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Recent content by ProfessorBrainfever

  1. ProfessorBrainfever

    priests == summoner?

    I like the idea. Here's my question: how easy is it to summon? Really really hard, or relatively easy? Does it depend on what you're summoning? And another: how do the gods/spirits manifest? Are they corporeal in some sort of form, or by being summoned to they imbue their summoner with their...
  2. ProfessorBrainfever

    Killing off a character.

    This might have already been touched upon, but it might say something about your characters or their culture if they don't respond in the way Sam does. It's hard when writing my NiP, because death is quite different to the Ancient Romans. Much more commonplace, and in many ways much more...
  3. ProfessorBrainfever

    Why Not Short Stories?

    It depends on your definitions, but I've written a short story almost every week since last October. That's because I have a weekly podcast. It keeps me writing. No matter what else I do, I have to write at least 1200 words a week, which is nice.
  4. ProfessorBrainfever

    Attention all H.P. Lovecraft fans!!!!!

    You should also check out "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman. It's a Lovecraftian reworking of the first Sherlock Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlet". I believe it's available free online somewhere, too.
  5. ProfessorBrainfever

    three name for roman nobility?

    Romans could also EARN additional names depending on their abilities. The dictator Sulla, for example, was called Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix. He earned 'Felix', which means 'fortunate' or 'lucky', in his later military and political career. If you're 'noble', then you're more likely to have...
  6. ProfessorBrainfever

    Elmore Leonard's 10 "Rules" of Writing

    Maybe we're just reading different things? I don't remember most of the prologues I read having that quality to them. When I think of them, I think of the first chapter of 'Game of Thrones'. It's not called a prologue, but that's essentially what it is, and it's an action-filled hint of the...
  7. ProfessorBrainfever

    Elmore Leonard's 10 "Rules" of Writing

    So, is it the fact that they're called 'prologues' that you object to? Would calling it 'Chapter 1' change your opinion? Or is it that they (generally) take place a certain amount of time before the next chapter?
  8. ProfessorBrainfever

    Fantasy Creature Death Match-Round 5

    This is more of a 'popularity contest', than a true 'death-match'...but that happens whenever a subject is decided based on voting. That being said...I don't see a halfling being able to defeat a giant, sentient spider. But it happened. ;)
  9. ProfessorBrainfever

    Elmore Leonard's 10 "Rules" of Writing

    My NiP has a prologue. I say, if you're going to use one, make it necessary. Writing off all prologues is quite silly, in my humble opinion.
  10. ProfessorBrainfever

    Length of a first novel

    I'm aiming for 50,000 with my Novel in Progress. I imagine it will be more than that, and I'm not going to stop until the story I'm telling is done. But I'm giving myself a weekly word minimum, and if I only do the minimum I'll reach 50K words before I get married later this year. So far, I've...
  11. ProfessorBrainfever

    How do you feel about borrowed names?

    As is the answer to most things like this: it depends. My NIP has all sorts of borrowed names...but it's an alternate history piece. So where I borrow my names I'm also borrowing those people from actual history. I find when you borrow a name and it's too 'on the nose', it can be annoying. But...
  12. ProfessorBrainfever

    Need some advice on plot.

    I say option 1 with a bit of option 2 thrown in. Depends how 'white knight', if at all, character B is.
  13. ProfessorBrainfever

    Go with the Flow, Build as you go?

    I outline, and I give every 'scene' serious thought before I write it. I know where it's going to start, and I know where it needs to go, but in between I 'wing it'. Don't judge yourself too harshly when you've just freshly written something. Give it some time to settle. The job of the first...
  14. ProfessorBrainfever

    What ending do you find is the most powerful ending?

    My favorite ending is the 'mixed' ending, where the heroes have a victory but at great cost.
  15. ProfessorBrainfever

    Fantasy Creature Death Match-Round 1

    If you like wolves, you have to support the Canim. Or they'll rip your throat out. Totally your choice, though. ;)
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