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 superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Wings http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-165699 Wings Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:13:12 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-165699 It's a dream which clarifies a plot point or is used to show future events (or present events in the case of multiple plotlines). Like a prophecy, but even more annoying. For instance, Bella Swan in Twilight has numerous symbolic dreams, to the point where she never has to find anything out on her own because the dreams spell out everything (ex: dreamed Jacob was a werewolf...in Twilight, before the werewolves even entered the story). It's a cheap foreshadowing substitute. Should be avoided. - Wings It’s a dream which clarifies a plot point or is used to show future events (or present events in the case of multiple plotlines). Like a prophecy, but even more annoying. For instance, Bella Swan in Twilight has numerous symbolic dreams, to the point where she never has to find anything out on her own because the dreams spell out everything (ex: dreamed Jacob was a werewolf…in Twilight, before the werewolves even entered the story). It’s a cheap foreshadowing substitute. Should be avoided.

- Wings

]]> By: Dreamer http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-165581 Dreamer Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:34:27 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-165581 What's a symbolic dream? What’s a symbolic dream?

]]> By: Wings http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-165314 Wings Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:39:09 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-165314 Amnesiac dreaming about their past, you mean? That could be difficult. It's a bit of a copout in fiction - means there's nothing to discover, and for less competent authors it's merely a way to say things outright instead of weaving them in properly. These kinds of dreams are often unreasonably lucid too - though I guess it could work if it was appropriately garbled, as dreams often are, with only a few bits of clarity. I mean, when was the last time anyone had a dream that they remembered completely when they woke up? It happens, yes, but 90% of the time people forget their dreams. Effectively, you're attempting to blend a flashback with a symbolic dream, and it's probably not going to work out - neither are good on their own, and mixing them won't change that. In short, I'd advise against it. - Wings Amnesiac dreaming about their past, you mean?

That could be difficult. It’s a bit of a copout in fiction – means there’s nothing to discover, and for less competent authors it’s merely a way to say things outright instead of weaving them in properly. These kinds of dreams are often unreasonably lucid too – though I guess it could work if it was appropriately garbled, as dreams often are, with only a few bits of clarity. I mean, when was the last time anyone had a dream that they remembered completely when they woke up? It happens, yes, but 90% of the time people forget their dreams.

Effectively, you’re attempting to blend a flashback with a symbolic dream, and it’s probably not going to work out – neither are good on their own, and mixing them won’t change that. In short, I’d advise against it.

- Wings

]]> By: Dreamer http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-165296 Dreamer Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:40:18 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-165296 Does the rule about flashbacks also pertain to dreams? and what if the dream really is a flashback, but the character doesn't know it because she had her memories altered? Does the rule about flashbacks also pertain to dreams? and what if the dream really is a flashback, but the character doesn’t know it because she had her memories altered?

]]> By: Nicholas Case http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-109030 Nicholas Case Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:35:50 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-109030 Wait a sec, I wanna test something. I hope it worked! Wait a sec, I wanna test something.

I hope it worked!

]]> By: Awale http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-96224 Awale Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:00:44 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-96224 Thanks, this was helpful! Thanks, this was helpful!

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-96207 B. Mac Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:02:24 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-96207 Hello, Chihuahua! <br /> There have been a few superhero novels that have started with the superhero in the middle of his superpowered life, and then circled back to describe the origin story (either as a flashback or recounting it in the "now" of the story). <br /> One minor tradeoff with starting with the character as a superhero and then moving backwards to cover the origin is that I think it tends to downplay the origin and what the character was like before he got superpowers. That isn't necessarily a problem, but if you were thinking about spending 50 pages covering what happens before the character develops his powers, a flashback might not do it justice. Hello, Chihuahua!

There have been a few superhero novels that have started with the superhero in the middle of his superpowered life, and then circled back to describe the origin story (either as a flashback or recounting it in the “now” of the story).

One minor tradeoff with starting with the character as a superhero and then moving backwards to cover the origin is that I think it tends to downplay the origin and what the character was like before he got superpowers. That isn’t necessarily a problem, but if you were thinking about spending 50 pages covering what happens before the character develops his powers, a flashback might not do it justice.

]]> By: Chihuahua0 http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-96108 Chihuahua0 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:59:42 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-96108 First time here. I realized I don't need to join to post comments. About Number 29, what happens if I want to write both the origin story and the superhero in action at the same time, but going back and forth? I want to start in media res, and I don't want to bore the reader with fifty pages of origin and agnst before we even see the hero in action. Sometimes going out of order is better for the story for the sake of pace and excitment. First time here. I realized I don’t need to join to post comments.

About Number 29, what happens if I want to write both the origin story and the superhero in action at the same time, but going back and forth? I want to start in media res, and I don’t want to bore the reader with fifty pages of origin and agnst before we even see the hero in action. Sometimes going out of order is better for the story for the sake of pace and excitment.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-94746 B. Mac Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:32:01 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-94746 I'm sorry, but the ban is still active, <del datetime="2010-12-14T23:08:05+00:00">Daniel</del> James... Good luck finding elsewhere the writing advice you're looking for. (Not just because, well, you're banned here, but also because I specialize in a different niche than you're looking for). I’m sorry, but the ban is still active, Daniel James… Good luck finding elsewhere the writing advice you’re looking for. (Not just because, well, you’re banned here, but also because I specialize in a different niche than you’re looking for).

]]> By: James (Daniel) http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#comment-94711 James (Daniel) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:35:58 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=915#comment-94711 [deleted] [deleted]

]]> By: esnipplee http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/10/five-more-mistakes-of-first-time-authors-26-30/comment-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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).

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