tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post3301006283564528806..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Misunderestimating, by Jess LoureyLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-37597138712511518312011-01-13T21:11:30.201-05:002011-01-13T21:11:30.201-05:00That's two of you who read out loud. It's ...That's two of you who read out loud. It's funny because I always advise my students to do it (it's the best way to edit! I say), but like journaling, I just never do it. Maybe I'm missing out.Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-9947652265211736992011-01-13T18:56:44.311-05:002011-01-13T18:56:44.311-05:00Beta readers. Mine consistently save my butt. Also...Beta readers. Mine consistently save my butt. Also, reading out loud helps.Alice Loweeceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09269785237562203610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-22735707556173728602011-01-13T13:05:23.083-05:002011-01-13T13:05:23.083-05:00"Listen, then go with your gut." Is this..."Listen, then go with your gut." Is this the consensus? It makes sense and has been my experience, as well.Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-39139270480901979962011-01-13T12:19:37.350-05:002011-01-13T12:19:37.350-05:00Having those in-tune readers is wonderful! Someti...Having those in-tune readers is wonderful! Sometimes when I get feedback I see the person's point instantly, and wonder how I could have missed something so obvious. <br /><br />If I get feedback that doesn't feel right, I've learned to let it sit in the back of my mind for a while before making a decision. Sometimes I end up making a change; other times I don't.<br /><br />Interesting post, Jess!Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-31416959036719181732011-01-13T12:00:59.909-05:002011-01-13T12:00:59.909-05:00Great post, Jess. I have a couple readers who are ...Great post, Jess. I have a couple readers who are also authors but in different genres. Most of the time they are right on the money and I benefit greatly from listening to them. On occasion a suggestion just doesn't feel right, though. I usually give it a day or so to percolate, and then go with my gut. More important is when I know something is off and no one else seems to see it. I've learned to pay close attention to that feeling.Cricket McRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786996969148417569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-61690320872985657122011-01-13T11:09:03.104-05:002011-01-13T11:09:03.104-05:00Great story, Jess! How do I tell the difference be...Great story, Jess! How do I tell the difference between what must stay and what should go? My critique group lets me know! And in response to Lois, usually when they point out something that should be changed, in my gut I know they're right. If my gut doesn't agree, I think on it, and may still make a change, though maybe not the one they suggest.Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-71144109784567657852011-01-13T10:36:50.671-05:002011-01-13T10:36:50.671-05:00I always read my manuscripts aloud to my wife (she...I always read my manuscripts aloud to my wife (she sweetly tolerates this). I catch a lot of things through the ears that sounded so right inside my head.Darrell Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394984700734588887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-87510083053589081632011-01-13T10:19:04.224-05:002011-01-13T10:19:04.224-05:00Jess, I'm going to be the voice of dissent her...Jess, I'm going to be the voice of dissent here. Back when I was unpublished and receiving lots of rejection letters, I noticed something very odd. What one editor loved about a book, another rejected for that same reason. Taste is very subjective. I would never change anything in a book that a beta reader pointed out unless several other readers and my editor agreed it needed to be changed. <br /><br />I use foul language in my books where it's appropriate to the character and the scene. I know the F word bothers some people, but a mob-connected loan shark isn't going to to say, "Oh fudge!" <br /><br />Same with WTF and BFF. I don't believe in dumbing down my books. Nine year olds know what those terms mean. Anastasia's teenage sons are going to know and use those expressions. Parents of kids know them. If someone is reading something he or she doesn't know, I'd hope that person would Google the term to learn something. <br /><br />Case in point, several of my husband's coworkers have bought my book. The other day my husband told me that one of the engineers said he had to look up some of the words I use in my book, that he'd never heard them before. This is a man with an advanced degree. My feeling? Hey, I was responsible for expanding his vocabulary!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-63361851336510495402011-01-13T09:47:39.170-05:002011-01-13T09:47:39.170-05:00Sue Ann, what do you do in exchange for your barom...Sue Ann, what do you do in exchange for your barometers? I feel eternally indebted to my first readers, and I feel like I can never return the favor because most of them are not authors.Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-17765697877094168532011-01-13T09:46:54.172-05:002011-01-13T09:46:54.172-05:00That is hilarious, Vicki! I want to know the origi...That is hilarious, Vicki! I want to know the origin of that word, how it came to mean preservatives in one language and condoms in another. I suppose, if we directly translate, condoms are preservatives of sanity, among more tangible things. <br /><br />Reminds me of a sign that I saw in Mexico last week--"Devolutions not accepted." I suppose that's a direct translation of "returns." :)Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-28689030056856660072011-01-13T09:28:06.523-05:002011-01-13T09:28:06.523-05:00I also have my barometers, those few people who re...I also have my barometers, those few people who read the manuscript while in progress. If they cry "foul", I reconsider it. They are always correct.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-15418806173181541042011-01-13T07:31:08.080-05:002011-01-13T07:31:08.080-05:00Jess, very funny story! I once told a whole table ...Jess, very funny story! I once told a whole table of Parisians that American food contained "preservatifs" not knowing I was saying condoms. Boy did that get some laughter...<br /><br />As to knowing when things are "off," I think you are on track by having people you trust read and comment. Unlike editors, they are reading for that elusive quality of what feels right.Vicki Douderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12683468231378487388noreply@blogger.com