tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post2552308870825594896..comments2023-12-19T06:54:20.572-05:00Comments on Answer Girl: What are the typical flaws of a first novel?Ellen Clair Lambhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14944288413332520719noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-67992706151307186602007-03-25T09:30:00.000-04:002007-03-25T09:30:00.000-04:00The fact that first novels share a set of characte...The fact that first novels share a set of characteristic flaws (as well as characteristic strengths) does not mean that first novels are not worth reading. Nor does it mean that we shouldn't judge first novels by the same standards we use to evaluate any other novel. Presumably, writers write to be read, and every reader brings his or her own judgment to the table.<BR/><BR/>Second novels have their own set of challenges. Novels written to deadlines once a writer's achieved success have another characteristic set of flaws, and maybe I'll lay those out at some point.<BR/><BR/>Everyone's working to create the best book they can, given the tools at their disposal. And of COURSE it's easier to edit or criticize than it is to create. It's a privilege to be part of that process, but I never forget that I'm just an assistant.Ellen Clair Lambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944288413332520719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-92092433968114869842007-03-25T07:55:00.000-04:002007-03-25T07:55:00.000-04:00Sorry - my post got a bit garbled - I loved the qu...Sorry - my post got a bit garbled - <I>I loved the quote "reaction is easier than creation"</I> was what I meant to say.Roger Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08071467030127707462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-22876251872088955742007-03-25T07:53:00.000-04:002007-03-25T07:53:00.000-04:00Hi, yes, I'm here from the Guardian. I'm now onto ...Hi, yes, I'm here from the Guardian. I'm now onto my second novel, so I hope I've moved beyond first novelitis. <BR/><BR/>As I writer, I accept that everything I produce will have flaws. It's insane to think otherwise. In the case of my first book, I'm probably hyper-aware of its flaws and honestly didn't need anyone to point them out to me. You make it as good as you can at the time of writing. Then you move on, accepting its imperfections as you do those of one of your children, maybe. Believe it or not, there were flaws that I willfully refused to fix. And actually my first published novel was not the first novel I wrote, which is quite common I think, and overlooked by reviewers.<BR/><BR/>I thought Kate Kellaway's article was excellent and the quote "reaction is easier than creation". And she did own up to her own inability to write fiction, I think, which was laudable.Roger Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08071467030127707462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-62251654587708389552007-03-23T08:14:00.000-04:002007-03-23T08:14:00.000-04:00Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Scott Phillips, author o...Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Scott Phillips, author of THE ICE HARVEST, a first novel like a diamond.<BR/><BR/>Let me clarify (for anyone who's clicked through from the Guardian, and has read this far) that flaws don't necessarily make a novel bad, and this posting was not meant to slag first novels. In fact, my original use of the term "first-novelitis" was to explain my endorsement of a first novel that my colleague had written a scathing review of. I liked the book, and chose to overlook the shortcomings my friend had pointed out.<BR/><BR/>Even the Mona Lisa has flaws.Ellen Clair Lambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944288413332520719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-66738064247522110352007-02-09T22:57:00.000-05:002007-02-09T22:57:00.000-05:00What? WHAT? Gosh.love,Scott P.What? WHAT? <BR/><BR/>Gosh.<BR/><BR/>love,<BR/><BR/>Scott P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7778441.post-78156947477783805642007-02-09T15:38:00.000-05:002007-02-09T15:38:00.000-05:00Even The Great Gatsby has a couple minor flaws, th...Even The Great Gatsby has a couple minor flaws, though it pains me to say it. Fitzgerald's geography and time sense are remarkably sloppy.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402513189539866553noreply@blogger.com