need an idea - Page 3

Jane Oldaker · 10-21-2013, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

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.

Can't say that I really thought about it to be honest...

BeccaPrice · 10-21-2013, 08:19 AM

I have my equivalent of a Christmas story in my first collection, Dragons and Dreams. It's just that nobody recognizes it as such, and one reviewer totally missed the point of the story entirely. But that's ok - it's kind of a strange take on it. (If, by some chance, you have D&D, the story is Child of Promise)

maybe I'll write a Butterfly-Fairy Christmas story and publish it as a single. She seems to be an awfully popular character with my beta readers.

Jane Oldaker · 10-21-2013, 12:08 PM

All the best with that!

HarryT · 10-21-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I do not remember what you have done so far... how about a story about taking the easy way out... she uses her magic to short circuit hard work and it backfires making doing it right the second time much harder.

Sounds a bit too much like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".

BeccaPrice · 10-21-2013, 03:14 PM

What kind of gifts would a little butterfly fairy give to, say, a mouse or a mole? fireflies hibernate - not sure what else would be out and around for a butterfly fairy to give christmas gifts to...

and would it be too much breaking the idea of the magic in the field to have her wearing a mole-fur jacket to keep out the cold? If so, and I think it is, what kind of jacket could she wear to keep herself warm in the winter, if she decided one winter not to hibernate like the other butterfly fairies do?

HarryT · 10-21-2013, 03:58 PM

Fireflies most certainly do not hibernate

. They have a short adult lifespan - normally around 7-14 days; they basically only live long enough to mate and lay eggs.

BeccaPrice · 10-21-2013, 04:17 PM

oops. Can't go there, then.

VydorScope · 10-21-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sounds a bit too much like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".

Its a common theme in lots of stories but its really hard to come up with a NEW lesson that kids need to learn. I really think this up coming generation (at least in USA) really needs to learn the value of hard work. SO I guess I am biased.

BeccaPrice · 10-22-2013, 11:17 AM

Here's another question: why would a nocturnal creature be scared of the dark?

Matth79 · 10-22-2013, 11:57 AM

Because other things also come out in the dark, things that are bigger and fiercer than they are.

VydorScope · 10-22-2013, 01:03 PM

Because something once happened to them in the dark that stuck with them

BeccaPrice · 10-22-2013, 04:26 PM

What's a small nocturnal predator (not a cat)?

I'm sorry for asking these questions, but my meds are off, and I'm not sleeping (not not sleeping well, just not sleeping) and I've *really* got to write this story...

gmw · 10-22-2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

What's a small nocturnal predator (not a cat)?

I'm sorry for asking these questions, but my meds are off, and I'm not sleeping (not not sleeping well, just not sleeping) and I've *really* got to write this story...

Depends on the prey, depends on the setting. If the prey are insects then you could consider bats, mice, rats, shrews, some species of geckos ... not to forget spiders.

Most possums and opossums will eat insects, and some will eat small rodents and frogs apparently.

Owls are an option if a bird suits the story, depending on the species their prey can include insects or small rodents and frogs etc..

Snakes are another option, depending on where you are, some are active nocturnally.

HarryT · 10-23-2013, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

oops. Can't go there, then.

Did you genuinely think, Becca, that insects hibernated, or was that merely a plot device for the book?

crich70 · 10-23-2013, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Fireflies most certainly do not hibernate

. They have a short adult lifespan - normally around 7-14 days; they basically only live long enough to mate and lay eggs.

Bees are another that die with the coming of Winter. At least the males do. The workers force the male bees (who fertilize the queens eggs) out of the hive and they freeze to death.

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10-21-2013, 08:19 AM	#32
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I have my equivalent of a Christmas story in my first collection, Dragons and Dreams. It's just that nobody recognizes it as such, and one reviewer totally missed the point of the story entirely. But that's ok - it's kind of a strange take on it. (If, by some chance, you have D&D, the story is Child of Promise) maybe I'll write a Butterfly-Fairy Christmas story and publish it as a single. She seems to be an awfully popular character with my beta readers.

10-21-2013, 12:08 PM	#33
Jane Oldaker Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 1018376 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Samsung G3 Tablet, Kobo Vox	All the best with that!

10-21-2013, 03:14 PM	#35
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	What kind of gifts would a little butterfly fairy give to, say, a mouse or a mole? fireflies hibernate - not sure what else would be out and around for a butterfly fairy to give christmas gifts to... and would it be too much breaking the idea of the magic in the field to have her wearing a mole-fur jacket to keep out the cold? If so, and I think it is, what kind of jacket could she wear to keep herself warm in the winter, if she decided one winter not to hibernate like the other butterfly fairies do?

10-21-2013, 03:58 PM	#36
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Fireflies most certainly do not hibernate . They have a short adult lifespan - normally around 7-14 days; they basically only live long enough to mate and lay eggs.

10-21-2013, 04:17 PM	#37
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	oops. Can't go there, then.

10-22-2013, 11:17 AM	#39
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Here's another question: why would a nocturnal creature be scared of the dark?

10-22-2013, 11:57 AM	#40
Matth79 Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 502620 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Because other things also come out in the dark, things that are bigger and fiercer than they are.

10-22-2013, 01:03 PM	#41
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Because something once happened to them in the dark that stuck with them

10-22-2013, 04:26 PM	#42
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	What's a small nocturnal predator (not a cat)? I'm sorry for asking these questions, but my meds are off, and I'm not sleeping (not not sleeping well, just not sleeping) and I've really got to write this story...