tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post739677634627063013..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Interview with Barry EislerJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29571362895931291952010-07-01T17:54:00.806-05:002010-07-01T17:54:00.806-05:00Sorry I've been so scarce, everyone, and thank...Sorry I've been so scarce, everyone, and thanks for the comments. Just hammered with the tour... will try to respond soon!Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44523061984217514292010-07-01T15:58:53.686-05:002010-07-01T15:58:53.686-05:00Moses,
My language requirements are not that extr...Moses,<br /><br />My language requirements are not that extreme. I have no problem with “to be” verbs and adverbs in dialogue, though I do hate generic words like “very” and “really.”<br /><br />Jude is correct. Words are just tools. There are many ways to paint, there are many ways to write. We all have our own taste. I like Hemingway. I dislike Chandler.<br /><br />My entertainment time is limited. I watch 100 movies a year. I read 50 books a year. I play 25 video games a year. I spend too much time reading Kotaku and Engadget. <br /><br />For books, it’s 50% nonfiction, 50% fiction. I filter by genre, premise, and language. I read mostly thrillers. No romance, no mystery, no fantasy. I look for thrillers about technology or politics. I lean towards violence and sex. I gave Barry the same first-page test I give any thriller. It failed on language. For me.<br /><br />If you want my money, give me prose that hits me hard. Give me Fight Club.<br /><br />For every 20 novels I sample, I maybe read 1.<br />For every 25 novels I read, I maybe pass on 500.<br /><br />To date, I have written seven novels. I’m not a guru. I don’t lecture others how to write. I like Joe’s cafe because the level of debate is more intelligent than other book blogs.<br /><br />PJ, my wife loves historical romance. Thanks for the suggestion.<br /><br />Jude is double correct that most writing books suck. The only two writing books I like are STORY by Robert McKee, and THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield.<br /><br />And, of course, Joe’s GUIDE TO PUBLISHING. It, like Joe, is a killer in a dress.<br /><br />- JackJack H. H. Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66058208473168266982010-07-01T12:26:07.876-05:002010-07-01T12:26:07.876-05:00Hey Jude,
Good to know. I own Elements of Style a...Hey Jude,<br /><br />Good to know. I own Elements of Style and also Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. (I THINK that's how the title is punctuated, lol.)<br /><br />I do think people get a little bent out of shape about passive voice, like they do "alright" and starting sentences with "And" and "But".Zoe Wintershttp://zoewinters.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36237901489746926192010-07-01T11:15:02.546-05:002010-07-01T11:15:02.546-05:00Zoe:
It's not really a rule, but some beginni...Zoe:<br /><br />It's not really a rule, but some beginning writers take the advice to avoid the passive voice to an unworkable extreme. Good wordsmiths (like Joe and Barry, for example) know how to find the right balance between active and passive for a strong narrative flow. Some of it is instinctual, but much (at least for me) comes with painstaking revision.<br /><br />BTW, if you would like to brush up on some things you might have missed in school, there's a great little book (less than 100 pages) called <i>The Elements of Style</i> by Strunk and White. It has been around in one form or another since the early part of the 20th century, and is a very useful reference for writers.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80764920073928938872010-07-01T09:07:26.739-05:002010-07-01T09:07:26.739-05:00@Jude
I'm glad I've never even "hear...@Jude<br /><br />I'm glad I've never even "heard" that rule. Sounds like knowing about it is more harm than good. (Apparently I slept through quite a few lessons in school. Or more likely, I was writing short stories when I was supposed to be paying attention.)Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48107696066666670392010-07-01T07:12:54.242-05:002010-07-01T07:12:54.242-05:00Raymond Chandler using a pile of "to be"...<i>Raymond Chandler using a pile of "to be" verbs</i><br /><br />I could just as easily have said Hemingway. Or Steinbeck. John D. MacDonald. Lee Child. James Lee Burke...<br /><br />The list is endless.<br /><br />I would love to see this mythical author who does not regularly use "to be" verbs in his/her prose.<br /><br />I have read things from beginning writers who obviously avoided "to be" verbs because some teacher or book told them to, and their prose was laughable because of it. <i>A deep crimson lacquer enveloped the automobile's exterior</i>, or some such crap. Translation: <i>The car was red.</i><br /><br />Having said all that, I can definitely appreciate a well-placed Superverb that really makes a sentence pop. It's all in the execution, of course, but mostly I want prose to be invisible and allow the reader to sink unencumbered into Storyland.<br /><br />And don't even get me started on adverbs...Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2243658745358744192010-07-01T06:57:19.011-05:002010-07-01T06:57:19.011-05:00@C. Pinheiro
What I find annoying is how Amazon h...@C. Pinheiro<br /><br />What I find annoying is how Amazon has just let everybody sink or swim. No emails or announcements on how everything works. <br /><br />And what I really don't get is this new accounting system. Why are they still doing accounting for this week? It's July. Shouldn't everything have "stopped" since they pay by the month?<br /><br />It makes no sense at all. Maybe it's a bug.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61444030509856238682010-07-01T06:50:50.618-05:002010-07-01T06:50:50.618-05:00@C. Pinheiro, thx!@C. Pinheiro, thx!Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4929368304309155842010-06-30T23:15:04.421-05:002010-06-30T23:15:04.421-05:00@Jack
I've always liked Johanna Lindsey. Her...@Jack<br /><br />I've always liked Johanna Lindsey. Her books are almost all historical romance, though, so if your wife likes modern, she might not care for her.PJ Frielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09175952316874423107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1738061941382290282010-06-30T20:45:46.808-05:002010-06-30T20:45:46.808-05:00Hey all-- the Amazon 70% royalty has kicked in-- J...Hey all-- the Amazon 70% royalty has kicked in-- Joshua Tallent just e-mailed me the instructions. The Amazon login page was SLOOOOW but it worked! I'm now earning 70% on my Kindle book. <br /><br />I posted the instructions on my blog, The Publishing Maven, and you can also find them on Walt Shiel's blog (he's the one that posted them first. <br /><br />Spread the word and don't forget to update your books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44014489910210814722010-06-30T20:18:42.657-05:002010-06-30T20:18:42.657-05:00Raymond Chandler using a pile of "to be"...Raymond Chandler using a pile of "to be" verbs: "If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited to Hollywood, and . . . if they had been any better, I should not have come. "Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68426199961411878402010-06-30T18:03:56.654-05:002010-06-30T18:03:56.654-05:00There's nothing wrong with "to be" v...There's nothing wrong with "to be" verbs, either. It all depends on the voice you're going for. More hogwash from writing books. Read some Raymond Chandler.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56633889349008823002010-06-30T17:05:09.623-05:002010-06-30T17:05:09.623-05:00Jack, you won't allow characters to use "...Jack, you won't allow characters to use "to be" verbs or adverbs in dialogue or internal monologue? Those are pretty high standards, friend!<br /><br /><i>Things are really looking up</i>.Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasybooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34978496729343132612010-06-30T16:05:54.104-05:002010-06-30T16:05:54.104-05:00That's a great opening.That's a great opening.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18735230578379036632010-06-30T15:50:01.879-05:002010-06-30T15:50:01.879-05:00For some reason, Amazon doesn't show the "...For some reason, Amazon doesn't show the "search inside" for the blue hardcover. They only let you into the red paperback.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Line-Novel-Barry-Eisler/dp/0345505093/Jack H. H. Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54079217840689394052010-06-30T15:22:53.634-05:002010-06-30T15:22:53.634-05:00I couldn't find the "Search Inside" ...I couldn't find the "Search Inside" option for <i>Fault Line</i> either, but I've read some of Barry's other stuff and I think his prose is exquisite. Also, there's nothing wrong with a flashback if that's what the story calls for. I know most of the books on writing say they're some kind of sin, but most of the authors of most of the books on writing aren't NYT bestsellers like Barry here is. I would prefer to learn from the latter.<br /><br />Barry: since you've spoken at length about titles and covers, I would love to get your opinion on mine.<br /><br />http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5cLUL6evcpI/TCCsHX77EyI/AAAAAAAAAE4/HteZdwmn148/s1600/Pocket+47+picture.JPGJude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61705597495614609442010-06-30T15:21:57.605-05:002010-06-30T15:21:57.605-05:00@Jack
Ask her if she's read Sherry Thomas. &q...@Jack<br /><br />Ask her if she's read Sherry Thomas. "Private Arrangements" by her is really good. Kresley Cole's "A Hunger Like No Other" is one of my faves, but I don't know if she reads paranormals. Larissa Ione's "Pleasure Unbound" was HOT. If she likes steamy and a lot of sex, Ione is a good one. She manages to write sex scenes that are neither tedious nor dorky and euphemistic, and that's in short supply.<br /><br />Jo Goodman's "The Price of Desire" is really good too. <br /><br />Goodman and Thomas are both historical romance authors.<br /><br />I'm also reading a book called "Behind the Red Door" by Jackie Barbosa, it's a collection historical erotic romance novellas, and it's really good.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78036549009714039822010-06-30T14:46:24.680-05:002010-06-30T14:46:24.680-05:00Jack, how did you "search inside" FAULT ...Jack, how did you "search inside" FAULT LINE? I can't find that option.Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasy.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83569302382087500712010-06-30T14:40:18.008-05:002010-06-30T14:40:18.008-05:00Anna & Zoe,
My wife reads entire forests of r...Anna & Zoe,<br /><br />My wife reads entire forests of romance novels. She likes Nora Roberts. She loves Amanda Quick. She prefers her fiction with an excess of sex.<br /><br />I read the first paragraph of every book she eats. And some of the sex scenes. I'm a curious guy. In the last three years, not one romance novel has impressed me, prose-wise.<br /><br />Perhaps my usage of the word "respect" was offensive. I will rephrase.<br /><br />I respect anyone who can write an entire novel. The more novels written, the more respect I give. Indie authors get double bonus respect, for their spunk. And any writer who can impress me with a first paragraph, then delight me to the end, I will worship for life.<br /><br />Name some great romance writing, and I will feed them to my queen.<br /><br />- JackJack H. H. Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65435203050994108682010-06-30T14:34:53.684-05:002010-06-30T14:34:53.684-05:00@Moses
I think they're unveiling all that thi...@Moses<br /><br />I think they're unveiling all that this fall. But they've claimed "competitive". So my guess would be that it won't be too much different than Amazon's payment structure. But we won't know for sure until they unveil it.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56255197485330174322010-06-30T14:29:49.764-05:002010-06-30T14:29:49.764-05:00On another subject, has anyone figured out yet wha...On another subject, has anyone figured out yet what royalties BN is paying through it's PubIt! endeavor?Moses Siregar IIIhttp://sciencefictionfantasybooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92024363878359270102010-06-30T11:21:08.455-05:002010-06-30T11:21:08.455-05:00Anna,
I think men reading less than women in gene...Anna,<br /><br />I think men reading less than women in general does tend to skew the numbers a bit. I agree that sci-fi is more of a male genre, but I'm not sure more men read fantasy than women.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22631876582589580002010-06-30T11:08:07.869-05:002010-06-30T11:08:07.869-05:00I think what Randall said about who buys books is ...I think what Randall said about who buys books is accurate. I think men are also buyers of westerns if they can find them. But for the most part, men just aren't as into reading as women are....My husband is a reader and he likes *some* thrillers, but if a story requires too much suspension of reality, he loses interest quickly.<br /><br />Of course he likes *my* books, which are total fantasies. Actually, they're mainstream romances, but they're still fantasies.Anna Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388699459504488552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41862750277243633762010-06-30T10:36:20.834-05:002010-06-30T10:36:20.834-05:00But Thrillers (especially certain subgenres of thr...<i>But Thrillers (especially certain subgenres of thriller) and Horror are genres that have a predominantly male fan base. <br /></i><br /><br />Do you have a source or are you making this up? I worked at a major indie bookstore for six years and the vast majority of people who bought thrillers and horror were women. Hell, they were the majority of people who bought all books. There were a couple men who picked up Romance titles, but for the most part men bought non-fiction, literary fiction, and especially Fantasy and SF. <br /><br />I've read several of your comments, and you seem to have a slightly confused sense of several things... how traditional publishing works, what constitutes success, and now what men and women buy. <br /><br />If you have solid numbers to back this assumption up, I'll be more than happy to eat my words and admit I was wrong.Randallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85146908416332720882010-06-30T07:03:29.575-05:002010-06-30T07:03:29.575-05:00@Robert and I know many men who read romance. (Bec...@Robert and I know many men who read romance. (Because they write me reviews and fan letters) Also you just lumped mystery in. Mystery is a genre that has a fairly even male and female reading demographic. But Thrillers (especially certain subgenres of thriller) and Horror are genres that have a predominantly male fan base. <br /><br />But people make a snap judgment about a person who reads romance. Somehow a thriller or horror novel is "smarter" or in better taste than a romance novel. And I think those who think that haven't read many romance novels. Because yes, like every other genre we have our "dime store pulp" but, that's not the whole of the genre.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.com