Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Make sure your book stands on its own

I should have found this comment three years ago, but I missed it. Sorry. It's a worthwhile comment.

1 comment:
  1. Talking about book endings reminded me of a self-published book I reviewed a couple of years ago. This book had the potential to make it big, but I'm sure readers felt the same way I did when I came to the end and read: To be concluded. I thought, "Hold on, this is a book, not a movie!" My next action was to check in the beginning for the author's published books or upcoming books. Nadda.

    I understand this may happen in a series, but I also understand that a book should stand on its own with most of the foreshadows finalized before THE END rolls around. Nothing was finalized. Everything remained up in the air. What a shame. That book kept my interest, but my Spidergal instincts tingled about three quarters into the book when no foreshadow or sub-plot came close to an end.

    So a tip to newbies: make sure your book stands on its own.

I agree with Lea, although I don't know if I've come across a novel that ended with To be concluded. I've been working on a novel that I hope to turn into a series, and I can say conclusively that it will stand on its own as well as part of a series.

Thanks, Lea.



Contact: I can be reached at tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com. Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

More blog entries by Tom Gillispie

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie

Monday, October 29, 2012

Bad headline

Headline alert: Is Braylon Edwards and Dwayne Bowe on trade block?

Obviously, that ought to be Are Braylon Edwards and Dwayne Bowe on trade block?


Found online: Olivier Vernon recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown and blocked a field goal...


You don't block a field goal (it wouldn't be a field goal if it were blocked). You'd have to block a field-goal attempt.



Contact: I can be reached at tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com. Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

More blog entries by Tom Gillispie

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie