Today's writing tip, from a reader: your first sentence is crucial. You'd be surprised how many people decide whether to read on, from the first sentence alone.
Personally, I flip to somewhere near the middle to assess the writing quality and style, but most people don't do it that way, I think?
Anyway, it might be intriguing to find out what your favorite first sentences are, of any book you've read.
@bookstodon@a.gup.pe
@kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Charles Dickens
A Tale of Two Cities
@Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
It was a german-worthy length of sentence. ;)
I do love Dickens but a lot of things about his writing made more sense when I learned he was paid by the word.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe hahaha i asked an english prof, was this dude paid by the word, or what? and she said, exactly
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
I didn’t know that. No wonder it takes a while to really get into his books. 😆
I do love Dickens.
@Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
he published a lot of his works as monthly serials, which apparently were paid by the word. folks would subscribe and read them in the parlor out loud at night (probably so they didn't have to listen to Junior butchering piano/violin for yet another evening ;)).
the repetition at the beginning of chapters also makes more sense if you say "if you recall from last month's episode" in your head.
@Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
he published a lot of his works as monthly serials, which apparently were paid by the word. folks would subscribe and read them in the parlor out loud at night (probably so they didn't have to listen to Junior butchering piano/violin for yet another evening ;)).
the repetition at the beginning of chapters also makes more sense if you say "if you recall from last month's episode" in your head.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
a novel (novella) in which Dickens wasn't paid by the word was A Christmas Carol.
it's the only one I'm able to read for fun.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
a novel (novella) in which Dickens wasn't paid by the word was A Christmas Carol.
it's the only one I'm able to read for fun.
@rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
slight hijack of the discussion.
i do enjoy Dickens but i usually binge a few at a go because it takes me a bit of time to get my brain into the style of language/usage. similarly for chaucer or others, where spelling in english hadn't formalized yet.
do other folks have to "acclimate" to read some of these works?
@rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
slight hijack of the discussion.
i do enjoy Dickens but i usually binge a few at a go because it takes me a bit of time to get my brain into the style of language/usage. similarly for chaucer or others, where spelling in english hadn't formalized yet.
do other folks have to "acclimate" to read some of these works?
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @rayckeith@techhub.social @kimlockhartga@beige.party @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
Yeah. I do. Old English. Sometimes the meaning of the words are different from today.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe same. All the classics are an adjustment for me.
@kimlockhartga@beige.party @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
changing societal mores also take me a bit to get back into. regency romances are definitely something i need to be in the mood for.
in high school, i got into a big argument with a teacher about modern audience reactions to previous periods in history. i got a low grade on a paper where i argued that Antigone's huge conflict and risking death to sprinkle dirt on her brother's body was something that a modern audience wouldn't immediately relate to, since burial/afterlife beliefs from ancient greece to the 20th century weren't tightly aligned. while i could intellectually understand Antigone's belief, i wouldn't have the same visceral emotional connection. my teacher felt that all human reactions were timeless and context didn't matter.
i also have to put on my "that was the time/period" hat on when reading Huck Finn and some stuff, like ER Burroughs i just can't read any more at all.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @kimlockhartga@beige.party @rayckeith@techhub.social @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
I get that. I can’t read R. F. Delderfield’s, The Adventures of Ben Gunn because of his constant usage of the N word. And I just want to slap some of the women in these old novels for swooning over everything. I know times were different, but it can still be uncomfortable reading.
@paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe that was a salient insight. I can't believe your teacher didn't see what you were saying.
@kimlockhartga@beige.party @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
she was the AP english teacher for all the courses. we butted heads a number of times... ;)
@kimlockhartga@beige.party @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
personally, one of the reasons i read a wide range of books is exactly because i have to try to understand the context, moral grid, societal expectations. it's most noticable in SF but i love soaking in a period of world history via a compelling story.
@kimlockhartga@beige.party @rayckeith@techhub.social @Caiotekit@convo.casa @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
personally, one of the reasons i read a wide range of books is exactly because i have to try to understand the context, moral grid, societal expectations. it's most noticable in SF but i love soaking in a period of world history via a compelling story.
Kim Possible :kimoji_fire:
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