Post AaVxBfdD71LZSlj6m0 by erwintheauthor@www.minds.com
(DIR) More posts by erwintheauthor@www.minds.com
(DIR) Post #AaShiECpv1K5Di0suu by marquesedliddle@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T13:51:12+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
It depends on the reader.An agent or editor will put your manuscript down on the first sentence if he or she doesn't like it (granted, they have to read a ton of work, so it is somewhat understandable).A fellow author might push for quite a while (relatively speaking) if the prose is well constructed. He or she might read several pages or more before deciding to stop. If the writing is bad, though, the author might be even quicker to put the work down than an average reader.Dedicated readers seem to have the most patience. I've heard readers say they read most of a book or even multiple books in a series before giving up on it. Given that, I think the majority of readers will read at least three or four chapters before deciding a book isn't worth it.I try to hook readers with the narrative voice of a story. The first sentences or even paragraphs of most of my works are thick with the narrator's perspective. I'll give examples from Wand Smoke: Tales from the Labyrinth.King: "The name’s Leroy—the sixteenth according to my Pops, though here in the city, we don’t put no stock in dead people."Wizard's Tower: "I ain’t understand why it’s got to be me looks after Alec like I were his mother."Tears of Winter: "Alright you troglodyte! If that’s what you want, I’ll tell you the tale. But you had better listen closely, or as my father, King Gøtrik, once told me, “Hark, Ogier! For it would be a dishonor to our family’s legacy should I need repeat myself.”"
(DIR) Post #AaSmV6CYrpcsOvRYsi by synthnostate@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T14:52:31+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
Depends how bored they are and what else they could be doing. Personally, these days I do most of my reading late nights, when sick, or when I just need a break from online stuff. I don't go as far as I used to unless I'm reading a real page-turner. Many novels are better as sedatives than entertainment.I try to start off with an action sequence that sets the stage, then keep the reader wondering what happens next. If they stop caring what comes next, you lose them. I don't write novels but it's the same with video games.
(DIR) Post #AaSpSXWf7ULI8hJhgG by NSonic79@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T15:14:31+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
For me I’d believe readers would stop between the character introductions/plot setting just before the MC explores on his own in the desert caverns but not before he finds/falls into the TDS displacement. For a hook some actual action than just dialogue.
(DIR) Post #AaT4CQ0Wnsc3V73bc0 by antonyobeara@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T15:48:36+00:00
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Probably the length of the sample. Since I write erotica, I put a sex scene early enough in the work so that the samples would include it.
(DIR) Post #AaT4DQOQr6ZazCiZTk by NSonic79@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T15:13:34+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
For me I’d believe readers would stop between the character introductions/plot setting just before the MC explores on his own in the desert caverns but not before he finds/falls into the TDS displacement. For a hook some actual action than just dialogue.
(DIR) Post #AaT4DW8LVpGqn3EoEq by asihart@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T17:21:55+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
Sounds like you're planning to write for Astounding, in the distant past.
(DIR) Post #AaT4MCDavV8hd7pb72 by asihart@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T17:19:08+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
Me, it depends.When reading the sludge pile I've learned that certain things do not improve after the first paragraph.So: the first paragraph needs not be "grabbing," but it needs to be *coherent.*Usually I DNF a few chapters in. Out of sheer boredom.I know a few people DNFd the first book of "Happy Kitten" about half way through because it was bloody disturbing.
(DIR) Post #AaT4MYJMmipQ9OhWAC by scribbles_n_bits@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T16:22:36+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
I guess I'll soon find out! I think I tend to flatline the tone of my stories, so I try to find pick up the action. Keeping tension is a problem for me.
(DIR) Post #AaT4MZ4rw6pGWivSCm by asihart@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T17:19:30+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
When in doubt, add ninjas.
(DIR) Post #AaT9EdQMOJrnSh13nk by lordjestocost@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T18:52:21+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
I slogged my way through all of "Sylvie and Bruno," so I'm not a good judge.It's something I need to think about more. I tend to take a while to set the scene and introduce characters. For example, the only feedback I got from publishers on a short story about Orson Welles was that the speculative fiction was introduces too late in the story. Admittedly, I could probably chop out a lot about Welles getting out of a cab and going up to his apartment, but the character's actions and thoughts correlate to situations in the real Welles' life. People *really* into Orson Welles would appreciate that, but to everybody else they just drag the story down.I read a lot of old science fiction as a kid. In "Journey to the Center of the Earth", they don't get underground until about 1/3 or 1/2 way into the book. I don't see anything wrong with that kind of pacing, but it's definitely out of fashion.
(DIR) Post #AaTbXZajf8mrnGgi24 by JosephWiess@www.minds.com
2023-10-05T23:50:18+00:00
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I think the characters make the story. If the characters are believable, then it makes the story more interesting.For instance, in my novella, the characters are old friends, and it shows.Marcus nodded, “What's the last thing you remember?”Rhyslin tilted his head slightly to the left. “Interrogating the Ogren.” He paused, his brows furrowing as he dug into his memory. “I remember trying to let go of the power and how hard it was to do so, and then nothing until I woke up.” He drew in a deep breath. “What happened?” “Mathair Astinmah showed up,” Marcus stated.“She did? When?” Rhyslin shivered as a tingle shot down his spine. He felt confined despite the size of the room.Marcus saw the suspicion in his friend's eyes and sympathized with him. "Mathair Coille showed up midway through the interrogation," he explained how the goddess had taken over the oldest Dryad and matured her.When he described her new appearance, Rhyslin sighed. “Poor Keisha, I hope she'll be okay.”Marcus shrugged, then decided to tell Rhyslin the rest. "I think that's the least of your problems." When the draoidh arched a brow, the ranger continued, "For the last three days, Mathair Astinmah, Mayana, Lilly Ann, and Analise have been sequestered away, working on something."As each woman was named, Rhyslin's heart rate increased. When the two taghta were mentioned, Rhyslin sighed softly. “Why do I feel like a condemned man?”Marcus grunted, "Because you are a clever man, and having fo...
(DIR) Post #AaVwqyJKT46jJZYc9w by erwintheauthor@www.minds.com
2023-10-06T20:55:22+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
I know what sparked this lol The reader is inclined to continue from two factors: charity and investment. Their reading is initiated by interest, which is caused by knowledge of what is to be seen and a "taste test" of what is there. Sniff, taste, touch, whatever you want to compare it to, we examine a tiny bit the same as a dog sniffs possible food. The depth we will test is based on our charity and investment. This is why the first half of a book is important to incline the reader into venturing forward, because the amount of investment is low. Charity could also be split into faith and reason. They can have faith it gets better, see reason for it to have a logical conclusion, things like that.
(DIR) Post #AaVxBfdD71LZSlj6m0 by erwintheauthor@www.minds.com
2023-10-06T20:59:41+00:00
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To hook a reader: tension is used to cause intrigue, which fuels reason and charity to venture forth. But then it is needed to lead the crumb trail to an actual prize, which is considered a genre or plot specific point. Combined is better. Think of it like being led to a pie from the smell, like in a cartoon. The reader is floating, unable to control themselves, the intrigue is overwhelming, and then they reach the pie. If they reach something that's not a pie, but is still edible, it becomes a dice roll to if they will accept it as reasonable. Lack of reasoning means lack of dedication to venture forth.
(DIR) Post #AaVxC5prgauyjXqa6i by palmettohorse@www.minds.com
2023-10-06T21:45:30+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
Usually within a paragraph or a page, depending on the reader. Some readers are really charitable and read the whole first chapter to make their decision. For me, I try to make the opening paragraph interesting because it is the most important paragraph in the story. If that opening is not impressive, then readers will have a hard time sticking to the story.Examples:*) Vigilance: Trixie is on the back of an old truck, directionless and homeless*) Bon Voyage: Ethan is on a bus, heading to space to escape Oros despite hating space*) Aarde: Emphasizes Holden's commitment to his job with Division 4. Also the start of a raid*) The City of Clouds: World building about Cepheus City and Andromeda, gradually introduces Robin (paragraph 5)Character openings generally do better than world building, admittedly, but I love world building, and I'm hoping TCOC opening works well enough for the reader.
(DIR) Post #AaVxCXPx8WpOHHwHbc by palmettohorse@www.minds.com
2023-10-06T21:34:10+00:00
1 likes, 0 repeats
This is very true, I stopped reading the vast majority of stories on Royal Road because their openings were uninteresting. And while I do want to support independent authors, I've been browsing the Amazon previews of the books because I got tired of buying books that I did not enjoy. Being an indie writer shouldn't be a free pass to write shoddy work.