C.B.’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2015)

C.B.’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

S.J. wrote: "I'm with Christina, I cannot draw to save my soul.

I haven't received fan art and didn't even know it was a benchmark but am sure looking forward to it now."

Oh my goodness! I completely missed this post, in my own thread no less. I am terribly sorry SJ.

I will have to do something about that as soon as I can!

;)

Dwayne wrote: "Owen wrote: "I think he should wake up looking into a mirror, if you want the full effect."

Yes! Totally agree."

Ceiling Mirror. Problem solved!

Hot diggity damn!
That is amazing! :D
Colour me jealous.

Christina wrote: "Ha! Not only does my MC wake up in the first sentence, but she continues to wake up at the begining of several other chapters, including a tie in to the first chapter at the end, and if that wasn't enough, she starts the first chapter of the second book waking up from a nightmare. "

Oh right. I forgot that my characters had a tenancy to pass out at the end of chapters and then wake up in the next, blurry eyed and confused. In fact... I even used the same text, and get called out on it.

Christina wrote: "I really want to see if I have the constitution to write a book that would satisfy you're reviewer pal, but I'm afraid of how many watch lists I might end up on. ;) "

All of them. :D

Micah wrote: "A: Increase sexual content until they complain that it's all too much."

No, they actually complain that the violence isn't happening at the same time as the sex...

I like that our disclaimers both make jokes.
I like being called great.
I like your article. It was very interesting.
I dislike mustard, it just doesn't... cut it.

Oh, I almost made this topic the other day Micah!

I totally put jokes in my disclaimer as well. Here is mine:

The following is a work of fiction. Names, avatars, businesses, places, events, monsters, and incidents are either products of the author’s admittedly twisted imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resembles to actual persons, living, dead, or undead, or to actual events is purely coincidental. (But wouldn’t it be cool?)

Dedications. I had a dilly of a time thinking up one of those, my blurb was much easier! I knew it had to be a joke, but I didn't want to make fun of anyone I actually knew.
I eventually decided to use a video game joke.

Micah wrote: "My first novel has the main character "waking up" at the beginning (he's sitting up and fully dressed, but wearing the body of a woman--the body of a lesbian actually...it's complicated).

Worse th..."

"-teresting way to start a story Micah. I would be disorientated for sure, and would want to keep reading to find out why!"

Reese wrote: "I've also been told that having your character wake up as the very first thing is cliched and should be avoided, unless it plays a crucial part to the whole novel (like if it's about dreams or some..."

The only character allowed to wake up as the first thing at this point is Link from the Legend of Zelda.

Andrew wrote: "We're good"

Yeah, but I don't like to brag. ;)

Andrew wrote: "C.B. wrote: "It is okay, I didn't think it was meant just for me :)"

The only connection was your mention of "tracking characters" I tried to make that clear.

I like your insight into the twins h..."

It was very clear! No worries. :)

I just had more fun things to say, so I used that as an excuse to talk more!

Andrew wrote: "C.B.wrote: “...Now no main characters start with the same letter of the alphabet. The names are all varied and sound different when read and have different 'feels' to them (except the twins that ha..."

It is okay, I didn't think it was meant just for me :)

I will however defend myself! ^-^

I try to introduce characters at least once before they are part of the big narrative.

When new people do show up to stay, they tend to get separated from the action for a bit for people to get used to them. It is easier to meet a new character when only one other character is around, and they have been established already.

My book makes fun of the silly long fantasy names people are supposed to remember. The city in my novel has such a crazy made up fantasy name... that the characters can't even remember what it is. The reader never actually knows what it is called, because it really isn't that important anyway. (It starts with a C though, they know that)

Wow. You're right GG. I never even thought to look, but they do seem to like some very specific things, mostly gory, and none of those are in my books. I don't think I'd be comfortable if they were.

They were not right for my book, so I will take it as a positive, and not dwell on it. :)

Thanks everyone!

(and no rush, I still am reading books I got last year as gifts. I am very behind)

It doesn't end with a... well what they said, Christina.
It is a very unorthodox method for defeating a Dragon though, at least I have never heard of anyone defeating anything in any book that way. ever.
It was why I thought it was such an odd thing to say. :D

awe, thank you! I know that I must not dwell on it. :D

I asked them to clarify some details. I haven't heard back yet, and I don't think I will.

I am glad (?) that others have had this happen. It helped confirm my suspicions. I will get reviews the old fashioned way, by waiting for them to happen naturally!

... I've just gotten one on Amazon, so... now I just need to wait for some that are less... bad. :D

I received a message on Good reads from someone who say they were a top 500 Amazon reviewer. They said they were interested in reviewing my book and they requested a paper copy to be sent to India.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen. It feels a bit scammy, only because I do not think they actually read the description of my book.

they said they don't review my kind of novel in their goodreads profile.

Yes, that Harry Potter one is very catchy. It tells you a lot about their attitudes, others perceptions of them (if they are normal, why do they need to clarify), and even that they are a bit snarky, thank you very much

:D

A first sentence can be a hook, but I find a mood setter is just as good.

My first sentence (in all my novels) is:

Zing!

That's it, just zing. It is not only the sound of an action happening in the sentence right after, but Zing is also used sometimes after a joke. This is why I did that, it sets the entire mood of the novels. They are not serious, so get ready for some zingers.

I don't think you necessarily need a hook as a first sentence, but I think it can be used effectively to help the reader, so I say, go for it.

Charles wrote: "I have to work hard to make anything I write of substantial length."

There really are two sides to this. I had an idea for a short story, which turned into a 3 part full length series over the course of a week.

I tried to write a different short story for a contest, and my verbosity blossomed it into a behemoth concept overnight.

I can write flash fiction and keep it short, but once I have some time to think... watch out! :D