Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

maestrowork · Jun 4, 2005

UndercoverJackal said:
It's like, in 1st POV, why would he say "the bullet shattered through the window and pierced guy #2's skull, spreading blood up the wall" - would YOU think that? Or narrate it?

But you're writing in past tense. It's allowed.

Certainly you can do the internal thoughts... but that's not as interesting as the actual narrative in an action scene...

"Urgency" is a state of mind. If you narrative it just right, and the pacing is superb, no readers are going to stop and think, "Wait a minute, how does he have the time to narrate everything?"

Oh, and again: it's written in past tense. It's allowed.

azbikergirl · Jun 4, 2005

When writing in first person, is it the reader's expectation, then, that the events being told in the story are over? Or could it be told sort of as a day-by-day diary sort of thing. IOW, can a first person narrator die at the end without annoying the reader?

Christine N. · Jun 4, 2005

The other thing you might want to do is use short, succinct sentences during high action scenes. Would your MC actually process all the information you're telling us he did in that minute instant?

ie: "I heard the glass shatter. I turned, lunged toward (#2), but it was too late. Blood and gray matter were already splattered across the wall behind him."

Or something like that. He's only going to recognize bits of information, so if you impart to the reader a bunch of detail, it's not going to be beliveable and will drag your narrative down.

See how much I've learned from "Self Editing..." already? LOL

Liam Jackson · Jun 4, 2005

Pretty good discussion. *bump*

James D. Macdonald · Jun 4, 2005

azbikergirl said:
IOW, can a first person narrator die at the end without annoying the reader?

It can be done. See, for example, All Quiet on the Western Front.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 4, 2005

UndercoverJackal said:
I think my problem is with urgency, and having everything coming crashing down around the guys ears all at once, reacting quickly.

Use an appropriate level of detail to regulate pace. If he's moving fast he's not noticing the chintz-covered tea cosy.

Find a first-person novel you admire.

Retype a scene that does what you want to do. See how the author did it.

reph · Jun 4, 2005

azbikergirl said:
When writing in first person, is it the reader's expectation, then, that the events being told in the story are over? Or could it be told sort of as a day-by-day diary sort of thing. IOW, can a first person narrator die at the end without annoying the reader?

Either kind of story can be written: events long past or told soon after they happen. First-person narrators do sometimes die at the end. I don't know how you could report your own death in past tense, though.

Maybe you'd have to leave out the very last moment. "The guards marched me down the hall to the gas chamber and strapped me into the chair. Soon I was alone. The faces of my victims floated across my field of vision, and I inhaled. THE END"

James D. Macdonald · Jun 4, 2005

Roger J Carlson said:
Is it a good idea to mention this (readers asking for more) to an agent or publisher when querying?

What purpose would it serve? "All my friends think it's great" doesn't mean much unless your friends are Tom Clancy and Stephen King.

Readers asking for more should be a mark to you, however, that you're doing something right. Readers, especially if they're total strangers, asking for more is exactly what'll move those books in the bookstores.

reph · Jun 5, 2005

Death of narrator. One of Samuel Beckett's stories ends "I swallowed my calmative."

aadams73 · Jun 5, 2005

UndercoverJackal said:
Last question: Do Stephen King or Dean Koontz have an action filled 1st person books? Because my Dad's shelves are stacked full of 'em.

Try Dean Koontz's "Odd Thomas". It's one of the best first person books I've ever read and I rate it among his top three books.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 5, 2005

Christine is mostly in first person.

Christine N. · Jun 5, 2005

There was a big article in my paper today, I think it was an AP article. Elizabeth Kostova, a FIRST TIME novelist from Ann Arbor just got a 2 million dollar advance on her Dracula themed novel. And that was at an auction.

It can be done folks.

Christine N. · Jun 5, 2005

LOL. But hey, 2 million more than makes up for it, I think. Most writers won't see that their entire careers.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 5, 2005

Film rights were picked up by Sony.

Good on her!

triceretops · Jun 5, 2005

Was it narative non-fiction or a novel? Is the article available?

Tri

James D. Macdonald · Jun 5, 2005

Most writers won't see that their entire careers.

She may not see it either. When the size of an advance is announced, it includes all the possible escalators. Things like, If it's made into a film, $50K on the day of first principle photography, $50K on the day of release, $100K if it opens in the top five. $100K if it's a Oprah's Book Club selection. $1,000,000 if it spends more than 10 weeks as a #1 New York Times Best Seller. $50K if you appear on Good Morning America.

I'm up to one and a quarter million already there, and not a dime I can take to the bank.

scribbler1382 · Jun 5, 2005

triceretops said:
Was it narative non-fiction or a novel? Is the article available?

Tri

Narrative non-fiction for a Dracula-based book? That BETTER be a movie!

Christine N. · Jun 5, 2005

Thanks for posting the article.

Hah! An Oprah's book club selection? She only promotes books by dead people now, didn't you know? Someone snubbed her or something, and now she doesn't deal with live authors.

Her summer reading is three books by Faulkner.

Liam Jackson · Jun 5, 2005

Talk abut perseverance. Elizabeth Kostova's success story should inspire a few more hours of BIC time this week. Go get 'em, folks!

James D. Macdonald · Jun 5, 2005

Christine N. said:
She only promotes books by dead people now, didn't you know? Someone snubbed her or something, and now she doesn't deal with live authors.

That was Jonathan Frazen; the novel was The Corrections.

She doesn't touch fantasy and science fiction in any case, so who cares?

Susan Gable · Jun 5, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
That was Jonathan Frazen; the novel was The Corrections.

She doesn't touch fantasy and science fiction in any case, so who cares?

Or romance, either. She doesn't believe in happy endings. Oh, okay, sorry, I thought that her life from poverty to one of the most powerful women in America, was sort of a happy ending. But what do I know? <G>

Susan G.

maestrowork · Jun 5, 2005

Good thing I write mainstream/lit stuff... bad thing I guess I'll have to die first...

Liam Jackson · Jun 5, 2005

Frazen was apparently concerned he would be tagged as a 'chick-lit' author if she endorsed him. IF that's true, I'm not sure I really understand his problem. I thought you wrote books to sell them. Doesn't matter if it's a man, woman, child, or Giant Schnauzer at the cash register. What am I missing?

Dawno · Jun 5, 2005

I find some interesting elements in the press release quoted upthread.

#1: The auction was a year ago and I don't recall hearing about it then. Apparently it's smarter to talk about it just prior to the release of the book. It's generating buzz about the money almost as if mentioning that will result a self-fulfilling prophecy of fabulous sales.
#2 The comparison to The Da Vinci Code: if you liked The Da Vinci Code you'll love The Historian. Again there's an assumed audience of 17 million + readers being primed to buy this book.
#3: The story of the writer is compelling, her early years, her travels and how that background adds realism to the story. Frankly I want to read the book now because I like the author. I've never been a big fan of Dracula stories.

I bet there's something worth learning here...I'll be darned if I can figure it out this early in the day.

HConn · Jun 5, 2005

It took Kostova 10 years to craft the meticulously researched Historian...

Never underestimate the value of research.

And Franzen is a Dante writer. Becoming a Beowulf writer would ruin his career.

I've been away for a while, but I'm glad to see this thread is still hopping. And I'm looking forward to hearing Uncle Jim and his wife speak at Writers Weekend.

Take care, all

Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

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