Mark Kamibaya

I’m so glad this thread happened. I’ve always sort-of-kind-of (if you know what I mean 🙂 ) known what a character arc is, but not in a coherent way. My mind has been expanded.

@northerner Part of the change might come in profits. An author receives all of the money from the book if they self-publish. Also, they may want freedom to do what they want (I know I do.) I know that our culture in the US is very much supportive of independent folks, so that may be part of the self-publishing. Also, it seems as if much more…[Read more]

@northerner Part of the change might come in profits. An author receives all of the money from the book if they self-publish. Also, they may want freedom to do what they want (I know I do.) I know that our culture in the US is very much supportive of independent folks, so that may be part of the self-publishing. Also, it seems as if much more…[Read more]

@dragon-snapper Yeah, I really don’t think traditional publishing is the option for most people, though, like Josiah said, there are some benefits. These benefits aren’t really worth it though in most cases. I mean, you can get your own book in bookstores, advances aren’t normally very big anyways, and not many people care whether a book is…[Read more]

To get a good publisher, generally you need to first get a good literary agent, which means learning how to write a great query letter, along with a great book. Generally-speaking, if you’re a skilled writer, publishers and literary agents will want to publish/represent you, but there is an element of luck to it. If you’re looking for good blogs…[Read more]

@daeus Wow…you single-handedly made me want to self-publish and never let a traditional publisher get a hold of my books. 😛

@Ethryndal oh boy, I hadn’t even thought of that angle. 😛 Thanks a lot. XD The LotR films had their share of problems and didn’t come anywhere close to the books, but I still loved them, and I’m still trying to figure out how the same man directed the Hobbit films. Maybe we should start a rant thread just for that. 😛

@Daeus ah, okay. Got it. *tries to remember where she got her information**fails*

My pleasure, @Dragon-Snapper! Glad it was helpful. 🙂

I don’t think anyone on here has traditionally published, so I may as well go ahead and say something. First off, you don’t need a literary agent, but from what I understand it is normally very helpful to have one. Also, it is generally accepted that you won’t be able to get with any sort of large publisher until you have already done well with at…[Read more]

@kate-flournoy @daeus @aratrea Wowzers! Awesome advice, guys! I used the summary of K. M. Weiland’s three plot structure thingy and that actually deepened my theme. And Kate, I’m copying that down too. Thank you all!

Ok, here’s what Wikipedia says.

An alpha reader or beta reader, also pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over the material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestions to improve the story, its characters, or its setting.…[Read more]

@kate-flournoy Hey, I’ve read the Eagle of the Ninth! 😛
@charisetter The only thing that sounds familiar to me is the pet wolf…it was in some roman book I’ve read before (was it Eagle of the Ninth or was that Beric the Briton?)

I have not traditionally published yet, though I want to at some point. So I really don’t have experience with how hard it is, though I don’t think it is particularly easy. I do know one thing they look at now is an author’s platform. Even traditionally published authors are expected to market most of their own work, so the better platform you…[Read more]

@Charisetter what they said, but YOU’VE READ EAGLE OF THE NINTH!??? *high fives you* Nobody’s read that! Congratulations on your impeccable taste! 😀 Have you read the other two?

Also one tip for your original question— since this is fantasy, your worldbuilding and cultural development will go a long way to making your story unique. Not as…[Read more]

@Aysia-Serene @Daeus I could be wrong, but I think a beta-reader is more specifically a READER, not a writer— not to give you feedback as a writer or editor would, but as a reader would. Which means technically, everyone on KP who exchanges reads for each other, is a critique partner, not a beta-reader. Beta-readers are specifically to sound out…[Read more]

@aysia-serene It’s someone who reads your story after it is written and give you critique on it. Basically, they’re editors, only normally not professional and you normally have them in addition to an editor.

@charisetter I wouldn’t worry too much about being cliche. The most important thing is that your character’s journey is very real and intense. It’s ok to copy genres, you just want to display something powerful. Now, that said, you shouldn’t copy people too much. It’s good to use unusual plot twists and other story elements.

@Aratrea Okay. After being in another State for two days, away from internet, I’m back. The story I’ve chosen is Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

Theme: Wealth and Poverty

Focusing Question: Are riches required to be happy?

Message: Good friends and a content heart can bring joy in the poorest circumstances.

I just watched Video 4, but you’re…[Read more]

@Emma-Flournoy Hey, maybe if you’re a Dunadain, you mature faster! 😛

@Kate-Flournoy Ha! Yes, that entire spiel about, “You cannot be she, for she is far away. *sappy music* Far, far away from me,” was just cringe worthy. The thing about that triangle that bothered me most was that it totally undermined how incredible the Legolas Gimli…[Read more]

@jess Wow! That’s a good amount of words! Thanks for writing. 😀