Nine Lives, Fresh Perspectives

A tumble through classic sci-fi films, new media and original works.

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A little late, but that's OK. I believe in all of you! I like limited format and letting content run wild, so we'll continue that idea in May's...

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The Doll Doctor - I (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/251528591-the-doll-doctor-i?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_info When Angela Baker's doll breaks, she discovers that when she experiments with magic, magic will experiments with her...

Image Credits - 'German Doll' by Gail Frederick; 'Stardust' by Duncan Johnston. eBook version available on Amazon along with Fireflies At Lughnasadh and The Interview.

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Between Places (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/story/62877996-between-places?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_info&ref_id=19107546

'It's a foolish man who lets himself be ruled by the stars, after all.' Skirman Jurkunas goes to a fortune teller seeking knowledge that the cards are reluctant to tell him. On the way home, he works out what they were actually saying...

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Ex Parte Caikovskis (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/story/23693382-ex-parte-caikovskis?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_info&ref_id=19107546

Ernest Caikovskis tries to fly the nest.

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Strands (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/story/62895850-strands?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_info&ref_id=19107546 Arriving in exile, Aisté finds herself searching for warm clothing. Her son has sent her a last present... (Top image credit - Juantlagues, 'Con la Pandareta'. Image released under CC-BY-SA licence.)

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What is the etiquette for a revise & resubmit? I know generally not to respond to rejection emails so as not to clog agent inboxes. But this is my first r&r and am wondering how to respond. I don't want to throw away my shot. Thanks very much.

If an agent asks you for a revision, and you want to do the revision, say “thanks so much! I’ll be back to you in [x-amount of time]” (there is no time limit. Don’t rush. Do a good job and take the time you need!). Then when you are ready, respond again with the subject line “Requested Revision: TITLE” or similar.

Now, if you DON’T want to do the revision for whatever reason, a simple, “thank you so much for your time and thoughts!” is sufficient.

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Just Write! (on Wattpad) http://w.tt/1NqTeKg Natalya has to have the leaflet written by sunset, she has a bad case of writers' block - and the constabulary are knocking at the door. Written for the /r/writing subreddit competition, March 2016. Based on a Writing Excuses prompt.

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Straw Into Gold (on Wattpad) http://w.tt/1VsAWRc The miller's daughter who subcontracted Rumpelstiltskin... A flipped fairy tale written for a /r/fantasywriters writing challenge. Image is Anne Anderson's "The Miller's Daughter".

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Uneven Break

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Chepi Kigonz - scene from Deep Water by crowqueenuk

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Diagnosis by crowqueenuk

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The Starlight Canopy - un-titled by crowqueenuk

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Top Ten Writing Mistakes Editors See Every Day

Top Ten Writing Mistakes Editors See Every Day

Originally posted on Blot the Skrip and Jar It:

In addition to writing and teaching, one of the things I do for a living is to evaluate manuscripts for their suitability for publication. I read fiction (and non-fiction) across several genres, and write comprehensive reports on the books. I try always to guide the author towards knocking his or her project into a shape that could be credibly…

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A Note on Magical Crime - /r/worldbuilding challenge 'Con Men'

A Note on Magical Crime – /r/worldbuilding challenge ‘Con Men’

(Brescester Gazette, 11 Harpa 1,985 IC)

‘After recent events, it is evident that young gentlemen of fortune, living in Ludlin as the stewards of their parents’ trade concerns, take good care not to entangle themselves in any attempts on their lives and their property. The case of Alexei Volkovsky, son of Tirsk shipping magnates, and Vladimir Voronov, chairman of the Marcaster match factory owned…

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Kupolinés

After the evening meal, backs began to straighten and eyes brighten. A shower had crossed Carraig Dubh shortly before supper, but the evening sky was now cloudless. Giedre was up to her arms in water when Stanislovas came to her and told her that the dishes could wait until the morning.

The “colonists” were being given back their shamans to go with the priests that had accompanied them to the…

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Cross-post from /r/magicbuilding: Brainstorming - [Brainstorm] How does the supernatural affect your world's natural or human-created landscape, or the natural bodies of its practitioners?

Cross-post from /r/magicbuilding: Brainstorming – [Brainstorm] How does the supernatural affect your world’s natural or human-created landscape, or the natural bodies of its practitioners?

This is a big plot-point in the Dungeons and Dragons setting Dark Sun, where ancient magic battles had destroyed the planet, draining life-force from it and turning it into a gigantic dustbowl with a silt sea.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Magic creates – but does it draw its power from anywhere? Do your wizards drain mana from the land, or does the very existence of…

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Ellipses . . . The Silent Killer

Ellipses . . . The Silent Killer

Originally posted on Ryan McSwain:

We all have our pet peeves. I know a woman that can’t stand the sound of someone rubbing a balloon. My dad has this thing about poor technique in the application of Elmer’s Glue. I’ve heard some great rants about inconsistent numbering in movie sequels.

I hate ellipses in dialogue.

My hatred for this punctuation borders on the irrational. If the third person…

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