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I found that I couldn't use the network managers in BT3 on my 701 4G either (actually I can't get the atheros chip to connect to any WPA network so I just guessed it wouldn't support it and haven't had a chance to look further at it) so I just scripted the connect-to-wep commands (ssid, assoc, key, dhclient etc.) and use that.
Have you tried from the command line the actual network setup?


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Chagrin Falls hosting a popcorn drop for New Year's Eve
(Chagrin Falls) Chagrin Falls is ringing in the New Year in a new way this year. The town is holding a celebration in the square with the midnight lowering of a popcorn ball made with real popcorn from Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop.
The family friendly event will feature free hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies as well as plenty of music and entertainment. The popcorn ball will drop at midnight at Triangle Park. After the ball drops, the town police chief will fire a canon.
Tom Florkiewicz is a Chagrin Falls Township Trustee and says they drew inspiration for the event from a documentary about a possum drop in Brasstown, North Carolina. Florkiewicz says Marion, Ohio also has a popcorn drop, but the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Drop is the only one to use real popcorn for the ball.
Florkiewicz says the mayor, police chief, and village council are all involved in the event. "It's a combination of all the people in Chagrin Falls coming together and having a little celebration."
Florkiewicz says he hopes this year's event will turn into a tradition.
Get breaking news sent to your mobile phone.Text "news" to 21095.
(Copyright 2013 Clear Channel, all rights reserved.)

subset: commoncrawl


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So, it's been ten years…Now that you've had a decade to chew on these films, I'd be curious to know what you would now choose as your top 5, 10, or 20 of 2001.It's a list that includes titles that weren't accessible in the U.S. until 2001, with the exception of a festival or two. It's quite a bit different than how I'd rated my favorites in 2001, although my favorite is *still* my favorite. … [Read more...]
Your favorite films of 2001?
June 29, 2011 by


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The Decoration of Arms and Armor Saint Petersburg
Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1600–1800 A.D.
"Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection": The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 49, no. 1 (Summer, 1991) Recent Acquisitions: A Selection, 1986–1987
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide provides a comprehensive view of art history spanning five millennia and the entire globe.
Experience the best of human creativity from every corner of the globe at The Met.
Explore highlights of the collection through a variety of tours.
The easiest way to see what's happening at The Met every day—wherever you are.


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Garden Artisans specializes in sourcing Garden Decor to meet the needs of homeowners as well as talented professional landscapers, architects and garden designers.
Garden designs require variety in size and shape – garden décor of one size just won't do.
Our line of window hayrack planters and coco fiber replacement liners are top of the line. Styled after the Tom Chambers hayracks, we ensure our wrought iron window boxes and hayrack type planters maintain the same heavy-gauge steel you have come to rely on – no skinny steel here. Each hayrack style is thickly coated in black plastic for the ultimate in weather protection and offered in a variety of sizes.
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We add new products throughout the year - the best way to stay abreast of these changes is to join us on Facebook or Join our Mailing List. As a way to say thank you to our loyal Facebook fans, we set fanbase goals and periodically choose beautiful garden décor pieces to give away to one lucky fan.
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Student Scores
If you are enrolled in Historical Geology during the current term you can view a list of your scores on all of the assignments to date using the grade server program. Just type in your PIN and password below and then press the "Find my grades" button. If you have forgotten your PIN or password, or have questions about any of your scores, please contact your instructor.
Also, note that grades from previous semesters are not available here. If you are a current student they can be obtained by viewing or printing your unofficial transcript from the Navigator page. Otherwise, official transcripts can be obtained from the registrar's office.
Score Distribution
The histogram below shows where your score falls in the class distribution. The plot displays the cumulative scores of all students who are currently enrolled in Historical Geology. Note that instead of grades the histogram is divided into ranges for satisfactory (S = A, B or C) and unsatisfactory (U = D or F) scores. A U* in the gradebook, which means that a student is earning an unsatisfactory grade because at least one of his or her writing assignments is missing, is not reflected on this graph.
Participation and Success
Woody Allen once said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." It's not that simple in college, of course, but we do expect students who participate regularly to earn higher scores in their classes than those who do not. The plots below show how students' scores are correlated with their attendances and the percentages of assignments they have submitted (two proxies for participation) in Historical Geology. Note that in these plots each symbol may denote more than one student and the red star marks the class average.


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MINNEAPOLIS - Metta World Peace may have just played his last game with the Lakers.
The Lakers estimated World Peace will remain sidelined for at least six weeks after he has surgery today to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.
World Peace will miss the rest of the Lakers' 10 regular-season games over the next three weeks. He could return as early as the Western Conference semifinals in early May, assuming the Lakers make the playoffs and advance past the first round. The Lakers (37-35) have a one-game lead over the Utah Jazz (36-36) for the eighth playoff spot.
"I can't wait to get back, but our team is so good," tweeted World Peace, who is on crutches. "We will win and get into the playoffs."
No one ever said World Peace wasn't optimistic. He tweeted Tuesday night he'd return within 1 1/2 weeks, a wildly inaccurate prediction he promptly deleted.
It's not off base, though, to predict World Peace's appearance in the Lakers' loss Monday to Golden State marked the last time he'll wear a Lakers uniform.
He considered the conversation "a little premature," but Metta World Peace's agent said "all options are possible" regarding the Lakers forward's potential free agency this offseason.
"Everything should always be open," Marc Cornstein, World Peace's agent, said in a phone interview with this newspaper. "You always should explore all options if they're available to you."
World Peace could opt out of his $7.7 million player option in hopes of seeking a long-term extension. He also could exercise it to play out the final year of his contract for the 2013-14 season. Either decision carries a certain amount of risk.
Should World Peace exercise his option, the Lakers could waive him using the one-time amnesty provision in hopes of clearing space within their current $100 million payroll.
Should World Peace opt out, there's a chance the Lakers wouldn't re-sign him for the same reason. At age 33, it's unlikely World Peace would attract much interest in the open market.
"There hasn't been a conclusion made," Cornstein said. "We haven't had much discussion about it."
World Peace has averaged 12.8 points on 40.5 percent shooting, his highest scoring output in four seasons with the Lakers. He's also appeared in better shape than in recent years.
"He's a ferocious player and extremely physical," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said. "He gives us that emotional boost when we're out there."
Miami's streak comes to an end
The Lakers seemed relieved over the Miami Heat losing Wednesday to the Chicago Bulls. That loss snapped the Heat's 27-game winning streak, ensuring the 1971-72 Lakers hold the NBA's record for most consecutive wins (33).
"As a student of the game and fan of the game, you appreciate those kind of streaks," Bryant said. "The Lakers winning 33 in a row is phenomenal.
"The Heat's is just as impressive."
Second Opinion
The ruling doesn't eradicate Dwight Howard needing three stitches to stop the bleeding on his lower lip. But the NBA retroactively assessed a flagrant foul type 1 on Golden State forward David Lee for his elbow to Howard in the second quarter of the Lakers' loss to the Warriors on Monday.
"I don't really care," Howard said, "It's late now. There's nothing we can do about it."
Howard then fouled Lee and drew a technical after jawing with him. Howard also suggested he'd retaliate when the Lakers play April 12 against Golden State, comments he then clarified.
"I'm not going to do anything stupid the next time we play these guys to jeopardize myself, jeopardize our team and jeopardize his career," Howard said. "The way to retaliate is to go out and dominate and let the game do the work."
Count the rings
Phil Jackson always had a way of reaching players.
The former Lakers coach just took another step by opening a Twitter account.
"11 champ;ipnsikp[ ringhs", Jackson tweeted.
The typos served as an intentional marketing move to promote his upcoming book titled "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," scheduled for a late May release. Jackson won five of his 11 NBA titles in two separate stints with the Lakers (1999-2004, 2005-2011).


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Greg T's #TopicTrain: Messy Girlfriends, Apple Sauce and Break-Up Excuses!
GIRLFRIEND IS A PIG: Is your girlfriend really hot, but a total slob?
APPLE SAUCE: One a scale of 1-10, how much do you like apple sauce?
WORST BREAK-UP EXCUSE: What is the worst break-up excuse you've ever given? Did someone give a WEAK reason to break-up with you?
POSTERS: Do you still have posters on your wall? What kind of poster? Aren't you too old for posters?
FOUND ON THE FLOOR: What amazing thing have you found on the floor, sidewalk or street? Did someone drop a true treasure that you picked-up?


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'"I had a better understanding with this one," said Gerbe, who also suffered a concussion in December 2008. "I had one three years ago, and I learned from that. Things I did then, I didn't do now. Just little things differently to help."'
December 29, 2011 Submitted by
Via: Buffalo News


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- Product Information
Product DescriptionPerfect for handing out the booty to all your little pirates! Our plastic 8 3/4" x 7 1/8" black and white striped Pirate Loot Bags are printed on one side only and feature a flag with a jolly roger accent. Each pack of Pirate Loot Bags comes with 8 per pack. Please order in increments of 1 pack.
- Questions & Answers
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Night Golf Information for Hosting a Night Golf Outing
Check out this helpful guide to our night golf party supplies, decorations, glow products, and more for your next night golf event
10 Must-Haves for a Glow Party
Glow Parties are becoming the number one party theme for teens and young adults. Be sure to include these party items in your party decor when throwing your own Glow Party event!
A Guide to our Glow and LED Barware
Serve up some fun at your next party or event when you use our cool glow and LED drinkware!


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On History
Special Agents: The Women of SOEBy Simon Mawer
They ranged from girls barely out of high school to mature mothers, from working-class women to aristocrats, from the plain to the beautiful, from the prim and proper to wild high-lifers. The only women from the Western Allies to bear arms in action during the Second World War, they suffered torture, the misery of the concentration camps, and death at the hands of Nazi butchers. They were a band of sisters such as has not been seen before or since, and the only thing they had in common was language—they all spoke French. Now, sixty-seven years after peace broke out in Europe, all but one or two are dead. They are the women agents of the Special Operations Executive, the special force founded in 1940 on the explicit orders of Winston Churchill to "set Europe ablaze." Read More


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Classic Victorian Skirted Base Tub With Tub fill And Handheld Shower
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A traditional 19th century style, our reproduction of a rolled-rim skirted tub is built deep and faultlessly finished. Offering a spa-worthy soak, our extra-large size features a slanted back at the perfect angle of repose.
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For all you concert junkies, Facebook now meets concerts as TicketForce has just made purchasing tickets online even easier, joining forces with said social media platform.
Lynne King Smith, CEO of TicketForce, announced they will be merging ticket sales with the social media powerhouse in hopes to create an all-inclusive process for potential concert goers.
"We push the mark," Smith said. "[We] take it a step further and have everything right in front you – [a] buy tickets tab."
TicketForce acknowledges the impact of social media, as Facebook has jumped to the No. 2 spot in all U.S. Internet traffic in 2010 — just behind powerhouse Google, according to Alexa.com.
TicketForce's website advocates to "Take your ticketing Social," and that's exactly what they're doing with Facebook. The social media giant Facebook has crossed borders other social media sites such as Myspace and Friendster never have. Facebook — in comparison to Myspace and Friendster — provide users a more professional and legitimate medium for online marketing and sales.
Smith strongly acknowledged the influence of the social media explosion in recent years, which allows TicketForce to be "very fluid and flexible…the company is able to respond [to customers] instantaneously."
Smith said TicketForce initially developed the idea a year and a half ago but just recently gathered the company and developers together to make it a reality. As this Mesa-based company continues to grow, they recognize the downfall of many ticketing agencies.
Smith made the point of minimal processing fees, which over the years Ticketmaster has increased.
However, TicketForce utilizes white label ticketing solutions, which in effect removes private agencies from the purchasing process and "makes the ticketing process more relationship based," Smith said. This allows for minimal fees, usually between $.50 and $2.00.
TicketForce offers an all-inclusive website where customers can utilize a user-friendly guide to shows playing nearby, a live Twitter stream and links to various other social media sites including Facebook.
"Our approach to business is to stay out of the way," Smith said, and she stresses how important positive customer relations is for their business.
TicketForce has truly expanded their influence in the ticketing world far beyond Maricopa County. They offer tickets in 48 states and Canada, and show no signs of slowing down.
For more information, visit www.Ticketforce.com, or check them out on Facebook.


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January 30, 2007
An update on the educational campaign of 'Turning the D into an A', the Collaborative Efforts of the Families of September 11 and the Nuclear Threat Initiative Project
Turning the D into an A:A Project to Help Prevent Nuclear Terrorism
January 2007 Update
New Nuclear Smuggling Case Is A Wake Up Call
There was an alarming news report last week about a man who was caught smuggling stolen weapons-grade highly enriched uranium, material that could be used to make a nuclear bomb (Click to read the New York Times or Associated Press stories).
This incident should be a wake-up call to all of us. The threat of nuclear terrorism is real.
Take Action. Just Five Minutes Can Make a Difference
Please take the time now to send a message to your elected officials. Ask them to get personally involved and make preventing nuclear terrorism their top priority. More than 500 letters have already been sent - please add yours. Click here to go to our action center
and send your message.
A "Turning the D into an A" Progress Report
With your help, the Safer World Action Network is making a difference.
In just the last few months:
Together we can make a safer world.
Report from the field:
We had another successful public event last week, this time at Georgetown University. More than 200 people turned out for a screening of the movie Last Best Chance, followed by a debate and question and answer period.
The program opened with an overview of the "Turning the D into an A" program and a reminder to the audience to sign in or visit www.saferworld.org
We showed the "Turning the D into an A" ads and the movie. After the movie, Dean Robert Gallucci and Professor Dan Byman debated the issue before opening the program up to questions from the audience.
Get Involved. Want to host a screening in your hometown? Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com and we can help you get started.


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M.A. and M.F.A. film and television programs launched at SCAD Atlanta
Savannah College of Art and Design, the premier provider of higher education in creative fields, announced today that it will offer two new degree programs at its Atlanta location beginning Fall 2013: Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in film and television. Previously, the M.A. and M.F.A. in film and television were offered exclusively at SCAD Savannah.
"Well-suited to Atlanta's metropolitan environment — home to top networks within the ninth largest television market in the U.S. — graduate film and television programs at SCAD Atlanta will prepare the new breed of filmmakers to cross platforms between film, TV, Web, and branded and interactive entertainment," said Gokhan Ozaysin, Ph.D., SCAD chief academic officer.
The film and television master's programs at SCAD Atlanta will provide students access to complementary programs like motion media design, advertising, animation and visual effects. Top careers in the industry include positions such as documentary filmmaker, editor, post-production supervisor, director of photography, production designer, location manager, art director, producer and more.
With access to SCAD Atlanta's 60,000-square-foot Digital Media Center and a high-definition TV studio, graduate film and television students will create music videos, commercials, branded entertainment, Web series, talk shows, sitcoms and other content for their studio projects. SCAD Atlanta's convenient location in the heart of Midtown affords students immediate access to industry contacts and field assignments.
"Expanding SCAD's graduate degrees in film and television beyond Savannah brings students into even closer contact with opportunities proliferating just beyond our doorstep," said Chris Auer, chair of SCAD's film and television department. "We prepare students for creative careers, and the addition of these degree programs to SCAD Atlanta perfectly illustrates our mission."
Program coursework will be supplemented by events such as aTVfest, an international festival that brings together professionals from all spheres of content production to discuss industry trends and showcase the best work in the field. Tickets for aTVfest 2014, slated for Feb. 6-8, are available for purchase at atvfest.com.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu and follow @scaddotedu on Twitter.


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Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Revision Checklist
- Does your protagonist alternate between up and down moments, with the most intense towards the end?
- Are you able to trace the major plot arcs throughout the book? Do they have up and down moments?
- Do you have enough conflict?
- Does the reader see both the best and worst characteristics of your main characters?
- Do your characters have backstories and histories? Do these impact the plot?
- Is the pacing correct for your genre? Is it consistent?
- Is your voice consistent? Is it overly chatty or sarcastic?
- Is the tense completely consistent? Is the perspective consistent?
- Is there sufficient description that your reader feels grounded in the characters' world?
- Is there too much description? (David R. Slayton)
- Are momentous events given the weight they deserve?
- Look closely at each chapter. If you can take out a chapter and the plot will still make sense, is it really necessary? Should some events be folded in with others?
- Do the relationships between your characters develop and change and become more complicated as the book goes on?
- What do your characters want? Is it apparent to the reader? Do they have both conscious and unconscious motivations?
- Do you know what your writing tics are? Do you overuse adverbs, metaphors, facial expressions, non-"said" dialogue tags, or interjections? Have you removed them?
- Do you overuse certain words or phrases? Is your word choice perfect throughout?
- Does your book come to a completely satisfying conclusion? Does it feel rushed?
- Do your main characters emerge from the book irrevocably changed?
- Are your characters distinguishable? Does it make sense to combine minor characters? (Kiersten)
- Do each of your scenes make dramatic sense on their own as well as move the overall plot forward? (Pete Peterson)
Please add your own in the comments section and I'll continue to update the post with the best suggestions.
186 comments:
- Kiersten said...
I've found that some of my side characters can be combined so the reader has to remember fewer names and the characters have greater impact.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM
- Julie Weathers said...
This is an invaluable checklist.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:16 PM
- Julie Weathers said...
I've found that some of my side characters can be combined so the reader has to remember fewer names and the characters have greater impact.--Kiersten
I just finished doing that. It does make a difference.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM
remember yesterday's blog post?
My word verification should be added:
- June 9, 2009 at 2:19 PM
I've learned in a character-heavy ms to refer to some characters by their last names, it's easier for a reader to identify the surname "Solarno" or "Tellis" as one of the bad guys than if he has the name Kevin, Matt, Todd, etc.
The first four of your list are the hardest, imo, and probably what keeps lots of books unsold.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:22 PM
- Lisa Schroeder said...
aHave you created a main character who we can relate to? Who we empathize with? Just a few ways you can do this:
Good at something, has a strength
Liked or loved by someone else
Has a familiar flaw
Shows forgiveness
- June 9, 2009 at 2:24 PM
- Ink said...
Do individual names stand out or do they blur together and become indistinguishable?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:24 PM
- Scott said...
This is a huge help, Nathan. Thank you!
- June 9, 2009 at 2:25 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Nice list - w/ my recent work, I feel fairly confident about all of these (except, perhaps, the description part)... the key for me for this vs certain other stories I've written is that I cared about the characters far more... so along those lines (which can probably be inferred by several of your points - e.g., best and worst characteristics - but not necessarily)...
Does the reader experience sympathy /empathy for your characters (not just protags)?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:25 PM
- Ink said...
Do you make use of all five senses where appropriate?
(a biggie, I think)
- June 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM
- Ink said...
Does anything interrupt the "dream vision" of the story?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:29 PM
- Anthony said...
If you read the dialog aloud, does it sound like real people talking?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:29 PM
- Ink said...
Do you have a hook?
This is too much fun. I'm going to be here all day. All I need now is a crumpet and I'll be set.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM
- Hilabeans said...
Wow! Great list - especially #4.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
"Is your word choice perfect throughout?"
BTW - this one sux big time; I used to be far less critical of my own writing; now the writing's far superior to what I did even a couple of years ago, but I'm never pleased with it; eventually I'll settle on something that conveys what I want fluidly, but I'm fairly certain that I'll never believe it's perfect (though, to comfort myself, I'm 99.99% certain there is no just thing as a perfect book)
- June 9, 2009 at 2:32 PM
- David R. Slayton said...
Is there too much description? I think a lot of times it's just as easy to go the other way with that.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:32 PM
- Ina said...
Does your dialog reveal something new about the characters or the plot?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:39 PM
- Rick Daley said...
Can you sit back and read through it without a compulsive need to continue changing it?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
David - great point - e.g., Robert Jordan.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
Yes, in answer to all your questions. :)
Does my book have an ending, meaning the final chapter? Not yet.
Here's a question about something I strive for in my writing and love to find in novels, not always found in best-sellers: Is your writing elegant?
Another question: Is there symbolism present to enrich the story?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM
- Ink said...
Are actions and reactions ligcally connected? Are events causally related? (Also known as "How to avoid deus ex machina)
- June 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Does that ever happen? My Beta readers will absolutely adore my MS, and I continously grow bored with it. I just finished a final revision and am afraid to read over it again, I know I will see something to change.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:45 PM
- Melanie Avila said...
Wow, this post came at the perfect time. I'm a couple days away from finishing line edits on my fourth draft and these are all the questions I've been asking myself -- plus a couple I haven't.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:45 PM
- Holly Bodger said...
1. Are you showing rather than telling? Ask yourself this question for every single sentence!
2. Does the narrator know the information he/she is giving the reader and does it make sense for them to share it?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:45 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Everyone is making really good suggestions. I may not be adding all to the main post because I'm going to stick to the most universal ones, and some of the suggestions here might apply to some genres but not others.
But the comment thread will also be a great place to go for more ideas.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Do your section and chapter breaks end with strong enough hooks to pull the reader forward?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:46 PM
- Lunatic said...
Do you introduce new characters and settings at a pace that doesn't overwhelm the reader?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:48 PM
- RW said...
Does the resolution to the conflict arise from who the central character is at heart? If the resolution doesn't depend on them, why are we following them?
- June 9, 2009 at 2:49 PM
- Mira said...
This is a wonderful list - very helpful. I like that you've gone right for the important things first - plot arc, conflict, pacing. I love the idea of a readable checklist for this.
I do wonder, though, about one thing you said: not having too chatty or sarcastic a voice. That was an interesting one. I do think you have to be very careful not to distract from the story.
My 'voice' tends to be chatty to the point of being almost intimate, and I think I can make it work. Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) also uses a 'chatty' narrator to great effect.
I guess in fiction, the trick is if you have a 'chatty' narrator, then they become a character in addition to the others. That's how Daniel Hanlder handles it.
Also, sadly, I have to disagree with one other point. One can never have too many adverbs.
Adverbs are my life. I've started to go through all my books, and add them in myself. There just aren't enough adverbs in the world.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:53 PM
- Diana said...
Great list Nathan. But if I take away #8 - chatty and sarcastic, I have nothing left; I'm a one trick pony. Sigh.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:56 PM
- Jason Crawford said...
Are there holes and/or contradictions in the plot or in character behavior?
For example:
Susie hopped a train to New York in Chap 5, but Jack asks her if she enjoyed her flight she arrives in Chap 6.
Susie has a arachnophobia in Chap 3, but has no qualms about the tarantula her crawling up her arm in Chap 9.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Mira, you are awesomely freakishly admirably hilarious!
Will you add them to my books, too? You are so much better at it.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:58 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
mira and diana-
I said overly chatty and sarcastic.
- June 9, 2009 at 2:59 PM
- Jason Crawford said...
Also making sure you read through your edits BEFORE you post them....sorry for al the typos above. :)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:00 PM
- - Eadyn's Calling said...
Just the post I need, as I'm going to be working through revision on my book in a few months. :) Thanks!
- June 9, 2009 at 3:03 PM
- allegory19 said...
Kiersten and Julie - I did the same thing yesterday. I kept feeling like I was creating new characters when maybe I didn't need to. I'm surprised by how much better that made my MS.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:04 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
RTFP, ladies :p
Holly, great point about showing, though narrative telling in some places is sometimes useful.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:04 PM
- suelder said...
Can you identify what the story is about - the theme?
Is it clear in the first chapter?
*this is the one that helps me to pare down the story from 180K - if it doesn't echo the theme, it goes.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Is the point of the novel to tell a story rather than beat the reader over the head with a moral? Or does the entire work read like a sermon or an episode of a bad 80's cartoon?
Personally, any time I read the back of a book and it mentions a character learning "what's really important in life," I gag a little. I say, if you have to get preachy, sneak it in the back door, and cushion it with humor. Do it gracefully, not aggressively. That's the difference between a writer like Terry Pratchett and one of those authors whose cover is pastel and sparkly. Not naming names.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:12 PM
- Whirlochre said...
Do you repeat yourself — lines, paragraphs, chapters, themes?
- June 9, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Nathan, on the first one do you mean something like Sophie Kinsella's books where the story goes on for most of the book and THEN gets to the plot twist? Example: Confessions of a Shopaholic-- the plot twist doesn't come until near the end and we're asked to sit through the main character's shopping addictions for however many (too many) pages.
Or am I too anal about making my plot arcs within the first 30 pages? Where else does not doing this work? (I'm not sure it really works in the Shopaholic book.)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:13 PM
- Kristi said...
This is a fabulous list. I like Ink's five senses suggestion, as I think about that in every scene. The only thing I'd add to the revision process is to have beta readers read the book, preferably with Nathan's checklist by their side. I think sometimes it's hard to be objective when you've been obsessing over the same manuscript for months and a fresh pair of eyes can identify problem areas more easily.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:14 PM
- Mira said...
Nathan - it's a good point. I'm not disagreeing with you, more discussing it. It's just very interesting for me, because my natural 'voice' is chatty and personal. So, where to find that line. One can easily distract from the story if you make the narrator too visible. You have to be really careful.
Bane - what does RTFP mean?
Anon 11:58 - Thank you. I'd be honored. Adverb advocates must bond together.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:17 PM
- Margaret Yang said...
Have you used the word "toward" correctly, without an S on the end, if you are an American? (Pet peeve, can you tell?)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:18 PM
- Lunatic said...
Is your word count still vithin acceptable parameters. (I don't know about anyone else, but my word count can really fluctuate sometimes when I'm revising, in either direction)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:23 PM
- Zoe Winters said...
My characters roll their eyes too much. I've considered poking their eyeballs out with a spork. Or at least threatening it for each infraction.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Does your dialect agree with the time period, location of book, nationality of character, age of character? Is grammar getting in the way of the true way a person's speech sound?
I personally think grammar in the wrong areas take away from voice.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:25 PM
- Hilabeans said...
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King
Mira disagrees irrevocably, wholeheartedly, unreservedly, unabashedly … my brain aches now. Too many stinkin' adverbs.
Nathan, what's your verdict on the adverb debate?
- June 9, 2009 at 3:30 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Everything in moderation.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:31 PM
- Drgnwrtr said...
Does your dialogue move the story forward or are your characters just talking to take up white space on the page?
- June 9, 2009 at 3:34 PM
- Scott said...
Excellent list, Nathan.
Universal but perhaps a bit too general, I would ask if you've huge blocks of unbroken prose running over three-quarters of a page or more. How many readers turn the page, see a huge paragraph of description, and dread reading on?
So much of writing is about an ear for rhythm and a low tolerance for boredom. I often ask myself if my character would be interested in what I'm writing. So often, they're onto something new.
Also, the look of a page is important. White space, quotation marks, indentations, widowed sentences––all of these add variation that helps the flow. Think of it as scenery on your journey. This also goes for shows and tells. Mix them up, stagger them, and jazz without jarring if possible. However, if it calls attention to itself, it's probably wrong.
One final note: nine out of ten thrillers I thumb through in today's bookstores overuse non-said dialog tags which alleviates the reader from doing any work. Surprise anyone?
- June 9, 2009 at 3:35 PM
- Mira said...
Hilabeans - re. adverbs, for the sake of harmony, I can tell you that I secretly agree with Nathan.
I just don't agree with Stephen King about writing, no matter what he says. It's a matter of principle.
Hey, I thought of another one:
"Is there suspense? Some element that keeps the reader hooked?"
- June 9, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Is it copycatty? There are a million and one Twilight knockoffs floating around right now and just a few good tweaks could make all the difference. Be sure you're really in touch with what makes your story/characters/setting stand out.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:42 PM
- Keren David said...
I'm happy to see that there's no 'Have you got enough description'
What I do is a search/find on the word 'feel' and then ask myself if it's really neccessary to spell out what the character is feeling. Very often that's an easy cut and it sorts out a lot of the show/tell side of things.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:43 PM
- Hilabeans said...
Including moderation? ;)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:44 PM
- Matilda McCloud said...
I also have to stop my characters' eyeballs from rolling so much. On my last re-read, I noticed everyone was sighing all the time too.
I do a search and find for "felt" (telling not showing) and all those deadwood words like "all"...or "decided to," "began to," "a bit," "somewhat," "perhaps,"
"somehow," "suddenly," adverbs, most adjectives, "was walking" instead of "walked," weak verbs--well, the list is endless.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:44 PM
- Gavin Brown said...
Great summary and it comes at a perfect time for me.
It's good that you're giving commenters credit for their suggestions, but at first glance I read it like this:
- Is there too much description? (David R. Slayton, I'm looking at YOU!)
- June 9, 2009 at 3:45 PM
- T. Anne said...
Be careful not to talk down to your reader.
Also; First draft is forgiven of all it's sins but the revisions thereafter must sparkle and shine in the luminous glow of perfection.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:52 PM
- Merc said...
Wonderful list, thank you!
- June 9, 2009 at 3:53 PM
- Brian said...
- Do you overuse certain words or phrases? Is your word choice perfect throughout?
A tool I've found that's helpful with this is WORDLE. You enter the text and it arranges it into a word cloud where the more frequently a word is used, the bigger it appears. It can help you recognize visually and at a glance which words you overuse.
Plus... it's pretty.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:54 PM
- Robert A Meacham said...
Thank you for giving out this list. I can work with this.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:54 PM
- Mimm said...
Thank you, Nathan! And thanks to everyone who left contributing comments!
- June 9, 2009 at 3:55 PM
- Kia said...
I would suggest Googling "cliches in novels" or your genre and then "cliches" to see if any exist in your novel. Surprisingly, my psychological thriller had a few cliches that are apparently common in Young Adult novels:
- A token 'ethnic' friend - usually it's a girl, and she's always gorgeous
– A dead mother
– Characters who chew on their lip in times of stress
– Raising one eyebrow
I was amazed because something which I thought was very unique to my character (i.e. chewing on lip) is apparently very common *sigh*.
Either way, the novel is out in December so Nathan, I'll expect a plug.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:57 PM
- Rick Daley said...
Anon @ 11:45
I believe it is possible. You will always think of ways to improve something, but you should be able to reach a comfort level with your work that should allow you to detach and read the story.
I finally reached that point for the first 50 pages of my MS. It took 3 revisions and then a complete re-write, but something finally clicked and the last time I read it I actually enjoyed reading it.
Now I have about 250 pages to go and I'll be ready to query again.
- June 9, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Great post, (as usual I should add). Could you point me/us to a couple of good, useful book on fiction writing, that would have a similar practical view as what you posted here?
I remember a post about books about writing, but I may have missed the one about fiction writing/editing.
thanks and thanks for this blog,
- June 9, 2009 at 4:00 PM
- Weronika said...
Nathan, great list--thanks for the awesome collection.
I always ask myself whether or not the events happen in the correct order; when looking at background, is it correctly placed and properly built up?
- June 9, 2009 at 4:04 PM
- the wanderer said...
great checklist! This is a great tool for new writers.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:10 PM
I've revised the entire MS at least 7 times , and probably certain areas at least twenty.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:18 PM
- Laurel said...
Me too on events. I pulled up several calendars on the internet to make sure that holidays in my story occurred on the right day of the week for one year.
And my search/find adventures have been...illuminating. Ugh.
Brian: Thanks for the wordle tip. I will be using that!
- June 9, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Great list! I'll keep it on my wall.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Oh and I enjoy reading it everytime, but there is always room for improvement. I will put it away for a while and come back, re-read, and forget I even wrote certain things.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:22 PM
I am wondering:
1. When using description (telling)
as a set up, how much is too much?
is 650 words acceptable for introducing a setting, for example?
2.Are there Beta Readers who are regular commenting on this blog? If so, I would think it would be great to have a support group here for just that.
(I am currently looking for Beta Readers and could not ask for a pool from a more qualified group that the readers here –and I know, Nathan that that isn't your job description.)
- June 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
smacking head:
typo typo typo
- June 9, 2009 at 4:27 PM
- Steve Fuller said...
I pretty much agree with Rick.
I revised a handful of times, always finding something I wanted to change.
Then, I read through the whole thing a couple weeks ago and realized I was done.
I think you eventually get to that place, even if the novel isn't perfect.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:28 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Thanks, Nathan. As with other writers here, this revision checklist comes at a terrific time for me - as I am currently revising my first novel. So, thanks again.
The only general tip that I find missing from this list relates to the "backstories and histories" guideline. While I agree that character must have backstories, such info must come out organically - over time, through dialogue, short inner monologues, etc. Information dumps are a no-no nowadays (which saddens me a little, I must admit). Just consider the essay re: "The Great Gatsby" (I believe it was one of your links last Friday).
- June 9, 2009 at 4:32 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
I agree.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:33 PM
- David Jace said...
I would add "Do the voices of your characters remain constant? Are the voices of the characters distinct from each other? And distinct from the narrative voice?
- June 9, 2009 at 4:36 PM
- Rick Daley said...
Anon @ 1:18
I was stuck in a Groundhog Day loop of revisions, I know what you mean. For me the epiphany was the re-write. There was so much to fix, the only way to do it was to start over from scratch. Same story, but a very different telling of it.
It's daunting to say the least...so much work to do all over again. The joy, though, is in reading it and realizing how much I have grown as a writer. I think that's what drives my satisfaction. It's finally getting past decent or good enough to really good. At least in my own verrry humble opinion ;-)
- June 9, 2009 at 4:38 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Mira - The meaning of "RTFP" depends on the context ("read the fine print" or "read the freakin' post" or etc., etc.), so I don't know what Bane meant there. Who ever does?
Brian - Thanks for the wordle.net heads-up.
Beatrice - Personally, my favorite fiction editing book is "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" (Renni Browne & Dave King). A friend gave it to me - and it's been quite helpful (as evidenced by its ragged condition)!
- June 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
- Joan Mora said...
Excellent timing--I'm in the middle of revisions.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:39 PM
- Cassandra Jade said...
Definitely something that all of us in the middle of revisions should read - and remember. You seem to have hit all of the major points. Thanks so much for this list.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:42 PM
- serenity said...
Gold, I tell ya. This post is GOLD.
- June 9, 2009 at 4:50 PM
- Jenny said...
Did you start out with something exciting in chapter one, only to follow it with an entire chapter of backstory?
Are your protagonists the people who make the plot move or are they passive victims of other people's decisions and actions. (Thanks to Alicia Rasley's Story Within Guidebook for pointing out how this can weaken a plot.)
- June 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Great post! Really instructive, thanks!
To add a comment, I'd just remark something that I bellieve goes in the pacing item: are the transitions smooth, or you twitch your nose when alternating scenarios, points or view, or jumping in time?
- June 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
- Mira said...
Laura - Lol. Thanks for clearing that up. I couldn't figure out why Bane was sticking his tongue out at us.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:00 PM
- Weronika said...
@ Beta-Anon: just shoot me an email!
@ Laurel: That's not what I meant originally. My question refers more to the order of chapters and how the conflict arises. Do the right things happen at the right time? Is the story as a whole structured properly--to feel and flow organically?
However, your point is another great one--are dates, facts, places, and events historically correct?
- June 9, 2009 at 5:01 PM
- Kristin Laughtin said...
I love this. I generally try to take notes as I'm writing of things I want to look at or revise later, but having this checklist will be useful--especially since it might make me aware of a problem I'd otherwise overlook!
Ahh, the side characters. I had very few in my last MS, so I tried to push myself by having a lot in this one, and now I think I have too many and am trying to decide which to combine once I finish my first draft.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:03 PM
- Keren David said...
Oh no...I'd missed it - there is a 'have you got enough description'.
How about: are all your swearwords strictly necessary?
- June 9, 2009 at 5:03 PM
- Bane of Anubis said...
Laura, thanks for being my proxy (esoteric as I may be :) - yes, I was bastardizing RTFQ - as a Navy brat, I'm all about dem acronyms.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
- C.D. Reimer said...
Great timing for the check list. I just finished the rough draft of my first novel. I'm going to put it aside for three months before coming back to rip it to shreds, build a new outline, and start over again.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:16 PM
- Rick Daley said...
"are all your swearwords strictly necessary?"
You're ^*&^$%#&*# right they are.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:16 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Keren & Rick - The "swear words" issue is one that tortured me during the writing of my first novel. In some ways, my story straddles YA and adult fiction, so I thought that swearing might help to push it into the realm of adult fiction. But then, after reading so many agents' and editors' opinions about unnecessary swearing, I ultimately decided to remove all f-bombs, be more creative with my angry outbursts, and insert a few necessary sex scenes instead. Woohoo!
- June 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM
- Novice Writer Anonymous said...
Bless you! I've been pondering many of these points and now have a handy checklist to make sure I'm there when revision time comes!
- June 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM
- jjhoutman said...
Great list and great comments.
I would add:
-Do you use the active voice whenever possible?
-When you use the passive voice, is it a conscious decision?
-Do you overuse "it was" and "there was"?
- June 9, 2009 at 5:26 PM
- lotusgirl said...
What a great list. I'm going to have to print this out and use it always.
Here's a question: Have all the side storylines you started gotten resolved? Do they weave seamlessly into the main storyline's conclusion?
- June 9, 2009 at 5:35 PM
- Genre Reviews said...
That's a good list, especially when including reader comments. The funny thing is that I was just compiling a checklist of my own based on problems I've seen in published books. You've saved me some effort. :)
- June 9, 2009 at 5:36 PM
- Samantha Tonge said...
Great list.
- have you named characters that don't need naming?
- have you info-dumped, ie stuck in research notes that only you the author need to know?
- take a good look at where you have used "just", "managed to" , "started to" and "suddenly" - you can probably cut out most of them
- June 9, 2009 at 5:38 PM
- Being Beth said...
Thank you for this list. I'm in the throes of revisions. This couldn't have come at a better time for me. This post goes into my "Hall of Fame" folder.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Wow, what a great list. The only thing I can think of to add is the comment an author friend of mine made on my most recent ms, regarding a one-time-appearance character, a doctor in a crowd who was necessary to impart a crucial bit of medical information. I had a bit too much fun describing him and made him more important than he should have been, leading her to expect more doctor when, in truth, he had already played his part. I guess that would be called overwriting the bit players? She was totally correct, and his abbreviated description made for a much smoother passage.
- June 9, 2009 at 5:56 PM
- Kimber An said...
And please have critique partners help you with this list!
Oftentimes, I can 'feel' something isn't working, but I cannot figure out what it is to save my life. Crunchy Critters are worth their weight in gold!
- June 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
- Rick Daley said...
Your genre in particular is not amenable to swearing.
I just searched my MS and I have five f-bombs in there, out of 105,000 words. Four of them are in dialogue, and by the time I am done with my re-write, I wouldn't be surprised if all of them are gone.
There are no bad words, just inappropriate places to use them.
I try to find creative ways to avoid swearing, too, unless I am doing it for a special emphasis or for humor (like the %^$#& in my prior post).
- June 9, 2009 at 6:27 PM
- JES said...
If your story has multiple intertwined plotlines, if you read JUST the bits for Plot A does it make sense, is it consistent, and does it "arc"? What about plot B?
[repeat as necessary, until running out of letters of the alphabet]
- June 9, 2009 at 6:30 PM
- Anna Lefler said...
Oh, man, fantastic list!
A possible addition: do you clearly understand and convey your main character's surface problem and story-worthy problem?
Thanks for this, Nathan - it's exactly the post I needed to read today.
- June 9, 2009 at 6:35 PM
- allegory19 said...
Lotus girl said: Have all the side storylines you started gotten resolved? Do they weave seamlessly into the main storyline's conclusion?
I was thinking about this in my MS this morning. Trying to wrap my brain around my plot threads and make sure they're resolved to my satisfaction. I hate when writers - and sitcoms for that matter - don't fully wrap things up.It's a pet peeve of mine.
I love it though when everything works and you have an "Ah ha" moment. It's like magic the way plot threads weave together sometimes.
- June 9, 2009 at 7:01 PM
- Laurel said...
Rick and Laura and whoever else cares about the f-bomb:
If your reader target is old enough I think sometimes it's safer to use it than not. I don't believe dialogue that's too clean coming from a strung out teenaged drug dealer, for example. It's an ugly word that is used VERY frequently and let's face it, actually does make you feel better after you drop an anvil on your foot.
For artful judicious use of the f-bomb I highly recommend "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles." Very discreet and elegantly done.
- June 9, 2009 at 7:10 PM
- PurpleClover said...
Is there TOO much conflict leaving the reader confused and overwhelmed?
This list is awesome Nathan. I would be ecstatic to see it placed as a tag or FAQ link on your blog. It is something I think we could all use through out the process!
- June 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
- PurpleClover said...
Rick -
I'm not sure if you are quoting a question or if you came up with the "swear word" question on your own, but I have seen people that obviously don't curse on a regular basis and so it seems awkward when I read it. But you can tell reading someone's work if it comes naturally or not. At least I think so.
I'm a closet potty mouth but the expletives used to flow full force when I was a teen to the point of making sailors blush. I like to think I'm not hanging up my readers on a curse word because I don't know my material. ;) I guess there is some good points to "writing what you know". muwahahaha.
I just think cursing is like a tic. If you haven't experienced it or been around enough people with it, you may not be able to pull it off.
- June 9, 2009 at 7:44 PM
- Pete Peterson said...
One more I'd add:
-Do each of your scenes make dramatic sense on their own as well as move the overall plot forward? Do they have a beginning, middle, and end. Do they contain both conflict and some sort of resolution?
- June 9, 2009 at 7:47 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Laurel -
I agree that the use of "swear words" (including the f-bomb) can be critical, depending on the character and central story. If you're writing about modern-day soldiers - or, as you suggested, strung-out teenaged drug dealers - then it's imperative that you be true to their style of speech, which usually includes naughty language. But, in the case of my literary/mainstream novel (with which Rick is familiar), the few f-bomb instances seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. I mean, my main character is a disgruntled housewife and mother (NOT a strung-out drug dealer... although...).
I think the bottom line is that you must always be true to your characters' voices. In other words, it doesn't matter that I am, in fact, a potty mouth myself. (Yes, Purple Clover, I only WISH I was a "closet" potty mouth like you.) The question is... would my characters use that language in a given scenario?
wv: fiblent - inclined to lie through one's teeth
- June 9, 2009 at 8:03 PM
- Jude Hardin said...
Have you eliminated all cliches?
- June 9, 2009 at 8:13 PM
- macaronipants said...
Do each of your scenes have a turning point? Either surprise, increased curiosity, insight or new direction (thank you Robert McKee)? Do the events lead up to and then away from that moment without extra hoo-ha?
Does the character change in some way in each scene?
- June 9, 2009 at 8:21 PM
- Laurel said...
Your MC could be any one of my friends. We talk like sailors. Or HBO after midnight. It's the last form of rebellion once the kids get old enough to smell it if you've been smoking.
But you're right, though. If you "know" your characters instead of just invent them you know if they would use words like that. I think avoiding it deliberately can be just as awkward as using it gratuitously, though. Either way it shows.
- June 9, 2009 at 8:25 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Laurel - Good point. I'll add that to my list of concerns for my current revision... I don't want it to seem like I'm TRYING to eliminate swear words... Ah, so much to think about! This writing stuff isn't easy, I tell ya. :-)
wv: glogue - (pronounced GLOAG) the latest style magazine for bloggers and their commenters (you know, with articles that help to bring out the blogging fashionista in all of us - because, even in the comfort of our homes, it matters what we wear - you never know who's watching!)
- June 9, 2009 at 8:39 PM
- Cass said...
Great Checklist Nathan.
I so want to be done so I can be in the "revision process".
word ver. - supper - uh oh - I better get off the computer and fix the kids something to eat!
- June 9, 2009 at 9:07 PM
- PurpleClover said...
Hey Jude.
(I've been wanting to say that all along. Is that a cliche'? lol 'Tis one of my fav songs!)
I have to agree that seems to be an important one. I keep getting updates on the latest and greatest feedback from the conferences and one of the things I'm hearing is the overuse of cliche's. I had no idea and I'm pretty sure I use them in abundance. I am one big cliche'.
- June 9, 2009 at 9:21 PM
- Christine H said...
I finally wrote today, breaking my two-month fast. Yes to all that stuff Nathan wrote. I think about all of it, but that's why I get so overwhelmed, too, and think I'll just never be able to do it.
One thing at a time. That's what I keep telling myself. Pick one thing and start with it.
- June 9, 2009 at 9:44 PM
- marye.ulrich said...
Do you have internal and external conflicts?
- June 9, 2009 at 9:46 PM
- Christine H said...
PS I don't curse unless I'm really, really upset and even as I do it, I'm aware of how unladylike it is. So I either say "He cursed" to get the emotional state across without actually swearing, or I make up fantasy curse words.
Fantasy writers can do that.
- June 9, 2009 at 9:47 PM
- Joy said...
From a former English teacher, "Did you replace most of your exclamation points with periods?" I understand that you're excited, but your dialog/description should tell us that without the exclamation point at the end. (Yep, you know what that means--show, don't tell. Ahh, the teacher lives on).
- June 9, 2009 at 9:49 PM
- Christine H said...
Is it enjoyable to read? Or, if being enjoyable is not your goal, can the words be read smoothly and coherently out loud?
- June 9, 2009 at 9:49 PM
- Minnette Meador said...
This is something I get all the time when I'm editing:
Are we living the story with the character or just watching the story?
- June 9, 2009 at 9:58 PM
- Diana said...
Great list! I would add: Does your MC do something stupid to move the plot along? Can they do it differently, instead?
As a reader, nothing will make me throw a book across the room faster than the MC doing something really stupid for the sake of the plot.
- June 9, 2009 at 10:04 PM
- Laura Martone said...
Christine H. - Not to beat a dead horse [to use a cliche - ;-)], but as to the cursing issue, sci-fi/fantasy writers can (and should) have more fun with it! Just look at the now-expired show "Battlestar Galactica" - the characters said "frack" (sp?) so often that I hardly heard "frack" anymore - I heard you-know-what instead. Same goes for the show "Firefly" - the characters cursed in a whole made-up language - it was awesome (a wonderful way to swear without really swearing on network TV). Grr - stupid Fox for cancelling it.
- June 9, 2009 at 10:08 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
I was thinking the same thing. Battlestar Galactica used the word "frack" so often, I found myself thinking of it as a real swear word after watching a marathon of Battlestar Galactica shows. I thought the constant swearing fit the characters who talked that way. I've started listening to Ronald D. Moore's podcasts about the show. I think he's a brilliant writer, and his podcasts are fascinating.
My two favorite TV shows are Battlestar Galactica and Firefly. Like you, I was really disappointed that Firefly never came back!
- June 9, 2009 at 10:24 PM
- cindy said...
thank you for this. i'm just writing sequel rough draft and it's helpful!
- June 10, 2009 at 12:15 AM
- Dawn said...
I so needed this right now. Thank you.
- June 10, 2009 at 12:32 AM
- Laura Martone said...
Beta Anon -
Sorry that I didn't address your question earlier in the day... sometimes, reading the comments on Nathan's blog can be overwhelming. :-)
Anyway, what kind of beta readers are you looking for? I'm currently swapping manuscripts with a fellow writer - in other words, we're helping each other as beta readers/critiquers. If you're interested in that possibility, feel free to email me (email@example.com) and we can discuss it off the blog.
- June 10, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Brilliant post Nathan
- June 10, 2009 at 1:05 AM
- Diana said...
Wow! I just printed out the completed first draft of my manuscript ten minutes ago, and stopped by your blog to find a revision checklist!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nathan!
- June 10, 2009 at 1:14 AM
- Kat said...
Perfect timing- I started revising today.
- June 10, 2009 at 1:20 AM
- Morgan Xavier said...
Um, yay Firefly!!! Totally shiny!
And, also, YAY discussing the use of swearing! This is something I have wondered about, especially because my characters tend to swear...a lot. Nothing like Stephen King, mind you. Maybe three words per chapter (which runs around 5000 words). Until chapter Five. Lots of potty mouth punks. But they totally get what's coming to them. Yup. Awesome.
My reason for using the actual word instead of saying, "he cursed," is that my I want my scenes to pull the reader in, as if they are actually watching what is happening. Hearing the character saying it makes it seem more real. But I don't know what an agent or editor will think. I guess the words can always be replaced, if it came to that.
All I can say is be true to your artistic integrity. I find the really good stuff comes when I'm not even trying. And if the 'voice' includes a f#$@, then chances are, it is meant to be included. So long as it isn't every other sentence. Have I mentioned Stephen King?
- June 10, 2009 at 1:56 AM
This is a fantastic list. Thanks Nathan. There are some great additions within the thread, too. I'll have to investigate wordle.net. Word reps are my pet peeve.
Another suggestion: Step Away from the Novel
Set your book aside for a while before giving it that final read. *Especially* after making dramatic edits. I revised my novel several times before giving it to beta readers, and then I did another round of cuts and additions after hearing their feedback. Then I caught the chickenpox.
Although suffering the 'pox in adulthood was no picnic, the benefit (and the only one I can think of) was that my final copy edit was delayed for three weeks. When I re-read the revamped version, I found tiny things I'd changed that affected plot arcs and timeline details, as well as continuity errors that I'd just missed from the get-go.
Being so close to the story and characters all the time, I had the "logic" in my head. But what's in your head may not be what's on the paper. You have to take time—be it two weeks or two months—to get your mindset out of "informed writer" mode and into a more objective place to identify problems you create when you fix all of the other problems.
- June 10, 2009 at 2:23 AM
Oh, and congratulations to all of the blog readers here who seem so close to finishing their works! It's so nice to hear everyone say that they're almost done.
- June 10, 2009 at 2:26 AM
apparently, one must be politically correct for contemporary readers even this is in conflict with the time and place of your novel. For example, I was told I could offend readers because in 1920's Paris, my pregnant character drank wine with her meals. Hardly an alcoholic, she is sociable and in keeping with HER times. Any thoughts?
- June 10, 2009 at 2:50 AM
- Carmen said...
Thanks for the checklist. It'll be very helpful when writing.
- June 10, 2009 at 6:32 AM
- Keren David said...
As the first one who mentioned swearing I'm happy to see that others find it a problem - and Rick, I agree completely!
I'm writing YA books so I don't want to frighten off parents, teachers and librarians but I do want to write something reasonably realistic. So I do a lot of referring to the fact that people are cussing without using the actual words. Even so my editor thought I used one swearword - Christ - too often and asked me to swop a few for other swearwords. So it's variety as well as frequency that made it work in the end.
I think the main difference between writing for a YA audience and an adult one has to be in the liberal use of swear words and perhaps how explicit and frequent the sexual references are.
- June 10, 2009 at 6:47 AM
I think an important consideration is whether your story would be interesting to other people, even if they don't share your experiences, opinions and ideologies.
- June 10, 2009 at 7:34 AM
Anonymous, the politically correct thing drives me crazy, as I wonder all the time whether someone is going to take something out of context and say I'm promoting some behavior. I don't know the answer, though.
Regarding the swearing making the story authentic, I once tried to write a Christian romance in which the hero was a construction worker. I'm married to one, so I know how they talk. It was very difficult to write the scenes where the guys are talking amongst themselves. I finally gave up and shelved the project, but I may resurrect it as a contemporary novel one day.
Regarding adverbs... I believe a carefully chosen adverb adds a lot to a sentence. They are a part of our language for a reason.
- June 10, 2009 at 7:38 AM
Regarding characters coming through the book changed:
I hate being drawn into a long, complicated, heart-rending story, only to find out at the end that nothing really changed. I feel very frustrated and let down, even manipulated.
- June 10, 2009 at 8:15 AM
- Scott said...
I think the use of expletives comes down to the tone of the novel. Donald Ray Pollock's Knockemstiff, yes. But then, the entire novel is steeped in Trailer Park despair. The curses soon disappear and become as vanilla as said tags. However, I'd point out that the swearing is part and parcel to the purpose of the work. In other words, a curse often holds so much weight as to steal the scene. So when I use one, it's usually in a moment that defines everything around it.
Short of that, I find rereading them in the editing process a little embarrassing. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, I can see that I've threw it in as something of a lazy place holder in order to go back and find a better way to express the essence of the moment.
- June 10, 2009 at 8:17 AM
- Justus M. Bowman said...
When I first read "David R. Slayton," I thought you were referring to an author who uses too much description. Ha ha.
- June 10, 2009 at 8:44 AM
I like Joy's comment @ 6:49. Take out those exclamation points! It screams amatuer.
Also, is there so much drama that it reads like melodrama? Obstacles are great, but there is a fine balance between creating tension that furthers the story and creating tension that distracts from the story.
Conflict should mean something. Having a character do an internal monologue for three pages because a hot dog stand didn't have mustard might be entertaining from a writer standpoint, but as a reader -- heck, get on with it already.
- June 10, 2009 at 8:45 AM
More applicable to genre works. Have you eliminated any and all deux ex machina plot devices? If writing in an action genre, does your ending depend on a car chase? Have you double (triple) checked your factual references?
Awesome checklist, will be printing out.
verify word: moggin
- June 10, 2009 at 9:27 AM
- Mira said...
mckbunny -
I really like your point about stepping away from the novel for awhile. Getting some perspective is crucial, and I think alot of us tend to rush the process in order to get the our work out there.
Sorry to hear about your chicken pox, though!
Re adverbs - Although it's true that I spend my spare time going through Shakespeare, popping in adverbs all hither and thither (verily, verily), I admit that adverbs in most cases should be used judiciously.
Just not in Shakespeare.
- June 10, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Dear Nathan, I've been following you for some time now and I just want to say the following: I don't know how you do it, but I really appreciate the time and effort you're putting in to maintaining the quality of today's changing literary market. We can't stop technology or development, but we can and we should protect the high standards of literature. It's a great responsibility to keep on offering publications that are more than good reads or must haves (nothing against these); to prevent the extinction of Literature. Thank you for helping out.
- June 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM
- monchichi and the serendipity berries said...
Great list, Nathan-- thanks! I've bookmarked it and will return to it often.
Thanks, Brian, for the worldle link-- a great find (and yes, it is pretty).
And if people are putting together a beta readers group, I'd love to be a part of it! You can email me via my blog. Thanks!
- June 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Chuck H. said...
That would be me arriving extremely late to the party. Rain, mud, farmwork, etc. Nathan said "everything in moderation" but I prefer Lazarus Long's (Heinlein) version. "Everything in excess. Moderation is for monks."
WV: arrhaphi - too many "arr's"?
- June 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM
- ryan field said...
This is a good list. It's a great example of what the best copyeditors do all the time.
I also think something else could be important. It doesn't always happen, but sometimes it does. If you think you're holding back too much with a certain character's emotions, fix it. Listen to your instincts. It happened to me with a book and I didn't listen to my instincts. And each time the book was reviewed, the reviewers mentioned that they wanted to see more emotion from that character. They felt let down. And they were right. One or two sentences could have fixed this, but I hesitated.
- June 10, 2009 at 11:05 AM
- Christine H said...
Ryan - What you said.
I know that's the problem with my current book. It has a romantic subplot and I'm so afraid of it sounding like a romance novel that I'm really shying away from anything that resembles deep emotion. But my test readers have told me the story feels flat, so I have to grit my teeth and do it.
Didn't someone say that a story without love is like a meal without salt? Or something to that effect?
- June 10, 2009 at 11:49 AM
- susiej said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- June 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
- susiej said...
Thanks, Nathan! Fantastic post.
And Jason- I will always, always have qualms about the tarantula crawling up my arm. (smile)
- June 10, 2009 at 11:58 AM
- JStantonChandler said...
Thanks Nathan! I'll be printing this list out and pasting it to my writing desk :)
- June 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
- ryan field said...
"It has a romantic subplot and I'm so afraid of it sounding like a romance novel that I'm really shying away from anything that resembles deep emotion. But my test readers have told me the story feels flat, so I have to grit my teeth and do it."
It's hard, but you can add emotion and romance without having it sound like a romance novel. It sounds like less is more in this case, so keep it simple. But get the point across that the emotion and the love is there. If your readers are all saying this, and it's consistent, listen to them. And listen to your own instincts.
- June 10, 2009 at 1:16 PM
- KayKayBe said...
Does anyone STOP reading a book bc it doesn't have curse words in it? Yet there are some who put a book down for that reason, myself included. I'm fine if everybody else wants to throw it around, I just don't, partly bc when I read it, I think it more, and then it comes out of my mouth, and I don't want my kids repeating.
I can't have my character saying "oh crud" like I do, so I say "He swore" or something like that. "Heck" "Dang" and "Sugar" just aren't the same.LOL
And about pet words- I searched my MS for 'just' last week, and cut 250 instances, leaving me with about 30 places where it changes the meaning of the sentence. It was pretty dang amusing.
- June 10, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Perfect list, an invaluable source for aspiring writers. But I find that the problem isn't always intending to do these things, it is knowing whether I've achieved them or not.
If you're a fantasy writer and want to avoid cliches - read Diana Wynne Jones' Tough Guide to Fantasy Land. It is at once the most terrifying and wonderful book you'll ever read. Try it - but don't say I didn't warn you!
- June 10, 2009 at 1:56 PM
- cynthia newberry martin said...
Have you put it aside for a couple of weeks, a month, or more and then reread?
- June 10, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Cynthia - is that directed at me?
Yes. I put it down and I re-read and I see new things. But for instance I read lots of 'how to' books and decided to work on my 'show not tell'. I thought I'd worked it out. I gave it to a friend and she said, "No because..." and I agreed. So the point remains that while I might know what I need to do, I don't necessarily know how to achieve it and more importantly whether I have achieved it.
I know the answer is to have that reader - but she is as unpublished as I am - we are both guessing!
I'm not trying to deny that this is a fantastic list, it is, and the fact that it has come from someone current within the industry makes it gold dust. I've printed it out - let the guessing begin!
- June 10, 2009 at 5:25 PM
- Tonnie said...
Great tips!
- June 10, 2009 at 6:06 PM
- amber polo said...
If I didn't think m current WIP was done after every edit, I wouldn't have an excuse to celebrate.
- June 10, 2009 at 6:13 PM
- Miss Mabel said...
Don't forget--is it the right length for your genre!
- June 11, 2009 at 4:48 AM
- Bonnie said...
A day late, as usual, but I wanted to add my thanks for the excellent advice in convenient format. I'm trying to get a contemporary novel ready to submit, so everything in the list and the discussion will come in handy.
word: flogwayo. An uncommon sexual practice, no doubt.
- June 11, 2009 at 9:25 AM
- Elizabeth Barrette said...
Are your protagonist's powers or virtues sufficiently balanced by weaknesses or vices?
Have you fact-checked historical, scientific, or other nonfictional points?
Have you removed or modified genre-specific cliches (dead lesbian, whole-planet weather, etc.) from the story?
- June 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM
- sruble said...
Thanks Nathan, just what I needed today!
- June 11, 2009 at 1:15 PM
This kind of checklists kill literature... You end up with books that all read like they were written by the same computer...
Real literature, books that change your life, ignore plots, ignore tension.. They tell a story, first of all and above all. they lift the curtain on a part of the condition humaine. Constructed books, like you present here, just don't do that. they can't.
(Do you think Reve wrote that way? Or Kundera? Dostojevski?)
(pardon my english, I'm dutch)
- June 11, 2009 at 2:17 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
There are an infinite number ways to bake a cake, but you still need some essential ingredients and you still go about it essentially the same way.
- June 11, 2009 at 2:26 PM
- E. Hartshorn said...
I'm just diving into a serious revision . . . just what I needed, more things to keep track of!
Something I picked up from reading Fire in Fiction: Have you honed the first and last lines of every scene? Will they draw the reader onward? (Clearly, the last line of the book should draw the reader on to read your next book.)
- June 11, 2009 at 5:54 PM
- Michelle Madow said...
I can definitely combine characters. Thanks for posting this!
- June 11, 2009 at 10:03 PM
- Sue said...
Great checklist. I combined my MC's two best buds into one, creating a much more interesting best friend. I, fortunately, did this before I was finished with the novel. I'm still not finished, but am so glad I figured this out before I tried to tie it all together. It saved me and gave me motivation to finish.
- June 12, 2009 at 12:18 AM
- Savanna Kougar said...
Hmmm... maybe it's just me and my particular limitations as an author. However, the list seems overly complex. Or, as an example, if you're learning tennis 'thinking' about every move rather than simply playing tennis doesn't work. Isn't it simpler to discover what isn't working and go from there. Just like playing tennis there's a certain 'right' feel to writing a story, imo. Correcting what doesn't work when you get off track, or as you revise seems like a more natural process. The story and characters become deeper because you as the author learn more about them and their motivations.
To be honest, if I had to think like that, remember all that, instead of penning organically what occurs, I'd never get anything written.
Yep, I'll say it, so no one else has to ~ I'm probably a lousy writer.
To be fair, that is an excellent list overall, and helpful. I just can't think like that.
- June 12, 2009 at 10:39 PM
- tuffy777 said...
Still reading comments, but anxious to add my 2 cents while I still remember them.
Avoid cliches. (see above, 2 cents)
Avoid misplaced modifiers. Example:
"Why won't the plumber tell me how much it costs to unclog my drain over the phone?"
Well, maybe it's because they can't unclog your drain over the phone!
Do you use enough detail to enable your readers to picture people, places and things?
~~ Tessa Dick
- June 13, 2009 at 12:51 PM
- Suzette Saxton said...
Thank you for this!
- June 14, 2009 at 10:04 AM
- Roy Hayward said...
I totally agree. I know that when I was young, I was frustrated by many authors that thought that because I was a YA that I thought and talked dirt.
I may tick off everyone here, but if you can't make your point without using the F word, then you have a vocabulary problem. (and that problem is not an excess of words) Yes I have met people who had to express themselves using profanity, but I was never impressed by them. And I could write their characters without letting verbatim quotes become jarring to my readers.
It is just like the exclamation point. Show me what is happening and who the characters are. But don't cover up a lack of imagination with an ! or a @#%!
You, the author, are telling me what happened. So you can't describe the seen of people cursing without using the exact language they used? That is a poor epitaph to your writing.
Huff huff. This is a real pet peeve of mine. I may be too much of a reading addict to put a book down. But I certainly don't to get another. I search for authors that write books that have clean and compelling dialog. And sometimes they are very hard to find.
- June 16, 2009 at 12:30 PM
A writer friend of mine just sent me the link to this blog. What a great idea!
Comment on "side" characters: As a reader and writer, I appreciate when these bit players are handled well. After all, they do everything from supporting the main character and plot to providing necessary breathing spaces between active passages. Make them memorable by making them active in their own right; embue them with enough of their own identity and character that they stand out. One might have a dog with one eye, the other a gambling problem, or an ex-wife who married the ice cream truck driver. Stuff like that. Also, nicknames (rather or in addition to last names, which can be harsh in some usages), are also a good way to go.
- June 18, 2009 at 12:34 PM
- Bethgem said...
so helpful
- July 7, 2009 at 7:58 PM
- Annabel Candy said...
Brilliant, thanks! I've been through the list, made each point red, orange or green depending on how much I think I need to work on them. Green means I think I'm doing OK on that, red means I think I need to do serious work on this, orange well, you get the idea! Lots to do.
My big question is how long should it take me to edit, revise and rewrite a 65k manuscript? It is good to have a deadline!
- July 13, 2009 at 7:46 PM
- Aimee said...
wow thanks this is helpful!
i used that www.wordle.net site for my rough draft and, besides my charcters' names, the word "eyes" was the biggest! i guess i shouldn't describe their eyes so much i guess...
- July 21, 2009 at 2:46 AM
- Sean P. Farley said...
Wow, as a person having written a mystery (a first draft anyway), this list amazing. Thanks, Nathan. I will use it wisely. :)
- July 24, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Thanks Nathan. I will be printing this off and (hopefully) will end up ticking them all off.
Question: How on EARTH do you make relationships between characters change as you go further on in the book? That's really bugging me!
- December 30, 2010 at 7:36 AM
- tuffy777 said...
Samantha, your characters need to learn something, come up against obstacles that they can't overcome, change their minds about themselves and others with regard to moral issues, find that people they like are really bad or people they hate are really good, be forced to admit (at least to themselves) that they were wrong, etc.
- December 30, 2010 at 10:41 PM
- Kevin said...
Fantastic checklist. It's given me a lot of confidence, in that those (all except one) are all the things I already look for when I'm revising, and the book I'm trying to sell is strong on all points. Thank you.
- January 5, 2011 at 4:17 PM
- Kieron Heath said...
If you read your book aloud, does it sound right?
- January 5, 2011 at 7:36 PM
Do any of your characters have names that being with the same letter?
- August 26, 2011 at 6:55 PM
- Chandra said...
Can I ask? Your checklist sounds like it applies the same criteria as the Hollywood formula for screenplays (e.g. as propounded by Robert wassisname and Aristotle). What if the reason you like fiction is because what you like is not formulaic? What if dialogue should not serve any end other than entertainment/character definition (but not plot arc)? Jane Austen follows an almost perfect 3 act play structure but who reads Jane Austen for the plot? Or am I just an idealist and doomed to (continued) failure? BTW FWIW I like your blog - you are a very clear writer and if I can ever get over the mental block of my own literature/writing theories your advice is v good on a v practical level
- January 20, 2012 at 8:24 AM
- Kia Abdullah said...
This is really useful, Nathan. Thank you. I just finished reading American Psycho and noticed how many times Patrick Bateman 'shakes [his] head to clear it' or is 'filled with a nameless dread'. Writing tics and recycled phrases can be so difficult to spot when immersed in writing a novel. Your post has served as a timely reminder.
- June 4, 2012 at 4:06 AM
- Anonymous said...
Incredibly all inclusive list. I should think if I check each of these off after accomplishment, I will certainly begin to get published.
Thanks so much.
Marlene A Hibbard
- January 21, 2013 at 4:02 PM
- warjna said...
Thank you, Nathan, this post is awesome! I'm still in the first draft stage, but that doesn't mean I can't apply these ideas - and I most certainly will!
- January 31, 2014 at 7:27 PM


text:
Back pain is frequently associated with muscle strain or spine problems. However there are many other medical reasons that cause back pain, and most patients do not have a clear history of trauma or medical strain. Sometimes it may be the result of an illness.
You may first feel back pain just after you lift a heavy object, move in a sudden, abrupt manner, or suffer an injury (for example, a fall or a car accident).
However, the specific cause of back pain is often never identified. This can be good news, because when the specific cause is easily determined, the problem may be more serious.
Whether identified or not, there are several possible sources of low back pain. The most common are:
Other causes include:
Disk degeneration, herniation, and rupture
As you get older, the disks in the spaces between the vertebrae can deteriorate (weaken). This process is similar to arthritis in other joints in the body. The weakening from general wear and tear leads to irritation and inflammation, both of which can cause pain.
If the disk degenerates enough, the area becomes very thin and the jelly-like substance (nucleus pulposus) within the disk can bulge outward. This is called herniation.
There are different degrees of herniation. Many people have slight bulging that causes no symptoms at all. Others have an extensive bulge (called an extrusion), which may cause pain. Even extrusions, however, do not cause pain in everyone. This varies greatly from person to person.
See a disk herniation develop.
Need Quicktime?
A ruptured disk is a sudden herniation that happens from a serious injury. When a disk herniates for this reason, it is not necessarily related to the wear and tear of age.
Muscle strains and ligament injuries
Muscles and ligaments are important structures that support and strengthen your back. They are located all along the spine, including thick bands surrounding the disk spaces. A strain or actual tear to any one of these muscles or ligaments can cause back pain. Two common areas of such injuries include the thick fibrous band along the side of each disk and the ligaments that connect the spine to the pelvis.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) where spinal nerves leave the spinal column. This can develop as you age. If you have stenosis, even a minor injury can cause inflammation of the disk and pressure on a nerve. You can feel pain anywhere along your back or leg that this nerve goes to.
Often, you will have pain in the buttock, thigh, or leg that is brought on by activity and relieved by rest. The pain is also relieved by a stooped posture, so that you can walk farther while bending over than standing straight. Pain of this type is virtually specific for spinal stenosis, which is more common in older individuals. This specific problem is also called neurogenic claudication.
Other causes
There are lots of other potential causes of back pain, many of them rare. Some other possible causes are:


text:
Emilio Pucci Fall 2014
One-part Native American, one part Inuit, one part American Hustle—and all of it skimpy, slinky, sexy, ultra-sizzling, slightly seventies stuff. Fashion is always skating on thin ice when it starts naming indigenous peoples as inspiration, one would have to say. But by the time Peter Dundas had whizzed the blankets, ponchos, furs, and cowhides through the blender, thrown in a hip-hop slash rocker sensibility, silver studs, and a pink-brown Emilio Pucci vintage print, well, you could hardly trace the origins if you tried. (Oh: the two stunning silk velvet pantsuits, one fiery red, the other deep green—they were the Hustle moments.)
Dundas has certainly made over Pucci in his own image since he became creative director. Now the house product is all about girls, body-display, going out, dancing, and causing a stir. Noticeably, there is nothing in the slightest medium, moderated, or everyday in this world. Dresses are either very short, or very long—and either way, they're there to showcase plenty of flesh. Admittedly, there's chunky outerwear—a big, fluffy coat which is patchworked to look like lynx (but definitely isn't), and beaver-lined parkas (the Inuit influence). And then, quite cozy blanket-patterned ponchos and cardigan jackets, along with substantial cow-print leathers.
Still, an equal wonder is just how Dundas gets away with all this without being tacky. It can't be easy when you've opted to dedicate yourself to a life of putting legs and cleavage on display, but the quality of Dundas's fabrics, like the papery lamé, with a subtle rendering of the signature Pucci Orchidea print, as well as his exceptional talent for fit, made it all come over as a class act.
Under the creative directorship of the Norwegian-American Dundas, the Florentine print house (it's a palazzo, actually) has gone places which couldn't possibly have been imagined in the time of its aristocratic founder, Emilio Pucci.


text:
Pete Tong earns MBE in British New Year Honours List
Pete Tong is being recognized for is contributions to broadcasting and music with 2014's New Year Honours List. He is receiving an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
In a statement, Pete says, "It's great to receive this honor for being a DJ. I'm proud that it acknowledges a profession that I care about a great deal, and one that's made a huge impact around the world."
Pete has become icon in the dance music community and especially in dance music radio. Aside from hosting his show "All Gone Pete Tong" on Evolution here in the United States, he has also been known for being a staple personality for BBC Radio 1.
[Listen to "All Gone Pete Tong" on Evolution Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET]
He's also been busy behind the booth recently. Over the past year he has appeared at Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Tomorrowland in Belgium, TomorrowWorld in Atlanta, The Village at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, and hosted 2 pool parties during Miami Music Week. Pete also appeared on stage at Ultra Music Festival this year to introduce Swedish House Mafia for their last performance ever as SHM.
Congratulations to Pete!
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Paul McCartney postpones June U.S. tour after illness
Listen to Paul McCartney on iHeartRadio
Paul McCartney has postponed the start of his U.S. "Out There Tour" as he continues to recover from a virus that landed him in a Japanese hospital last month.
The legendary rocker says, "I'm sorry, but it's going to be a few more weeks before we get rocking in America again. I'm feeling great but taking my doctor's advice to take it easy for just a few more days. Look forward to seeing you all soon."
The tour was supposed to get under way this coming Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, but will not get going now until July 5th in Albany, New York. The seven postponed dates will be made up in October. They are:
- October 2: Lubbock, TX - United Spirit Arena (Re-scheduled from June 14)
- October 11: New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center (Re-scheduled from June 19)
- October 13: Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center (Re-scheduled from June 16)
- October 15: Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena (Re-scheduled from June 21)
- October 16: Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena (Re-scheduled from June 25)
- October 25: Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena (Re-scheduled from June 22)
- October 28: Louisville, KY - Yum! Center (Re-scheduled from June 26)
Get well soon, Sir Paul!
Photo Credit Getty Images


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It's 5:15 p.m., rush hour at Caltrain's Hillsdale station in San Mateo. Among the dozens of riders arrayed across the platform to catch the northbound "Baby Bullet" express train, the most watchful are the bicyclists.Read the full story in the Mercury News. I ride Caltrain daily on my commute and I'm amazed at how crowded the bike car remains. This morning, many of the usual riders were on the train in spite of the rain and cooler weather. I took the below photo in the summer of 2006 -- the bike car now looks like this in winter 2007.
They're hoping they don't get turned away.
Ridership is soaring amid high gas prices and global warming fears. The bicycle program is a well-established hit, with about one in 15 Caltrain riders bringing their wheels on board. Caltrains are getting so crowded at peak commute hours that not everyone's bike can fit on board. So when a Baby Bullet pulls out of the station, a handful of the rail line's most dedicated customers are left in the cold.
Labels: california, transit
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Greenburgh hosts annual dance to celebrate Valentine's Day
The Town of Greenburgh is inviting kids and their parents to attend a Valentine's dance on Feb. 8 at the multipurpose center in Anthony F. Veteran Park. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are encouraged to bring a parent or adult relative/friend to enjoy an evening of music and dancing…. Read More →


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Winn's 28 is not enough as Tornados fall to Lenoir-Rhyne, 74-66February 4, 2009
Brevard, N.C. - Samantha Winn again broke her career scoring record, dropping in 28 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, but the Bears limited the rest of Coach Shannon Reid's squad to only 38 points as Lenoir-Rhyne came away with the victory in Wednesday night South Atlantic Conference action, 74-66.
Brevard (5-15, 0-10 SAC) had three scorers in double figures, led by Winn's eighth career double-double, sixth this season. Amanda Whitaker scored 12 and pulled down six rebounds from her forward spot, and Millie Wharton added 10 on 3-4 shooting from the field before fouling out. The Tornados responded from being overwhelmed on the glass 58-26 the last time around in Shuford Gymnasium on January 7th, by out-rebounding the Bears, 39-33.
The Bears (19-2, 9-1 SAC) also had three in double figures as Jami Safrit, reigning SAC player of the Week, put in 13 as did Brittany Mitch. Jacquelyn Kremer scored 11 as Lenoir-Rhyne shot 45.3 percent from the field for the contest.
Both teams started off slow as Brevard held a 5-3 lead 3:49 into the game as Millie Wharton continued her recent streak of starting the game off fast with the first three points for the Tornados.
Brevard used a 13-4 run ending with 5:50 left to go up 22-15. Wharton continued to drive and score, and Winn got in on the action with a pair of free throws and a layup. Amber Roberts ended the run with a three-pointer to give the Tornados the biggest lead of the opening half.
Lenoir-Rhyne tied the game up after Winn hit a jumper with 2:32 on the clock as Meredith Webster nailed a three to put the game at 26-26.
The Bears followed the three-pointer with a pair of layups by Kristen Fulmer and Jami Safrit to go into the locker room with a 31-28 lead.
The Tornados, coming into the game hitting 36.7 percent of all three-point attempts, could not connect in the first half, going 1-12 (8.3 percent) from distance. However, they were able to connect on 7-8 free throw attempts as Brevard held onto the lead for most of the first half. Lenoir-Rhyne hit 11-25 (44.0 percent) from the field on their way to coming back and gaining the lead.
The Tornados were unable to regain the lead in the second half, but stayed in the game as Winn added 14 points as the Tornados brought the game back to within two points, first at the 15:52 mark when Schlobohm put in a layup, then again with 5:58 when Winn added a pair of free throws to cut the game to 58-56. However, the Bears went on a 10-2 run on their way to recording the 74-66 victory.
Brevard heads to Harrogate, Tenn. on Saturday for an evening contest against Lincoln Memorial. The Tornados fell in their first game to the Railsplitters on January 10th, 75-64 in Boshamer Gymnasium. Tipoff for the SAC matchup is 6 p.m. The Bears stay on the road, traveling down to South Carolina to face Newberry, with game time set for 2 p.m.