tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.comments2023-06-04T08:18:05.065-04:00Starving NovelistSara Furlong-Burrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893391101864117298noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-7313179220033763742015-05-13T03:39:52.391-04:002015-05-13T03:39:52.391-04:00I'm not a big fan of superhero stories, but I ...I'm not a big fan of superhero stories, but I really enjoyed Enigma Black. As I read it I found myself very engrossed in the story in a way that I felt a connection with the characters and cared about the fate of each of the them. The author did a great job of character building and moving the story along.<br />That Why i will create your author page on "QUOTESRAIN" and also show your book on our home page.Jonyhttp://www.quotesrain.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-9152708232473250892014-12-07T05:30:34.577-05:002014-12-07T05:30:34.577-05:00Thanks for hosting me!Thanks for hosting me!Mia Hoddellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431225087724690330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-47376874740339548012014-04-01T13:43:10.320-04:002014-04-01T13:43:10.320-04:00Can't wait to read it!Can't wait to read it!Mia Hoddellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431225087724690330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-13112191917342106272014-03-17T23:18:55.801-04:002014-03-17T23:18:55.801-04:00Looks good, Sara. Sadly, I still judge books by th...Looks good, Sara. Sadly, I still judge books by their covers, but that one looks great. Best of luck with it.<br />How have you been? It's been forever since I've dropped by for a visit. Sorry about that. I just climbed out of writer's cave and thought I'd better take this time to make a few visits. Hope all is well with you and yours.<br />Take care.<br /><br />-JimmyJames Garcia Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559119178720751963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-18440828865958176232014-01-22T18:14:00.964-05:002014-01-22T18:14:00.964-05:00Self-Doubt truly a bane...great post! Thanks for s...Self-Doubt truly a bane...great post! Thanks for sharingEnoch Antihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585299669467410260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-16263482740258744182013-12-02T20:26:02.082-05:002013-12-02T20:26:02.082-05:00Wow. This was very helpful. I'm writing a 90-p...Wow. This was very helpful. I'm writing a 90-page sci-fi screenplay for my scriptwriting class in universty and this really is gonna come in handy.A Musing Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16857042704597168519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-89823244609751605452013-10-31T15:13:13.362-04:002013-10-31T15:13:13.362-04:00Well Said! And I totally understand! I've had ...Well Said! And I totally understand! I've had my felling hurt before and I've had to accept the fact that everyone has their own unique "vision". I also have been totally bummed because I have not been able to get the traffic to my blog or even to my two published books. I so wanted to see "success" not for me, as much as for the subject matter I write and blog about. When you have something you feel so passionate about, you so want to reach out to others, and have them "get it"! Glad I came across your blog. I have been trying to find out about "awards" for blogs and I happened to have found your blog. Really love this article! RhiaRhia's Autoimmune Arthritic Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09124236129163124399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-50302669858898696402013-10-02T15:13:38.784-04:002013-10-02T15:13:38.784-04:00Well said! and good advice, here. I don't have...Well said! and good advice, here. I don't have reviews yet (not published) but I think I'd better stay away from them, because I know myself. Even if I have 99 good reviews, the ONE bad review's words will sneak into my head and lodge there. I've heard some writers advise NEVER to read your reviews. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-33551895873217671112013-09-30T09:36:08.647-04:002013-09-30T09:36:08.647-04:00Thank you for being the voice of reason! I admit t...Thank you for being the voice of reason! I admit that I am a stalker of my reviews and the negative ones have a terrible impact on me, so much so that I do forget about all the positive ones. I will strive to remember your words :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15633640777013534380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-11529204816291505362013-09-30T09:25:22.910-04:002013-09-30T09:25:22.910-04:00I may be abnormal (And in my day job I'm a shr...I may be abnormal (And in my day job I'm a shrink.) but, I treat bad reviews as my free, no obligation (And I mean that in every sense of that term.) critique service. Use it as a learning experience. That reviewer may be wrong but you have to say to yourself, "Huh, Ok, let me take a look at that." Bring it on.JE Mayerhttp://www.drjohnmayer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-35048090336990289192013-09-30T09:23:39.221-04:002013-09-30T09:23:39.221-04:00As Eric said, you hit the nail on the head.
I hav...As Eric said, you hit the nail on the head.<br /><br />I have not received a bad written review, but there have been many verbal ones. They hurt a lot because they were from people I consider friends. Their 'constructive' criticism was hard for me to deal with at the time. Things such as 'your writing style grates on me' is a difficult one to swallow.<br /><br />At the time, I was crushed. But now I think - and say - 'you are not my target audience'. I can move on.<br /><br />Once again, excellent advice.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00335721389507237440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-22008802597302166782013-09-29T10:49:03.271-04:002013-09-29T10:49:03.271-04:00Great post, Sara; it hit the nail on the head. It&...Great post, Sara; it hit the nail on the head. It's a normal reaction upon reading a less than stellar review on something you have lived with day-in, day-out for months or even longer; it's like someone's beating up your child. But I do agree: unless the 'reviewer' has a hidden agenda, even a one star review could help the writer become better at what they love to do - it's all about being open-minded. Plus, there are five-star reviews of the 'Loved it!' variety which tell the writer, and other potential readers, very little about the books. Reviewers should be aware they are not the Grammar Police, the Novel Summarizers (spoilers included), or the Shortest-Responders. Love it or Hate it - tell everyone WHY - that's a review.Eric J. Gateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673817861972436550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-24353280382234337602013-08-25T18:14:34.122-04:002013-08-25T18:14:34.122-04:00I wrote a supernatural young adult novel. I didn&#...I wrote a supernatural young adult novel. I didn't intend to make it a novel. I didn't really have any intentions whatsoever, especially that. Anyway, it's called Sisters with a Secret where the sisters are witches and the sequel will be Sisters Exposed. Obviously they'll be exposed as witches, but the mystery is how and what will happen? Will they become famous or will they be in danger? Again, I didn't really have any intention on writing a sequel, which is weird because it seemed to be a smart idea in the end. I mean...so what? They're witches, big whoop. Now what? There has to be some sort of danger, no? And the biggest thing they feared in the first was being exposed, so that's the only thing to do. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-56620566775868067642013-08-01T10:56:23.059-04:002013-08-01T10:56:23.059-04:00This is absolutely spot on. My writing workspace ...This is absolutely spot on. My writing workspace has this little tidbit displayed in BOLD: "Self-doubt is a poison to creativity!!" Thanks for taking the time to put this into words so the world of creators and authors can breath a sigh of relief. @NeilJSolankiNeil Solankihttp://www.neilsolanki.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-41095158032216701582013-08-01T10:50:57.086-04:002013-08-01T10:50:57.086-04:00Hi Sara
Good to hear 'inside' stories. Ju...Hi Sara<br /><br />Good to hear 'inside' stories. Just put a post on my own site that complements this one perfectly, called 'How to survive as a writer' it might be of interest!<br /><br /><b>www.awaines.blogspot.co.uk</b><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-30493936351249456032013-07-29T21:09:44.650-04:002013-07-29T21:09:44.650-04:00What dystopia's need are more male protagonist...What dystopia's need are more male protagonists. Not female. The genre is riddled with female heroes. It's honestly tiring. It's like only women are allowed to be scared and vulnerable. I would for once like to read about a scared vulnerable male character who becomes strong and confidant. And eventually kick ass. Not many of those around.Shaunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011933457358658981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-67606582908976218582013-07-28T19:41:30.995-04:002013-07-28T19:41:30.995-04:00Love, love, LOVE this post, Sara! Just came across...Love, love, LOVE this post, Sara! Just came across it on twitter today while I'm in the midst of painful (and painfully slow) revisions on my first major manuscript. Self-doubt abounds as the work moves slowly and the story becomes more and more difficult to unwind. I love your suggestions and will be returning to them in the future. Ashleyhttp://teachingtheapocalypse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-2612538420115393492013-07-22T14:11:30.124-04:002013-07-22T14:11:30.124-04:00I think you need a bit of both. You have to be abl...I think you need a bit of both. You have to be able to make stuff up from nothing, and once you have a first draft you're basically working from an outline for the next draft.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-42887806545228266872013-05-09T05:23:01.734-04:002013-05-09T05:23:01.734-04:00I love a good dystopian story. You rarely find bet...I love a good dystopian story. You rarely find better underdogs than in dystopian fiction, and I love an underdog.<br /><br />One of my future book ideas is a dystopoan superhero novel set in a world where the superheroes decided to start killing supervillains, and over time took control of the world, for its own protection.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-50792130194889329282013-04-18T13:58:27.081-04:002013-04-18T13:58:27.081-04:00You cannot be more right about ignoring negative r...You cannot be more right about ignoring negative reviews (and even comments). I wrote an article for The Daily Beast about my younger son. A few of the comments were mean and hurtful, yet (despite the personal nature of my essay) I chose to ignore them.<br /><br />My one pet peeve is people who rate your book one star but give no review to support it. I often wonder if these folks have even read the book at all. <br /><br />Anyway, I need to put your book on my TBR list pronto!Susan Oloierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07311938400999953443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-30884814136567061552013-03-22T03:00:47.345-04:002013-03-22T03:00:47.345-04:00Thank you. That's all I can say.Thank you. That's all I can say.Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-89848244476516324492013-03-07T09:27:47.826-05:002013-03-07T09:27:47.826-05:00A nice list you have here! I totally agree with mo...A nice list you have here! I totally agree with most of your points, it really annoys me! "And" is what I was taught at school not to use yet when I read more and more books, that rule seems to not apply O_O many people write using "And" and it just confused me.<br /><br />Haha, I will not use the names Edward and Jacob. Focusing on character development and plot is definitely important! I wrote a post about my own fiction pet peeves, it includes some additional ones that you may not have talked about but I hope you will read, comment and tell me what you think :) http://nynyonlinex.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/fiction-pet-peeves/Nyashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150166239076825811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-34110170479194211142013-02-27T14:24:13.130-05:002013-02-27T14:24:13.130-05:00Great article! I'm not a huge fan of epilogues...Great article! I'm not a huge fan of epilogues myself (leave 'em wondering!), but prologues, I like. <br /><br />One of your reference links is broken though - was this it? http://www.scribendi.com/advice/how_to_write_a_prologue.en.html ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-18791968848587549132013-02-21T00:14:51.943-05:002013-02-21T00:14:51.943-05:00Thank you all! James, I'm planning on getting ...Thank you all! James, I'm planning on getting to your novel too. :-)Sara Furlong-Burrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893391101864117298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085903023777323950.post-81567240398885238842013-02-12T02:19:19.395-05:002013-02-12T02:19:19.395-05:00Awesome review! It is sad that people can be so ch...Awesome review! It is sad that people can be so childish when it comes to less than stellar reviews. When someone gives a "bad" review, we should be grateful for the honest feedback. In this case, I'm glad to read that this reviewer really enjoyed reading Enigma Black, but at the same time gave some good constructive criticism. As writers, that's all we can ask for. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to Book 2!<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />RobRob (Sharky) Prunedahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03852272996508745105noreply@blogger.com