tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post1074959558144212240..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: Which Way Next?Terry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-44065618222767525472010-05-17T19:58:31.273-06:002010-05-17T19:58:31.273-06:00Jemi - the devil's in the details.
Mary - No,...Jemi - the devil's in the details.<br /><br />Mary - No, if I'd DONE it, it would be amazing. I'm regretting my laziness.<br /><br />Julie - whatever system works. The important thing is having a system.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-62848893108040423232010-05-17T19:41:47.151-06:002010-05-17T19:41:47.151-06:00Great post. I do forget things as I move along. ...Great post. I do forget things as I move along. Great idea, keeping a notebook!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-18184299620762429862010-05-17T19:25:04.209-06:002010-05-17T19:25:04.209-06:00You are amazing with this stuff Terry!
I keep a no...You are amazing with this stuff Terry!<br />I keep a notebook myself!Mary Ricksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676306822821614446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-33125439263379736812010-05-17T19:19:04.722-06:002010-05-17T19:19:04.722-06:00That's a REALLY good idea Terry. I've hone...That's a REALLY good idea Terry. I've honestly never thought about it. I've wondered if my characters might show up in another story - or if the setting will reappear too. Hmm... I'd better get started on that bible!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-67913939645799122482010-05-17T18:00:03.959-06:002010-05-17T18:00:03.959-06:00Jane - no need for everyone to make the same mista...Jane - no need for everyone to make the same mistakes I did.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-28337812033710021282010-05-17T16:52:26.866-06:002010-05-17T16:52:26.866-06:00I keep up with characters,their families and trait...I keep up with characters,their families and traits by using note cards. I haven’t thought about doing the same with living areas and such. Thanks for the hint.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-86984760733144594522010-05-17T16:48:41.884-06:002010-05-17T16:48:41.884-06:00TerryS -early is better. Trust me!
Maeve - I'...TerryS -early is better. Trust me! <br /><br />Maeve - I've often mistyped character names and thank goodness my crit partners usually catch those sorts of things (especially when I use the hero from a former book, or type my son's name)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-48623825995102404672010-05-17T16:28:01.300-06:002010-05-17T16:28:01.300-06:00Thanks for the tip! I once had an editor catch wh...Thanks for the tip! I once had an editor catch where I'd changed my mind and switched the name of a minor character later on in the book. The names were similar and I hadn't realized I'd done it. This would help me keep track.Maeve Greysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947265251857551496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-81984742057998956862010-05-17T16:08:32.629-06:002010-05-17T16:08:32.629-06:00I haven't even thought of these problems yet. ...I haven't even thought of these problems yet. That Bible idea sounds smart, though. Something to think about.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-25370657120981136862010-05-17T13:01:21.781-06:002010-05-17T13:01:21.781-06:00Lou - yes, a notebook is a good idea. I was doing ...Lou - yes, a notebook is a good idea. I was doing edits for Book 2 and just noticed that a minor character spoke with a trace of a Minnesota in his speech. I need to remember that--because sure as I don't, he'll show up in another book with a Boston accent!Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-44193012543353857222010-05-17T12:31:09.295-06:002010-05-17T12:31:09.295-06:00Pat - thanks for the award. And keep writing somet...Pat - thanks for the award. And keep writing something. I think that's the secret.<br /><br />Jacqueline - I think that's part of the package when you're with a small press.<br /><br />Cleo - agreed (although none of my publishers are "big" enough to send anything remotely resembling style sheets. We're on our own.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-13341504413920538882010-05-17T11:29:32.277-06:002010-05-17T11:29:32.277-06:00As a longtime writer of media tie-ins, I know how ...As a longtime writer of media tie-ins, I know how very important Bibles are for continuity. If you want to think big, for instance, and consider your idea going the way of (say) Sookie to television, you can bet a bible will eventually be made of your series characters and your recurring "sets" -- think of it that way and it might be more fun (rather than a chore). Just picture Hugh Jackman reading over your bible to get a sense of his character and where he fits into your world :)<br />I'll just add two more notes of advice. For the published authors: make sure you keep or file the copyeditor's Style Sheet when your publisher sends you the copyedited ms. for review. The Style Sheet will have a list of characters, place names, etc. As your series progresses, the sheet may even begin to carry notations about character descriptions. For the unpublished/aspiring authors, I second Terry's post here - working on more than one series is something many pro authors do. So if you have a proposal on an editor's desk and you have an idea for a new book or series, carpe diem, baby. Start practicing the skill of putting one thing on hold while you write another. :) <br /><br />~ Cleo<br /><a href="http://www.coffeehousemystery.com/" rel="nofollow"> Coffeehouse Mystery.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/cleocoyle/" rel="nofollow"> Cleo Coyle on Twitter</a>Cleo Coylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15557517506340986862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-54089283803251565472010-05-17T10:43:34.854-06:002010-05-17T10:43:34.854-06:00I have the same problem, Terry and Pat. Five Star ...I have the same problem, Terry and Pat. Five Star has purchased book #3 of my mystery series.<br />THE TRUTH SLEUTH will appear in May 2011. But will there be enough reader interest to continue the series or should I work on something totally different? I'm going to work on something different for the time being. I think, Terry, you have the right idea.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-17224046134278324772010-05-17T09:47:34.376-06:002010-05-17T09:47:34.376-06:00I'm still struggling with whether to write tha...I'm still struggling with whether to write that book #3 or not. Meanwhile, I have two other very different manuscripts to submit somewhere...soon, very soon.<br /><br />Terry, please drop by my blog when you have time. I have something for you.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-63557036466204605542010-05-17T07:37:26.557-06:002010-05-17T07:37:26.557-06:00Great post. Yes, I've finally learned to put i...Great post. Yes, I've finally learned to put it all down from day one.... I keep a notebook for each project and just keep adding to it. Thanks for a great reminder.Lou Belcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11456171593130602318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-79456467587090314572010-05-17T07:16:57.181-06:002010-05-17T07:16:57.181-06:00Eliazabeth - I should have been more optimistic ab...Eliazabeth - I should have been more optimistic about continuing my series. Even if it's sold one book at a time, the continuity needs to be there.<br /><br />Mason - Suzanne Brockmann plots out 7 book character and story arcs. With spreadsheets and colored, highlighted text. Makes a non-plotter like me climb the walls!Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-20017582193961865532010-05-17T06:43:56.119-06:002010-05-17T06:43:56.119-06:00I'd often wondered how authors keep everything...I'd often wondered how authors keep everything straight when doing a series, especially if it had quite a number of characters returning each time. I did read a series once where a name and a career of one of the main characters changed from the first book.<br /><br />Mason<br /><a href="http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Thoughts in Progress</a>Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-83733840176553299752010-05-17T06:39:24.376-06:002010-05-17T06:39:24.376-06:00Me? Forget a character? No way! :)
Happens ALL ...Me? Forget a character? No way! :) <br /><br />Happens ALL the time. Hooray for series bibles!<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com