tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post1023997252910567912..comments2023-06-14T05:28:19.018-06:00Comments on ~ Sisters of the Quill ~: Elements of successful novels: the first two pagesSisters of the Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07067700948949637412noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-40143981865953191802011-12-24T01:19:46.945-07:002011-12-24T01:19:46.945-07:00Cool! I checked mine. I miss two:
a sentence cont...Cool! I checked mine. I miss two:<br /><br />a sentence containing three commas - but I have a sentence containing 4 commas.<br /><br />reference to sex or death -- I don't have one until page 3.<br /><br />Pretty amazing that that ALL those things can be found in the bestsellers! I don't think I could do that if I tried! (and probably trying wouldn't be a good idea lol)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740585379050709010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-85878159693055511762011-07-16T12:19:29.677-06:002011-07-16T12:19:29.677-06:00Thank you Sisters of the Quill and Stormy!Thank you Sisters of the Quill and Stormy!J Perry Kellyhttp://www.quantumfires.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-32355877955955091682011-07-14T09:42:20.797-06:002011-07-14T09:42:20.797-06:00I find this unnerving. It's good to have the s...I find this unnerving. It's good to have the senses expressed, and also to convey something that compels the reader to keep going, but must every novel have some bodily function in the first two pages? <br /><br />No. <br /><br />To tell writers that we need to get all these things in isn't helpful. To use this list as a starting point for writers to be sure they're going for sensual writing and drama is more useful.Cynthia Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09847163228257654496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-5049299268485104802011-07-14T04:43:13.416-06:002011-07-14T04:43:13.416-06:00Am I the only one who finds this unnerving?! And ...Am I the only one who finds this unnerving?! And which bestseller list? So all of the following PW titles had this exactly? Now You See Her, Smokin' Seventeen, Against All Enemies, State Of Wonder, One Summer, The Devil Colony, Silver Girl, Folly Beach, Maine, Carte Blanche....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-60573116032784935952011-07-13T12:49:31.154-06:002011-07-13T12:49:31.154-06:00Grat post! I've linked it to my writers group....Grat post! I've linked it to my writers group. Off to check my book's first two pages...Sue Campbellhttp://www.suecampbellgraphicdesign.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-82500137169751040102011-07-13T10:35:40.868-06:002011-07-13T10:35:40.868-06:00Very interesting way of observing what works! Than...Very interesting way of observing what works! Thanks for sharing!Pattie Loganhttp://www.naturetravelerwest.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-78861642216907116582011-07-13T10:32:05.643-06:002011-07-13T10:32:05.643-06:00Wonderful list--and as a creative nonfiction write...Wonderful list--and as a creative nonfiction writer, I'm using it to double-check my pages too. Yes, it's all about evoking sensations, helping the reader experience the world of the story more vividly.Priscillahttp://www.thislivelyearth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-66755080986161842312011-07-13T06:35:22.984-06:002011-07-13T06:35:22.984-06:00Interesting list. I will check my ms.
NancyInteresting list. I will check my ms.<br />NancyN. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-17562254555068754592011-07-12T18:46:04.031-06:002011-07-12T18:46:04.031-06:00Karen D, that's great! You're naturally a ...Karen D, that's great! You're naturally a great writer. :-)<br /><br />Inkpot, you're also a great writer--and thanks again for teaching me how to write. Yes, Gordon did say that things tend to ease off a bit as the ms proceeds, because such a fever pitch is not always sustainable or desirable. It's also not necessary once we're hooked. But I think I might try to set a new, higher standard for including such things even as the book continues. StormyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-10576664775280287962011-07-12T18:08:56.340-06:002011-07-12T18:08:56.340-06:00I checked my latest manuscript, which just went to...I checked my latest manuscript, which just went to my editor, and I found 10, though I'm not sure if "mmhm" counts as a word. :) I do have 3 commas in the sentence I just wrote. Ha!<br /><br />Great post! Thanks for sharing.Karen Duvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839711547501582977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337494610769031999.post-11971220090216167832011-07-12T11:29:06.305-06:002011-07-12T11:29:06.305-06:00What an important post, Stormy! I've been cho...What an important post, Stormy! I've been chomping at the bit to hear about this "secret code." Did he happen to go on and mention How often and to what extent these back off as he read into the best-selling novels? I look forward to checking this list against my work.Inkpothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15746216636930418956noreply@blogger.com