Comments on: Those Pesky Literary Novels http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:40:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Vennessa http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5443 Vennessa Mon, 05 May 2008 11:31:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5443 You are not mistaken, Randy. This is not the beginning of a literary novel. Actually, it's not really the beginning of my wip either. This paragraph is from the first chapter rather than my prologue. Thanks for all your comments, everyone. I haven't looked at this wip for a few years and have only just decided to tackle it again. I've learned so much since I started this wip, so I am dreading getting back into it and "fixing" it, but it's my baby. It needs nurturing. :-) You are not mistaken, Randy. This is not the beginning of a literary novel.

Actually, it’s not really the beginning of my wip either. This paragraph is from the first chapter rather than my prologue.

Thanks for all your comments, everyone. I haven’t looked at this wip for a few years and have only just decided to tackle it again. I’ve learned so much since I started this wip, so I am dreading getting back into it and “fixing” it, but it’s my baby. It needs nurturing. :-)

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5444 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 05 May 2008 12:08:00 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5444 Hi Randy Good luck with the deadline. May I please ask 3 embarrasing questions? What is a literary novel viz-a-viz novels such as Pillars of the Earth, The Firm, Transgression, etc.? What is chic(k) lit(erature)? What is a cy(?) yc(?) novel? Thank you. Hi Randy

Good luck with the deadline. May I please ask 3 embarrasing questions?

What is a literary novel viz-a-viz novels such as Pillars of the Earth, The Firm, Transgression, etc.?

What is chic(k) lit(erature)?

What is a cy(?) yc(?) novel?

Thank you.

]]> By: Pauine Youd http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5445 Pauine Youd Mon, 05 May 2008 14:51:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5445 After reading all the other suggestions, I read Daan's and said, "Yes!" It puts me there and I want to read more. After reading all the other suggestions, I read Daan’s and said, “Yes!” It puts me there and I want to read more.

]]> By: bonne friesen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5446 bonne friesen Mon, 05 May 2008 15:55:53 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5446 I like Daan's as well, but to be picky, I'd have Rik snorting in disgust instead of grinning wryly. My characters tend to grin far too often in the course of a story, so I wouldn't start it so soon. Randy's gives a stronger sense of place and creates a lot more tension. Like the man said, whatever fits whole tone of the novel. I like Daan’s as well, but to be picky, I’d have Rik snorting in disgust instead of grinning wryly. My characters tend to grin far too often in the course of a story, so I wouldn’t start it so soon.

Randy’s gives a stronger sense of place and creates a lot more tension. Like the man said, whatever fits whole tone of the novel.

]]> By: Mary Hake http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5447 Mary Hake Mon, 05 May 2008 17:16:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5447 The original interested me, but I thought it could be stronger. Daan's approach had merit, but felt like a bit of different story to me. BTW, the heart missing a few beats is cliche, and from one who's had it happen literally I know you begin to lose consciousness and cannot do anything except realize you can hardly breathe. (That's why I'm not driving until these incidents are resolved.) So, does Randy's approach (modeled after Daan's) fit a literary novel? I do think the men's versions sound more masculine in voice. The original interested me, but I thought it could be stronger. Daan’s approach had merit, but felt like a bit of different story to me. BTW, the heart missing a few beats is cliche, and from one who’s had it happen literally I know you begin to lose consciousness and cannot do anything except realize you can hardly breathe. (That’s why I’m not driving until these incidents are resolved.)
So, does Randy’s approach (modeled after Daan’s) fit a literary novel? I do think the men’s versions sound more masculine in voice.

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5449 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 05 May 2008 19:53:16 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5449 Thank you Pauine, Bonne and Mary. Bonne and the Canadian Connection, I am finally in Vancouver. I will leave for Prince George on Saturday for 5 days and then return to Vancouver until I will return to South Africa on 28 May. Thank you Pauine, Bonne and Mary. Bonne and the Canadian Connection, I am finally in Vancouver. I will leave for Prince George on Saturday for 5 days and then return to Vancouver until I will return to South Africa on 28 May.

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5452 Camille Tue, 06 May 2008 06:16:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5452 Hi Daan! (waving from Oregon) Welcome to North America! And you're in my Pacific time zone - I think. Hope you packed for our Spring-to-Summer weather. It closely resembles our Winter-to-Spring weather. And our dead of winter weather. You should come back when it's hot. I think this year that'll be August 24th. Camille who suspects that 'rain-turning-to-showers' for months on end triggers more violent spending sprees than previously reported. Hi Daan! (waving from Oregon) Welcome to North America! And you’re in my Pacific time zone - I think. Hope you packed for our Spring-to-Summer weather. It closely resembles our Winter-to-Spring weather. And our dead of winter weather. You should come back when it’s hot. I think this year that’ll be August 24th.

Camille
who suspects that ‘rain-turning-to-showers’ for months on end triggers more violent spending sprees than previously reported.

]]> By: Ann Isik http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5456 Ann Isik Tue, 06 May 2008 14:12:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5456 I have been fascinated by this first paragraph critique process. It's fantastic just to read and I feel like I've learned so much; it's like a free course! It's made me go back to my own novel opening. I don't feel I can add any comments that would be of any use quite frankly. Is this first para critique offer still open, Randy? You are probably inundated with them, so it's okay if it isn't. But if so, I'd like to post mine. I have been fascinated by this first paragraph critique process. It’s fantastic just to read and I feel like I’ve learned so much; it’s like a free course! It’s made me go back to my own novel opening. I don’t feel I can add any comments that would be of any use quite frankly.

Is this first para critique offer still open, Randy? You are probably inundated with them, so it’s okay if it isn’t. But if so, I’d like to post mine.

]]> By: Ann Isik http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5457 Ann Isik Tue, 06 May 2008 14:14:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5457 P.S. Mary (Hake). I hope your health situation gets better soon. I've prayed for it, which is something for me, as I hardly ever pray for anybody but myself!!! I had something similar years ago and I know how frightening it can be, so you have my sympathy. Ann P.S. Mary (Hake). I hope your health situation gets better soon. I’ve prayed for it, which is something for me, as I hardly ever pray for anybody but myself!!! I had something similar years ago and I know how frightening it can be, so you have my sympathy. Ann

]]> By: Mary Hake http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5475 Mary Hake Wed, 07 May 2008 20:27:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5475 Thanks, Ann. I am improving slowly and hope there will be no more setbacks. But, my life resembles my novel writing--forward a step or two, then back to repeat the process. Thanks, Ann.
I am improving slowly and hope there will be no more setbacks. But, my life resembles my novel writing–forward a step or two, then back to repeat the process.

]]> By: Ann Isik http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5550 Ann Isik Wed, 14 May 2008 11:49:00 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5550 For Mary: You wrote: "But, my life resembles my novel writing–forward a step or two, then back to repeat the process". I think you just defined life! Good luck. Ann For Mary: You wrote: “But, my life resembles my novel writing–forward a step or two, then back to repeat the process”. I think you just defined life!

Good luck.

Ann

]]> By: Suzie Eller http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5557 Suzie Eller Fri, 16 May 2008 06:09:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/05/04/those-pesky-literary-novels/#comment-5557 I liked the first one best. I felt the revisions lost some of the suspense. I liked the first one best. I felt the revisions lost some of the suspense.

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