tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post7520517016953964533..comments2023-08-20T03:57:22.983-07:00Comments on Elaine Stock--Author***Everyone’s Story Blog: Sean E. Thomas: Making The Best Of All SituationsElaine Stockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-54818826739202272852012-07-21T21:07:55.327-07:002012-07-21T21:07:55.327-07:00You're welcome......You're welcome......Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-51822434105344200952012-07-21T07:25:26.631-07:002012-07-21T07:25:26.631-07:00Thanks for the links, Sean. I know it'll be a ...Thanks for the links, Sean. I know it'll be a big help(I need all the help I can get:).I read through your writing advice below too...thanks for the great tips! I just finished my 1st draft...so now it's rewrite time. Didn't think of reading the MS out loud...will do that!Lorna Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00324347592448738533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-20700468925472487992012-07-20T11:33:10.132-07:002012-07-20T11:33:10.132-07:00Sean, you beat me to thanking you for being a wond...Sean, you beat me to thanking you for being a wonderful guest on Everyone's Story. Thanks you for sharing many tales about Alaska and for all those helpful writing tips. I'm sure viewers have appreciated it.<br /><br />Blessings to you, and your family. I have just prayed for your health to remain good and that you stay in good cheer.Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-3140400457958264972012-07-20T00:35:28.978-07:002012-07-20T00:35:28.978-07:00Thank you for the opportunity to be on your Blog. ...Thank you for the opportunity to be on your Blog. Take Care and the Best....... };-)Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-72274875924314340672012-07-19T15:23:53.759-07:002012-07-19T15:23:53.759-07:00Ah... now the truth comes out: you're married ...Ah... now the truth comes out: you're married to a saint of a woman who bears the powerful red pen.Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-39791175376102698482012-07-19T14:58:47.155-07:002012-07-19T14:58:47.155-07:00I follow the advice of others such as Nancy Moore:...I follow the advice of others such as Nancy Moore: I am more and more convinced that when a writer reaches the stage when he can ruthlessly eliminate whole phrases and paragraphs without feeling he's cutting off chunks of his heart, he's passed one of the most important milestones in the business. Falling in love with your own words is an untenable luxury, fatal as well as foolish. ***Then of course for my work, I have further ace in the hole for help---a journalist with 35 years of experience and a nasty red pen....My lovely bride of many years.....<br />DeleteSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-62084188101501253352012-07-19T14:57:34.173-07:002012-07-19T14:57:34.173-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-68337086807999492972012-07-19T12:58:36.544-07:002012-07-19T12:58:36.544-07:00This is so true, Sean. I found my writing started ...This is so true, Sean. I found my writing started to sing a bit more once I sat back and started to enjoy the trip my characters were taking me on.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing these awesome tips.Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-52291437340145549072012-07-19T12:54:29.991-07:002012-07-19T12:54:29.991-07:00More advice: Try to enjoy the writing itself. Don...More advice: Try to enjoy the writing itself. Don't even think about publication. Just focus on making every sentence, every paragraph, every page the very best you can make it. Then, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite until the work is even better! Suzanne LieuranceSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-48112083563881944012012-07-19T12:53:36.682-07:002012-07-19T12:53:36.682-07:00More advice: You have to write a lot. And you hav...More advice: You have to write a lot. And you have to rewrite what you wrote a lot more. Holly BlackSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-29591056161246516842012-07-18T11:59:39.488-07:002012-07-18T11:59:39.488-07:00Plotting is about desire and satisfaction, anticip...Plotting is about desire and satisfaction, anticipation and release. You have to arouse your reader's desire to know what happens, to unravel the mystery, to see good triumph. You have to sustain it, keep it warm, feed it, just a little bit, not too much at a time, as your story goes on. That's called suspense. It can bring desire to a frenzy, in which case you are in a good position to bring off a wonderful climax. <br /> Colin GreenlandSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-36923372331910737672012-07-18T11:55:04.154-07:002012-07-18T11:55:04.154-07:00Inspiration: And it does no harm to repeat, as oft...Inspiration: And it does no harm to repeat, as often as you can, 'Without me the literary industry would not exist: the publishers, the agents, the sub-agents, the sub-sub-agents, the accountants, the libel lawyers, the departments of literature, the professors, the theses, the books of criticism, the reviewers, the book pages- all this vast and proliferating edifice is because of this small, patronized, put-down and underpaid person. Doris LessingSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-14919636731595469062012-07-18T11:50:01.280-07:002012-07-18T11:50:01.280-07:00Here's some advice that may help inspire you: ...Here's some advice that may help inspire you: It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms; the great devotions; and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Franklin RooseveltSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-39748323980235176382012-07-18T11:45:06.375-07:002012-07-18T11:45:06.375-07:00Great writing tips, Sean! Thanks much for sharing....Great writing tips, Sean! Thanks much for sharing.<br /><br />Here's a couple of questions: what book are you reading now and why is it holding your attention?Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-88492990144392652782012-07-18T11:42:49.719-07:002012-07-18T11:42:49.719-07:00Writing isn't just on the page; it's voice...Writing isn't just on the page; it's voices in the reader's head. Read what you write out loud to someone—anyone—and you will catch all kinds of things. Donna Jo NapoliSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-83698330410088478022012-07-18T11:40:42.884-07:002012-07-18T11:40:42.884-07:00Wait as much time between revisions as possible. J...Wait as much time between revisions as possible. Just close the document. Resist that urge to open it and read your wonderful opening page just one more time. Seriously. Resist it. P.J. HooverSean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-46723485914308173632012-07-17T21:39:23.925-07:002012-07-17T21:39:23.925-07:00After you finish with your final draft wait one mo...After you finish with your final draft wait one month. Then put it into single spaced with the dimensions of a novel. This way you'll discover errors and sentences that need tightening. After that have a wordsmith carefully go over your novel. After that reread and correct again. Streamline and then set it down for a period again and reread. You'll find it makes a great difference in your final product.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-11344938275855803042012-07-17T15:31:24.481-07:002012-07-17T15:31:24.481-07:00Want an idea for your novel just watch the news, r...Want an idea for your novel just watch the news, read the newspaper or read a magazine. Unfortunately, truth is stranger than fiction so you have to temper your work to make it believable. This year, I submitted two of my novels. One received an award the other had a talking computer which the reviewer thought was not realistic. Well, I wondered what century the reviewer was from since we've had talking computers for years in reality and fiction. Next year, I'll be submitting three novels for the Alaska Professional Communicators' State wide competition one which has a talking computer used in targeting quarry. Hopefully, the reviewers will have heard of SIRUS, etc.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-44092985384443755222012-07-17T14:43:05.279-07:002012-07-17T14:43:05.279-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-56339866825574328072012-07-16T13:41:36.633-07:002012-07-16T13:41:36.633-07:00Here are current authors who inspire me: Robert Pa...Here are current authors who inspire me: Robert Parker, early works of Dean R Koontz and his myriad of Pseudonyms, early works of Stephen King, and James Patterson.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-3636344145996826062012-07-16T12:11:34.024-07:002012-07-16T12:11:34.024-07:00Another way to stay inspired is to attend writing ...Another way to stay inspired is to attend writing conferences. Here you can rub shoulders with other authors and seminar leaders, learn new techniques, make new contacts that can help you, and come out excited. About three years ago, I attended a conference that changed my lead ins/hooks to my novels. Lost Legion---THUD. THUD. THUD. The door shook. Stalker---He owned her. Deadly Rites---God commanded him. I try to attend at least a conference once a year. This keeps me charged. Another techniques is to take seminars and/or university classes as an audit. If you take the class for credit you have lots of home work and little time for your novels.....Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-34560386732027723432012-07-16T11:56:05.980-07:002012-07-16T11:56:05.980-07:00One of my best buds was ordered to go with them, b...One of my best buds was ordered to go with them, but he was clearing post to go to another assignment. He tactfully told them to pound sand. Legally you can't be put on any assignment or duty while clearing. The surviving members of the Battalion staff destroyed him on an efficiency report, destroying his career because of this. We both went to the University of Idaho, were in the Army air defense together and still keep in contact. He currently works for Boeing and has written books on project project management and is quite famous. He's married has a lovely wife and daughter and lives in Redmond, WA http://www.facebook.com/ralph.kliem http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ralph-kliem/3/754/550 http://www.spoke.com/info/p3FH5kK/RalphKliem Now he's begun to write fiction. He's another that provides me inspiration.Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-65312233783322277322012-07-16T05:24:12.128-07:002012-07-16T05:24:12.128-07:00Cool background information for anyone wanting to ...Cool background information for anyone wanting to set a story in Alaska... but my heart goes out to families and friends who have lost loved ones. And as for you: what a close call! Thank God you weren't on that plane!Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-33016603108309109232012-07-15T15:14:53.673-07:002012-07-15T15:14:53.673-07:00You're welcome...One things great about Alaska...You're welcome...One things great about Alaska and mysteries is that there have been numerous plane crashes and the even after large searches, the planes and bodies have never been found. Circa spring 1976 (while in the military at a Nike Hercules air defense battalion), I lost my boss, our incoming and outgoing battalion commanders, and command sergeant major on a C-12 Beechcraft on its way to Illiamna. It was a white out that day. The pilot requested 10,000 foot clearance and FAA controller granted the request. Mt Illiamna is 10,006 feet. Searchers found a burned spot at the 10,000 foot level but never found the bodies. Illiamna has a 300 foot deep snow pack at its base. The only thing that saved me from being on the plane was that I was the only qualified air battle controller in the state (tactical director). Maybe in the back of my mind my novel Dark Gold #4 (a plane crashing on a glacier with tons of gold) was based on the incident. Over the years, people wander off into the wilderness and have never been found. Recently, a man got lost on the Mount Marathon Race . . . http://www.adn.com/2012/07/09/2536715/rule-changes-coming-to-mount-marathon.html That's what makes Alaska a great place for serial killers to hide bodies (Robert Hansen).Sean E Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08388792825353094183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009438219696051817.post-28487841061541668222012-07-15T14:36:15.239-07:002012-07-15T14:36:15.239-07:00Sean, this is some pretty fascinating info on Alas...Sean, this is some pretty fascinating info on Alaska and volcanos that you're sharing with viewers. Thanks so much!Elaine Stockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349776598113016833noreply@blogger.com