Lorne: Take care of yourself and ah, make sure fluffy is getting enough love. Gunn: Did he have anything? Fred: No. And who's fluffy? Are you fluffy? Gunn: He called me fluffy? Fred: He said make sure…wait. You don't think he was referring to anything of mine that's fluffy, do you? Because that would just be inappropriate.

'Conviction (1)'


The Great Write Way, Act Three: Where's the gun?

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:02:08 am PDT #3386 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

I suppose no matter what I do, the current process of cutting is all for the better. I need to get rid of anything that doesn't contribute.

Maybe I'll go back to the two book solution in the end. There may be some appeal in have the sequel pretty much done. I'll have to experiment with adding more description and see how that works. I worry I just suck at description, but not much I can do about that except work on it.

Where to split is an issue too. There are two natural split points. One is a major betrayal of the MC, but it isn't very conclusive. The other is with the victory of the villain, which actually reads fairly conclusive, but you know it really can't be. Trying to conclude on a minor victory would require grafting something into the story.


Connie Neil - May 18, 2010 9:11:51 am PDT #3387 of 6693
brillig

I worry I just suck at description, but not much I can do about that except work on it.

I worry about that too, because I see the picture so clearly, and I'm afraid of adding fluff. But when I read things a year or so later, it seems a little flat. With a good story, the picture builds in the reader's head, but a bit of help along the way is useful.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:19:22 am PDT #3388 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

My feedback on this is so divided. There are people who are happy with lean description, my wife is fairly strong on this and doesn't like a lot of details that end up at odds with the mental image she'd formed. Then there are others who want a lot of detail or they can't visual the scene and I've been told my stuff is a total fail in a couple of cases for lack of it. I know I'm not going to make everyone happy, but I'm having a hard time figuring out the right balance since I can see everything clearly no matter how much or little I put in.


Barb - May 18, 2010 9:24:52 am PDT #3389 of 6693
“Not dead yet!”

If you've got divided feedback that falls squarely at opposite ends of the spectrum, that's both maddening and a good thing. Maddening, because there's no one way to "fix" things, but good, because it's polarizing. Readers aren't indifferent, which is worse than a strong opinion one way or the other.

Ultimately, you've got to follow your gut instinct on this. WHAT is the book you'd like to read at the end of this? Because I'm sorry, in the end, you're writing primarily for yourself. If you start thinking about "audience" you're going to drive yourself mad with your inability to meet expectation, because there is absolutely no way to make every single reader happy. So you have to make yourself happy.

I'll step off my soapbox now.


Connie Neil - May 18, 2010 9:36:37 am PDT #3390 of 6693
brillig

It's a lovely soapbox.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:45:07 am PDT #3391 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

That's a good point.


Amy - May 18, 2010 9:46:08 am PDT #3392 of 6693
Because books.

It's really the only point that matters, Gud. It's your book. You have to be happy with what you created, and then let it stand or fall.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:58:10 am PDT #3393 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

Point taken. I think I'll have surer footing with the next book, having done one.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 10:18:31 am PDT #3394 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

Eh, I suppose if it's so long I don't think it'll even get a look, I'll split it at the natural spot. I'm not really expecting to sell the first piece of fiction I've written. It's more for the experience anyway.


Typo Boy - May 18, 2010 10:29:38 am PDT #3395 of 6693
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.

Yeah but never say never. As others have said, make it the book you want. The chances of a sale are small for everyone right now, but if it is as close to the book you want it to be as you can get it, your chances of a sale are better than if it is a book you screwed up to please others.