Today's Friday Fave link is a guest post from Alex Sokoloff on the Murderati blog.
Ms. Sokoloff gives a lot of great information about writing, and she usually references it to movies, which makes it a lot easier to grasp concepts. In this particular post, The Central Action of a Story, she mentions how she does a "read-and-discard" to find a book she wants to finish reading. If she likes the first couple of chapters, she needs to know where the plot is headed if she's going to keep reading.
She says, "So much of storytelling is about you, the author, reassuring your reader or audience that you know what you’re doing, so they can relax and let you drive."
This requires a certain amount of trust between the author and the reader. If it's an author I've read before, we've already established a relationship of sorts, so there's a fairly high amount of trust involved. This means I can lean the seat back, and even unbuckle the seat belt, knowing we'll get where we're supposed to, and I'll be happy with her driving skills along the way.
With an author that I'm reading for the first time, it's a bit like taking a ride with someone who's just gotten their learner's permit. I'm debating if I really want to do this, nervously trying to figure out whether to take that leap of faith. I typically make up my mind after reading the back cover, the first line, and maybe even the first couple of pages. Even after going through this pre-drive checklist, I've still been disappointed on occasion, but so far there haven't been any fiery crashes, although a wheel has flown off once in a while.
Still, the author is promising a certain kind of story in those first few chapters, and the reader has certain expectations, which hopefully are going to be met during what is essentially a cross-country road trip.
How often have you seen this movie blurb: "Joe Schmo is a car thief/cat burglar/petty shoplifter who is ready to retire, but he is pulled into ONE. LAST. SCORE."
Yeah, it's been done about a zillion times, but you never hear anybody say, "I've already seen that. I don't want to see it again." Moviegoers like that scenario, so you'll see it get made a zillion times more.
There is a certain expectation of where that plot will go, based on implicit promises made at the beginning, even if the viewer can't predict what will happen during the heist. But if all of a sudden zombies jumped out and devoured the protagonist's brains while he's cracking open a safe. . . well, the writer has pretty much lost their driving license, right?
Whenever I read a review of a book that has gotten a low ranking, it's generally because the reader feels it didn't live up to their expectations. This could be because of misleading back cover copy, or from a plot thread that was left dangling, or even unexplored. Readers like to be surprised, but not in a way that makes them feel foolish, or angry, for agreeing to let you drive them around in circles without a map for hours on end.
I highly recommend you read Ms. Sokoloff's entire post. She has really great information on having a PLAN that readers can, and will, follow during your thrilling car race of a story.
Next thing you know, you'll be on readers' auto-buy list.
I originally posted this last summer, and since I'm enjoying a writers' retreat, with my agent and other writers, this seemed like good advice to re-read. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'll go check out the link. I've heard this same concept described as a contract with the reader, but I like the driving analogy better. A huge pet peeve that makes ms want to get out of the car screaming is an ending for a book on a series that doesn't resolve a single plotline or subplot. It feels like being abandoned at Walmart (like in Where the Heart Is).
Posted by: Kari Marie | May 27, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Love the analogy! I love driving (fast), so the whole driver thing works for me.
And the trust thing is so true. I've picked up a number of book I thought sounded terrific. The first was. . .then it all went down hill. It's upseting when you don't get what you expect. I'm heading over to the link. Thanks!
Posted by: E.C. Smith | May 27, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Will have to go check this out. Thanks for the link!
Posted by: Sabrina | May 27, 2011 at 02:17 PM
Kari Marie, I know exactly what you mean about the non-resolved ending for a series. I came across one of those recently and nearly had a fit when I got to the end of the book. LOL It does feel a bit like I'd been misled, so I was unhappy for a long while after that. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 29, 2011 at 12:30 PM
E.C., I love to drive fast too! In fact, I'm already planning what kind of car I want next, because mine doesn't go quite fast enough. LOL I agree that when a book doesn't satisfy, it's because the expectations weren't met, so I try to keep it in mind with my own stories (and hopefully I'm successful).
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 29, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Sabrina, I hope you enjoy the link!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 29, 2011 at 12:32 PM