JosephB

I would never call you an asshole TT. That's just crude.

No, it's not my sole purpose, but it is one of my favorites. Plus you make it so easy. If you started making sense, I don't know what I would do.

All I ask is don't stop posting. I derive great pleasure from imagining you huddled under your little virtual troll bridge, pounding away at your grubby little keyboard, while dark little thoughts buzz around and collide inside your skull like so many gnats.

Keep up the good work TT. The place wouldn't be the same without you.

They've earned it, too.

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
-- Albert Einstein

"I am really only interested in a fiction of miracles."
-- Flannery O'Connor

Remedy

\

I'll stick with that then.

I'll leave the tempetation of being literal alone. But please, leave slush out of this. It's just now spring, and to be honest, I've never been a fan of snow, cold, and slush. Or ice, for that matter, although that's beautiful.

Yep. I've been published over half a dozen times, twice internationally, Truth-Teller; it's worth noting before you tell me I'm in the slush puddle of writing.

Actually, I could see some potentional points in that list. It's just badly worded, ignoring exceptions, and it used broad, conclusive terms like never; I dislike that. Had it been written better, it might have had some decent advice.

Ah, thanks; I'd never heard that phrase before.

Truth-Teller

Yet you don't know what to kill your darling means?

You're a writer, and you don't even know what that expression means? LOL!

*rolls around in hysterics*

Look anyone can claim themselves to be published, and still be horrible. And if you are published, you're one of the laziest. Just flippantly disregarding every single advice a person who works in the publishing industry has, because you can't handle the truth, is juvenile. Really sad.

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When you try to impress, instead of communicating the written word, you have already failed as a writer; and if you're writing to be loved, instead of loving to write, you should not be called on.

Truth-Teller

And, no, kill your darling does not mean show don't tell.

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When you try to impress, instead of communicating the written word, you have already failed as a writer; and if you're writing to be loved, instead of loving to write, you should not be called on.

Remedy

Darlin', some of us learned how to write without needing books about writing. I went through several years of training, and it didn't come up; therefore, I didn't need it. Obviously, it hasn't done me any good in the past.

Some of us even got published without needing our hands held by editors who capitilized on their own business.

Absolutely, anyone can claim to be published, and those who are published can be horrible. I actually am published and quite a good writer though, as much as I hate to disappoint your dreams. Horrible writers don't tend to get offers either.

Had you read my post (reading comphrension, dear Lord, why have you died?), you would have noted that I agreed with some of it, but it was badly worded, and there were tons of exceptions. You used chapter titles, for God's sake. If you were looking for actual reliable advice, you would have picked out key phrases from the paragraphs explaining those.

The truth of the matter is, I don't usually make the mistakes listed on your little list, with the exception of finding writing easy (because for me, it is), and I still don't see what's wrong with reading your writing aloud. It's actually recommended.. I see lots of those mistakes being passed through literature though, so obviously they're not nearly as harsh on it as this claims ("never").

And to tell you the complete truth: those are stupid mistakes you listed there for the most part. You shouldn't be attempting to be published if you're fucking up grammar in your story.

Are you always so insecure about yourself? Your tearing reaction for someone who's more advanced in the field of writing than you are is really quite telling.

Honestly, I don't believe you are a writer. I've met several of your type before; you write maybe one, two paragraphs a month (if that)? But you have an idea, and that makes you a writer. When someone calls you out on it, you snap back and run around in little circles, looking like a fool.

I also know several people who attempt to cover up their actual feelings by putting in phrases like "*rolls around in hysterics*". Sadly for them, it's easily picked up; even more sad for the rest of us is that they never learn.

Loulou

Knowing what all the terms mean has nothing to do with skill as a writer. One can do it without knowing what it's called. Hell, I've been doing that for years. I didnn't know what a motif was until I came here, barely a metaphor either. But I was using them. Just didn't know what the exact terms for them were.

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www.thewriterseye.com
A website with great and refined taste....

Truth-Teller

"A little darling is a piece of writing, sometimes as short as a single word and sometimes as long as a whole scene, that the writer thinks is brilliant, profound, pithy, or jarring--but no one else does. It is the thing he fight to keep in no matter how many people tell him to take it out. To the writer, a darling is evidence of his brilliance, and everyone else be damned...

Darling usually fall into two categories: clever and precious. Clever usually shows up in dialogue, where a character says something colorful or snappy out of place with her motivations or the plot circumstance. Precious pops up in description, usually in metaphors, where the writing hits an abrupt note and the reader is left wondering why."

So, as ironic as it might sound, like Stephen King says in On Writing, "Kill your darling."

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When you try to impress, instead of communicating the written word, you have already failed as a writer; and if you're writing to be loved, instead of loving to write, you should not be called on.

CroZ

I didn't say it was. I said it's one of those overused phrases like show don't tell - as common as. Try reading the two sentences surrounding the one you picked out. It's called context.

archer88iv

-blinks-

[Post preemptively deleted.]

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-J

SevenWritez

THIS JUST IN!:

Yesterday, various sightings were called in to say that Truth-Teller--yes, Truth-Teller--posted a story in the short stories section, titled A Christmas Carol, or something of the sort.

After belittling many skilled writers time and time again, many believed Truth Tellers first showing (or second, for those of us who witnessed the first duck-and-run) would silence his critics.

However, after a quick skim through by many, it is seen without a doubt that Truth is an average writer, incapable of hook or flow.

More at eleven.

Ungood

Cool !

I figured I would try at this point and see how honest I could be about myself with out ripping on myself. And see if I could admit to my own faulting on this list.

I would never admit to this, NEVER, because if I did, then I would give up.

In the words of Norman Peale, it is about keeping your focus and not giving up.

So I would have to revise and correct, because if I thought my story was poor or not good enough I would not submit it.

This is one touched me above all else... I do, but I desire honest people telling me if I do suck or not. I like praise, but I enjoy honest correction with the intent to help me not just rip me down.

GUILTY!

This is one of those grammar things... so I am GUILTY.

GUILTY!

No... but I think I need to do it more.

I have an audience?


GUILTY!

Ungood.

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PageOfCups

Why is it bad to read your work out loud? It seems like a sensible thing to do to me. Especially for making sure dialogue sounds okay.

Foxee

Yes, you should read your work aloud. This one calls the credibility of the source into question.

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StephenP2003

Yeah, I raised an eyebrow at the bit about reading your work aloud, too. Maybe it's because of the industry I work in, but conversational flow is extremely important. But I'm not a novelist (I tell stories, but I don't invent them).

I will strongly agree with the grammar and syntax points. I just can't imagine taking anyone seriously if they can't construct readable, intelligent sentences.

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http://www.tigerweekly.com/stephensays

Xx Kane xX

And I'm sure his solution to getting published is buying his book. Wow, I didn't see that one coming.