Creative Chocolate

Ready to Submit the Query?

mcthomas007 — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:20:51 +0000

The novel is complete. The last edit is nearly complete. The query is sitting and ready to go.

Now What?

Let it go? Keep tweaking?

Time Stands Still-Page a day blog 100th page

mcthomas007 — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:58:27 +0000

http://timecutter.blogspot.com

via Facebook | Erin Gilman.

Creative Copy Challenge #24

mcthomas007 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:00:29 +0000

Creative Copy Challenge #24.

In the comments, use the 10 random words below to create a cohesive, creative short story tying all the words together. And remember: after you finish, highlight your words and click the bold button to make them stand out and help you determine if you forgot any words (if you’ve missed some challenges, go back and try those too).

Unstressed Syllables (hat tip to Aaron Pogue)

Knucklehead

Demerol (hat tip to me)

Freak

Piss

Crowbar

Pansy

Infiltration

Beast

Sizzle

My comment

Sweat poured off Gregg’s face, the Demerol was wearing off. ”What are your scanners picking up?” he asked Jesse.
“I’m picking up a Knucklehead at 100 paces, moving toward us, infiltration of our perimeter was at 0900 hours. God, they smell. Tell me again why do they call them knuckleheads?”
“I guess you haven’t seen one yet. Get ready and don’t scare the beast. You think they smell now, if it takes a piss, we’ll need our gas masks.” Gregg’s grip on the crowbar tightened as he hedged forward. He looked back as Jesse hesitated. ”Pansy,” Gregg whispered moving on toward the prehistoric creature.
“Freak.” Jesse retorted as he inched forward behind Gregg, his eyes clued to the vegetation the animal used as cover. Suddenly, it emerged in full view, its cranial cap knotted like the knuckles of a fist. Jesse back tracked crushing dry leaves and twigs with strangled unstressed syllables of expletives rising in his throat.
“Quiet!” Gregg hissed but it was too late. The noise startled the beast. It raised its massive head in fear. The sizzle of acidic urine created a toxic cloud of an unimaginable stench. Gregg fumbled for his mask in vain as winds blew the noxious fumes to their location within seconds.
The large reptile approached the two inert bodies, just feet apart. It leaned its snout toward the first and sniffed. Coughing and sneezing, it shook its massive head to clear away the foul odor from its nostrils before fleeing back into the forest.

BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: I Stop Reading When

mcthomas007 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:04:55 +0000

BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: I Stop Reading When.

The Swivet [Colleen Lindsay]: On word counts and novel length.

mcthomas007 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:32:54 +0000

The Swivet [Colleen Lindsay]: On word counts and novel length.

My word counts seem to be all over the board. I have a novel that is at 70K words but still a few chapters to go to finish. My short stories range from 7K to 22K words and I can’t seem to write flash fiction to save my life!

7 Editing Questions « The Wright Words

mcthomas007 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:11:07 +0000

7 Editing Questions « The Wright Words.

Here is another article I found effective and usable for editing.

How to Revise A Novel

mcthomas007 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:08:07 +0000

How to Revise A Novel.

I have one book ready for final edits and one I am just starting. What I like about the article above is it’s not all about slashing the adverbs and slashing the word count, it’s about making the words matter. The final part is the hardest. Kicking the manuscript out the door.

When I edit, I print the entire manuscript out and read through it, using red pen for spelling errors and a highlighter for adverbs. I don’t tend to use notebooks for updates but my stories are not 100,000 words either.

So how to you edit? Leave a comment!

33 Writing Terms You Should Know

mcthomas007 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:16:59 +0000

33 Writing Terms You Should Know.

Works in Process

mcthomas007 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:27:20 +0000

With an overactive imagination ideas come to me constantly. Here are a few of my ideas that I am attempting to transform into novels.

The Assasin’s Last Victim

Dante McKenley is a smart but sheltered young woman. Daughter of Mayor William McKenley, her family’s secret life threatens her happiness and her very existence. When she is kidnapped by Lucas Brennen, a young, talented professional who happens to be a hitman, she can only hope her miserable life will end quickly. But soon she discovers life is just beginning for her. Can she trust a cold and calculating murderer? Will Lucas become her hero or will she become the next victim?

Key

Terrorist unleash an unusual toxin in a lower income housing project. Agents rush to find out who the terrorist are, what the toxin is and how to stop the next attack. Their only link to the toxin is a twelve year old girl.

Your+Idea+In+Motion

mcthomas007 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:19:54 +0000

http://blog.writersdigest.com/mfaconfidential/Your+Idea+In+Motion.aspx.