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crich70 · 11-09-2013, 10:06 AM

I can't remember if it was Somerset Maughham or Sinclair Lewis, but I remember reading about a would be author who studied under one or the other and when they showed their work to the author they were advised to cut the 1st 74 pages or so. When they protested that they had to set the scene the author said "For 74 pages? If I want a travelogue I'll get National Geographic, not a novel." His point was to get to telling the story asap. Story was action.

11-09-2013, 10:06 AM	#15
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I can't remember if it was Somerset Maughham or Sinclair Lewis, but I remember reading about a would be author who studied under one or the other and when they showed their work to the author they were advised to cut the 1st 74 pages or so. When they protested that they had to set the scene the author said "For 74 pages? If I want a travelogue I'll get National Geographic, not a novel." His point was to get to telling the story asap. Story was action.