Should you post your first chapters online? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T14:35:14Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:27072?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A27146&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLol. To think I almost missed…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-30:537324:Comment:296652007-04-30T05:55:29.001ZJoy Calderwoodhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
Lol. To think I almost missed this little insert. (To understand it, please go to the bottom of the previous page.) ;-) Thank you, ma'am.
Lol. To think I almost missed this little insert. (To understand it, please go to the bottom of the previous page.) ;-) Thank you, ma'am. Good point, William. When we…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-28:537324:Comment:293122007-04-28T23:35:10.574ZJoy Calderwoodhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
Good point, William. When we ask for chapters, we include a request for the last chapter. One of our authors makes a habit of putting his most difficult writing on the first page. Needless to say, that isn't where we will take our excerpt from.<br />
<br />
When I'm sampling a book in the store, I open it in the middle to see if the style grabs me. In more than one place, but always in the middle.
Good point, William. When we ask for chapters, we include a request for the last chapter. One of our authors makes a habit of putting his most difficult writing on the first page. Needless to say, that isn't where we will take our excerpt from.<br />
<br />
When I'm sampling a book in the store, I open it in the middle to see if the style grabs me. In more than one place, but always in the middle. I'm very fond of Joy. :)tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-28:537324:Comment:292272007-04-28T17:43:55.712ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I'm very fond of Joy. :)
I'm very fond of Joy. :) I have first chapter excerpts…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-24:537324:Comment:279822007-04-24T15:48:05.168ZDee Savoyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/deesavoy
I have first chapter excerpts for almost all of my books up at my website. I have never heard anyone complain about that, but plenty of folks have said that the excerpt made them want to buy the book. That being said, I don't think it's an issue to lose sleep over. Do what you feel comfortable with and don't second guess yourself.
I have first chapter excerpts for almost all of my books up at my website. I have never heard anyone complain about that, but plenty of folks have said that the excerpt made them want to buy the book. That being said, I don't think it's an issue to lose sleep over. Do what you feel comfortable with and don't second guess yourself. The upside would be having fr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-23:537324:Comment:276312007-04-23T12:12:04.636ZBarbara Fisterhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bfister
The upside would be having friends and acquaintances able to take a peek. The downside would be (if they don't know you well but bump into your website) someone might read it, think "hey, I like it!" but (naturally) fail to find a copy for sale. Then, when they are browsing over a year from now, they might pick up the book, read the opening paragraphs and say to themselves "huh, I think I already read this," glance at the handsome but familiar-from-somewhere cover and pass on the sale.<br />
<br />
So I'd…
The upside would be having friends and acquaintances able to take a peek. The downside would be (if they don't know you well but bump into your website) someone might read it, think "hey, I like it!" but (naturally) fail to find a copy for sale. Then, when they are browsing over a year from now, they might pick up the book, read the opening paragraphs and say to themselves "huh, I think I already read this," glance at the handsome but familiar-from-somewhere cover and pass on the sale.<br />
<br />
So I'd share with friends but pass on putting it at a public website. First chapters for the next n…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-23:537324:Comment:275292007-04-23T02:04:03.551ZDennis Leppanenhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TheWarbler
First chapters for the next novel are becoming more commonplace than ever before. I would be surprised if my publisher is against it. But, make it the best it can be...
First chapters for the next novel are becoming more commonplace than ever before. I would be surprised if my publisher is against it. But, make it the best it can be... Oh, I like you folks. You are…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:274532007-04-22T21:53:00.448ZBarbara Fisterhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bfister
Oh, I like you folks. You are enlightened, smart, hip, AND you publish Donna Moore.
Oh, I like you folks. You are enlightened, smart, hip, AND you publish Donna Moore. I second the "definite it dep…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:274092007-04-22T18:17:22.307ZElizabeth Zelvinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/lizzelvin
I second the "definite it depends." One author I know used her first chapter as a prepublication handout as well as on her website, and it worked because it was a perfect first chapter: beautifully written, it brought the protagonist and her world to life, identified the victim, established suspense, and put the protagonist in jeopardy. In contrast, I've seen an unpublished writer post a chapter that I thought needed a lot more work before being displayed publicly. In my own case, I've decided…
I second the "definite it depends." One author I know used her first chapter as a prepublication handout as well as on her website, and it worked because it was a perfect first chapter: beautifully written, it brought the protagonist and her world to life, identified the victim, established suspense, and put the protagonist in jeopardy. In contrast, I've seen an unpublished writer post a chapter that I thought needed a lot more work before being displayed publicly. In my own case, I've decided against using my opening pages for promotional purposes for a very specific reason. My protagonist changes significantly in the course of the book, so the beginning is gritty, but the end is not. Metaphorically speaking, he goes from the Inferno to the Paradiso. I don't want to turn off potential readers who might like seeing him get to heaven because Page One makes them think the whole book is set in hell. I've been tempted to do this,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:273732007-04-22T16:01:38.502ZBill Mehlmanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Finagler
I've been tempted to do this, in an effort to breathe some life into a comatose novel I've been working on. But I'm afraid that any adverse criticism at this point would be tantamount to taking it off life support. So I fiddle around in solitude. Which may be just as fatal to the projected novel. Not, I guess, a definitive answer. Sorry.
I've been tempted to do this, in an effort to breathe some life into a comatose novel I've been working on. But I'm afraid that any adverse criticism at this point would be tantamount to taking it off life support. So I fiddle around in solitude. Which may be just as fatal to the projected novel. Not, I guess, a definitive answer. Sorry. When I'm offered a review boo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-22:537324:Comment:273672007-04-22T15:54:28.582ZJoy Calderwoodhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
When I'm offered a review book, if I don't already know the author's style, I decide whether to review based on an excerpt.<br />
<br />
I.J. Parker's "Akitada's First Case" was listed on the Reviewers' Choice website as my favorite short story of 2005, because it was posted on her website. It also resulted in me buying the entire series. Yes, good publicity.<br />
<br />
Calderwood Books is planning to post excerpts on our site, and we will encourage our authors to do the same. (Thank goodness for vacation from the…
When I'm offered a review book, if I don't already know the author's style, I decide whether to review based on an excerpt.<br />
<br />
I.J. Parker's "Akitada's First Case" was listed on the Reviewers' Choice website as my favorite short story of 2005, because it was posted on her website. It also resulted in me buying the entire series. Yes, good publicity.<br />
<br />
Calderwood Books is planning to post excerpts on our site, and we will encourage our authors to do the same. (Thank goodness for vacation from the day job -- I got 3 books edited this week. *gasp, pant*)