Comments on: Wrapping Up On One-Sentence Summaries http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:00:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4956 Camille Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:52:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4956 Thank you for the one-sentence tutorial, Randy. Stopping short of completely deranged is a wise---although less entertaining---choice. You've given us a good variety and plenty of examples to show us (for free) how it's done. Thanks! Thank you for the one-sentence tutorial, Randy. Stopping short of completely deranged is a wise—although less entertaining—choice.

You’ve given us a good variety and plenty of examples to show us (for free) how it’s done.

Thanks!

]]> By: Iain http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4957 Iain Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:12:53 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4957 All this one sentance discussion is great, but of course had to come to an end at some point. Paying for Randy's time would be an excellent option for people looking for the pro touch. Although we've also had some great constructive critisism from readers as well. Is there somewhere we could discuss and critique our efforts amongst ourselves, the readers, without Randy's blog being clogged? All this one sentance discussion is great, but of course had to come to an end at some point. Paying for Randy’s time would be an excellent option for people looking for the pro touch.

Although we’ve also had some great constructive critisism from readers as well. Is there somewhere we could discuss and critique our efforts amongst ourselves, the readers, without Randy’s blog being clogged?

]]> By: Livinus http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4958 Livinus Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:06:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4958 Randy, There's something I've been thinking about recently, waiting for you to wrap up this pesky one-sentence summaries before I make the suggestion: Critic of first paragraphs! Personally I have been trying to find a compromise between getting straight into the story right from the first paragraph and maintaining suspense while letting out the conflict little by little. I know it's quite cumbersome to do this for everyone, but you may select few so everyone can learn from them if you don’t have the time. I’m sure many of your loyal blog readers would vote for this :) For free? Randy,

There’s something I’ve been thinking about recently, waiting for you to wrap up this pesky one-sentence summaries before I make the suggestion:

Critic of first paragraphs!

Personally I have been trying to find a compromise between getting straight into the story right from the first paragraph and maintaining suspense while letting out the conflict little by little.

I know it’s quite cumbersome to do this for everyone, but you may select few so everyone can learn from them if you don’t have the time. I’m sure many of your loyal blog readers would vote for this :)

For free?

]]> By: Livinus http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4959 Livinus Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:11:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4959 The paid service could combine the one sentence and the first paragraph . . . hoping that does not take Randy completly across the border of sanity. Remember, he's already a mad professor! Fellow blog readers, what do you think? The paid service could combine the one sentence and the first paragraph . . . hoping that does not take Randy completly across the border of sanity. Remember, he’s already a mad professor!

Fellow blog readers, what do you think?

]]> By: Sam http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4960 Sam Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:19:43 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4960 I was soooooo close! Only a few more to go before he did mine. Now I'm the one going insane! Randy, the exercise was great. I don't mind paying for your service. I do like the idea of combining the one sentence and the first paragraph. I think the opinion I'm most interested in is: do you think it's a good concept? Is the idea solid or does it need a new "hook"? Just my two cents. Please let us know when you wtart this service. Thanks! I was soooooo close! Only a few more to go before he did mine. Now I’m the one going insane!
Randy, the exercise was great. I don’t mind paying for your service. I do like the idea of combining the one sentence and the first paragraph. I think the opinion I’m most interested in is: do you think it’s a good concept? Is the idea solid or does it need a new “hook”?
Just my two cents. Please let us know when you wtart this service.
Thanks!

]]> By: Sam http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4961 Sam Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:20:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4961 Whoops. I mean *start* this service. (I'd never make a good editor...) Whoops. I mean *start* this service.
(I’d never make a good editor…)

]]> By: Cate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4962 Cate Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:36:50 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4962 Yeah, somewhere where we could hash out our sentences among ourselves would be great. I learned so much just from all of your readers that responded to me - thank you! - and from thinking up one-liners for everyone else. These sentence-summaries really are their own language with their own syntax and reason...not to be tackled in a vacuum. Yeah, somewhere where we could hash out our sentences among ourselves would be great. I learned so much just from all of your readers that responded to me - thank you! - and from thinking up one-liners for everyone else. These sentence-summaries really are their own language with their own syntax and reason…not to be tackled in a vacuum.

]]> By: Iain http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4963 Iain Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:42:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4963 It wouldn't take long to put something together, make sure it links back to the Snowflake method and slap it online. *** time passes *** Something like this? http://iainmnorman.org/forum It wouldn’t take long to put something together, make sure it links back to the Snowflake method and slap it online.

*** time passes ***

Something like this?

http://iainmnorman.org/forum

]]> By: Iain http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4964 Iain Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:43:43 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4964 Correction: http://iainmnorman.com/forum Correction: http://iainmnorman.com/forum

]]> By: Parker Haynes http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4965 Parker Haynes Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:39:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4965 Randy, These two weeks you've given so generously of your time, experience, and expertise on one sentence summaries is invaluable. THANX!! You have a special (and very desirable) talent for getting right to the point. An hour of your time for a dynamite one sentence summary? Hmmm... what are the numbers? Fifty bucks? A hundred? Personally I tend toward the "Teach a man to fish... school, thus the proposals by Iain and Cate for forming an online group are very intriguing. It could be set up on a free blog, but would require someone dedicated enough to administer it. Interesting idea. Randy, would you have a problem with some of us using your blog as an initial connection point? Perhaps let those who are interested post their email address? Randy,

These two weeks you’ve given so generously of your time, experience, and expertise on one sentence summaries is invaluable. THANX!! You have a special (and very desirable) talent for getting right to the point.

An hour of your time for a dynamite one sentence summary? Hmmm… what are the numbers? Fifty bucks? A hundred?

Personally I tend toward the “Teach a man to fish… school, thus the proposals by Iain and Cate for forming an online group are very intriguing. It could be set up on a free blog, but would require someone dedicated enough to administer it. Interesting idea.

Randy, would you have a problem with some of us using your blog as an initial connection point? Perhaps let those who are interested post their email address?

]]> By: Andra M. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4966 Andra M. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:42:39 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4966 Setting up a summary service is a good idea, but like you said, you will be inundated with requests. How about setting up a forum where people can post - well anything - for critique? Setting up a summary service is a good idea, but like you said, you will be inundated with requests.

How about setting up a forum where people can post - well anything - for critique?

]]> By: Iain http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4967 Iain Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:26:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4967 Done that, the comment I already made is awaiting moderation while Randy sleeps. Probably as it has a link in it. Just append /forum to my website. Done that, the comment I already made is awaiting moderation while Randy sleeps. Probably as it has a link in it.

Just append /forum to my website.

]]> By: Iain http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4968 Iain Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:42:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4968 If that's the kind of thing people want then I'll shell out for a domain name for it if you like. If that’s the kind of thing people want then I’ll shell out for a domain name for it if you like.

]]> By: Laura Drake http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4969 Laura Drake Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:32:58 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4969 Randy - thanks SO much for your invaluable advice on my summary sentence - if you need a recommendation for your services, I'm there! Laura Randy - thanks SO much for your invaluable advice on my summary sentence - if you need a recommendation for your services, I’m there!
Laura

]]> By: Joanna Mallory http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4970 Joanna Mallory Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:19:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4970 This has been a great exercise, and I think we've all learned a lot by watching the process and practicing on one another. A forum is a great idea, although it's one more place to remember to go. Thank you, Randy, for the teaching, and thank you everyone who posted a sentence or offered a variation on someone else's sentence. Lots of good stories out there! This has been a great exercise, and I think we’ve all learned a lot by watching the process and practicing on one another. A forum is a great idea, although it’s one more place to remember to go. Thank you, Randy, for the teaching, and thank you everyone who posted a sentence or offered a variation on someone else’s sentence. Lots of good stories out there!

]]> By: Cathy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4971 Cathy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:37:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4971 Hi Randy, Thanks for all of the time you've put into teaching us to write great one-sentence summaries. This is very useful, free information that we can come back to again and again. Also, I think a paid service is a wonderful compromise on your part. The author gets a summary that is tailored to the story and you receive the payment due you for your concentrated efforts. Hi Randy,

Thanks for all of the time you’ve put into teaching us to write great one-sentence summaries. This is very useful, free information that we can come back to again and again.

Also, I think a paid service is a wonderful compromise on your part. The author gets a summary that is tailored to the story and you receive the payment due you for your concentrated efforts.

]]> By: Cate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4972 Cate Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:17:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4972 Actually, Orson Scott Card has something like this forum idea on his Hatrack site, so it's not completely unfounded. They critique the first 13 lines of any work (run by an independent administrator), because that's what the editor sees first. Huh, I forgot about that. But the kicker there is they all write scifi, fantasy or horror. A neutral-to-anything ground would be nice, as would be someplace to kick around those wonderful one-liners. I've belonged to several forums and I've never seen anything dedicated to such things as sentence-summaries and first paragraphs. Seems to me that's mighty important. Actually, Orson Scott Card has something like this forum idea on his Hatrack site, so it’s not completely unfounded. They critique the first 13 lines of any work (run by an independent administrator), because that’s what the editor sees first. Huh, I forgot about that. But the kicker there is they all write scifi, fantasy or horror. A neutral-to-anything ground would be nice, as would be someplace to kick around those wonderful one-liners. I’ve belonged to several forums and I’ve never seen anything dedicated to such things as sentence-summaries and first paragraphs. Seems to me that’s mighty important.

]]> By: Lana http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4974 Lana Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:16:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4974 Oh, darn! I should have discovered this site earlier and weaseled my summary in during the beginning of these one-sentence summary-related posts :) I've learned a ton just from re-reading your posts and seeing you help other with their summaries, Randy, so no sweat. I can't wait to see what your next blog topic will be! One a side note to Cate: Thanks for mentioning the Hatrack site! It seems very useful. Oh, darn! I should have discovered this site earlier and weaseled my summary in during the beginning of these one-sentence summary-related posts :)

I’ve learned a ton just from re-reading your posts and seeing you help other with their summaries, Randy, so no sweat. I can’t wait to see what your next blog topic will be!

One a side note to Cate: Thanks for mentioning the Hatrack site! It seems very useful.

]]> By: Kristi Holl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4977 Kristi Holl Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:52:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4977 You might write another snowflake-type article on writing one-liners. Maybe the blog followers would allow you to use their examples for a free copy of the article--then put it up for sale for everyone else--a kind of "how to do this yourself" article. Just a thought! 8-) I guess it would be a big expansion of the first step of the snowflake article. You might write another snowflake-type article on writing one-liners. Maybe the blog followers would allow you to use their examples for a free copy of the article–then put it up for sale for everyone else–a kind of “how to do this yourself” article. Just a thought! 8-) I guess it would be a big expansion of the first step of the snowflake article.

]]> By: Julie http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4979 Julie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:20:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4979 Grrr! My parents would never let me pay for something like that over the internet.... Grrr! My parents would never let me pay for something like that over the internet….

]]> By: Pamela Cosel http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4980 Pamela Cosel Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:25:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-4980 Sure, I'd be willing to pay for the service, depending on the cost. Randy, you've offered it here free--it only makes sense to try to get paid for your valuable time, as you do the other products you sell. Why not? Sure, I’d be willing to pay for the service, depending on the cost. Randy, you’ve offered it here free–it only makes sense to try to get paid for your valuable time, as you do the other products you sell. Why not?

]]> By: Gerhi Janse van Vuuren http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-5068 Gerhi Janse van Vuuren Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:37:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/04/14/wrapping-up-on-one-sentence-summaries/#comment-5068 Boy am I glad I got a critique squeezed in. But even if I didn't I learned a lot about crafting that one sentence. Especially the idea of flipping it around. It is amazing how much you can do with so little. As to paying for critiques. I think Randy has the right and privilege to charge for his expertise. He is giving so much away for free that I can never complain. Ray Rhamey at Flogging the Quill does critiques of first pages. But I have no idea what his backlog is. http://www.floggingthequill.com/ Just reading other people's submission teaches you a lot though so even a lurker learns spans every time. Boy am I glad I got a critique squeezed in. But even if I didn’t I learned a lot about crafting that one sentence. Especially the idea of flipping it around. It is amazing how much you can do with so little.

As to paying for critiques. I think Randy has the right and privilege to charge for his expertise. He is giving so much away for free that I can never complain.

Ray Rhamey at Flogging the Quill does critiques of first pages. But I have no idea what his backlog is. http://www.floggingthequill.com/

Just reading other people’s submission teaches you a lot though so even a lurker learns spans every time.

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