tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post276709986355390918..comments2024-03-14T06:59:04.585-07:00Comments on View from the Cottage: What keeps you reading a book?Judy Alterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05147106159914535549noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-5605554570954761522014-06-12T14:05:08.268-07:002014-06-12T14:05:08.268-07:00I totally agree about a strong female heroine; I s...I totally agree about a strong female heroine; I stopped reading a popular author because her central figure was too winey and needy; I don't want women to think that this is the norm; she is supposed to be a heroine and I did not see her portrayed as one. Fernehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03497860085844550353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-30815756270074647382014-06-12T10:37:41.687-07:002014-06-12T10:37:41.687-07:00Great comments, everyone. I'm glad to have str...Great comments, everyone. I'm glad to have struck a chord. And yes, Leslie, every single word choice is important.<br />The adverb thing makes (I almost said "really makes") a huge difference. I discovered that using a lot of modifiers is a sign of lazy writing. Finding the right word makes the writing stronger. Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-74654745391632547782014-06-12T07:55:46.251-07:002014-06-12T07:55:46.251-07:00I had a similar experience with my unpubbed mss. a...I had a similar experience with my unpubbed mss. and the first draft of Death al Dente. I suspect that some of the choices we make thinking we're making our protags sympathetic and likable are the ones that actually make them look wishy-washy. Even simple verb choices make a difference. Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-20618797040297962432014-06-12T07:37:55.502-07:002014-06-12T07:37:55.502-07:00In short, what I think makes a good book is confli...In short, what I think makes a good book is conflict. Not necessarily fighting but conslict between characters and internal conflict and how the characters will resolve those conflicts is what keep the readers turning the pages.<br /><br />For example, in my best selling novel, The Nano Experiment, the book opens with the protagonist being responisble for her sisters' deaths. That is the torment throughout the book and if she will every be able to come to terms with that.<br /><br />As to a strong character, I have to agree. Here is a blurb on one of the 67 reviews comments on The Nano Experiment:<br />“A Strong Female Protagonist”<br /><br />As far as characters being likeable, I had one reviewer of my novel, Silk Legacy, say they didn't like the protagonist but understood his motives.<br /><br />Richard Brawer<br />www.silklegacy.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-49036649836632129752014-06-12T04:39:48.458-07:002014-06-12T04:39:48.458-07:00Good advice, Sheila. I'll have to take another...Good advice, Sheila. I'll have to take another look at my WIP heroine. She's running from danger, which I see as smart, but I'll have to make sure she doesn't appear weak in doing so.<br />Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-76492437350796262132014-06-11T21:16:31.986-07:002014-06-11T21:16:31.986-07:00So good to have this reminder, Sheila. Thanks!So good to have this reminder, Sheila. Thanks!June Shawhttp://www.juneshaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-91329854709547469892014-06-11T16:36:53.684-07:002014-06-11T16:36:53.684-07:00Observations that make me think, Sheila. Observations that make me think, Sheila. Mar Prestonhttp://marpreston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-78174964458473461352014-06-11T16:14:10.486-07:002014-06-11T16:14:10.486-07:00I actually enjoy the multi-points of view in Inksl...I actually enjoy the multi-points of view in Inkslingers Ball. As I said in my review, reading Detective Jovanic's POV makes the book almost a police procedural (minus all the boring stuff). In this book, I also can't imagine not hearing from Annabelle herself. She's so important to the plot. (Sheila is very good at "getting" the teenage personae too.) And Claudia's POV makes the perfect trio. I love hearing about how handwriting analysis works in general, and in this case, to help solve murders. Do it again, Sheila!Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-18733027081683889572014-06-11T14:56:40.461-07:002014-06-11T14:56:40.461-07:00Judy, the BNW book I was referring to was a police...Judy, the BNW book I was referring to was a police procedural, definitely not a cozy, and the protagonist had a responsible job as a detective. <br /><br />Terry, I, too, had several men in law enforcement vet my ms to make sure I'd got the male detective right. It's an ongoing challenge!Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-56954210490923756832014-06-11T11:35:21.324-07:002014-06-11T11:35:21.324-07:00I write a male protagonist, an ex chief of police,...I write a male protagonist, an ex chief of police, and I always pass the ms by one of my male writing buddies because he catches me if my guy wimps out. Being a woman, I think it's harder to make a protagonist--man or woman--forge ahead. Sometimes I think writers make the mistake of sending a woman protagonist into unsafe situations so as to make her look "tough." Instead, doing makes her look stupid. Being tough AND smart is the trick. Terry Shameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202071611825887999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30975557.post-40695873617287272522014-06-11T10:58:21.585-07:002014-06-11T10:58:21.585-07:00Sheila, thanks for being here today. Your comment ...Sheila, thanks for being here today. Your comment about weak heroines hits home because reading cozies often makes me so frustrated that I too want to yell at female protagonists who keep shooting themselves in the foot, particularly in matters of the heart. Yet I've been guilty of it myself. Thanks for the insight.judyalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767466505891813090noreply@blogger.com