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RE: Writing workshop volume 12: How to write your character's background
That is is true.....as I reader I judge a book's readability by the first paragraph or two. If it draws me in I will buy it. A cover tells so much but it's definitely the first bits that do it.
It's true about too much background. One pet peeve of mine is to get confused during character development and a need to go back a few pages or a chapter or two to figure things out - sometimes, well a lot of times that's where I find writing mistakes. The author gets confused!!! lol
I got a lot out of this post! Thanks!
Thanks so much for your comment, @countrygirl! I'm glad it resonates with you. I think authors do have trouble sometimes making sure that they keep clarity so we poor readers don't have to work hard. If you're paging back to try make sense of who's who and who's doing what, I think the writer needed to do some more work in the editing phase. Of course some books are so complex that you practically have to keep a spreadsheet of characters and their affiliations to keep it all straight! I weirdly enjoy reading those sometimes. A truly gifted and experienced writer can ensure that everyone in a huge cast of characters has a memorable name, and remains identifiable and true to their character throughout.
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your experience.
That's so true. I am reading one right now, I have to put it away for a bit. Michael Phillips....wrote the Celtic Legend — it's an historical fiction with a lot of era change and character change. He's a good writer but I find there is too much change for me right now. I go through periods where I need light reading vs something this epic.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I do the same! Mostly I need books that are not too deep or complex because I don't have enough time to read and I want to move through books. Right now, however, I'm alternating between various books for my book clubs, and Outlander, which is an expansive tome. But it's told from one person's perspective in first person, so it's really easy to follow!
I haven't read it but watched it. Holy sex scenes....and horrible rape scenes....I had to fast forward those. But I love the story and the history. I can imagine what the reading is like.