tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post340686145101979060..comments2023-09-30T10:31:07.390-04:00Comments on Short Fiction. Write it. Sell it. : Appearing in issue #21, May 26, 2014 Jody E. Lebelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-776354636264383282014-05-26T04:00:31.525-04:002014-05-26T04:00:31.525-04:00Aww, thanks, mate. That's appreciated.Aww, thanks, mate. That's appreciated.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-21250909572973060432014-05-25T09:36:57.640-04:002014-05-25T09:36:57.640-04:00@ Chris. Crossing fingers for you! One of these ...@ Chris. Crossing fingers for you! One of these days...sooner or later...one of your stories will sell to WW. You're a great writer, your stories are well done, and interesting. I have confidence WW will see the light.Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-87048154735039956322014-05-25T02:13:32.118-04:002014-05-25T02:13:32.118-04:00I just sent off my new one, Jody, after making a c...I just sent off my new one, Jody, after making a couple of changes based on the suggestions made by you, Betsi and Mary Jo. Right now I'm thinking they can make all the editorial changes they like if they'll only accept the thing, but of course I'll probably feel very differently if it ever gets that far. Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-1984711723836292022014-05-24T16:07:54.697-04:002014-05-24T16:07:54.697-04:00@ Joyce. Yes, They edit the mystery stories also....@ Joyce. Yes, They edit the mystery stories also. They also make up the tag lines and often change the titles. Sometimes I think if the editing screws up a carefully plotted story. I've often had authors bemoan the fact that the changes don't jive with the original thought, or that it they cut something the author thought was important. <br />Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-8952233559898428852014-05-24T15:58:04.150-04:002014-05-24T15:58:04.150-04:00I'm wondering if the mini-mysteries are edited...I'm wondering if the mini-mysteries are edited like the romances? I've heard of things being changed, added, taken out, etc. of the romances. Seems like editing could improve some of the weak plots, <br />procedural issues, and unclear clues, but I guess it could also cause some confusion.<br />What's the scoop on editing?Joyce Ackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16628063943686030106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-36289045182517409332014-05-24T12:15:08.809-04:002014-05-24T12:15:08.809-04:00@ Elizabeth. Our cat used to eat strands of tinse...@ Elizabeth. Our cat used to eat strands of tinsel and of course it comes out the other end ... well, nuff said. <br /><br /> We stopped using tinsel after that. It could have wound around her intestines and been a real problem. <br /><br />We also stopped buying white rugs. Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-9036128619733291232014-05-24T12:06:28.229-04:002014-05-24T12:06:28.229-04:00A cat I used to have stole tinsel off the Xmas tre...A cat I used to have stole tinsel off the Xmas tree & stashed it in back of the couch. I think she was planning to build a nest with it, as she got pregnant soon after Xmas.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-69457502274949606562014-05-24T08:10:30.949-04:002014-05-24T08:10:30.949-04:00Actually, I remember now, my two cats used to play...Actually, I remember now, my two cats used to play pat-a-cake with the Christmas tree baubles and then chase them round the room when they fell off. Still not really taking, though, is it... And you could have found a lot worse things your cat had left in your shoe, Jody, so I'm thinking a chewed toy mouse is okay.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-29435555952905530442014-05-23T15:39:00.211-04:002014-05-23T15:39:00.211-04:00I changed the review to reflect that the cat solve...I changed the review to reflect that the cat solved the crime. Good grief. I think maybe that's worse.<br />Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-50088026674893774932014-05-23T15:31:47.091-04:002014-05-23T15:31:47.091-04:00opps...started to change..
opps...started to change..<br />Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-31080025345344000222014-05-23T15:30:22.989-04:002014-05-23T15:30:22.989-04:00@ Chris. My cat takes things and puts them in my ...@ Chris. My cat takes things and puts them in my shoe in the closet. Gifts, I guess. The weather was dreadful one day a few winters ago and I took my shoes with me in my bag to work. When I got there, I stared to change out of my boots, took my shoes out of the bag, and out fell a ratty old half eaten toy mouse. One of my cat's favorite things. I said, Aw, my little fella loves me. Of course everyone thought I was bonkers. Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-75181082927580628172014-05-23T15:27:23.919-04:002014-05-23T15:27:23.919-04:00@ Joyce. I have to stand corrected ... again. It...@ Joyce. I have to stand corrected ... again. It WAS the cat that tipped the denture cup over. I read that and thought it was the housekeeper. So now the title makes more sense. <br /><br /> Okay, so with that said, the housekeeper sees the dentures, comes back with a white face like she's seen a ghost (cliché). I think it's over dramatic. Why wouldn't she come back to the police and say, "Helen's dentures are still here...don't you find that odd?" Or "I guess Helen didn't have time to put in her teeth before she fell." The story has the detective springing from his chair to see what had unnerved her. <br />Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-75684058261277812102014-05-23T13:22:14.958-04:002014-05-23T13:22:14.958-04:00I'm afraid I got very confused with this one. ...I'm afraid I got very confused with this one. Some interesting elements to it, but also some bits that I felt just added nothing. It made for a rather unclear story to my mind. <br /><br />I've owned lots of cats and never have they hidden anything, although we did teach one to retrieve Maltesers (small round chocolate balls full of honeycomb, if you don't have them there) that we rolled up the hallway. Not that it's got anything to do with anything...<br /><br />I've used the missing dentures theme myself in a ghost story, so that worked for me. But I'd have liked a bit more clarity in the storytelling.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015329098122035196.post-81076548161068104552014-05-23T12:33:22.938-04:002014-05-23T12:33:22.938-04:00I can't go back and read the story because I c...I can't go back and read the story because I cut off that inspirational column on the left side of the page and sent it to a friend. But I tried to look at the piece of the page that was left. It was my understanding that Rosie knocked the denture cup off the counter. If so, this would be "Rosie's clue." Just curious if I'm right or wrong. Maybe someone could clarify. <br />I thought the bit about Rosie hiding the jewelry was a bit strange. I wondered where the jewelry was found and how they knew Rosie had hidden it. I have cats, and they don't hide any of my stuff. My sister's poodle, on the other hand, gathers items from all over the house and takes it to his bed. He has a stash. Once a guests' red bra went missing and guess where they found it?<br />I realize there were some issues with this story, but I didn't think it was too bad.Joyce Ackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16628063943686030106noreply@blogger.com