Happy New Year everyone!
Wishing you a year filled with love, joy, success, and happy surprises!
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The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
January 6 question - Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?
Interesting question!!
I've always found it easy to immerse myself in stories. I can pretty easily take that leap of faith and suspend my disbelief, but when something tosses me out of the world, I have a really tough time finding my way back in.
Some things drive me a little nuts but if the story is intriguing I can put up with a bit (inconsistent world-building, backstory info dumps, stilted dialogue, too many errors). Too much of any of that will have me giving up, though.
Subject matter is probably the main reason I stop reading a book. If there is anything that crosses a line for me, I stop (anything inappropriate with kids, torture,...). If the blurb hasn't let me know that the tone of the book is that dark, I'm not going to be a happy reader.
How about you? What tosses you out of a story?
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The 6th Bloo Moose Romance will be out and about in the world in a couple of weeks!
Reaching For Trust releases January 19.
Thanks to her outrageous onstage costumes, pop star Trina can conceal her identity while working in Bloo Moose and writing her next album, all while avoiding a stalker.
Running a Sugar Shack should be easy for a burned-out lawyer, but Jack is soon in over his head. His sweet and sexy new office manager isn’t helping with his focus.
Unaware that his last case has ongoing repercussions, Jack attributes the problems at the shack to Trina’s errors and his inexperience.
When evidence points to false conclusions, they’ll both have to learn how to trust if they want a future together.
61 comments:
Hi and Happy New Year!
I love your blurb. It drew me in.
All the best for your launch.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Congratulations on your upcoming release.
Certain elements will cross the line for me as well. Then I stop reading.
Those little inconsistencies can be fixed if the writer and editors take more time.
Congratulations on your book release, Jemi.
Backstory info dumps and stilted dialogue puts me off too.
Thanks! I'm excited about this book!
Thanks, Alex. Yeah, I have pretty firm lines in the sand on certain topics
Exactly! So many people rush and it's not worth it!
Thanks, Rachna!
I remember learning about info dumps and thinking... hmm. There's goes my first chapter!
I'm with you on the content. I didn't include that in my list, but I agree.
Way to go with your Blue Moose series! I am super impressed!
You're so sweet - thanks so much, Tyrean! I'm loving the series!!
Congratulations on Reaching for Trust! It's a winner for sure!
Congratulations on your release and all the best with your launch. I too draw the line on some stuff when it comes to teen or youth characters.
Info dumps & stilted dialogue definitely give me pause, but I'll probably keep reading.
Congratulations on your latest release!! I don't know how you do it, but it's inspiring.
Huge congrats again, Jemi. Love that you've been so productive even during this rotten 2020.
Like you I don't want to be blindsided by a story. I read those blurbs on the covers and make my choices based on what they lead me to believe.
Happy New Year.
Interesting answer to the question. For me, inconsistencies are a turn-off too. With respect to things crossing a line, I don't think there are any subjects that are completely off limits for me, but I have to be in the mood for them. I do find excessive swearing a real turn-off, especially when it's not necessary for the story.
Your point didn't enter my mind. I remember Grisham's A Time To Kill was too much for me. I stopped, and I've never read him again.
And Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and Cujo, stopped me reading him. With him though, I gave him a second chance and still worry if I think of read him again.
Since then, I've been lucky. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Another Bloo Moose story? HUGE congratulations.
Character matters to me. The character has to grow. And editing. You are right about the dark side too. Some things are automatic page shutters/slammers. And anything which celebrates cruelty falls into that category.
Thanks, Renee - so glad you enjoyed it!!
Thanks, Toi!
Agreed - need those kiddos to be safe!
Thanks, MJ! And it's all about that Tigger Brain of mine!
Thanks, Lee. There was a lot of advance work but it's also been VERY busy around here getting everything done!
Yes! Blurbs are important!
As a teacher, I've taught too many kids who've lived in very tough situations to want to read it in fiction. Just not for me!
I had some major trauma issues from reading King in high school (wanting to fit in because everyone was reading them). I simply can't handle horror!
All the best for 2021, Anna!
Thanks, Sue. I'm having such fun with the Moosers!
Yes! I can't abide cruelty. There's too much in real life and I can't cope with it in my fiction
Thanks! I'm having a blast with them!
A huge congrats on your new book. I'd be glad to shout out about it in my Follower News on 2/8/21.
So excited for you next book! Congratulations!
Good luck with your new book Jemi, I'm sure it will be a success.
Take care and Happy New Year.
Yvonne.
All the best for the new year, Jemi!
For me, I start to lose interest in stories that "info dump" instead of unfolding the story through action and dialogue. These stories tend to drag and don't keep me engaged in the writing.
I read a book once that ended up being about an abusive relationship, although that was no where in the book's blurb. I'll read pretty much anything, but I felt like I didn't know what I was getting into. I ended up finishing it, and really hated the whole thing, for more than one reason. I do tend to finish books even if I'm not enjoying them.
Thanks so much, Natalie - you're always so awesome!
Thanks, Sheri! I'm having such fun with this series!
Thanks so much, Yvonne. Wishing you well for the new year!
Same to you, Michael!
Agreed - info dumps are hard to get through!
I rely on the blurb as well - I want to know what I'm going into!
Congrats on your up-coming release! I put down books for a number of reasons, but I've noticed I'm putting down more and more as the years go by. A lack of patience, maybe?
That's me too! I've definitely tossed more in the past few years than before.
Good luck with your upcoming release. That book sounds interesting. I want to read it.
Thanks, Olga - that means a lot!
Info dumps and bad dialogue! Totally agree.
I'm with you on inappropriate subject matter. Any cheating or child abuse and I'm out! Happy New Year, Jemi!
Yep - those make it tough to keep going!
Totally agree! Cheating is another Nope for me too!
Have a great 2021, Gwen!!
I'm looking forward to reading Reaching for Trust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm like you - I can take one or two things that annoy me, but if it all piles up and stops me concentrating on the story, I'm out. Happy New Year and congrats on the upcoming launch.
Your new book sounds like fun!
I agree with your thoughts on things that wrench me out of books as a reader.
Happy 2021, Jemi!
♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥
Hope you enjoy it!! :)
Thanks, Nick!
That's exactly it - when it gets too much, I'm done too
Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm having a blast with this series!
Hope 2021 is kind to you!
Congratulations on your upcoming release. I think there ought to be ratings on book so buyers will know what's inside - PG, PG13, R, etc.
Thanks, Leigh!
That might work!
I love the look of your new book and hope that it is available on Kindle here in India. Happy New Year Jemi and may you have another fabulous year of writing.
You're right -- storytelling is important. I'll put up with some inconsistencies and grammar errors for the sake of good storytelling!
What a great blurb for Reaching for Trust - I just pre-ordered it!
Thanks so much, Kalpana! It should be available in India! :)
Have a fabulous 2021!
Me too - story is the biggie!
You just totally made my day!!! Thanks, Ellen!
I'm with you, if something unexpected happens that I'm not comfortable with then it's a complete turn-off. I like to have some idea of the potential content before investing my time in it.
Good luck with the launch!
Exactly! Those heart hits are tough!
Thanks so much!!
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