First Chapter Blunders!



Why is it that some books draw you in and make you want to read more, while others are merely okay, or even flat? Although there can be many different reasons, a big one is what occurs in the first chapter, or how the story begins. A stories initial set-up can really make or break whether it draws in the reader and makes them want to engage. In the course of reading I’ve found that many novels, while they may have good middles and great endings, their first chapters lack pizazz.

FIRST CHAPTER BLUNDERS

Here are a few common first chapter mistakes:

1 – Boring Conversations – If within the first ten pages, the characters are having a long and dull conversation about everyday matters, some character we haven’t met (and don’t yet care about), or just a long conversation, I’m usually bored. Give me action and let me care about the characters, then they can converse all they want. To be sure, I’ve read novels with character conversations starting the book and have enjoyed the beginning, but they’ve always been done in such a way, where the conversation isn’t lengthy and other things besides talking are taking place.

2 – Lackluster First Lines – A first line isn’t everything, but the more intriguing the better. Don’t be weird or write something just to grab attention, but do be interesting. And if not the first line, then at least the first paragraph.

3 – Backstory – This is one that isn’t found alot in published novels, at least those written recently, but it's very common in unpublished manuscripts. Readers don’t need to be told everything right away. There should be mystery or a reason to read forward. Backstory is best dropped in as crumbs. Tiny bits here and there. You can have a bigger amount of backstory in the middle, but if there’s a lot in the first twenty pages, chances are your reader will skim, or worse yet, put the book down altogether.

4 – Confusion – On the flipside, there can be too little information, or too many characters. We don’t want to meet the whole cast by page twenty. Pick four or five characters and work on introducing those in chapter one. We want to get to know the main characters right away. Just like in a movie where we want to meet the people we’re spending two or more hours with in the first few scenes.

I generally do keep reading if I like the premise of a book, even if it has one or two of these elements. I’ll give it fifty pages and then reasses. But the truth is, most readers don’t. With the amount of books available, not to mention other media, the sooner you hook ‘em the better.

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A GREAT FIRST CHAPTER??

Next writing post I’ll give some techniques on how to write a stellar first chapter that will keep readers wanting more!

Happy Writing,

Amanda

 

 

Period Fashion Gallery

I thought it might be fun to do a period fashion gallery post, maybe once a month, full of the lovely gowns from Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian times. Maybe even some chic flapper era gowns too. Because honestly, I can’t get enough of looking at the elegance that was 19^th and early 20^th century fashion and hopefully, after this post, you’ll love it just as much as I do.

Let’s see what lovely Edwardian gowns we’re modeling today. J 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dress, Afternoon House of Paquin (French, 1891–1956) Designer: Mme. Jeanne Paquin (French, 1869–1936) Date: 1906–8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dress, Evening Callot Soeurs (French, 1895–1937) Date: ca. 1911

Dress, Callot Soeurs (French, active 1895–1937) Date: fall/winter 1910–11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening dress, ca 1909 France

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undergarments early 1900’s

And lastly the costume a real lady would never dare appear in out in public.

 

 

Hope you've enjoyed this trip down fashion avenue!

Amanda

 

Punctuation Part Two – That lovely colon

Some things in life are boring, but necessary, like doing dishes and taking a shower. (Sometimes even blogging can be like this! LOL) They aren’t thrilling and can be very tedious. Yet without them life would be messy. So it is with punctuation. As far as I’m concerned, I could write and write and then hand over my manuscript and let someone else deal with the nitty gritty punctuation stuff.

 

However if we want to be a successful writer, punctuation is a must. Especially in these days when writers must, to an extent, be their own editors. So lets take a brief (and possibly painful- if you don't like grammar) look at the correct way to use a colon.

Colon Rules:

1 – Use a colon after a complete sentence when introducing a list.

Example – When I went shopping I bought the following items: milk, frozen pizza, oatmeal, and sugar.

2 – Use a colon to direct attention to an appositive.

Example – She discovered there was only one thing she wanted: his true love.

3 – Use a colon after a complete sentence before a quotation.

Example – The beginning of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina brilliantly foreshadows what is to come: “
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

4 – Capitalize the first word after a colon if it:

A- Introduces dialog in a play.

Example – Don Pedro: I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love.
Benedick: With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord. Not with love.

B- If the first word is a proper noun.

Example – The West children are as follows: Ann, Jerry, Elizabeth, and Joy.

C-If the colon precedes two or more related sentences.

Example – We will never succeed unless we do three things: Persevere during difficult times. Keep calm no matter what. Always trust the Lord.

 In Conclusion

So there you have it. Colon rules in a nutshell. Hopefully these help as you write your novels and maybe spare you some headache. Next week I will get back to the fun blogs about Edwardian England in all its finery and beauty!

We Have A Winner!!!

Congratulations to Ladette, the winner of A Hope Undaunted. She has been contacted and her book will be mailed to her shortly.

Thanks so much to all who entered!!!!

Happy Writing,

Amanda

Regency Remedies

Regency medicine was worrisome at best, dangerous at worst. It’s a wonder our dashing heroes and beautiful heroines managed to stay alive, especially if they made use of some popular remedies from the era.

Let’s peer into the apothecary’s workroom, perhaps the apothecary of Meryton and see what sort of cures he might be dishing out. Some are similar to things used today and some…well, are just plain strange. 

For a headache: This unpleasant pain may be prevented by wearing the hair short, and by washing the head daily with cold water; then rub the hair dry, and expose it to the air.

For a fever: Boil three ounces of currants, two of raisins carefully stoned, and an ounce and a half of tamarinds, in three pints of water, till it is reduced to a quart, strain it, throw in a bit of lemon-peel, and let it stand an hour.

For a sore throat: Soak in water a small piece of bread and mix it with a pinch of cayenne pepper; roll it up in the form of a pill and swallow it. Usually in three hours the patient will be relieved of all pain. In aggravated cases, a second dose may be requisite.

For a sprained ankle: Shower a sprained ankle with hot water, poured from a height of three feet. It will be cured in an hour.

For a nosebleed: Snuff up the nose vinegar or ice water.

For a toothache: A drop of oil of peppermint applied to the cavity of an aching tooth, and confined there with a pellet of cotton, will arrest the pain.

For a wound: Without waiting for it to stop bleeding, press the edges of the lacerated flesh together, and apply immediately a plaster made of soot and cream, binding it firmly on. This is not to be removed till healed.

For a burn: Nothing is more soothing than the white of an egg, which may be poured over the wound. It is the contact with the air which gives the extreme discomfort experienced from the ordinary accident of this kind, and anything which excludes the air and prevents inflammation is the thing to be applied.

For bruises: The best treatment of bruises is the application of water, of such temperature as is most agreeable. The degree of temperature varies with the temperature of the weather and the vigor of the circulation. In a hot day, use cool or cold water. If the circulation is low, use warm water. The bruised parts may be immersed in a pail of water, and gently pressed or manipulated with the hand or soft cloth for ten minutes, or even longer in severe cases. Then wrap up the parts in cloths wet with cold water, and keep quiet. This treatment keeps down the inflammation, and in nine cases out of ten proves a speedy cure.

And last but not least,

For insomnia: On retiring to bed, eat three or four small onions.

So there you have it. After reading and researching this topic, I’m certainly glad I live in the 21^st century and don’t have to resort to drastic measures like these. I wonder how many of them did any good and how many actually made the problem worse. Oh, my poor characters! J

Happy Researching,

Amanda

We Have A Winner!!!!!

 Congratulations to Lori, the winner of A Necessary Deception. She has been contacted and her book will be mailed to her shortly.

Thanks so much to all who entered and a BIG thank you to Laurie for doing the interview!!!

Happy Writing,

Amanda

The Prequel We’ve All Been Waiting For!

Anyone who’s read even one of Julie Lessman’s novels knows that the characters instantly become like family. Especially Marcy and Patrick, the mother and father with a wonderful marriage, despite its many up’s and down’s.

But we’ve never gotten to read their love story. Until now.





Thankfully, Julie Lessman has penned a tale worth the wait. While not as lengthy as her previous novels, A Light in the Window is full of all the elements we’ve come to know and love about Julie’s books. A sigh worthy romance with a sweet and likable heroine, and a roguish but redeemable hero. Plus, some great dialog and romantic tension between the two resulting in some very swoon-worthy kisses. J Lastly, loveable secondary characters that will make you smile and stay in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page.

With a bit of family drama, a sprinkle of humor, and a hefty dose of romance, A Light in the Window has all the elements required for my favorite kind of story. I could go on and on but I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just let you dive into the pages yourself. You won’t be disappointed!

One Woman. Two Men.
One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy is a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues. But when two of Boston's most notorious pursue her, she encounters a tug-of-war of the heart she isn’t expecting. Sam O’Rourke is the childhood hero she’s pined for, the brother of her best friend and a member of the large, boisterous family to which she longs to be a part. So when his best friend Patrick O’Connor joins in pursuit of her affections, the choice seems all too clear. Sam is from a family of faith and Patrick is not, two rogues whose wild ways clash head-on with Marcy’s—both in her faith and in her heart.

While overseeing the Christmas play fundraiser for the St. Mary’s parish soup kitchen—A Light in the Window—Marcy not only wrestles with her attraction to both men, but with her concern for their spiritual welfare. The play is based on the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family, and for Marcy, its message becomes deeply personal. Her grandmother Mima cautions her to guard her heart for the type of man who will respond to the "light in the window," meaning the message of Christ in her heart. But when disaster strikes during the play, Marcy is destined to discover the truth of the play’s message first-hand when it becomes clear that although two men have professed their undying love, only one has truly responded to “the light in the window.”

RELEASING SOON! PLUS CONTESTS! .......             

If that whets your appetite you won't want to miss reading this awesome book which releases on November 9th. You can reserve your copy through Amazon today.

Want a free Kindle Fire? Julie is running some cool contests along with the release of this book. Check them out here:   http://www.julielessman.com/contest/    

 

 

 

 

READ A COPY OF ONE OF JULIE'S BOOKS NOW--FOR FREE! 

 GIVEAWAY! I’m giving away a copy of A Hope Undaunted, one of my favorite Julie Lessman novels. Leave a comment and your email address to be entered into the drawing which ends October 31^st. This would make a great read or even a present for that special someone for Christmas!

 

LASTLY......
Wow! Things are really happening this week on the blog. First Laurie Alice Eakes now Julie Lessman! Don't forget to leave a comment on each of these posts to win one of these great books!

Don't forget to sign up to receive all my posts about writing, historical eras in which I write, and more great interviews and giveaways in the weeks to come.

Happy Writing (and reading),
Amanda