tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post5502796187446525379..comments2023-10-05T10:09:21.191-05:00Comments on A Little Bit of Naughty: Guest Blog with , S.R. HowenDakota Tracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934734062430171887noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-83088002190001037512012-12-06T19:47:05.374-06:002012-12-06T19:47:05.374-06:00We have had power outages all day on and off, on a...We have had power outages all day on and off, on and off, on and off. Apparently, since we have not had rain in so long and we had fog today the combo made arcs that shorted out transformers. (so need to use that in a novel!)<br /><br />In Medicine Man I, it starts out in Fond du Lac WI. A reader commented I've been in that park. It was just like that.<br /><br />Even the smallest reference can bring the reader into the story and keep them, where a poor reference can lose the reader for good.<br /><br />Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the book!<br /><br />Shawn<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14732990670104875171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-7786260620816802182012-12-06T11:15:28.527-06:002012-12-06T11:15:28.527-06:00It is gratifying to find an author who does the pr...It is gratifying to find an author who does the proper research for a work. I am always amazed and disgusted by those who don't. There are authors in the hardboiled detective genre whose works have been made into movies, who know nothing about guns. You would think that these guys would have researched their bread and butter topic. When I find evidence of such ignorance, I don't just slam the book shut; I slam it shut and throw it across the room.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-52466486710244696212012-12-06T09:28:53.115-06:002012-12-06T09:28:53.115-06:00Even in DISTORTION when I was writing about Housto...Even in DISTORTION when I was writing about Houston where I lived for 25 years, I had to research little tidbits. The problem with culture is that it comes out in a word here or a phrase there. To make the reader feel it, those little tidbits have to be dead-on perfect. I'm researching Morocco for a scene in my 2nd book just now. Lucie Smokerhttp://luciesmoker.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-62191190750862207202012-12-06T05:40:29.916-06:002012-12-06T05:40:29.916-06:00This is great. I couldn't agree more about the...This is great. I couldn't agree more about the research and I enjoyed your reference to 'The Gods must be Crazy'. One of our better exports. :)<br />Hope your book is a sellout!Gail Dorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03719294653165022035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-52667831130843236872012-12-05T16:56:56.029-06:002012-12-05T16:56:56.029-06:00Bravo, Shawn. Here's to the lost story bits fi...Bravo, Shawn. Here's to the lost story bits file - you never know when it will come in handy.M.C. Hanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06398128596961998715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-908590677343255922012-12-05T13:37:12.406-06:002012-12-05T13:37:12.406-06:00The lost bits story file. Every writer needs one. ...The lost bits story file. Every writer needs one. Thanks for stopping by JBAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14732990670104875171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-40624425894430701882012-12-05T13:28:39.322-06:002012-12-05T13:28:39.322-06:00Yep, good advice. Pick out the most fitting detail...Yep, good advice. Pick out the most fitting details to the story or scene, or the most relevant, and maybe save the others for another story, maybe. What we learn never goes to waste.<br /><br />JoeBearBill Gibbonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04732635775688569088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-71314267913073918212012-12-05T12:13:42.240-06:002012-12-05T12:13:42.240-06:00That's always a balancing act, how much do I i...That's always a balancing act, how much do I include, but not so much that the reader groans and shuts the cover, never to open it again.<br /><br />When writing in any time period other than our own the temptation is there to "teach" the reader or "show" them everything you know about something. In Medicine Man I had to keep my thoughts on what would the MC, Shannon, know or not know, what would puzzle him? And expand those things while keeping common place things out of his thoughts, but still show the reader the interesting bits.<br /><br />SRHowenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14732990670104875171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201181138363432253.post-57044507007637032692012-12-05T12:00:21.432-06:002012-12-05T12:00:21.432-06:00Excellent advice, Shawn. I have also found that a ...Excellent advice, Shawn. I have also found that a lot of times people will research, fall in love with what they discovered and want to share <i>all</i> of it with the reader. The end result is often a dry as dirt tale due to a huge data dump.<br /><br />Needless to say, you did not do that. You wove the research into this story with a masterful hand. You gave us enough so we could envision the scenes and people, but not so much we were bogged down with<br />details. Of course, being the editor and publisher, I am a bit biased.<br />(G)<br /><br />Marci Baun<br />Publisher<br /><a href="http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/" rel="nofollow">Wild Child Publishing</a><br /><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/" rel="nofollow">Freya's Bower</a>Marci Baunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01850775917897362922noreply@blogger.com