tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post7529636559855293905..comments2023-09-30T01:18:33.562-04:00Comments on R.A.W. **Random Acts of Writing**: Hooking...Kristi Faithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527544253341529009noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-6651996436917913032010-04-01T15:38:45.054-04:002010-04-01T15:38:45.054-04:00I get intrigued by the back of the book blurb; I g...I get intrigued by the back of the book blurb; I get hooked by flipping through several pages at random. I give a story a lot of leeway to live up to my initial impressions. <br /><br />For me, the first few pages of a book are for introducing the main character/characters, setting up tone and voice, and setting.<br /><br />I like your idea for a random paragraph critique. I'll be sending you mine.<br /><br />.......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-58272527937621495332010-03-29T10:16:04.592-04:002010-03-29T10:16:04.592-04:00I'm with PJ. I'm always willing to go beyo...I'm with PJ. I'm always willing to go beyond 25 words to see if I like a book. I've read entire books waiting for them to get good! *sigh* And there are plenty of really good books that don't start with impressive words.Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-58560835133847933162010-03-29T10:07:17.714-04:002010-03-29T10:07:17.714-04:00Early on in my writing I got caught up in those fi...Early on in my writing I got caught up in those first-page, first-sentence, first-25 word contests. Then I realized I don't write those kinds of books. And neither do most of the authors I read.<br /><br />Not every book starts with 25 BANG words. There has to be something of interest, and some good writing, of course. But the BANG everyone seems to think you need?? I'm not convinced. <br /><br />In Some Kind of Normal, I got a lot of comments (in contests) like, "I love the voice, but nothing is happening." I was like, "It's the first paragraph!! Give it a minute you mosquito-attention-span readers!!"<br /><br />Okay, I said that in my head. But I still think a good voice and great writing beat out action in the first chapter any day. And since I got published, I must not be the only one. :)Heidi Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420802651029097379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-7654626907449563432010-03-29T09:50:00.153-04:002010-03-29T09:50:00.153-04:00Awww, Kristi - My feeder thingy is so bogged down ...Awww, Kristi - My feeder thingy is so bogged down with all the blogs I've joined that I've missed your last posts. (I am working on a solution!) I'm sorry you're having a rough time right now. I hope things get better as you settle into your new routine.<br /><br />I think your paragraph idea is great. Funny, I did the 25 word thing, and only a couple said hooked. I cheated as well. It was my first 2 sentences, but I chopped them down to make it fit, basically removing he voice, and that's mostly what was said; it's flat, no voice, not hooked. LOL. Oh well. And I was thinking of asking people to send me teir 1st para. to do something similar (great minds, and all). <br /><br />So, you want anywhere in the WiP? I'll play. Do you mean consecutive paragraphs, or any random two?<br /><br />I give a seemingly blah book the first chapter as a rule. And then, if I'm remotely interested, I'll go two more before I decide to put it down. I rarely put a book down.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09008153523366719973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-28335773537435591622010-03-29T08:10:31.230-04:002010-03-29T08:10:31.230-04:00I know if it's a really great book if I'm ...I know if it's a really great book if I'm hooked in the first paragraph or two.<br /><br />If it's a good book, it may take a couple of pages.<br /><br />If I'm hoping it will become a good book, I give it 25 pages.<br /><br />One of the first things to catch my attention is the book title.People Who Know Me Would Say:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04621641188403948733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19177238389402380.post-11280825874858928992010-03-29T05:47:21.880-04:002010-03-29T05:47:21.880-04:00Eeks! I'm totally submitting when I get a chan...Eeks! I'm totally submitting when I get a chance (gotta get the kids off to school first). I *always* give a book a fair chance before putting it down. It took me reading nearly 100 pages of my current series before I got into it, and it's totally hooked me. People are just too impatient to give anything a real chance these days.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07570437173288571934noreply@blogger.com