Recent content by Motley

I don't understand why this is bad or the OP should be shot. The rangers here sound a lot like mercenaries, which exist in the real world too. Or scouts, which have to exist in some form or another in a world to make political and military sense.

I think you need both. I do agree that story comes first, but I do believe that the language you use with all its rhythm and flow adds to that in an important way. And I completely agree that every scene needs some sort of goal and tension.

Yesterday I was researching the Victorian era opinion on masturbation and came across some rather horrible looking metal contraption men would wear to prevent them from doing it.

I write under multiple pen names because I hate my legal name. My methods included perusing baby name sites and trying to find something that sounds good together. Then I search Google and Amazon to make sure the name isn't in use yet and doesn't belong to a mass murderer or beloved...

I'm with Psychotick on the marketing, except in my case I believe it stems from fear or lack of self esteem. I find it very uncomfortable to talk about myself or something I've done. Probably should just get over that. I do agree that self-publishing should be done as a business if you want to...

I agree more with the commenters here than with the original points. I'm especially bewildered by point #5. What's wrong with killing a main character in the last book of a series? It would seem like a reason for the story to end.

This is very useful, not only as a marketing resource but as a way to find more interesting blogs to read. Thanks!

I agree with what WeilderoftheMonkeyBlade said. What would the character notice? Surely not everything as they go about their life. I tend to put in a few eye or ear or nose-catching details and leave the rest as backdrop.

The plants in my stories don't affect the story too much, so I let the reader imagine them as earth-like if they choose. I do use oaks, pines, roses etc. I do also have stories that have fantasy flora that I give names to and different characteristics. Most of these have particular functions...

Everyone is the hero of their own story. Someone famous said that I think. (googlegoogle) John Barth, American novelist. I enjoy writing from the 'bad guy's' POV. My current novella is the tale of an extremely twisted guy. I think the important thing is to still make the character sympathetic...

Getting a story published in a magazine or emag with a large reader base is probably the best way. If you self-publish, how many people it gets in front of will be entirely up to your marketing efforts.

This is an extremely helpful thread. I haven't actually found a time of day that is more conducive to writing fiction for me yet. I picked a time that fit into my schedule and make myself write during it.

Unanswered questions are the things that keep readers reading, I think. But, since you say this incident doesn't' really have anything to do with the story, I wouldn't turn it into some big thing. If it doesn't matter, I'm not sure why you just wouldn't' have it happen when it happens instead...

I don't outline. Sometimes I jot down things in order so I don't forget them (I'm almost 40!) Some bookcases are works of art, but they still have to hold up heavy books. I think stories are a lot like building anything that takes creativity. Except for the truly experimental literary...

I'm full of fear over my writing, so I read this article with interest. What it came down to though, even when she said it didn't, was 'Just write." Instead of worrying about the fear of failure (or success) or any number of other things, you just have the words forming sentences etc. Just...