tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post113771483484655477..comments2023-12-28T17:22:20.888+00:00Comments on Wenlock: Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816256676376213859noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1138444336629081892006-01-28T10:32:00.000+00:002006-01-28T10:32:00.000+00:00Sorry to chime in late here Stephn, but that all ...Sorry to chime in late here Stephn, but that all sounds fantastically encouraging and energising. Brilliant job, you, and good luck with the revisions.Julie Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548233186449498920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137882237185909642006-01-21T22:23:00.000+00:002006-01-21T22:23:00.000+00:00Congrats, Stephen, that sounds like you've got an ...Congrats, Stephen, that sounds like you've got an agent.<BR/>And one that shares your vision of your book. I just thought about that sort of problem when I read Miss Snark's post about "like the style but hate the story." I'm sure a good agent/editor can help me to improve my books, but what if (s)he wants to <I>change</I> it beyond the point where it's still <I>my</I> story. I think I'll not sign in that case. You escaped that fate, at least. Good luck with the revision.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137849656375057562006-01-21T13:20:00.000+00:002006-01-21T13:20:00.000+00:00Congratulations, Stephen, and isn't it a grand fee...Congratulations, Stephen, and isn't it a grand feeling to have discussed your book with someone professional who cares, someone who helps you move forward with it! Everyone has to do revisions, I know you'll enjoy it when you get stuck in.Saskia Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02487645520140379667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137827293164984682006-01-21T07:08:00.000+00:002006-01-21T07:08:00.000+00:00This looks encouraging, Stephen. I agree with the ...This looks encouraging, Stephen. I agree with the others. I doubt she would have invested the time and effort if she didn't think your book had great potential to make money for her.<BR/><BR/>As for the three year comment . . . I'll reach the three year mark in April ;o)Douglas Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17554788570160506080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137788176712485662006-01-20T20:16:00.000+00:002006-01-20T20:16:00.000+00:00If the book gets going at about page 20, why not s...If the book gets going at about page 20, why not start it on P20? Then just thread any important stuff from the first 19 pages in later. You'll be surprised how well this works.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Everyone has a different style, obviously, but you can fill people in on the political situation very briefly, without slowing the pace, if you use dialogue. You can't have two or three people telling each other things they already know, but there are always new developments in a war, and a brief discussion of them can be used to fill in the background.<BR/><BR/>eg<BR/><BR/>X, Y and Z are at their club / one of their houses, doing whatever they do in your book.<BR/><BR/>Y threw the newspaper down/ looked up from the letter that had just arrived/ walked in from the stables looking grim.<BR/><BR/>'Not more bad news?' asked X.<BR/><BR/>'It can't be worse than our defeat at the battle of XXX,' said Z.<BR/><BR/>'Can't it?' said Y. 'We've lost another fifteen hundred men.'<BR/><BR/>OR<BR/><BR/>After-dinner conversation can be useful, when the men sit over the brandy. The hero can be doing whatever he does, and a minor character can say, 'What do you think about this new turn in the war, X?'<BR/><BR/>X thought of the recent mess (say what it is, briefly) and replied (depending on what he wants to give away):<BR/><BR/>'It isn't a problem. The war'll be over in a few months.'<BR/><BR/>or <BR/><BR/>'I think Wellesley's got a long road ahead of him.'<BR/><BR/>Remember, you don't need to give readers every detail, just give them the big picture. Then, in another throw-away conversation in the next section / chapter, you can put in 3 or 4 lines about the war, which give a bit more detailed information.<BR/><BR/>Alternatively, the elephant could spell out the political situation using macaroni. I've used this a few times in my own books, but I don't mind if you nick the device ;))Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137786062266460812006-01-20T19:41:00.000+00:002006-01-20T19:41:00.000+00:00It sounds very positive. Good luck!It sounds very positive. Good luck!Nell Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16346808072962615721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137780019362528692006-01-20T18:00:00.000+00:002006-01-20T18:00:00.000+00:00Congratulations - I'm really looking forward to re...Congratulations - I'm really looking forward to reading the first editionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137779943355370262006-01-20T17:59:00.000+00:002006-01-20T17:59:00.000+00:00Congratulations, Stephen, that really is very posi...Congratulations, Stephen, that really is very positive. I did write a lot of very sensible stuff about revisions first thing, but blog was playing up; now I've spent a day wrestling with my own characters, the mind has gone a blank. Not that need any advice -- you're obviously doing great.Liz Fieldinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464889663853976327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137759443761650252006-01-20T12:17:00.000+00:002006-01-20T12:17:00.000+00:00Hooray. How exciting that you've found such a grea...Hooray. How exciting that you've found such a great agent who shares your vision - especially when it comes to elephants. Good luck with the revisions, sometimes they have a domino effect on the story that can leave you questioning your sanity, but when you come out the other end you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about!Amanda Ashbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026754208576877438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13786279.post-1137748358837772892006-01-20T09:12:00.000+00:002006-01-20T09:12:00.000+00:00Congratulations! There's obviously a bit of tweaki...Congratulations! There's obviously a bit of tweaking to do, but I'm sure you'll sort it out. It was interesting that you were told to put in more about the political situation early on and you say that's the sort of thing that will kill pace & tension - exactly the sort of thing that I'm mindful of. I'll be agog to see how you get round this - which also means I'm hoping you will be in print at some point soonish :-)Alex Bordessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18360540101147770320noreply@blogger.com