Do you prefer to read novels, short stories, or poetry?
Preference. I suppose I prefer the novel, but honestly I think that is my go-to, lazy choice. I'll read a novel regardless of energy or intellectual power. It will always be there, and there is plenty of time to figure the thing out. Short Stories are sort of my early morning, or rainy day selection. I like to read a short while I eat breakfast. An odd habit, but it's one of the few times of day I've been able to force myself to do it. I read through my "market" mags in the afternoon prior to writing sometimes after, but it's really very iffy with me on the short story. I suppose the best answer is that I have three Volumes of short story anthologies in my bathroom. I think that about sums it up, no? And gives it a higher priority than some would think!! Poetry, this is the stuff I have to be ready for. I've got to build myself up to it. It usually includes a couple great dictionaries, maybe a thesaurus, usually all the Greek Classics loaded up as well as Virgil and Dante. I mean I have to get ready for battle! I make some coffee with a nip or two of good Irish Whiskey in it. I don't have to be assigned poetry for me to read it (though it doesn't hurt) but I definitely have to be in the right mindset for it. It takes a lot of effort, and usually challenges me in ways that novels and short stories don't. In "High Selwyn Mauberley" by Pound, within my annotated copy there are 9 footnotes, at least three languages and four allusions to other works in section 1! (Only 20 lines, folks, of 245!) You've got to be ready to dig in, man! Poetry. It can say so much in such short lines, no? (Of course I was referring to good poetry, not the type of brain melting rubbish you see posted in the Y!A poetry forum or on Poetrydotcom.)
What is your favorite piece of writing?
My favorite book is "Sundancer" By Shelley Peterson. I love this book because it is so unique, and it has horses! I love how the main character is far from perfect, but throughout the book she discovers the good qualities in herself, while training Sundancer at the same time. This book is also very funny, and I love that too. When looking for books, I usually like them to have some sort of animal/fictional creature in them. I just absolutely love animals, and I can never be without them, even in books. I also like the main character to change greatly through the book. And I like books that leave you hanging or have a somewhat happy ending. Good question! And even though it doesn't relate to the question: Good luck always! :)
Poll: Would you pay $1 for a short story you've never heard of before in any genre that is between 2000-15000 words?
Honestly? No. There are already more professionally produced stories (that have been through all the necessary gatekeeping and polishing / editing that traditional publishing demands) to read in my favourite genres than I can read in I don't know how many lifetimes.On a $ basis, those traditional books (print or E-) are better value, and much lower risk as a time investment too.The only way I'm going to take a chance with a short story like this is if a) it is free, and b) it's been recommended to me.Sorry, but that's me. If you want to sell your stuff in this way (to me, at least), my advice is to a) package a bunch of stories together to make a better value price, and b) work on getting a loyal following and some bloggers / reviewers to start spreading some positive opinions about your work.
Do you prefer novels written in first person, second person, or third person? Why?
I have read novels written in both of the forms. If it is written in first person then main character and protagonist are same. However, in third person narration these two aforementioned are different. This is the basic difference between them. Now, my first point for first person narration is if other characters are there in the story doing their own things out of the reach of eyes of main character then how does he/she knows what they are doing. I read one in which a friend of one of the characters was telling how he made love with his girlfriend in a locked room. It is just impossible to have that story teller any idea of what is happening at far distant places. I think the alternative may be switching of first person according to the scene. That being said, I mean if the main story teller isn't involved in that scene, the same role can be played by the one who is involved. Right now the right example flashing in my mind is the narration of IMDB's first ranked movie The Shawshank Redemption. You get to see how voice changes according to appropriate requirement.In third person narration it becomes easy to capture everything. You can go one writing smoothly even if there are variations in the scenes.I guess, first person narrations are written to connect better with reader.I remember one quote by a writer which goes like this-If you are writing in first person that person should be yourself.The above line simply means it should be your perspective as if you are there witnessing everything.Both are good in its own way. But the loophole I wrote about in the beginning can't be ignored.
Which of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories is most highly regarded by connoisseurs?
According to Randall Stock from The Best of Sherlock Holmes, there have been 5 major Sherlock Holmes stories polls so far PLUS there's Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's own list of his best stories.All of these polls represent the Sherlock Holmes stories most highly regarded by connoisseurs. They were published in The Baker Street Journal and The Sherlock Holmes Journal.According to the 1999 poll initiated by Randall Stock in The Baker Street Journal in December 1999 - Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: The Red Headed LeagueRank 3: A Scandal in BohemiaAccording to the 1989 poll initiated by Nicholas Utechin in The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Winter in 1989 - Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: The Red Headed LeagueRank 3: The Musgrave Ritual According to the 1959 poll initiated by Edgar W. Smith in The Baker Street Journal in October 1959 - Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: The Red Headed LeagueRank 3: Silver Blaze and The Blue Carbuncle (tied)According to the 1954 poll initiated by Edgar W. Smith in The Baker Street Journal in April, 1954 -Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: The Red Headed LeagueRank 3: A Scandal in Bohemia According to the 1944 poll, initiated by Edgar W. Smith in The Baker Street Journal in October - Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: A Scandal in BohemiaRank 3: The Red Headed LeagueAccording to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself (Strand Magazine, 1927):Rank 1: The Speckled BandRank 2: The Red Headed LeagueRank 3: The Dancing MenClearly, the story most highly regarded by connoisseurs and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself is...The Speckled Band.Note: I have figured out the ranking of each story in different polls, using this link from Best of Sherlock: Rankings From All Polls for the Best Holmes Stories
Which option do you prefer : reading books or viewing movies based on them?
Hi there, thanks for asking. Of course I have to say “it depends” but as one who has watched a lot of movies and a lot of directors commentaries and read few books I would say, according to my own personal opinion, 4 out of 5 times its better to read becauseThe quality of acting and story telling has been dropping to disheartening levels for decades now. This is even measurable, as demonstrated in a video by Paul Joseph Watson in YouTube some years ago.Books only have to get past a publisher and not an entire studio crew so there is much more room for spontaneity and original thinking.You can have morals in books that don't exist in movies b/c studios need mass appeal.Books make you think in ways that movies don't usually trigger.Reading gives a quicker wit to the mind then movies which produce a sort of numbed brain effect. Which is not inherently bad.You can read anywhereReading chases away bad people. I once was having lunch with 4 dudes and I started talking about one of my favorite books “the richest man in Babylon” and one said “GAAAAAY I'm going to the bar.” one guy followed him, and the other two asked questions. The topic quickly changed but it's not as though I was being a buzzkill. We were talking about money which is what the book talks about via several short touching stories.Movie actors such as will Smith and Morgan Freeman have said in interviews things like “writers, directors, and actors only become great if they read great books” and “actors that stand the tests of time are those that read enough stories to design a sort of universal appeal that speaks to all generations and experiences in the roles they play.”I could go on but I'll end with saying I really love movies, and if you want some great story telling check out Brick or Primer, for great acting Ben Hur or A Man For All Seasons, for great style try Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy or the god fatherHope this helps manCheers buddy