http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Web Fiction Guide Forums » Tag: reading - Recent Topics en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:54:46 +0000 http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-challenge#post-7175 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:44:29 +0000 Gavin Williams 7175@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>So I took a few months off from reviewing because I was pretty busy with family stuff and my own projects and sometimes you just need a break from reading. Well, as much as sometimes I need a break, I also go on binges because I love books.</p> <p>Mid-way through my binge of reading lately I realized that we have unrated listings going back several pages, and it looks like there are over 90. Some of them are dated 2009, which is just crazy that they've sat there that long with no one reviewing them, while some stories like TOMU have thirty, forty or fifty reviews. Granted, some stories are popular -- but these others don't even have one.</p> <p>I'm going through the first few chapters of as many as I can, just so every writer who has had the courage to share their stories with us has some sort of opinion on their work. I can tell pretty quickly if something is fairly solid or if it needs more work, so I'm going to move fast and highlight the ones that seem most promising. Hopefully I'll find gems like "The Third Person" that I want to read from beginning to end, but we'll see.</p> <p>My challenge to the community is this: I'm going to keep going, until all the unrated stories have at least one rating. Whether I do all 90plus on my own or other people help me is up to you. I think every writer deserves a review, that's the whole point of the site -- but by no means do I think mine should be the dominant opinion on the WFG's listings.</p> <p>However, when only one of the editors has had a review in the last 42 days (because they have busy lives and responsibilities too!) it's up to us as the community to give every writer a fair chance. Just read one chapter of a story a day, if that's all you have time for, and let's get the unrated listings up to date. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/quasi-review-request-black-blossom#post-6926 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:18:01 +0000 M.C.A. Hogarth 6926@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Less a review request than a "hop on board while the serial's still young!" sort of thing. My latest, Black Blossom, now has a webfiction guide stub:</p> <p><a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/black-blossom/" rel="nofollow">http://webfictionguide.com/listings/black-blossom/</a></p> <p>We're only ten episodes in!</p> <p>You can also read on Livejournal (and take part in the discussions) by using the tag:<br /> <a href="http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/tag/black%20blossom" rel="nofollow">http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/tag/black%20blossom</a></p> <p>And here's an RSS feed:<br /> <a href="http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/data/rss?tag=black%blossom" rel="nofollow">http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/data/rss?tag=black%blossom</a></p> <p>This is a fantasy of manners set in an alien culture without human characters. So if you're into deep-immersion fantasy, come by and see what's going on! :) </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/what-are-you-reading-right-now#post-4905 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:33:47 +0000 Wysteria 4905@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Now, I can't track down the quote, but some fellow once said that in order to write well, you must read first. Whether or not you agree with that, I thought it would be interesting to compare reading lists. We have some interesting folk here, and I'm looking for recommendations. The rule is this: what you most recently read, or are reading right this moment. Here're mine:</p> <p>Fiction: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. Adorable urban fantasy with lots of werewolves. </p> <p>Nonfiction: Postwar by Tony Judt. I've been reading a lot of histories lately. This one is the history of Europe since WWII, and it's just fantastic. I've also been doing a lot with reading Chinese history for work, and that has obvious benefits for writing a story that is mildly Asiatic in origin (as much as it's anyplace). </p> <p>Online: Addergoole by Lyn Thorne-Alder. Magic school story with massive cuteness and massive creepiness. This story does not do things by halves. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/your-assistance-required#post-5227 Tue, 11 May 2010 11:26:02 +0000 Gavin Williams 5227@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>My first story, No Man an Island, is a complete novel with good ratings on WFG. I'm not too worried about it (though you can read it if you want to). </p> <p>My second story, The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin, is an ongoing serial, and I'm not worried about completing it (having too much fun) and it's also been well-received. You can read that if you want to also.</p> <p>My problem is my third story, The Samaritan Project. I have NOT submitted it to WFG because it's not in any shape for a review. In fact, I'm at the point that I don't know if I want to keep writing it. I need some objective people to drop by and take a look. Here's my blog where I worry about it: <a href="http://gavinwilliams.digitalnovelists.com/node/682" rel="nofollow">http://gavinwilliams.digitalnovelists.com/node/682</a> and there are links to find my stories there.</p> <p>I need some perspective on whether the story as it has been conceived is worth continuing, or if I need to start over somehow. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-exchange#post-1318 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:09:11 +0000 Ryan Span 1318@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I've noticed that there seems to be a bit of a review imbalance on the WFG, where some entries are drowning in reviews but others are struggling to attract any, and thereby aren't getting the attention they deserve.</p> <p>So, I had the idea of setting up a review exchange where people can trade reviews between themselves on a 1 for 1 basis. If you want an exchange, just post here with your willingness to do one, along with your reading standards (RS) on a scale of 1-5 -- where 1 means you'll read anything regardless of problems (either with the story or the website) and 5 means something needs to be seriously impressive before you'll give it a good review.</p> <p>If someone you want is available for review, ask them, and if they accept then your reviewing pact is forged. All reviews posted through the exchange are of course subject to WFG's normal review rules.</p> <p>I'll hereby post myself up first, taking reviews at an RS of 4.5.</p> <p>Regards,<br /> Ryan </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/letters-to-a-young-poet#post-3391 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:53:16 +0000 Frances Gonzalez 3391@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Writing has been difficult as of late, something I know others go through all the time. So I picked up a copy of "Letters to a Young Poet" by Rainier Maria Rilke hoping for a boost-up, and it certainly helped in the inspiration department. I thought I'd post a bit here, and see if it sparks any responses with anyone else besides me. What do you guys think?</p> <p>"You ask whether your poems are good. You send them to publishers; you compare them with other poems; you are disturbed when certain publishers reject your attempts... I suggest you give all that up. You are looking outward and, above all else, that you must not do now. No one can advise or help you, no one.</p> <p>"There is only one way: Go within. Search for the cause, find the impetus that bids you write. Put it to this test: Does it stretch out its roots in the deepest place of your heart? Can you avow that you would die if you were forbidden to write? Above all, in the most silent hour of your night, ask yourself this: MUST I write? Dig deep into yourself for a true answer. And if it should ring its assent, if you can confidently meet this serious question with a simple, 'I must,' then build your life upon it. It has become your necessity. Your life, in even the most mundane and least significant hour, must become a sign, a testimony to this urge." </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/sell-me-sell-you#post-2942 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:37:27 +0000 joel wyatt 2942@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>So -- I think pretty much everyone on the WFG would like to rack up more reviews (positive, preferably - but sometimes it's just nice to know somebody's reading at all, isn't it?), but often times, one not-so-good review, or not having multiple reviews, can keep readers from discovering good work. </p> <p>What I'm proposing with this thread is a "pitch-meeting" of sorts, like the opening scene of Altman's "The Player". Tell me (and anyone else who stumbles across this thread) about your work, what it's about, what you're trying to accomplish with it, the genre, your influences, etc. Basically, say all those things you imagine telling an interviewer after your book winds up on the NYT bestseller list.</p> <p>Maybe somebody, after seeing what YOU have to say about your work, will give it a second look after that initial bad review. Maybe they'll even be moved to add a review of their own, or link to you from their site, or, hell, option your work for a movie : )</p> <p>Somebody else start... I'll follow suit, if anyone bites... </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/serialization#post-2445 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:10:19 +0000 Murazrai 2445@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Some works that I have read tend to be ended in 3/4 novels. But my original plan will be in 10 novels, which includes 1 spin-off novel. What do you think is the best number of volumes in a series? And do you think that a spin-off will be good? </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/in-need-of-a-beta-reader-for-1-chapter#post-1888 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:54:26 +0000 Janoda 1888@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>High All!<br /> A long, long time ago I wrote some fanfics *blushes. That's all long done now, since I have moved on to writing my own stuff. Now I am planning on posting some of my stories online, as a serial novel. However, there is one thing I miss from my fanfic period now I am about to start for my own. Beta-readers.</p> <p>English is not my first language, and I have no idea if I make strong grammar mistakes or not. Before I start posting chapters like crazy I am thus in need of someone who would like to read 1 chapter to check on strong language mistakes. If there are plenty I would have to work on my English first before diving in the serial-novel adventure, since that will be a huge step on it's own. </p> <p>The story itself is low-fantasy, and the first chapter is about 3000 words long.<br /> If there are any volunteers I would be very grateful. I think I need critique on grammar and sentence-building most (In my first language we tend to write in long, long sentences...), but any other critique you feel like giving is appreciated, good or bad.</p> <p>You can read the first chapter <a href="http://janoda.uuuq.com/?p=22">here</a>, on my test-website.</p> <p>Thanks.<br /> Jan </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/reading-rainbow-optional#post-1412 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:51:29 +0000 Pete Tzinski 1412@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>So, outside of the Wonderful World Of Web Fiction...what are you lot reading right now? Any good books? Come on, spill the beans! If there's one thing I like talking about more than writing, it's reading.</p> <p>Myself, I'm reading "Sword and Deviltry" by Fritz Leiber, "The Truth" by Terry Pratchett (for the umpteenth time) and "The Glass Dragon" by Irene Radford. I tend to read several books at once, as a rule. (Edit to Add: I forgot, I'm also reading "1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" by Captain Daniel Grose)</p> <p>I'm really impressed by Fritz Leiber. I've read some of his other stuff, but never his fantasy work, and I'm really impressed. First, by the poetry of his language, the ability to write beautiful high fantasy sounding language...but at the same time, I'm REALLY impressed by his clarity. Beautiful language takes a backseat to clear and readable prose and a well-told story, and he balances them perfectly. So perfectly, I can't help but notice it now and again and go "wow..."</p> <p>I'm reading "The Truth" by Pratchett, because I almost always have a Pratchett, or a Gaiman book going. They're relaxing and never grow old. And because I've read them so many times, they're like old familiar well-worn friends. With some of them, I just open them to the middle and start reading.</p> <p>And I own a whole pile of Irene Radford books and have for years, but never had the urge to crack one open 'til now (that's how my library works, I have a split between "books I've read and will read again" and "books I haven't read and want to/don't want to yet."). I'm enjoying it. It's a good work of fantasy, although it's probably getting a bit of a bad comparison since I'm reading it alongside Fritz Leiber. But she handles dialogue wonderfully, and I'm waiting to see if the story, when it takes flight, really takes me away or not. </p> <p>I'm also reading "1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" by Daniel Grose, and can't get enough of it. It's giving me a potential potty mouth across three centuries, and the lingo in it is amazing. Not only the words themselves, but sometimes the language used to DEFINE the words. It's just fantastic. I mean, the first thing I learned when I opened the book was the real, original definition of the phrase "nincumpoop" and, after telling my wife in delight, I was forbidden from using it in the house. It's filthy. (I'd share here, but I don't want to offend and thus, won't.) Terrific book. I just want to print out all the words and definitions and paste them all over my office. THAT would keep people terrified and away! :-D</p> <p>...</p> <p>There. That's me. What's on your plate? </p>