It happens all the time to each of us. We start reading a novel, excited for the promise of a good read. Then we get into it and the book doesn’t grab us. We give it a little while to see if it improves. At a certain point, we realize there are too many stories out there to waste time with one that we don’t enjoy. So the book gets laid by the wayside.
My disappointment was that I had really enjoyed the three previous books in the series. The first one had been one of my favorite books I read that year.
The author released three books in the series, but then was dropped by the publisher. There were plans for up to seven books, I believe. The author had a long layoff before a home for book four was found, with a smaller press.
I finally got book four, and I enjoyed the author’s descriptions and certain aspects of the writing from before. Unfortunately there were a lot of problems with the writing. It wasn’t tight. It hopped all around regarding perspective. There was no struggle for the protagonist. He was becoming an alcoholic, but it was muted, and life just went on. There was an overarching conflict through the first three books that was alluded to once in the first 150 pages, but it was never introduced to grab continuing readers.
Overall I was very disappointed to give up on the book. I wanted to see the author succeed, but I couldn’t keep on. I was lost.
I’ve been pondering this since I put it down. What caused the author to lose me as a reader when I had been hooked before?
Here’s a few thoughts in random order (meaning as they pop into my brain):
The author was with a smaller publisher that didn’t give him good editorial support.
The author lost track of the story flow with the time layoff.
I’ve changed as a reader and just don’t jive with this author anymore.
The story wasn’t that good originally.
I’m leaning toward #1 being the major cause, with #3 being secondary. I know some of the stuff that is bothering me are things only a writer would probably notice. The author loves to use a lot of similie and metaphor to bring points across. Used sparingly it works, but when he does it all the time it makes it hard to read. I thnk the book loses track of some of the central conflict as well.
It is too bad. I might try to finish it, but I have an ever growing to-be-read pile. I wish I loved this latest book, but I am trying to take lessons from it all the same. — What about you? Are there any series you stopped reading because the author lost track of whatever made the books good? How can authors avoid this trap? —
It happens all the time to each of us. We start reading a novel, excited for the promise of a good read. Then we get into it and the book doesn’t grab us. We give it a little while to see if it improves. At a certain point, we realize there are too many stories out there to waste time with one that we don’t enjoy. So the book gets laid by the wayside.
My disappointment was that I had really enjoyed the three previous books in the series. The first one had been one of my favorite books I read that year.
The author released three books in the series, but then was dropped by the publisher. There were plans for up to seven books, I believe. The author had a long layoff before a home for book four was found, with a smaller press.
I finally got book four, and I enjoyed the author’s descriptions and certain aspects of the writing from before. Unfortunately there were a lot of problems with the writing. It wasn’t tight. It hopped all around regarding perspective. There was no struggle for the protagonist. He was becoming an alcoholic, but it was muted, and life just went on. There was an overarching conflict through the first three books that was alluded to once in the first 150 pages, but it was never introduced to grab continuing readers.
Overall I was very disappointed to give up on the book. I wanted to see the author succeed, but I couldn’t keep on. I was lost.
I’ve been pondering this since I put it down. What caused the author to lose me as a reader when I had been hooked before?
Here’s a few thoughts in random order (meaning as they pop into my brain):
The author was with a smaller publisher that didn’t give him good editorial support.
The author lost track of the story flow with the time layoff.
I’ve changed as a reader and just don’t jive with this author anymore.
The story wasn’t that good originally.
I’m leaning toward #1 being the major cause, with #3 being secondary. I know some of the stuff that is bothering me are things only a writer would probably notice. The author loves to use a lot of similie and metaphor to bring points across. Used sparingly it works, but when he does it all the time it makes it hard to read. I thnk the book loses track of some of the central conflict as well.
It is too bad. I might try to finish it, but I have an ever growing to-be-read pile. I wish I loved this latest book, but I am trying to take lessons from it all the same. — What about you? Are there any series you stopped reading because the author lost track of whatever made the books good? How can authors avoid this trap? —
Sometimes you just need to know when to shut up and let others talk.
There was an excellent article today on Novel Rocket about characterization by Cindy Woodsmall. She has four “B”s to use: Before. Behind. Between. Begin.
This is a succinct yet very insightful way to understand your characters. Here is a quote:
Begin your novel armed with the full knowledge of who your characters are – the before, the behind, and the between. Then ask yourself, what would this person do – how would he or she react – when caught in the emotional or physical destruction in which your plotting places them? Once you’ve completed these steps, you won’t have to know the answer to how they would react when placed in different circumstances. The character – who that person is – will dictate what he or she will do in any given situation. Each character will be true to himself or herself, because you know who they are and from where they have come.
I’ve got nothing to add. Just go read the article. If you’re a writer, you’ll be glad you did! —
Sometimes you just need to know when to shut up and let others talk.
There was an excellent article today on Novel Rocket about characterization by Cindy Woodsmall. She has four “B”s to use: Before. Behind. Between. Begin.
This is a succinct yet very insightful way to understand your characters. Here is a quote:
Begin your novel armed with the full knowledge of who your characters are – the before, the behind, and the between. Then ask yourself, what would this person do – how would he or she react – when caught in the emotional or physical destruction in which your plotting places them? Once you’ve completed these steps, you won’t have to know the answer to how they would react when placed in different circumstances. The character – who that person is – will dictate what he or she will do in any given situation. Each character will be true to himself or herself, because you know who they are and from where they have come.
I’ve got nothing to add. Just go read the article. If you’re a writer, you’ll be glad you did! —
I’ve been working on my novel for seven years. (Arrgh, has it been that long?) It has been interrupted by real life on a few occasions. It has survived attempts to abort, to give up, or just plain old neglect. It has sat in my head, asking to come out. Politely, most of the time. (Don’t ask about the other times.)
I’ve kept reading, studying, and yes, writing over that time. I’ve stuck with it, and I have a strong committment to finish this year. I’ve written more in the last few months than I have in…well, ever. If I never get published, I will not be a writer who “started a novel” but never finishes one.
Part of my motivation is entering a writing contest that will critique the first 15 pages. If it does well, they may want more. I guess I should have *more* to offer, so it is a deadline of sorts.
In one sense, my first 15 pages are tight. I’ve read them over and over, cut unnecessary words, and edited them to death. There’s still a problem though.
It is the earliest stuff I wrote for this book.
I’ve learned a lot since then. I knew that I should rework some of it, and planned to do it in the revision process. People who have critiqued me gave suggestions, and I realized there needed to be improvement.
This recent blog post from James Scott Bell hit it home for me. He talks about the importance of the first impression, and lists four things that he said should be avoided at all cost. I had two in my first couple of pages.
*sigh*
It is hard to go back and axe something that’s been with me since the start. I’ve read my opening over and over. I’ve polished them as much as I can – but I never made any significant edit to the substance. It might be polished, but it’s not gold, so who cares.
I knew revision would be hard, but I had put that off as something down the road. “Cross that bridge when I get there.” Well, the water’s up to my chest, so I’d better back up and get on the straight and narrow. I wrote something that was amateurish. Hard to admit, but I think if I picked up my book on the shelf with the current opening, I’d probably put it down.
So here we go. Time to go back to the beginning.
The clip below will show where my mind was when writing this post, and explain the picture for those who didn’t get it. I’m a geek, I know…
Have you had something in your story for a long time you finally had to kill? —
I’ve been working on my novel for seven years. (Arrgh, has it been that long?) It has been interrupted by real life on a few occasions. It has survived attempts to abort, to give up, or just plain old neglect. It has sat in my head, asking to come out. Politely, most of the time. (Don’t ask about the other times.)
I’ve kept reading, studying, and yes, writing over that time. I’ve stuck with it, and I have a strong committment to finish this year. I’ve written more in the last few months than I have in…well, ever. If I never get published, I will not be a writer who “started a novel” but never finishes one.
Part of my motivation is entering a writing contest that will critique the first 15 pages. If it does well, they may want more. I guess I should have *more* to offer, so it is a deadline of sorts.
In one sense, my first 15 pages are tight. I’ve read them over and over, cut unnecessary words, and edited them to death. There’s still a problem though.
It is the earliest stuff I wrote for this book.
I’ve learned a lot since then. I knew that I should rework some of it, and planned to do it in the revision process. People who have critiqued me gave suggestions, and I realized there needed to be improvement.
This recent blog post from James Scott Bell hit it home for me. He talks about the importance of the first impression, and lists four things that he said should be avoided at all cost. I had two in my first couple of pages.
*sigh*
It is hard to go back and axe something that’s been with me since the start. I’ve read my opening over and over. I’ve polished them as much as I can – but I never made any significant edit to the substance. It might be polished, but it’s not gold, so who cares.
I knew revision would be hard, but I had put that off as something down the road. “Cross that bridge when I get there.” Well, the water’s up to my chest, so I’d better back up and get on the straight and narrow. I wrote something that was amateurish. Hard to admit, but I think if I picked up my book on the shelf with the current opening, I’d probably put it down.
So here we go. Time to go back to the beginning.
The clip below will show where my mind was when writing this post, and explain the picture for those who didn’t get it. I’m a geek, I know…
Have you had something in your story for a long time you finally had to kill? —
