tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post5288357494638747742..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: woop and wharfJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82470676798707318042017-03-23T01:53:11.629-04:002017-03-23T01:53:11.629-04:00Oh, you can bet he is working on a manuscript.
N...Oh, you can bet he is working on a manuscript. <br /><br />No guarantees this will ever get past rejection, but it sure won't be for lack of effort. <br /><br />I don't say that because I'm short on confidence; I say it because I'm long on understanding the industry. Well, at lest I understand it better than when I started this project.<br /><br />This manuscript is in so much better shape now, it makes me wonder how bad it must have been after the ninth draft.<br /><br />Back to work...<br /><br /><br />John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62364548345661055062017-03-22T06:50:31.051-04:002017-03-22T06:50:31.051-04:00John Davis manuscript-as in you better be working ...<b>John Davis <i>manuscript-as in you better be working on one</i> Frain</b><br />Write well.<br />Leave out the parts that sound like writing.<br />Surprise me.<br />You don't have to say Elmore Leonard for me to think Elmore Leonard.<br />Now, why am I thinking of gazing at glazed donuts?Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81669900278475714992017-03-22T05:36:22.696-04:002017-03-22T05:36:22.696-04:00Colin by weird coincidence this morning I had Quee...Colin by weird coincidence this morning I had Queen in my head... my husband was clonking around the house at quarter to six looking for something he needed to take to class and he eventually asked me if I'd seen it. I said 'it's near the corner of the sideboard. Lying on the floor...' and then I felt compelled to add 'next to his own severed head. The head which, at this time, has no name.' <br /><br />I was not successful in going back to sleep with Princes of the Universe blaring through my head, though I understand it wasn't a handicap at his judo class.Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88007666810027382232017-03-22T00:08:25.240-04:002017-03-22T00:08:25.240-04:00I feel like I just finished reading the Internet!
...I feel like I just finished reading the Internet!<br /><br />I'm left wondering this: Could I write a book in a style similar to Elmore Leonard and say I'm an Elmore Leonard cover writer similar to someone covering a Queen song? That way, people who don't get to read new Elmore Leonard material (unless somebody discovers his lost vault in the basement) can turn to me to get their fill.<br /><br />I'm sure it's late and I'm tired and there's something inherently wrong with this theory. My eyes are starting to gaze over. One more letter and they'll glaze over completely.<br />John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11570662234572793312017-03-21T23:05:47.277-04:002017-03-21T23:05:47.277-04:00Whole lotta gazing going on in my ms. I think I...Whole lotta gazing going on in my ms. I think I've used it correctly each time, but wow. I guess I like my characters to make eye contact. Er, not literal contact. That would be weird. And unsanitary.<br /><br />Now I'm all paranoid about it. I may never use <i>that word</i> again. In fact, I had the opportunity to play <i>that word</i> in Words With Friends a few minutes ago. I played "zag" instead. Going to have to Forti the hell out of it in the upcoming contest.<br /><br />And scapegrace? Good lord. Do we get to use more than 100 words as compensation for this nonsense?<br /><br /><br />*wanders off, muttering imprecations*<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20189094834710161012017-03-21T22:56:36.586-04:002017-03-21T22:56:36.586-04:00OMG! Tuesday is the longest & craziest day of ...OMG! Tuesday is the longest & craziest day of my week so I can never get to the blog, but 90 comments! <br /><br />I can resist anything but temptation, so here goes. I'm diving in...John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61080875900435386882017-03-21T21:21:18.160-04:002017-03-21T21:21:18.160-04:00Loving murdertedoodle. And I totally cracked up wh...Loving murdertedoodle. And I totally cracked up when I read Miss Janet's choice for FF#100 word #2. Never heard it before, but it's a great word. <br /><br />I can't wait to read everyone's comments tomorrow... will everyone be very formal and try to avoid words that might scare, or will they throw a bunch of crazy words at Janet hoping one might stick?<br /><br />Either way, FF#100 is going to be hard yakka to write!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9137223415353472582017-03-21T21:00:12.595-04:002017-03-21T21:00:12.595-04:00Elise,
Nah, no poisoning. I already drowned one. ...Elise,<br /><br />Nah, no poisoning. I already drowned one. I'll let God sort out the others.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28915347249722343862017-03-21T20:32:57.022-04:002017-03-21T20:32:57.022-04:00Oh! I just know I'm going to have weird dreams...Oh! I just know I'm going to have weird dreams tonight with whiskered goats gazing at me!!Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38007003693085410682017-03-21T19:33:43.903-04:002017-03-21T19:33:43.903-04:00Late in the day, but I want to add my two cents ab...Late in the day, but I want to add my two cents about whiskers. <br /><br />When my son was about three, he announced brightly, "I know the difference between girls and boys!"<br /><br />"Oh?" Me, tentatively, fervently wishing my husband was home.<br /><br />"Yeah, when they grow up, boys gets whiskers on their faces and girls get whiskers on their legs!"<br /><br />When hubby came home, I had a long de-whiskering bath.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581361783795436259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86416646949899628042017-03-21T18:04:49.926-04:002017-03-21T18:04:49.926-04:00Colin,
You're good (and fast, you scapegrace...Colin,<br /><br /> You're good (and fast, you scapegrace).<br /><br />and that Richie Castellano video was entertaining. But then he had Wonder Woman to inspire him.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86193440641106909142017-03-21T18:01:51.970-04:002017-03-21T18:01:51.970-04:00Holy cow. So, where I've been? Well, just no...Holy cow. So, where I've been? Well, just now skimming comments.<br /><br />SCAPEGRACE??? Aw, come on!<br /><br />Oh wait. QOTKU said we have time to cogitate - well, I sure hope it ain't happening this weekend cause I need more time for cogitating after what I just discovered, because YES, PARANOID, like others out here. <br /><br />I'm sort of freaking out myself as I did a "find" on THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET only to...*drops on floor, can't respond* AND hyperventilate at the same time over many, many, make that MANY instances of...LOOK. Not GAZE. But LOOK.<br /><br />Lordy.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32222384652527073772017-03-21T17:15:21.513-04:002017-03-21T17:15:21.513-04:00Theresa: I have no idea why it took me so long to ...Theresa: I have no idea why it took me so long to stumble across Helene Hanff, but I'm so glad I did! She is a gem.<br /><br />Claire Bobrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666082441972111293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83396212092377975882017-03-21T17:14:14.750-04:002017-03-21T17:14:14.750-04:00Colin I too was well bedeviled over your ability t...<b>Colin</b> I too was well bedeviled over your ability to insert Bohemian Rhapsody into my head while stirring Killer Queen into a dirge about furniture. That is rare talent. <br /><br />Then <b>Julie</b> showed up and suddenly it's open season on bankers with ginger cookies. And, Julie, I do not think you put off killing bankers. Simply, poison them with those tasty morsels and two birds, one stone and all that. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66422802305669194012017-03-21T17:11:45.967-04:002017-03-21T17:11:45.967-04:00Julie, I'll make a deal with you: if you bake ...<b>Julie</b>, I'll make a deal with you: if you bake the bankers, I'll kill the ginger cookies.<br /><br />Since it seems to be the thing to do, I just checked my WIP for gazes. I've got two so far. One of 'em is okay, but I think I'd better do something about "I felt the gazes of the women at the nearest desks turn in our direction." Thank Ghu this is the first draft, or I'd feel really stupid about that one.Casey Karphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10592351859886981726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74590590305895425782017-03-21T17:01:34.059-04:002017-03-21T17:01:34.059-04:00One technique I use to (hopefully) not sound like ...One technique I use to (hopefully) not sound like writing is to turn a sentence around. So instead of "his gaze wandered to the television," I might say something like "The television captured his attention and refused to relinquish the remote." Michael Seesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03694187657718931214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57669696627723224432017-03-21T16:59:41.698-04:002017-03-21T16:59:41.698-04:00Julie: Anyway, back to torturing people. I have ba...<b>Julie</b>: <i>Anyway, back to torturing people. I have bankers to kill or ginger cookies to bake. I forgot where I am.</i><br /><br />And you're worried about <i>me</i>?? ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24779686717709867092017-03-21T16:56:27.502-04:002017-03-21T16:56:27.502-04:00Also, to one and all, my apologies for scapegrace....Also, to one and all, my apologies for scapegrace. I'm stuck in 1860 and it's affected my vocabulary.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21916862874520850892017-03-21T16:53:47.065-04:002017-03-21T16:53:47.065-04:00Joseph,
I think whisker works just fine. I like t...Joseph,<br /><br />I think whisker works just fine. I like the first version best. Women know what a whisker burn is and it usually isn't from nuzzling a goat. You're overthinking this and getting paranoid. Of course, I do the same thing.<br /><br />I just checked Rain Crow for "gaze". I have eight instances in 120,000 words.<br /><br />The last is yesterday's session:<br /><br />He leaned against a post, lit cigar in hand, gazing up at our balcony.<br /><br />"Aglaope, of the lambent voice I believe," he replied casually, unperturbed that he had been caught spying on us, and drew on his cigar.<br /><br />The use is right, I believe, but the passage needs some smoothing.<br /><br />And from the drowning:<br /><br />My skirts and unbound hair billowed about me in the bistre waters.<br /><br />It was tough to find just the right word to convey that yellowish-brown swamp water.<br /><br />Using the right words, like evacuate and gaze are important, but I think people can get paranoid and hung up on some things also. We've had some of that recently on some critiques. Common sense and assuming the readers can intuit what you're saying is a good thing. If you ride out somewhere and turn your horse loose to graze then address your horse later by name, it isn't necessary to tell the reader, "Midnight, my horse, was still grazing and gazing, longingly at the last blade of grass in the land."<br /><br />Anyway, back to torturing people. I have bankers to kill or ginger cookies to bake. I forgot where I am.<br /><br /><br />Colin, I worry about you at times.<br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85076409990274341192017-03-21T16:45:27.713-04:002017-03-21T16:45:27.713-04:00Claire: Helene Hanff!84 Charing Cross Road is one ...Claire: Helene Hanff!84 Charing Cross Road is one of my very favorites.<br />Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46176498326944110212017-03-21T16:40:52.486-04:002017-03-21T16:40:52.486-04:00Joseph: Thanks! Yup, I pulled that together today....<b>Joseph</b>: Thanks! Yup, I pulled that together today. My brain cells needed some firing, and nothing zings them into life better than writing and thinking about words. :)<br /><br />Here are your Black Jacket Symphony links:<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDquJ6UIb10" rel="nofollow">Killer Queen</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xik8C2x1TEs" rel="nofollow">Bohemian Rhapsody</a><br /><br />They're quite impressive, though for me, the ultimate Queen cover is Richie Castellano's (currently with Blue Oyster Cult) Bohemian Rhapsody, where he sings and plays all the parts. If you haven't heard it yet, it's really quite impressive: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Iiy_YfpVn0" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>!Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55454094983895714772017-03-21T16:10:47.980-04:002017-03-21T16:10:47.980-04:00Man, Colin - Is this the real life? Is this just f...Man, Colin - Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?<br /><br />You got me going with this Black Jacket Symphony doing Queen thing now - My day will be a lost cause. Here they are with Bohemian Rhapsody. Can you tell I enjoyed the show? <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xik8C2x1TEsJoseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84293818452265089762017-03-21T16:03:41.410-04:002017-03-21T16:03:41.410-04:00Joseph: Yeah. I was trying to keep the lists roug...<b>Joseph</b>: Yeah. I was trying to keep the lists roughly the same length.<br /><br />But golly, I love me some Rodale.<br /><br />Oh, and here's the link in clickable form: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDquJ6UIb10" rel="nofollow">clicky, clicky</a>. (I hope.)Casey Karphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10592351859886981726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17676349570889111922017-03-21T15:59:19.138-04:002017-03-21T15:59:19.138-04:00Dang. I can't get the hyperlink to work right....Dang. I can't get the hyperlink to work right. So here's the YouTube link to Black Jacket Symphony doing "Killer Queen"<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDquJ6UIb10Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14419060392785291312017-03-21T15:55:37.831-04:002017-03-21T15:55:37.831-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.com