I’ve got this amazingly tone deaf email this morning offering us writing advice on Ryder. Heh. Today is just one of those days.
Yesterday Kid 2 moved to Austin in the middle of protests so it was a stressful day. Today the electrician looked at our flood issue and said he can’t do anything until an AC guy looks at it. The AC guy is coming tomorrow. Ten to one, he will tell us he can’t do anything until an electrician looks at it.
I’ve got a question for you.
Loading ...Thank you for your input.
“I’ve got this amazingly tone deaf email this morning offering us writing advice on Ryder. ”
I’m having a hard time getting past that, what with the belly laughs causing tears to run down my face here. I’d have responded, asking how many books the writer has published and how many of them have been sold. You do have to admit that your writing is unique, though, and some people only like cookie-cutter writing such as, “The sky was a brilliant blue.” or “He was a very handsome man!” Your writing actually paints the pictures of the backgrounds of your tales. After reading things you’ve written, I go back to other authors and I realize that too many of them skim over the background setting in an attempt to tell the story. This is not necessarily bad, but it is very different. Sometimes, I wonder about why you describe each piece of furniture in a room, but I always read it, and then I can see it.
I said I don’t read samples, because usually, I don’t. Then you blog something about an upcoming book, and I’m reading it avidly. Like so many others here, I will read a small blurb from an author I know, but mostly, I won’t bother.
I do hope you get that house fixed soon. My personal experience with a thing like that was that my parents were given an outdoor gas grill for some celebration, and my brother-in-law came over with it, set it up, and hooked into the gas line that led to the clothes dryer downstairs to let it work. Then, codes went into effect, and that house was “grandfathered in” as OK, but only until it was sold. When it was sold, it was pretty upsetting to the buyers that the gas company shut them down totally until that line was fixed properly. It worked fine for 45+ years, but it wasn’t up to code. I laughed. Codes only count when you do something after the code is written, I guess. Good luck with that.
I’m very cautious about trying a new author. It often takes a pretty hefty recommendation, plus good reviews, to get me to read an excerpt from a new author. Authors that I know I like, I read their excerpts as soon I see them.
The one place where I might read a random excerpt is at the end of a book I finish. Whether it’s an excerpt by the same author for an upcoming book, or a new series, or even of a new author in a similar genre, I usually read it.
I hope your AC/Electrical work gets fixed fast!
I hope Kid 2 is safe and sound in Austin!
Thank you for all your time and effort in all your books. You guys are amazing! Unless the people critiquing you are authors who are better sellers/more critically acclaimed than you both, they should shut the hell up! I could never do what you do. I’m a pretty good tech writer and can compose a mean business letter, but to think up an entire world with a ton of characters and keep it all straight for book after book is just mind-boggling to me! Y’all are sorcerers of the best kind! Thank you again for all you do!
I will read excerpts to see if I enjoy a new (to me) author’s ‘voice’ and style of writing. Reader reviews are helpful if it’s a unknown author or genre – if there is a pattern in the comments regarding things like typos, continuity issues, or other things that create a distraction and pull a reader out of the story. That will help me decide if I want to use my time with that author. I am a voracious reader – so use my library card a lot. For my favorite authors – on autobuy – I will read chapters and snippets from their website – I love the ‘extras’ and out-takes. They add wonderful depth and are a joy to discover. I DO find that ‘sample’ chapters are helpful for audiobooks. Sometimes a narrator is not a good match for the voice that’s been in my head for a favorite book or series, or simply not a good match for the material. I appreciate being able to sample those, before buying.
(I enjoy being able to choose between reading or listening, depending on my mood).
My definition of heaven: a cup of tea, my knitting, and listening to the Innkeeper series 🙂
Thank you for Ryder …. it is a treat to discover in my inbox – and makes me smile whenever I see a new entry arrive.
Hipster man looks soft.
I voted ‘I read excerpts on author sites’, which is true, but thats only for authors I already adore. The rest of the time I read excerpts at the end of books? That wasn’t a vote option though.
I read excerpts from author’s websites and amazon.
Lol. Someone read a chapter/snippet you posted on your blog because you are kind enough to share with your rabid fan base and had the audacity to try to tell you what you should do to “fix” it? WOW.
I voted by saying I read excerpts on Amazon, but you guys are an exception to that because I am so greedy for anything you have written, I follow your blog religiously. Linda Howard is the only author besides you that I will purchase from without even reading the dust jacket blurb. Love you guys!
I don’t read excerpts but I do read the reviews. For authors whom I’ve never read before, I check to see if they use F-words (if a few or often?), end the book with a cliffhanger (just this book or all their books?) and if their series is a repeat (character never learns or never grows up.)
I recently gave up on an author’s book series after Book 6. Female MC kept lying and sneaking throughout the series. At ending of Book 5, she promised to be open with her boyfriend and not go behind his back. On Book 6, just into the book, she decides to sneak and Lied to her fiancé in order to help a male friend who on previous books was a jerk. I quit right then and there. Put all her book series in my Kindle Collection file from “LIKE” to “YUCK”. This will alert me not to ever buy her books again.
I only read samples and blurbs to determine if I want to read the book – once/if I already know I want to read it, I stop so I don’t spoil it for myself ????
Same as I wait for the innkeeper books to come out on kindle to buy ????
I have some advice for you on writing. Please keep doing it exactly the way you’ve been doing it. Thank you.
Wow someone doesn’t read excerpts? Who are these people??? That’s a large part of the fun, trying to figure out what the rest of the story will be.
Hi,
I read sample chapters of books that are at the back of books that I’ve just finished. I don’t usually read sample chapters anywhere else, except here!
Your writing is fantastic!!!!
Hope everything goes well for you.
Best regards,
Honor
I autobuy all your books and love them!!! Even if I know a release date I still search in the hope there maybe something new that has popped out into the universe. I do read samples of new authors and sometimes of new worlds from an author I have previously bought. Love your work and love the snippets we get. Take care and thank you 🙂
I prefer excerpts and/or samples chapters on the author’s own site. Or at the end of the previous book, when available.
Especially if it’s an author I’ve read and liked previously.
Alas, there are not always samples chapters/excerpts available straight from the author.
Although, sometimes I’ll check the recommended, similar, or “also bought” books lists on places like Amazon and if something piques my interest I’ll read the sample chapters there rather than trying to track down the author’s own site to read samples.
So here’s some writing advice. It’s heartfelt. I really, really, thought about it.
Write whatever you want, whenever you want.
🙂
Tell Kid 2 I hope she stays safe in Austin. Of course I remember her as the feisty young lady who glued her glasses to her desk
It’s so hard to answer! Kind of both the big retailers and author sites. I see new books or books on special through BookBub (GREAT service!), which then directs me to the B&N site where I can read a sample. However, if it’s one of the 3 or 4 authors I follow closely (including yourselves) then I read what is available on your site, or in the blog posts (like Ryder). Often times, though, with those 3 or 4 authors, I DON’T bother reading the samples; I just hit the pre-order button and go! Snippets, of course, or a bit different from samples, and probably the only place available is the author site or the blog/newsletter.
I have no idea why someone would be so obtuse and disrespectful to offer writing advice to you two. Would the offer Rembrandt painting tips? Just ignore and please carry on as your work makes my boring existence exiting for a few hours I can immerse in your work.
One thought with regard to your flood problem. My husband called a CONTRACTOR for our flooding problem (Water pouring out around our downstairs bedroom and closet Light fixtures! I lost it, house brand new to me … my first weekend after moving in!). I was thinking but shouldn’t we call the plumber first to figure out what the plumbing issue is first? Turns out no.! The contractor will take care of everything because when he runs into things s/he can’t or doesn’t want to handle, he already knows a good subcontractor girl or guy!
Teee heee here with a side of snigger …. Knight Ryder …. Love it !!
I read that as “Kid 2 moved to Australia”, which was super impressive since travel is locked down so hard. You’d probably have to tunnel under the ocean to get here these days. It’s not too late. You could still move them here ;).
I read the excerpts, and then I read them again. And again. Basically the characters need a restraining order against me by the time the book comes out.
I read sample chapters on Amazon when I think I might want to buy a book, but am not quite sure. When it is your books or certain other authors I love, they are pretty much an automatic buy, so don’t read sample chapters at all.
In prior comment I should have added, read snippets etc in Nalini Singh’s newsletter. Also enjoy any and all snippets, excerpts etc from your blog!
Read sample chapters on Amazon only if undecided about purchasing a book by new author.
I sometimes read a sample chapter on amazon if I want to buy a book by a new author. I mainly get my sample chapters either by subscription to an author’s blog emails or at the author’s website
I only read your excerpts and then pre-order the book as soon as available.
I love the “samples” available for the Kindle. I’ve stopped buying hardcopy because we just don’t have the space to store it, so those samples and Kindle Unlimited are the ways I test out new authors.
Once I find an author I like, I’ll sign up for email updates if they do that. Those often mention previews on their web site; I’ll read those. Then I’ll figure out whether I want to get the book.