tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post8991112766614085477..comments2024-02-27T01:58:16.750-05:00Comments on BOOK PREGNANT: The RulesLydia Netzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11448861273955788158noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-33076715812405245092012-03-21T23:43:20.099-04:002012-03-21T23:43:20.099-04:00I won't tell if you won't, Barbara. :)I won't tell if you won't, Barbara. :)Julie Kiblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07914386223833117415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-2776139256198059002012-03-21T18:36:36.832-04:002012-03-21T18:36:36.832-04:00I'm cracking up, because my word count also sh...I'm cracking up, because my word count also shot up after revisions--to think I had sweated blood to get down to 97K--and my editor never said a word. Shhh.Barbara Claypole Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03308093554908967725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-58008154435877679872012-03-20T22:13:33.989-04:002012-03-20T22:13:33.989-04:00Thanks, ladies. And yes, I definitely think "...Thanks, ladies. And yes, I definitely think "the rules" are used to filter submissions to a degree. It's just kind of amusing how stressed we can get over breaking them. :)Julie Kiblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07914386223833117415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-8605578071524694492012-03-20T21:55:46.809-04:002012-03-20T21:55:46.809-04:00I'll go ahead and break the rule about clichés...I'll go ahead and break the rule about clichés: Rules were made to be broken. Sentences that start with Never or Always make me nervous, especially when it comes to writing. I am so looking forward to reading Calling Me Home--especially the backstory!Seré Prince Halversonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09246026185756770382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-2814489838593788482012-03-20T11:27:51.068-04:002012-03-20T11:27:51.068-04:00Great post Julie! I think Amy hit on something whe...Great post Julie! I think Amy hit on something when she wondered if the rules evolved because of the onslaught of queries received by agents. I broke a rule right from the beginning by sending out queries that intentionally left out word count (170K). In the end it worked and I got an agent, who insisted I cut it down to 120K. But when I was doing my revisions I never worried I might be adding too many words. I added over 7K and my editor never blinked. Just call me a rebel. LOL Can't WAIT to read Calling Me Home!!!Ellen Marie Wisemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15125041685138604553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-76752614350263445022012-03-20T10:54:48.725-04:002012-03-20T10:54:48.725-04:00Great post, Julie. It is all about the writing. It...Great post, Julie. It is all about the writing. It sounds like your book will be impossible to put down! I'm looking forward to it.anita hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14890350474573208853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-2603296808137434602012-03-20T10:11:46.139-04:002012-03-20T10:11:46.139-04:00Backstory is sometimes the heart of the story. And...Backstory is sometimes the heart of the story. And it sounds like it is in the case of CALLING ME HOME (which I can't wait to read). <br /><br />My novel has a now and then structure. The backstory integral to the book. It makes the current situation tick. And I think that's the difference. If the reader needs the information to understand, it's important. But the information in the backstory has to be more than just information--it also has to have a beating heart of its own.Marcille Sibleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11596246894421825468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-51788455528677041562012-03-20T09:28:09.241-04:002012-03-20T09:28:09.241-04:00Great post, Julie, and I'm glad the world didn...Great post, Julie, and I'm glad the world didn't end when you went over 100K. I don't think that will be possible for mine! I can't wait to read the final version of Calling Me Home. Joan, I wonder if I'd recognize your book now...Kim Bullockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06100854132576647442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-55727029347896470952012-03-20T09:05:35.212-04:002012-03-20T09:05:35.212-04:00I am so guilty of trying to adhere to the rules. (...I am so guilty of trying to adhere to the rules. (In my world, you won't be surprised to learn, I'm very "letter of the law" conscious) Julie, I loved your missing backstory on first read, but I'm sure you've worked in the flashback marvelously. :) I recently took a leap and broke the "Don't open with dialogue" rule, because it just feels so right now. We'll see how it's received when it's out in the world! Now I'm feeling gutsy and looking for more rules to break. Thanks for a great post!Joan Morahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03152990243138876941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968970271234415691.post-53858019791579381862012-03-20T08:49:00.150-04:002012-03-20T08:49:00.150-04:00Julie, I love knowing that breaking rules is more ...Julie, I love knowing that breaking rules is more the rule than the exception. I wonder if those rules have evolved because of the onslaught of queries received by agents, and the focus on making sure an author has a clear cut and well written story before getting a little "fancier" if that makes sense. Ok, back to my backstory!!! :-)Amy Sue Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13854920309673361956noreply@blogger.com