need an idea - Page 2

gmw · 10-15-2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Why do I do these things to myself? 2 days worth of research on honey bees, beekeeping, hive management, and star thistles for an 1100-word story.

*sigh* now to start the research on fireflies that blink in unison. Do they blink in unison all down the river, or across multiple trees, but others further down blink in unison in a different tempo? Wikipedia is strangely silent on these important details.

According to the David Attenborough show that I saw (sorry, I can't remember which particular series), the light is more like a wave effect when seen from a distance - the scene showed the effect running along the river bank across multiple trees. I don't remember the scene showing what happened on the other side of the river, but the impression I got was that the bugs sort of catch on to what their neighbour is doing and light-up so that the effect spreads (very quickly).

BeccaPrice · 10-16-2013, 09:57 AM

That's kind of what I understood from this article.

My poor little firefly is going to always be *just* out of sync with his surroundings. I'm trying to decide whether he finds a group in which he is in sync or whether he finds a like-minded groups of independent fireflies that flash when they feel like it.

VydorScope · 10-16-2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

That's kind of what I understood from this article.

My poor little firefly is going to always be *just* out of sync with his surroundings. I'm trying to decide whether he finds a group in which he is in sync or whether he finds a like-minded groups of independent fireflies that flash when they feel like it.

Depends on the lesson...

There is always a place to fit in

-or-

Just be yourself

BeccaPrice · 10-16-2013, 11:28 AM

yeah *sigh* - I don't know which I want, or which is better.

VydorScope · 10-16-2013, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

yeah *sigh* - I don't know which I want, or which is better.

Personally, I believe that each of us is special and has our own specific value to add to the world, and part of what we should be doing is driving towards adding that value. So for me it is definitely the second.

BeccaPrice · 10-18-2013, 03:14 PM

do fireflies flash or blink on and off? I'm not sure which word to use.

VydorScope · 10-18-2013, 10:39 PM

Thats a good question. I not sure there is an answer to it though, but I think of blink as being slower then flash, so I would go with blink since in my experience they turn on and off pretty slowly. Nothing like a flash from a camera.

speakingtohe · 10-19-2013, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I need some plotting help.

my character is a small butterfly-fairy who gets into trouble with her magic, in that it rarely works out the way she intends.

I need one more story for my collection that's coming out in December. Can anyone suggest some trouble a little butterfly-fairy could get into? once I've got the seed of the plot, I can take it from there, but right now my mind is amazingly blank.

Perhaps the butterfly fairy can get caught in a jar with the fireflies and eventually lead them to freedom with some trials and tribulations on the way. Or have you already done that

Helen

crich70 · 10-19-2013, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Thats a good question. I not sure there is an answer to it though, but I think of blink as being slower then flash, so I would go with blink since in my experience they turn on and off pretty slowly. Nothing like a flash from a camera.

I agree. From what I've seen in the past they tend to light up and then the light slowly fades before lighting up again.

BeccaPrice · 10-19-2013, 05:30 PM

ok,so I went with blink - that seemed to be the consensus.

anyone want to beta read it? it's awfully short, but I can't think of anything I could add to it.

second question: I have 2 collections that I can choose to finish by December 1: one aimed at 5-7 year old kids, and one aimed at 7-10yos. I'd need to come up with one to two more story ideas for the younger one (which should be no problem) and need to write up a story I have plotted for the older one..

In December, I really want to make a splash with which ever new collection I decide to go with: I've got a Netgalley slot in December, and figure I'll do Goodreads and Library Thing giveaways ending Dec 15. I'm hoping for a D&D bookbub promotion that first week in December as well.

so - should I go with the younger-aimed one or the older one? The younger ones have been called "adorable" - the older ones are more aimed at making kids think a little bit.

crich70 · 10-19-2013, 08:40 PM

I'd say go with the one that is closer to completion, which sounds like the one for the older kids and get it out of the way then go back and work on the other.

Jane Oldaker · 10-20-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

... to catch the spider, that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her ...

I blame that one for my arachnophobia. The things we tell kids!

In my house the next line is

"...but I don't know why the f&*$ (pick whatever you like) she swallowed that fly, I guess she'll die...."

Mind we have no small children and I'm usually in the homestretch on a wine bottle at this point.

Jane Oldaker · 10-20-2013, 01:32 PM

The butterfly fairy stories sound fun - if it's coming out in December, maybe something Christmasy? Say if her magic often goes awry, what if she accidentally makes the Christmas tree and all the presents disappear while trying to put a special present under the?

Denno if that helps, just popped into my head.

crich70 · 10-20-2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane Oldaker

The butterfly fairy stories sound fun - if it's coming out in December, maybe something Christmasy? Say if her magic often goes awry, what if she accidentally makes the Christmas tree and all the presents disappear while trying to put a special present under the?

Denno if that helps, just popped into my head.

But doesn't seasonal stuff have to be submitted (if to a market) about six months in advance? It won't matter either way if she is self-publishing at Amazon, but if it's to a magazine market then she will be out of season for submitting a Christmas story.

BeccaPrice · 10-20-2013, 06:41 PM

I don't particularly want another Butterfly-Fairy story in this book; it's got 3 BF stories in it already. (she's been very popular with my beta readers, and will probably have her own book eventually).

right now, both books are equally one story away from being done. I'll probably go with Fables and Fireflies, because I'm more in the mood to write light stories than I am to write the more serious one needed for the other collection.

BF-writing mood is very hard to shake off, it seems.

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10-16-2013, 09:57 AM	#17
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	That's kind of what I understood from this article. My poor little firefly is going to always be just out of sync with his surroundings. I'm trying to decide whether he finds a group in which he is in sync or whether he finds a like-minded groups of independent fireflies that flash when they feel like it.

10-16-2013, 11:28 AM	#19
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	yeah sigh - I don't know which I want, or which is better.

10-18-2013, 03:14 PM	#21
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	do fireflies flash or blink on and off? I'm not sure which word to use.

10-18-2013, 10:39 PM	#22
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Thats a good question. I not sure there is an answer to it though, but I think of blink as being slower then flash, so I would go with blink since in my experience they turn on and off pretty slowly. Nothing like a flash from a camera.

10-19-2013, 05:30 PM	#25
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	ok,so I went with blink - that seemed to be the consensus. anyone want to beta read it? it's awfully short, but I can't think of anything I could add to it. second question: I have 2 collections that I can choose to finish by December 1: one aimed at 5-7 year old kids, and one aimed at 7-10yos. I'd need to come up with one to two more story ideas for the younger one (which should be no problem) and need to write up a story I have plotted for the older one.. In December, I really want to make a splash with which ever new collection I decide to go with: I've got a Netgalley slot in December, and figure I'll do Goodreads and Library Thing giveaways ending Dec 15. I'm hoping for a D&D bookbub promotion that first week in December as well. so - should I go with the younger-aimed one or the older one? The younger ones have been called "adorable" - the older ones are more aimed at making kids think a little bit.

10-19-2013, 08:40 PM	#26
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I'd say go with the one that is closer to completion, which sounds like the one for the older kids and get it out of the way then go back and work on the other.

10-20-2013, 01:32 PM	#28
Jane Oldaker Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 1018376 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Samsung G3 Tablet, Kobo Vox	The butterfly fairy stories sound fun - if it's coming out in December, maybe something Christmasy? Say if her magic often goes awry, what if she accidentally makes the Christmas tree and all the presents disappear while trying to put a special present under the? Denno if that helps, just popped into my head.

10-20-2013, 06:41 PM	#30
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I don't particularly want another Butterfly-Fairy story in this book; it's got 3 BF stories in it already. (she's been very popular with my beta readers, and will probably have her own book eventually). right now, both books are equally one story away from being done. I'll probably go with Fables and Fireflies, because I'm more in the mood to write light stories than I am to write the more serious one needed for the other collection. BF-writing mood is very hard to shake off, it seems.