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… AND reel that elusive fighting little fellow in. Here’s the bit I sent to Becky Levine’s blog this morning. (See http://beckylevine.com/2008/11/30/les-edgertons-hooked/ .) It’s pertains to one of my favorite books on writing fiction … well, I guess the principle needn’t be limited to fiction. (This version has been changed a bit; I can't let little things go.)
The thrust of the book (Hooked by Les Edgeron) is that readers have shorter attention spans now than in the days before 250 channels on TV. Edgerton is no slouch of a teacher on this modern day imperative, namely, introducing the nub of the conflict, action, and key characters early. And I mean early, like in the first sentence. How? Read the book for answers.
I've been handing this small format, paperback to folks in my writers critique group. I don't like pandering to low-attention readers–am I only adding to a bad trend?–but there's a bunch of competition for what used to be "reading time." Thx for good article, Becky [Levine]. [Becky had written a review of Hooked in her blog, so that's what I'm thanking her for.]
So there it is in a nutshell. Especially if you’re a beginner and haven’t bounced a lot of bad tries off of irritated agents, editors, and publishers. Why not go in armed with this knowledge? Why not reflect it in your much improved work? Oh, sure, keep your basic story and your trademark “voice.” Tweak up those characters the way you like to. Keep that energy, that inspiration you have pent up inside you and apply your butt to the chair in front of your keyboard. Les Edgerton is mainly working a bit on the structure here, especially the first few chapters, in this quick little book, condensing all those first words you wrote down to essentials, piquing interest right away. It’s a short enough book at 236 pages. I got it at Amazon. Sell something in 2009, and I'll try to match you. Good luck.
So there it is in a nutshell. Especially if you’re a beginner and haven’t bounced a lot of bad tries off of irritated agents, editors, and publishers. Why not go in armed with this knowledge? Why not reflect it in your much improved work? Oh, sure, keep your basic story and your trademark “voice.” Tweak up those characters the way you like to. Keep that energy, that inspiration you have pent up inside you and apply your butt to the chair in front of your keyboard. Les Edgerton is mainly working a bit on the structure here, especially the first few chapters, in this quick little book, condensing all those first words you wrote down to essentials, piquing interest right away. It’s a short enough book at 236 pages. I got it at Amazon. Sell something in 2009, and I'll try to match you. Good luck.
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