The Rebuilding Year - upcoming excerpts
So I said a week ago I would have some excerpts from my upcoming book to post. And I've been thinking about them. (I've been overthinking it, I suspect.) In the past the only excerpts I've done have been the first chapters that MLR makes available with each new release. I've heard mixed opinions about using the first chapter. Some people like it, because there's no spoiler effect. They get a look at the book and the author's style without worries about giving away any of the story. Other people have said that they don't like first chapters. I've had readers tell me that then when they start the book, it isn't fresh and new and they end up skipping ahead.
Samhain has a different approach. They select a couple of sections from in the first quarter or so of the book, for their website and as teasers in the back of other published stories. For The Rebuilding Year they've selected a few scenes that show my two guys gradually coming together. They say the best enticement is a good scene from after the story gets moving. And they've chosen a couple of my favorites.
So is it better to pick the most appealing early scene you can? (One reader who approved said, "then when I reach it while reading the book, it's like finding an old friend.") Or is it like a movie where some of the best jokes are in the trailer? I don't think there is a consensus. And I don't read excerpts myself, (other than the first chapter of new-to-me authors' work.) So my opinion's not worth much.
But I'm going to try this Samhain's way. With a hedge.
The excerpt that Samhain has selected for their website shows my two main characters, John and Ryan, the afternoon of Halloween. And I'm going to have that scene up on a guest spot on Kathleen Hayes' blog Romancing the Word on December 23rd. Kathleen is doing a wonderful 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza with author interviews and excerpts and book giveaways and more. So check it out now, and look for me there on the 23rd.
But it's possible I might put a bit of the first chapter up here first. If there are any first-chapter-excerpt enthusiasts out there let me know. This is all a fun experiment in how to present my writing to readers. And I'm learning every step of the way.
Samhain has a different approach. They select a couple of sections from in the first quarter or so of the book, for their website and as teasers in the back of other published stories. For The Rebuilding Year they've selected a few scenes that show my two guys gradually coming together. They say the best enticement is a good scene from after the story gets moving. And they've chosen a couple of my favorites.
So is it better to pick the most appealing early scene you can? (One reader who approved said, "then when I reach it while reading the book, it's like finding an old friend.") Or is it like a movie where some of the best jokes are in the trailer? I don't think there is a consensus. And I don't read excerpts myself, (other than the first chapter of new-to-me authors' work.) So my opinion's not worth much.
But I'm going to try this Samhain's way. With a hedge.
The excerpt that Samhain has selected for their website shows my two main characters, John and Ryan, the afternoon of Halloween. And I'm going to have that scene up on a guest spot on Kathleen Hayes' blog Romancing the Word on December 23rd. Kathleen is doing a wonderful 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza with author interviews and excerpts and book giveaways and more. So check it out now, and look for me there on the 23rd.
But it's possible I might put a bit of the first chapter up here first. If there are any first-chapter-excerpt enthusiasts out there let me know. This is all a fun experiment in how to present my writing to readers. And I'm learning every step of the way.
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Sometimes blurbs leave out an element that is important to the story - I've certainly run across that. Sometimes it's a matter of trying to fit everything in the constricted length. (For instance, on Life Lessons the only warning that kids feature in the story are the words "widowed father" to describe Mac.) I wonder whether the presses where the blurbs are not written by the author are more likely to have this problem. Or maybe the pro blurb-writers are actually better at condensing a story down. Certainly having a different writer might give the blurb a different feel from the novel.Thanks for weighing in on the first chapter question; opinion still seems divided. Someone on my blog pointed out that in some cases the first chapter short-changes one of the characters or even fails to introduce him. That could definitely be a drawback (although not the case for this book.)
If the writing style and story hasn't engaged my interest in the first chapter, it's *usually* something that never will. I understand why excerpts/clips are used but they don't always give a very good "feel" for the book.
Along the same lines - but not.... I've found in some instances, albeit rare!, where a manufactured blurb doesn't accurately reflect the story! Not even close???!!!?? Has anyone else noticed that?