Comments on: How to Power Your Novel by Using Quotes http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/ Practical wisdom for novelists and other storytellers Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:03:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Danielle Ingram http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 Danielle Ingram Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:38:22 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1371 I think that quotes can really make a piece of writing whether that be a novel, news story or press release. I do agree that going overboard with quotes can be a mistake but one or two small one-liners can really back up a piece of writing. I think that quotes can really make a piece of writing whether that be a novel, news story or press release. I do agree that going overboard with quotes can be a mistake but one or two small one-liners can really back up a piece of writing.

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 Bill Henderson Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:26:29 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1348 There's a term "brand name fiction." It was stylish for a while--you establish a realistic contemporary setting by grabbing actual quotes from current songs, mentioning actual brand names, quoting snatches of current TV, etc. It's actually an effective way to orient the reader in a fictional setting that is meant to be as "up to the minute" as today's 6 oclock news, and I've gotten good use out of it myself. But you have to be aware of the tradeoffs: (1) there will aways be some readers who won't know what you're talking about; (2) it will date, inevitably; and (3) if you overdo it, readers will become conscious of what you're up to and be distracted by it. There’s a term “brand name fiction.” It was stylish for a while–you establish a realistic contemporary setting by grabbing actual quotes from current songs, mentioning actual brand names, quoting snatches of current TV, etc. It’s actually an effective way to orient the reader in a fictional setting that is meant to be as “up to the minute” as today’s 6 oclock news, and I’ve gotten good use out of it myself. But you have to be aware of the tradeoffs: (1) there will aways be some readers who won’t know what you’re talking about; (2) it will date, inevitably; and (3) if you overdo it, readers will become conscious of what you’re up to and be distracted by it.

]]> By: Lise A http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1347 Lise A Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:32:14 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1347 Ah yes, I see it now. I've just read "The stand", Stephen King. He quotes everything, all the time, mentioning brand names and all that sort of thing. And to me it makes the universe to realistic and dense. And especially because different people quote different things. Ah yes, I see it now.

I’ve just read “The stand”, Stephen King. He quotes everything, all the time, mentioning brand names and all that sort of thing. And to me it makes the universe to realistic and dense. And especially because different people quote different things.

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1346 Bill Henderson Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:49:34 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1346 Lisa, apologies & thanks for sticking with this. I must have previewed the link but stopped without updating the post. Late night. SBM, I'm not sure what you mean by technical, but my advice is to go ahead, making sure it's ONLY a few lines and that Eliot gets attributed in some way (even if a character "thinks" it). The Fair Use clause in copyright law allows for this. If you want links, do a Google search on "fair use, poetry" and you'll find more than you'll ever want to know on this. But in my personal experience, it boils down to: will the source feel unfairly used. If not, where's the harm? Lisa, apologies & thanks for sticking with this. I must have previewed the link but stopped without updating the post. Late night.

SBM, I’m not sure what you mean by technical, but my advice is to go ahead, making sure it’s ONLY a few lines and that Eliot gets attributed in some way (even if a character “thinks” it). The Fair Use clause in copyright law allows for this. If you want links, do a Google search on “fair use, poetry” and you’ll find more than you’ll ever want to know on this. But in my personal experience, it boils down to: will the source feel unfairly used. If not, where’s the harm?

]]> By: SBM http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 SBM Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:19:45 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1344 Like this one - can you point me to a link that may have good technical advice about the use of quotations to begin as short story? I want to use a few lines of TS Elliot as prelude to the story. Thanks, Like this one – can you point me to a link that may have good technical advice about the use of quotations to begin as short story? I want to use a few lines of TS Elliot as prelude to the story.
Thanks,

]]> By: Lise A http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1343 Lise A Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:22:11 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1343 Uhm. I still don't see it? Uhm. I still don’t see it?

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1342 Bill Henderson Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:42:08 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1342 My bad. The link is there now. My bad. The link is there now.

]]> By: Lise A http://writeabetternovel.net/how-to-power-your-novel-by-using-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Lise A Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:03:16 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2053#comment-1341 Uhm. Click where? Uhm. Click where?

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