Les Edgerton's book HOOKED is terrific (and not just cause I'm in it.)
Here's an interview that will show you why it was fun to hang out with him at Bouchercon
27 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I have this book! While reading it I took notes, highlighted tons of useful information, as well as contacted him after reading it with a question about my manuscript. I was so elated that he not only replied, but that I got the answer I needed. He is such an awesome guy - very down to earth! There is no doubt in my mind that the tidbit he shared with me will make all the difference in my novel! [Whenever it gets published, there is no doubt he will be one of the people thanked/dedicated!]
This book changed my life. Or at least my writing! I've already recommended it to everyone I know who is serious about writing. Anyone who wants to take their writing to the next level and really learn how to write a novel that grabs the reader from the start needs to read this book. P
Hi Janet! Thank YOU for sharing my interview. I simply LOVED it! Les is very humble for allowing us to interview him. And all the more when we discovered he lived such an amazing life and his engaging kind of writing.
Janet, I completely agree. I refer to it and quote from it all the time. I even created my novel analysis spreadsheet based on it. It's just so logical.
I was hooked on "Hooked" from page one. Les's insights into how to craft story beginnings took everything I've learned about the writer's craft and translated that knowledge into story-worthy tension. For the first time since I started writing, my story zings.
How do you thank someone who has taken you from writing words to telling stories? As Lulu says in To Sir with Love, "It isn't easy but I'll try."
I wasn't going to comment on comments on my own interview, but you folks are so unstintingly generous with your words that I simply have to. Thank you so much. Besides your generosity of spirit, I have to note my observation that the folks who took the trouble to send in comments all share a singular trait--you're all literate and obviously respect the language. No typos, no improper grammar, no misspellings, no "email" language. This is refreshing, to say the least. But, mostly, I just want to thank you. We writers belong to the greatest fraternity/sorority on earth--writers--and I love you all. You rock! And a big thank-you to Janet and Jay. I got to hang with Janet at Bouchercon and I hope some day to be able to knock back a brew with Jay. Y'all take care and keep writing!
Dammit, I can't believe I missed him at Bouchercon. He was probably the one person I would've most liked to meet. Umm, one of two, anyway. Great book. I moved into the "Top 5 Books Every Writer Should Own" list.
I’ve worked privately with Les over the past several years. He’s literally taught me how to write fiction, from the basics to more advanced concepts. He’s always candid (with both praise and criticism), yet empathetic. Plus, his suggestions are always specific and concrete. Thanks, Les!
This is in my top three all time favorite manuals on writing. And everyone that I suggest it to thanks me afterwards. I find myself coming back to it every time I start a new story. It's one of those "ah ha" books filled with stuff that you'd think would be obvious but isn't until Edgerton points it out.
I've been lucky enough to know Les for years. He's been a guest speaker at my writer's club and we've been on panels together. He's always generous with his time and experience. I admire his wit, humor, and attitude. More, I admire his talent and dedication. He offers practical advice that makes a difference in a person's writing. His book, HOOKED, does the same. It's nestled next to SCENE AND STRUCTURE near my desk. I've recommended it to new people who join our group, and it becomes a staple on their shelves too.
You guys knock me out! Thank you and that's from the bottom of my heart. However, I'm sinking deeper and deeper into debt, figuring out how many drinks I'm going to have to buy y'all.
BTW, Astrology, you said the very nicest thing when you said I was southern. Damn right, I am! And very proud of it. Grew up in Texas and New Orleans/Algiers and I don't think I could have been a writer if I hadn't, with the oral tradition and the attention to nuances in language that's so important to southerners.
Late comment here, but I finished reading HOOKED yesterday and it is a thought-provokingly, writing-enhancingly good book. (No, it does not encourage the use of hyphenated adverbs.)
I've had the rare treat of knowing les for more than ten years since we shared the same bed together in writing school. les just cant get that prison thing out of his system. Ha.:) In all seriousness, he's been a pal and a mentor. I was honored to have blurbed his Mondays Meal, arguably the best short fiction collection to emerge from out of Vermont College ever. And hooked is a didactic masterpiece, the culmination of a man at the top of his craft. Forget MFA school you aspiring authors. Get hooked on Hooked. BTW: I'm proud to have been provided a nice blurb from Les for my new novel Moonlight Falls due out in December (RJBuckley). blue skies les!
Ah, getting hooked on Les... there's not a lot else one can do. He has that soul-warming combo of knowledge and kindness, and he'll share anything he knows or has recently learned and all so generously. Can one ever praise or be praised enough? I don't think so. I hope to work on a screenplay with Les next spring and get the whole world hooked on Les & the weirdly wonderful characters he created. Bloody blue skies indeed!
27 comments:
I have this book! While reading it I took notes, highlighted tons of useful information, as well as contacted him after reading it with a question about my manuscript.
I was so elated that he not only replied, but that I got the answer I needed. He is such an awesome guy - very down to earth! There is no doubt in my mind that the tidbit he shared with me will make all the difference in my novel! [Whenever it gets published, there is no doubt he will be one of the people thanked/dedicated!]
I keep hearing about this book. Maybe I should listen:)
This book changed my life. Or at least my writing! I've already recommended it to everyone I know who is serious about writing. Anyone who wants to take their writing to the next level and really learn how to write a novel that grabs the reader from the start needs to read this book.
P
Hi Janet! Thank YOU for sharing my interview. I simply LOVED it! Les is very humble for allowing us to interview him. And all the more when we discovered he lived such an amazing life and his engaging kind of writing.
All I can say is I got HOOKED!
Thanks again!
Jay
http://hungrypeople.posterous.com
I loved this line the most: "The perfect word doesn't come in groups."
Janet,
I completely agree. I refer to it and quote from it all the time. I even created my novel analysis spreadsheet based on it. It's just so logical.
I was hooked on "Hooked" from page one. Les's insights into how to craft story beginnings took everything I've learned about the writer's craft and translated that knowledge into story-worthy tension. For the first time since I started writing, my story zings.
How do you thank someone who has taken you from writing words to telling stories? As Lulu says in To Sir with Love, "It isn't easy but I'll try."
Blue skies, Les, and thank you.
...taking notes!
I just blogged about this book yesterday. Such an awesome resource.
I wasn't going to comment on comments on my own interview, but you folks are so unstintingly generous with your words that I simply have to. Thank you so much. Besides your generosity of spirit, I have to note my observation that the folks who took the trouble to send in comments all share a singular trait--you're all literate and obviously respect the language. No typos, no improper grammar, no misspellings, no "email" language. This is refreshing, to say the least. But, mostly, I just want to thank you. We writers belong to the greatest fraternity/sorority on earth--writers--and I love you all. You rock! And a big thank-you to Janet and Jay. I got to hang with Janet at Bouchercon and I hope some day to be able to knock back a brew with Jay. Y'all take care and keep writing!
After reading the comments, I'm checking this one out.
Thanks
Hanging out with Les was one of the highlights of my trip. What a badass. Great book too.
I have this one, too. I love it. And the author is Southern, y'all.
Ordered. Thanks!
Dammit, I can't believe I missed him at Bouchercon. He was probably the one person I would've most liked to meet. Umm, one of two, anyway. Great book. I moved into the "Top 5 Books Every Writer Should Own" list.
I’ve worked privately with Les over the past several years. He’s literally taught me how to write fiction, from the basics to more advanced concepts. He’s always candid (with both praise and criticism), yet empathetic. Plus, his suggestions are always specific and concrete. Thanks, Les!
I ordered it last night. I look forward to reading it. Thanks!
This is in my top three all time favorite manuals on writing. And everyone that I suggest it to thanks me afterwards. I find myself coming back to it every time I start a new story. It's one of those "ah ha" books filled with stuff that you'd think would be obvious but isn't until Edgerton points it out.
I've been lucky enough to know Les for years. He's been a guest speaker at my writer's club and we've been on panels together. He's always generous with his time and experience. I admire his wit, humor, and attitude. More, I admire his talent and dedication. He offers practical advice that makes a difference in a person's writing. His book, HOOKED, does the same. It's nestled next to SCENE AND STRUCTURE near my desk. I've recommended it to new people who join our group, and it becomes a staple on their shelves too.
The most useful writing advice I’ve gotten so far. Honest and optimistic. Thank you Les!
You guys knock me out! Thank you and that's from the bottom of my heart. However, I'm sinking deeper and deeper into debt, figuring out how many drinks I'm going to have to buy y'all.
BTW, Astrology, you said the very nicest thing when you said I was southern. Damn right, I am! And very proud of it. Grew up in Texas and New Orleans/Algiers and I don't think I could have been a writer if I hadn't, with the oral tradition and the attention to nuances in language that's so important to southerners.
This book is awesome. I have read it several times and plan to re-read it in the future.
Yes! This book is so helpful. I've taken it out of the library a couple of times ... should invest in my own copy.
Late comment here, but I finished reading HOOKED yesterday and it is a thought-provokingly, writing-enhancingly good book. (No, it does not encourage the use of hyphenated adverbs.)
I've had the rare treat of knowing les for more than ten years since we shared the same bed together in writing school. les just cant get that prison thing out of his system. Ha.:) In all seriousness, he's been a pal and a mentor. I was honored to have blurbed his Mondays Meal, arguably the best short fiction collection to emerge from out of Vermont College ever. And hooked is a didactic masterpiece, the culmination of a man at the top of his craft. Forget MFA school you aspiring authors. Get hooked on Hooked. BTW: I'm proud to have been provided a nice blurb from Les for my new novel Moonlight Falls due out in December (RJBuckley). blue skies les!
Ah, getting hooked on Les... there's not a lot else one can do. He has that soul-warming combo of knowledge and kindness, and he'll share anything he knows or has recently learned and all so generously.
Can one ever praise or be praised enough? I don't think so.
I hope to work on a screenplay with Les next spring and get the whole world hooked on Les & the weirdly wonderful characters he created.
Bloody blue skies indeed!
Got my copy of "Hooked" yesterday after having some fun with an early Christmas gift certificate.
It's both entertaining and instructional and terms like "story-worthy problem" and "inciting incident" go through my head when I look at my WIP.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Terri
Post a Comment