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Thank you! I knew it was something straightforward, but I'm not braining today. I'm a little stressed about stuff, honestly.
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What the Mail Fairy brought:
http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/apocaplyseDoorcover_paperbackA.jpg
This is a reduced-size scan of a color photocopy, so the quality isn't all that good, but it should give you an idea. The front cover of the paperback reprint of The Apocalypse Door.
This'll be out around Christmas time.
http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/apocaplyseDoorcover_paperbackA.jpg
This is a reduced-size scan of a color photocopy, so the quality isn't all that good, but it should give you an idea. The front cover of the paperback reprint of The Apocalypse Door.
This'll be out around Christmas time.
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Talking about book covers, it amazes me how poor many book covers are nowadays. Michael Connelly's The Scarecrow is a case in point. It shows the light from a window and the vague shadow of a human form, totally out of focus. I suppose, maybe when you're a best-selling author you don't need good covers any more.
?
?
I'm going to write this one:
Your title is: “The Cyberbots”
In an ancient Victorian Britain, a young collector of oddities stumbles across a dusty tome which spurs him into conflict with an army led by a sadist, with the help of a leather-clad female in shades and her welding gear, culminating in wish-fulfillment solutions to real-world problems.
Your title is: “The Cyberbots”
In an ancient Victorian Britain, a young collector of oddities stumbles across a dusty tome which spurs him into conflict with an army led by a sadist, with the help of a leather-clad female in shades and her welding gear, culminating in wish-fulfillment solutions to real-world problems.
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Book covers are not meant to be representational. They are meant to be point-of-sale advertising for the book. More precisely, they are meant to signal to the reader, "This is the sort of book you like."
If vague blobs of blue and yellow send those signals, that's what's going to be on the cover.
More covers:
This is the wrap-around cover art for the (still untitled) Civil War Fantasy. [FONT=Bookman Old Style,Times New Roman,serif]
[/FONT]
Two different covers for The Scarecrow.
Hardcover:
Paperback:
When you're a best-selling author your publisher's art and marketing departments spend a lot of time and money on your covers.
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As a side off topic note, ignore if you like, I read on another site to help develop your character, describe what's in her purse, his pocket, or the student's backpack. It didn't dawn on me until I started thinking about it. Purses vary as much as their contents. Contents varying from woman to woman. I was in a waiting room and an older man had a pouch, large enough to place his reading glasses, wallet, and keys. There was probably a pack of gum in there as well. Something that you do everyday can be an easy add in.
Who would've thought? I know I didn't
Who would've thought? I know I didn't
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Michael Connelly is what's known as a Big Name Author. That is, his name is in bigger type than the book's title.
...and a better Scarecrow
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Uncle Jim,
Speaking of covers and author's names, I've noticed that your books don't use a consistent name. I realize that you share with Doyle on many projects and she deserves her place on the cover, but have you given any consideration to brand loyalty when people look for your name? Do you change how your name appears on the covers purposely?
Speaking of covers and author's names, I've noticed that your books don't use a consistent name. I realize that you share with Doyle on many projects and she deserves her place on the cover, but have you given any consideration to brand loyalty when people look for your name? Do you change how your name appears on the covers purposely?
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How the names appear on the covers is a marketing decision, and is partly to avoid the Death Spiral.
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Uncle Jim,
I don't think I'm quite sure what deep 3rd person perspective is. Can you explain what differs it from other 3rd: omnicient, etc... and give me an example of a novel in deep 3rd. (Or is it just a term conjured up by writers who couldn't decide what perspective their writing is in?)
I don't think I'm quite sure what deep 3rd person perspective is. Can you explain what differs it from other 3rd: omnicient, etc... and give me an example of a novel in deep 3rd. (Or is it just a term conjured up by writers who couldn't decide what perspective their writing is in?)
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Deep third person point of view is just like third person limited, except the viewpoint character's thoughts are set in Roman rather than Italic. If you write in deep third POV, the copyeditor will come along and put the character's thoughts into whatever the house style is anyway.
Rather than worry about these tiny and theoretical varieties of POV, write your story.
If you're really fascinated (and want to put off writing), try this article: http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/arthist.htm
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I rarely do think too much about those things, but it never hurts to have the information. I would have never guessed that was the distinction, thanks
Hey Uncle Jim. You probably get this a lot, but thanks for doing this.
I am writing my MT in third-person close. The narrative is in my MC's own language, his thoughts are without italics unless it's a first person thought "I need to do this".
Not the best examples-
3rd person basic (lacking a complete and unique opinion on the situation)-
He walked the dog and kicked a can.
3rd person far (narrator is different than the boy at the present scene)-
He walked the dog and kicked a can. Chores were often annoying to young boys and he was no exception.
3rd person 'limited' (thoughts separated from narrative)-
He walked the dog and kicked a can. Damn chores.
3rd person close (thoughts not separated, closer than 'limited')-
He walked the dog and kicked a can. Damn chores.
3rd person close (more close or 'deep', in his own voice, my MT is written this way)-
He walked the dumb dog and kicked a can. Damn chores.
Anyway, I am wondering if my understanding of third person, and the ends of the spectrum (far to close) are correct? Thanks.
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Close enough. There isn't really a hard dividing line between any of 'em. Add in third omniscient and you may well have the set.
Yeah, not the best examples. I'm beta reading for someone, and thought that maybe I should make sure I know what the hell I'm talking about. Also this book I read explained it in a less than sensible way with some bad examples.
I forgot, but this was part of two questions actually.
If something is written like the last example above (the narrative is deeply influenced by the PoV's world view, language), should it be omniscient? I personally don't think it works and it seems to me that an omniscient PoV requires some narrative distance.
Thanks for the help in letting me understand the intricacies.
I forgot, but this was part of two questions actually.
If something is written like the last example above (the narrative is deeply influenced by the PoV's world view, language), should it be omniscient? I personally don't think it works and it seems to me that an omniscient PoV requires some narrative distance.
Thanks for the help in letting me understand the intricacies.
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I don't see how it could be.
When you're that far over into third person you're starting to shade into a first-person narrator with a dissociative disorder.
Thank you. I thought I was wrong about it, and that I gave some bad advice.
Time to take that advice and write! Should've started earlier, but I woke up too early, and had to take a nap to compensate.
Time to take that advice and write! Should've started earlier, but I woke up too early, and had to take a nap to compensate.