Quick Fire Questions (A Place to Ask and Answer)

[Gumboot]

Good to hear

I have a semantics related question - if my people are from a country called Romana, but their language is called Romiu, would I refer to them as the Romana people or the Romiu? I've been sort of mixing and matching so far but I feel like I should stick to one of the other.

I think you could use a number of options, as already mentioned. If it's got no connection to our world, I wouldn't be too concerned about using "Roman" or "Roma" either.

Roman
Romanese
Romese
Romish
Romani
Romi
Romii

I don't know what the etymology of their language is, but it seems "Rom" is their root identity, with "iu" and "ana" acting as suffixes (perhaps "tongue of" and "land of"?). Perhaps they even just call themselves the "Rom" and it's other people who call them the Romi, Romish, or whatever...

 

[Warren_Paul]

If I have made some edits to a piece I put up for critiques and it isn't so drastically different that you can't tell it's the same piece, do I need to start a new thread for it or can i put it as a new post in the old thread? I want to put the edited version up so I can see if it still make sense to people.

If its a modification of the same scene, then I'd put it in the same thread.


The question about what to call people triggered one of my own.

If you heard Westernese, what kind of culture would you assume it was?

It's supposed to be for an english culture living in a place called Westland, but always comes across as the name of an eastern culture to me.

 

[allmywires]

I don't know what the etymology of their language is, but it seems "Rom" is their root identity, with "iu" and "ana" acting as suffixes (perhaps "tongue of" and "land of"?). Perhaps they even just call themselves the "Rom" and it's other people who call them the Romi, Romish, or whatever...

Their country is on the River Rom, so yes, that's their root. Their god is also called Roman but I'm thinking of changing it because it's a bit of a pedestrian choice as far as names go.

If you heard Westernese, what kind of culture would you assume it was?

I'll be honest, it makes me think of the Men of Westernesse in LotR. So, kings and mediaeval knights and castles and whatnot.

 

[Mouse]

Warren, I would presume Westernese was like that... what do they call 'em? Weeabo or something like that? Those white kids who are obsessed with Japanese culture. Weybaloo? No, that's something else I think.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Warren, I would presume Westernese was like that... what do they call 'em? Weeabo or something like that? Those white kids who are obsessed with Japanese culture. Weybaloo? No, that's something else I think.

Yeah, that's what I feared; a connection to eastern culture. I've never actually used the word in my book, but had it handy. Hmm, maybe Westlandish? I'd thought of lots of different combinations, but Westernese sounded the best, meh.

I'll be honest, it makes me think of the Men of Westernesse in LotR. So, kings and mediaeval knights and castles and whatnot.

Never thought about that, good point.

 

[The Judge]

If I have made some edits to a piece I put up for critiques and it isn't so drastically different that you can't tell it's the same piece, do I need to start a new thread for it or can i put it as a new post in the old thread? I want to put the edited version up so I can see if it still make sense to people.

If it's the same scene, just amended (and it's still under 1500 words, of course) then you can put it in the same thread if you want, or you can start a new one, whichever you prefer.

 

[alchemist]

If its a modification of the same scene, then I'd put it in the same thread.


The question about what to call people triggered one of my own.

If you heard Westernese, what kind of culture would you assume it was?

It's supposed to be for an english culture living in a place called Westland, but always comes across as the name of an eastern culture to me.

I don't think I'd have any assumption about it. I've read so many fantasy books where the baddies are from so many different points of the compass that I always reset my expectations.

How about Westerish?

 

[Warren_Paul]

I don't think I'd have any assumption about it. I've read so many fantasy books where the baddies are from so many different points of the compass that I always reset my expectations.

How about Westerish?

Thanks Alchemist, that does sound like potential.

When did Westland become the bad guys.

 

[alchemist]

Thanks Alchemist, that does sound like potential.

When did Westland become the bad guys.

Whoops. Brain fade there. I'd been thinking of the baddies coming from the east in LOTR, and from the south in a Feist novel, and it just seeped into my reply.

 

[Pyan]

Those white kids who are obsessed with Japanese culture. Weybaloo? No, that's something else I think.

Weeaboo is what you're thinking of, otherwise known as otaku. You got it right the first time...

 

[Warren_Paul]

Another quick question:

What is the current acceptable method of word counting your manuscript? I know it used to be: No. of Pages * 250. Is this still the practice, or is it purely based on the software's word count now?

I'm wondering if I should be putting 82k (software word count) on the cover letter or 95k (estimated printed word count)

Also, should it be rounded to the nearest 1,000 or the nearest 5,000?

 

[David Evil Overlord]

That's the third one I've heard of.

One often used by short story writers is to take the number of letters (and spaces) in an average, mid-paragraph sentence. Then divide by six (the "average" length of a word). Then multiply by the number of lines. Not really practical for novels: too many lines. For short stories where you're paid by the word, it gives a higher word count than the word processor.

Second is the word processor count. But that counts "...I-so-want-to-kill-my-little-brother-moment" as one word. So, not perfect.

Then there is your method.

Might I suggest -- select one method, and stick to it. And note on the manuscript which method you used.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Yes, I believe by the line is only for short stories, because they are more likely to go on the page(s) of a magazine than to be printed.

The problem is, I'm not sure if it's up to the writer to decide which method to use, is it?

 

[David Evil Overlord]

All I can tell you is what I find in this SFWA article:

http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/what-is-a-word/

But, again, I think the "divide-by-six-letters method" is just for short stories. Unless there is some way for Word to count lines...

 

[Warren_Paul]

97k going by the method on that page. Yikes!

62 Characters average per line
25 lines per page
377 pages


EDIT: btw, if you click on the word count down the bottom it breaks it down into lines, characters - with and without spaces - paragraphs, and words.

 

[subtletylost]

Two things,

1.) In this segment: “Are you going to be okay?” I look up into the fatherly eyes of the man on stage and nod.

“I am here today to officially open and dedicate this orphanage. As its founder I am entitled to call it whatever I want right?” I ask.

“Yes,” he responds, his voice rings with sympathy.

is there a better way to say the last line?

and

2.) what's the name of the little people on top of trophies? I'm thinking statuettes but I am not sure.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

What effect are you going for with the last line? Eyes brimming, he feels sorry for me, or chest puffing out, I've done okay even though things were hard?

 

[subtletylost]

i want the reader to know that he understands what's wrong with her and is sympathetic but 'rings with sympathy' just doesn't sound quite right.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Two things,

1.) In this segment: “Are you going to be okay?” I look up into the fatherly eyes of the man on stage and nod.

“I am here today to officially open and dedicate this orphanage. As its founder I am entitled to call it whatever I want right?” I ask.

“Yes,” he responds, his voice rings with sympathy.

is there a better way to say the last line?

and

2.) what's the name of the little people on top of trophies? I'm thinking statuettes but I am not sure.

"Yes." So much sympathy crammed into one little word.

I think statuettes is right. The only time I've written about such a trophy, the POV character descibed it as looking like one of the other characters in a really awkward pose.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

"Yes." His eyes meet mine for a moment, and he gives a silent nod of sympathy.