Well, at least in my friend below’s humble and biased opinion.
My publisher said the following about the latest “Enoch Wars” book manuscript he’s editing titled “Demon Crossfire” — which is book 3 out of 7 planned.
All spoilers or potential spoilers have been removed.
And, believe it or not, there are some great copywriting lessons in this.
In fact, there’s a major one in this first paragraph:
… your writing is becoming powerful, removing the sense of reading words far quicker than ever before. By this, I mean I and I know most readers will be closely following the story without feeling as though they are READING a story. THAT is the sweet spot fiction writers struggle with.
Here is what I hate about TV shows that go on too long: They have to start making up back story to bring in connected characters and plots. NCIS was fantastic its first 6 years because from the very beginning they gave hints on back story that they often didn’t explain until 3 or 4 seasons later. Breaking Bad was the King of this.
Lost, Alias, Person of Interest, (basically every show by Bad Robot’s J. J. Abrams) all use up its back story in the first season or two and then has to start bringing in new “old back story” plots to keep stretching new shows. This is exactly why his shows begin to suck donkeys after season 2 but began so well.
His Blacklist was an AMAZING show for almost the first 2 seasons. Then… he did it again. Abrams began making up back stories that didn’t fit the pattern, changed the whole series, and I suspect I’ll watch a show or two of this 3rd season and ditch it. Why fall for Abrams’ awful methods of destroying good shows again?
YOU on the other hand gave plenty of backstory from the start to keep this series going through what I assume is seven novels in the series. And you are masterful at bringing out those elements when needed and keeping them veiled with only minor references when not. I mean really, ____ start with ____ here out of nowhere? Yet, it fits perfectly? Superb.
Also, you are introducing RELATED backstory perfectly. For example, the one ____ who escaped in ____ last story. THAT is great, you incrementally preview things without running out of story ideas and don’t have to create unrelated issues as Abrams does.
This is a superb story. Your best written.?
That’s saying a lot considering how good the first two were.
Who am I to argue with the above?
Obviously, these books ain’t everyone’s cup of Red Bull.
And while 99% of the reviews have been 4 or 5 stars, a couple people have said the books downright suck. But, luckily it’s not against the law for critics to be wrong, so it’s all good.
Anyway, we’re publishing “Demon Crossfire” soon.
Go ye here to get caught up on the first two books of the twisted and deranged “Enoch Wars” saga:
Humbly Yours,
Ben Settle
