tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post9054800849883635365..comments2023-10-30T15:13:22.680+00:00Comments on Strictly Writing: The Ideal Reader - Guest post by Andrew SharpDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-28768396398441678942010-10-11T11:24:52.595+01:002010-10-11T11:24:52.595+01:00Great post Andrew, thanks :)Great post Andrew, thanks :)Natural Male Enhancementhttp://mstanley81@ymail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-20894207742262762282009-10-31T14:49:44.115+00:002009-10-31T14:49:44.115+00:00Great post!
I love your point about wanting to s...Great post! <br /><br />I love your point about wanting to shread some of the Booker prize winners - there are several which I struggle to believe were published!<br /><br />I agree - everyone has a very different taste in books, so just because one person doesn't like your book doesn't mean that 1000s of others wont.<br /><br />Ghosts of Eden is a wonderful book, so if anyone hasn't read it yet - you really should!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698068501004755678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-64914783066038366522009-10-25T17:30:54.132+00:002009-10-25T17:30:54.132+00:00Best of luck Fionnuala and AliB. Some encouragemen...Best of luck Fionnuala and AliB. Some encouragement for you in submitting: assuming that your writing follows a few basic rules for storytelling and is technically competent, you do have the human diversity factor in your favour. If there are some readers of your draft who tell you that they felt genuinely compelled to carry on reading after the first page then, as agents are also part of the human race (bear with me on this), it is likely that there is an agent out there somewhere who will feel the same. So keep submitting.Andrew Sharphttp://www.theghostsofeden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-14274210192802868912009-10-25T10:46:32.957+00:002009-10-25T10:46:32.957+00:00Hi Andrew,
What a fabulous piece and again a timel...Hi Andrew,<br />What a fabulous piece and again a timely one for me. I have laboured over my first three chapters all of last week - changing the first page (again)when eventually I shouted out loud 'ENOUGH'! All printed out and nin their envelopes for subbing now - will send them on their way with a kiss - after the postal strike!<br />Good luck with the book Andrew.Fionnualahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275984316414726884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-78787887576059217542009-10-23T19:37:48.847+01:002009-10-23T19:37:48.847+01:00Andrew. Enjoyed your post and I have your book, fo...Andrew. Enjoyed your post and I have your book, following great recommendations. Still to read - but looking forward to it.Essie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04611324005960689918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-39872312649018473832009-10-23T16:25:19.021+01:002009-10-23T16:25:19.021+01:00Hi Andrew
Excellent post - and I concur on the adv...Hi Andrew<br />Excellent post - and I concur on the advantages of reading out to a 'critical-friendly' group. Nothing like an audience for making the gaffs jump out. The problem is that little phrase - 'subjective element kicks in.' I think this means there can never be an ideal reader, because everyone has an individual viewpoint (including agents!) We poor unpublished can only get as much feedback as poss, pick out the bits that resonate, and make our own decisions (for better or for worse!) <br />AliBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-35501657516330296002009-10-23T14:59:21.973+01:002009-10-23T14:59:21.973+01:00Did I say 'Hilda'? How cryptic. My apologi...Did I say 'Hilda'? How cryptic. My apologies Gillian! May be I should have read out aloud what I had written - although my family already think I'm a little mad!Andrew Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-63034570285252821662009-10-23T14:31:48.274+01:002009-10-23T14:31:48.274+01:00Thanks very much for all your comments. Am so plea...Thanks very much for all your comments. Am so pleased that you’re enjoying the novel, Hilda. One of the things about reading your manuscript out to a group is that you find, even without comments from your listeners, that it instantly helps in editing. I guess this is because when you read it back to yourself silently from the page you read what you thought you wrote, rather than what you actually wrote. Speaking out the text forces you to notice each word and shows up sentences which don’t flow or contain ambiguities of grammar etc. Another benefit is that when you speak at events after the book is launched (did a blog piece about this here: http://www.redroom.com/blog/ajhs/launch-party), you’ve had plenty of practice at it – all the mumbling or speaking too fast has been purged from you by your friends in the writing group!Andrew Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-19219042508702320232009-10-23T14:29:27.948+01:002009-10-23T14:29:27.948+01:00Brilliant post, Andrew, and I agree with Gillian t...Brilliant post, Andrew, and I agree with Gillian that The Ghosts of Eden is fantastic. One of my top reads of this year!Caroline Rhttp://quackdoctor.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-71433691114560139952009-10-23T14:25:03.054+01:002009-10-23T14:25:03.054+01:00Great post, Andrew. You sum up the problem of the...Great post, Andrew. You sum up the problem of the longing-to-be-read-but-unagented writer perfectly.<br />SusiexSusie Nott-Bowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08428000582406338267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-68101453531577186592009-10-23T10:36:06.204+01:002009-10-23T10:36:06.204+01:00Thanks for an excellent post, Andrew. It must have...Thanks for an excellent post, Andrew. It must have been absolutely terrifying, standing in front of that group for the first time. I could never have read my work out like that on a first meeting [shudder].<br />Best of luck with the novel, which I'll definitely be looking out for now.Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-60647556844164613702009-10-23T10:27:23.635+01:002009-10-23T10:27:23.635+01:00This is a fantastic book and one which resonates w...This is a fantastic book and one which resonates with me very much(says she who is currently engrossed in it!) Your post has given me a great insight into 3D writing groups (of the non-online variety!) - scary!<br /><br />Congrats on a fantastic read, Andrew, and I look forward to more!Gillian McDadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02758782108258244355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-6609569549364839052009-10-23T09:14:38.383+01:002009-10-23T09:14:38.383+01:00I admire anyone brave enough to join an in-the-fle...I admire anyone brave enough to join an in-the-flesh writing group.<br /><br />Insightive post, Andrew. Well done on your success.Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-87639984656107012392009-10-23T08:47:32.064+01:002009-10-23T08:47:32.064+01:00Hi Andrew.
I too am a member of a writing group, t...Hi Andrew.<br />I too am a member of a writing group, though we are in single figures and very informal.<br />It was these guys who really spurred me on in the early days of writing. They are very exacting in their crits, as am I of their work, but encouraging overall.<br />I wouldn't be without them.<br />HB xHelen Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00266205672947750373noreply@blogger.com