tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post9134826172258084265..comments2023-10-22T03:26:52.715-07:00Comments on Authors' Union: Wish for time and piss it away.Jeff Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-12339918777222678402010-10-19T19:39:59.981-07:002010-10-19T19:39:59.981-07:00Sharon is correct, Jeff. The truth is the first pa...Sharon is correct, Jeff. The truth is the first paragraph IS important to snagging an agent...finding your way out of the slush.<br /><br />The first 50 pages are vital and must sing. <br /><br />And every paragraph and chapter after that.<br /><br />Polish it it all. Over and over again.<br />Then, let (several quality) CPs and betas have at it.<br />Polish and revise some more, based on their feedback.<br />And then polish it again.<br />Do not query it until it (and your query letter) are pristine.Lola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-52687407773133419362010-10-02T16:21:12.282-07:002010-10-02T16:21:12.282-07:00Your muse is never really gone,
you just need to f...Your muse is never really gone,<br />you just need to find out how to trigger it and tap into that :)<br />But even now, when you think you're not writing to your best ability, the words you use are very powerful and create an image in one's mind.<br />That, in itself, is the skill of someone who has a talent for writing.<br />Rachel.Rachels Ranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16941387478273555879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-37001930408237123182010-09-25T21:17:59.237-07:002010-09-25T21:17:59.237-07:00The thing is, Jeff, you've got to hook that ed...The thing is, Jeff, you've got to hook that editor or agent in the first few sentences or they'll stop reading...They have so many submissions that if you don't pull them in right away you might miss your shot. Your query letter has to show your voice and hook them enough to get them to that first paragraph and then they'll go from there...<br /><br />I hope you get your writing mojo back...Mine's hiding...the painters and the carpenters make it hard for me to be creative...Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-2291473283603971272010-09-24T18:28:39.711-07:002010-09-24T18:28:39.711-07:00I've slogged through countless books, hoping t...I've slogged through countless books, hoping they will get better. It's the ending, for me, that is the most important. Bad ending? I'll never read another book by the same author. <br /><br />As to your "creative tomb," I hear you loud and clear. I looked back at my list of goals for summer--depressing, really, since I hardly got anything done. But now I'm finally up and running, and it's nice to have some fire. Unfortunately, it's interfering with my blog reading... I'm getting pretty awful and spotty at that, and I need to keep it up, too. <br /><br />I hope your tomb becomes a shrine soon, and the creative juices flow as they should. Take care...Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-44310712572713193932010-09-24T14:20:14.926-07:002010-09-24T14:20:14.926-07:00The first paragraph tends not to matter too much t...The first paragraph tends not to matter too much to me actually. It usually helps draw me in if its awesome but if its not it doesn't mean I will drop the book.Franniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02004149435514550325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-60288973556386844912010-09-24T05:11:28.018-07:002010-09-24T05:11:28.018-07:00I think there's validity on both sides of the ...I think there's validity on both sides of the argument, but for me, the first chapter is a more reasonable thing to base it on than just one paragraph. <br /><br />I don't know anyone who reads one paragraph and gives up. One chapter? Maybe. if it's totally bad. <br /><br />But I agree the rest of the book needs to be just as good as that first chapter. It's frustrating as writer's because that first chapter is DIFFICULT!Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188460633615049191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079424739175991097.post-25571369490398579552010-09-23T14:31:27.999-07:002010-09-23T14:31:27.999-07:00I think, sometimes, too much emphasis is placed on...I think, sometimes, too much emphasis is placed on it. It's important to getting your work sold, but nowhere near as important (I believe) to readers.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.com