Quote by gypsy
Now to try and discover what the other new features are...
Quote by Dreamcatcher
Quote by authorised1960
Okay, try this for size...
All agree that the insolent nymph, the epitome of jolliness was, according to proverb, an angel-like enchantress. Using her femininity as her weapon she wantonly engaged in a sluttish dalliance with a fattish dotard one Valentine’s Day. She saw the possibility of poetical praise for her womanhood after she had completed her ablution.
It was annoying: the little poppet, expecting to be like a narcotic, found instead that she was deemed crude and annoying by the miserly and superstitious monster. Rather than get involved in an altercation and have her own intellectuality challenged she bid her fleshy host good-night. Not yet ready to retire she took an amble with the magician. He told her of the future that was written in the Milky Way. His poignant and melancholic twitter was proem to a loud caterwaul set up by a nearby cat in heat.
Quote by SherzahdQuote by Circle_SomethingUse straight quotes, not curly quotes.
I'm just curious as to why we have to use straight quotes. My word processing program, by default, uses curly quotes, as do a lot of others. Is it just to make the word-count more accurate?
From an editor's point of view, curly quotes are the correct form to use, but when you're writing something where word count is important, then you should use the straight quotes. Reason for this - and I speak under correction - is that when you're writing dialogue, your system will count the opening quote as one word.
There should be an option to keep your program from auto-correcting it. Click on the Microsoft button and go to 'Options'. It's fairly easy to figure out, but let me know if you're not finding it.
Quote by Anne Rice
I've often said there are no rules for writers. Let me share the WORST AND MOST HARMFUL ADVICE I was ever given by others.
1) Write what you know.
2) You'll have to polish every sentence you write three or four times.
3) Genius is one tenth talent and nine tenths hard work and
4) You're not a real writer if you don't write every day.
--- ALL OF THAT WAS HARMFUL TO ME. ALL OF IT. IT HURT AND IT SET ME BACK. -----
So I say again, there are no rules. It's amazing how willing people are to tell you that you aren't a real writer unless you conform to their cliches and their rules. My advice? Reject rules and critics out of hand. Define yourself. Do it your way. Make yourself the writer of your dreams. Protect your voice, your vision, your characters, your story, your imagination, your dreams.
Quote by gypsy
BTW, having to submit a paper copy to a contest sponsored by the kennel society made me laugh - of course they would want a paper copy, they can use the losing submissions instead of rolled up newspaper to smack puppy butts. Or to put in the bottom of puppy cages, and so on.
Quote by DianaShallard
Congrats, Maggie! That's awesome. Sorry I never wrote back to you to say I read this story and it's a good one. Well done! :-)
And yes, the fact that it's "selling" on free books is still good. It'll pay off (pun intended) in the future, I'm sure. :-)
Quote by rolandloops
I read your book some time ago. I'm glad everyone else is figuring out just how good you are. Congratulations, please keep us updated on how it is going. (I can hardly wait till it's listed as #1)
Frak!! Free!! But I paid for mine. Well it was worth it.
Quote by AKC Fiction Contest Rules
1. The contest is open to anyone except employees of the American Kennel Club and their immediate families.
2. Entries must be original, unpublished stories that have not been offered to or accepted by any other publisher. Only one entry per author.
3. The American Kennel Club retains the right to publish the three prize-winning entries in AKC FAMILY DOG, or other AKC publications.
4. Entries may feature either a purebred or mixed breed dog. The maximum length is 2,000 words. Entries exceeding that length will not be considered. No talking dogs, please.
5. Entries must be printed on 8 1⁄2" x 11" white paper, one side per page, double-spaced. Poor-quality or faded copies cannot be considered.
6. The author’s name, address, and phone number must appear on the first page. The author’s name and the page number must appear on each successive page.
7. AKC Publications cannot acknowledge receipt of manuscripts and assumes no responsibility for any entry under any circumstances. Entries will not be returned. No phone calls, please.
8. All acceptable entries will be read by a panel of judges selected by AKC Publications. They will choose the winners based on the style, content, originality, and appeal of the story. All decisions are final. Winners will be announced in an issue AKC FAMILY DOG in 2014.
DEADLINE: ENTRIES MUST BE
POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 31, 2014
Send entries to
AKC Publications Fiction Contest
The American Kennel Club
260 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Quote by DLizzeQuote by magnificent1rascal
Anyone who thinks I probably say those phrases incorrectly has got another think coming.
Isn't got superfluous in this sentence?
) 
