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| Tips & Advice Share your tips, tricks and advice. |
07-18-2008, 04:27 PM
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#1
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Writer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
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Quotes Opening Chapters . . .
I'm considering opening each chapter of my new WIP with a short quote -- I'm sure everyone's seen it before.
I don't have to worry about citing these things, do I? I never see them in novels.
Now, does having quotes by real-world people (for example: "I came, I saw, I conquered." -- Julius Caesar) in a fantasy novel jerk you out of your, ah, immersion (assuming I can create immersion in the first place)?
Apologies for my ignorance, stupid question, etc., etc., etc.
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07-18-2008, 04:31 PM
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#2
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Best Seller
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Forge
Gender: Male
Posts: 718
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Yes, it would.
__________________
In a far away land called Shrine, an ancient secret is about to be unleashed. When Valeria, a fighter-mage of considerable power, discovers the source of the evil plaguing the land, will she have the strength and intelligence to restore balance to an ancient place long forgotten by time? Find out in Eternity, a new series by JHB, coming soon!
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07-18-2008, 04:32 PM
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#3
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Upstate NY
Gender: Male
Posts: 329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shifty
I'm considering opening each chapter of my new WIP with a short quote -- I'm sure everyone's seen it before.
I don't have to worry about citing these things, do I? I never see them in novels.
Now, does having quotes by real-world people (for example: "I came, I saw, I conquered." -- Julius Caesar) in a fantasy novel jerk you out of your, ah, immersion (assuming I can create immersion in the first place)?
Apologies for my ignorance, stupid question, etc., etc., etc.
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Three thoughts:
1) When I see them in novels, they're always cited.
2) They work in some novels, and fail miserably in others. I'd put a few in, and then get an outside opinion.
3) If you're going to use them, don't make them really common quotes that everyone knows. Lesser-known song lyrics work really well, as far as I'm concerned. |
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07-18-2008, 04:38 PM
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#4
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Writer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
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My first chapter's quote is by Vanya Cohen; I've never heard of her before. But then I live under a rock.
So I guess they're cited in the back? What about Shakespearean quotes and the like?
JHB, are you referring to my second question?
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07-18-2008, 04:40 PM
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#5
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Upstate NY
Gender: Male
Posts: 329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shifty
My first chapter's quote is by Vanya Cohen; I've never heard of her before. But then I live under a rock.
So I guess they're cited in the back? What about Shakespearean quotes and the like?
JHB, are you referring to my second question?
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You don't have to cite them APA style:
Roamer, wanderer, nomad, vagabond...
Call me what you will. - Metallica
I've never heard of that chick, either. |
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07-18-2008, 04:50 PM
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#6
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Writer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
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Oh, that's how I do it!
So I don't need like,
Doe, John. Book. etc?
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07-18-2008, 04:52 PM
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#7
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Upstate NY
Gender: Male
Posts: 329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shifty
Oh, that's how I do it!
So I don't need like,
Doe, John. Book. etc?
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Please don't. 
You could throw the book in, though:
"And magic has a strong, strong heart." - Robert McCammon, Boy's Life.
Last edited by Dan : 07-18-2008 at 04:57 PM.
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07-18-2008, 05:43 PM
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#8
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Best Seller
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Forge
Gender: Male
Posts: 718
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shifty
JHB, are you referring to my second question?
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Yes, I am.
__________________
In a far away land called Shrine, an ancient secret is about to be unleashed. When Valeria, a fighter-mage of considerable power, discovers the source of the evil plaguing the land, will she have the strength and intelligence to restore balance to an ancient place long forgotten by time? Find out in Eternity, a new series by JHB, coming soon!
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07-18-2008, 06:10 PM
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#9
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Addict
Join Date: Jul 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 180
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I have to say, I would never use quotes by real word people in a fantasy book. That would really distract me if I was the reader. That being said, other kinds of quotes aren't out of the question. I would tend more to invent my own quotes and cite them as quotes from some famous (made up) bard or something. You have to be careful with that kind of thing, though, by making sure whatever opening quotes you use are important to the story or, in some way, have something to do with the content of the chapter.
This, of course, is just my opinion and others may feel differently.
__________________
Capricious Quills:
A resource for writers of fantasy and paranormal romance.
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07-18-2008, 06:51 PM
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#10
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Writer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OtherWorlds
I have to say, I would never use quotes by real word people in a fantasy book. That would really distract me if I was the reader. That being said, other kinds of quotes aren't out of the question. I would tend more to invent my own quotes and cite them as quotes from some famous (made up) bard or something. You have to be careful with that kind of thing, though, by making sure whatever opening quotes you use are important to the story or, in some way, have something to do with the content of the chapter.
This, of course, is just my opinion and others may feel differently.
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Yeah, that's what Bakker did. If you and JHB both say no, I ain't doin' it. Maybe I'll just build off things I see that I like...oh wait, that's plagiarism  
I just don't feel confident that I can come up with intelligent, non-corny lines. Maybe I should just bag the idea, if it doesn't add to the story. |
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07-18-2008, 06:55 PM
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#11
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Wordsmith
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On islands
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,989
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There is not much point in uncited quotes, try it and I think you'll see it looks lame.
I have a novel with quotes opening each chapter: they are "cited" to the news articles written by the main character. They enable all sorts of neat stunts, including painless explanation for some terms and events that occur in the chapter.
If I were doing what you are doing, I would use fantasy quotes:
"I conquered this land: now it is conquering me," Milenius the Harried, from the Book of Remorse
etc
This can be much more helpful to you in MANY, many ways than using real quotes.
Last edited by lin : 07-18-2008 at 11:33 PM.
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07-18-2008, 08:53 PM
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#12
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Upstate NY
Gender: Male
Posts: 329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OtherWorlds
I have to say, I would never use quotes by real word people in a fantasy book. That would really distract me if I was the reader. That being said, other kinds of quotes aren't out of the question. I would tend more to invent my own quotes and cite them as quotes from some famous (made up) bard or something. You have to be careful with that kind of thing, though, by making sure whatever opening quotes you use are important to the story or, in some way, have something to do with the content of the chapter.
This, of course, is just my opinion and others may feel differently.
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See: Koontz, Dean and The Book of Counted Sorrows. |
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07-18-2008, 11:56 PM
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#13
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Writer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lin
There is not much point in uncited quotes, try it and I think you'll see it looks lame.
I have a novel with quotes opening each chapter: they are "cited" to the news articles written by the main character. They enable all sorts of neat stunts, including painless explanation for some terms and events that occur in the chapter.
If I were doing what you are doing, I would use fantasy quotes:
"I conquered this land: now it is conquering me," Milenius the Harried, from the Book of Remorse
etc
This can be much more helpful to you in MANY, many ways than using real quotes.
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Right, I'm just afraid they'll come out corny.
I'll do my damnedest. Thanks for the input everyone.
PS Were you the one who got rid of TT? Inappropriate question. |
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07-19-2008, 02:24 AM
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#14
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne Australia
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,065
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I don't use quotes, but all 'opening' quotes are always citied with the person's name beside it in novels I've read, and sometimes referenced to the author's acknowledgments.
__________________
'Beauty stands and waits with gravity to start her death-defying leap. And he, a little charleychaplin man, who may or may not catch her fair eternal form spreadeagled in the empty air of existence.' - Laurence Felinghetti, 'The Acrobat'
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