DISQUS

That's fun to post these kind of cut portions of your story, and it does add some nice backstory.

Unfortunately for my own novel, I had to cut 35,000 words, so I've got some good fodder for future posting, too.

All God's best, Pete! When will your book be available?

-Robert

Pete,

I can sympathize with you on the editing process. I'm on my 5th edit since this time last year, and it really is crazy how much you see once you come back with fresh eyes.

Part of the problem is that the editing process itself introduces mistakes into the manuscript in terms of grammar, spelling, and plot inconsistencies. Every portion you touch in any significant way goes back to being a "first draft". Ouch!

Ah well, it has to end sometime, right? Good job getting an outside editor. After awhile, a fresh set of eyes can really help.

God's blessings on your book!

-Robert

When I said "the people attending" I didn't mean people would attend or it would be empty.

What I meant by that was whether or not they were interesting, fascinating, and enjoyable to converse with, etc.

Lets disconnect the two ...

1) atmosphere at the dinner party (setting, decorations, food, schedule)
2) the people attending

A great dinner party would have both. In the same way, a great book would have both.

That doesn't mean you couldn't have a good time and even really enjoy yourself if you only had one, but if you can get both, all the better.

Plot and Character is best.

"Which you prefer if one were missing" is the question, and I suspect that is individual.

10,000,000 comments ... now sort through that!

It's a blogocracy!

Thanks for the sneak peak to part two!

I'll be waiting!

Thanks for sharing this, Marcus.

Have a great trip, Marcus! I'll look forward to hearing how it went.

I loved your "recipe" poem that you linked to after the interview. Very creative! I might just look up that recipe...

I like the mysterious sense that the first page gave. And Jeffrey Overstreet didn't let up on the mysteries ... some not answered until the very end of the book, and some are never answered at all--and I think this works effectively to drive the reader on to the next book in the series.

Marcus, I forgot to tell Becky that I was opting in, so even though I'm not on the list of participants, I do have a review on my site. Stop by if you have time!

Thanks, Marcus, this is good advice. It's the reason I felt comfortable giving the details on my water-well problems on my blog, even though it had nothing whatsoever to do with writing fiction.

In fact, even the "well pipe parts list" that I posted about has had a lot of readers. And the neat thing is that I was able to share truth in the process. I've had a few people learn about the "Water of Life" when all they were searching for was "endopure pipe stiffeners". So if my blog blips into bits and is never heard from again, and if my book doesn't even sell one copy, the chance to share things like that make it all worthwhile.

And meeting people is nice, too!

My goal is to finish my Manuscript by June. That's pretty slow, really, but with my other more important priorities, its the only way to go.

I like it when you said "More than what I do or what I produce, I think God is interested in the way I go about it." I've thought about that in the past as "God is more interested in the painting than the frame" trying, I think, to mean the same thing you said.

Thanks for helping me remember this!

Thanks, Marcus, for bringing up these issues.

Forgiveness is such an important topic, as all of us (a) need it, and (b) need to give it. Our freedom from the past depends upon both and the chains of unforgiveness are very cruel.

It is hard to fathom the hurt and pain that the friends and families of the victims and perpetrator are going through. Puts my own problems into perspective and shows what they really are--very simple.

My prayers are with them.

As always, Marcus, your one page review is excellent!

I am not familiar with N.T. Wright, although I have heard the name. From what you say I would like to learn more. Do you have a website to recommend?

Marcus,

I tried to go to your poetry e-book, but the link didn't work. You might need to prefix it with http:// but I am not sure.

Thanks for the article!

-Robert

Marcus,

I think similar thoughts. I like to imagine myself waking up on a ledge. I look down and see that the cliff I'm on goes down forever and ever. There is no end and I am speechless. Then I look up! Right next to me is another cliff, and it goes up and up beyond my ability to see—forever! Then I look at the ledge itself and on it is a little bit of dust that the gusting winds blow away. The dust represents my wisdom and the cliffs the wisdom and power of God.

I like this quote from John Piper:

When David says, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving," he does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than he is. He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is." We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes.

(This came from his sermon at:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Serm...
)

Anyway, I think you woke some old thoughts with your post, and how fitting for the Thanksgiving holiday.

-Robert

Thanks for this post.

I was surprised that you really did what you said you were going to do -- judge it by the first page only. I fully expected you to go on and finish that short letter since the punchline and deepest humor is really at the end of it in the postscript on the second page.

But you didn't! You stuck to your guns and kept the review to the first page only. This really makes me look at my own work -- the first page in particular -- with new eyes. As much as I would WANT any editor or agent to read my entire prologue (only 700 words), if they only read the first page, I may be in trouble. My clincher is at the end of the short prologue, but it's not on the first page. What to do???!!!???

Thanks for the eye-opener!