FictionPress.com - not Ross's stories

Are You My Beta?

2013-05-25T11:11:17-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 881, Reviews: 0, Complete

There are enough writing guides on this site to drown any novice writer (or experienced). But when it comes time for a writer to find a beta reader, nobody knows how to ask. This is a guide designed to give you a basic outline for your next beta request.

Dun Got That, Sweetie Pie?

2013-05-09T07:35:52-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,298, Reviews: 2, Complete

Sometimes, dialogue can be a big green wart on the back of the frog of fiction. How exactly do you write dialogue? How do you make it useful to the story? How do you differentiate between who's speaking? And, when's ye eva gonna use a accent?

What They Don't Tell You about Mary-Sue

2013-04-24T20:26:39-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,092, Reviews: 0, Complete

Mary-Sue: a lack of definition of character. Here are some helpful ways for you to bring your character out of the cardboard box into the real world. And no, hopefully I don't repeat all the things you've already read about this topic.

And then You Stop and Ask Yourself--

2013-04-20T22:06:56-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 753, Reviews: 0, Complete

A short compendium of questions that every writer should ask himself while working on a project, ranging from broad to very specific.

The Secret Life of the American Description

2013-04-03T19:23:23-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,382, Reviews: 5, Complete

I've never liked description. So I thought to myself, "Why does everybody think description is so great, anyway?" Turns out a couple of famous guys agree with me. Here's the secret side of the coin called description.

On Essays

2013-03-19T15:32:40-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 2, Words: 2,206, Reviews: 0, In-Progress

An essay on how to write essays. Fun, right? A two-part tutorial on the secrets of great formal essays writing, and the secrets of fun informal essays.

Mimicry

2013-03-11T16:47:20-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 517, Reviews: 0, Complete

A short petition to the older generation to behave in a way my generation is proud to copy.

How to Become a Great Writer in 10 Minutes

2013-02-23T17:08:45-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 842, Reviews: 5, Complete

In which I relate to you everything there is to know about becoming one of The Greats. Tailored for today's go-go-go culture, you will learn how to transform into a "I stayed up all night reading it" author in only 10 minutes - or less. Absolutely free! (with a twelve dollar purchase)

A Very Real Debate on Idealism

2013-02-23T16:04:11-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,887, Reviews: 0, Complete

Was Fitzgerald influenced by the poem 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' (John Keats) when writing 'The Great Gatsby? In a word, yes. A comparative essay due on Monday, and I would love any advice you have for me! Specifically on how to shorten it. Thank you!

Our Day to Remember

2013-02-18T13:00:57-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 383, Reviews: 1, Complete

Today is President's Day. This is our one day to be mature about everything that's going on, but do we bother? Not hardly.

What Channel am I On?

2013-02-05T22:07:24-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 577, Reviews: 0, Complete

Why knowing your audience is of the utmost importance when writing. (Rated K for sarcastic mention of "red injuns" that really have nothing to do with the topic at hand)

Grammar Aryans

2013-01-07T20:24:51-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,131, Reviews: 2, Complete

Yes, I know, I'm beating a dead horse that's already been beaten. But humor me. Why grammar and all its friends are important for you, yes you, and your survival in the dog-eat-dog world of FictionPress.

I Suck at Summaries

2012-12-21T11:55:03-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,321, Reviews: 5, Complete

There is no way to stress how important summaries are - and how many people don't realize it.

Service of 7 Lessons and Names

2012-12-08T16:21:48-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,473, Reviews: 4, Complete

7 short tips on creating and using names effectively in fiction. Because names are the Hershey's Kiss on top of the peanut butter cookie.

Faking History

2012-12-04T19:47:50-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: T
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 469, Reviews: 2, Complete

My teacher mentioned that there's a call to censor the book Huckleberry Finn. All because of one little word that starts with N. Why removing such language from school coursework will damage our future. T for, well, implied swearing - no actual foul language is used.

Thank You

2012-11-06T21:09:41-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 228, Reviews: 0, Complete

a quick note of thanks to all those citizens of the United States who voted

So You Think You Can be Equal

2012-11-04T14:35:09-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 706, Reviews: 3, Complete

What are the economic consequences of legislating equal pay for women? Is equal pay really such a good thing after all? This is not a sexist rant, trust me. I'm female.

Goal: Reviews

2012-10-20T11:27:44-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 8, Words: 10,024, Reviews: 3, In-Progress

Yet another FictionPress writing guide, yes, we writers are annoying, aren't we? I will not, however, point out problems that 94.7% of all FP stories have and how to fix them. Instead, I will walk through the process from start to finish - hopefully eliminating those problems along the way. Update: a very good place to start

Hanged my Sorrows

2012-09-19T20:02:21-08:00

Author: not Ross
General
English, Rated: T
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 783, Reviews: 1, Complete

Ray has his birds of sorrow. He hangs them from the ceiling, all 1,246 of them. He also has Rosemary's rosemary candle and its awful rosemary smell. And he has caller ID.

All Clad

2012-09-09T14:49:57-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: T
Friendship/Romance
Chapters: 3, Words: 6,052, Reviews: 2, In-Progress

Take a look around your high school. There are four misfits sitting against the wall in your history class, and they all have it out for each other - in one way or another. But watch those four misfits closely; someday, they'll change the world.

Underwater Winds

2012-09-01T09:45:37-08:00

Author: not Ross
Fable
English, Rated: K
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 784, Reviews: 0, Complete

East Wind and West Wind always fight. But when one angry pelican steps in, the Winds are going to have to change their ways a bit - a "Native American creation myth," so is Fable the right spot for it? Hm.

Opportunity and Other Mishaps

2012-08-29T17:17:30-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,470, Reviews: 1, Complete

America: land of opportunity. Opportunity for who? Seems like every opportunity they offer me is being squeezed out of somebody else's back pocket. Who is they? And more importantly, who is "somebody else"?

A Satire or Two

2012-08-26T17:43:03-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
Parody/General
Chapters: 7, Words: 2,293, Reviews: 15, In-Progress

Satires and parodies. Latest update: a school supplies list from a teacher who has totally missed the point - in other words, a school supplies list from a teacher. As always, I semi-apologize if you're offended.

Messily Murder MaryWho?

2012-07-30T13:33:09-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,478, Reviews: 2, Complete

"Man is basically good." Really? Then what's this Mary-Sue business about?

Punished

2012-07-29T15:56:12-08:00

Author: not Ross
Family
English, Rated: T
Tragedy/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 373, Reviews: 1, Complete

I'm not a poet. But this had to be written - one of those 1 in the morning compulsions that you can't shake off. There are a lot of ways I could approach the subject of abortion, but I think this is the best. - Skillet: Lucy

Flames for the Taking

2012-07-14T21:22:21-08:00

Author: not Ross
Essay
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,522, Reviews: 5, Complete

Most people are afraid of disease or ducks or something normal. We on this site are afraid of FLAMES. What the heck is a flame, anyway? I'll tell you what you want to hear... and what you don't want to hear. And if you're still mad, you can flame when you're done reading. I'll cackle.

Firecrackers

2012-07-05T21:59:08-08:00

Author: not Ross
General
English, Rated: T
Crime/Drama
Chapters: 1, Words: 569, Reviews: 1, Complete

One-shot: Fireworks aren't the only things that go "boom" on the 4th of July. But that's still the common misconception. And some of us would like to take advantage of that.

Picasso's Child

2012-06-09T10:01:13-08:00

Author: not Ross
General
English, Rated: K+
Family/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,011, Reviews: 0, Complete

One-shot: the feeling that says, "You're no good at this," hits young Gracie a little earlier than it should.

Sweet Sixteen

2012-03-11T18:06:53-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: K+
Friendship/Poetry
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,025, Reviews: 1, Complete

One-shot: Reminiscing on the good old days as my best friend turns 16. We all have those friends who go back that far. Funny the things you remember from when you're little. Not exactly poetry, more like poetic prose...

Two Year Tradition

2012-03-07T16:41:44-08:00

Author: not Ross
Kids
English, Rated: K+
Friendship/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 302, Reviews: 2, Complete

One-shot: On November 15, Sam and Eustace climb to the peak of Sam's roof to celebrate their long-standing tradition.

Musician, Counselor, Spy

2012-02-28T20:18:12-08:00

Author: not Ross
Play
English, Rated: K+
Humor/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 3,545, Reviews: 2, Complete

Awkward spies get the job done? It wouldn't seem possible. Not when he talks to his pet fish, counts red-heads, sings songs about homeless men, and, well...

An Eye for Her Eyes

2012-02-19T16:52:54-08:00

Author: not Ross
Fantasy
English, Rated: T
Family/Adventure
Chapters: 21, Words: 38,546, Reviews: 2, In-Progress

We've all read romance. But there are other reasons for a guy to be chasing after a girl who doesn't want to be found, right? At least, Adrian would hope so… - RED: Hymn for the Missing.

Off Set

2012-01-07T16:08:36-08:00

Author: not Ross
General
English, Rated: T
Angst/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,036, Reviews: 0, Complete

One-shot: It's that girl, Erika Kitchens, who likes having cameras shoved up her nose as she pretends to taunt some jerkish actor with her lips. People just like seeing me kiss men who disgust me. But my job is to be an actress - Evanescence: Everybody's Fool

Straight and Too Narrow

2011-11-23T12:07:11-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: T
Crime/General
Chapters: 2, Words: 3,294, Reviews: 3, Complete

One-shot: Running, yes. Math, not so much. Who cares? But then there's this new kid, who's better than me at both, and I think he likes my girlfriend. Things can't stay like this.

Lying Helpless

2011-11-22T16:59:07-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,002, Reviews: 1, Complete

One-shot: People don't understand. I do this because I have to. They just don't give me any option. Whoever said that "the truth will set you free" is just crazy.

Your Priorities

2011-10-09T16:37:41-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: T
Sci-Fi/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 798, Reviews: 1, Complete

One-shot: A married couple sits eating popcorn at a football game. They watch their son as he dominates the field. But someone is watching them, too: someone they never thought even existed.

Below Boston

2011-08-25T16:50:13-08:00

Author: not Ross
Sci-Fi
English, Rated: T
Adventure/Romance
Chapters: 13, Words: 23,516, Reviews: 5, In-Progress

I watched Lucas walk down the stairs and he had this way about him, like he didn't care that we all lived in old subways. He had ideas, and not just about how to get the government to hear what we'd been saying for years… - Manafest: various songs.

Paper Flowers

2011-07-14T16:58:35-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: K+
General
Chapters: 1, Words: 888, Reviews: 6, Complete

One-shot: Home from school, Aaron escapes into his own worlds, but these worlds seem to have turned against him. - Evanescence: Imaginary.

Tired of Waiting

2011-05-22T13:57:28-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: T
Family/Romance
Chapters: 2, Words: 4,053, Reviews: 4, Complete

One-shot: All Jamie knows is that her cell phone battery was dead and there were bright lights. All the doctor knows is that her mother won't get a clue. All Ricky knows is Jamie. - Skillet: various songs; guess!

So What If

2011-04-30T08:59:43-08:00

Author: not Ross
Young Adult
English, Rated: T
Friendship/General
Chapters: 3, Words: 6,440, Reviews: 1, Complete

One-shot: I don't want the power. I just don't want people who can't even spell insults correctly running my school. I'm sure you understand. - Kerrie Roberts: Outcast.

Dying for Emeralds

2011-04-11T20:37:08-08:00

Author: not Ross
Fantasy
English, Rated: T
Fantasy/Humor
Chapters: 24, Words: 39,110, Reviews: 3, Complete

When one man uses an ignorant teenager to fight his battles for him, the fate of the known world rests on one boy's uncontrollable soul.

This is Your Time

2011-03-24T20:34:09-08:00

Author: not Ross
General
English, Rated: T
Drama/Tragedy
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,520, Reviews: 3, Complete

One-shot: Lacey's brain is on the line, but the only thing she can do to keep it is betray everything that her heart tells her not to. - Michael W. Smith: This is Your Time.