Lynette Marie: I just set up a Twitter account to network, chat, and share with other readers and writers. I'd love to connect with fellow Fanstorians on a different platform. @Lynette___Marie (Yes, that IS 3 underscores) LOL!


Lynette Marie: When entering a contest, how does one change the contest picture?
    nor84: If the contest has a picture when you read its rules, you can't change it. In all likelyhood, writing about that picture is what's required. I'm assuming that's what you mean. -
    Lynette Marie: Yes, that's what I mean. Thanks for your response. -
    adewpearl: I have changed the picture in many contests just so the contest rules don't state that particular picture is required. There is a place near the top of the posting page, in the location where you choose an illustration, that will ask you if you want to change the picture once you start editing. I'm terrible at all things computer, and I've done it a lot, which I'm telling you to reassure you it's a super easy thing to do. :-) -


Lynette Marie: How do you add background music to a work?
    Julia.: You don't!!! :)

    Just kidding. I don't know, but if you do figure it out, please don't make the music autoplay but rather give the reader the choice of whether or not to listen. -
    flippant: Click "show advanced options" (it's by the submit button)and you should see a section for adding music. :)
    -
    Lynette Marie: Julia, LOL, thanks for the advice.
    Flippant, thank you for the info! -


Lynette Marie: I'm not so good at choosing titles for my work. Does anyone have tips to share on how to choose strong titles?
    Cumbrianlass: Poems, short stories, novels, or all of the above? -
    Cumbrianlass: I have struggled with titles too, in the past. I now try to find something in the story - a word or a phrase that leaps out at me - that has relevance to what I've written. For my last completed novel, which centred around a small stone of unearthly power, I got the title from a 'thought' of the main character, who was pondering the effects of certain events on his life. In his mind, he likened the upheaval to the cast of a stone into calm waters. I called my book 'The Cast Of A Stone', and it works perfectly. Perhaps you could take a line of a poem, or even a single word, or a piece of dialogue from a story. In reading what you've written, you might just find something that epitomizes what you are trying to convey, and use that as a title. Just a suggestion! -
    Lynette Marie: 'The Cast of a Stone' is a lovely title. That's good advice. Lynn Kurland is my favorite author. I adore her titles, like 'The Very Thought of You'. I try to be creative but sometimes I feel my attempts lack appeal. Thanks for your advice, I'll take it :) -
    nor84: The very thought of you is a line from an old song. That works, too. Dean Koontz, when choosing a title for Dragon Tears, "played" with the word 'dragon'. He tried "Softly Comes the Dragon" and various other phrases until he hit on 'Dragon Tears.' I once used the name of a computer game and have also used book titles. Titles, as far as I know, can't be copyrighted. -


FanStory wrote to Lynette Marie: Congratulations on having your own column at "The Telegraph"
    Lynar: Congratulations on your achievement: Passport to Spring. -
    Cedar: Congratulations on all your accomplishments and Merry Christmas. Bill -
    Gloria ....: Lynette, this is great news! Congratulations. -
    Lynette Marie: Thank you all for the congratulations and encouragement! It is definitely an exciting turn of events! Merry Christmas! -
    Selina Stambi: Congratulations - how awesome. (And I love the quote - AMEN!) :) -