you guys rock.

[cornerofmadness]

you really do. Thank you very much for your input on my abstract. Here it is again, incorporating your suggestions. See if I've made a hash of it or not.



Misconceptions about the megalithic monuments are abundant and I would like the chance to study current thought about these ancient structures. I want to study them for the chance to dispel some of these erroneous beliefs by using what I find in my writing, both non-fiction and fiction. I have long been fascinated with the standing stones and ancient cairns that sprawl across the United Kingdom. The bits of folklore and bardic tradition still in existence about these Neolithic sites as well as the pictures of the stones themselves capture my imagination and my desire to learn more about them.

Much of their history has been lost over the millenia, but the current research suggests links to astronomy, religion and calendar for planting and harvesting. The Menhir, as the stones are called in Wales from the words Maen Hir, long stone, most likely were of great importance to the Neolithic inhabitants of the island and are of great historic and cultural value today. Many of these sites have been blended into churches and monasteries, some of which are still in use today.

Many of the monuments are in the northwest of Wales, especially in the Anglesey area, notably the passage grave of Barclodiad y Gawres that is an intricately carved monument, a real rarity. Bryn Celli Dhu, a burial mound, can also be found there. In Pembrokeshire, within a hundred miles of Trinity College in Carmarthern, there are other sites such as Gors Fawr stone circle one of the few complete stone circles in Wales. Also the ruins of St Brynachs Church, Cwm-yr-Eglwys, are located in Pembrokshire. The college has ongoing research into the monastic system in Wales.

I have used these ancient monuments and fragmentary legends in my fictional writing. Currently, I am working on a series with a Welsh character whose roots reach back centuries and intertwines not only with the monuments but the castles and fortresses of thirteenth century Wales. I feel being able to study these megalithic monuments in detail would add richness and authenticity to the novels. In order to present the most authentic characters I can, and to avoid stereotyping, I have been studying Welsh history and have studied the Welsh language at the workshops provided by the Madog Center.


The mission of the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College is to foster understanding and appreciation for Welsh heritage and contemporary Welsh

I believe that getting a better insight into Wales’s oldest heritage and being able to share it with others will support the Madog Center’s mission. In addition to the paper and presentation I would have to do for the center, I already have interest from other venues to hear the presentation, notably the Jackson City Library. I am also actively marketing the first novel in the series, which placed into the semi-finals at the Amazon Breakthrough novel contest. If I am successful, it would be a way to bring this part of Welsh heritage to a wider audience.


You guys have made me smile because otherwise this header would have read disappointed since that has been the rest of my day. My sugar is back to swinging wildly. And I REALLY wanted to go to the scriptfrenzy hangout with my nano friends tonight in Athens. No, I'm not doing that but I wanted a night out. My students are so crazed with this big bone test i'm giving that I was in the office til 6. Nowhere near enough time to eat and get there. WAAH.

Hey I MUST share these writing things with you guys.

romance, steampunk, urban fantasy and more Check it out. You pitch to them and you could win a full manuscript read. You can't ask for more than a chance at that.


Summer reading trail a chance to promote yourself and your stories. I need to look this one over more myself.

And I got this from a Neil Gaimen tweet. A lot of you may have seen it but it bears sharing. Bad reviews HURT. There is no doubt about it. But for the love of god, just let it go. Do not engage the person, especially not like this.

what not to do with a bad review

and thank you to evil_little_dog for the snail vgift





This is right across from the house from last night. It's not really sinking. I was trying to take a picture wihtout getting out of the car. It's much bigger than this looks and yes is another recent abandonment

Comments

[seatbeltdrivein.livejournal.com]

*facepalm* I've seen that link everywhere today, on just about every writing blog I follow. That woman has SCREWED herself.

Good luck with the Welsh stuff! I don't have any experience in that sort of thing, so I didn't want to drop any advice. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! ^^

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes whne making an asshat of yourself goes viral you're doomed

thanks.

[seatbeltdrivein.livejournal.com]

It was a hilarious read, though. Total trainwreck.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh yes

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I would like the chance to study current thought about these ancient structures. I want to study them for the chance to dispel - this is repetitive.

Maen Hir, long stone - Might need to be italicized - particularly "long stone", to set it apart from the rest of the words as the translation.

In addition to the paper and presentation I would have to do for the center, -> This almost sounds like it's a duty or chore. How about, "I will be doing" for the center.

I think this is a much smoother version than the one you had out earlier.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you very much i'll fix it in the morning

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

:D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

which i didn't do since quarter after 9 is the first time i've had to do this.

[marynachaotica.livejournal.com]

Standing ovation to your abstract!!!!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks

[bay115.livejournal.com]

Nice work on the revised version of the abstract. Like the addition over clarifying the stereotypes. Good luck!

And man, indeed that woman is very unprofessional over the review. I dealt with bad reviews over my fanfictions and the best approach is thanking them their time to read it and have an open mind over what they said.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks

exactly, i mean it does hurt to work hard on something, care about and have someone shred but it happens in this game. If you must, rant privately to friends but you don't do this

[marlex.livejournal.com]

I'll probably butcher the story since it's been over a year since I heard, but that bad review response reminds me of a story Robert Olan Butler shared with us when he came and spoke at our local library.

A particular person gave one of his books a bad review, one that stuck with him. Some time later, while working at LSU (I think...) he had the opportunity to invite authors to come speak to the creative writing department students. He ended up invited the person in question (also an author), and thought long and hard about confronting him in person. Ultimately, he decided not to.

Again, some time later, Butler won the Pulitzer Prize for another of his books. He later found out that the person who nominated his book was given it by the person who had given his other book such a bad review.

If he had confronted the guy, he most likely would have never won the Pulitzer.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks for this story. now that's the way to handle something

[hierath.livejournal.com]

Looks good! And nothing to do with the abstract, but is it wrong that I sniggered at "big bone test"? ;) My inner 12 year old boy did, anyway...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

everyone always sniggers at the big bone test

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

I like this version of the abstract. It's much more forceful and to the point, and gives a clearer idea of what you envision doing with your time in Wales. Thumbs up.

I love the way the bad-review thread deteriorated into a cat-fight over whether indie publishing is really vanity publishing. If Ms. Fuck-you is any example of indie publishing, it doesn't sound much better than vanity press, even if it is a different animal.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you very much.

Yeah honestly as many times as I've seen this same issue crop up in indie publishing I'm inclined to agree. i'm also on goodreads and notice many of the giveaways are indie publishers. some have been surprisingly good though that I've won