tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7099670970912412457..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Busted!—Authors Caught Raising Questions in Opening SentencesDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55489691702864645482014-03-09T12:54:55.583-06:002014-03-09T12:54:55.583-06:00Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must ...Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature. And while I occasionally step over the line and into the world of the melodramatic, it is what I must do in order to communicate clearly and effectively. In order to make my point understood without question. *** one of my faves "The Art of Racing in the Rain" Garth Stein *** Lisa Tomarellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15387353577959237975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63804529098573679932014-03-09T12:36:27.641-06:002014-03-09T12:36:27.641-06:00I really don't understand why some people will...I really don't understand why some people will never read outside a certain genre. Not only does it help in writing, it can broaden one's world view so much. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33810255427962641362014-03-08T04:04:32.199-07:002014-03-08T04:04:32.199-07:00So true!So true!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91271630573816933852014-03-07T23:50:58.488-07:002014-03-07T23:50:58.488-07:00Not only in my own writing, but also in every book...Not only in my own writing, but also in every book I've edited, I've found that the opening sentences — and, in fact, often the whole first chapter — are in dire need of revamping to set the stage for the story and hook the reader. Great post, Kathryn. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75624575839592539022014-03-07T19:43:50.415-07:002014-03-07T19:43:50.415-07:00Haha that's a great one, Heidi!Haha that's a great one, Heidi!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6286480689852707712014-03-07T18:10:29.601-07:002014-03-07T18:10:29.601-07:00Fantastic! I love these examples. My favorite open...Fantastic! I love these examples. My favorite opening line of all time is "The last camel collapsed at noon" from Ken Follett's Key to Rebecca.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35640046376621622882014-03-07T18:01:34.360-07:002014-03-07T18:01:34.360-07:00Great news! Thanks for sharing. Great news! Thanks for sharing. Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81755303396273931092014-03-07T16:08:46.713-07:002014-03-07T16:08:46.713-07:00Interestingly, going back to the beginning of my b...Interestingly, going back to the beginning of my book solved the problem I was having. So thanks again.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62063724079196301662014-03-07T14:56:36.943-07:002014-03-07T14:56:36.943-07:00Thanks Polly--but of course this is a wonderful us...Thanks Polly--but of course this is a wonderful use of critique partners and editors. We can't possibly not know what happens!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86521010159153011962014-03-07T14:33:56.494-07:002014-03-07T14:33:56.494-07:00What a great post, Kathryn. I will now go back to ...What a great post, Kathryn. I will now go back to the first page of my WIP and see if it would make me want to read the book if I didn't already know what happens. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76655479560827431742014-03-07T12:19:46.556-07:002014-03-07T12:19:46.556-07:00Thanks Janice—it's because of your recommendat...Thanks Janice—it's because of your recommendation that I thought I'd put the first three liens of The Sky is Everywhere to the test! I look forward to reading it.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54031315319606587162014-03-07T11:43:03.427-07:002014-03-07T11:43:03.427-07:00I love this piece. The examples are perfect for wr...I love this piece. The examples are perfect for writers of all genres. Now I need to go out and read some of those books that I haven't read. I highly recommend The Sky is Everywhere for those who haven't read it.Janice Gable Bashmanhttp://www.janicegablebashman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42620343373745790982014-03-07T11:13:39.494-07:002014-03-07T11:13:39.494-07:00Maryann I couldn't agree more about reading ou...Maryann I couldn't agree more about reading outside your genre! I utilize many suspense and thriller techniques to sustain reader interest in my women's fiction. When you need a technique, why not learn from the genre that does it best?Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81511284267093335512014-03-07T11:12:14.357-07:002014-03-07T11:12:14.357-07:00Thanks Diana!Thanks Diana!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55880338184709660412014-03-07T11:12:00.438-07:002014-03-07T11:12:00.438-07:00Chris: Well, it does raise a question, that is tru...Chris: Well, it does raise a question, that is true—Why is this yoyo ripping off Dickens?—but perhaps this isn't the RIGHT question...Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77983418606640675632014-03-07T11:10:18.777-07:002014-03-07T11:10:18.777-07:00Hi Larry, thanks!Hi Larry, thanks!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28065129856333671122014-03-07T11:09:54.060-07:002014-03-07T11:09:54.060-07:00Yes it works beautifully Stuart and there are so m...Yes it works beautifully Stuart and there are so many possible ways to make use of it! Thanks for your comment.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42975198600684007962014-03-07T10:51:10.994-07:002014-03-07T10:51:10.994-07:00Wonderful examples, Kathryn. Made me want to read ...Wonderful examples, Kathryn. Made me want to read all three books. Raising questions in the opening as opposed to a simple character/setting introduction is so much more engaging. I think mainstream and literary authors have used that technique more than some genre writers. That's why I think one should read outside of the genre in which they write to pick up techniques that will raise a story out of the ordinary. I've tried to do that to some extent in my mysteries.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36082590758450197122014-03-07T08:38:49.378-07:002014-03-07T08:38:49.378-07:00I love this post and the examples that illustrate ...I love this post and the examples that illustrate the point. I will share it with my critique group.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75820326832841624902014-03-07T08:38:21.692-07:002014-03-07T08:38:21.692-07:00I was thinking of trying something like, 'It w...I was thinking of trying something like, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...' think it has a chance?Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85288583297689157432014-03-07T04:26:31.297-07:002014-03-07T04:26:31.297-07:00Great examples of concise, engaging openings. Than...Great examples of concise, engaging openings. Thanks.Larry Constantine (Lior Samson)http://amazon.com/author/liorsamson/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83365201915218657862014-03-07T01:44:20.716-07:002014-03-07T01:44:20.716-07:00Always a good starting gambit, Kathryn. I loved y...Always a good starting gambit, Kathryn. I loved your illustrations of the technique. If more writers employed your advice, they might attract more readers. Thanks for this.stuartaken.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05695584662320617659noreply@blogger.com