|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 12:30:49 GMT -5
Let's say that in the opening paragraph or at some point early on, the MC indicates something along the lines of "the thirty days that led to that fateful day." What do you think of adding the day number under the chapter title?
Chapter 6 - Pongo humps Fifi
Day 12
Or maybe "18 Days to go" or something like that. I don't know if it would add tension, though, I suppose it might add some tension by giving the sense that there's something big that happens at the end, but I think it might organize the story timeline for the reader somewhat. Six days to go, five days to go, four days, etc...Is that a cheap ploy?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2014 13:07:28 GMT -5
It would depend on the story for me. If it was foreshadowing, like they sometimes do in TV shows, I could see that working, or if the event was known at the beginning and the crisis for the whole book.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 13:12:33 GMT -5
Um ... I don't know. I think I might get annoyed at being constantly reminded of it. Are you envisioning exactly the number of units/chapters as there are days? If you do this, I'd make the count-off number the sole chapter title.
Day 12
Here's the text of the chapter blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Something like "Chapter 6 - Pongo Humps Fifi - Day 12" sounds like we're in the 12th day of Pongo continuously humping Fifi. You could do something like
Chapter 6: Pongo Humps Fifi
Twelve days to go ...
Here's the text of the chapter blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 13:42:18 GMT -5
I'm trying to think if I liked it in the show 24. They always had that kind of a countdown. I don't think it ever added to the tension much, but I think it was there to keep the viewers aware of where they were in the story. Of course, someone with a book can simply look to see how much there is left tot read, right?
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 14:22:06 GMT -5
I don't know ... 24 might not be the best comparison, since it used that real-time gimmick.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 14:36:36 GMT -5
I have no idea.
I just want to read Fred's book.
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 14:40:09 GMT -5
God, my Dad told me last night he's looking forward to reading it. I kinda pooped myself a bit. I can't take the pressure. I don't need any Pub members piling on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 14:42:31 GMT -5
I didn't mean it to be pressure. I know it will be something I'd like. I don't have very high standards. Except I couldn't get into that grey book and I hate Dan Brown.
Is that pressure?
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 14:50:38 GMT -5
No. The "I don't have very high standards" took the heat off.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 14:57:14 GMT -5
There you go. Now you can go ahead and publish. I'm very much like the general public out there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 15:37:58 GMT -5
Hey, remember, you've shown us some of your writing. We want to read your book because we know you can write. Trust me, if I'd read that bit you posted and thought, "Uh-oh ... not so good," I'd be embarrassedly dodging this way and that, hoping you never mentioned it again 'cause I didn't want to hurt your feelings. But that's not the case.
You're a good writer, Fred. The book will be good enough. It doesn't have to be the best thing since sliced bread. It's a first book. Expectations will be low. All it has to be is "okay," and folks will be pleased.
And trust me, your Dad reading yours can't be as bad as my 83-year-old mother reading mine and commenting, "Woooooo-wheeeee!" on how hot one part is. Just remembering that conversation makes me want to crawl behind the sofa. If I can withstand that ...
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 15:41:05 GMT -5
Oh...my....God. No, if I handed it to my Mom and she did that, I would've died. That's like the time I heard them having sex upstairs. NOT something a child should ever be subjected to.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 15:42:56 GMT -5
Your parents reading your books...  I've been there. That's worse than the general public reading, trust me. |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 15:43:44 GMT -5
Oh...my....God. No, if I handed it to my Mom and she did that, I would've died. That's like the time I heard them having sex upstairs. NOT something a child should ever be subjected to. <shudder> Thank god that never happened to me. Just finding out conversationally that my parents had had sex more than thrice (me + 2 sisters) almost did me in. |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 15:45:41 GMT -5
Your parents reading your books... I've been there. That's worse than the general public reading, trust me. How about your kids reading them? Is it weird to think of your sons reading sexy scenes you've written, Suzy? ETA: Wow ... what if you write erotica, and your kids read your books ... and get off on them!?!? That's ... oh dear. But it must happen. Criminy. |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 15:48:46 GMT -5
My sons don't read my books. My youngest started, but stopped at a passage where there was some heavy breathing. That's before I started writing hot sex scenes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 15:51:38 GMT -5
My sons don't read my books. My youngest started, but stopped at a passage where there was some heavy breathing. That's before I started writing hot sex scenes. I'm not surprised! If it were my mother, I bet I'd proudly line the books up on my shelf and *never* read them.  |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Feb 19, 2014 15:53:22 GMT -5
Me too.
But I read somewhere that if you're a writer you should never go: 'what will my mother/auntie/husband/children think'? So I don't.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Feb 19, 2014 15:54:31 GMT -5
Good advice. I'll try to keep that in mind ...
|
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Feb 19, 2014 16:06:17 GMT -5
Your parents reading your books... I've been there. That's worse than the general public reading, trust me. How about your kids reading them? Is it weird to think of your sons reading sexy scenes you've written, Suzy? ETA: Wow ... what if you write erotica, and your kids read your books ... and get off on them!?!? That's ... oh dear. But it must happen. Criminy. Okay, now you're really grossing me out. And that's not easy. I'm gonna forbid my girls to read my books. |
|
