Critics making suggestions in what changes are needed in your book - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T00:38:57Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/critics-making-suggestions-in?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A199410&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSexy virgin vampires is what…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-25:537324:Comment:1999422009-05-25T00:30:06.246ZJon Loomishttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
Sexy virgin vampires is what you need, I'm pretty sure. I'm putting them in all my stuff now. And cats. Lots of cats.
Sexy virgin vampires is what you need, I'm pretty sure. I'm putting them in all my stuff now. And cats. Lots of cats. Hell, if I thought it'd help,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-24:537324:Comment:1998652009-05-24T19:42:47.831ZB.R.Statehamhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
Hell, if I thought it'd help, I throw in horny anemic vampires!!
Hell, if I thought it'd help, I throw in horny anemic vampires!! What, no vampires?tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-24:537324:Comment:1998492009-05-24T17:47:07.181ZJon Loomishttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
What, no vampires?
What, no vampires? I agree.
I did a review of t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-24:537324:Comment:1997662009-05-24T05:45:48.324ZBobhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bob24
I agree.<br />
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I did a review of the second draft a few days ago. A great story based on an actual event. The novel is book two of the author's current series. I zeroed in on three things. 1) The author was overly concerned with the action and left the setting vague to the point of confusing. 2) The author used the wrong gun. I mean the WRONG gun. 3) The MC lacked personalty for too many pages.<br />
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The author's response ... OMG ... What was I thinking? I just read those chapters again and I have no…
I agree.<br />
<br />
I did a review of the second draft a few days ago. A great story based on an actual event. The novel is book two of the author's current series. I zeroed in on three things. 1) The author was overly concerned with the action and left the setting vague to the point of confusing. 2) The author used the wrong gun. I mean the WRONG gun. 3) The MC lacked personalty for too many pages.<br />
<br />
The author's response ... OMG ... What was I thinking? I just read those chapters again and I have no idea how I missed those points.<br />
<br />
A critical eye can find things where the writer is too close. The same things a reader will find.<br />
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Smiles<br />
Bob Oh, Karen. With everything yo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1997172009-05-23T17:11:27.307ZB.R.Statehamhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
Oh, Karen. With everything you said about the commericalism in publishing I agree completely. The point about my novel not being commercials. . . well . . . hell. An art thief in world war one who is stealing a renaissance masterpiece AND solving a homicide? Can't see how more 'commercial' that could get.
Oh, Karen. With everything you said about the commericalism in publishing I agree completely. The point about my novel not being commercials. . . well . . . hell. An art thief in world war one who is stealing a renaissance masterpiece AND solving a homicide? Can't see how more 'commercial' that could get. Eric--wonderful example of a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1997132009-05-23T17:07:29.061ZB.R.Statehamhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
Eric--wonderful example of a good critical reviews.
Eric--wonderful example of a good critical reviews. I think a smart critic, even…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1997072009-05-23T17:02:13.031ZEric Stonehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/estone888
I think a smart critic, even one who doesn't like your book, can be valuable. My first book, THE LIVING ROOM OF THE DEAD, got three bad reviews out of 28 reviews that I found. One of them didn't like the book because the reviewer felt that an important plot point rested on an unbelievable coincidence.<br />
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He was right. And when I read the review I knew what the problem was. The book was based on a true story and took place in real locations that I am very familiar with. The "coincidental" plot…
I think a smart critic, even one who doesn't like your book, can be valuable. My first book, THE LIVING ROOM OF THE DEAD, got three bad reviews out of 28 reviews that I found. One of them didn't like the book because the reviewer felt that an important plot point rested on an unbelievable coincidence.<br />
<br />
He was right. And when I read the review I knew what the problem was. The book was based on a true story and took place in real locations that I am very familiar with. The "coincidental" plot point was that my hero got conked over the head and woke up on a fishing boat that just so happened to be going to the very island in the South China Sea that he needed to get to.<br />
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The thing is, in real life, if someone was conked over the head in the Chinese city of Zhuhai and thrown onto a fishing boat, that island is most likely where they would end up. It is in the middle of the primary fishing grounds that are used by the boats in that harbor. I knew that when I wrote it. My readers, however, didn't, so it just seemed like a lucky coincidence.<br />
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Luckily, I had time between the hardcover and paperback printing of the book to fix the problem in the paperback. I added several establishing sentences that made it clear why the boat ended up where it did.<br />
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An example of a bad review that turned out very good. Regarding the luck/timing goo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1996942009-05-23T16:45:07.164ZKaren Dionnehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KarenDionne
Regarding the luck/timing good/good enough discussion, I think if we're talking strictly the major publishers, then the keyword is "commercial." Publishing at that level is a business, pure and simple. Sure, an editor has to fall in love with a story to *want* to publish it in the first place (because it takes a real commitment to shepherd it through the process, get others onboard, get the book past the marketing committee, etc.) but beyond that, virtually all of the decisions made are driven…
Regarding the luck/timing good/good enough discussion, I think if we're talking strictly the major publishers, then the keyword is "commercial." Publishing at that level is a business, pure and simple. Sure, an editor has to fall in love with a story to *want* to publish it in the first place (because it takes a real commitment to shepherd it through the process, get others onboard, get the book past the marketing committee, etc.) but beyond that, virtually all of the decisions made are driven by a novel's commercial potential.<br />
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Writers tend to get hung up on the idea that quality writing is synonymous with publishing success, but that's not necessarily the case. More important the great writing is a great story. Readers can forgive a lot in the writing that would drive writers crazy as long as the story engages them and sweeps them along.<br />
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This is also where luck and timing come into play. The market is constantly changing. If an author has that great story that hits at the right time in the market, it's extremely likely that it'll get picked up. If it's out of synch with the current market (or what publishers envision the market will be two years down the line, since it generally takes that long to bring out a book), then it won't be considered commercial, and it won't get picked up.<br />
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Not speaking specifically to B.R. or anyone else, I submit that if an author's hitting a brick wall with the major publishers (and obviously, if getting published with the majors is their goal), they should take a hard look not at the writing, but at the stories they're telling. If the major publishers aren't interested despite the writer's confidence that their writing chops are up to snuff, then it's because the publishers aren't seeing the stories as commercial. Ramp up that quality - make your *stories* commercially irresistible - and you'll be far more likely to see success. "This is why I'm loath to pos…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1996682009-05-23T15:28:50.509ZJosephine Damianhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JosephineDamian
"This is why I'm loath to post anything unpublished on a public forum. "<br />
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Agree. You only have one chance to make a good impression. Get feedback in PRIVATE.
"This is why I'm loath to post anything unpublished on a public forum. "<br />
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Agree. You only have one chance to make a good impression. Get feedback in PRIVATE. I know a few authors who trie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-23:537324:Comment:1996342009-05-23T06:49:00.813ZBobhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bob24
I know a few authors who tried Authonomy and hit the top ten, a couple hit top five. Nadda, nothing at all from agents, publishers, etc. On the other hand, at Absolute Write and Litopia I know a number of authors who have gotten requests for fulls and publishing deals using the traditional methods, both with and without agents. I am talking publishers here, not POD or vanity press.<br />
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Smiles<br />
Bob
I know a few authors who tried Authonomy and hit the top ten, a couple hit top five. Nadda, nothing at all from agents, publishers, etc. On the other hand, at Absolute Write and Litopia I know a number of authors who have gotten requests for fulls and publishing deals using the traditional methods, both with and without agents. I am talking publishers here, not POD or vanity press.<br />
<br />
Smiles<br />
Bob