tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post8026856385636016439..comments2023-10-26T08:58:35.243-06:00Comments on Retired In The Rockies: Rule BreakersKathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878203057848340870noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post-3833442050363330502008-08-10T20:23:00.000-06:002008-08-10T20:23:00.000-06:00I say keep writing and keep breaking rules! :-)If...I say keep writing and keep breaking rules! :-)<BR/>If J.K. Rowling is a terrible writer, then there must be something wrong with the rules!Marriannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02766559513371143875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post-12516481830426095262008-08-06T05:13:00.000-06:002008-08-06T05:13:00.000-06:00Giving credit where it's due, I should add that, a...Giving credit where it's due, I should add that, although it's fine to be funny, which I love doing on my blog, it's been much easier editing my first draft with their comments about point of view and repetitive words. <BR/><BR/>One of them said I sounded like I was being "paid by the word." When I read it over, I realized I could tighten it up considerably. Maybe she didn't phrase it too nicely, but the comment sure stuck in my mind and turned out to be a huge help.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878203057848340870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post-62668239035586024992008-08-06T05:10:00.000-06:002008-08-06T05:10:00.000-06:00None of them are published yet, but two or three h...None of them are published yet, but two or three have finished books that they're trying to sell. One has a series of three YA books she's editing or rewriting after rejection letters. Another is a mystery writer who won a writer of the year award last year. She's really good, and very nice.<BR/><BR/>The rules include stuff like, don't include information in the book your character doesn't know. <BR/><BR/>Don't ask too many questions in the first chapter. You'll confuse your reader.<BR/><BR/>Don't have so many characters. You'll confuse your reader.<BR/><BR/>Stuff like that. Those are the ones I remember at 5 a.m., since those are the ones they say I break in my writing. <BR/><BR/>You read my first chapter. Were you confused? Feel like I asked too many unanswered questions? I intended to ask those questions and not answer them. I think if you answer all the questions up front, why should they read the book?<BR/><BR/>Of course, these people have all been writing novels much longer than I have, and they're probably right. My book will sit around gathering "so sorry" letters while I run through hankies and red pens.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878203057848340870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post-36449641199993680482008-08-06T01:24:00.000-06:002008-08-06T01:24:00.000-06:00Are any of the writers in your group published? Th...Are any of the writers in your group published? That's funny that they feel entitled to call famous authors bad writers. There's tons of published stuff out there that I don't enjoy reading, but I don't think that makes it bad writing--just not my type of writing.Schmathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07961433801062149928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4758763363942581003.post-90804568160365442432008-08-06T01:15:00.000-06:002008-08-06T01:15:00.000-06:00So what are the rules? Besides grammar and spellin...So what are the rules? Besides grammar and spelling, I can't imagine what they would be.Schmathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07961433801062149928noreply@blogger.com