Fiction Writer's Brainstormer Strikes Again

[mabfan]

Folks reading here may recall my post about the Flesch-Kincaid scale, and how the author of Fiction Writer's Brainstormer, James V. Smith, Jr., recommended using it for improving one's writing. (That was the post that got me slashdotted by Neil Gaiman. Err, Neildotted?)

Anyway, affinity8 recently picked up a copy of that selfsame book, and she cites a few pieces of advice Smith gives on how to grab an editor's attention within the first 1000 words of a novel.

Comments

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

Apparently he has an earlier book about writing novels that some people prefer. I don't know if I'd go buy that one, but I'll check to see if my library can get it for me. I love the noblenet.org system.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

You Can Write a Novel, part of Writer's Digest Books' "You Can Series." I found it recommended a rather rigid way of structuring a book, but he does have an interesting list of cardinal rules.

I wonder if he know how much people have been talking about him.

[madfilkentist]

"I'm sorry, M. Hugo, but you say this novel is about someone named -- Valjean? With an advesary named Javert? I've read 58 pages of your manuscript, and you haven't mentioned either one yet."

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

The fact is, it would probably be extremely difficult for Les Miserables to get published today.

In one of his books on writing, Lawrence Block discusses Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet," and points out that it does take a long time for the story to get started. The 19th century reader was willing to accept a leisurely opening more than the 21st century reader is.

(This is not to say I necessarily agree with everything Smith suggests, by the way. But it is food for thought.)

[impropaganda.livejournal.com]

Looks interesting, thanks.