I'm sweating blood revising a novel, and I'm strongly questioning my opening scene (along with everything else, but that's what revisions are for, right? <g>).  How horribly cliche is an opening scene with the main character getting out of bed?  Is it unforgivable?  Completely hack?  :)

To all the French fans over there :

Torchwood Children Of Earth will be aired on NRJ12 at 8.30pm every tuesday. It will begin the 17th of November.

Though, as always on NRJ12, no original version will be available, only the dubbed one (but they dubbed the first 2 seasons very well imo) so nothing to fear :p

I'm still waiting on word counts from team Clio, but just because I can't announce a winning team, doesn't mean I should hold off on announcing the individual winners, right? :)

The winner, for writing 27, 756 words over Friday and Saturday is la_estrella

The winner of the draw is bloodofareptile

You both need to email me please. La_estrella I need to know your NaNo username for the halo (or if you are donating it to someone else, their username) and Bloodofareptile I need your snail mail address to send the Niteblade swag to :)

Today is the Remembrance Day sprint. By leaving a comment to this entry with your word count for today in it you will be entered into the contest. Good luck everyone! I know I, for one, am planning to use this as inspiration to catch up on my word count.

November 11
Remembrance Day Race
In different countries this holiday has different names, in Canada it's Remembrance Day. Write as much as you can between 12:01am and 11:59pm
-Person with the highest word count will win user icons for a year or 6 months of paid LJ time (donated by bdwilson )

"Motherly instinct" 2009. 60х60cm. Oil on canvas.
silivonchik.ru/

Found this custom character mask for sale on eBay......

http://tinyurl.com/ye8spmz

Almost as Scary as the real thing. *g*

I come from the world of fanfic where posting is expected and encouraged and feedback, when offered, is relatively immediate. I'm slowly phasing into the world of original fic, breathing life back into an original story/novel started several years ago. I'm hoping that once it's complete and has been edited within an inch of its life, I will be able to submit it for publication consideration... somewhere.

Haven't quite figured out that part yet. I need to get the thing written first.

My question to you is, if one's goal is publication (not self-publication, but submit-to-agent-type publication) is it allowed or appropriate to first post pieces of said fic online for feedback?

I've heard both ways: that it's encouraged and that the feedback helps you know if you're on the right track and that it's a definite no-no and if you post online, then 'real' publication houses won't even look at you because they consider your work already published in some manner.

I'm not sure what to trust, or where to go for a definitive answer, and the fear of the second possibility keeps me from attempting the first.

Any suggestions or experience in this area would be appreciated. I would very much like feedback on the novel -- have gotten quite addicted to it, actually. But not at the risk of a possible future for the story...

Thanks in advance.

Jenna Vincent - a young Australian artist started drawing at twelve.

Jenna Vincent - a young Australian artist started drawing at twelve.

It is heartening to see how many people still wear their poppies with pride in an age when some may be inclined to forget the huge debt we owe all who serve and have served in our armed forces, past and present.

However much some may disapprove of what our servicemen have been called upon to do in our name over recent decades, the last people who should bear the brunt of that disapproval are the soldiers, sailors and airmen who put their lives on the line every day in places far away from the support of their families and friends.

Service men and women who die in Afghanistan or Iraq are just as dead as those who laid down their lives in the trenches of Ypres or the Normandy landings.

Objections to our participation in those current theatres of conflict should never lead the objectors to do other than support the men and women who signed up to defend us and their country and are thereafter obliged to go wherever they are sent.

We hear daily stories of enormous bravery on the part of our troops who sacrifice their lives for their comrades and to help the oppressed citizens of other countries.

It is as much for them as for our fallen ancestors in the two world wars that I wear my poppy with pride. It is a small gesture, but it is one that, I am delighted to say, is holding firm across all ages.

I believe that as long as we honour those who fought and died for our survival and freedom, then we will continue to value that freedom both for ourselves and others.

My father survived the Second World War. He was a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Army Service Corps. While doing some research, I recently found the supporting documentation for the British Empire Medal he received in 1943.

It read: “In the early stages and throughout the North African campaign he set a very fine example of hard work and cheerfulness under all conditions and even under heavy bombing.”

He was no different to thousands of other servicemen who simply got on with it then and get on with it now, because to do otherwise would be to let their colleagues and their country down.

Let us wear our poppies for them as well as those who have gone before in our name.

- Colin Baker, Sixth Doctor, Doctor Who