shatteredsmooth Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Mandamon said: Come visit the south! It's 9 pm now, still 84°F/28°C and 58% humidity. It was much hotter/humid-er early in the day. We routinely get 90+°F and 80-90% humidity... Oh, you have the humidity AND the heat. I will stay here in New England, thank you. I'm a little over 10 degrees cooler right now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Mandamon said: We routinely get 90+°F and 80-90% humidity... This sounds like Kentucky, which was gorgeous and miserable. Going to an outdoor model horse convention in July was not one of my greatest ideas. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamon Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 10 hours ago, shatteredsmooth said: Oh, you have the humidity AND the heat. Yep, and it's not even in South Carolina, where my relatives live. That's worse! 8 hours ago, Snakenaps said: This sounds like Kentucky, which was gorgeous and miserable. Going to an outdoor model horse convention in July was not one of my greatest ideas. Very similar. I'm in North Carolina. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 So, my AC might be broken, but my sister wins. Underage drunk driver with expired insurance hit my sister's car at 3:30am last night. Pushed her car into their garage and shoved everything two feet to the back. Cracked the foundation of the apartment (you can see the lifted wall if you look closely at the front tire). My sister's roommate/best friend made a citizen's arrest because kid was trying to flee. My sister, with my family's usual resilience, has come to peace with losing her first car (frame is bent, car's totalled) and has decided to make the bumper into a light fixture. She's just relieved that the driver hit her car and not the neighbor's vintage muscle car. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinski Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 OMG, @Snakenaps, I think you're onto your second set of 'things happening in 3s', maybe your third set!! That's horrible. Your sisters stoicism is remarkable! Yeah, I bet her neighbour is secretly relieved. Kudos to the roommate for taking charge. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 2 hours ago, Robinski said: I think you're onto your second set of 'things happening in 3s', maybe your third set!! The family luck continues. My mother texted me this: "Now Dad started a fire on the back side of the property on accident trying to smoke out squirrels. Thankfully I was by the house spraying round up and I sprinted over (with 3 gallons of RoundUp which is HEAVY by the way) and was able to put it out before it got too big. Thankfully the squirrel hole was under a fairly green manzanita with little grass around. Now I can't breath though and who knows how much RoundUp smoke I breathed in. Ugh. I hate this day. I also lost $50 of RoundUp." I want to strangle my Dad because I know he knows better, and, come on, we just had two major fires a year and a half ago. In good news: My Mom has been accepted into the auditions for Shark Tank! Whether or not she makes it is questionable...they turn 40,000 yearly applicants into 250 show contestants. But she is excited! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinski Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 Good news, hurray! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatteredsmooth Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 19 hours ago, Snakenaps said: In good news: My Mom has been accepted into the auditions for Shark Tank! Whether or not she makes it is questionable...they turn 40,000 yearly applicants into 250 show contestants. But she is excited! That is very exciting! But fires and round up sound horrifying! Jumping back to the weather conversation, because I like weather, humidity is 94%, but its only 71F/21.6 C. I'm out on my screen porch, and everything (including myself) feels cold and damp. The good news is we got over an inch of rain yesterday, so my rain barrels are full again. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 1 hour ago, shatteredsmooth said: I'm out on my screen porch, and everything (including myself) feels cold and damp. Screen porches sound absolutely wonderful and relaxing. They aren't common here, but I wish they were for when the wasps and mosquitoes come out in full force. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromancer Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) So ... anyone want a potentially bad detective short? I love mystery fiction but I'm not so good at the whole 'writing' it component, as evidenced by the one mystery submission that I did submit to this site which wasn't good. At all. I tried writing something else, but I got distracted so I had this half finished short story on my computer for a while and I finally ended up finishing it when I got inspired after watching Knives Out. (On that note, Knives Out is a really good whodunnit movie that only makes a few ridiculous leaps of logic and if you like whodunnits, I cannot recommend it enough.) Instead of a proper whodunnit, though, it's a lot closer to a Holmes & Watson type mystery, with the detective, the sidekick, and the mystery isn't fully explained to the reader or expected that the readers have the ability to solve it themselves, with two additional twists thrown on. The first twist is that the detective doesn't have the mentality of the stereotypical Sherlock-type detective - while she can solve crimes, she doesn't do it 'for the thrill of the chase', dislikes being forced to do so, and actively takes out her frustration on everyone else in the vicinity. The second twist is I started with a convoluted premise (it's a locked room mystery except the entire room is made of glass) and then I thought to myself 'Hmm. Is there any way I can make this more convoluted?' And there was! In summary, it's a weird detective short which is slightly over the writing limit, and I'm doing an interest check because 1) last time I submitted a mystery short it was horrible and 2) I have no intention of actually going anywhere with it, it's just a piece of fiction I wrote for fun. Edited July 2, 2020 by aeromancer 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 11 hours ago, aeromancer said: So ... anyone want a potentially bad detective short? I'm always looking for something new to read, and it's been a long while since I've read any mysteries. Since you wrote it for fun, I assume you don't want LBL's? I'll critique it for you if you want, but I'm also more than happy to read it for simple pleasure. You just let me know. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 In Reading Excuses News: After three weeks, I think I'm caught up on everyone's chapters, except for @shatteredsmooth's short story, which I'm halfway through. Whew! If I missed you, let me know. Mishaps Updates: My AC is still out and my sister purchased herself an SUV to replace her totaled car. In Happy News: On Monday, I adopted a kitty I have been looking at for a long time. I didn't want to say anything until I finalized her name, but meet Juniper (June, Junie, or June-bug for short): She's a three year old shelter cat, who is the darkest shade of brown but passes for black in all but the brightest of lighting. Has been in the shelter since February, overlooked because of her coloring. Junie is a complete lovebug who is currently laying against my leg as I type this. She's spent the last couple days of critiquing passed out next to me as I sit on the couch. Juniper has scared me to death by hiding inside the couch (I thought I somehow lost her in less than a week of owning her) and likes to lick me until my hand is drenched and raw when she wants to reward me for petting her. I've wanted a cat since I moved away for college, and I'm so happy I chose her. She's like the perfect mixture of all of my favorite cats growing up. I can't wait to see how she settles in. Thanks for listening 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDwarfyOne Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 Lovely! How does she like Virgil? Also, like the name! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatteredsmooth Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 @Snakenaps Juniper is beautiful! Cats are usually very good critique buddies. Thank you for getting caught up on my submissions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamon Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 Congrats on the new kitty, @Snakenaps! 2 hours ago, shatteredsmooth said: Cats are usually very good critique buddies. Definitely. One of mine routinely begs to sit in my lap while I'm writing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 5 hours ago, TheDwarfyOne said: Lovely! How does she like Virgil? Also, like the name! She and Virgil haven't met yet. That'll be a slow introduction that involves a spray bottle. Unfortunately, they'll have to meet today because Virgil needs a bedding change. I'd rather wait until I know how strong Junie's hunting instincts are, but when Virgil makes a mess of his tank, it's time to clean. My sister came up with the name! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinski Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 That's a really cute cat Glad to hear your sister has wheels again. I'm really sorry I've totally stalled on reading Name of the King, @Snakenaps, but I just finished reading Kais' novel so I'm good to dive back in. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Robinski said: I'm really sorry I've totally stalled on reading Name of the King, @Snakenaps, but I just finished reading Kais' novel so I'm good to dive back in. I haven't touched revisions in three weeks, so you're fine. I was in the middle of tearing apart Chapter 4, the job hunting chapter, when the apartment fiasco hit. You're still many chapters ahead of where I'm revising. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinski Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Sorry, @shatteredsmooth; @PiedPeterPiper and @TheDwarfyOne that I have not yet got to your subs from past weeks. I'll be catching up now that a certain two novels are duly critiqued. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatteredsmooth Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, Robinski said: Sorry, @shatteredsmooth; @PiedPeterPiper and @TheDwarfyOne that I have not yet got to your subs from past weeks. I'll be catching up now that a certain two novels are duly critiqued. No rush! I haven't closely read through the feedback yet from the past few weeks any, and will most likely be waiting a couple more weeks before I actually revise. I'm taking a little break to finally apply beta reader feedback to the middle grade book after procrastinating since March...hopefully this is my last round of content changes before querying. Edited July 4, 2020 by shatteredsmooth 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiedPiper Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 8 hours ago, Robinski said: Sorry, @shatteredsmooth; @PiedPeterPiper and @TheDwarfyOne that I have not yet got to your subs from past weeks. I'll be catching up now that a certain two novels are duly critiqued. No problem. Thanks for getting around to it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoWibble Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Its been a while since I've actually written in my book, but I did write a fanfic about Taln... I do have something coming up, so that should give me more time to write in Exor. No worries there. Edited July 5, 2020 by GoWibble 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakenaps Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Anyone have any book recommendations for any age starring literary heroines? With some good, solid representation, preferably? Okay, this isn't about how to write, so I'm not going to put this in Craft Nook. It isn't also about how to get published, so it doesn't belong in Business. I'm helping update a badge for Quest Clubs about Literary Heroines. The original badge had been written by a middle-aged, white woman in the mid-2000's. I've met her, she's a wonderful woman. But, oh boy, her book recommendations were out of date. I mean, the most "modern" readings on her recommended list was Anne of Green Gables (1908) and Charlotte's Web (1952). Not to mention, every. single. protagonist. was. white. I'm white. I have no problem with white protagonists. But when children read books, so many of them are about boys. Are girls not allowed to go on adventures? Then most of them are white. How is a child supposed to believe they can do anything too, when all they see is white people having the adventures? How are they supposed to find representations of themselves? So, I'm trying to update this book list to range from preschool to adult...and I am finding that not only is it nightmarish trying to find books starring actually heroines instead of whiny women (lookin' at you, Twilight), let alone books that show representation. Diversity! I'm actually having an easier time finding literary heroines in children's books than high school. I thought this was going to be a fun adventure. Instead, now I'm just sad and more than a little mad. I wish I was still planning on becoming a teacher, because I always had the plan to create a classroom library where every child can find a mirror of themselves, and instead...instead I'm changing careers. I dunno, it's just a frustrating night with a heavy dose of bitter reality. If you happen to think of any books, please let me know. Nothing too political/controversial/dark, since this is for a business. Thanks, y'all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDwarfyOne Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) Sanderson: Mistborn's Vin, Edgedancer's Lift. Probably more. The Cassandra Clare books have Clara. (Still white though.) Woman on the Edge of Time (1976, so fairly old). Mexican-American protagonist. While we're on the topic of fairly oldies, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966). Retells the story of Jane Eyre's Bertha. So creole culture is explored there, as well as race. I vaguely remember reading the Heir of Night books. They had a female protagonist. Philip Pullman's Dark Materials C.S. Lewis' Narnia books (thinking Lucy in particular) Edited July 7, 2020 by TheDwarfyOne 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinski Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Wow, that's quite the programme. I love that there's a Duct Tap badge, and it tickles my funny bone that the Fire Safety and First Aid badges are of course listed alphabetically beside all those Fire Arms badges. Anyway...I wish I could help more. Excellent list, @TheDwarfyOne. I'll nominate Nnedi Okorafor's Binti books. I started reading the first novella for the Hugos. Honestly, I didn't like it. Thought it was slow, but all those awards say that I'm wrong, so https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binti_(novel). Oh, and Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist History books. I really like those stories. The first one is kind of hilarious, enjoyable--I thought--if a bit overdone, but the later ones find their feet more in terms of Jane Wentworth as protagonist. The one that comes to mind particularly in relation to the question at hand is Book 5, Of Noble Family. It is set largely on a plantation and chock full of issues of race and slavery. Actually... yeah, that's probably a bit much for this purpose. Darn being an adult. Also, I think Katniss Evderdeen is great protagonist. Pretty dark though, I guess . There's a pattern emerging here. I'm tempted to throw M*th in there, but of course she is 'unpublished', definitely not for a young audience, no, no, no. (I only did that to wind you up of course.) Chin up there @Snakenaps. There are other ways to change the world, or change minds at least, and we're here to help and support you 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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