Paige Hawthorne: Blog

People have written me that there is a 'tell' chapter in the SOL stories. One chapter whose reader scores indicate approximately what the final judgement numbers will be. I wonder if that's so?

Let's hypothesize a yes. Then which one chapter is most indicative of reader evaluations?

Almost everyone agrees it's not the first chapter with its inflated download numbers.

There's a 'second chapter' contingent who favor that one because the overweighted first chapter is history.

Some in here advocate for the last chapter. That's understandable because some readers wait until the story is complete to read it. And vote.

Then there's the penultimate crowd. The favor the next-to-last chapter because they believe that negative-voters fast-forward to the final chapter in order to low-vote the story at the very end.

(Why wait? Are late votes weighed more heavily?)

In any case, I'm curious if there is a golden chapter. It's purely an academic question on my part. I don't pay any attention to my own story scores and certainly don't compare them with the higher-ranked efforts by you talented bastards.

Paige

Okay, my "Winter's Gamble" reader scores are located down here (imagine a palm-down gesture between my waist and boobs).

More talented writers (raise hand above boobs) are up here.

Just an observation, I hardly ever even bother to check my scores. Maybe 15 or 20 times a day.

Now, don't bother to tell me that I'm a good writer, that scores are meaningless, the system is flawed, etc. Intellectually, facts are one thing. But competitively, emotionally …

Fuck.

Paige

One of the writing mistakes I make - - hey, I'm on a learning curve here - - is that I'm assuming the reader is paying attention. Some are of course. Maybe.

But we all have lives to live, some of us have busy ones. A visit to here is a small part of a distracted day. Plus, if you're following several stories which evolve chapter by chapter … well, I can understand why some readers wait until a story is complete.

Where am I going with this? Not sure. But I'm coming to think I need a strong central character like Robert P. Parker's Spenser. A compelling story line, interesting details. None of which I've been able to develop at this early stage.

Or maybe I'm overthinking the process.

Fuck.

Paige

P. S. My rogue editor, thornfoote, (who continues to deny most of the pending felony charges) suggested I create a Winter's Universe. Cool tip.

Where are all the good girls?

Other readers have noted this too. Mystery World is dominated by men.

Oh, there are a few girls. Terrific ones too.

Sunny Randall via Robert B. Parker.

My all-time favorite, Jane Whitefield. Thank you, Thomas Perry.

Let's see … Stephanie Plum from the celebrated author, Janet Evanovich. Carol Starkey, L A bomb squad - - Robert Crais. Isabel Dalhousie by Alexander McCall Smith.

And best of all, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

It's understandable though, that men dominate the field. It's relatively recently that women began working. Let alone were allowed into law enforcement.

Still, it's refreshing to see a girl nabbing an occasional baddie.

Paige

I dipped into a story whose reader score was over 9.

I kept an open mind going into Chapter One. Then I forced myself to realize - - shit this guy is good! Way gooder than I am.

Well, guess what? Right hand over left boob, I shall try harder. I was working on my second Winter Jennings story and now I've basically started over. Of course that's no guarantee this work will be any better. Or even as good.

Mutter, mutter. Nothing against you superior writers. Sigh.

Paige