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[dhparker]

Karen, there's a thread about "karma" .  I think this will take you to it:  http://mwf.ravensbeak.com/forum/index.php?topic=55.0
If not, it's on page three or so in the chat section.

Another one is at http://mwf.ravensbeak.com/forum/index.php?topic=41.0 in a thread called "navigating the forum, also in the chat section.

[Leon]

Red-herring

The only purpose for the device red-herring ---- it is a device designed by one character to mislead another character.

Leon

[Caro]

Or by the author to mislead the reader.

Caro

[jsmith98]

Hi all! My name is Justin Smith and I've just joined this forum.

I'm a mathematics professor in Philadelphia (at Drexel University) and have published my first novel, The Mills of God. It's a murder-mystery in which reincarnation plays a crucial role in solving the mystery.

Writing this was a strange experience because I'm a "techno-nerd" who had trouble graduating from college because I couldn't pass English courses. The novel came to me in a dream (one of those rare "epic" dreams in which years seem to pass).

My hobbies include making wine and writing novels.

A poem from the novel (the main character, Constance Fairchild, writes poetry):


I entered the land of ghosts,
Seeking my ancient traces,
Seeking Time’s faded mileposts,
And Love’s long forgotten faces.
I found it a world destroyed,
With no place left for me.
The pleasures I once enjoyed,
Had succumbed to Death’s decree.
Yet I hold its treasures still,
In my newest, brightest Spring:
My soul’s unquenchable will,
My mind’s light ever rising.
Like the mountain, star, or flower,
I abide through my soul’s 
            Deathless power.


Best wishes to all!

[Susan August]

Welcome to the group Justin and thanks for introducing yourself.  Interesting that reincarnation is part of a mathematician's novel, since I always think of 'technonerds' (your term!) as skeptical of such events.  My husband is also a mathematician and teaches as an adjunct, having retired from corporate life.  Glad to have you join the group.

Susan

[B L McAllister]

Hi all! My name is Justin Smith and I've just joined this forum.

I'm a mathematics professor ...

We're not entirely without mathematicians (for example I'm one--or I was, perhaps) but we can always do with more. I note that your initial interest in joining is to promote your novel.  I trust we'll see more of you than that.
Byron

[Ingrid]

Welcome, Justin.

Ingrid

[jsmith98]

Thanks all!  This looks like an interesting group --- a little like the American Zoetrope screenwriters' group. I found that doing a screen adaptation of a story focuses one's ideas beautifully.

[Alice]

Hi Justin,

I remember years ago (mid '90's) all the fiction writing groups on AOL were talking about a screen writing book as the best reference for writing a novel.  I cannot remember the name, nor the author of the book.  But the point of the recommendation was that the structure of a play,  three acts, arcs, etc., were similar to that of a novel, and understanding that structure was a weakness not well-addressed by standard writing books, classes, etc.

[Janet Koch]

Glad to have you here, Justin! It's always great to have new people in the group. Don't know how many of us can recite the value of pi further than a couple of digits past the decimal, but I can't imagine you'll hold that against us 

Love the book cover, by the way.

Janet

[Caro]

Alice, are you talking asbout Story by Robert McKee?

Caro

[Alice]

Alice, are you talking asbout Story by Robert McKee?

Caro

Caro,

I don't think so.  I think the author's last name started with an S and the book was named something like "Screenwriting".  I used to print out all that writerly advise from the boards on aol back then, but I don't remember where I put all the notebooks I kept that stuff in.  I'll have to take a look in my office.

I almost never throw out anything......

[Caro]

Okay, that could be Sol Stein or Syd Field. Both write on screen writing in ways that can adapted to novels.

Caro

[Alice]

Okay, that could be Sol Stein or Syd Field. Both write on screen writing in ways that can adapted to novels.

Caro

Caro,

You're brilliant!  Sol Stein was the guy!  I found my old notebooks and am having a great time reading through old aol writing board posts that I saved for any number of odd reasons, some which I cannot fathom.  I have only had about ten minutes to do this so far, so I've really only scratched the surface.

[Presidio]

I'm a little nervous.

Well, it's nice to be back. I was a part of the old board back in 1998. Not sure who is still here. I was the pregnant lady. My daughter is now 8.

I loved this place, however life and other hobbies (graphics) got in the way. Thru it all, I've still been writing. Working on two novels, with writers block on both. In one I want to rewrite as a screen play before I go further, and in the other I'm thinking of changing course from the original path. Those are the reasons for the blocks. Please no one suggest I start a third project- okay, joking, chuckle.

Life does get in the way. My husbands job moved us, we bought a home and now we are house poor. For the last few years we weren't even online. Yada yada.

As always I'm casual, easy going and a bit of nut. I'm 43 years old, happily married, house poor, and I think leaving the best for last, a pretty kewl Mom.

I need your help. One story is a time travel into revolutionary times. None of my other stories have had any historical fiction. Also I need, inspiration, direction, advice, friendship (okay I'll say it, I missed this place). 

Persidio is a new nick for me. Can't remember what nick I used here, I'll try to remember. I'm using Persidio now because I was born at the Persidio of San Francisco in 1963. It's now a National Park and the old base hospital I was born at is long since torn down. My books if they are ever finished and lucky enough to be published, would propably be under J.H. My maiden name initials.

Did I bore you yet?

I did read the threads before posting in the welcome area, and see you have a new board. Did anyone break out the champagne and christen it?

Nice to meet everyone. More then likely I'll be reading the threads verses posting, as I need to get caught up to speed.

Persidio