tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5547790750288901492..comments2024-03-28T10:36:04.929-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: ON THE OUTSIDEJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53824020463956306292007-03-28T16:07:00.000-04:002007-03-28T16:07:00.000-04:00Hey Jennifer--Love the link! And speaking of your ...Hey Jennifer--<BR/>Love the link! <BR/>And speaking of your first page test--which is what I always do:<BR/><BR/>RO emailed the JR gang this morning, pointing out the interesting article by Stanley Fish in the NYT this morning. <BR/><BR/>It was about how he can pick a good mystery in the airport bookstore--really fast--as they're calling his flight. <BR/><BR/>He says: the only "sure fire" method? Not the cover, not the jacket copy, not the blurbs. He says it's to read the first line. <BR/><BR/>He has a clunker or two--but offered this as the one from the book he bought:<BR/>"Joel Campbell, eleven years old at the time, began his descent into murder with a bus ride."<BR/><BR/>He says "it's efficient, dense, and free of self-preening."<BR/><BR/><BR/>So--you all--what think?<BR/>**Does your first line pass the Stanley test? <BR/>(I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours...)<BR/><BR/>**Does your favorite first line pass the Stanley test?<BR/><BR/>**What book is that, anyway? Anyone know?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45460964500779165582007-03-28T16:01:00.000-04:002007-03-28T16:01:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63172470807064611932007-03-28T14:56:00.000-04:002007-03-28T14:56:00.000-04:00I give every book the first page test (which is so...I give every book the first page test (which is sometimes only the first paragraph test...)<BR/><BR/>Love the blog. And we at The Debutante Ball have just linked to you ladies.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the great blogging!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82951716188428288612007-03-27T18:16:00.000-04:002007-03-27T18:16:00.000-04:00Hey Jackie:Your "two cents' is worth a lot more th...Hey Jackie:<BR/>Your "two cents' is worth a lot more than that--how many books do you have out there now?<BR/>And Patry--welcome home from the glorious book tour. Don't I remember you telling a story about what it was like when you opened the first carton of your new book...and saw the stack of real book covers for the first time?<BR/><BR/>Did either of you have input on your jacket copy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10058924515340933952007-03-27T11:24:00.000-04:002007-03-27T11:24:00.000-04:00Think of that jacket copy as an opportunity for ju...Think of that jacket copy as an opportunity for just what you said - to grab the reader's interest.<BR/>Think of what made you write it - the main problem or hang-up, and enough to interest but not be a spoiler. <BR/>Keep it short enough to tell someone in an elevator - quickly!<BR/>My two cents,<BR/>Jackie GriffeyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75037834939263161162007-03-27T00:44:00.000-04:002007-03-27T00:44:00.000-04:00Love the blog, and the name of the blog, and the s...Love the blog, and the name of the blog, and the stylish look! <BR/><BR/>Judy's comment made me smile. I ask readers the same thing. Where? How? Why? I'm always amazed when someone across the country who has no obvious connection to me writes to say they loved my book.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22659672880454564152007-03-26T20:50:00.000-04:002007-03-26T20:50:00.000-04:00The esteemed Sandra Parshall ( web maven and Agath...The esteemed Sandra Parshall ( web maven and Agatha Award nominee!) posted this website which is a pretty interesting study of what colors work best on covers..<BR/>I looked and looked for the bottom line, but alas...the answer to that one is still elusive. <BR/><BR/>http://www.bigbadbookblog.com/2007/03/21/color-matters/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35428472492847684582007-03-26T15:33:00.000-04:002007-03-26T15:33:00.000-04:00I'm with Jan in thinking the only thing worse than...I'm with Jan in thinking the only thing worse than writing the synopsis would be writing the jacket copy. Ye Gods. If I'd been asked to do that, I'd probably still be working on it. <BR/><BR/>What draws me in first is the book cover, but I couldn't tell you why. Then I look at the back, then the inside the flap copy. The fact that it's so whimsical is terrifying. I'm always asking readers who write to me, "Where'd you find my book?" and "Why'd you buy it?" (but not in a challenging, critical way. I hope.) They usually say word of mouth or front cover.Judy Merrill Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06675069484490433295noreply@blogger.com