tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post6729986730758981741..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: SparkEdittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-82346667086046884922012-04-16T11:40:39.549-05:002012-04-16T11:40:39.549-05:00GREAT topic!!
I don't have anything analytica...GREAT topic!!<br /><br />I don't have anything analytical to add. But for me I have to have a reason to care in the first couple of pages. That could be due to setting, situation, characters, something I'm curous about, etc.<br /><br />I learned very early that some people know how to tell a story and some don't. During the summers of my college years I worked on Maniac Island (Mackinac Island, MI [prnounced Mackinaw]). OMG, what a bunch of characters I worked with. We were constantly BS'ing and telling stories. Some guys could hook you from the first sentence, and others would drone on and bore us to death. I'm still not sure of why they were different. Humor, drama, economy of words, and a wide range of possible outcomes were probably a few. It's like learning how to cuss. Some people have it; others don't. What makes the difference?Weshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077791761104576436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-77295308117210000192012-04-12T06:51:48.158-05:002012-04-12T06:51:48.158-05:00I'd say spark also comes from characters who a...I'd say spark also comes from characters who are real individuals -- they're not the cookie-cutter characters you expect in a certain genre, they've got something that makes the reader pay attention, because this isn't "the usual." Or if they are the usual, they're so vivid you have to keep going.<br /><br />That said, I'm always amazed how, in any field, you can tell when someone has "it" and when someone is really, really good but without "it." That has, historically, what kept me watching all those singing shows on TV, although I've burned out on all of them now.Arloa Harthttp://nataliehart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-492967473341034322012-04-11T21:07:28.141-05:002012-04-11T21:07:28.141-05:00To me I think it's precise word choice. I know...To me I think it's precise word choice. I know, boring. <br />AEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-13785525157559068582012-04-11T20:00:15.304-05:002012-04-11T20:00:15.304-05:00Hola Teresa!
A good first page either makes me f...Hola Teresa! <br /><br />A good first page either makes me frown because I'm thinking, "Oh,my God..." and I want to read further, or it makes me smile. It's a good thing when I crack open a book and it keeps me on the treadmill for an hour.Jennifer Tannernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-24981512659763487242012-04-11T17:34:47.291-05:002012-04-11T17:34:47.291-05:00I'm so glad you posted this. I thought that be...I'm so glad you posted this. I thought that because I'm a writer I had gotten reader's ennui. <br /><br />Spark to me is when I want to BE in that character's world. And then I'm sucked in.<br /><br /> It might be easier to identify why a piece of writing doesn't have spark. Perhaps so many writers (and publishers) are chasing a success formula that the 'I've read something like this' cues are in full-force, and the story blends and bores?Jane Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437053139837857703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-4564872601321968072012-04-11T16:29:08.017-05:002012-04-11T16:29:08.017-05:00I've been noticing the same thing. I download ...I've been noticing the same thing. I download a lot of samples to my Kindle (I'm not very discerning about what I sample, I suppose) and usually read a chunk at a time. I often go through a cycle of wondering whether I'm being too picky because I've discarded several in a row, but then I read one that I <i>absolutely must have</i>. And my list of books I really want to buy keeps growing, so I guess I'm not being unnecessarily selective...<br /><br />I was thinking about the elements of it as I read and what I came up with was: engaging, active main character (and who I can identify--I have read so many samples that have a prologue about some throwaway character, or just start out in everybody's head and I don't know who to care about), and a clear conflict.<br /><br />However, I think that what qualifies as spark is different to different readers. I know I've discarded samples of books that friends of mine have loved.Clare K. R. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841162467916897873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-27437628542142545742012-04-11T14:20:10.546-05:002012-04-11T14:20:10.546-05:00Spark is sinking into a book in the opening, like ...Spark is sinking into a book in the opening, like you belong there. Which is a lot less technical than you wanted, but... <br /><br />Oh, and I bet you'd find spark in Trevor's Song; he's that sort of guy. Holler if you want a copy.Susan Helene Gottfriedhttp://westofmars.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-1070558066630808382012-04-11T12:53:19.028-05:002012-04-11T12:53:19.028-05:00Ooh, great post. I love it when you prompt me to ...Ooh, great post. I love it when you prompt me to think about things in a new way. For me, a big component of what you are calling 'spark' is characters who are truly engaging. Yes, the emotions should be strong and clear and make sense and be in proportion, but that doesn't automatically mean that a reader will engage/sympathize/be drawn in. The characters need to make me care about them almost as if they are real people.Annettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-64746170023771149722012-04-11T12:25:02.162-05:002012-04-11T12:25:02.162-05:00The big-picture elements affect spark, too, beyond...The big-picture elements affect spark, too, beyond the mostly sentence-level issues you mention. Pacing, and knowing what should be shown (and not) and where the story should start and the right details to include (and exclude). <br /><br />I have seen a lot of competent writing that starts in the wrong place and lacks conflict, so even though the individual sentences are fine, there's no reason to keep reading.Ginnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-83169889414759490662012-04-11T11:47:51.064-05:002012-04-11T11:47:51.064-05:00I like that-- sentence-level tension.
AliciaI like that-- sentence-level tension.<br />AliciaAlicianoreply@blogger.com