Would you turn the page?

4 Comments

  • Jagoda - 11 years ago

    I voted yes to turn the page because of the story questions. But how many more pages would I turn given how disconnected I feel from this character? I don't know why I should care about him/her. I don't mind the use of words I don't know as long as I resonate with the story or character. I do mind when I feel overtly manipulated by an author as I do with these first lines.

  • Bob Greene - 11 years ago

    In my opinion I believe an editor if it goes that far, would pass on this manuscript if it were an unknown writer. There is no tension. For the reader to latch onto and believe this character is on a cliff and needs something, anything, to save himself there must be a compelling paragraph with a tension thrust to move toward his new world. I believe this writing is in need of a good editor. There is a story question but all in all I would not turn the page. Draw me in, stab me in the heart make me love (feel empathetic toward) the character and above all make be believe the hero or if not the hero the person in the first chapter is about to fall face first or enter a new world and needs help or he is doomed. I am only qualified as a reader, not an editor, and this is only my opinion.

  • Lori Owen - 11 years ago

    Heck, I only skimmed the first page. I could not figure out if it was a poem or what. I had no desire to read the book at all.

  • MT - 11 years ago

    I happen to be in the middle of reading Inferno, so I read your post with interest. I am having real difficulty turning the pages on Brown's book. The writing is sloppy and characters are cardboard. I want to edit sentences as I read -- never a good sign.
    I thought The DaVinci Code was a real page turner, as was Deception Point But Lost Symbol and Inferno do not live up to his earlier standards.
    This is true of many best-selling authors. I think their editors get lax (or don't edit at all), knowing that the book will sell anyway. Quality of writing doesn't really matter for these authors. But it matters for us as writers, striving to break into a field where we must excel, when the A-list authors don't.
    What do others think? Sour grapes, or valid criticism of the industry?

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