Showing posts with label best answer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best answer. Show all posts
Someone asks:
Even in teen books I've seen words I've never seen/heard of before. Is it possible to over use the thesaurus?
My Answer:
Yes, Stephenie Meyer seems particularly fond of it. *cough* irrevocably *cough, cough*
I use the thesaurus when I've repeated a word too much or if there's a word that's on the tip of my tongue, but I don't quite remember it, so I consult the dictionary/thesuarus to help me figure it out.
But you know, there might just be an author who was a wide range of high vocabulary that they use in daily life - sometimes I say big words in normal conversation and my friends get confused.
Remember, the simplest writing is the best! :D
I use the thesaurus when I've repeated a word too much or if there's a word that's on the tip of my tongue, but I don't quite remember it, so I consult the dictionary/thesuarus to help me figure it out.
But you know, there might just be an author who was a wide range of high vocabulary that they use in daily life - sometimes I say big words in normal conversation and my friends get confused.
Remember, the simplest writing is the best! :D
Someone asks:
I'm 14, and I hope to finish a book soon. But, I have a few questions... If i don't want my parents to read it, and I use a pen name, would I be able to get it published without them finding out, or would I have to wait until I'm 18? Also, and tips for the actual content? Such as character development? I know things like give them flaws, but I need to make sure they don't all end up the same or stereotypical descriptions. (Like, there's part of a love story involved and I don't want the girl to only care about him... but she's with him all the time, so he distracts her.) And if a story is graphic, can it still be published? (Sorry, I have a lot of questions.)
My Answer:
You can use a pen name, but your parents will have to find about your book eventually because you, a minor, can't sign with an agent or publisher without having a parent/guardian also sign. Besides, you will be receiving money for your book (if it does get published) and won't your parents wonder where you got that from?
Go to this website for your questions about character/plot stuff: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml
If you're afraid if your characters are being Mary Sues or Gary Stus, you can take this quiz about them to see if they are: http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysu…
I don't know what you mean by graphic. If you mean graphic as in pictures, you can. If you mean graphic as in sexual/violent/etc, then you may have a bit of trouble with that, just don't go overboard.
Remember to focus on writing that great story FIRST before thinking about becoming published.
Good luck! Remember to research!
Additional: Go to this site for information on publishing: http://www.nathanbransford.com/
Go to this website for your questions about character/plot stuff: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml
If you're afraid if your characters are being Mary Sues or Gary Stus, you can take this quiz about them to see if they are: http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysu…
I don't know what you mean by graphic. If you mean graphic as in pictures, you can. If you mean graphic as in sexual/violent/etc, then you may have a bit of trouble with that, just don't go overboard.
Remember to focus on writing that great story FIRST before thinking about becoming published.
Good luck! Remember to research!
Additional: Go to this site for information on publishing: http://www.nathanbransford.com/
Source(s):
Experience
Someone asks:
I am trying to write a really good story and it has but i have been at a writers block for weeks and I am stumped at where to put my characters next.
Any suggestions on how to get rid of it?
My Answer:
Well, since you waited enough already and it STILL hasn't come, I suggest writing exercises unrelated to your books. Those can be found on the internet. You could also read (though I assume you've done so already). You could also have interviews with your characters (something I always find helpful) and get to know them better. Listening to music sometimes inspires me to write a scene. :) Good luck!
Someone asks:
So I'm writing a book.
I've got the first couple of chapters written.
And I have no experience what-so-ever.
Should I finish the book, or send it to the agent so she can help decide some parts in it?
Also, what sort of stuff do you put in the letter?
Plus, is it a 'Query Letter' or a 'Book Proposal'?
And should it be formal... Or should it be me?
Please and Thank-you! :)
My Answer:
OMG! BEFORE!!!!! (sorry for caps, that was urgent.)
You MUST finish your book before sending it out to agents. In your query, if you say, "I have a 20K novel, but it is incomplete" they will throw it in the trash can before they will get to your signature. Agents HATE that kind of thing, they would NEVER, EVER, EVER, (ever) even consider your book if it is incomplete.
Here is the website of one literary agent who stressed this thing, but I can't find the post. Here is his website: www.nathanbransford.com
It is called a query letter if your book is fiction, book proposal if your book is non-fiction (or that is at least how I understand it):
These blog posts should help you:http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/03/…
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/search/l…
It should be both formal and a little bit of you, esp. your writing style.
Phew *wipes forehead*. I'm glad I saved you from that. :D
Oh - I found a link, check out number 6: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2005…
You MUST finish your book before sending it out to agents. In your query, if you say, "I have a 20K novel, but it is incomplete" they will throw it in the trash can before they will get to your signature. Agents HATE that kind of thing, they would NEVER, EVER, EVER, (ever) even consider your book if it is incomplete.
Here is the website of one literary agent who stressed this thing, but I can't find the post. Here is his website: www.nathanbransford.com
It is called a query letter if your book is fiction, book proposal if your book is non-fiction (or that is at least how I understand it):
These blog posts should help you:http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/03/…
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/search/l…
It should be both formal and a little bit of you, esp. your writing style.
Phew *wipes forehead*. I'm glad I saved you from that. :D
Oh - I found a link, check out number 6: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2005…
Source(s):
A multitude of literary agent's blogs like Nathan Bransford and Janet Reid.
Someone asks:
I have written a 150 page small book to help college students. I would like to publish the book as a 4" height 8" width booklet. I am new to the world of publishing. How do I go about doing this?
My Answer:
You should search for agents that specialize in what you have written, which I am guesing is a non-fiction self-help book. You can use these sites to help you find your agent: http://www.1000literaryagents.com/
http://agentquery.com/
After you got your agents, you should write a proposal. This is how you do it: http://www.shepardagency.com/writing_pro…
Of course, there different agents may ask for different things, and you can send a proposal via email.
Hopefully, you get an agent and the agent will take care of the rest. If you're interested more about publising, check this out: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/…
http://agentquery.com/
After you got your agents, you should write a proposal. This is how you do it: http://www.shepardagency.com/writing_pro…
Of course, there different agents may ask for different things, and you can send a proposal via email.
Hopefully, you get an agent and the agent will take care of the rest. If you're interested more about publising, check this out: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/…
Someone Asks:
I know this is a little epic for a 2 12 year old, my friend and I wrote it.
CHAPTER 1
Blood.
Blood.
That's all she could see.
Blood.
Who had it come from?
Was it her's?
Molly was not sure of anything.
She started to become lightheaded. But, she always became lightheaded at the glance of blood.
More, and more. It didn't stop. Why wasn't it stopping?
The rocks.
CHAPTER 2
It had started out as a normal family vacation for Molly and Lucas. They went tubing, fishing, and camping. Adventurous, you may say, but only Lucas. Molly was more of a "stay at home" girl. Lucas was about 4 years older than Molly. At this point in time, Molly was 12, and Lucas was 16.
The rock bluffs were famous, not for their pretty sight, but their record to kill.
Molly and Lucas had both suffered the loss of their dad, and the disease almost killing their mom. Both had a record or hurting themselves on the outside to stop the pain on the inside. Lucas was always protecting his sister, from herself.Im going to revise ch. 2 a bit.
Dear Diary,
I think these vacations are a waste of time. Sure, Lucas and I had preoblems with dad's death, and even more with mom's cancer, that doesn't mean we are not capable of having fun without vacation.
But, I could tell by the look in Lucas's eyes that he was excited. Shouldn't the youngest be more inthused than the oldest? Well, not in my world. In my world, people hurt themselves on the outside to get rid of pain on the inside. In my world, i sit alone slashing my wrists out of guilt. In my word, I'm all... alone. Well, you could say I'm alone in the world, but I'm not. I have my brother, I've always had my brother. I love Lucas no matter how annoying or gross he is. He's my brother, and im his sister. We should protect eachother, shouldn't we? Both of us try, but there's one thing that neither of us can protect eachother from, guilt. I started to get mentally sick after Dad died, Lucas started after I did.
-Molly
My Answer:
To be honest, not really.
I'm sure the story is awesome, but the way it is executed...isn't.
For example, you two should get into writing in active voice. An example of that would be like this:
Passive Voice: She started to become lightheaded.
Active Voice: She became lightheaded.
Active voice draws in readers more.
Another thing is that you are TELLING and not SHOWING us the situaton. You are giving us a LOT of backstory. You are telling us about their family vacation, you are telling us about their age (which to me is pretty amateurish), you tell us straight away about a disease they have. You have to find a way to weave and incoporate this into your story without telling us. If you need more help on the Show, not tell rule, you can research it. Of course, with proper execution, there are some exceptions to that.
As for what you got so far, I like your Chapter 1. I suppose it doesn't appeal to me because that kind of stuff isn't really my thing. I think your Chapter one would be better off as a prologue, as it seems more prologue-ish.
To answer your question: No, I do not want to read more.
But you know what, I hope you learn from what I said and you two become even BETTER. Never stop writing. :)
Good luck.
I'm sure the story is awesome, but the way it is executed...isn't.
For example, you two should get into writing in active voice. An example of that would be like this:
Passive Voice: She started to become lightheaded.
Active Voice: She became lightheaded.
Active voice draws in readers more.
Another thing is that you are TELLING and not SHOWING us the situaton. You are giving us a LOT of backstory. You are telling us about their family vacation, you are telling us about their age (which to me is pretty amateurish), you tell us straight away about a disease they have. You have to find a way to weave and incoporate this into your story without telling us. If you need more help on the Show, not tell rule, you can research it. Of course, with proper execution, there are some exceptions to that.
As for what you got so far, I like your Chapter 1. I suppose it doesn't appeal to me because that kind of stuff isn't really my thing. I think your Chapter one would be better off as a prologue, as it seems more prologue-ish.
To answer your question: No, I do not want to read more.
But you know what, I hope you learn from what I said and you two become even BETTER. Never stop writing. :)
Good luck.
Someone asks:
I decided to do that in order to see if I'm getting closer to my goal of being a bookworm. Sadly, I don't read enough...only one book in the month of May.
Do you keep a book log? How is it set up?
I did this:
May 2010
1. Zora and Nicky
By Claudia Mair Burney
My Summary:
Two Preacher kids fall in loe, but upset family values by marrying interacially
My rating: 5 stars!My Answer:Yes...I used to keep a book log when I was DEE ULTIMATE BOOKWORM (sorry for caps). I'm not anymore, and I haven't updated it recently. I think the last entry was spring of last year.
I kept it in this writing/reading notebook I had and set it up like this on every line:
(Name of Book) (page number) (date finished)
And to make it fun, I wrote each title in a different color I thought best suited the book. :)
I did not add a summary because I believe it's too much work but I love your idea of rating it and wish I'd had done the same! :D
You can also keep a www.goodreads.com I think it's sorta like an online book log, though I'm not exactly sure how it works, I've just heard about it. ^^
Good luck.Source(s):
My book log.
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