tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post7274533401142212228..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Reader Question: Flaming CorpsesBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10963660866767358092007-02-08T08:57:00.000-05:002007-02-08T08:57:00.000-05:00In my search for an agent for my debut novel, this...In my search for an agent for my debut novel, this has been something that I have definitely had to contend with. I don't get the impression that there has to be a story climax on page 1, but I do get the feeling that the reader has to immediately have some sense that the story is going somewhere interesting. This is, of course, what Jessica said.<BR/><BR/>What I find more interesting from this post is the fact that Jessica is actively looking for reasons to reject an ms. Yikes! I had never thought of it quite that way, before. I guess that just goes to illustrate the level of competition that now exists in the land of publishing: if you want to make it through the door with your first book, looks like it had better be darn near perfect...<BR/><BR/>Chris<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://christophermpark.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">My blog on writing</A>Christopher M. Parkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16719365007524426389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45939721650130730902007-02-06T12:14:00.000-05:002007-02-06T12:14:00.000-05:00it's a turn-off as a reader to have to play catch ...it's a turn-off as a reader to have to play catch up or feel like you started in the middle of the story with no set-up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11250610503885902822007-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:002007-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:00A very reassuring answer. I try to make the tensio...A very reassuring answer. I try to make the tension start high and rachet higher and higher, but I do appreciate not feeling like I have to start in the middle of the story.Staciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07969399927758009095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66686262626311753452007-02-06T10:10:00.000-05:002007-02-06T10:10:00.000-05:00Miss Snark seems to like her euphemisms. You got ...Miss Snark seems to like her euphemisms. You got the general gist of a 'flaming corpse', I think. It's just some event in the first few pages that makes you want to read more - a dead body, something on fire... Conflict.<br /><br />Of course, if you've actually got a dead body that's also on fire, it's even better. (Or so the idea goes.)B.E. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336115135400388268noreply@blogger.com