A few choice quotes from Nick Mamatas’s STARVE BETTER

[the_flea_king]

On story “hooks”:

The start of a story, its first para­graph, should assure the reader that they are in capa­ble hands.  The begin­ning of the story should tan­ta­lize, not hook, the reader.

On the use of scene breaks:

If a scene break were a phys­i­cal item, it would be an 800-​​pound gong.

Ever since read­ing that line, I now men­tally hear an

Comments

[elenuial]

Okay! I try to avoid writing advice books in general, but since you've recommended it twice, I will buy the book.

[the_flea_king]

I like to support my friends. Doubly so when they deserve it :)

[the_flea_king]

Er, poor phrasing on my part. Doubly so when it's something I really love, I mean.

[elenuial]

Haha, I got your meaning, but the unintended one is pretty awesome. :)

You know, I have no idea what Mr. Mamatas is like as a human being, but his internet persona as of a few years ago used to grate on me a ton. I'm not a pollyanna, but it was just on the other side of "asshole" to annoy me. When encountering it in recent years, though, my response has totally flipped. I'd actually been independently considering breaking my habit and buying the book.

I don't know how much his persona has changed, or how much I have.

[krylyr]

Yeah, this is definitely on my WANT list. I need to do spend a week absorbing it and Booklife, probably.