| Author |
Message |
    
Frederick A. Babb
Awareness Member
Post Number:
16
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 06:53 am: |   |
Fellow authors.
I recently had someone review the manuscript for my upcoming book, "Running of the Bulls" and said that it started out too "dramatic". The person gave me this in good faith.
If anyone can take the opportunity to go to the website in the signature block and read the 1st chapter of this book to give me their opinion I would deeply appreciate it.
Regards,
Frederick A. Babb
Preview books: http://frederickbabb.bravehost.com |
Emily Veinglory
Awareness Member
Post Number:
11
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 08:38 am: | |
It doesn't seem overly dramatic to me. I would be interested in what happens with the horse. And I felt very disappointed about her communion day going so horribly wrong. A good sign that I was interested in your protagonist.
You have one typo 'hr' --> her, and I would suggest you mis-used a semi-colon here "That was to say; gifts of jewelry that shined from the very pure gold from which they were made" because the first part is not a complete sentence.
(Sorry, proofreading is automatic with me).
(Message edited by veinglory on July 22, 2004) |
Frederick A. Babb
Awareness Member
Post Number:
17
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 08:49 am: | |
Thanks Emily.
The manuscript is being re-edited right now. That was placed on the site to create interest. But it isn't good to have typos anywhere. I appreciate you taking the time to read and advise.
Preview books: http://frederickbabb.bravehost.com |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1450
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 09:03 am: | |
So far a good storyline and not to overly dramatic as far as I could see.
you did have a few typos and spelling eerrors, but you are re-editing it, so that most likely will be taken care of.
a side note, Andalusians are truly beautiful horses. high spirited, sleek, strong, tight muscles that can raise that horse to fabulous highs when rearing up to the sky.
as are Andalusite stones, that come from only that region the stone is named after. I have a very large one in my collection. they are not an expensive stone, but very captivating. the green and rust meeting in the center of the crystal.
Claudia |
Frederick A. Babb
Awareness Member
Post Number:
18
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 02:57 pm: | |
Thanks Claudia.
Andalusian horses are a breed which none can compare. When they are trained to dance and kick in a moment that they are completely off the ground is beyond words. I am fortunate enough to live in Andalusia and one of the driving forces behind this Spanish Romance Trilogy was to share some of the passion that one feels when they live here.
Frederick A. Babb
Preview books: http://frederickbabb.bravehost.com |
priceless1
Wandering Member
Post Number:
237
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 10:33 am: | |
"I recently had someone review the manuscript for my upcoming book, "Running of the Bulls" and said that it started out too "dramatic". The person gave me this in good faith."
Frederick, this is a very tough situation for all authors; a less than perfect review. As I told you when I critiqued your manuscript back in March, opinions are subjective, and we can't live or die by what others think. That your publisher believes in your work should suffice for now. Well, that and your editor. People bring their personal baggage into their reading, and that is what invariably molds their judgments. You will have as many reviews as people reading the book. The important thing is knowing when to listen (like to your editor) and when to let go of a review.
I've seen authors request complete rewrites over what one person had to say about their manuscript. And this was at the proof stage. We writers are an ego-based lot, in that we are driven by some force that compels us to stick our big toe out there and basically bare our writer's souls for all to see. When we see a less than stellar review, we're hurt. This is a good time to give ego a vacation because no one is going to interpret our work in the same manner. Unless the person delivering the review is someone you admire and respect for their editing prowess, I'd simply regard it as an opinion. Best of luck.
Lynn
behlerpublications.com
lynnprice.net
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Frederick A. Babb
Awareness Member
Post Number:
21
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 03:14 pm: | |
Thanks Lynn.
The person that gave me the review is pretty honest and has been a postive plus in the final products of all of my books. The remark was made with nothing but my best interest in mind.
Like with your critique, I learn and improve with each constructive review that is based on facts. I agree that when reviews that aren't flatterning float my way I should take them for face value. It reminds me of an old saying, "You find internal peace when you come to realize that you can never please everyone." (or something like that)
Again, thanks Lynn. Your words are always welcomed to me.
Frederick A. Babb
Preview books: http://frederickbabb.bravehost.com |
F.E. Mazur (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: dialup-4.131.52.123.dial1.cincinnati1.level3.net
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 03:37 pm: | |
It did not strike me as overly dramatic, although I confess to reading it rather quickly. You might inquire of the person why that is a problem. This same criticism was once directed at the opening to something I wrote a long time ago. It came from a prof I liked a lot. He answered that he thought the dramatic intensity had nowhere to go but down, and that should not happen at the beginning of a story. |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
3192
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 03:57 pm: | |
I did not think the beginning was too dramatic either. Having read your other work, I imagine you can maintain the intensity throughout. |
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