shuehorn
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I've just found these threads, and it is especially useful as quiz writing November comes up!! Thanks so much for the thoughtful and informative tips on writing II. Reply #41. Nov 02 15, 11:08 AM |
agony
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Just wanted to add something to this, as I've been seeing so much of something lately.... Try to stay away from vague meaningless statements in your info. "He starred in many Hollywood productions" "She has had many hit records" and so on. With a very little more work, just seconds more, really, you can turn this into something better. "He starred in many Hollywood productions, such as "Famous Movie" for which he won a Best Actor Oscar." "She has had many hit records, such as "Big Hit Record" from 1993." This is the kind of information that is on the first sentence of their Wikipedia or IMBD entry, so not a lot of deep heavy research is needed. Yet it adds so much to your players' enjoyment - "Oh, right, that guy!" they think, rather than just glossing over "many Hollywood productions". If you bring something up in your info section, go the extra half step and tell us something specific about it. For most of our categories, you have a lot of choice about which facts you give in the info section, but once you've decided you are going to talk about a certain aspect of the issue, make sure you actually tell us something about it. If you bring up a Hollywood career, give the name of at least one movie. Reply #42. Apr 12 16, 5:35 PM |
Verne47
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Would it be too much to ask if I could get some tips for writing cryptogram quizzes here? I would do well with one or two tips. If it's impossible I understand. I just wondered. Reply #43. Apr 14 16, 4:29 PM |
pollucci19
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Agony, I don't disagree with you but it may not always be possible as "time" can play a factor in that. Recently I wrote a line in my interesting info that went "the role earned her the first of her four Primetime Emmy awards" and then I sat back and thought... what if she wins another one... I'll get a correction notice from a player. So I changed it to something a little vague. Had my actress passed on or retired it wouldn't have been an issue Reply #44. Apr 14 16, 5:23 PM |
agony
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In that case you say something like "Her first Primetime Emmy" . You're right that time dependency is a factor, though, and an important one. My comment is not primarily directed at habituees of this board, as most of you are great at presenting a lot of factual info in a fun and interesting way. I often send new authors to read this thread, though, to give them some useful ideas about how to go about writing info, and many of them need this reminder. Reply #45. Apr 14 16, 7:55 PM |
agony
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I'm not sure what you mean by cryptogram quizzes, Verne. Reply #46. Apr 14 16, 7:56 PM |
Verne47
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Oh... There's a subcategory named Cryptograms under Brain Teasers. Reply #47. Apr 18 16, 9:51 AM |
Verne47
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It falls under Word Play. Reply #48. Apr 18 16, 9:53 AM |
spanishliz
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Verne, drop me a note with your specific questions about cryptograms and I should be able to answer them for you. If there's enough interest they could form the topic for a new one of these discussion threads. Reply #49. Apr 18 16, 11:14 AM |
Verne47
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Okay. Thanks spanishliz. Reply #50. Apr 18 16, 7:52 PM |
Serenesh
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Thanks editors, I have found this informative and helpful. I must admit that I have avoided brain teasers as it seemed so suitable difficult to get II. I understand that it is a good idea to explain how the answers are worked out, but I would be very glad to hear any further tips on this. Reply #51. Aug 19 18, 6:04 PM |
Serenesh
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Sorry folks I meant that it is difficult to find suitable II Reply #52. Aug 19 18, 6:07 PM |
spanishliz
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Beyond what I said earlier in this thread about Brain Teasers info sections, I would encourage authors to be a bit creative, especially for questions/answers that might be a bit bland by themselves. Use the answer word in a humorous sentence, or look at the etymology. If the answer is (for example) "lamb" you could refer to a nursery rhyme or a movie that has that word in the title. Have some fun with it. Reply #53. Aug 19 18, 7:07 PM |
Catreona
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Agony, thanks for your comment Reply #42 above. I had in fact been about to skimp on detail for an info section in my current project. Your comment reminded me that's a dumb idea. Reply #54. Jan 02 23, 3:44 PM |
FatherSteve
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This is an especially useful thread to resurrect. Reply #55. Jan 03 23, 12:39 AM |
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