tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.comments2024-02-19T11:46:58.965-05:00alien romancesRowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-4877601193324184312024-02-19T11:46:58.965-05:002024-02-19T11:46:58.965-05:00Since writing this post, I came across an online d...Since writing this post, I came across an online discussion of gender pronouns that revealed the surprising (to me) fact that only about 50 percent of Earth languages have the masculine, feminine, and sometimes neuter typical of most European tongues. Others have no genders at all or divide them according to criteria other than sex, such as animate/inanimate. Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-1668977827721472682024-01-22T17:03:07.674-05:002024-01-22T17:03:07.674-05:00Very thoughtful discussion! I don't mind spoil...Very thoughtful discussion! I don't mind spoilers unless it's something extreme such as knowing the killer before reading a mystery for the first time. I tend to agree with a writer (don't remember who) who said a story that can be "spoiled" by knowing elements in advance isn't worth spoiling. Our youngest "child" (age 41) is just the opposite. She won't even read a cover blurb if avoidable. As for reviews, I depend on them heavily in trying to decide whether I want to get a book by an author new to me. They provide much more information than a blurb does. And at this stage in my life, yes, I DO automatically buy hardcover new releases by my favorite authors rather than wait. Although I still wince if the Amazon price isn't discounted to the extent I expect.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-46005210678572322072023-11-06T11:17:09.034-05:002023-11-06T11:17:09.034-05:00Aside from THE COLOR OF MAGIC (the first), Terry P...Aside from THE COLOR OF MAGIC (the first), Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels don't have chapters, only scene breaks. Yet, even though I'm not a fan of that format, I didn't consciously notice the lack until I saw it pointed out.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-80559128320318604902023-10-30T14:56:40.977-04:002023-10-30T14:56:40.977-04:00Many years ago, he edited one of the best ever vam...Many years ago, he edited one of the best ever vampire fiction anthologies, originally called simply VAMPIRES, later re-released under another title. The stories are arranged in chronological order and include most of the classic short works, so it's an excellent reference source. I'm not sure I've ever read any of his fiction.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-74412426459252081442023-10-09T12:49:07.990-04:002023-10-09T12:49:07.990-04:00Clarification, although this is probably clear in ...Clarification, although this is probably clear in context anyway: In reference to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, I'm not using "transgender men" to mean transmen; in discussion of "Buffalo Bill," I'm referring to anatomical males wishing to undergo gender transition. Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-56381996287473251202023-08-14T11:58:19.336-04:002023-08-14T11:58:19.336-04:00As I've said before, I'm always in awe at ...As I've said before, I'm always in awe at your daily word output. I feel a little better about my own production rate when reading a multi-published author I follow who posts daily on Facebook. Her wordage per session is around 500. I would be happier to get in 1000, but her example helps me feel 500 is not unrespectable. I know -- not a competition! :)Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-84602378880564374392023-08-12T19:07:42.476-04:002023-08-12T19:07:42.476-04:00I struggle with setting. I'm a total panster s...I struggle with setting. I'm a total panster so I go back and add it in or I try to. It's sometimes hard for me because I don't see the surroundings.Kathy Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12612533828839723479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-20938518555286992472023-07-17T14:26:54.379-04:002023-07-17T14:26:54.379-04:00Yes, I'd heard of that decision by Clarkesworl...Yes, I'd heard of that decision by Clarkesworld.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-1444954731035356032023-07-08T10:36:08.833-04:002023-07-08T10:36:08.833-04:00Desperate times. The book is even more graphic and...Desperate times. The book is even more graphic and horrible. And yet it makes sense given the protagonist's motivation. Apparently, for money to get off this planet, those skilled would do just about anything. It's a plausible scenario in context.Karen Wiesnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851552710463232282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-63022527086434616152023-07-08T10:33:57.831-04:002023-07-08T10:33:57.831-04:00Desperate times. The book is even more graphic and...Desperate times. The book is even more graphic and horrible. And yet it makes sense given the protagonist's motivation. Apparently, for money to get off this planet, those skilled would do just about anything. It's a plausible scenario in context.Karen Wiesnerhttps://karenwiesner.weebly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-20146357202012575432023-07-08T10:30:37.728-04:002023-07-08T10:30:37.728-04:00Desperate times. The book describes it even more h...Desperate times. The book describes it even more horribly, and yet it makes sense that the heroine went along with it based on what motivated her from start to finish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-32842655785056380002023-06-26T12:42:46.521-04:002023-06-26T12:42:46.521-04:00Having finished THE GOD OF ENDINGS, I did notice t...Having finished THE GOD OF ENDINGS, I did notice two typos -- "canon" for "cannon" and another I can't remember. Not bad for a full-length novel.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-85154181968173778732023-06-26T12:39:58.568-04:002023-06-26T12:39:58.568-04:00That suit sounds horrible. The protagonist would h...That suit sounds horrible. The protagonist would have to be truly desperate to accept essentially being turned into a temporary cyborg.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-34924057013818316982023-06-05T15:09:30.137-04:002023-06-05T15:09:30.137-04:00I just hope cleaning up the contaminated bath wate...I just hope cleaning up the contaminated bath water won't include throwing out the proverbial baby. I've visited Internet Archive a couple of times; it also stores untold thousands of older, public domain items that can't easily be found anywhere else.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-19811401649293574142023-06-05T15:02:22.258-04:002023-06-05T15:02:22.258-04:00I started reading at age 4 -- taught myself by fol...I started reading at age 4 -- taught myself by following the words as my father read to me -- and was reading adult fiction lying around my grandmother's house by the age of 8. I don't believe in forbidding children and teens to read anything. If it's above their level, they'll just get bored or repelled by it. (If there was anything in the house I really didn't want the kids to see while they were growing up, I stashed it away where they would never think of looking. With thousands of books out in plain sight, they hardly had any incentive to search for more.)Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-50052051187873658772023-04-28T09:21:37.854-04:002023-04-28T09:21:37.854-04:00Some people do find this process morbid, especiall...Some people do find this process morbid, especially if the subject isn't yet deceased, but I did enjoy the process myself. Perspective can change (usually in a good way), seeing your own accomplishments, and those of loved ones.Karen Wiesnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851552710463232282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-4666945480691972992023-04-28T09:18:47.577-04:002023-04-28T09:18:47.577-04:00Some people do find this process morbid, especiall...Some people do find this process morbid, especially if the subject isn't yet deceased, but I did enjoy the process myself. Perspective can change (usually in a good way), seeing your own accomplishments, or those of loved ones.Karen Wiesnerhttps://karenwiesner.weebly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-57434937441686616312023-04-24T12:08:15.087-04:002023-04-24T12:08:15.087-04:00Very important, as we discovered when my brother-i...Very important, as we discovered when my brother-in-law recently died, having left only a short, sparse obituary for himself. My husband had to fill in at least a few details to make it substantial enough. I don't think this process is morbid at all. "Details of Life" is a good name for it. I've written my own obituary for submission to LOCUS, and I thought it was kind of fun. Years ago one of the kids gave me a notebook in the form of questions, for writing one's own life story (you've probably seen those), which I've filled out part of. That would be very useful for this purpose, I hope.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-78251863463097866082023-02-24T10:37:53.143-05:002023-02-24T10:37:53.143-05:00This is an interesting article, especially because...This is an interesting article, especially because I just read this article: “Sci-fi publisher Clarkesworld halts pitches amid deluge of AI-generated stories”. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/21/sci-fi-publisher-clarkesworld-halts-pitches-amid-deluge-of-ai-generated-stories?fbclid=IwAR2q4LQanWFL_Qn00PHI-RNzJccY3Ei-EA0vqWbr_1QY5TTC33s-0y0Htn4#sq_hbcercomcm<br /><br />Also thought I’d mention that my book FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS has been reissued under the new title FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. It’s the first in my 3D Fiction Fundamentals Collection. <br />http://www.writers-exchange.com/3d-fiction-fundamentals-series/ <br /><br />Karen Wiesnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851552710463232282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-46746693872592470222023-02-24T10:33:54.127-05:002023-02-24T10:33:54.127-05:00This is an interesting article, especially in ligh...This is an interesting article, especially in light of this article I just read: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/21/sci-fi-publisher-clarkesworld-halts-pitches-amid-deluge-of-ai-generated-stories?fbclid=IwAR2q4LQanWFL_Qn00PHI-RNzJccY3Ei-EA0vqWbr_1QY5TTC33s-0y0Htn4#sq_hbcercomcm Also wanted to add that First Draft in 30 Days has been reissued as First Draft Outline, the first in my 3D Fiction Fundamentals Collection. http://www.writers-exchange.com/3d-fiction-fundamentals-series/ Karen Wiesnerhttps://karenwiesner.weebly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-19968787897390652182023-02-18T16:31:01.336-05:002023-02-18T16:31:01.336-05:00Here's a post inviting comments from SFWA memb...Here's a post inviting comments from SFWA members on this issue. For readers of this blog who may be SFWA members, this might be of interest to you:<br /><a href="https://airtable.com/shrkcVM39EiPEjKcI" rel="nofollow">SFWA Comment Form</a><br />Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-37100881148452052342023-02-13T12:44:05.755-05:002023-02-13T12:44:05.755-05:00"especially if they're writing as eires&q..."especially if they're writing as eires" -- is there a typo here?Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-14655851692385690672023-02-09T15:04:10.582-05:002023-02-09T15:04:10.582-05:00And here's a new Extra Credits podcast on the ...And here's a new Extra Credits podcast on the legalities of using AI art in game designs:<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvV8hZg9-XI" rel="nofollow">Extra Credits</a>Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-46510432524429845302023-02-09T15:01:41.446-05:002023-02-09T15:01:41.446-05:00Yesterday (Wednesday Feb. 8), coincidentally, the ...Yesterday (Wednesday Feb. 8), coincidentally, the Baltimore SUN reprinted another opinion piece about ChatGPT, on how to get the most useful answers from it:<br /><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-02-06/chatgpt-what-kinds-of-questions-get-good-answers-a-user-s-guide" rel="nofollow">What Kinds of Questions Get Good Answers?</a>Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-57258543392850741132023-01-26T03:44:41.324-05:002023-01-26T03:44:41.324-05:00Entries are now being accepted for the 2023 Next G...Entries are now being accepted for the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the most exciting and rewarding book awards program open to independent publishers and authors worldwide who have a book written in English and released in 2021, 2022, or 2023 or with a 2021, 2022, or 2023 copyright date. The Next Generation Indie Book Awards are presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group.<br /><br />There are 80+ categories to choose from, so take advantage of this exciting opportunity to have your book considered for cash prizes, awards, exposure, possible representation by a leading literary agent, and recognition as one of the top independently published books of the year!<br /><br />Deadline: February 10<br /><br />www.IndieBookAwards.com<br /><br />Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191724932287913374noreply@blogger.com