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 This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
| Answering Questions Schnujo's Doing Homework asked me a heap of questions. I am going to answer the easy ones or previously answered ones here, and use the rest in upcoming columns. 1) Good 1st lines/ Good 1st pages This is so subjective as to be insane. What one editor/ publisher/ reader likes, another will hate. For example, I have been told to never start with dialogue; I’ve sold more than a dozen that start just that way. But one thing that you should never do is start with an info-dump of world-building or personal description. However, I’ve covered it here: "20240612 Starting A Story"  2. Good endings Covered here: "20240618 Endings" 3. Writing unlikeable protagonists we still want to read about Not 100% sure if I did this properly, but protagonists are covered: "20241208 Protagonist and Antagonist" I have to say, I have not come across this much in literature, except where the villain is the protagonist. Artemis Fowl (in the books) is the only great example where this is done deliberately. 4. The difference between alpha and beta readers and why we probably want both (at least for self-publishing -- maybe traditional doesn't) I cover readers here: "20240522 Readers" However, the tl;dr is: alpha readers are not necessary, in my opinion, for any writer. But beta readers are vital for all writers. 5. Writing what readers want to read, not just what you want to write How long is a piece of string? This is sort of like bandwagon jumping, and today’s flavour of the month will be tomorrow’s cringe. I always say write what you want to write. You are the first reader, after all. Don’t write to a market is my advice. 6. Book marketing on the cheap No idea. I publish traditionally – my publishers market for me. But I will say this: nowadays, social media is only selling to friends and people who know you, and whereas in the late 2000s through to the pandemic, socials really helped, now it is not making perceivable differences. I have no idea, in other words. 7. Know your audience Covered here: "20241014 Know Your Audience" So, thanks, Schnujo's Doing Homework, and the other 2 things you asked for will be upcoming topics of their own! If anyone else has things they want me to look at, drop a line in the comments or Newsfeed or in an email! |
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