tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post4408441644042474844..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: The Insecure Writer and Changes in the Publishing IndustryChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-60101470399776199842013-04-16T15:41:35.414-04:002013-04-16T15:41:35.414-04:00I hope you're right about agents and editors b...I hope you're right about agents and editors being a diverse group. Otherwise I may have no choice but to self-publish.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-3309184966748548342013-04-16T15:38:35.679-04:002013-04-16T15:38:35.679-04:00I guess we'll all have to become mega-authors ...I guess we'll all have to become mega-authors so that we have more control over the way we write our books. :)Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-18024643270358692422013-04-16T15:37:28.755-04:002013-04-16T15:37:28.755-04:00The problem is trying to figure out what works whe...The problem is trying to figure out what works when you get so many conflicting opinions!Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-50837853172457159292013-04-16T15:36:28.117-04:002013-04-16T15:36:28.117-04:00I'm struggling with the first chapter in my ne...I'm struggling with the first chapter in my new manuscript right now too. Trying to fit everything in (a little action, some conflict, character introductions, and foreshadowing of things to come) is driving me crazy. I know what's going to happen in the chapter, I haven't figured out how to do it smoothly yet. Thanks for the comment, MelissaChemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-52314514949333179512013-04-16T15:33:21.510-04:002013-04-16T15:33:21.510-04:00I wound up changing the beginning of my story seve...I wound up changing the beginning of my story several times before I hit upon the right combination of action and exposition. I was such a newbie, my MC didn't even show up in the first two chapters!Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-63224697947226510692013-04-16T15:30:09.921-04:002013-04-16T15:30:09.921-04:00I use Blogger, which sets everything up for you so...I use Blogger, which sets everything up for you so you don't have to fiddle with much HTML. It's not exactly WYSIWYG either since you just fill in the text and it positions the words for you. It's a good place to start.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-76182192670925197822013-04-16T15:26:51.673-04:002013-04-16T15:26:51.673-04:00I wonder if those books were self-published? If t...I wonder if those books were self-published? If they were traditionally published then that's a good thing since it means there are agents out there that will consider the story as a whole instead of using a set rule.<br /><br />Thanks for the nomination. I'm glad you enjoy the blog.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-91949298260159595232013-04-16T11:40:24.260-04:002013-04-16T11:40:24.260-04:00A great voice will hook me just as much as a novel...A great voice will hook me just as much as a novel that starts with action or a conflict. I do prefer great voice over fake conflict. It's funny to hear an agent or editor say that if there is no action or conflict then a book stands little chance of being published. Especially since I've picked up newly released books (recently too), read the few pages, and neither of those things are there. <br /><br />It's always a pleasure to read your posts, which is why I nominated you for an award. <a href="http://cheriecolyer.blogspot.com/2013/04/sharing-is-caring-liebster-award.html" rel="nofollow">Click here to learn more.</a>Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-47328276870801978202013-04-09T19:16:03.035-04:002013-04-09T19:16:03.035-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-8111173252814713222013-04-07T09:59:19.636-04:002013-04-07T09:59:19.636-04:00Heу theге thiѕ is kinԁ οf οf оff topіc but Ӏ was
...Heу theге thiѕ is kinԁ οf οf оff topіc but Ӏ was <br />wοndeгing if blogs use WYSIWYG editοгs or if yоu hаve to manuallу сoԁe with <br />HTΜL. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br />my blog - <a href="http://Www.internetcafe.de/node/7625" rel="nofollow">video chatting</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-71706036433866032002013-04-05T11:13:47.547-04:002013-04-05T11:13:47.547-04:00Yes! Everyone wants the action to start right now....Yes! Everyone wants the action to start right now. Sooner would be better. But I also think there's a balance. I know that what agents don't want is a 30 page exposition on the world views of the local rodents to start a book. <br /><br />I do think it's important to understand that conflict doesn't always mean action, and it's best to have tension as early as possible. I think one of the best opening chapters for tension without a hair raising action scene is Chapter one of Across the Universe by Beth Revis. That is some fantastic conflict for that character. <br /><br />I think you have to write your story and believe in it. Good luck!Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02767762370997304308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-80097338066733047602013-04-05T09:15:14.200-04:002013-04-05T09:15:14.200-04:00I'm so glad you posted this, and that I read i...I'm so glad you posted this, and that I read it. (I'm struggling with polishing an opening right now.) While I think it's important to pay attention to the shifts in what readers want and expect (e.g. those of us who grew up with TV & movies preferring a closer POV than omniscient), I agree that false conflict in the opening is wasted - especially, like Jeff said, if the rest of the book doesn't live up to the quality of the first page. <br /><br />Great post. :)Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-59937857852531117082013-04-04T19:55:21.335-04:002013-04-04T19:55:21.335-04:00Ah, this worries me too. I believe that 90% of bo...Ah, this worries me too. I believe that 90% of books published prior to 2000 wouldn't get published today. Apart from blatantly obvious flaws, a whole book cannot be judged on the first few paragraphs. I've read some brilliant openers with nothing but rubbish afterwards. I'd much rather the author take a chapter or two and hook me into a great tale legitimately.Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-78036466493141157342013-04-04T16:40:13.722-04:002013-04-04T16:40:13.722-04:00I think people get too caught up in "the rule...I think people get too caught up in "the rules" Sometimes things just work, and other times, they just don't. Cassie Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706774393186819619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-12658393633176455152013-04-04T14:18:48.638-04:002013-04-04T14:18:48.638-04:00Not everyone is going to enjoy the same books as w...Not everyone is going to enjoy the same books as we do. <br /><br />And I agree with you. If the first sentence seems to be trying too hard, and stands out from the rest of the story, I tend to skip that book.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-57132853907680880952013-04-04T14:16:39.608-04:002013-04-04T14:16:39.608-04:00I hope the publishing industry slows down a little...I hope the publishing industry slows down a little and gives us a chance to catch our breath.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-74777503567153335062013-04-04T14:14:50.208-04:002013-04-04T14:14:50.208-04:00I don't know how many times I rewrote my first...I don't know how many times I rewrote my first chapter just to make sure there was something interesting going on from the very first line. Thanks for stopping by.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-41337839554935617712013-04-04T14:08:25.657-04:002013-04-04T14:08:25.657-04:00The trick is to make sure any conflict plays into ...The trick is to make sure any conflict plays into the storyline, even if the reader doesn't quite realize that at the beginning.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-2487417910883724812013-04-04T14:06:38.310-04:002013-04-04T14:06:38.310-04:00I've never thought backstory was bad in the fi...I've never thought backstory was bad in the first chapter, as long as the writer didn't get carried away with it, doled it out in small portions, and worked to make it interesting and in the flow of the story.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-42143664836596506372013-04-04T13:11:10.695-04:002013-04-04T13:11:10.695-04:00I think some that demand for layers of conflict co...I think some that demand for layers of conflict comes from the Donald Maass book, Writing the Breakout Novel. He talks about adding internal conflict to go with the external, and he gave me the idea that he meant the more the better. That's how I ended up with such a complicated book that it spoiled the real focus. Since removing the character who was taking over, I now I take any one person's advice with a big block of salt. Same goes for not including back story within the first few chapters. Sher A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067955594103356768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-39267920522654827072013-04-04T11:28:24.131-04:002013-04-04T11:28:24.131-04:00Well, regardless of the publishing industry, I thi...Well, regardless of the publishing industry, I think your list of good ways to open a story are still right on (and I've seen that mirrored on good writing blogs, I think maybe even on an agent's blog, too). I recall several discussions where that "open with action" has been misinterpreted - because action for actions sake doesn't intrigue the reader because we have no reason to care yet. <br /><br />The Harry Potter opening works so well (despite the fact that it reminded me of the Hobbit opening! - no surprises or adventures thank you very much -- maybe she did that on purpose??) I heard it took many tries before Rowling found someone who would give HP a chance, but that just says (to me) that the publishing business is diverse - as it should be - because readers are so diverse. Agents and editors are looking for different things to meet their specialized slice of the diversity out there. <br /><br />But having said all that, I too feel insecure about all the rapid changes out there! Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-24433542857608348882013-04-03T20:46:22.631-04:002013-04-03T20:46:22.631-04:00Oh, I've suspected for a long while that many ...Oh, I've suspected for a long while that many agents and editors don't really know what the readers want, but as long as they are the gatekeepers - unless we self-publish - we still have to concern ourselves with want they think the readers want.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-79661388806726281522013-04-03T19:44:15.662-04:002013-04-03T19:44:15.662-04:00This is the change in the industry you're worr...This is the change in the industry you're worried about? If you're still concerned about what agents and editors think then you're seriously behind the times. Hint: agents and editors have no idea what readers want. ;)Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-79041749171698053662013-04-03T18:45:12.553-04:002013-04-03T18:45:12.553-04:00I keep reading this, too, but I don't believe ...I keep reading this, too, but I don't believe in forcing conflict for the sake of it. There are other ways to hook the reader and entice them to read on, perhaps through an intriguing detail or a hint of things to come. I think if the story's interesting then readers will persevere with it!ELAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-84812620052310696792013-04-03T17:23:16.726-04:002013-04-03T17:23:16.726-04:00I definitely agree with you. We are living in a ti...I definitely agree with you. We are living in a time when technology allows us to have information almost instantly and in turn people want to get to the action of a story in the opening scene.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14581546790685161068noreply@blogger.com