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I am asked, with a frequency I have come to find wearying, whether the events of my novels "really happened...
There is a peculiar sickness that has crept into historical fiction...
dropping seeds all over the place
Profile Post Archive
A sentimental look back at the profile posts from our community's earlier days. This archive is read-only.
Post new Updates on Litopia →5,007 profile posts found.
E G Logan
Today a Liberation Day procession was held in Genoa. Official police estimates put the number of marchers, including the mayor, Silvia Salis, a former Olympic hammer thrower, and the governor of Liguria, Marco Bucci, the immediate past Genoa mayor, at 10,000.
E G Logan
April 25 is celebrated in Italy as Liberation Day. Below ([I]if it works)[/I] is a note written by former German general Gunther Meinhold in 1949, in which he records the events of that day in 1945 when he led the surrender of the entire German garrison in Genoa, more than 10,000 men, to the partisans.
E G Logan
This was the only time in Europe when German troops surrendered to resistance forces. Many years ago now I heard the story of the other time this happened, in Norway. On a press trip to Stavanger, one of my colleagues – in response to a question - had just explained that his British father had met his Norwegian mother there when he was one of the first British troops to arrive for the liberation of Norway.
At this, one of our hosts, a man in his sixties, said sternly: ‘The British did NOT liberate Stavanger, the forces of the resistance did. The British arrived on May 9. [I]WE[/I] came out of the forest on May 5...’
Given the gentleman was less than 65 at this point, though maybe not much less – still working - [I]what age[/I] was he in 1945? With a very cold shock, I calculated he couldn’t have been more than 14 years old. He was scary then, so he must have been outright terrifying in 1945, with a gun in his hand.
Pamela Jo
Teas ready
Pamela Jo
Teas ready.
Jake E
I've hit 50,000 words at the end of act 2.
Seems too short...
Claire G
I always write a little short. You could: Finish the novel then work on developing plot points and scenes in the re-write? Or accept the length (Pete says books are getting shorter anyway)?
On another note, [USER=1]@AgentPete[/USER] I'm a bit confused about when we post a Profile Update versus when to post an Author Update - what's the difference? Thanks xx
Pamela Jo
Quote for the day:
WNSF: What separates a good story from one that’s ‘unputdownable’?
MF: Pace, subject, vibrancy of character, sparkling, witty dialogue, a plethora of incident, character jeopardy, something that captures the zeitgeist in so far as it addresses issues that matter, that have immediate and broad relevance. Short chapters also help, cliffhanger endings, devious plots that urge the reader to find out what happens next and in the end.
Lucìa Arrivato
📚
Aethalope
2025: Detecting a student's use of AI in their answers.
2026: Gently maneuvering a student using AI into situations where it is less convenient and also showing (not telling) them that brain-crafting is fun.
Pamela Jo
Using AI makes you dumber. Kind of obvious even wo the studies confirming. Seems esp damning for writers because using it -you will never become a better writer. Just an ever more cliche and dull one. Maybe point out life is about solving problems and usually only people who can do that creatively stand out from the crowd?
But minus the harrumphing. Well done. Teaching is an art.
Sedayne
My interview for [I]Publishing Diaries[/I] is up on Substack! Please have a read if you have a few minutes to spare.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://janelledrumwright.substack.com/p/publishing-diaries-rachel-mccarron[/URL]
Claire G
A brilliant read, Rachel. Well done! So much great advice and lovely to see Litopia mentioned and linked. By the way, I think you're being far too modest claiming beginner's luck - you're an incredibly talented writer and I have no doubt that those acceptances are down to that!!!! xx
Lakeland Waffler
Apologies for not giving feedback on all the great lab projects popping up but I've committed to a beta read for another member that I need to finish first.
Sedayne
I've just had a really lovely rejection from a top tier lit mag that I never expected to be accepted for:
[I]We are so grateful for your patience as we considered your work. This tackles so many issues that feel quite relevant in the moment, and I admire the lens of that era sharpens the vantage on our own.
We realize the danger of having to decline novel-in-progress submissions, so let us start this off by saying: KEEP GOING! We so appreciate the chance to read this excerpt, and though this wasn't a fit for our upcoming issues of Shenandoah, we wish you all the best as you head to the finish.
Thank you so much for trusting Shenandoah with your work, and for your patience, and very best wishes to you and for this project![/I]
It feels like a near miss and makes me think they actually read and considered it.
Aethalope
I thought I could find some nice soothing rainforest ambience for the Litopia blog narration. My dogs thought otherwise.
[ATTACH type="full" size="4160x1872"]22038[/ATTACH]
Sedayne
I've heard that whilst dogs may keep you warm, they're no good for sound insulation.
Aethalope
These dogs mostly keep me damp.
Sedayne
I just had a listen. Loved the rainforest sounds. And you really could get a job on Radio 4 with that marvellous voice.
Aethalope
Only if they let me do the shipping forecast
Pamela Jo
Dear Girl, if you write them and narrated them- they would be worth listening to. Wet dog smell mixed with jungle sounds. Very evocative.
Sedayne
Shipping Forecast is on just now, and I can't help thinking how much better it would be if [USER=1941]@Aethalope[/USER] was doing it.
CarolMS
I just participated in my first Pitch Event and an agent already on my A-list responded "Sounds great!" and asked me to query her. So encouraging! Of course it may not go anywhere, especially since I'm still whittling down my word count (now at 124K, down from 193K). But I'm not totally without hope, since per my research, my novel fits her interests in [I]multiple[/I] ways. It's encouraging to know the elevator pitch works. I'm ready to start querying. Better late than never, huh? Despite all my health stuff slowing me down., I'm hangin' in there. I just turned 80. Good grief. How'd that happen? (And despite the nightmare we're living in the U.S. right now, also not easy.) Anyway, I'm hoping I can participate with you all a bit more again, even though stretched pretty thin.
Vagabond Heart
fingers crossed everything works out for you. x
Sedayne
That's brilliant news about the pitch event. I'm so pleased for you. I hope you had a very happy 80th xx
Hannah Faoileán
Yay! Congratulations! Go for it! And Happy Birthday! :D :clapping-hands::crossed-fingers::shamrock:🎂
CarolMS
[USER=1004]@Hannah Faoileán[/USER] , [USER=1954]@Sedayne[/USER], [USER=1324]@Vagabond Heart[/USER] -- Thank you all for your encouraging words! And [USER=1628]@Claire G[/USER] and [USER=1583]@Rachael Burnett[/USER] too! :) 😊
Pamela Jo
From the Bookseller today...
Some editors 'uploading confidential manuscripts to ChatGPT to read quickly', agent claims
Curtis Brown has voiced concern about editors using ChatGBT to assess confidential manuscripts, as more literary agencies introduce clauses around Artificial Intelligence (AI) into contracts.
Hannah Faoileán
Surely not their own editors though! They must be talking about freelancers, and, if you use one, it will be worth getting them to sign a no AI use contract.
Barbara
Grrrr. Yeah, I agree with [USER=1004]@Hannah Faoileán[/USER] , a clause in a contract is a good idea but ... Would the author actually know that an editor has done this with their MS? Is there a way of knowing one's MS has been fed into an AI? (I still write on cave walls and have no clue.)
Pamela Jo
I think this is really hard to prove and... if they are doing this with manuscripts then logically they are doing it with slush piles. Ask for 10k words and have AI check to see if it's got any of the things we are selling at the moment? I could see agents seeing that as a tool to get thru slush piles.
Barbara
Yet another reason to self-publish.
Pamela Jo
But with a difference. Find a way to self publish outside of Amazon.
Jake E
Prophecies Just got another 3-star rating on Goodreads, and while that's not [I]terrible[/I] it does make me question if I want to continue writing.
Vagabond Heart
Yes, but Jake, you can be discouraged by things like that. As can anyone.
That is human.
But here's the thing....
I KNOW the book you're working on now is already better than Prophecies.
Because writers improve the more they write. Fact.
So maybe Prophecies is a 3-star, and maybe the next one will be 4-star, and the next a solid five, and the following one will get a film deal..............
Write because you love it. Write because you must. Write because only you can tell these stories.
Everything else will find its place in the fullness of time. xxx
Sedayne
Yep, what Bev said x
Pamela Jo
Patient:, It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: So stop doing that , already.
Jake E
Yeah I know that logically. My worry is if my first book isn't very good, no one will bother with the better ones.
Pamela Jo
Better to follow the advice of a lot of actors and creatives-never read the critiques. Goodreads especially. Werent there articles about how people go on there to give bad reviews deliberately? It's not an unbiased source. Jesus, man if Bev says you're good take that and run. Remember she's the one who "tough-loved" Shakespeare.
Vagabond Heart
Look, Terry Pratchett's first one was a bit shit. But then he moved on and we got Vimes and Granny Weatherwax. And he got a knighthood.
No one, I repeat, no one should be judged by their first book. And, luckily, if you produce better stuff then your audience will find it. History shows that.
Plus, 3 stars is nice. Not earth-shattering. But also not bad. Stop worrying, keep writing, and give us Goblin Hood with all guns blazing. xxx
Hannah Faoileán
ONE PERFECT SENTENCE - [B]Voting is OPEN for The Magnificent March Challenge. [/B]Head over to the OPS thread and vote for your favourite perfect sentences. Voting closes Midnight BST Sunday April 5th.
[URL="https://colony.litopia.com/threads/the-magnificent-march-challenge.17055/"]The Magnificent March Challenge![/URL]
Hannah Faoileán
ONE PERFECT SENTENCE - [B]The Magnificent March Challenge.[/B]
This competition will [B]close[/B] at midnight BST.
[URL="https://colony.litopia.com/threads/the-magnificent-march-challenge.17055/"]The Magnificent March Challenge![/URL]
Sedayne
March was the busiest month I've known in the Lab with fifteen new projects (not including any private threads I don't know about). Thanks to everyone who shared their WIPs with us and to all the critters who shared their time and expertise to critique. If you haven't posted in the Lab for a while, or if you're new to it all, we'd love you to join in and share your work. Any questions, just ask.
E G Logan
Volunteers adopt 'abandoned, overgrown' grave of Oscar Wilde's wife
The volunteer organisation [I]Per Staglieno[/I] that looks after neglected areas of Genoa's Staglieno Monumental Cemetery has been granted permission by Genoa Municipality to make 'interventions' to preserve the grave of Constance Mary Lloyd.
Driven by scandal, Wilde's wife reverted to her maiden name and fled, with their two boys, to the 'affordable' end of the south of France. She died, following botched surgery, at the age of 40, in Genoa, on April 7, 1898.
Though the cemetery at Staglieno is famous for the flamboyance and great sculptural skill of its Victorian-era memorial statuary, Constance's grave, in the Protestant Grove of the British section, is a modest one.
'After obtaining permission, we cleaned the area, tidied up the soil, and planted the shamrock, the symbol of Ireland, her homeland," Emanuela Mantero, president of the [I]Per Staglieno[/I] association, was reported as saying.
Pamela Jo
[URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyvyan_Holland"]Vyvyan Holland - Wikipedia[/URL].
Because I wondered.
AgentPete
Really enjoying hearing folk use the “Hear Me Read It” function on the blog. Listened to [USER=1269]@MattScho[/USER] read his [URL='https://litopia.com/matt-schofield/love-and-brains-the-beginning/']new piece[/URL] yesterday, thoroughly enjoyed it. Adds a special quality to hear the author read their own work, imho.
Claire G
Sorry I haven't been critiquing recently. I'm a bit critiqued-out and need a break. I've just started voice-recording my blog posts though, which is weird but fun!
Sedayne
No worries, Claire. I think you've got more than enough critiques in the bank to deserve a holiday from the Lab. (Although you're missing some cracking stuff at the moment.)
I've recorded a few of my blog posts. It's getting easier the more I do it. I'm just using the recorder app on my phone, but I think I need some better software that enables smooth editing because when I flub a line I have to start all over again...
Hannah Faoileán
Try Audacity. You can download it free and there's plenty of youtube videos out there showing you how to edit stuff. That's what we used for narrating Pop Up Submissions.
Sedayne
Thanks [USER=1004]@Hannah Faoileán[/USER] I'll give it a try.
MattScho
Claire, I agree, it is weird but fun. On the editing, I dunno, I think flubbing a line is part of the charm of having it read by the writer.
Claire G
I haven't been editing but if I fluff badly, I re-record x
Aethalope
Plotting is like getting the family out of their cosy jungle house and into the big city in time to watch Project Hail Mary.
My youngest, who reads copious quantities of gay manhwa, is already expressing surprise that they made the movie because "it's [I] [/I]just an audiobook."
I think I may have erred somewhere when I raised him. Ah well.
Aethalope
The audience demographic for this showing is 'those who finally got time off and just want to sit quietly by themselves to watch'.
I can relate.
Pamela Jo
Let us know what rogue teen male thinks. Here in Ireland there is no buzz, no sell, and consequently theatre was again almost empty. Nobody's ever heard of it and title suggests religious theme in country where Hail Mary's were punitive.
Aethalope
He liked it and now wants a Rocky plushie. He had no clue what was going on at the end...that emotional climax and final act of sacrifice was summarised so briefly that he was completely lost as a non-book-reader.
Pamela Jo
That is exactly what I said when I saw it. The emotional signposts got lost. The whole point of Grace not knowing who is , besides the exposition, is that he doesnt feel good about being there. When Rocky calls him brave he should have really cringed. The scene where he breaks down crying isnt enough. And one of the main characterisations of Rocky is he's not a scientist. He's not exactly the janitor but definitely on mechanic level. He's relying on Grace for the science. Rocky's like the guy who fixes his mother's washing machine and has a garage full of tools.