Saturday, June 16, 2007

Let’s Write a Novel, suggestions from my editors

Typical Knox Scene




Note: The novel from the start can be found by clicking on Lets Write a Novel , my associated blog.



My trusted editors have both read the novel thus far. There is a split decision about the Prologue, 1 for and 1 against. Both agree that Chapter 1 simply will not do. One good suggestion is that I should be much less cute hinting about the main conflict. I have decided to get right to Abraham’s and Ophelia’s main conflict right off the bat in Chapter 1. This will carry forward the gravity established in the Prologue and will allow the elimination of the hints about the future. Another suggestion is that Abraham’s anxiety about Ophelia’s name is not realistic. I must agree and will tone that down, perhaps by discussing biblical context for the importance of naming rather than Abraham’s individual anxiety. ?? More dialog was suggested as was faster plot development. I am considering these suggestions. The novel is envisioned as largely psychological, i.e. the effects of small town life on minority beliefs and traditions. This isn’t simply a Jewish minority question as it really applies to the pressure to conform felt by all.

So, I will be working on a rewrite for awhile. There may not be a posting on the novel for a few days. Your thoughts on these matters, if any, are appreciated.

It may be of interest to note that readers of the “Let’s Write a Novel” blogsite have checked in from the following domain addresses:
Dubai, Dubayy Little Rock, Arkansas (Unknown Country) Spanish Irvine, California
Wendelstein, Bayern, Germany Windsor, Ontario, Canada Portland, Maine Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil Long Island City, New York Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Unknown Country) English Perth, Perth and Kinross, United Kingdom (Unknown Country) German So Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Morristown, New Jersey (Unknown Country) Spanish (Argentina) France Somerville, Massachusetts Singapore Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Cambridge, Massachusetts Riga, Latvia Fort Worth, Texas Eureka, Montana Fort Smith, Arkansas Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Vancouver, British Columbia Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Leland, Mississippi Pakistan Temperance, Michigan Germany Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain Bardolph, Illinois Grovertown, Indiana Fort Wayne, Indiana Leesburg, Indiana Eureka, Montana Bourbon, Indiana Sellersville, Pennsylvania Plymouth, Indiana Knox, Indiana

Thanks for your interest.
Marian

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe a bit transparent, but none the less, your insight into these families is quite interesting.

Will we finally learn how Abraham and his associates managed to keep the klan at bay?

knox indiana said...

A great question and a challange to my present outline. The Klan in Knox was strong. In the 1920s evidently they were quite strong. I will need to incorporate this element. It could be a very interesting addition to the story line. Thanks a million.

Marian

Anonymous said...

Mr./Ms. Blogger have you relocated? No entries for quite sometime. We were thinking that perhaps you were one of our Starke residents relocating to Marshall County.
Your writing reminds me of a Mr. B.A., if so, the blog will be yet another area that you are missed.
Keep in touch