  Drama
This week: Every Story is a Puzzle Edited by: NaNoKit  
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Every story has a problem to be solved, and every tale should offer a satisfying solution. That doesn't mean you have to play it safe!
This week's Drama Newsletter is all about taking risks, and where to draw the line.
kittiara |
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Every story, and every novel, is a puzzle. The writer, when in the creative process, has to piece together the characters, the setting(s) and the plot. The reader, when he or she opens a book or clicks on a link, expects to be faced with problems and conflict, a hint of mystery and, eventually, a solution that may or may not have been anticipated.
A story where everything is happy and fluffy and completely unchallenging all along is unlikely to be a great success. Even in books for the very young there is a problem to be solved. Where is Timmy's ball? Or even, what sound does a cow make? The reader needs answers to these important questions. The writer's problem is how complicated or uncomplicated their puzzle should be.
Many genres have a set formula. When a reader picks up a romance novel, they expect two of the characters to fall in love, face conflict, and for there to be a satisfying ending. In a drama novel, obstacles and a touch of hardship are a given. It's an emotional journey in which the reader shares the experiences of the characters and ponders what they would do when in the same situation. They wonder how they would deal and what the eventual outcome will be. Again, this outcome should bring a measure of satisfaction.
Unpredictability is good. Or can be good. Twists and turns that throw you off-track can result in a page-turner because they make you determined to find out what will happen next. They make you think, and thinking is good. Too many complications can lose an audience, though, because when a story feels too much like hard work, and it is too easy to literally lose the plot, the simple solution can be to close the book and move on to something else.
Another way to alienate an audience, at least a future one, is a lack of an agreeable ending. The reader's been with you all the while, giving you their time and effort and emotional involvement, and then the heroine ends up with the wrong guy, or turns her back on love, or, if you really want to tick everyone off, all the characters die.
It can work, of course, if you're clever about it. I recently read a novel where the heroine did end up with the wrong guy, and many Amazon reviews expressed a longing for a follow-up novel where everything would end up okay. The author was guaranteed readers for the second installment simply because the readers of her first novel required a solution that would satisfy them. Her gamble paid off. Not every gamble will.
Where do you draw the line? I don't think that there are set limits. I'm being deliberately vague here, because I know that viewers of the series are not at that point in the story yet, but I stopped reading the Game of Thrones series when something happened to one of my favourite characters that I felt was taking things too far. It was unnecessary for it to happen to her (at least, in my opinion). Will I pick up the book again? Perhaps, eventually. Right now, though, I'm too frustrated with it.
Some authors can get away with pushing the limits, because they're excellent writers whose readers have become accustomed to their style. Game of Thrones readers put up with the deaths of their favourite characters because they know that in that series nobody is safe. This is akin to Guns N' Roses fans knowing that lead-singer Axl Rose won't set foot on the stage before he feels he is ready to give it his all, whether this is at the scheduled time or, more likely, an hour or two later. When he does, though, they know that they will be rewarded with three hours of their favourite tracks. If a budding artist were to make the crowd wait as long as that, and follow the delay with only an hour or so of music, they'd likely be faced with people demanding their money back.
For a new author, then, I recommend not taking things too far. By all means, play about. Twist things. Throw some challenges into the equation. Don't present a children's puzzle to a mature audience. We already know that a cow goes “moo”. However, publishing houses can be risk-averse, so if that is your ultimate goal, it can pay off to remain at least slightly on the safe side. Or, if that's not your thing, test your work on a group of people you can trust to offer honest feedback. They'll soon let you know if you lost them along the way.
kittiara |
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The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
citruspocket  - I was thinking about this very issue when I first got the idea for the project I'm working on at the moment - and I guess this fed into it, because I'm (attempting!) to tell the story of my central female character and her whole life, including all the interesting, important, exciting things that happen to her after her "big adventure" at the age of 25. Thank you for a thought-provoking newsletter!
Thank you for writing in! That sounds like an interesting story, and one that could really work. The reader won't suddenly lose interest in her life once she passes that age 25 mark; they will want to know what happens next. Good luck with your project!
~~~
Arizona Lawman - Hello Kittiara,
I seem to agree with your premise. I do understand in this reply area I am definately in the minority, but here goes anyway. First the reason I look at the article in the first place is I like women of that age catergory, although around late forties to late fifties is actually more my taste. I just turned sixty two.
Another reason I found the lead in to the article interesting, I actually considering writing a romance novel of that type. I spent fifteen years working in Los Angeles as an actor. I understand that movies of the type you describe are rarely made. With the exception of "The Bridges of Madison County", a couple of Sally Fields movies and a couple of Jack Nicholson, I can't find many of them in my memory. If they are made, they are usually made as vehicles for older male stars. I do think most writers and most producers don't give the area the attention it deserves.
I will give you an interesting tip. From my experience working in the studios, the people who first give an OK to a project are typically very young. These are the assistants to the assistants. They are task with reading the original draft submitted by writers agents. So they are low paid or no paid, trying desperately to break in to the business. So unless you catch the interest of an aging male star, who is well grounded, It won't get past their desk. Simply because it doesn't interest them. So in my humble opinion, it doesn't get by literary agents because they want their books made into movies. Perhaps not in the front of their minds, but somewhere in their minds, I think that is what happens.
To me, it doesn't make sense. Simply because electronic publishing is relatively cheap. So we may, I repeat may see a change in that soon. The women over 40 market is big for magazines, why not novels? Just a thought. When I finish the one I am working on, which will be very soon, I may try. I'll will need to write another I hope, since now I am hooked on writing, I have to find a topic.
Thanks for the article.
Thanks so much for writing in! I love your insights, because you talk from experience and make a lot of sense. I hope that you are right that we may see a change due to electronic publishing. I am sure there is a market out there - with people's life expectancy increasing, the 40+ demographic is substantial. Now, if only we could convince those assistants you mentioned!
~~~
grahamrr - I enjoy a romance no matter what the age of the main character as long as it's an honest portrayal of the life of the character. I loved Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani because the main character was an older women whose life hadn't bloomed as a very young woman.
This topic leads to the question often raised, "Should older women be reading YA fiction?" If those of us at the 40 mark have nothing compelling to read that involves someone our own age, what is left but YA?
Exactly! There is little choice available, so I find myself reading YA fiction as well. I will check out the book you mentioned, thank you! It will make a nice change.
~~~
goldenautumn - I would read it. I find it refreshing and awesome.
I couldn't agree more!
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Elle - on hiatus  - You asked if I'd be interested in reading a romance novel featuring an older woman. I think it's probably normal to prefer the characters to be roughly the same age as ourselves. As I get older, so my preference for older characters gets stronger. Now a hero aged 22 seems ridiculously young.  I turn 34 this month, so there may be another 5 or more years before I want to read about 40+ women, but I have no doubt it will happen. That 'niche market' you mention is probably quite large actually - all readers of romance novels that are themselves aged 40 or over.
I couldn't have put it better myself, Elle - I feel the exact same way. And you are absolutely right that the "niche market" isn't actually that niche!
~~~
Alice - I completely agree! There is a favorite movie I have called Moribito, where the main female heroine is actually 30! Which is so great, these days all female heroines just seem to be 16 or 13 or maybe 20. It's extremely annoying.
Funny, isn't it, to be rejoicing at a heroine aged 30? I mean, it's still quite a young age! Just goes to show how used we are to being presented with younger heroines.
~~~
Quick-Quill  - As a MATURE woman! I love stories about women my age. Diane Keeton and Jack Nichols. The Notebook, is somewhat about the older generation. Space Cowboys. I haven't READ too many of these older romances, BUT here it comes, I'm writing one. Funny you should have this topic while I am putting a 2nd time around romance for the older women. Its on a cruise ship but has a TWIST when all falls apart at the last conflict then the resolution is AHHHH! I hope to have it going by Nano time or before. Doing the editing on my MS to get published this spring/summer.
If I had pom-poms and wouldn't look ridiculous as a 40-year-old cheerleader (and was actually in shape), I would be cheering you on from the sidelines. As it is, I'll just wish you the best of luck with your project, and I look forward to reading it .
~~~
Vampyr14  - My publisher is setting up a whole imprint for what they call 'Boomer Lit' - books featuring characters edging toward the wrong end of middle age. I think there will be a lot of reader who want to see romances with 50 year old heroines instead of lithe, beautiful 20-somethings.....
That is excellent news! What is the name of your publisher, if I may ask? As you can see above, there are plenty of people interested!
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team
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Drama: April 09, 2014 Issue [#6255]
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