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Sociopastry posted:So I got Scrivener for writing and so far I love it, but I've got a bit of a problem- it keeps underlining every single word as misspelled, no matter what. Google's not helping me. These directions might be a little off for you, because I use Scrivener for Mac. Check your language preferences: Preferences -> corrections -> system text preferences -> text I have a drop down menu there under spelling: that has a language selection drop-down. Mine is set to "Automatic by Language" and works fine, but try setting it specifically to the language you are using. You can turn off all spelling check: Preferences -> corrections -> spelling Not ideal, but better. If neither of these work acceptably, email customer support. Dr. Kloctopussy fucked around with this message at 19:33 on Jun 8, 2017 |
# ? Jun 8, 2017 19:18 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 13:01 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:These directions might be a little off for you, because I use Scrivener for Mac. This worked like a charm, thank you. For some reason it was set to russian???? I don't even use Russian.
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# ? Jun 8, 2017 19:39 |
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pretty soon we all will
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# ? Jun 8, 2017 23:32 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:They are classics (and ones I can easily c/p off the internet). Feel free to add some modern examples that you think are more relevant. Sorry I never responded to this. Truth is, I don't really have a response because I don't know what the gently caress I'm talking about. I'm just so frustrated with my own experience of trying to get published that I'm lashing out at any kind of advice from anyone as a way to make myself feel better. You're doing a good job with this thread, so I'm sorry for coming in/making GBS threads on/walking out. Keep doing your best to help people and ignore posters like me
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# ? Jun 12, 2017 05:34 |
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Naerasa posted:Sorry I never responded to this. Truth is, I don't really have a response because I don't know what the gently caress I'm talking about. I'm just so frustrated with my own experience of trying to get published that I'm lashing out at any kind of advice from anyone as a way to make myself feel better. You're doing a good job with this thread, so I'm sorry for coming in/making GBS threads on/walking out. Keep doing your best to help people and ignore posters like me We have all been there. Anyway, I've been meaning to find and post some more recent examples, because I think they would be a good addition. But then work and life. Also snarky discussion is better than no discussion.
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# ? Jun 12, 2017 08:07 |
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I recently finished a novel of around 60k words and am looking for feedback. Does anyone with their own completed book want to do a critique exchange? Mine is literary fiction based in Cambodia. I'd prefer to read literary, but upmarket or other adult fiction would be great too.
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# ? Jun 14, 2017 16:25 |
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Astian posted:I recently finished a novel of around 60k words and am looking for feedback. Does anyone with their own completed book want to do a critique exchange? Mine is literary fiction based in Cambodia. I'd prefer to read literary, but upmarket or other adult fiction would be great too. I know Anime Was Right was posting looking for some kind of exchange, don't know if the lengths of the pieces match up, though. If he sees this maybe you guys can swap? Otherwise lol give me like 6 more months...maybe a year....
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# ? Jun 14, 2017 18:28 |
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why do I use so many commas
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# ? Jun 14, 2017 20:09 |
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Sitting Here posted:I know Anime Was Right was posting looking for some kind of exchange, don't know if the lengths of the pieces match up, though. If he sees this maybe you guys can swap? around 70k words, ya fantasy, specifically
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# ? Jun 14, 2017 21:37 |
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anime was right posted:around 70k words, ya fantasy, specifically Lol if you have another one in like a year I'll trade with you
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# ? Jun 14, 2017 23:47 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:Lol if you have another one in like a year I'll trade with you good news! i'm pretty close to done with another one
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 00:47 |
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I'd offer to trade but I'm the worst editor in the world and I'm not willing to put up if I can't give back proper.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 05:47 |
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CantDecideOnAName posted:I'd offer to trade but I'm the worst editor in the world and I'm not willing to put up if I can't give back proper. This brings up a good point, actually. Before you trade novels, you probably want to have a conversation of what kind of feedback you are looking for. It would suck to give someone a line-by-line edit and you just get a page of thoughts. And it would suck to get a line-by-line if what you really wanted was someone's overall thoughts on plot, characters, how it he'd their interest, etc.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 06:31 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:This brings up a good point, actually. Before you trade novels, you probably want to have a conversation of what kind of feedback you are looking for. It would suck to give someone a line-by-line edit and you just get a page of thoughts. And it would suck to get a line-by-line if what you really wanted was someone's overall thoughts on plot, characters, how it he'd their interest, etc. In my mind this would be the difference between a Beta Read, Developmental Edit and Copy Edit. In my eyes, Beta Read is really about impressions. What did you like/not like? What worked? what didn't work? What may have left you confused? Did it feel like it drug on and on before getting to the good stuff? Was there some character that you hated that you were supposed to like? Beta Readers can really be anyone. Best if they are somebody in your target market/demo if possible (harder to accomplish well with YA and Middle Grade) Developmental edit is basically a more in depth version of a Beta Read typically with somebody who does editing professionally. Really seeks to handle pacing, removing all the stuff you had to write but the reader doesn't need to read, filling in those plot holes, etc. Copy Editing aka "Learn to Comma Motherfucker". This is all punctuation, grammar, spelling, finding all the places you typed "the" twice but couldn't see because your brain made the duplicate disappear. The more OCD the Copy Editor the better.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 15:42 |
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Zaepho posted:In my mind this would be the difference between a Beta Read, Developmental Edit and Copy Edit. Thanks for this. I'm looking for, and offering, a developmental edit. The first 2/3 of my novel has been professionally edited, so line edits will probably only be necessary for the last 65 pages or so. I've been doing fiction workshops for the better part of ten years, so I'm pretty confident in my critiques. Still, I don't think I could give really good feedback for YA, and probably genre fiction as well, since I don't read very much of it. If someone has a literary, upmarket, or literary genre fiction (like Le Guin, maybe Chabon) I'd love to exchange. If someone comes around with such a novel (or short story collection), please send me a PM, since I'm worried I'll lose track of this thread!
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 18:05 |
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This thread is stickied, I wouldn't worry about losing track of it. But if you are that worried, you can always bookmark it. Developmental is the one I struggle with in both writing and reading and where all my insecurity with writing comes from. I can't recognize pacing issues in my own work, much less someone else's.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 18:53 |
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CantDecideOnAName posted:This thread is stickied, I wouldn't worry about losing track of it. But if you are that worried, you can always bookmark it. This is where an Agent or an Editor from the publisher comes into play. Work it, revise it, use beta readers, and especially get the first couple chapters in tip top shape. Then start querying publishers and agents while you work on the next project.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 19:03 |
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what're the main differences between a western and a southern gothic? besides the obvious more rooty tooty point n shooty of a western, I mean. I'm writing what I'd tenatively call a southern gothic, but other people are calling it a supernatural western. Not sure what the gently caress to label it. I feel like I should have some kinda label on it, for when I finally get the drat thing done so I can pitch it to the right publishers
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 19:12 |
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Zaepho posted:This is where an Agent or an Editor from the publisher comes into play. Work it, revise it, use beta readers, and especially get the first couple chapters in tip top shape. Then start querying publishers and agents while you work on the next project. There are also freelance editors who you can hire to do this, if you so desire. With respect to the categories of editing, I think they are a good starting off place, and your descriptions are good. But you should still have a more detailed discussion of expectations before trading with other writers.... anime was right posted:around 70k words, ya fantasy, specifically This is my jam, actually, so once I'm less busy with work, I can beta-read it. Dr. Kloctopussy fucked around with this message at 19:17 on Jun 15, 2017 |
# ? Jun 15, 2017 19:15 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:There are also freelance editors who you can hire to do this, if you so desire. That's a very good point. Always best to lay out expectations up front so nobody is surprised or put out.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 19:18 |
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Sociopastry posted:what're the main differences between a western and a southern gothic? besides the obvious more rooty tooty point n shooty of a western, I mean. I'm writing what I'd tenatively call a southern gothic, but other people are calling it a supernatural western. Not sure what the gently caress to label it. I feel like I should have some kinda label on it, for when I finally get the drat thing done so I can pitch it to the right publishers The broad themes of a western are more about Humanity and The Wilderness, whether that's literal wilderness or metaphorical wilderness where the law doesn't reach. Southern Gothic is about aging authority and elegant facades. In a western, authority comes from practical power, while in a southern gothic, authority comes from tradition. The way it divides up in my mind is that a western is new/untamed/wild while southern gothic is old/rotting/ornate.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:05 |
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Thank you- then I guess it's kinda a hybrid? It's mostly exploring how authority corrupts and why law doesn't equal justice, but there's not a ton of shooting (yet) or explorations of might=power. I don't know. My beta readers were calling it a western but they're not trained in literature or anything, they're just nice peeps who are beta reading for me. I'm gonna need a copy editor and developmental reader later on, but I don't think that's gonna be for a while yet. I'm averaging about 1,000 words a day/writing session. Is this low? It seems like I should be writing more but 1,000 is all my brain will poo poo out before it decides to stop with the ideas.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:25 |
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Sociopastry posted:what're the main differences between a western and a southern gothic? besides the obvious more rooty tooty point n shooty of a western, I mean. I'm writing what I'd tenatively call a southern gothic, but other people are calling it a supernatural western. Not sure what the gently caress to label it. I feel like I should have some kinda label on it, for when I finally get the drat thing done so I can pitch it to the right publishers Besides the expected setting and trappings, Westerns generally feature a series of events (usually a confrontation between two or more entities) over a small window of time. The story centers around the conflict and how it’s resolved, which is why Westerns work so well episodically. Emphasis will be on the characters’ own history and choices, rarely going back more than a generation - the journey west is the process of becoming anew. Southern Gothics center around grotesque or macabre characters, with the conflict smaller-scale, possibly purely internal. Where the Western will take place in new(ish) settlements on the frontier, a Southern Gothic setting will be long-established, probably to the point of decay. Family histories run long, and are full of secrets, shame, and guilt. Forces operate beyond the characters control, even awareness, and there is constant tension between tradition and individual identity. Who are your characters, and what’s the central conflict? What are some other things that evoke the tone you’re going for? (I love talking about genre, and this would have been a much longer post if I wasn’t sneaky-typing at work.) E,FB (but again, typing from work)
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:28 |
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After The War, if you ever want to do a big genre breakdown effortpost, I would love to read it. Sociopastry: I think 1k a day is pretty good output. That's way better than I'm doing.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:43 |
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Read a bunch of westerns, then a bunch of southern gothics, then decide.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:46 |
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that's actually super interesting, and once you're off work I'd love to hear more about genre. I'll admit I'm a fairly new writer- and while I'm a voracious reader, I never really studied genre in depths until very recently once I decided that drat it, I'm writing a book. the setting is this: supernatural southwest, magic is a thing that exists, but not a ton of people can use it. spirits/ghosts are a well known thing and the dead don't lay easy without the help of people who can work with them to help them pass on. the town the story is set in is currently beset by a mysterious illness that's causing otherwise young and healthy people to drop dead. no one know's what's causing it, and it seems like it's only people on the less wealthy side of town. The old money has so far been unaffected. The mayor's hired a bunch of fancy doctors but so far nothing's been found. The spirits of the dead are more restless and dangerous than they've ever been. So my characters are thus: we have a bounty hunter/sort of lone ranger type of woman who feels the weight of duty heavy on her shoulders. She can't leave people suffering and especially distrusts authority and the law in general. She comes from a smallish homestead that got wrecked by bandits and hasn't ever confronted the trauma it left her with, besides throwing herself fully into helping others, often at risk of her own life. She's never found the bandits responsible and doesn't think she ever will. we have a gravedigger/spirit worker who's tired of this whole mess and just wants the dead to rest easy. friendly, open, but generally distrusted/disliked by the town due to the nature of her work. unable to find out why these people are dropping dead and having trouble keeping the spirits under control. a young woman who's magically sensitive, meaning she has latent ability but hasn't actually figured that out yet. old money, is worried about the town and especially worried about her maid/friend who lives on the poor side of town and is at risk of sickness. also betrothed to the mayor's son and isn't super pleased about that. the mayor, a nice old man. comes from old money, the title of mayor's been in his family for generations at this point. seems to be throwing money at the problem, but not actively concerned about the illness plaguing the town. willing to do anything to keep his family well-kept and comfortable. the mayor's son, arrogant, ambitious, childish. is used to getting what he wants and gets very angry if he doesn't. the themes I want to explore are that greed and authority are a recipe for corruption. There's a second underlying theme of law =/= justice going on that kinda snuck in there. so far, the mood has been one of fertile/healthy things gone to rot/corrupted. e: the main conflict's obviously the illness/cause of the illness
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:47 |
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:Read a bunch of westerns, then a bunch of southern gothics, then decide. In the process of doing so. So far I'm leaning towards southen gothic, but like I said, it's kinda a hybrid, or at least my beta readers seem to think so. also I gotta stop using so many commas goddamn
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 21:51 |
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Sociopastry posted:that's actually super interesting, and once you're off work I'd love to hear more about genre. I'll do something when I can, after work I'm practicing with a band as a fill-in bassist because their previous guy ventured west to Become Anew. Will want to reread your summary a few more times, but at the moment I'd probably call it Western Fantasy, in that magic is something comprehensible and accessible, if only by a few. Supernatural/horror (to me) usually means things incomprehensible to our characters, existing outside their worldview. There's also an alternate history/secret history aspect (which depends on how much your changes have affected the world at large) , there's a lot of fun to be had with that. But really, these are just vague guidelines for internal tone consistency and to help find new inspirational material. It's your story and goes the way you want, just focus on getting it out at the speed you feel comfortable. More (hopefully) coherent ramblings when I'm not running out the door! (If it helps, "Western" as a term covers a whole lot of ground, versus "Southern Gothic", which is something pretty specific. It would be interesting to see a classic Southern Gothic in the world you're building, but it would have a different conflict with a different cast of characters.)
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 22:10 |
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Thank you, that's very interesting and actually helps me look at my work from a different lens. Western Fantasy sounds both like a good genre and a kickass band name. I doubt this will be the last book I write, because I've found that I really loving enjoy writing. maybe once this book is finished and I've read a lot more southern gothic I'll rip open this world with that genre instead. Really looking forward to that genre post. Anyone have some reccs for video essays on genre? I say video essays because I'd like to put it on while I cook dinner tonight, but actual essays would be welcome, too.
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 22:14 |
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Westerns are about the future eating the present, southern gothic is about the past eating the present.
sebmojo fucked around with this message at 23:57 on Jun 15, 2017 |
# ? Jun 15, 2017 23:47 |
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what about steampunk?
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 23:48 |
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crabrock posted:what about steampunk? that's about costuming
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 23:49 |
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*sees a child get their hand torn off in an industrial accident* "man, top hats are the poo poo"
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# ? Jun 15, 2017 23:53 |
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Hello fiction writing thread, I wrote a Frasier Fan Fiction, please enjoyquote:Sheriff Niles - A Cheers/Frasier Expanded Universe Fanfiction
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 00:54 |
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FunkyAl posted:Sheriff Niles - A Cheers/Frasier Expanded Universe Fanfiction don't sign your posts
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 01:31 |
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FunkyAl posted:Hello fiction writing thread, I wrote a Frasier Fan Fiction, please enjoy Ugh, someone didn't read the first post Dr. Kloctopussy posted:Welcome to the Fiction Writing Advice (and general discussion) thread!
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 02:01 |
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Seems you need to add a troll clause.
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 02:04 |
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Echo Cian posted:Seems you need to add a troll clause. "Dr. Kloctopussy is the only poster allowed to troll the Fiction Advice thread."
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 02:05 |
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FunkyAl posted:Hello fiction writing thread, I wrote a Frasier Fan Fiction, please enjoy thank u
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 02:10 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 13:01 |
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I'm here to write, not to read
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# ? Jun 16, 2017 02:31 |