Ask the Wenches

Anne here.

This is a quick Sunday post, calling for wenchly readers to send us any questions they'd like to ask the wenches.

We're running low on our "Ask-A-Wench" questions from readers, so if you have any burning questions you'd like answered by us, post them below, or send them to our trusty wench wrangler, Laura.

Comments

[Janice]

How do you handle "bad" reviews? Reviews that appear to have been written by someone who never read, or finished, the book? The reviews are out there, spreading misinformation or spite or whatever - is there anything you can do about an inaccurate or slanted review that might turn away potentian readers? Or do you just have to grin and bear it?

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Janice — that's a good one.

[Denise]

I am interested in beta readers. Does every author have them? What is their purpose, plot, character development, grammar, spelling? How much influence do they have? Thanks Anne.

[Donna H.]

If you had input into who would play the parts in a movie made from one of your books, who would you pick?

[Annette N]

Is it hard to write characters you don't like? Do you run into people in your stories who simply are not someone you want to know well? I can see enjoying writing characters who are fun and charming and simply nice people. But, how difficult is it to spend time with someone you dislike - a lot? And if they are supposed to be villainous, how evil do you make them?

Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.

[Katja]

Have you ever felt obliged to write about a main character because they were next in an ongoing series, when you really wanted to write somebody else's story instead? If so, how did you cope?

[Mary M.]

I vote for this one!

[Katja]

Has research for a book ever changed the way a story goes fundamentally or does research usually just add depth to a storyline?

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Denise — much appreciated.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Katja, that's a good one.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Katja, that's another good one.

[Anne Gracie]

Thank you, Donna. Very helpful.

[Kareni]

Over the years, I've enjoyed conversations with friends and family about how they experience reading. Many, including my husband and daughter, say that reading a novel is akin to watching a movie. My experience is totally different. When I begin reading it’s as though I’m narrating in my head. Ultimately though I get caught up in the story and am barely aware that I’m turning pages. I see nothing but the words on the page; I do not 'see' the characters or the scenery. What I experience is called aphantasia.

Here are a couple of articles:

https://bookriot.com/2016/09/02/what-do-you-see-when-you-read/

https://www.tor.com/2019/02/13/how-do-you-see-the-books-you-read/

My questions ~

1. What is your experience when you read?

2. Do you feel that how you read impacts how you write?

[Constance]

LOVE this question!

[Constance]

Is it more difficult to write a novella than a novel? Is it a matter of simplifying plot, character development, etc, or is it actually more difficult to accomplish in a shorter format?

[Anne Gracie]

Fascinating question, Kareni. I'll have to ponder it. Thank you.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Constance. I'm sure this is one that the wenches would be happy to talk about. We'll see.