When you browse for something new to read, authors often make an effort in the intro to get your attention and encourage you to buy the book.
What's the best line you've ran across that just guaranteed you would read that book?
For me? "If you really like Donald Trump, do not read this book."
For me? "If you really like Donald Trump, do not read this book."
That would turn me off no what my opinion of Trump happened to be at the moment. I'm simply TIRED of both Trump Derangement Syndrome and Trumpism. They're equally annoying.
That would turn me off no what my opinion of Trump happened to be at the moment. I'm simply TIRED of both Trump Derangement Syndrome and Trumpism. They're equally annoying.
I would not limit it to Trump, but also include others that have provoked the extreme reactions that almost reach the point of insanity in some cases.
That would turn me off no what my opinion of Trump happened to be at the moment. I'm simply TIRED of both Trump Derangement Syndrome and Trumpism. They're equally annoying.
Annoying in the extreme.
That would turn me off no what my opinion of Trump happened to be at the moment. I'm simply TIRED of both Trump Derangement Syndrome and Trumpism. They're equally annoying.
I don't know, tags like that almost make me wish I partook in alcohol so I could make a drinking game out of reading them.
I often stick my nose into them anyhow just to see how far the author will go, and in which direction. At least until/unless they demonstrate all the political acumen of a pre-teen, or start going into diatribes that never end.
Ok, everyone saw the word 'Trump' and reacted like a bull seeing a matador waving a red cape. That line certainly got my attention, but I'm not interested in debating whether or not it was a good idea. I want to know what OTHER story hooks got your attention.
Whew whee back in the 70's that was a lot for an 11-year-old to read. The internet hadn't been invented yet. I learned a whole new vocabulary.
Looking back over about 65 years of reading, I can't remember what brought me to read this or that book.
I was 16 when one German publisher started with SF paperbacks. Their initial schedule was one per month that increased to four per month over the next few years and I bought all – regardless of author and title.
I didn't switch to SF, I continued to read western and crime books, but with these I just read all books from my favorite authors.
Finally the same happened to SF: only my favorite authors.
I consider other authors only when I have nothing else to read and then I try to read at least a few pages before deciding.
HM.
and
Their initial schedule was one per month that increased to four per month over the next few years and I bought all
The flip-side to this is that I got hooked on the Perry Rhodan translations as a kid and they only ever printed about a hundred of them.
The flip-side to this is that I got hooked on the Perry Rhodan translations as a kid and they only ever printed about a hundred of them.
Talking about getting hooked, I stopped reading Perry Rhodan some time after volume 450, but continued to read Atlan's time adventures in paperback.
HM.
I didn't switch to SF, I continued to read western and crime books, but with these I just read all books from my favorite authors.
Despite not being a voracious Sci-Fi reader (at least not since my childhood), I've always been drawn to Sci-Fi in my writing, not because the plots are all that 'real' or convincing, but because the genre allows you to focus on 'bigger picture' scenarios, where you can target particular segments of society without explicitly pointing the figure at any particular group.
Contrast that with 'real-life dramas' (often fictional) that focus exclusively on people struggling with their various relationships in a given community. While one appeals primarily to men and the other mostly to women, there's more to it than that, as the RLD stories tend to focus exclusively on a specific group of individuals, so you either like those people or you hate them, there's no in-between. With Sci-Fi, you can attack a particular mindset while never once mentioning who you're really lampooning (though it often isn't hard to guess).
The first words to catch my eye was "Penthouse Forum" in my Old Man's magazines LOL
The first words to catch my eye was "Penthouse Forum" in my Old Man's magazines LOL
Back in my day, Penthouse Forums were what all the younger people were reading, while their fathers and grandfathers all 'read' the Playboy photo spreads. But then, I eventually figured out the best sex stories on Penthouse forum were written by gay men, while the best romance stories seemed to be written by lesbians. That again shows, it's often best to distance yourself from what you're writing about. Simply putting yourself into an foreign element give you enough perspective not to get carried away, allowing you to see the subtleties that readers appreciate.
Apparently, you were an avaricious reader of Penthouse and Playboy in your youth. So I return your question. How has been your eyesight in the past few years?
Apparently, you were an avaricious reader of Penthouse and Playboy in your youth. So I return your question. How has been your eyesight in the past few years?
My eyesight is fine (aside from a botched medical procedure), though the rest of me is going to hell in a handbasket!
Wait, isn't the forum the non-fiction part of Penthouse? Unless one actually believes that those accounts are made up.
I think the "hooks" change over time. I grew up in a small town in the fifties, but we had a library - a couple thousand books and a budget for perhaps 8 new ones a year. We didn't need a hook - we read whatever was available. As a teenager, any hint that a book had a sex scene was enough to make me devour it since the written word was the only sex I was getting. Of late, I was really into SOL's coming of age stories, but, sadly, I'm at the point where one more whining teenager will cause me to destroy my monitor. I need to find a new "hook". Maybe I ought to try fishing.
Mind control. I love that stuff. Mention it and I'll at least take a look. That and "fantasy," "history," and "paranormal," "science fiction," "alternate history," and "post-apocalyptic". Parallel universe. That sort of thing.
"It was a dark and stormy night ... "
Did Snoopy ever finish that book? And, also - how the hell did he type with paws; I have a hard enough time with fingers!
Did Snoopy ever finish that book? And, also - how the hell did he type with paws; I have a hard enough time with fingers!
While I don't know how he managed to do it Snoopy evidently finished his novel. He even sent it to be published - although he got a rejection note.
red61544
8/18/2018, 3:37:39 PM
@AmigaClone
he got a rejection note.
He can join the multitude on SOL!
There are four type of authors who have never gotten a rejection slip.
1) Those who have never submitted anything for publishing.
2) Those who have only published with a "vanity press".
3) Authors that get published by a traditional publishing company not due to the quality of their writing but for a variety of other reasons, primarily related to the "author's" fame outside of writing. It could also include the author either owning or being related to the owner of the publishing company.
4) A very lucky author who managed to get their first submission accepted.
1) Those who have never submitted anything for publishing.
Most publisher don't accept unsolicited manuscripts today, and haven;t for some years. You have to go through an agent, and it's not easy getting on an agent's books either. Living in the right area makes life easier in that regards, but for many it's just not possible to get a manuscript before an agent or a publisher.
I tried for years and finally gave up on getting any agent or publisher in Australia or the USA to reply to me. About 20 years ago I did get some e-books published through an Irish publisher before Amazon started gobbling screwing up the e-book industry. However, they suggested I go through Lulu about 10 years ago to do print copies and now I do the e-books through Lulu too.
Did Snoopy ever finish that book? And, also - how the hell did he type with paws; I have a hard enough time with fingers!
He dictated to Woodstock who then pecked it out one beak stroke at a time!!!!
He dictated to Woodstock who then pecked it out one beak stroke at a time!!!!
Moderately believable with the new 'touch' keyboards, but hardly with the old "pound as hard as you can" typewriter keys! You had to really slam your fingers onto each key to get it to budge.
