Why you don't get published.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Q & A 69 Guess the Plot Submissions
Is it even worth bothering to submit "Guess the Plots" that aren't funny?
If the real plot is insane, or can be made to sound insane, Evil Editor tries to use all funny ones. Choke that Chicken, for example. But I'm not beneath converting a serious one to funny in order to accomplish this.
If the real plot can't be made to sound insane, I need one or more other ones that could be right, so the answer won't be obvious.
Brilliantly witty is the best shot at making the cut, but not the only shot. And of course not making the cut has the advantage of giving you more new ones to read, and a bigger challenge in solving it.
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14 comments:
But, EE, the fake plots sound more sane, than the originals... (Yeah, I know I shouldn't start the sentence with a 'but', but I am a nut, you know!)
By the way, my 200,000 word novel 'The Evil, but handsome, Editor' is going along swimmingly. I just wrote a bit, where The Editor receives a queery on the back of a banana leaf...
I'm gonna get blocked from this blog, aren't I...
EE, quit being so serious. The only reason we minions do guess the plot is because it's the only place to find brutal eunuchs, vigilante sorcerers and rich tapestries.
Aww EE, My Hero. Many's the time I've accidently snorted beer or coffee while reading your picks for Guess The Plot and trying to glean whether they're yours, or a Minion's.
It's a treat; daily, but I gotta say I just simply adored the Choke That Chicken guesses... Harry Palms indeed!
(This just in: That race was won by the darkhorse, the longshot Trout Tickler!) Thank you EE, for my renewed faith in all things editorial!
Hmmmm... I am so confused.
But hey, that's just me.
...bothering to submit...
If it's a bother, then don't do it! *grin* I send my ideas in just for the fun of trying to fit a plot to the title in 25 words or less. It's a great way to get the Muses in gear before I start working on 'real' stuff. ^_^
I agree. I send mine in for fun (although when you use mine I feel ridiculously happy about it. An editor picked my stupid goofball plot instead of some other stupid goofball plot!) If it's difficult or taking up too much time, don't worry about it. We'll still be here.
anonimous, quit trying to bismirch my name! I am not 'brutal', just missing a part. Hey, at least its not my fingers... Why must you mock me so!
(Runs away crying, and pulling off whatever hair is left on 'his' mostly bold scalp)
Golly, everyone is getting all hot and "bothered." The questioner was simply asking what type of plots EE was looking for. Nobody said that submitting plots was bothersome. Chill.
There you go again, with the 'hot and bothered'! Why I haven't been 'hot and bothered' since they made me a YOU-KNOW-WHAT. Why is everyone so mean... Oh, and I misspelled anonymous.
Things are just going downhill from here, ain't they...
re: Anonymous said... Chill.
I wasn't trying to pick on the OP (or is that OQ?), it just sounded like they felt frustrated and I was trying to tell them to relax and not worry about it. The fun comes from the creation of the submissions not the success ratio. Mostly, anyways. ^_^
Sorry if it came across unpleasantly, I didn’t mean it so!
I've had several of my plots picked by EE and I too feel ridiculously happy about it! He's also edited a few of mine and added better twists than I imagined. And I too write them for the practice. What fun.
And yes it's a tad disappointing when something I've submitted isn't chosen, but I love reading the ones posted. Usually there's something close to what I'd hit upon (so mine wasn't so original-phooey!). Keep trying.
If you don't do funny, try drama. Or romance. Or fantasy. Or mystery. Or any other genre that seems to fit your idea of the title.
Now, off to check the outstanding titles list to write more fake plots!
Submitting fake plots is worth it, especially if one comes up with a plot that makes EE shoot coffee out of his nose.
I only submit fake plots while I am at work. That way I get payed while doing it. Does that make me a professional fake plot writer? -JTC
Word verification: ppuub Which is where I'm headin' this evening.
Anon (post #14) is a professional fake plot writer? Surely there's a job opening at the Colbert Report or The Daily Show.
As for 'Guess the Plot', I've been known to submit as my whimsy takes me. Trouble is, my memory is so bad that when I see my (sometimes cunningly edited) entries again in the ensuing weeks, I don't get an initial glow of glee but rather a moment of utter confusion (That plot seems familiar; have I read this blog already today?).
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