Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 15, 2017 11:10:33 GMT -8
Smashwords Forum has been kind of quiet these days. Any ideas why? Wondered if anyone was interested in a thread about writing motivations? Found this, 101 Writing Prompts on letterpile.com/writing/101_writing_promptsReading the list did tickle my imagination, for example: 97) Your top ten cooking tips my reply, eat out :-)
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Post by djmills on Oct 15, 2017 14:05:11 GMT -8
I love your cooking tip. :-) I just spent 24 hours watching/listening to all the speakers at the Indie Author Fringe event. I took 18 pages of notes, and am now suffering from information overload. :-) And waiting to see if I won any of the prizes in the competitions. :-) I am also excited to try and write one story a month (50-70K) in a new series and publish them one a month when they are all finished. I have no idea if I can do it, but I will try. :-) And planning to practice making covers for all types of genres, similar but different from top selling covers in all genres. :-)
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Post by Ted on Oct 16, 2017 0:56:27 GMT -8
I was under the weather for a while, then Thanksgiving, then under the weather again. Drag getting old.
I'm working, still, on a 4 or 3 year old book. Maybe 6 year. It's been a long time.
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Post by jjmainor on Oct 16, 2017 5:27:51 GMT -8
my cooking tip is to make the same thing every day...no thought about it and no worries about what's for dinner...
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 16, 2017 10:13:42 GMT -8
I've been inundated with editing of late, so very little new writing. My first Mars novel I submitted to ERB Inc they wish to make a two volume set. It was quite a bit of work splitting it. While I was at it I went through it with a more critical eye and tried to trim off any excess to tighten it up. I found that after you haven't looked at a novel for a while it's much easier to jack up your 'hmmmm' level - as in, 'hmmm don't really need THAT.' As a matter of fact, I enjoyed cutting it back and seeing the improvement of flow so much I am going back over some of my published pieces with the same intent - trimming the hedges. I did write a Conan short story recently that was fun just to have something to piddle with and because I had the idea bouncing around in my head. I'm having it proofed by a friend and a fellow Robert E Howard fan on SwordsOfREH before putting it on Smash for free for Conan fans. I found a cool piece of art on Deviant and came to an agreement with the fella (who lives in Turkey) who did it and now it is mine. I have finished the cover (might tweak it some, but it's pretty solid) and posted it on my Coming Soon page. I have a story I need to finish (Banshee) and a story poem begging to be written (might call it The Watchman); but I have also began painting of late and really been enjoying that in my spare time. Those story poems are fun, though, and very satisfying after you complete one because they are quite a challenge as far as wordcraft. Here's one I wrote this summer.
Things I miss about Home
If I were stuck somewhere, where I’d be for all time; A dreary place, with neither metre nor rhyme-
With only mushrooms to eat and stagnant water to drink; And time on my hands to ponder, mull and think-
I’d imagine those things I’d never see, touch or taste; As I crouched eating fungi amidst disconsolate waste-
The face of my wife would spring often to mind; Yet I’ll never again see her so I might as well be blind-
And oh, how I’d ache to reach forth my hands; To touch my kids’ faces as I mope these dark lands-
I used to have wherewith I might lay my weary head; but now on damp soil I make my humble bed-
And then from my gut would mild protest escape; Reminding me I trod a barren, foodless landscape-
I’d recall bright red strawberries I once with pleasure ate; after trimming green tops I left piled on a plate-
A juicy, grilled steak – its center nicely red; would whorl around in my nigh-starving head-
Of chocolate I’d dream – Sweet, dear God I’ll go mad! To never taste it again makes me wretched and sad-
Jam and butter spread on freshly baked bread; wines of all kinds, from white ones to red;
Never again to see sun-lit blue skies; for the featureless void above hardly qualifies-
Books and cinema and music call my name; but the fact they’re missing is my own fault to blame-
You see, I could’ve stayed home midst family and friends; Yet I boarded a rocket bound for lands fabled as djinns-
Yet how could I know to dim meteoroid I’d fall? To live out my life ‘neath this melancholy pall?
Alone, I survive on these fungi covered plains; no rock to crush my head, no knife to slash my veins-
The water is a trickle so there’s not enough to drown; So no wonder these days my face is prone to wear a frown-
There exists not a spot that is high enough to fall; So I swear and curse my fate as I meep and moan and crawl-
I pray this small moon might get sucked into a star; but the only ones I see seem to lie at distance far-
There are so many years before me, a fact I cannot change; and all the time to think as o’er mushroomed plains I range-
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 17, 2017 10:07:40 GMT -8
I love your cooking tip. :-) I just spent 24 hours watching/listening to all the speakers at the Indie Author Fringe event. I took 18 pages of notes, and am now suffering from information overload. :-) And waiting to see if I won any of the prizes in the competitions. :-) I am also excited to try and write one story a month (50-70K) in a new series and publish them one a month when they are all finished. I have no idea if I can do it, but I will try. :-) And planning to practice making covers for all types of genres, similar but different from top selling covers in all genres. :-) Cool Dj, hope to hear more!
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 17, 2017 10:09:56 GMT -8
I was under the weather for a while, then Thanksgiving, then under the weather again. Drag getting old. I'm working, still, on a 4 or 3 year old book. Maybe 6 year. It's been a long time. Sorry to hear you were "under the weather", I have been struggling with health issues, too, but today I am "over the weather" ;-) What the book you are working on?
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 17, 2017 10:11:41 GMT -8
my cooking tip is to make the same thing every day...no thought about it and no worries about what's for dinner... LOL, What´s that dish? I make great variations of spaghetti-
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 17, 2017 10:16:45 GMT -8
I've been inundated with editing of late, so very little new writing. My first Mars novel I submitted to ERB Inc they wish to make a two volume set. It was quite a bit of work splitting it. While I was at it I went through it with a more critical eye and tried to trim off any excess to tighten it up. I found that after you haven't looked at a novel for a while it's much easier to jack up your 'hmmmm' level - as in, 'hmmm don't really need THAT.' As a matter of fact, I enjoyed cutting it back and seeing the improvement of flow so much I am going back over some of my published pieces with the same intent - trimming the hedges. I did write a Conan short story recently that was fun just to have something to piddle with and because I had the idea bouncing around in my head. I'm having it proofed by a friend and a fellow Robert E Howard fan on SwordsOfREH before putting it on Smash for free for Conan fans. I found a cool piece of art on Deviant and came to an agreement with the fella (who lives in Turkey) who did it and now it is mine. I have finished the cover (might tweak it some, but it's pretty solid) and posted it on my Coming Soon page. I have a story I need to finish (Banshee) and a story poem begging to be written (might call it The Watchman); but I have also began painting of late and really been enjoying that in my spare time. Those story poems are fun, though, and very satisfying after you complete one because they are quite a challenge as far as wordcraft. Here's one I wrote this summer.
Things I miss about Home
If I were stuck somewhere, where I’d be for all time; A dreary place, with neither metre nor rhyme-
With only mushrooms to eat and stagnant water to drink; And time on my hands to ponder, mull and think-
I’d imagine those things I’d never see, touch or taste; As I crouched eating fungi amidst disconsolate waste-
The face of my wife would spring often to mind; Yet I’ll never again see her so I might as well be blind-
And oh, how I’d ache to reach forth my hands; To touch my kids’ faces as I mope these dark lands-
I used to have wherewith I might lay my weary head; but now on damp soil I make my humble bed-
And then from my gut would mild protest escape; Reminding me I trod a barren, foodless landscape-
I’d recall bright red strawberries I once with pleasure ate; after trimming green tops I left piled on a plate-
A juicy, grilled steak – its center nicely red; would whorl around in my nigh-starving head-
Of chocolate I’d dream – Sweet, dear God I’ll go mad! To never taste it again makes me wretched and sad-
Jam and butter spread on freshly baked bread; wines of all kinds, from white ones to red;
Never again to see sun-lit blue skies; for the featureless void above hardly qualifies-
Books and cinema and music call my name; but the fact they’re missing is my own fault to blame-
You see, I could’ve stayed home midst family and friends; Yet I boarded a rocket bound for lands fabled as djinns-
Yet how could I know to dim meteoroid I’d fall? To live out my life ‘neath this melancholy pall?
Alone, I survive on these fungi covered plains; no rock to crush my head, no knife to slash my veins-
The water is a trickle so there’s not enough to drown; So no wonder these days my face is prone to wear a frown-
There exists not a spot that is high enough to fall; So I swear and curse my fate as I meep and moan and crawl-
I pray this small moon might get sucked into a star; but the only ones I see seem to lie at distance far-
There are so many years before me, a fact I cannot change; and all the time to think as o’er mushroomed plains I range-
All I can say is Wow! Does multi-talented come to mind? Love your poem. Sorry for my ignorance but have you published a book of poetry, too? Please keep posting your progress. It is inspiring.
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Post by David Ellis on Oct 17, 2017 10:17:00 GMT -8
I've been so busy with work and my three to four hour daily drive that I have little time. If I change jobs, I'll have more. Haven't had much time to read, either, though I have been listening to audiobooks.
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 17, 2017 10:25:22 GMT -8
I've been so busy with work and my three to four hour daily drive that I have little time. If I change jobs, I'll have more. Haven't had much time to read, either, though I have been listening to audiobooks. I remember my working days, 10-12 hour days, 6 to 7 days a week. I scribbled in notebooks on my commute (public transit).
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 17, 2017 11:15:00 GMT -8
All I can say is Wow! Does multi-talented come to mind? Love your poem. Sorry for my ignorance but have you published a book of poetry, too? Please keep posting your progress. It is inspiring. Ria - no I haven't 'published' my poetry yet. On SwordsofREH, that's a Robert E. Howard forum (author of Conan the Barbarian), we have a thread called The Pit of Set which is for original poetry (Set being the snake god of Howard's Hyborian age - you might recall the Schwarzenegger film where he fights and kills a huge snake in a temple of Set). I have been posting some poetry there for a little while. Since you mention it, though, I have thought of bundling some poems up and doing a little Smash ePub. They're mostly dark, or dystopian. They deal with evil wizards, witchy witches, medieval battles, and the like. While I have many love poems I guess I have always preferred these darker works. One I wrote earlier this year was a huge effort, called A Gallows Tree - about a man whose girl is stolen by a rival who coveted her, and who'd visited a Haitian mambo for a love spell that enslaved the girl to him. Enraged, the loser goes into the swamps to wreak his revenge on the witch... but I better not say more, you may come across it one day! Here's a cool one I'll share. I love dream stuff. It's fun and you can let your imagination run wild. I'm happy if anyone finds anything inspiring in my work. I see no results from any of it except an occasional comment - so thanks! Ascend unto Dream
I opened eyes on a dream-lit sky; A city’s towers reared nearby-
A sunset played upon the stones, of minarets and onion domes-
I leapt upon a cloud I caught; that bit me twice and squealed and fought-
I yelled, Hie ye hence o’er yonder way; ‘tween fall of night and break of day-
That city of splendor lay far below; but what its name I’d never know-
I rode that cloud a right-hard pace; while in my mind I saw her face-
I must arrive before the dawn; ‘ere waking moment’s morning yawn-
That gasping vapor charged like mad; as the steed that bore poor Galahad-
Soon the cloud sank to the ground; to lie midst others in a mound-
It gasped its last as I cursed the sky; I left it lay right where it died-
Afoot I stumbled down the path; now filled by joy, next filled by wrath-
The sky then took revenge on me; and pushed me back to western sea-
You’ve slain my clouds and split my air; And all for what? That mortal there?
You’ve killed my get, how do you dare? Now we’ll see just how you fare!
I fought that sky by tooth and nail; my words and couplets as mace and flail-
Its lightnings flashed from east to west; scorching skin and lancing breast-
But dawn it was what sealed my fate; that horrid moment I do so hate-
The sky it barked a scoffing howl; and pressed me close, as cheek by jowl-
I have you now, sirrah, it reeled; and from its depths a thunder peeled-
I felt my dream then fade away; and opened eyes to light of day-
Another night I saw had passed; with dream-lass still at distance vast-
So now I walk this humdrum path; wreckage of dream’s aftermath-
Hopefully tonight in dream I might; cross expanse, climb insane height-
Fight stormy sky to win the day; o’er dreamscape lands and nightmare fray-
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Post by djmills on Oct 17, 2017 16:05:58 GMT -8
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Post by jjmainor on Oct 18, 2017 4:49:31 GMT -8
my cooking tip is to make the same thing every day...no thought about it and no worries about what's for dinner... LOL, What´s that dish? I make great variations of spaghetti- Breaded chicken on the grill. It's turned cold this week, but still warm enough to cook outside...Used to have a sweet tooth as a kid, but find myself increasingly enjoying bland food over the years.
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 18, 2017 13:58:13 GMT -8
All I can say is Wow! Does multi-talented come to mind? Love your poem. Sorry for my ignorance but have you published a book of poetry, too? Please keep posting your progress. It is inspiring. Ria - no I haven't 'published' my poetry yet. On SwordsofREH, that's a Robert E. Howard forum (author of Conan the Barbarian), we have a thread called The Pit of Set which is for original poetry (Set being the snake god of Howard's Hyborian age - you might recall the Schwarzenegger film where he fights and kills a huge snake in a temple of Set). I have been posting some poetry there for a little while. Since you mention it, though, I have thought of bundling some poems up and doing a little Smash ePub. They're mostly dark, or dystopian. They deal with evil wizards, witchy witches, medieval battles, and the like. While I have many love poems I guess I have always preferred these darker works. One I wrote earlier this year was a huge effort, called A Gallows Tree - about a man whose girl is stolen by a rival who coveted her, and who'd visited a Haitian mambo for a love spell that enslaved the girl to him. Enraged, the loser goes into the swamps to wreak his revenge on the witch... but I better not say more, you may come across it one day! Here's a cool one I'll share. I love dream stuff. It's fun and you can let your imagination run wild. I'm happy if anyone finds anything inspiring in my work. I see no results from any of it except an occasional comment - so thanks! Ascend unto Dream
I opened eyes on a dream-lit sky; A city’s towers reared nearby-
A sunset played upon the stones, of minarets and onion domes-
I leapt upon a cloud I caught; that bit me twice and squealed and fought-
I yelled, Hie ye hence o’er yonder way; ‘tween fall of night and break of day-
That city of splendor lay far below; but what its name I’d never know-
I rode that cloud a right-hard pace; while in my mind I saw her face-
I must arrive before the dawn; ‘ere waking moment’s morning yawn-
That gasping vapor charged like mad; as the steed that bore poor Galahad-
Soon the cloud sank to the ground; to lie midst others in a mound-
It gasped its last as I cursed the sky; I left it lay right where it died-
Afoot I stumbled down the path; now filled by joy, next filled by wrath-
The sky then took revenge on me; and pushed me back to western sea-
You’ve slain my clouds and split my air; And all for what? That mortal there?
You’ve killed my get, how do you dare? Now we’ll see just how you fare!
I fought that sky by tooth and nail; my words and couplets as mace and flail-
Its lightnings flashed from east to west; scorching skin and lancing breast-
But dawn it was what sealed my fate; that horrid moment I do so hate-
The sky it barked a scoffing howl; and pressed me close, as cheek by jowl-
I have you now, sirrah, it reeled; and from its depths a thunder peeled-
I felt my dream then fade away; and opened eyes to light of day-
Another night I saw had passed; with dream-lass still at distance vast-
So now I walk this humdrum path; wreckage of dream’s aftermath-
Hopefully tonight in dream I might; cross expanse, climb insane height-
Fight stormy sky to win the day; o’er dreamscape lands and nightmare fray-Excellent! You have given me some ideas, thanks, Ria
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