Endings and Reviews
Jan. 3rd, 2013 07:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Maybe 2013 is going to be the year of the glowing review or the year of the e-book... because here's an amazing review of Archangel Protocol (e-book) from a Spanish site called Sense of Wonder (Sentido dela Maravilla). http://sentidodelamaravilla.blogspot.com/2013/01/archangel-protocol-by-lyda-morehouse.html
I almost started a post about this elsewhere with the comment, "I wish people had said such nice things about the book when it first came out," but I deleted that after a moment of thought, because, you know, they did. Archangel Protocol came out to rave reviews and it won two awards: the Barnes & Nobel Maiden Voyage award and the Shamus (for best original paperback featuring a private eye.) I really can't complain about then or now, especially considering that it was my freshman effort and there are some turns of phrase in the book that my partner knows she can randomly quote if she wants to watch me squirm in embarrassment.
Also, I had to smile when I read the Sense of Wonder reviewer's comment "the ending seemed a little rushed." I think that's a phrase that appears in pretty much every review of anything I've EVER written EVER. Probably a review of my grocery list would say, "Well organized, creative and innovative spelling, but the ending seems a bit rushed."
I wish I could say that I've improved in this regard, but there's something about endings that continues to baffle and challenge me. I do TRY. I swear one of my goals with each new novel is, "Stick the *^%! ending!" But, then, after my writers' group, my partner and my editor all make me go back and revisit the ending to see if I can't "slow it down," the reviews will come out and at least one of them will say, "But the ending seemed a bit rushed."
Ah well. At least I have something to improve on. Or perhaps I can use it on my tombstone, "Here lies Lyda Morehouse: The Ending Seemed a Bit Rushed."
I almost started a post about this elsewhere with the comment, "I wish people had said such nice things about the book when it first came out," but I deleted that after a moment of thought, because, you know, they did. Archangel Protocol came out to rave reviews and it won two awards: the Barnes & Nobel Maiden Voyage award and the Shamus (for best original paperback featuring a private eye.) I really can't complain about then or now, especially considering that it was my freshman effort and there are some turns of phrase in the book that my partner knows she can randomly quote if she wants to watch me squirm in embarrassment.
Also, I had to smile when I read the Sense of Wonder reviewer's comment "the ending seemed a little rushed." I think that's a phrase that appears in pretty much every review of anything I've EVER written EVER. Probably a review of my grocery list would say, "Well organized, creative and innovative spelling, but the ending seems a bit rushed."
I wish I could say that I've improved in this regard, but there's something about endings that continues to baffle and challenge me. I do TRY. I swear one of my goals with each new novel is, "Stick the *^%! ending!" But, then, after my writers' group, my partner and my editor all make me go back and revisit the ending to see if I can't "slow it down," the reviews will come out and at least one of them will say, "But the ending seemed a bit rushed."
Ah well. At least I have something to improve on. Or perhaps I can use it on my tombstone, "Here lies Lyda Morehouse: The Ending Seemed a Bit Rushed."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 01:31 pm (UTC)The books you sent are sat there on my shelf but I daredn't pick any of them up until I've finished my bigbang story. If I do, that'll be it. I shall have to read from one end of the series to the other and however rushed the endings, it's still gonna take time that I haven't got! So I'm sat here being good and then you keep posting all these glowing reviews, which is wonderful and all but argh! So so tempted!
Also, Good morning :D
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 03:13 pm (UTC)Some of my ByaRen soap is much better written in some ways... I mean, I did write AP, like, over a DECADE ago. I'd like to think I've improved (in everything except endings, apparently.)
And, yes, Good Afternoon/Morning to you! You'll see I've stalled on RenShuu. I got caught up in returning to the soap (which I'll also have to have you beta read, because I think I just spent two pages discussing Bya-boos toilet arrangments.)
Your writing first. My books later. I'm NEVER offended if I'm sitting in a TBR pile because someone is caught up doing their own writing!!
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 04:25 pm (UTC)Oh and now I feel awful. I hadn't looked at the books at all. They arrived as deadlines were bearing down on me and I just stuck them on the shelf. *coos at inscriptions* I'm sure you have nothing to be embarrassed about, but I promise to give you a proper opinion when I find a free week to read them in.
Throw your beta at me whenever you're ready, and I'm around if you need ideas bouncing for RenShuu. I would suggest that half your problem is location. Can't you move them somewhere a bit more private? I'm still wrestling with my surly teen POV and stalling horribly again. Compared to Renji, Ichigo and Byakuya are so much harder to write.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 04:54 pm (UTC)I don't know.
My good day turned sour. So I'm not thinking terribly clearly right now. I hate money. May have to go channel angry-at-being-poor Renji later after I do some original work.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 05:04 pm (UTC)I'm here whenever you're ready.
Review
Date: 2013-01-03 08:25 pm (UTC)Re: Review
Date: 2013-01-03 09:25 pm (UTC)