Via Karen Conlin, a fine defence of using adverbs thoughtfully and appropriately.
Originally shared by Lexicon Valley
Lovingly, Stridently, Unapologetically
Jun
03
Author Archives: Mike Reeves-McMillan
Jun
02
Via Murphy Jacobs.
Via Murphy Jacobs.
As the spouse of a disabled person, I think his point is extremely well made and very relevant.
That’s also partly what inspired me to write a novel in which the main romantic couple are dealing with a head injury and a permanently debilitating war wound (Hope and the Patient Man).
Originally shared by Scott Roche
Great essay on how fiction treats disabled persons. And how it shouldn’t.
Jun
02
Yes, it has a number in the headline.
Yes, it has a number in the headline. Yes, the headline contains hyperbole. Yes, some of the resources are of dubious value.
But some of them are worth a look.
Originally shared by Standout Books
In the formative days of a story, it can often help to ‘map’ your intended narrative to real-life events.
Jun
02
This Genetically-Engineered Bacteria Can Inhale CO2 and Produce Energy
Originally shared by CM Stewart
http://futurism.com/this-new-bacteria-can-inhale-co2-and-produce-energy/
Jun
01
Relevant to my interests – in my Gryphon Clerks novels, the gnomes have a system of sign language developed to…
Relevant to my interests – in my Gryphon Clerks novels, the gnomes have a system of sign language developed to communicate in noisy industrial environments, but also used to plot against their dwarvish masters without being overheard.
Originally shared by Masha du Toit
Amazing. And these languages were not just simple signs, but complex ways of communicating.
“Outside of deaf communities, hearing people sometimes develop what are now often called “alternate sign languages” to communicate when words will not do. In monasteries, monks uses signs to communicate in areas where speech is forbidden, for instance. In industries where machines made speaking impossible—in ships’ engine rooms, in steel mills, textile mills, and sawmills—workers also found ways to communicate with their hands.”
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-lost-secret-sign-language-of-sawmill-workers
Jun
01
It’s 5 months into the year, and already I have written one more short story and 800 more words of short fiction…
It’s 5 months into the year, and already I have written one more short story and 800 more words of short fiction than I did in the whole of last year.
Of course, last year I had a lot of other stuff going on too. But still. Progress.
May
31
Any time you write a story with a historical setting, these simple tools are there to help – so you don’t use the…
Any time you write a story with a historical setting, these simple tools are there to help – so you don’t use the 1970s phrase “warm fuzzies” in a story set in the 1930s, for example, or have Jack the Ripper talking about “adrenaline”, or your 1890s NZ character saying “not all that” (1990s US), or…
I could keep going for a while with other real examples. Bottom line: use the tools.
Originally shared by Karen Conlin
Two indispensable tools for writers and editors:
The Online Etymology Dictionary and Google Ngram Viewer.
Both are great first stops in your research regarding suitable language for your work. Did people in the 1950s use the term “flashback” to refer to memories related to hallucinogens? Was the term “backup” in the sense of “reinforcements” used in the 1600s?
I prefer to use http://etymonline.com for “first use” dates, and the Ngram Viewer for determining “more/most common” usages over time. You may find them useful in other ways.
#twt
May
31
Notice how many of these are SFF publishers.
Notice how many of these are SFF publishers.
(Getting published by these people is not easy. Don’t fool yourself otherwise. But people do it.)
May
31
Focussed on trad pub, not surprisingly given the source, but with a few useful hints on reasons that editors reject…
Focussed on trad pub, not surprisingly given the source, but with a few useful hints on reasons that editors reject manuscripts – which also apply to readers if you’re indie.
May
29
This is the kind of thinking that takes us into the future.
This is the kind of thinking that takes us into the future.
Originally shared by David Brin
Can things get better? Can you be an agent of that transformation? Peter Diamandis is the founder of XPRIZE, Singularity University, and many other fascinating initiatives. He formulated his provocative ‘laws,’ about how to be vigorous, pro-active and make the world around you change.
http://diamandis.com/peters-laws
They are now available as a handy poster.
Can things get better? Can you be an agent of that transformation? Peter Diamandis is the founder of XPRIZE, Singularity University, and many other fascinating initiatives. He formulated his provocative ‘laws,’ about how to be vigorous, pro-active and make the world around you change.
http://diamandis.com/peters-laws
They are now available as a handy poster.