tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post7370977626678109536..comments2023-09-29T09:18:38.933-04:00Comments on Bent on Books: a short meditation on how to write a novelJenny Benthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-68639273548388199382010-11-22T16:56:28.332-05:002010-11-22T16:56:28.332-05:00The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is even better, IM...The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is even better, IMHO. Wilkie Collins was way ahead of his time and gender with his interest in and exploration of women's issues in fiction. Nancy Drew mysteries also keep readers turning pages by ending every chapter with some kind of cliffhanger.Graceful Spacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04972295003581557470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-59552433454446593922010-02-03T12:54:23.343-05:002010-02-03T12:54:23.343-05:00The best and most frequent comment I get on my boo...The best and most frequent comment I get on my book is "I couldn't put it down..." so, I guess I did my job. But, I never thought to go back and look at my first few paragraphs, or first chapter, to ANALYZE it - to see what made them read the book, and then, to analyze what kept them reading/turning the page . . . beyond the things I did to prompt them that I thought about, was there more?<br /><br />Now I'm curious!Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-76707332694568107822010-01-20T20:33:22.145-05:002010-01-20T20:33:22.145-05:00Excellent post, Jenny. Now I have to search out &#...Excellent post, Jenny. Now I have to search out 'The Woman in White' - just goes to show, doesn't it? Good writing does not date! <br />:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-15475650094288578632010-01-18T11:35:26.234-05:002010-01-18T11:35:26.234-05:00A good thought to keep in mind during all stages o...A good thought to keep in mind during all stages of writing a manuscript, first draft to final. As we move through the manuscript, sometimes it's also inspiring to change it up, being obvious at times, other times subtle in building those questions, that suspense, but always keeping the reader needing to know more.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-59312423890845336552010-01-17T19:23:55.576-05:002010-01-17T19:23:55.576-05:00I think it really does apply to literary fiction f...I think it really does apply to literary fiction for the most part, emphasis on "the most part." If you read the blog by THE INTERN on the same topic (scroll up), you'll see that she talks about the fact that there will always be exceptions to the rule, truly innovative masterpieces by authors who create narrative tension through their use of language, or superlative characterization, or interesting structure.Jenny Benthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-7282845955166277922010-01-17T00:08:11.568-05:002010-01-17T00:08:11.568-05:00Does this apply to most literary fiction as well, ...Does this apply to most literary fiction as well, or are quiet beginnings more accepted in that genre? My favorite book at this particular moment is Mrs Dalloway, which begins with such apparently complete serenity that you begin to suspect that all is not what it seems, which creates receptivity to the conflict inherent in its complex of flawed viewpoints and existential dilemmas. (Sorry for writing that like it's for English class.) I know this is partly because it's in stream-of-consciousness style, but I've enjoyed more traditional works that ease into the conflict as well, and I want to know whether it's correct to assume that my own experiences can be applied to normal people.KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06072778234306901242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-15798309753770409122010-01-14T10:56:43.394-05:002010-01-14T10:56:43.394-05:00This comes at a great point as I am contemplating ...This comes at a great point as I am contemplating revisions to a mystery! I love Wilkie Collins and now you have inspired me to a whole new rereading thread.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04621339612834832188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-16285647057978662452010-01-13T17:48:37.069-05:002010-01-13T17:48:37.069-05:00Gettin' it. Readin' it. Love this blog!Gettin' it. Readin' it. Love this blog!Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166865250789996825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-76244272642073269022010-01-13T05:01:33.304-05:002010-01-13T05:01:33.304-05:00I found your blog and I simply adore it. I read Th...I found your blog and I simply adore it. I read The Woman in White last summer and was dazzled by the prose and the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-68447069035416760822010-01-12T14:02:22.653-05:002010-01-12T14:02:22.653-05:00"Woman in White" perfumes and accessorie..."Woman in White" perfumes and accessories and such?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.workfromhomeindia.biz" rel="nofollow"> Work from home India </a>sanjeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043304632873778108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-39302098332461451322010-01-11T17:57:01.551-05:002010-01-11T17:57:01.551-05:00And back to the WIP MS to make sure all your sugge...And back to the WIP MS to make sure all your suggestions are covered. Thanks for the advice! :)<br /><a href="http://karenamandahooper.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">My blog</a>kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-85266486294527900052010-01-09T15:11:17.364-05:002010-01-09T15:11:17.364-05:00I LOVE The Woman in White! It's a great exampl...I LOVE The Woman in White! It's a great example of making multiple narrative voices sound distinct as well. <br /><br />Excellent example of a page turner. Some people do this naturally better than others--so it pays to study the good ones.Rose Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10752073931486321348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-43142766509330924032010-01-08T16:12:34.203-05:002010-01-08T16:12:34.203-05:00Just reading your blog makes me want to get this b...Just reading your blog makes me want to get this book! <br /><br />Fantastic tip, thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-41554187970626551752010-01-08T14:50:35.865-05:002010-01-08T14:50:35.865-05:00This sounds like a great book, thanks for recommen...This sounds like a great book, thanks for recommending it and for writing this post. There is nothing better than finding (and writing!) a book with cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter. Anything to keep the reader guessing and pages turning. Looks like The Woman in White should go on my TBR pile. Thanks! And happy new year to you and all the blog readers!<br />ALLIAlli Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363202163419352155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-84108020120534329542010-01-08T04:53:03.230-05:002010-01-08T04:53:03.230-05:00Good timing on this post. I just finshed "Dro...Good timing on this post. I just finshed "Drood" over the holidays. I found out about it based on Stephen King's list of top 10 books of 2009. Now I am going to pick up the "Woman in White" at the library tonight. Can't wait to read it.Sean Patrick Reardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051252366031997054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-43253100977651328242010-01-08T04:05:39.859-05:002010-01-08T04:05:39.859-05:00Hi Jenny :)
Thank you for sharing. I hadn't he...Hi Jenny :)<br />Thank you for sharing. I hadn't heard of Woman In White before and I'm going to read it now. <br />Loved your interior/exterior examples too.<br />All the best,<br />RKCharronRK Charronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07363516910545064180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-72229780089702765342010-01-07T18:48:08.130-05:002010-01-07T18:48:08.130-05:00Great, succinct and to the point post. Thanks for...Great, succinct and to the point post. Thanks for sharing it! Yes, as writers, it can help to put on our readers' hats for a moment as ask ourselves: why did I enjoy this or that book? The answers, of course, are in the conversation you described with a publishing industry insider. <br /><br />Yes, it must start with a bang and yes, I want to know what will happen next to the protagonist and with the rest of teh story. It's the unanswered question that will keep me turning the page until all matters are resolved at the end.<br /><br />Cheers, Jill<br />www.jilledmondson.comJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-85890501333522368642010-01-07T17:34:44.780-05:002010-01-07T17:34:44.780-05:00Perfect timing for me as I hit the edits in prepar...Perfect timing for me as I hit the edits in preparation for getting my book ready to go on submission.<br /><br />Oh, and one more thing... I wish you'd blog more often. Your posts rock. ;-)Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-44722978756426106772010-01-07T15:54:37.338-05:002010-01-07T15:54:37.338-05:00I learned the cliffhanger thing and realize how tr...I learned the cliffhanger thing and realize how true it is - as a writer I've tried to do - as an editor I show my clients how to do it - and as a reader I often wish an author would have done it and am so pleased when they do! To me it's like watching a soap opera (if I was the type to do that kind of thing, eh hem) and having a scene end as someone is turning a door knob, not after they've opened the door. :)Amy Sue Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13854920309673361956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-19219803525362615262010-01-07T13:55:59.842-05:002010-01-07T13:55:59.842-05:00LOVE the INTERN! Thanks for sharing, I'll che...LOVE the INTERN! Thanks for sharing, I'll check it out.Jenny Benthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-51714288119148538492010-01-07T13:49:42.778-05:002010-01-07T13:49:42.778-05:00THE INTERN also blogged about this a few days back...THE INTERN also blogged about this a few days back in her usual hilarious-yet-informative way.<br />http://internspills.blogspot.com/2010/01/nanorevismo-6-electric-kool-aid.htmlJill Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173785684131445232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-49625744794230146072010-01-07T13:24:17.031-05:002010-01-07T13:24:17.031-05:00Wow, Stacia, I didn't know that. Publishing *...Wow, Stacia, I didn't know that. Publishing *really* hasn't changed at all, has it?Jenny Benthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-53997271773338542282010-01-07T13:20:05.752-05:002010-01-07T13:20:05.752-05:00Simply and elegantly put. Very helpful! Thanks.Simply and elegantly put. Very helpful! Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-58725769950160241042010-01-07T12:43:31.090-05:002010-01-07T12:43:31.090-05:00The Woman In White set my fifteen year old brain o...The Woman In White set my fifteen year old brain on fire and is one of the books that made me a writer! Thanks for mentioning it! I print out the first and last pages of the chapters of my novels to make sure that each has a proper ending and beginning, so that the tension to "read on!" is there. It works for me. Nice post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556206184198452490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-70067250963380411112010-01-07T12:36:19.589-05:002010-01-07T12:36:19.589-05:00Oh, I LOVE the Woman in White! Did you know it had...Oh, I LOVE the Woman in White! Did you know it had its own line of products, it was so popular? "Woman in White" perfumes and accessories and such?Staciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07969399927758009095noreply@blogger.com