tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2459721220339634680..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Roses are red, Violets are blue, my novel's in sonnets, what should I do?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12963460152137477662018-02-10T21:42:05.337-05:002018-02-10T21:42:05.337-05:00I can barely, on good days, write lyric poetry or ...I can barely, on good days, write lyric poetry or narrative poetry. I can only salute those who can think in quatrains or 3/4 times.<br /><br />I would have to say that if you are going to attempt to query a novel in sonnets, you should write your query as such. Explaining poetry does not work, it must be experienced.<br /><br />As far as Frost endings go, this one has meant more to me.<br /><br /> Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—<br />I took the one less traveled by,<br />And that has made all the difference.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56881723399369698422018-02-10T19:23:30.127-05:002018-02-10T19:23:30.127-05:00I do love that poem.I do love that poem.Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6023851560531054092018-02-10T19:18:09.844-05:002018-02-10T19:18:09.844-05:00Like others, my head hurts at the thought of writi...Like others, my head hurts at the thought of writing a novel in poetry form (of any sort!). I have nothing to add, OP, except to say good luck when you query. <br /><br />And <b>Colin</b> and <b>Kathy</b>, shhh, no more please. I struggle to write FF that is even passably worthy of being seen by Reider eyes as it is, but if it had to rhyme as well...AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47687252008483562242018-02-10T15:49:31.175-05:002018-02-10T15:49:31.175-05:00Oh, and SHARP TEETH by Toby Barlow isn't YA, b...Oh, and SHARP TEETH by Toby Barlow isn't YA, but is a novel in verse that received excellent reviews and was nominated for an award or two when it came out.<br /><br />The Sleepy Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17406738871201908077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41650136399665401922018-02-10T15:46:51.618-05:002018-02-10T15:46:51.618-05:00OP, check out Claudia Rankine's CITIZEN: AN AM...OP, check out Claudia Rankine's CITIZEN: AN AMERICAN LYRIC. To quote the New Yorker, it's a book-length poem about race and imagination. It's maybe less novel in verse than very long poem, but it just came out last year. <br /><br />The Sleepy Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17406738871201908077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4048616105313181332018-02-10T15:19:46.265-05:002018-02-10T15:19:46.265-05:00To Colin's lament
I can only say, "Gent,
...To Colin's lament<br />I can only say, "Gent,<br />Get out of your head,<br />Read a good book instead."<br /><br />Don't tempt the queen shark<br />With your own wordly snark.<br />If you dislike rhyme<br />She'll write it all the time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999175415765818941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90958733593244462162018-02-10T14:28:45.879-05:002018-02-10T14:28:45.879-05:00To BJ's point, which I thought was most cogent...To <b>BJ</b>'s point, which I thought was most cogent,<br />If your novel-in-verse gets the love of an agent,<br />She'll be happy to work on your book's presentation<br />for the chance to be offering representation.<br /><br />ARGGHHH!! Curse you Sharky!!! Look what you've done!!<br />I'll be like this all day now, and that won't be fun... 8-\Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32668361379582744102018-02-10T14:00:12.433-05:002018-02-10T14:00:12.433-05:00I did come across this link: re: Can I Bend Submis...I did come across this link: <a href="http://deareditor.com/2014/06/re-can-i-tweak-submission-rules-for-my-novel-in-verse" rel="nofollow">re: Can I Bend Submission Rules for My Novel in Verse?</a><br /><br />Basically, yeah, you can fiddle around with some 'rules' for manuscript format for such circumstances. Whatever feels right/looks right, do it. I don't think you'd be judged on the format in a case like this.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22030965749447213992018-02-10T13:47:47.241-05:002018-02-10T13:47:47.241-05:00Re: manuscript format:
Poetry follows most of the...Re: manuscript format:<br /><br />Poetry follows most of the basics - 1" margins all around, 12-pt font like TNR or Courier.<br /><br />With line-spacing, though, I think it comes down to how you see the story. Will you have each line ending at the end of the poetic line, not necessarily the end of the sentence? Or are you going to have the sentences flow together like prose, with only the meter and rhyme showing the reader that this is poetry?<br /><br />If the latter, it's just like a novel. If the former... well,definitely double-space between stanzas or at paragraph breaks... But I believe that, in poetic format, you don't doublespace. At least, that's what I've seen for poetry submissions to magazines/contests. But for an entire novel to be mostly single-spaced... that may be difficult reading...BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-108870327617413642018-02-10T13:39:23.805-05:002018-02-10T13:39:23.805-05:00Pushkin Sonnet sounds like Russian headwear. Pushkin Sonnet sounds like Russian headwear. Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60972226811098535032018-02-10T13:20:53.259-05:002018-02-10T13:20:53.259-05:00Julie Weathers said...
"When I sent what I th...Julie Weathers said...<br />"When I sent what I thought was the opening chapter of Rain Crow off to Free Lance Editor Edna (FLEE), I got dinged on a lot of things that were inaccurate."<br /> 2/9/18, 10:15 AM <br /><br />I think what all these readers are saying is, for some reason you are not compelling them to suspend disbelief. It is not the facts or the lack thereof.<br /><br />SALEM'S LOT has probably the most preposterous premise imaginable. Yet the author had crusty me believing in vampires for so many hundreds of pages. When I got to the end I was astonished and awestruck that anybody could be that good. If there is any justice in the world at all, King should be a wealthy bestselling author. Let up hope.<br /><br />It reminds me of a book critic who was assigned to review a King book. He out and said he was a literary snob who was convinced King could not write. When he finished the book he was still an unreconstructed King disrespecter. So why, he wondered in print, did he stay up all night helplessly turning pages instead of sleeping?<br /><br />Probably because King is a master storyteller.<br /><br />If you want to get people to suspend disbelief, go ye to the master, study his ways, and be wise.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13083862272770406132018-02-10T11:53:28.291-05:002018-02-10T11:53:28.291-05:00I bow to anyone who can do this! I know people who...I bow to anyone who can do this! I know people who have such an ear for meter that they don't even need to think about it. For most of us, getting meter perfect is a major job. So, adding that to getting all of the other elements perfect is huge! Congratulations to anybody who can achieve that!Sherry Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326605891373049617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78537321214371229022018-02-10T11:39:02.066-05:002018-02-10T11:39:02.066-05:00I'm wondering about the standard manuscript fo...I'm wondering about the standard manuscript format part of the question. Is there anything special involved in formatting verse? Should the directions be followed to the letter anyway?<br /><br />Also, is the list of 100 must reads still must read if the OP's novel isn't YA?CEDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411394450673673225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41818428024723740662018-02-10T11:33:50.456-05:002018-02-10T11:33:50.456-05:00I agree, Colin! And I love your sonnet. I agree, Colin! And I love your sonnet. Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76318941587981458472018-02-10T11:17:20.258-05:002018-02-10T11:17:20.258-05:00Janet's advice, once again, is excelling
A nov...Janet's advice, once again, is excelling<br />A novel in verse could indeed be compelling<br />If written such that we forget it's in verse<br />And the story becomes our entire universe.<br /><br />The title of this, if I may be bold to speak,<br />For me takes the crown as Blog Title of the Week. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19402728255437028202018-02-10T10:38:32.714-05:002018-02-10T10:38:32.714-05:00Huh, I'd heard of Shakespearean, and Petrarcha...Huh, I'd heard of Shakespearean, and Petrarchan, but not Onegin, as this is also called. Fascinating. <br /><br />And yeah, OP, if that's how the story wants to be told, go for it. There is a market for this. On the list of novels in verse, Ellen Hopkins is a must. Start with <i>Crank</i> and go from there. <i>Freak Boy</i> by Kristin Clark is also excellent, and deals with transgender issues. Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86616415202378318342018-02-10T10:34:42.061-05:002018-02-10T10:34:42.061-05:00OP, that sounds like a way cool form for a novel.OP, that sounds like a way cool form for a novel.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20403330710995633842018-02-10T10:31:01.324-05:002018-02-10T10:31:01.324-05:00I have Julie’s headache. Good luck, OP. I off to r...I have Julie’s headache. Good luck, OP. I off to read some of these sonnets. Huh? E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10157732229324258102018-02-10T10:12:01.014-05:002018-02-10T10:12:01.014-05:00PS: The wikipedia people will be scratching their ...PS: The wikipedia people will be scratching their heads today. "Why are so many people looking up Pushkin sonnets??"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999175415765818941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70342378336157861332018-02-10T10:09:42.136-05:002018-02-10T10:09:42.136-05:00Oh my gosh! Pushkin sonnets (yes, I looked it up t...Oh my gosh! Pushkin sonnets (yes, I looked it up too). Hats off to you OP. If I had to write a novel that way, I'd throw in the towel. But, I'm going to the library to get one. It looks like great fun to read. And, it would be a killer flash fiction contest.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999175415765818941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80297446820401628522018-02-10T09:33:01.025-05:002018-02-10T09:33:01.025-05:00I have nothing to offer the OP except the mere tho...I have nothing to offer the OP except the mere thought of that makes my head hurt. Yay, you.<br /><br />However, this makes my soul happy:<br /><br />"You should be passing familiar"Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-92846775213340722018-02-10T08:01:03.667-05:002018-02-10T08:01:03.667-05:00Yep, me too. Had to look it up. Plus, I was also...Yep, me too. Had to look it up. Plus, I was also confusing this with Pusheen.<br /><br />As in: <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/sMK7XbZ3WkKNa" rel="nofollow">Pusheen Not Pushkin!</a><br /><br />Sheesh.<br /><br />I am, yet again, amazed at what I learn out here. I've also spent time catching up on a couple posts, and really got into reading the commentary on "authenticity" where, as was expected, <b>Julie Weathers</b> cracked me up.<br /><br />But on that note of authenticity...I am going to be part of an author chat on Farmgirl Book Club (via FB) on Feb 22, and given some of the questions being asked by readers of BITTERSWEET, I've just spent the morning copying/pasting hyperlinks of my research about "savant syndrome" and "autistic savants." <br /><br />I imagine for some readers suspension of belief might be hard if impacted personally by a particular aspect of a story. For instance, I have an autistic savant - what used to be known as idiot savant in the time frame I write, in THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET. While the story carries true, historical facts of a flood, and life during those times, it's still fiction. Can what happened to my autistic savant happen? In <i>my</i> story, yes. In real life? Possibly. Can it be proven? Possibly. Does it really matter? Not to me. It's fiction, and most important of all, hopefully a good story so no one would really care. :)<br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.com