tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8932360147240947896..comments2024-03-18T15:15:52.347-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Prefacing Your WorkJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-72486054042231560022012-04-09T14:14:41.526-04:002012-04-09T14:14:41.526-04:00Perhaps we should all whine more often.Perhaps we should all whine more often.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-65444593367294966372012-04-09T13:47:42.483-04:002012-04-09T13:47:42.483-04:00Warren, we'll have to dance a jig together. Co...Warren, we'll have to dance a jig together. Congratulations! Killer Nashville! That's fabulous! Spread the word far and wide!<br /><br />Thanks, EB. It is funny, considering Warren and I both just did whining posts, isn't it?Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-47676142702540467152012-04-09T13:44:40.698-04:002012-04-09T13:44:40.698-04:00Okay you two--BSPing is what this blog is all abou...Okay you two--BSPing is what this blog is all about--so continue dancing! Congratulations to you both--all deserved and no more whining!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11215650950299027932012-04-09T13:41:55.742-04:002012-04-09T13:41:55.742-04:00EB,
The map in this blog looks good. Could you d...EB,<br /><br />The map in this blog looks good. Could you do an outline of that? In Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart, a character get stranded waiting for the ferry and reads a sign that gives the geography and history of the island setting of the novel. Clever.<br /><br />I am shocked! Shocked I tell you. that Linda used your blog to brag about her book. You'd never find me bragging that my novel heartland was selected as the book of the day by Killer Nashville, which it was. Dancing around my mother's kitchen.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-70381115779480076212012-04-09T12:12:55.254-04:002012-04-09T12:12:55.254-04:00EB, there are several American mysteries and histo...EB, there are several American mysteries and historical novels that also use maps.<br /><br />Also, I just have to brag. B&N's mystery expert just named EVERY LAST SECRET one the month's must-read books--the only debut. (Imagine me happy-dancing around the house and while you're at it, imagine years younger and without the cane.)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-69425969698809314612012-04-09T11:25:24.685-04:002012-04-09T11:25:24.685-04:00Thanks, Linda and Jim--who have experience in the ...Thanks, Linda and Jim--who have experience in the publishing world. With jpg files and electronic layout, I guess a few graphics aren't the bother they once were. <br /><br />Gloria--Although George is an American, her series is English and many English mysteries contain both maps and other information in the front. Sometimes, the information seems unnecessary, but like Linda said, if a reader is taken out of the story and a map helps, it seems like a good idea. <br /><br />I think that I may put in a good map. Now where to find one!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-89854558810547199242012-04-09T10:12:17.623-04:002012-04-09T10:12:17.623-04:00I like having maps. I put a post-it
note or a pape...I like having maps. I put a post-it<br />note or a paperclip there so I can easily refer to the map as I'm reading. I think it adds to a sense of place, which I feel is important to a book. I recently read an Elizabeth George book - FOR THE SAKE OF ELENA - that had a map. Alan Bradley also uses maps in his delightful Flavian de Luce series.<br /><br />I also like a list of characters and a short blurb about them at the beginning, too, especially if there are a lot of characters, but that's not as common as maps.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2208124329346207112012-04-09T10:07:05.470-04:002012-04-09T10:07:05.470-04:00EB, I think the map will help the book. Anything t...EB, I think the map will help the book. Anything that helps to keep your reader in your story and not pulling out, shaking his head with confusion.<br /><br />Maps are not uncommon in historical fiction, especially. If black and white, this one shouldn't be a problem for the publisher. Just make sure it's not too detailed. Clear and easy to read are the guidelines.<br /><br />Good luck!Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76269622545559455222012-04-09T09:31:01.476-04:002012-04-09T09:31:01.476-04:00I don't think a map costs anything extra as lo...I don't think a map costs anything extra as long as it's black and white.<br /><br />You'll create it as a jpeg file (or the equivalent) and they will place it in the right spot in the word document (or equivalent). <br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-4659586761878865272012-04-09T09:05:27.100-04:002012-04-09T09:05:27.100-04:00Thanks for the endorsement, Jim. I hesitate, and y...Thanks for the endorsement, Jim. I hesitate, and yet, my critique partners seem confused at times when my main character travels through the islands. The Outer Banks are a hard place to describe because, due to the nature of islands, they change. <br /><br />But my other questions are: Do maps cost the publisher more? Would having a map change an editor's mind about publishing my work?E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-81636840415029671332012-04-09T08:07:14.890-04:002012-04-09T08:07:14.890-04:00I love maps and never consider them a cheat but ra...I love maps and never consider them a cheat but rather an extra texture the author provides me to help ground the story.<br /><br />In quests they often show the path as well as markers for significant stops along the journey. These are fine with me as well as long as they don't give away the story.<br /><br />If the map is from a real place, then I expect judicious pruning of the extraneous. If the map is of a made-up world, I want only the highlights.<br /><br />Spare and clarifying should be the mapmaker's guiding principles -- at least in my book.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com