Post: Reply | Quote

The lads are right. Just work through until there's a definite change in point of view or setting - then break chapter. BUT...chapter breaks must also be used wisely for tension and pace. Leaving on a cliffhanger and moving to a new place and person packs a wallop. Don't forget you can add a new scene without moving to a new chapter by just adding in some asterisks and that will create a leap from one scene to another, although this works best if they link or somehow throw back to one another. I use this quite a lot. Good luck.

Post: Reply | Quote

You can change POV and setting with that asterisk break but if you move your reader around too much within a chapter then you might run the risk of irritation. I am amazed at how many people follow the maps in the front. Woe betide you get something wrong by the way. Be warned! And if you are taking the reader to various points in your world in one chapter you'll break some people's concentration (and enjoyment) if they keep leaping back to the map to check up where our heroes are now. By all means change setting within chapter but it must be very smooth and those stars help. POV is more tricky. Again smoothness is fundamental to its success in changing it and there must be a link or natural break so the reader knows it's a new person's thought or voice. If like me you tend not to put a lot of Tor said or Alyssa said after dialogue then it's imperative as the writer you make it clear who is now talking.

Hope this helps?

Post: Reply | Quote

Hmm, I had it originally split up geographically, which necessitated a change of pov and setting... okay, am going back through it again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Language is the source of misunderstandings.”
- The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Asteroid B-612

Post: Reply | Quote

The myth about men and maps is not entirely true, I have found. Some men are really good at reading them and use them all the time, and some aren't and don't. On the other hand, I have never found a woman who can't read a map. So that myth is complete falacy.

Hmm, I think I haven't fallen into the trap of confussing readers about where the characters are. At each geographical change, I have a little heading stating country and city/general region. And yes, I have doodled up a map. It was mainly for me, so I could work out distances and travelling time and things like that.

I haven't used * * *, just a missed line. You think the * * * is better??

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Language is the source of misunderstandings.”
- The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Asteroid B-612

Post: Reply | Quote

Hey Fiona,

think maps are a guy thing.......it is the only thing we are really good at......

Post: Reply | Quote

Yes, use the ***** because your editor will appreciate it and then it's very clear that you are making a change to wherever the reader happens to be at the time.

Very good that you already have the map in place. I look at mine more now than I ever did in the early part of this tale. I think it's because I now realise how many people enjoy them and follow them. In fact editor and I make constant notes to remind each other to remember to put certain towns and villages onto the next print run.

I'm off to bed. Talk again soon. F

Post: Reply | Quote

Discovered a funny thing tonight. In another fit of excitment, I put all the little headers in, such as name and book title, in preparation for that final printing in order to 'send it off', and on an impulse, I thought to make it double spaced as well. Silly me. Good old Microsoft Works Word Processor can't do that. Transfered it over to Word and what do you know? I can get it double spaced. Along with the grammer thingy, I think Word has finally won me over.

Going to * * * now... or maybe in the morning. Bed does sound good about now.

Hmm, while I think about... been meaning to ask for a while now, but who writes the back cover blurb on the book? You or someone at the publishing co.?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Language is the source of misunderstandings.”
- The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Asteroid B-612

Post: Reply | Quote

It's a team effort. If you get an editor like mine who works very much in partnership (most do), then he/she will probably ask you to sketch up something as you know your story better than anyone. Mind you, horses for courses. Some authors are just hopeless at brevity and encapsulating the key "hits" for the book. The editor and marketing team will take over if they feel your suggested copy is waffly.

Take a leaf out of the one liners for movies -- in a few words the promoters seem to grab you. That's what you're striving for.

Remember Ab, when you send it off don't be wordy. A punchy, straightforward letter, telling whoever the recipient is who you are, exactly what you are sending and in one sentence even why you think it suits the genre.

Attach CONSECUTIVE chapter samples together with a very brief synopsis of book one and an even briefer overview of subsequent books.

Copy should be double spaced with wide columns and each page numbered in case they're dropped!
I always put the title, author, phone number on top right of each sheet in a header - this is helpful and good practice to get into.

It's good to send in a box with a top so as each leaf is read, it can be placed face down in the lid...if you get my drift. Anything to make it easier to make a decision!~

Contact details obviously essential.

Good luck!

Post: Reply | Quote

word is good.
and good question, i too would like to know.

ASTEROID B-612 AIM: LCHAOS1 Lisahy #16 - 9th Mar 2002 00:13:00 Member Total Posts: 223 Last Online: 19th Apr 2004 16:34:00 Registered: 14th May 2004 00:00:00 Send Message? Post: Reply | Quote Well, book one is all converted to Word, chapterised, headed, footed, numbered and doubleline spaced. All I need now is to print it (printer cartridge refill place here I come...) and then beg, borrow, steel the money from somewhere to get it sent off... I want to send the whole thing to edit or die, so will have to consult with them about price and stuff first. And 600 odd pages of ms is going to weigh a bit, so that means finding out postage prices as well... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed." The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Asteroid B-612 Fionamcintosh #17 - 10th Mar 2002 21:05:00 Forum Moderator Total Posts: 903 Last Online: 1st Jun 2004 21:40:00 Registered: 14th May 2004 00:00:00 Send Message? Post: Reply | Quote Lots of luck. Tell us when you've sent it! I remember when I first sent it off to the publisher I wouldn't let go of the box and Mr Postman pulled and I pulled and then we had a stand-off for a few moments. I was terrified to let it casually be tossed into the departures box. Edit or Die a great idea. She will be a terrific help (fingers crossed) and set you on the path to success. Thinking of you! F Lisahy #18 - 11th Mar 2002 21:22:00 Member Total Posts: 223 Last Online: 19th Apr 2004 16:34:00 Registered: 14th May 2004 00:00:00 Send Message? Post: Reply | Quote heheh, the visions that my mind conjured up with you and this portly little postman tussling over a parcel... hehe... Thanks for the support!! I have yet to gather the required funds, but when I do, it will be off before I have a chance to change my mind about the whole thing.... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed." The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Asteroid B-612 Lisahy #19 - 15th Apr 2002 23:36:00 Member Total Posts: 223 Last Online: 19th Apr 2004 16:34:00 Registered: 14th May 2004 00:00:00 Send Message? Post: Reply | Quote Well.... I didn't exactly have a tussel with the post person, a nice lady who did all she could to help me sort out postage and money orders and packing and all sorts of stuff. By the time it was all ready, I nearly threw the thing at her, and at 3.6 kgs in weight, she probably woulda gone down like a sack of spuds (she was only small). So, it's off. Should get there end of this week. Now it's five weeks of nail bitting, gut twisting anxiety.... Handing it over was easy, two hours later, at home, thinking about it all, I was nearly ready to go break into the post office and steal it back. In fact, I'm off to the post office right now. Anyone got a lock pick? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed." The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Asteroid B-612 Page 1 of 1. Subscribe to Category | Subscribe to Forum | Subscribe to Topic | Reply to Topic xHTML CSS WAI 508 Top