K.I.S.S.! K.I.S.S.! K.I.S.S.!

[onyxhawke]

Among the half a trillion things that bemuse me about writing, is the "chapter quote". To me, it seems like entirely more work than is needed. To me, a non writer, the extra work spent putting them together could be better spent working on the text. Also there is the fact that for consistencies sake, once you have them, you'll probably be expected to continue them. Given the penchant publishers, and to some extent the public have for never ending series this could be ten to twelve books. If you have a slim twenty chapters per book, multiplied by twelve books, that is a whole lot of time.

Then too, there is the problem of doing it right. I have almost the same grievances with chapter quotes as i do with prologues. Either A) they are not done right, either spoiling the entire book and or chapter, or B) they are totally opaque and just distract the reader and make them think the are missing something that just isn't there.

This hopeless ramble was spurred by nothing in particular...

Comments

[davefreer.livejournal.com]

(evil smile) and it has a sort of anti-hero hero called O'Mike entirely in the chapter headers.

[archangelbeth]

*snicker* Wicked. I salute you!

[davefreer.livejournal.com]

the funniest part is that I did it at least 2 years before this discussion. If I get to write the prequel - on how the slowtrain gets built and launched, he will be a major character. As is you get hints of his influence (which is considerable) in the chapter headers