Unpardonable Sins: Getting It Right - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T06:05:25Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:48614?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A49145&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI agree with you Dianne. As a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-17:537324:Comment:491452007-06-17T21:20:05.975ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
I agree with you Dianne. As an aside, it was an editor I wasn't sure should have ever had the package sent to them, because they don't deal with mystery/thriller fiction. Overall, from the time I heard that editor had the proposal I felt uneasy, so although the rejection was a bit bizarre, I think that's exactly why I can laugh about it. If it was an editor I was really keen about I would have been more disappointed.
I agree with you Dianne. As an aside, it was an editor I wasn't sure should have ever had the package sent to them, because they don't deal with mystery/thriller fiction. Overall, from the time I heard that editor had the proposal I felt uneasy, so although the rejection was a bit bizarre, I think that's exactly why I can laugh about it. If it was an editor I was really keen about I would have been more disappointed. I think yes, you should menti…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-17:537324:Comment:491412007-06-17T21:09:19.096ZDianne Dayhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/dianneday
I think yes, you should mention in your bio anything that has a direct bearing on something in the book -- and in this case, that would be your status as wife of an arson investigator.<br />
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About that rejection: Perhaps it takes a bit of the sting out if you can realize that what you want in an acquiring editor is someone so totally in love with your book that he/she will go to bat for it all-out. It's a gut thing more than a head thing, and anybody reading the partial who's so into their head as…
I think yes, you should mention in your bio anything that has a direct bearing on something in the book -- and in this case, that would be your status as wife of an arson investigator.<br />
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About that rejection: Perhaps it takes a bit of the sting out if you can realize that what you want in an acquiring editor is someone so totally in love with your book that he/she will go to bat for it all-out. It's a gut thing more than a head thing, and anybody reading the partial who's so into their head as to make conclusions like the one you cited is NOT going to have that kind of relationship to your manuscript. So don't fret, just be glad that person is no longer holding things up and keep going.<br />
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Dianne You're right, John. Illinois…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-17:537324:Comment:491182007-06-17T14:18:20.450ZMarta Stephenshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Samharper2
You're right, John. Illinois is immediately west of Indiana. The character was driving through Indianapolis and if you go west from Indy, through Illinois, you'll end up in Missouri. Or... he would have had he had a map! LOL
You're right, John. Illinois is immediately west of Indiana. The character was driving through Indianapolis and if you go west from Indy, through Illinois, you'll end up in Missouri. Or... he would have had he had a map! LOL I think you were being reason…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-16:537324:Comment:488632007-06-16T15:06:47.970ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
I think you were being reasonable. That's the kind of thing anyone can find out/know from going there or looking at a map. I've been to Indiana. I don't profess to know it well, but it would bug me more if even I knew it was wrong.
I think you were being reasonable. That's the kind of thing anyone can find out/know from going there or looking at a map. I've been to Indiana. I don't profess to know it well, but it would bug me more if even I knew it was wrong. Peace! Let's just say that I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-16:537324:Comment:488582007-06-16T14:54:48.831ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Peace! Let's just say that I take great pains to get it right. And misquoting me is not helpful.
Peace! Let's just say that I take great pains to get it right. And misquoting me is not helpful. Interesting question. A few m…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-16:537324:Comment:488312007-06-16T04:15:48.150ZMarta Stephenshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Samharper2
Interesting question. A few months ago, I critiqued someone's manuscript in which the antagonist was running from the law. To get to his destination, the character drove through the Midwest (Ohio and Indiana toward Missouri). I'm sure the author thought I was being nitpicky, but since I"m from Indiana, it drove me crazy when I found the wrong spelling of towns and highways--major highways. Or to read that the antag was driving from one city that is in the south east portion of the state to one…
Interesting question. A few months ago, I critiqued someone's manuscript in which the antagonist was running from the law. To get to his destination, the character drove through the Midwest (Ohio and Indiana toward Missouri). I'm sure the author thought I was being nitpicky, but since I"m from Indiana, it drove me crazy when I found the wrong spelling of towns and highways--major highways. Or to read that the antag was driving from one city that is in the south east portion of the state to one further north in order to drive west while the text indicated he was driving stright across to the other side of the state. It was very obvious he hadn't looked at an atlas. I'm one for getting it right. I think back to something tha…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-16:537324:Comment:488102007-06-16T02:03:29.087ZEvil Kevhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/EvilKev
I think back to something that Sean Chercover said about the use of guns and gun play in books. He said if you don't know anything about guns then keep the description about them to a minimum.<br />
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For example with the arson investigation, it is just as easy to have your character talk to the investigator and view pictures of the scene. I think if a scene is critical to the book, then research it. If not then stay clear of going into too much detail. Solves the problem and avoids reader discussions…
I think back to something that Sean Chercover said about the use of guns and gun play in books. He said if you don't know anything about guns then keep the description about them to a minimum.<br />
<br />
For example with the arson investigation, it is just as easy to have your character talk to the investigator and view pictures of the scene. I think if a scene is critical to the book, then research it. If not then stay clear of going into too much detail. Solves the problem and avoids reader discussions about the errors in the book. Dang it, I'd better know my s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-15:537324:Comment:487902007-06-15T22:02:35.142ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Dang it, I'd better know my stuff better than most of my readers -- always excepting the scholars. But the scholars of Japanese history and literature haven't complained (though I only know of one who read and wrote me). You are right that someone may well know some small detail that escaped me, but I hope not. I have been at this via scholarly research for too many years.<br />
As for the comment on amazon: I watch my books on amazon. I think what happened is that amazon published a Booklist review…
Dang it, I'd better know my stuff better than most of my readers -- always excepting the scholars. But the scholars of Japanese history and literature haven't complained (though I only know of one who read and wrote me). You are right that someone may well know some small detail that escaped me, but I hope not. I have been at this via scholarly research for too many years.<br />
As for the comment on amazon: I watch my books on amazon. I think what happened is that amazon published a Booklist review on my page which angered another author's fans. But I have no control over that sort of thing and wish the review hadn't made the comparison.<br />
As for my "assumptions": they are based on fan mail. Should you find a mistake, I'd be extremely grateful for the information. I guess I should ask my agent…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-15:537324:Comment:487682007-06-15T18:01:41.857ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
I guess I should ask my agent. It truly never occured to me until yesterday. I guess I thought editors might make rejections based on facts about the manuscript, not assumptions.<br />
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Then again, I had something rejected once because the editor didn't like some character names. Bloody hell, I've had to change character names before. Has to be one of the easier edits to do, actually. Struck me as being about the dumbest reason going for a rejection.
I guess I should ask my agent. It truly never occured to me until yesterday. I guess I thought editors might make rejections based on facts about the manuscript, not assumptions.<br />
<br />
Then again, I had something rejected once because the editor didn't like some character names. Bloody hell, I've had to change character names before. Has to be one of the easier edits to do, actually. Struck me as being about the dumbest reason going for a rejection. See, that would bother me too…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-15:537324:Comment:487662007-06-15T17:58:04.002ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
See, that would bother me too, but as someone who spent years working with special needs children I've been trained in first aid. However, I think there's a higher percentage of people with that kind of training than arson training, so I'm certain the author heard about their mistake.
See, that would bother me too, but as someone who spent years working with special needs children I've been trained in first aid. However, I think there's a higher percentage of people with that kind of training than arson training, so I'm certain the author heard about their mistake.