, I abandoned it in a corner of my desk and moved on.
Thanks for this great post. - April 19, 2011 at 5:41 AM
- Victoria Heckman said...
I will never own up to all the awful things I wrote and there is a reason it/they was/were never published. Ha! But I must thank you for the Script Cops link... I needed that...
- April 19, 2011 at 8:31 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Ranae--Some people like realism and some prefer outrageous, if it's comic or thrilling. There are comic-booky thrillers that aren't really meant to be realistic. Ditto funny stuff from people like Hiassen and Moore. But if a book intends you to take it seriously, a lack of realism can be a total turn-off.
Elisa--I hope it helps.
Rachna--You'd probably like the post I recommended to Elisa: "12 Dos and Don'ts for Introducing your Protagonist." Mirrors are definitely on the Don't list.
Victoria--Aren't they hilarious? I haven't had time to see all of those YouTube bits, but the ones I've seen are great. - April 19, 2011 at 9:42 AM
- Christine Ahern said...
Great post, as usual! I have made all of these mistakes and as I read this my mind wandered back to the manuscript I was editing this morning. At least two items from your list were there. Didn't recognize them at the time. I will return to the task beter prepared. Thanks again!
- April 19, 2011 at 12:42 PM
- Liz Fichera said...
Great post and congrats on all the linkages--well deserved!
I read a lot of YA. One of the things that gets under my skin are teenagers who sound like 60-year olds. Sorry, but 16 year olds are not that smart or wise. Yet. - April 20, 2011 at 5:24 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Christine--glad I could help. We really see these things when we go back to edit our early work, don't we?
Liz--I think that must be a BIG problem, because I see a lot of complaints about it. Also teens who love music from the 80s, or whatever decade the author was a teen. - April 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM
- Jennifer said...
Great post. Some very useful information. I have bought my fair share of 99 cent e-books in support of fellow bloggers and new writers and cringed at the grammar and spelling mistakes….maybe because I see myself reflected in those mistakes. I am too timid yet to publish anything but I will have a proofreader for sure either way I choose to go.
- April 20, 2011 at 11:47 AM
- Veronika said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 20, 2011 at 2:16 PM
- Veronika Walker said...
These are all fantastic! I hate "dialogue dumps" and "Tom Swifties." Hopefully I don't do it in my own writing...*goes to check*
Great stuff! - April 20, 2011 at 2:17 PM
- February Grace said...
Another great post, Anne. I admit to cringing when sucking it up and inserting 'said' when it just seems so repetitive. I hate it. I am a reader who does notice them- my brain does not filter them out as they say you're supposed to, I guess. I notice every single one.
So I've learned to try my best to avoid dialog tags where I can- and I think that's another thing new writers don't realize- if you've got two characters having a conversation, and you're writing it properly, you really shouldn't need them a whole lot to be able to follow who is saying what or else you need a rewrite anyway.
So happy to see your blog getting the attention it so richly deserves :~)
<3 bru - April 20, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Aisha said...
Love it!!! [as usual]
I've read this advice on your blog and now a few others that you really need to keep at it to improve. I was crushed when my agent was unable to find an interested party for my first manuscript, but now the second one I just completed? I feel even stronger about. The writing came easier, and the characters were stronger- I am now actually glad that the first one didn't make it as my debut because the second one is much better. . . here's hoping the second one sees the light of print :) - April 20, 2011 at 5:19 PM
- Leslie Rose said...
I plead guilty to episodic tendencies. Thank goodness for a truth-telling critique group who pointed it out to me in a loving, but "stop doing that" way. This is a great list of filters to look through when I write. Thank you.
- April 21, 2011 at 7:29 PM
- K.M. Weiland said...
Great list! The problem is that most inexperienced writers aren't able to recognize these problems in their own work. The objective eyes of beta readers, critique partners, and editors are invaluable - whether you're attempting to self-publish an ebook or attract the attention of an agent.
- April 22, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- Emily Cross said...
Excellent post Anne, sorry I haven't commented lately I've been crazy busy.
I was wondering if you could elaborate on the episodic storytelling? Is this when people tell you to treat each chapter like short story (beg/middle/end or cliff hanger?)
Thanks! I always learn something when I visit! - April 22, 2011 at 9:24 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Jennifer--It's useful to hear that, coming directly from an e-book buyer. Yeah. It's not just the 99 cents: it's hours of your life you'll never get back.
Veronika--Thanks. Because you're an editor, I'm sure that stuff jumps out at you.
Bru--You're right that we don't need dialogue tags as much as we think we do. I had them all over the place.
Aisha--Your first one must have been pretty good to get an agent to sign you. But I think each new book makes us better.
Leslie--Story construction is the hardest part of novel writing, for sure.
KM--You're so right. I thought my first feeble effort was the best book ever written. And it had typos on every page (no spellcheck back then.)
Emily--Each chapter needs a story arc, but the overall book needs one too--one that builds with each chapter. Episodic story telling happens when there is no one big plotline spanning the whole novel and each episode stands alone, instead of building the tension for reaching the ultimate goal. - April 22, 2011 at 10:09 AM
- S. F. Roney said...
What mistakes did I make? Back when I wrote a lot of science fiction in high school I was a fan #1, the writerly prose. I'd write long descriptions of the planets and alien environments. They would have bored readers, but at the time my science and English teachers loved them! I'm glad to see this as the first mistake listed to correct.
- April 22, 2011 at 11:41 PM
- roh morgon said...
Anne, thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
I read this post and all the comments with great interest due to the publishing crossroads that I'm at right now (along with a number of other writers). Your cautionary advice is well worth heeding and I will bear a number of your points in mind as I enter my next round of editing.
I also visited the April 3 post you mentioned in this one - again, it's a very timely one for me.
Thanks again - April 23, 2011 at 3:19 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
S.F. I think High School teachers are so amazed somebody can write enough sentences to fill a page, they tend to overpraise the over-wordy. And we all have to go through that stage. We learn to edit later.
Roh--I saw you're thinking of taking the plunge. I'm on the fence myself. More stuff on this in an eye-opening guest post tomorrow. - April 23, 2011 at 3:56 PM
- Nick said...
Really great post :)
- April 26, 2011 at 7:47 AM
- jfilez said...
"Readers don't care about "authenticity" if it doesn't further the plot."
I disagree with this statement because people saying things that are unauthentic will only cheapen a story, so I think. I do agree that we don't need all the mundane lines like "How's the weather?" and so on, but not having realistic dialogue seems hazardous, but perhaps it all depends on the piece. - April 27, 2011 at 6:05 AM
- TL Jeffcoat said...
I do some of these, lucky me its only a few. Enough of them to keep me busy a while. I'm wrapping up my very rough draft. I think I'll be looking up some books to make sure I'm on the right track. Thanks for the eye opening blog.
- April 27, 2011 at 6:27 AM
Gr8 post
- April 27, 2011 at 6:42 AM
- Lady Tam said...
Interesting post. :) However, as I was reading it, I kept thinking of very popular books and successful authors who defied some of these rules. For example, Stephen King LOVES descriptive writing! He'll describe something for two or three pages at times, just to set it up...yet his books are *incredibly* addictive. And there are quite a few religious writers out there, such as C. S. Lewis, who have been incredibly well-received.
I dunno; I like the advice, but I think getting too laden down with what is and is not okay can be a trap too; sometimes something just *clicks* with an audience, and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know if any set of rules can really tell you what will and will not stick [besides having good grammar and an awesome story, of course. :) ] - April 27, 2011 at 6:58 AM
- Lady Tam said...
Augh! Blogger ate my comment. -_-;;
Short version: I feel that authors like Stephen King [descripes things *ad nauseum*] and C. S Lewis [very popular religious author of The Chronicles of Narnia] fly in the face of some of those rules. I'd love to hear your viewpoint on such authors. What do you think?
Also, I've been told I don't have *enough* description, so it's a bit frustrating, which apparently is the opposite problem most beginning authors have. How do you know when you've gone into too MUCH detail?
Thanks for the post! :) - April 27, 2011 at 7:04 AM
- Claire said...
Wish I had time to read all those wonderful comments but just want to say thank you for the post! I'm an aspiring author and some of these were very helpful!
When would you say a book IS ready for publishing? I've got about 8 drafts and two editors have reviwed it. I'm always scared it's not good enough :( - April 27, 2011 at 10:28 AM
- Claire said...
Wish I had time to read all those wonderful comments but just want to say thank you for the post! I'm an aspiring author and some of these were very helpful!
When would you say a book IS ready for publishing? I've got about 8 drafts and two editors have reviwed it. I'm always scared it's not good enough :( - April 27, 2011 at 10:30 AM
- Kierah Jane Reilly said...
Great tips! But, explain why a woman can't carry her stocky build down the stairs again?
(kidding) - April 27, 2011 at 2:35 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
jfiles--I didn't say authenticity isn't important. Just that it can't just sit there by itself, showing off: it has to do its job of furthering the plot.
TL--we all do this stuff. That's what first drafts are for.
LadyTam--You're absolutely right that famous writers do all this stuff. But we can't get away with it. Why not? The same reason Britney Spears can get away with that outfit and you can't. Fame has a lot of perks. When you get famous, you can break the rules. Also, writing has changed a lot in the last 30 years. Everything is speeded up. I'm going to write a post about that soon.
Claire--That's a good question, and it's all subjective. Most writers never feel their work is really finished. And some books only need a quick polish after they're written. Others need decades of slogging. But your 2 editors probably have an idea if it's done. If they agree, I'd say you're ready.
Kierah--LOL. That's why we need those beta readers. I should have added "Continuity problems." Me, I love to drop props. She's got a suitcase at the top of the stairs, but then she's off running with no suitcase. No mention of it again. Parks her car. Car disappears for 50 pages. Doesn't mean the book is bad. Just that it's not ready. - April 27, 2011 at 3:03 PM
- Kierah Jane Reilly said...
Anne, I totally drop props all the time. And my characters have the uncanny ability to move from one end of the room to the other without getting up from the sofa. What would we do without beta readers?
- April 27, 2011 at 3:33 PM
- Greta Marlow said...
Once I was reading a self-published book and noticed the main character was going to the bathroom all the time, for no reason related to the plot. If the character had been going to do a pregnancy test, or to retrieve the bottle of booze from the toilet tank, or to clean up after a murder, sure. But no - she just needed to "go." It got to be pretty amusing.
- April 27, 2011 at 7:16 PM
- J.M.Cornwell said...
I remain a sucker for writing that trips off the typing fingers, but I do tone it down a bit, although I have a tendency to wax rhapsodic from time to time on the off chance there is a reader who likes the compound and complex sentence oozing with detail and emotion.
My first novel stalled mid stream because I didn't know how to finish it, so I turned to newspapers, magazines and writing for politicians and professionals. Worked for me, and for them, and gave me quite a lot of credits and some national syndication. Then again, self publishing was anathema and there was no direct to Kindle, Pubit! or Smashwords, which is where my most recent book can be found. I went the traditional route first, but was unhappy with a few issues, like quarterly statements that come out every 15-16 months, if at all, and under reporting, and the questionable book cover art. I would have sex with either of the guys on the front either. I'm about 6 weeks past my introduction to self-publishing and I am not going back. It's been interesting, but I don't buy many books for Kindle since I don't own one yet and have too many books to read and review when I'm not working to pay the bills. - April 27, 2011 at 7:38 PM
- yikici said...
I concur with all the comments above; this is a great post; I read this on my phone a few days ago and have been itching to write a comment; now seems to be the time to do so.
I have to admit I think I was leaning towards a Tom Swifty; reading your post has made me re-think my dialogue tags... Thank you.. :)
One question; if dreams are critical to the overall story plot then would your opening paragraph detailing the truth ok to go ahead with? I ask as I initially had started my first chapter with a dream; though I have since had to add a prologue and an additional chapter prior to that chapter, so it is not likely to affect my writing; but I thought it would be useful to know for future reference etc... - April 28, 2011 at 4:21 PM
- yikici said...
I concur with all the comments above; this is a great post; I read this on my phone a few days ago and have been itching to write a comment; now seems to be the time to do so.
I have to admit I think I was leaning towards a Tom Swifty; reading your post has made me re-think my dialogue tags... Thank you.. :)
One question; if dreams are critical to the overall story plot then would your opening paragraph detailing the truth ok to go ahead with? I ask as I initially had started my first chapter with a dream; though I have since had to add a prologue and an additional chapter prior to that chapter, so it is not likely to affect my writing; but I thought it would be useful to know for future reference etc... - April 28, 2011 at 4:22 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Kierah--Yeah. Beta readers rock.
Greta--I wonder if the author had some bladder issues herself? :-)
JM--I have heard some horror tales about cover art--from authors and agents both. Yeah. Something to consider. Good to hear from somebody who's taken the plunge and had it work for them.
yikici--I'm so guilty of the dream thing. I use the device a lot. But that comment about no dreams comes from a former Big Six editor, so she knows what she's talking about. I'm going to be looking at some of my unpubbed things to see if I can take out the dreams. If you can start with something else, I think you'll be increasing your reader-friendliness. - April 28, 2011 at 5:23 PM
- scifialiens said...
When tempted to write a dream sequence, ask yourself five questions:
Is it absolutely essential to the the story line? If so, this might indicate some failing in the plot.
Will it enlighten your readers...or confuse them? Never 'confuse them now and explain it all later.' Books are too easy to put down.
How will your character be affected? Real people seldom carry much of their dreaming into the real world.
How will your fictional dreamer explain or hide the dream from other characters? Psychology is not a widely popular topic in entertainment.
What led to the dream? If it just came to you, let it go or write it down to develop later on. - April 28, 2011 at 6:01 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
scifi--Great list! Thanks for this.
- April 28, 2011 at 6:34 PM
- Julie Musil said...
Wow, what a great list! I noticed I used the same words a lot in my manuscript. Lots of drifted, surrounded, filled, closed. I cringed when I did a word search and found them. I'm not in the process of plucking most of them out.
- April 29, 2011 at 7:58 AM
- MaryKateLeahy said...
dialogue info dump. I cringe I was so guilty in my first. I've gotten better .... a little :) I console myself that it was at least about the characters and not the weather. Great post!
- April 29, 2011 at 8:48 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Julie--Oh, those old, comfy words and phrases! I think our ideas tend to slide out in the same word patterns. And we're blind to the repetition. That's when a good beta reader is a life-saver.
MaryKate--Me too. My old work has at least two pages of "as you know Bob" dialogue in every opening chapter. But luckily, that's a pretty easy fix. - April 29, 2011 at 9:04 AM
- Josa Young said...
'snorted' infested my first book. I always track down and slaughter 'suddenly' too. Then I weep softly into my sleeve at all my other faults. O well.
- April 29, 2011 at 11:37 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Josa--I like "snorted" too. I also invented the word "snortled" and then my muse felt it necessary to add it to every chapter.
- April 30, 2011 at 9:34 AM
- Lady Tam said...
Thanks for your advice! :) It made me feel a lot better.
I have to wonder if fantasy readers are a bit pickier than readers of more popular genres, but it still made me feel better. Thanks for the encouragement! - May 12, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Great article. It made me cringe here and there, but admitting you have a problem is the first step.... Another I'd add to the list that I am personally guilty of are scenes that drag on waaaay too long. I heard from a favorite writer "enter a scene late, and leave early." Words to live by.
- May 27, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- marta chausée said...
great post! info dumps and stilted dialogue would be my personal quicksand. i'm keeping this list posted on my laptop as i write.
marta chausée - Resort to Murder series - June 12, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- Robert Sloan said...
Thanks for a great post. I had to grin reading down the checklist because I think I've made every one of those blunders in some novel or other. Well, almost all. I'm not sure I ever used the alarm clock opener.
A happy thought is that any of them can be corrected by editing. The same political or social rant that clogged an early novel can be shown, not told, tightened and turned into a theme. The abuse story is rich in good conflict and once the author's overcome personal issues, can lead to a powerful story. If grammar and spelling are a problem, solving them becomes mechanical once that's understood.
I write better than I used to and not as well as I will.
Your checklist is great for an editing guide. I've still got one or two sore spots on it that I should go through on whatever I choose to launch first.
Thanks for a useful post. I'm copying this article to keep in my editing folder. - September 13, 2011 at 1:08 PM
- Stephen V. Masse said...
Thanks for sharing some wonderful observations on publishing readiness. One relatively simple cure for many of these issues is for every writer to develop the habit of reading a manuscript aloud. Read it aloud to yourself, and if it sounds right, then read it aloud to a writing group or a bored teenager.
- May 14, 2012 at 9:14 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Somehow I missed reading Robert's great comment last September (that was the week I launched my first book and taught my first blogging class) But I LOVE this quote " I write better than I used to, but not as well as I will."
Stephen--The "read aloud" tip is a great one--especially to a bored teenager :-) I read every word of a book aloud at least twice--once to my critique group and once to myself in final draft. - May 14, 2012 at 10:30 AM
- amirthavarshini said...
hi, reading your post for the first time. I'm too, one of the unfortunate stupid writers who get zero comments for their blog posts. I'm a 13 year old indian school student, and last hols, I playfully created a blog, where I publish the boarding school story I have written. But, i'm really embarrassed to admit that even my friends avoided reading the story. your post is a great help. thanks... but can you do me a favour? will you visit my blog and then tell me what you feel about my story? good or bad, whatever you feel, thats alright... just please let me know what people think of my story, please!
my blog's address is: www.myfirstwebnovel.blogspot.com - July 12, 2012 at 5:28 AM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Amirtha--Thanks for commenting. Since this is your first time on the blog, you probably haven't read how often I advise against posting fiction on your blog. You are throwing away your own copyright, so you can never sell that book. If you want critique, find an online critique group. There are very good ones at CritiqueCircle.com. I think they also have them at AgentQuery.com and many other writer sites. But you don't want a critique from me. I'm a professional editor and I'd charge you a lot of money :-) Good luck!
- July 12, 2012 at 8:52 AM
- amirthavarshini said...
Thanks! That was great help. I'll surely visit critiquecircle.com... thanks again:-D
- July 13, 2012 at 11:49 PM
- Holly Marsh said...
Great post! Now I can see where I'm going wrong and the areas that I need to improve!
- October 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
Holly--These are guidelines for people who are looking for an agent or traditional publisher. Some indieauthors have broken a lot of these "rules" and still found an audience. Being a good storyteller is the #1 thing. But I think if you keep this stuff in mind, it helps improve your work to attract the most number of readers.
- October 7, 2013 at 6:34 PM