DISQUS

L.L. Barkat · 2 years ago

I give a book the first page. Except when I need to read it for a book club. Or if it comes recommended. Recommended books get two to five pages. So this brings up a good question for the blogosphere, where everything is compressed. How many words do you give a blogger, or sentences, or paragraphs?

Mary E. DeMuth · 2 years ago

I give a book about 50 pages. If it's not grabbing me, I leave it behind. But if I were an editor (sung to the tune of "If I were a rich man"), I'd give it one shot. One page. Can you grab me by the throat or am I yawning?

Rebecca LuElla Miller · 2 years ago

Really interesting, Marcus. Quite eye-opening to think in terms of story, style, and voice.

Becky

Tanya Dennis · 2 years ago

Anyone read "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukeman? It's based on this exact premise -- that nearly all manuscripts can be accepted or dismissed in five pages or less. The book teaches good self-editing skills.

Marcus · 2 years ago

L.L., interesting question about the blogosphere. I suppose I give a blogger about 60 seconds to convince me there's something worth reading. If there's a layout problem, I may decide even sooner than that. Unless the blogger has commented on my blog. Then I usually try to comment in return.

Mary, good to see you! Fifty pages is very generous of you. After getting an MA in literature, I've just spent too much time reading crappy books to do that. I've never heard of anyone comparing an editor to a rich man. Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.

Becky, story, style, and voice are the big three in my opinion. Style and voice overlap some. For me, style is more about using the tools effectively. Voice is more about expressing a sense of the author's identity (either actual or assumed). Good style is a matter of craft. Good voice is a matter of integrity.

Tanya, I definitely need to read Lukeman's book. Or at least the first page.

real live preacher · 2 years ago

Fascinating to watch your editor's mind work behind the scenes. Editors can often articulate what writers do by instinct.

Marcus · 2 years ago

Gordon, that's a great point to remember. No one thinks about these things while they are actually writing. Just like I don't think about how far to push my foot on the gas when I'm driving a car, or where to place my hand on the steering wheel as I begin to make a left hand turn.

That said, the difference between a professional writer and an amateur (besides the payment issue, of course), is a willingness to look back through their work with this kind of eye. Some writers will need to hire a professional editor to help. But I think prolific writers develop an intuition about what works and what doesn't, through sheer persistence.

spaghettipie · 2 years ago

I almost didn't read your post, but I gave it two paragraphs and you hooked me in the second one. Interesting slant on your CSFF tour.

Craver-VII · 2 years ago

Ahem.

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear Marcuuuuus.
Haaaappy birthday tooooo youuuuu!!!!

*applause*

Amy · 2 years ago

Thanks Craver - I was hoping someone would acknowledge it - he thinks birthdays are no big deal. But without this day there would be no Good Word Editing! WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!

Marcus · 2 years ago

You made me smile, Craver! Thanks, man. How'd you know?

Craver-VII · 2 years ago

We're twins separated at birth, remember? So how could I forget? ;-)

gbpolivka · 2 years ago

Interesting story regarding these pages... I didn't send Harvest House the first chapter. Nick Harrison, senior editor there, got interested from an excerpt deep in the story, and then asked me to send him three or four chapters. I didn't send him Chapter One because I thought it was one of the weaker ones (and, knowing how important it was, I had rewritten it so many times I had lost touch with whether it was any good or not). He actually liked it, but we still worked more on that chapter than any other in the book. I remember well the moment I felt if finally felt as good to me as the rest.

Thanks for an interesting take, and a worthwhile read!
--Bryan

Eve · 2 years ago

Happy b-day, Mark!!

As to your post, I usually judge a book by its cover. :)

Susan · 2 years ago

Belated happy birthday from sunny Chicago!