Early Edits Received for My Novel

I received back from my new editor, we'll just call her Leslie, her red marks on the first 72 pages (double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman, of course) of my novel-in-progress, Sagebrush at Stony Creek, and I devoured her comments and had a good glance at my own writing style as well. Now I wonder if my beginning hooks the reader enough. It isn't particularly clever, but it does immediately bring into play an ominous knife (and knife thrower), later to play some role in my novel. Might that hook someone. It's an Indian vs. Rancher tale. I can see this knife being a main element on the cover of the published novel, but that would be the call of the publisher. What's up with that knife? That's what I'm hoping the browsing shopper would think. Even the final title will be determined by the publisher; that's what I've heard.

Well, anyway, I use these things " ... " too much and commas not enough. Most the marks were just not getting hyphenated words right and make some homonym goofs. I saw a few word clusters she caught. I'm thrilled and will get busy implementing the corrections I think will help the story, probably 90% of the editor's suggestions. Somehow, it's easier to feel motivated when someone else is active in the project with me.

Write on. ;^)

Hook Your Reader

… 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.