tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post4051065188697546638..comments2023-04-06T04:37:39.726-04:00Comments on Wicked Writers: Death and SexUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-82072983611488532902010-03-22T03:27:58.000-04:002010-03-22T03:27:58.000-04:00Great idea with the index cards. I don't usua...Great idea with the index cards. I don't usually like stories with too many points of view, but I am enjoying yours immensely. I can't imagine anyone picking up your book and putting it down. <br><br>Have fun getting the "accents" right! You can do it. I have confidence in you.helena gardellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-7388089721778629192010-03-22T03:56:18.000-04:002010-03-22T03:56:18.000-04:00Thanks, Helena! You rock, chiquita! I've had g...Thanks, Helena! You rock, chiquita! I've had good feedback from the 45-65 people who've read the opening. The hardest people to please so far have been Supriya and my husband. <br><br>Both want more "omph" in the first chapter to draw the reader in. It's harder than I thought to trickle the first book's pertinent info in while setting the stage for the second book and make the plot instantly engaging. Prologue, no prologue, dream sequence, flash back or immediate dead body?<br><br>I went with a short two-paragraph, type of flashback to Vivian's past--but of course I may wind up re-working that chapter a dozen more times 'til I can get it to sing like the first one in <i>Vampire Vacation</i>.<br><br>Thanks for coming along on the journey with me, Helena. It's having readers like you, who give me their opinions, that really make the difference in the final product.C.J. Ellissonhttp://www.cjellisson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-43718451860311661402010-03-22T10:13:36.000-04:002010-03-22T10:13:36.000-04:00I don't know, C.J., sometimes it feels like ps...I don't know, C.J., sometimes it feels like psychic brain surgery.W. J. Howardhttp://www.wjhoward.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-53413499723725463422010-03-22T10:17:26.000-04:002010-03-22T10:17:26.000-04:00Index cards ROCK! It's how I plan my entire d...Index cards ROCK! It's how I plan my entire day. Or maybe you could use Anne Rice's method and write on your ideas and plans on the walls.W. J. Howardhttp://www.wjhoward.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-88125354194425725502010-03-22T10:40:36.000-04:002010-03-22T10:40:36.000-04:00I'm thinking you're doing a great job of i...I'm thinking you're doing a great job of it so far. I was thinking each chapter from a different point of view would have a lot of repetition in it, but I like that you're moving the story forward rather than showing the same scene from each person's POV. And I think the index card thing is necessary, with all the people you have coming and going (or will have), you will need to be consistent through the books with the ones that are constants... You don't want someone who is a "regular" to have a different color eyes in book one than they have in book two. <br>I enjoy these blogs though I don't always comment on them, it's nice getting to know the type of talent that exists in this world!Michellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-84997458254842474012010-03-22T10:47:09.000-04:002010-03-22T10:47:09.000-04:00Thanks Michelle, appreciate the comment! And sinc...Thanks Michelle, appreciate the comment! And since you're one of my beta readers I'm glad to see the POVs are working so far ;-)<br><br>I used to laugh when an author changed the age of a heroine from book two to three or someone's eye color. I'd think, "Come on, how do you not know when you <i>wrote</i> it?" Now I know it's just too many facts to keep straight!C.J. Ellissonhttp://www.cjellisson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-51454600005156597492010-03-22T10:48:51.000-04:002010-03-22T10:48:51.000-04:00She wrote on her walls? Yikes. If you knew the a...She wrote on her walls? Yikes. If you knew the amount of hours I've put into my house you know I'd probably have a fit and start searching for my Mr.Clean magic eraser!C.J. Ellissonhttp://www.cjellisson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-80815007143253986802010-03-22T17:02:27.000-04:002010-03-22T17:02:27.000-04:00I'm sure you can do it CJ. I have multiple POV...I'm sure you can do it CJ. I have multiple POV's in my novel too, but I write in the past tense. It's easier for me that way - so I applaud you writing in the present tense! I tried it once and it did not come out pretty! Keep up the great work!Harley D. Palmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-6686872731877880242010-03-23T04:53:20.000-04:002010-03-23T04:53:20.000-04:00The index card profiling each character is a great...The index card profiling each character is a great idea. I wrote all the characters names on the inside front cover of VV Inn. I was having a hard time remembering who belonged to who and who was a vampire etc. I can't even imagine writing about dozens of different charaters.<br>I love this blog and the diverse opinions of each of you Wicked Writers. I do read it everyday and will try and comment more.Barbara Ellisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-87939847810900236222010-03-23T05:10:50.000-04:002010-03-23T05:10:50.000-04:00I had no idea you did that with the names, wow! I...I had no idea you did that with the names, wow! I'm planning a glossary of terms and characters for the book when it comes out in print... and a map, a contributor page, an acknowledgement page, a dedication page, a "teaser" page (you know the type in the very front of the book to give the reader a taste), and at the end an excerpted chapter of <i>The Hunt. </i><br><br>Hey, was it one of your relatives, Debbie Ellison, that wrote to me on the fanpage the other day and said they were writing a book? If yes, then please tell her I wish her the best! She should stop by here and say hello when she gets a chance. We're always open to helping out new writers (and you never know, she may get a tip that saves her some time down the line).<br><br>Thanks again Barbara, it's always good to see you!C.J. Ellissonhttp://www.cjellisson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-77822526440063484852010-03-23T05:12:55.000-04:002010-03-23T05:12:55.000-04:00I could say the same about when I wrote in past te...I could say the same about when I wrote in past tense! It took me a while to get all my passives out and it was only a 500 word flash fiction piece. I was debating on making the fourth book in the series, the one where I tell Viv and Rafe's past, to be past tense. Hopefully by then I'll have learned enough to pull it off. ;-)C.J. Ellissonhttp://www.cjellisson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8198581514056172349.post-30566889862790955652010-03-26T06:46:52.000-04:002010-03-26T06:46:52.000-04:00[...] C. J. Ellison, Death and Sex [...][...] C. J. Ellison, Death and Sex [...]The Headaches Caused by Those Darn Serial Novels « By W. J. Howardhttp://wjhoward.com/2010/03/26/the-headaches-caused-by-those-darn-serial-novels/noreply@blogger.com