How many characters should appear in your first chapter? It's a question I'm sweating over since I have an agent interested in looking at samples of Dark Solstice. Yeah, I gotta write a whole new chapter from scratch. The second chapter, the much-revised original first chapter, was rejected, partly, because it had too many people in it. Guess I'll have to revise it too and take out some of the named characters.
The "Ugh" reaction is so big, I doubt I'll do it. The above publisher-attitude makes me wonder how much the mental abilities of the "American public" have been "dumbed down".
The "Ugh" reaction is so big, I doubt I'll do it. The above publisher-attitude makes me wonder how much the mental abilities of the "American public" have been "dumbed down".
Amateur sleuth Kerby reluctantly agrees to investigate when someone wants to hire her to investigate, and the dead ex-wife of the victim, who lives in her guest house, convinces her to take the job. The major complications arrive in good time to compel the reader to keep reading: the arrival of Kerby's own ex who pretends to want to reconcile and the arrest of the ghost's mother for the murder when Kerby investigates. The resolution flows well from the incidents, both major and minor, in the story line.
So, how are the characters introduced? Copperman involves three characters in the first chapter -- the owner and the two ghosts who were killed at the guest house -- plus a fair amount of back story. I didn't consider the information an info-dump, but then, I'm tolerant of background. [If you've read any of my stories, you know just how tolerant.]
Copperman is an American, so she follows the American short-chapter pattern. She includes a few characters and sets up a complication at the end of the chapter. In this case, the complication was the arrival of the MC's ex-husband, "The Swine". The "Guaranteed Smile" here would raise the sympathy quotient of many female readers. [Yeah, I know females can be swine too. Got one in the extended family.]
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Have you heard about Pinterest yet? Have you explored it? I'm trying to limit my social networking ... but I find the concept intriguing. Jeff Bullas at jeffbullas.com discusses Pinterest plus gives some tips on using the site in your marketing. If I don't have to visit the site every day, I might put up the covers of my two free Half-Elven stories.
Speaking of social media, do you use a Facebook author's page? I have the Far Isle Half-Elven up there as well as my personal page ... or whatever they call it. Chanced to Google "Half-Elven" while checking my daughters new promo pics. Was surprised to see I've three links to pages on my website on the first page, including an earlier version of The Foiling Gorsfeld from Renna's point of view
If you Goggle "Far Isle Half-Elven" I've got the monopoly on the first page of listings. Now, I have to spend time exploring the links. Would you believe Chinese search engines have found my website? -- And, no. The listings haven't increased the downloads of my free stories on Smashwords or the sales of Taking Vengeance.
Though I'm beginning to wonder about Smashwords' statistics. I know four people who say they boought the novellette on Smashwords, and their statistics say I've only sold one. Good thing I don't care that much.
If you Goggle "Far Isle Half-Elven" I've got the monopoly on the first page of listings. Now, I have to spend time exploring the links. Would you believe Chinese search engines have found my website? -- And, no. The listings haven't increased the downloads of my free stories on Smashwords or the sales of Taking Vengeance.
Though I'm beginning to wonder about Smashwords' statistics. I know four people who say they boought the novellette on Smashwords, and their statistics say I've only sold one. Good thing I don't care that much.
5 comments:
I've been intrigued by Pinterest too. Have friends that use it for fun.
Great question about how many is too many for a first chapter. As vague as it sounds, I really think it comes down to feel and individual readers. I've definitely read stories with lots of introduced characters that pulled it off without me noticing. Others I've read have felt a little bogged down with only two or three.
The complexity of the story, or what's being introduced in the first chapter, is probably a big factor as well. If it's heavy on action, you can probably get away with more. If it's a more cerebral scene, or a major plot point of the story unfolding, less is more. Guess I'm saying: Is the reader going to be able to focus solely on the characters in the scene, or are they going to be digesting characters AND story?
Good points, E.J. I think that's why I left the offending chapter pretty much as it was. Did add the first new chapter showing Linden and Mariah fighting though. Previous version just told the reader they fought.
Hi Kay -- that'a a great question about how many characters to introduce in a first chapter, and I think the answer depends on the nature of the novel. And that's no answer at all, is it?
One agent's or editor's opinion is probably not enough to make a major change unless they've already contracted to represent you or publish your book. On the other hand, if I received the same feedback from two or more who rejected my work plus a couple of rejections via the twilight zone...I'd be thinking about a rewrite.
Pat -- Agree 110%. Have already written new first chapter -- after kicking myself for not doing it before. Sample of "Dark Solstice" is at agent, and I am waiting ... waiting ... waiting.
PS: Readers who find this. I'm trying to figure out all the twists and turns G+ has put in the way of this dyslexic blogger. It's just too busy for me to keep the images straight.
Also, I can't find my blog drafts to revise. Hope to be blogging soon.
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