Comments on: Five More Mistakes of First-Time Authors (#26-30) http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/ How to write a graphic novel, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:19:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: esnipplee http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-69011 esnipplee Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:40:23 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-69011 26. i'll be careful 27. i dont use it 28. come on... i get it already... 29. if its a flashback, i'm telling it twice. once is earlier in the book. and i probobally won't flashback... ...now a flashback is looking more and more attractive. 30. i'll be careful. 26. i’ll be careful
27. i dont use it
28. come on… i get it already…
29. if its a flashback, i’m telling it twice. once is earlier in the book. and i probobally won’t flashback… …now a flashback is looking more and more attractive.
30. i’ll be careful.

]]> By: NewAgeZombi http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-43671 NewAgeZombi Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:20:12 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-43671 It seemed to work well to me. In addition, the flash-forward was more towards the middle of the book. Zusak refered to a phrase that was already being used frequently in the book to add a sense of belonging, the contents fit well with the POV and it still left you guessing about what happened. Flash-forward was used in a way that made you want to keep reading so you could find out what was really happening there. It seemed to work well to me. In addition, the flash-forward was more towards the middle of the book. Zusak refered to a phrase that was already being used frequently in the book to add a sense of belonging, the contents fit well with the POV and it still left you guessing about what happened. Flash-forward was used in a way that made you want to keep reading so you could find out what was really happening there.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-43590 B. Mac Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:39:04 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-43590 I'm pretty sure there was a flash-forward at the beginning of <i>The Bone People</i>, too. It was trippy as hell. Then again, TBP may have been subject to somewhat different publication standards because it was meant for high school classrooms rather than voluntary entertainment. (I gear my advice towards superhero stories, which are almost purely meant as entertainment rather than school assignments). <br /> Do you remember whether it worked well in <em>The Book Thief</em>? I'm always interested to see how authors manage to avoid (or not avoid) the common pitfalls of unusual approaches. I’m pretty sure there was a flash-forward at the beginning of The Bone People, too. It was trippy as hell. Then again, TBP may have been subject to somewhat different publication standards because it was meant for high school classrooms rather than voluntary entertainment. (I gear my advice towards superhero stories, which are almost purely meant as entertainment rather than school assignments).

Do you remember whether it worked well in The Book Thief? I’m always interested to see how authors manage to avoid (or not avoid) the common pitfalls of unusual approaches.

]]> By: NewAgeZombi http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-43588 NewAgeZombi Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:04:35 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-43588 Actually, the prologue occurs even earlier than the flashback. The prologue is in 2012 (yeeah... I'm playing on the apocalypse thing) and the flashback is in 2016, and the main story is later in the same year. So, it would actually be more out of order if I did it the way you just suggested. In addition, I've read enough to know that I should put a year at the beginning of a time-skip, or in this case, year and possibly month. Also, I hate to rain on your flash-forward parade, but I know of an author who managed it exceptionally. <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Zusak" rel="nofollow">Markus Zusak</a> wrote a best seller that included a flash-forward (maybe more than one, it's been a while since I've read it); <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_Thief" rel="nofollow">The Book Theif</a>. <b>However, this is not to say that anyone should attempt it! Listen to B. Mac, guys!</b> Actually, the prologue occurs even earlier than the flashback. The prologue is in 2012 (yeeah… I’m playing on the apocalypse thing) and the flashback is in 2016, and the main story is later in the same year. So, it would actually be more out of order if I did it the way you just suggested. In addition, I’ve read enough to know that I should put a year at the beginning of a time-skip, or in this case, year and possibly month.

Also, I hate to rain on your flash-forward parade, but I know of an author who managed it exceptionally. Markus Zusak wrote a best seller that included a flash-forward (maybe more than one, it’s been a while since I’ve read it); The Book Theif.

However, this is not to say that anyone should attempt it! Listen to B. Mac, guys!

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-43564 B. Mac Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:35:14 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-43564 One good way would be to make it the prologue. Let's say your book happens in 2009 and the flashback happens in 1985. <br /> If the chronology goes like this, I suspect that readers will feel disoriented. Prologue: 2009 Chapter 1: 1985 Chapter 2: 2009 <br /> It might be a bit smoother to use the prologue as the flashback because I think it will be easier for a reader to understand the passage of time. <br /> Either way, I would consider starting each chapter with the year if you feel that it would otherwise be difficult for a casual reader to keep track of what is happening when. (Yours might be the 25th manuscript the publisher's assistant is reading on Friday-- you can't count on anything more than a casual reading). One good way would be to make it the prologue. Let’s say your book happens in 2009 and the flashback happens in 1985.

If the chronology goes like this, I suspect that readers will feel disoriented.
Prologue: 2009
Chapter 1: 1985
Chapter 2: 2009

It might be a bit smoother to use the prologue as the flashback because I think it will be easier for a reader to understand the passage of time.

Either way, I would consider starting each chapter with the year if you feel that it would otherwise be difficult for a casual reader to keep track of what is happening when. (Yours might be the 25th manuscript the publisher’s assistant is reading on Friday– you can’t count on anything more than a casual reading).

]]> By: NewAgeZombi http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-43561 NewAgeZombi Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:21:56 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-43561 Relating to #29, there's a couple of things I'd like to know. First of all, when it comes to ways to avoid a flashback, is using the first chapter for the time the flashback would have consumed and then skipping some time advisable? I've seen it done, but I'm not sure how it would look to a publisher. I already have plans for a prologue, so it would be an actual chapter. Also, if I do end up using a flashback, what would be a good way to distinguish it from the normal timestream? Italics, perhaps? Relating to #29, there’s a couple of things I’d like to know. First of all, when it comes to ways to avoid a flashback, is using the first chapter for the time the flashback would have consumed and then skipping some time advisable? I’ve seen it done, but I’m not sure how it would look to a publisher. I already have plans for a prologue, so it would be an actual chapter. Also, if I do end up using a flashback, what would be a good way to distinguish it from the normal timestream? Italics, perhaps?

]]> By: notsohottopic http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/#comment-29597 notsohottopic Mon, 25 May 2009 05:01:09 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-29597 I actually disagree with 26. In Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, every chapter ended with a cliffhanger. Let's say, like this for example: Marty Stu: Holy buckets! I think I just solved the riddle! Mary Sue: Quick, Marty! What is the answer? Marty Stu: The answer is... And then the chapter ends, but the next chapter leads to a rather unsatisfying result. Which is why Robert Langdon *ahem* I mean Dan Brown needs to stop writing with the same formula for every single damn chapter. Also, a lot of those points are doable, if the author is experienced. Chuck Palanuik for 28., see Fight Club, and Ken Kesey for 27., One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Then again, the main character of OFOtCN is a paranoid schizo, it's kind of a given... So to add to 27., provide a character to explain certain ideas that you want to convey clearly to the reader the most basic sense. The narration style might throw people off instead of interest them, so allieviate the problem with said advice. I actually disagree with 26. In Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, every chapter ended with a cliffhanger. Let’s say, like this for example:

Marty Stu: Holy buckets! I think I just solved the riddle!

Mary Sue: Quick, Marty! What is the answer?

Marty Stu: The answer is…

And then the chapter ends, but the next chapter leads to a rather unsatisfying result. Which is why Robert Langdon *ahem* I mean Dan Brown needs to stop writing with the same formula for every single damn chapter.

Also, a lot of those points are doable, if the author is experienced. Chuck Palanuik for 28., see Fight Club, and Ken Kesey for 27., One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Then again, the main character of OFOtCN is a paranoid schizo, it’s kind of a given…

So to add to 27., provide a character to explain certain ideas that you want to convey clearly to the reader the most basic sense. The narration style might throw people off instead of interest them, so allieviate the problem with said advice.

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