FanStory wrote to Ashley Scott: Mighty Kingdoms finished second in the contest "Poetry Contests"


Ashley Scott: Hello Everyone,

Since I'm committed to finishing the rough draft of my novel by Thanksgiving and because my membership expires around then, I don't feel at this time that I'll be renewing my membership. By February of next year I hope to have my blog launched and I plan to release an online serial novel that will be taking up the majority of my free time. Needless to say, I won't be available for awhile and perhaps when things slow down I'll renew my membership at a later date.

I just wanted to say thank you to all the wonderful and thoughtful reviewers and writers (you know who you are) that I've met here and that have helped me tremendously improve my work. That is the one thing I'll miss about not being here.

This will be my final post. Thanks for the ride, the help, and the encouragement.

I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors,

Ash

    Sally Carter: Good luck with the new project. Hope you'll find your way back when the heat dies down. -


Ashley Scott: Richard Matheson is one of my favorite authors. It's no wonder that I keep finding out that movies I like have been based on his work. "Somewhere in Time", "What Dreams May Come" and "I Am Legend" to name a few. I finally got around to watching "Real Steel" with my kids last night (it never had any appeal to me). Turned out to be a great movie...and it was written by Matheson. Surprised again :)
    nor84: He was my favorite author until I listened to an audiobook. It needed an editor, and the editor in ME couldn't follow the story.

    Matheson also wrote a couple of Star Trek episodes for the original series: Cat's Paw was one.

    My favorite story is the one about the woman who has just been released from a mental hospital. Her husband will only think she's crazy if she says anything about the couple next door, who are fighting. She just sits at the window and knits. Days pass. The neighbor's husband doesn't seem to be around. The neighbor leaves and comes back with a huge dog, which she ties in the yard. Still no sign of the husband. The neighbor carries a package of something to the dog every day and then that stops. The neighbor takes the dog away. Nothing is ever seen of the neighbor's husband again. -
    Ashley Scott: That story sounds interesting, Norma. I haven't read that one, but maybe I'll come across it in one of his short story collections. I didn't know he wrote for Star Trek either. I do know that he wrote several of the original Twilight Zones. This guy gets around...lol. My favorite book by him is "Hunted Past Reason", one of his more recent works. It's about a nature survivalist who takes his writer friend camping. The writer is very succesful and the survialist friend is envious. what starts off as the survivalist having a little fun humiliating the inexperienced camper, escalates out of control and tension between them gradually builds. I read it in one evening because I couldn't put it down. I love stories like that (providing I don't have to wake up early for work...which was the case that morning). -
    nor84: The other one for Star Trek was "The Enemy Within."

    Matheson also wrote "The Incredible Shrinking Man" which was made into a movie.

    His short stories appear from his bibliograph to have been collected into several volumes. I may look those up. -
    William Walz: Don't overlook the best made-for-TV movie of all time...Duel. -
    Lady & Louis: Duel was a great movie! Though I was disappointed when I got a glimpse of the truck driver, second time I saw it. I'd kinda liked wondering if it was just the truck ... -
    William Walz: I know what you mean. The film lost quite of bit of its mystical quality when the truck driver was seen. -
    Lee62: He was also a huge contributor to old The Twilight Zone series. He authored the Spielberg movie Dual as well as Prey which became the final and most memorable story in the Trilogy of Terror movie. He wrote both Night Stalker films with Darren McGavin, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Hell House and my personal favorite story, Borne of Man and Woman. But as a Matheson fan you probably already knew this. His son, Richard Christian Matheson, is also an accomplished writer. -


Ashley Scott: Last week I wrote a story about people trapped in an elevator. Today, at work, I got trapped in an elevator for two hours with one other person. What are the odds...lol.

Since I also wrote a story about a monster in the closet last week, I'll be moving out of my room until further notice :)

    Cumbrianlass: LOL! Can you write one for me, but make the monster clean the closet while he's in there? -
    DIS-illusioned: Was this 'other person' cute and interesting? Otherwise, quit writing all together. :) -
    Julia.: How about a story where I win the lottery? :) -
    Ashley Scott: Okay...monster cleans closet...win lottery...cute stranger in elevator...and who says revising can't be fun? -


Ashley Scott: I don't always find this to be the case, but tonight, there are some fantastic poems gracing the front page. Well worth reading :)


Ashley Scott: I've decided that the real purpose of word count limits is to piss me off...arrgghh!

Okay, tell more with friggin' less... back at it... where's my pruning sheers?
    Kelleigh: LOL!! I can't stand trying to stay within a word count!! I mean, I get it, for some pieces...I don't so much mind the 'must be at least 700 words but no more than 4,000...but I can't do the hundred word dashes...my brain doesn't operate that way, haha!! Good Luck :) -
    redrider6612: I LOVE word count limits, the smaller the better. The challenge of word economy has made me a much better writer. -
    redrider6612: If you need some help, let me know, Ashley. -
    nor84: I've discovered MSWord will count stars *** or an em-dash -- or an ellipsis ... as a word! -
    adewpearl: Professors at my college and grad school got me used to word limits - they would tell us that if a paper had a 15 page limit, they would read to the end of page 15 and stop there without turning the page no matter how many more pages were stapled below. It really does force a writer to organize thoughts and not be redundant. -
    Ashley Scott: I think the difficulty I come across quite often with restricted word counts is that the scope of my ideas require more breathing room than what the limit allows. I've got to learn how to focus in on a moment and tell "that" story. It's a challenge, and yes, my non-frustrated writer side knows that those pesky word limits are teaching me how to make the words count...but I just hate going back and chopping stories to the bare minimum. I always feel like I'm sacrificing something for the sake of making it so darn short...lol.

    Red, thanks for the help offer. But I've got one of those annoying deadlines to reach this evening and I've gotta chop about 400 words off a story tonight...arrrggghh...lol.

    Thanks Everyone for your input and thoughts.

    Back to pruning...



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    shelley kaye: sometimes i have the problem of getting UP to the minimum word count :-P

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    Ashley Scott: And sometimes I have a problem just getting up period. The snooze bar is evil...lol -


Ashley Scott: I've noticed a lot of negative attitudes towards reviewers of late, especially towards those that deduct stars but offer thorough critiques to justify it. I've even seen public attacks through poems aimed at such reviewers, which is clearly uncalled for.

I want to remind those who expect "five star reviews" that the rating system here is clearly defined and that "five stars" means "Excellent: Enjoyable and no revisions needed". That being said, if a reviewer makes suggestions for improvement, whether it is in regards to content or grammar, he/she is simply following the reviewing guidelines set by FanStory, and is justified to give less than five star reviews in accordance to how much revision he/she believes is needed.

You, as a writer, are not obligated to agree. But please consider the time reviewers are spending on your work, when they could be writing their own.

I don't believe a simple "thank you for your efforts" is too much to ask when most of the reviews around here are two-sentence drive bys that ammount to nothing constructive.

At the very least, simply ignore the review if you don't agree with it. But turning on the reviewer is not only against site rules, it simply shows your lack of appreciation for anyone trying to help you.

On a positive note, I've had the good fortune of reviewing a number of respectful writers of late, that not only took a "four star" review graciously, they actually showed their appreciation for my efforts, thanked me for the suggestions to help their works, applied said suggestions, and I even got to go back review them again and change my ratings from four to five stars.

To these writers, I thank you for making my efforts and the time I spend reviewing mean something. You make reviewing worth it and help me look past the rude muppets that make me wonder why I even bother.

Again, my thanks to you :)

    Lady & Louis: Well said, Ashley!

    I'd only add that postings attacking reviewers should be reported to Tom. They're just as much in breach of site rules as snarky replies. -
    nor84: Amen, Ashley! Posters need to remember we are a community of writers and many of us follow site guidelines when reviewing. Nobody is automatically entitled to a certain number of stars. -
    Julia.: I agree with you, Ash. I was recently muted for giving a four-star rating, and I even complimented the poem. -
    redrider6612: Amen, Ashley! This is a writer's site, and members should expect to get thorough reviews. -
    Sally Carter: Beautifully put Ashley. Thank you for speaking for so many of us. -
    Ashley Scott: Thanks Everyone for your support of my comments, but more importantly, for your solid reviews and your stand and commitment on reviewing here, that allows me a chance to learn and grow as a writer :) -


Ashley Scott: If you haven't read it already,I strongly recommend reading the poem "Field Of Vision" by Brian's Promise. A very moving poem, that spoke to this reader's soul :)
    TammyGail: :) Thank you ever much .... Brian was an amazing writer many more to come and thank you for the pumps as well -


Ashley Scott: I'm compiling a list of good books to read in regards to grammar and punctuation for my summer reading and self study. Anyone come across any worthwhile books worth mentioning?

    Sally Carter: Not on grammar and punctuation, but I love The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry, about meter, forms of poems, exercises, examples etc. Very funny in places, too. (And a bit rude!) -
    nor84: A Dash of Style by Noah Lukeman
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    redrider6612: I always keep The Elements of Style by Strunk & White by my computer. -
    Maureen's Pen: Congrats on your 3rd place in the free verse contest:) Hugs
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    Ashley Scott: Thanks for all your book suggestions :)

    Maureen, Thanks for the congrats :)
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    Mastery: Robert's Rules For Writing and Strunk & white are two good ones. -
    Mastery: I almost forgot the very best one in my opinion....Stephen King's "On Writing" Bob -
    Ashley Scott: Thanks for those suggestions, Mastery. I've not read the first ones, but Stephen King's book helped me out tremendously in some areas. Definitely worth reading :) -


Ashley Scott: Here's a little trick I was unaware of:

When wondering whether to use "a" or "an" in front of a noun, if the noun starts with a consonant, use "a"; if it starts with a vowel, use "an".

Examples:

"a mailbox"
"a telephone"
"a garage door"

"an answer"
"an exit"
"an octopus"

    redrider6612: As always happens in the English language, there are exceptions to the rule.

    "an herb"
    "an honor"

    ...Because the "h" is silent -
    Ashley Scott: Ah, those pesky silent letters. Thanks for the reminder, Red :) -
    nor84: add "an hour" ... because the 'h' is silent. -
    Cumbrianlass: Or if the stress is not on the first 'h', you can use 'an' or 'a' - an historic/a historic. -


Ashley Scott: Ever wake up with a hell-of-a-story idea, get distracted, then forget it five minutes later? That's it, I'm moving the coffee pot right next to my bed...lol.
    Aarondodd1989: I normally go to bed with an amazing idea... or the bath. Instead of running starkers around the flat shouting "Eureka!" I tend to write a quick note either on my phone or a small pad, when I read the note in the morning it makes no sense or it isn't detailed enough, and I go back to writing second rate stories... *sigh* -
    Anisa-: Hah! So many times. But the ones that freak me out are when I've apparently woken in the middle of the night and written something in my iPhone notepad ... Only to be discovered weeks later! Lol. In my sleep?? Really? Then I can make no sense of what I've written because it's in sleep-mode talk. -


Ashley Scott: Are we allowed to make recommendations on our profile pages? Every now and then I come across a poem/story that just blows me away and would love to suggest it.
    Anisa-: I did it for a long time and never had any complaints ... -
    Lady & Louis: There was a thread in General, I think, called Worth Another Mention - it's probably down the bottom of the page somewhere still. -
    Aarondodd1989: Ask Tom to make sure... Then give us all the answer -
    Ashley Scott: I've sent Tom a message. I'll let you know :) -
    Anisa-: ... Still waiting ... Lol! Why'd ya do that?? Now if we find out we're not allowed, I'll get in trouble for starting that Worth an Extra Mention forum :P :P -
    Ashley Scott: Tom's response:

    It's generally not a good idea. We have a no advertising feature. That said, there is a feature in place to do that. You can view it and make it your reader pick. Click the "MY READER PICK" button. It's an option when you view it.

    Thanks,
    Tom
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    Anisa-: Hah! Whooooops!! Lol. I posted a lot of pieces to my profile page and I started that thread ... Eek! I'm in trouble now :P -


Ashley Scott: Last week I took three of my sons to the beach in the morning. Since it was a weekday, the beach was nearly deserted. We had plenty of space as far as the eye could see. Then, a mother with her four kids show up and decide to set up camp less than fifty feet from us...an obnoxious lot to boot. Is there some unofficial rule in regards to beach ettiquette that requires all human beings to congregate to the smallest areas possible? What made it worse was thirty minutes later, another group invaded from the other side and did the same thing! Meanwhile, the seagulls had free reign over the rest of the beach. I'm not anti-social...just pro-space (when it's available). I just don't get it.
    Anisa-: Hah! This actually made me laugh out loud. It's like those people who park right beside you in an empty parking lot! And they park so close that you can't open your door.

    Maybe they have a fear of being alone?? LOL -
    adewpearl: I'm laughing out loud. I'm used to the Jersey shore, where you're lucky if your blanket isn't overlapping the blanket of the folks next to you. Closer than fifty feet to you? Like I said, I'm laughing out loud. :-) -
    another jim: I'm sure they meant no harm. I think people are just naturally social animals with an instinctive desire to be near others like themselves. I also think--

    Hang on...

    **leaves thread to answer doorbell**

    Okay, I'm back. Sorry. There were a couple of women and their seven kids at my door wanting to use my pool, so I tasered them and then called the cops. Sheesh...

    Now, where was I? -
    Lady & Louis: Gakk. Like the people who sit right next to you in an otherwise empty train. -
    Ashley Scott: Anisa,

    I've had that happen to me before too! Late night headed to walmart, nearly empty parking lot...and bam...someone parks right next to me (and I don't even park in the front, so what's that about...lol)

    Brooke,

    It's probably more like twenty feet now that I think about it. But after what you described. Twenty feet doesn't sound so bad...lol. Oh...and you can stop laughing now...lol.

    Jim,

    Lol. Maybe It's just me. Perhaps I'm a sex magnet and all woman are drawn to me?...No, that can't be it, because I can already hear my wife laughing her ass off :)

    L&L,

    The train thing you described is just downright creepy. Time to switch seats :)

    There's a term for it that I can't remember, one of them phobias, but it has to do with fear of wide-open spaces. Maybe that's it? -
    Anisa-: Hah! Yes, what's up with all of these people??

    I had someone do that to me on a train once. However, he had some issues. I think by the end, I figured it out. Everyone on the train was sitting in pairs and they were talking and while they spoke, they made hand gestures. So, my new pal, saw me sitting by myself and ran over to sit RIGHT beside me. Leg to leg. Then he proceeded to talk in mumble and wave his hands violently through the air.

    It took me a bit, but I realized he was mimicking the sounds of the other conversting passengers and moving his hands as they were moving theirs so it looked like the two of use were having a conversation!

    Brilliant. Really, if you think about it. That way ... Neither of us stood out!! LOL -


Ashley Scott: I have a general question for writers sharing novel chapters for review. I do a lot of bonus reviewing and come across chapters of works already in progress. I tend to skip these if I don't have the time to go back and read the previous chapters. Is it preferrable that I go ahead and review the chapter anyway, without the benefit of knowing all that came before, or am I expected to not review present chapters if I haven't read the previous ones?
    shelley kaye: you may not know what's going on with the story, but you can still review it for spaggies, typos, dialogue realism, ect.... know what i mean?

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    Anisa-: I know what you mean. I read them, but I let the person know that I can only comment on the content in that particular chapter, and the story within it. -
    Ashley Scott: Shelley, Anisa, those are good suggestions. As much as I would love the time to go back and read a story from the beginning, it's just not possible at times. I just hate getting into something that doesn't make sense, then the writer says it's explained in a previous chapter. Perhaps I'll just explain that my review is limited to the present chapter and watch what I say about story itself. Thanks for the advice :) -
    Lady & Louis: Pretty much what Shelley and Anisa said, Ashley. You're not likely to fall into the trap some readers do of wanting background and exposition in chapter 45! ;) -
    nor84: Each chapter should stand on its own with strong characterization, conflict, etc. Sure, you can hunt for SPAG, but you might also see a glaring error in the story. There's no need to go back and read a lot of chapters at two cents each just to catch up. -
    --Turtle.: I don't expect people to start back at chapter 1 in order to read chapter 100. -
    Ashley Scott: Thank you all for your thoughts on the matter. I feel less bothered by it now :) -