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The guide Glitch posted is spot on. It is essentially the rules I was told to follow as a journalist. While a lot of places have their own styles, most don't stray too far from this. Dates are very hard to read when spelled out. The only exception is if a character is saying something like "On...

I generally actively work on a single project, but I do jot down ideas and such for other projects I'm working on. I can jump back and forward between fiction and non-fiction, since they are so different, but I try to avoid jumping around too much, as it means nothing ever gets finished. -D

The biggest issue with this, as far as I can see, is finding the right pronoun. Our gender neutral pronoun "it" has negative connotations, since it's the kind of word we attribute to animals and things we consider "lesser" than we are. This would likely make many readers think a little less of...

Adding my voice to the chorus: I wouldn't italicise words like this. -D

While I loved Smaug, I wish they included more of his dialogue. If I remember correctly they include some of the "My armour is iron" speech, but they left out some of the beautiful and powerful imagery, like "My tail is a lightning flash." The dialogue with Bilbo about his many titles is another...

He mentioned in the extras on the Extended Edition of An Unexpected Journey that he gets pressured about the cameos now, and he feels obliged to do them, because if he didn't do a cameo for one movie, it would look like he doesn't care enough about the movie. I think it's a nice little touch...

The most enjoyable novels for me are those that use language in ways that make me savour the words. Beautiful and poetic language, that carries weight beyond the normal meaning of the words, tends to encourage me to re-read a book even though I know the story. It also helps me improve as an...

If the character is talking to himself and quoting himself, then I would either use quotation marks within the dialogue or italics to differentiate it from the rest of what the character is saying. -D

I think the line about the baby bucket reads a little awkwardly. Is "baby bucket" the official term? Maybe it is called something else, like a "carrier"? I'm no expert, so just throwing some ideas out there. It might also not be necessary to point out that his son is in it, as it would be...

It is quite bizarre, but the fact that is has happened before makes it a little less strange. If the Egyptians are anything like the Irish, then everything will grind to a halt with a bit of snow ;) -D

I spotted him in all of the LOTR films, but I honestly didn't spot him in the first Hobbit film. However, he is very obvious in the second one. I won't say when or where, but I don't think anyone who knows what he looks like will miss him. -D

I enjoyed it and would probably give it an 8/10. MILD SPOILERS BELOW. The Hobbit as a book is not as interesting to me as The Lord of the Rings, due to its style and the fact that it is aimed at children. I prefer the darker style and story of its sequel. So, I did not mind that Peter Jackson...

I'm on Goodreads also. Feel free to add me: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6082024.Dean_F_Wilson -D

If Larsson were still alive and it was done without his blessing, then I'd have an issue with this. Since he died and was unable to finish his fourth book in the series, it is not entirely surprising that the publisher, and likely many fans, would want someone else to fill the gap. If...

I'm looking forward to this film. I love this style of Asian fantasy, which has elements of the wuxia style (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Of course, I cannot help but think of Neo whenever I see Keanu Reeves. -D

Personally speaking I don't think you can be a great author if you don't read. You can have the technical skill, and you may be a good storyteller, but the art itself is developed intuitively through reading as well as overtly through the learning of new words, new ways to string sentences...

What about if the deceased author's family estate lay claim to the copyright? For example, while Tolkien isn't dead long enough to be technically in public domain, does anyone really think he could ever be, given his estate? I'm sure his son's work on his father's books also helps retain the...

That's Mister Git you you! ;) Personally speaking, I think the intial contact should retain as much formality as possible (while also being personal), so "Mr. Surname" should suffice. However, to be that little be more personal and friendly, "Mr. Firstname Surname" couldn't neccessarily hurt...

As far as I'm aware, the first film will tell the story of the Hobbit, while the second will link it up to LOTR (including scenes from the White Council, attacking the Necromancer, etc.). Remember how Gandalf basically says "I did this stuff" at the end of the Hobbit? The stuff he said he did...

Thanks for that info, Giovanna. That makes this issue alot easier to understand (and explain!) :) -D