What’s the most difficult part of writing a novel?
Sure, the following steps could be difficult:
- Creating an Outline (If You’re Not a Pantser)
- Writing the First Draft
- First Round Edits
- Choosing a Title
- Second Round Edits
- Writing a Synopsis
- Third Round Edits
- Writing a Summary
- Fourth Round Edits
- Writing a Query Letter
- Sending out Queries
- Discussing Possible Contract with Agent/Publisher
- Signing Contract
- Doing Steps 7-10 over again with Agent (if Agent Acquired) and then Watching as Agent does Step 11 on Your Behalf.
- Acquisition, Contract Signing
- Editing Stages with Publisher
- ARCs.
- Marketing, etc
Yep. Each step has difficult to impossible written all over it. But nope. Somewhere in there is another step for some people. Epigraph. That little ole beloved quote up at the top of page one that serves to encapsulate the book’s mood. That little spark that ties it to the world.
I’ve always loved reading them in other books, so I knew as soon as I graduated to writing books that I would want to use epigraphs. Choosing them is one of the best parts or writing a book…but also one of the hardest. Some quotes come close and you love them more…but they’re not spot on perfect. Some you just love but they don’t come close. Others…they just seem to nestle into the top of your story like a glove…ah, sweet perfection.
I’ve had 6 books published now and 5 of them have epigraphs. I’m currently contemplating an epigraph for my 7th book and hoping against hope that my publisher will be cool with me using one. (-:
Here’s the epigraphs so far. You can click on the novel title to be taken to the book on Amazon.
How about you? Am I the only one who obsesses over epigraphs, both in the books I read and in the books I write? What are some of your faves? Do you use them yourself?
KEVIN CRAIG 