Comments on: SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and the Sequence of Events http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:17:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: SG1 Series Part Three: Action & Dialogue » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-16858 SG1 Series Part Three: Action & Dialogue » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:27:10 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-16858 [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...] [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...]

]]> By: SG1 Series Part Five: Formula – Making a Success Key Mould » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-16856 SG1 Series Part Five: Formula – Making a Success Key Mould » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:17:24 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-16856 [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...] [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...]

]]> By: SG1 Series Part One: Story-Arc, Plot and SubPlot » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-16853 SG1 Series Part One: Story-Arc, Plot and SubPlot » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:06:35 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-16853 [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...] [...] SG1 Series Part Four: Hooks, Hangers and The Sequence of Events [...]

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-254 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:26:29 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-254 :-D Thank you Elrena. I've been worried that this series is TOO chock-a-block full of information. They're much longer then would be ideal for this medium. I break a number of my own blogging rules. But so far there have been no complaints. I promise, after the series is over I'll try to give everyone's eyes a break with some shorter posts and more variety for a while until another series idea sparks. :-D Thank you Elrena. I’ve been worried that this series is TOO chock-a-block full of information. They’re much longer then would be ideal for this medium. I break a number of my own blogging rules. But so far there have been no complaints. I promise, after the series is over I’ll try to give everyone’s eyes a break with some shorter posts and more variety for a while until another series idea sparks.

]]> By: Elrena http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-253 Elrena Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:19:52 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-253 You have such a cool blog -- I think it's awesome how much work you put into it! It's like a free writing class. :) You have such a cool blog — I think it’s awesome how much work you put into it! It’s like a free writing class. :)

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-251 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:50:05 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-251 Thanks Kathleen, I'm glad you're enjoying the series. I no longer buy/borrow only the first book in a series because of this problem. I've taken to waiting until they're all written and available. I get the whole series at once so I can read them all without worrying about that annoying cliff hanger that forces us to wait for the next book. Even the series books that doesn't leave us hanging on a cliff are incomplete enough for me to feel like I need to read the next book right away. So, series authors may find sales of the first and second book down but a boost when the final book is release from all the consumers like me who only buy complete sets. :-) Thanks Kathleen, I’m glad you’re enjoying the series.

I no longer buy/borrow only the first book in a series because of this problem. I’ve taken to waiting until they’re all written and available. I get the whole series at once so I can read them all without worrying about that annoying cliff hanger that forces us to wait for the next book. Even the series books that doesn’t leave us hanging on a cliff are incomplete enough for me to feel like I need to read the next book right away. So, series authors may find sales of the first and second book down but a boost when the final book is release from all the consumers like me who only buy complete sets. :-)

]]> By: Kathleen Frassrand http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-250 Kathleen Frassrand Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:36:59 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-250 I just LOVE these posts. They are so informative. It is wonderful to have these ideas floating around in my head while I'm writing. And you've given us a checklist, of sorts, to compare to our manuscripts during the editing process. Thank you! I am one of the few people who really hate cliff-hangers. I don't mind them SO much in writing, as I will forfeit a few hours of sleep to continue reading. As long as they come at the end of the chapter!!! What really really (did I mention REALLY) gets me is when the cliff-hangers come at the end of book 1 in a 3 book series. I've recently gotten sucked into two new novels that ended book 1 with a cliff-hanger.. or ended right in the middle of what I consider the serious action. That just pisses me off! I'm going to read books 2 and 3 ANYWAY! Don't torment me by not wrapping up book 1 to a satisfying conclusion. And.. just to be sure.. it was two different Best-Selling authors who did this. Nora Roberts and Karen Marie Moning. DANG!! Anyway - thanks for this great series of posts. They are more helpful than you realize. :-) I just LOVE these posts. They are so informative. It is wonderful to have these ideas floating around in my head while I’m writing. And you’ve given us a checklist, of sorts, to compare to our manuscripts during the editing process. Thank you!

I am one of the few people who really hate cliff-hangers. I don’t mind them SO much in writing, as I will forfeit a few hours of sleep to continue reading. As long as they come at the end of the chapter!!! What really really (did I mention REALLY) gets me is when the cliff-hangers come at the end of book 1 in a 3 book series.

I’ve recently gotten sucked into two new novels that ended book 1 with a cliff-hanger.. or ended right in the middle of what I consider the serious action. That just pisses me off! I’m going to read books 2 and 3 ANYWAY! Don’t torment me by not wrapping up book 1 to a satisfying conclusion. And.. just to be sure.. it was two different Best-Selling authors who did this. Nora Roberts and Karen Marie Moning. DANG!!

Anyway – thanks for this great series of posts. They are more helpful than you realize. :-)

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-244 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:48:43 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-244 I think it helps that my posts are entirely featured around writing rather than the series. I try to avoid going into detail about the actual program because this blog isn't about Stargate, it's about writing. The truth is, most of these points could be compared with other television series and some movies. I just happened to be deep in a full run of Stargate seasons one through ten when I clicked about how much I was learning about writing and decided to share it with you all. :-) I'll have to make sure I get back into some non-fiction related topics after this series is finished. Do you have any suggestions for something you'd like to know more about? Thanks, as always, for reading and I'm glad the SG1 Series hasn't kept you away. I think it helps that my posts are entirely featured around writing rather than the series. I try to avoid going into detail about the actual program because this blog isn’t about Stargate, it’s about writing. The truth is, most of these points could be compared with other television series and some movies. I just happened to be deep in a full run of Stargate seasons one through ten when I clicked about how much I was learning about writing and decided to share it with you all. :-)

I’ll have to make sure I get back into some non-fiction related topics after this series is finished. Do you have any suggestions for something you’d like to know more about?

Thanks, as always, for reading and I’m glad the SG1 Series hasn’t kept you away.

]]> By: Michele http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-245 Michele Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:22:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-245 Mesmerizing post, Rebecca! It amazes me that I really don't care for Stargate, yet your series pulls me in! Isn't that strange? Goes to show that you're such an amazing writer you can grab the attention of a reader who doesn't consider that topic a favorite one. Neat! As you know, I've been focusing mainly on non-fiction. But thanks to you, I know I'll be all prepared when/if I decide to dabble in fiction :-) Thanks, Rebecca! Michele Mesmerizing post, Rebecca! It amazes me that I really don’t care for Stargate, yet your series pulls me in! Isn’t that strange? Goes to show that you’re such an amazing writer you can grab the attention of a reader who doesn’t consider that topic a favorite one. Neat!

As you know, I’ve been focusing mainly on non-fiction. But thanks to you, I know I’ll be all prepared when/if I decide to dabble in fiction :-)

Thanks, Rebecca!

Michele

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html#comment-249 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:42:36 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/12/part-four-hooks-hangers-and-the-sequence-of-events.html/#comment-249 @ Thursday: No, I haven't read any of the Stargate novels. I usually stear clear of fan-fiction and tie-ins but I might have to chase down a few by Martha Wells to check them out since you've recommended them. :-) @ MRasey: I think dramatic tension is something you can come to learn only through experience. It is one of the reasons it is so important to read a lot as a writer. In time we tune our ear to pick up nuances that we might not have noticed before. Five years ago I'd never have learnt all this while watching Stargate. This year, my ear is tuned to the intricate weave the writers role plays in create a captivating story on the screen. Practice and experience is a vital element in the growth of a writers craft and talent. @ Soccer Mom: Gosh, it would be exhausting if EVERY chapter ended in a cliff hanger. It's important to give readers a chance to breath from time to time. The baking endings give us a chance to reflect and consider what has gone on before. It also gives us a chance to sleep. Well told stories can bake a chapter end and still hold readers over to the next chapter if the reader isn't ready for the break. That's why it tends to be best to use both options. The tricky part is deciding which to use when. @ Thursday: No, I haven’t read any of the Stargate novels. I usually stear clear of fan-fiction and tie-ins but I might have to chase down a few by Martha Wells to check them out since you’ve recommended them. :-)

@ MRasey: I think dramatic tension is something you can come to learn only through experience. It is one of the reasons it is so important to read a lot as a writer. In time we tune our ear to pick up nuances that we might not have noticed before. Five years ago I’d never have learnt all this while watching Stargate. This year, my ear is tuned to the intricate weave the writers role plays in create a captivating story on the screen. Practice and experience is a vital element in the growth of a writers craft and talent.

@ Soccer Mom: Gosh, it would be exhausting if EVERY chapter ended in a cliff hanger. It’s important to give readers a chance to breath from time to time. The baking endings give us a chance to reflect and consider what has gone on before. It also gives us a chance to sleep. Well told stories can bake a chapter end and still hold readers over to the next chapter if the reader isn’t ready for the break. That’s why it tends to be best to use both options. The tricky part is deciding which to use when.

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