I have a giant Doubt Monster lurking behind me when it comes to the quality of my writing. (I would really appreciate it if two extremely hot brothers who deal with the Supernatural regularly would get on with killing it. I mean, it might as well be a demon.)
When it comes to other books, the Doubt Monster and I curl up on the couch together. I can only suspend my disbelief so far.
Here's some general rules to slay my Doubt Monster when I read your book. (This message is to unpublished and published writers alike. Also, while I say my, I'm positive this can be generalized to encompass most readers.)
1. If two characters are going to be madly in love, I need a bigger reason then she/he's hot. That isn't love, it's lust. And, I'm sorry, but lust isn't worth much more than a quick wham, bam, thank you ma'am!
2. If your character is going to go into a dangerous situation, they need a really good reason. Humans have something called a sense of self-preservation and if they're going to ignore their instincts, I want a why.
3. If there are paranormal or fantasy elements or you're creating a new world (dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi, even a tiny town) then you need a solid and logical foundation. Without a basic set of rules and standards, you have nothing to offer me but chaos and a world that makes no sense.
4. Never use characters for plot purposes alone. I don't care if you need Minor Character X in a bar to let slip Important Fact Y to your MC. If Minor Character X is only there to tell MC something, I will notice. And I will not be happy. Just like Main Characters, Minor Characters need to have their own purposes, motivations and goals - it doesn't matter if the reader knows them but it sure as heck matters if you do.
5. A plot twist is only a plot twist if it happens right in front of me. Meaning, that, once the twist is revealed, I should be able to look back at your story and see there was hints the whole time, they were just so subtle and well done that I didn't pick up on it. Blatant lying to create a plot twist isn't a good illusion, it's a cheap parlor trick and breaks the author/reader trust.
How do you feel when you encounter things on this list? Do you have anything to add?
This is fantastic!!! I think everyone who blogs/writes should be over here crowded in a little half circle while you teach us more!!!! This is such great information!
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly battling with doubt. I'll read an amazing book, from a debut author, the doubt creeps in. Like maybe I'm not great enough to stand with them... talk about that killing the mojo.
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI agree absolutely with No.1;
I'm trying my hand at short story, which include the element of self-preservation (see my latest post);
I'm still learning the rest. Thank you.
Excellent post! I wish I could retweet this...
ReplyDeleteAmen Melissa!
ReplyDeleteMy biggerst doubt-monster food would have to be flimsy dialogue. Would they REALLY say that? I don't get it. I can totally make or break the believability of the whole story for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, and yes. Oh, and yes, yes.
ReplyDelete:)
Well somebody's on top of it this morning. I can recall thinking that something made no sense or seemed a little forced in a few books. But for some reason, I need another set of eyes when it comes to my own. At times I just write and leave it to someone else to let me know when somethings off. Excellent post!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post and will be bookmarking it!
ReplyDeleteI kept seeing you commenting on blogs I'm following, so here I am, following you. :D
I hate plot twists for plot twists sake. There has to be hints and foreshadowing throughout the entire story or you just feel cheated.
Glad to be following!
Well said, Melissa! I totally agree, buy you knew that :) You just say it much better than I ever could have!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I am working on my plot twist at this very moment - not so much writing it but trying to place it in the story - and I am so glad to see this because it will give me something to strive for!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
I say we just dress up like the Winchesters, buy an Impala and go find this monster. I've learned enough to kill the thing ;) Salt then burn. Salt then burn.
ReplyDeleteYes, as you know, I have a serious doubt problem or dented sense of talent. To all of your above tips I was actually pleased with myself. HA! Strange. I managed to take care of these things, thus far, and create a solid foundation (whether or not I believe it all the time).
Now, lets go HUNT this thing!
Oh, and the whole side character with no reason except to provide a small bit of plot irks me. They should have a role in the world you create, no matter how long they last, they NEED to be a part of the world for believability. The overly intuitive cashier or random fortune cookie isn't going to cut it.
I like #1, definitely relate to as am writing a love story now. Also, I need to have reasons to love the characters before loving that they fall in love with each other! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, the advise is fantastic!!
ReplyDeletebut when I heard the title, I thought you were gonna give some motivational / self - inspirational stuff!!!
thanks for all the suggestions!!
with warm regards
http://becomingprince.blogspot.com
Great post. And I definitely agree with the plot twists that were not plot twists. ( I think Jodi Picoult's novels all have amazing plot twists btw).
ReplyDeleteAlso, yes, even in YA the hot boy and sexy girl is just not enough for a relationship to exist.
This is a terrific post, Melissa. It covered so many of the things that annoy me as a reader and that I try to ommit as a writer. One that I would like to add is this:
ReplyDelete6. Never cut a chapter to please your publisher, unless your reader will not notice the missing scene(s). Your readers WILL notice when your plot mysteriously moves from point R to T, missing S without any explanation.
Now go slay the Doubt Monster!
nice.
ReplyDeleteOh that stinkin' doubt monster. No fun. I totally agree with the five points. I shoudl bookmark this. :)
ReplyDeleteooo--super-great post! Esp. the part about minor characters and falling in love. It's so much more believable (and ultimately fulfilling) when writers take the time to develop that connection that causes the love to blossom... :o) Thanks, Mel!
ReplyDeleteI concur on every single point,esp. #2 (drives me batty)--awesome!
ReplyDeleteONE thing to add - when characters do things that are OUT of character, simply to prolong the plot.
ReplyDeleteMakes me CRAZY!!
Right here with ya, girl. Although the doubt monster creeps around with me when I go over my own writing more than when I read a book.
ReplyDeleteBut I am reading a book right now where the girl and guy totally start making out like, the day they meet. And funny, they have some kind of weird 'connection'. Easiest cop-out in my opninion.
#4 now has me analyzing all my minor characters...I think I'm safe. But I know you'll tell me in the end if I'm not. ;-) This is a GREAT list. I really have had problems lately with certain books and number three. It drives me nuts. All of them do, my number three is one of my biggest peeves.
ReplyDeleteOooh...love this post, Melissa! I will be sure to keep your list in mind. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHey, could you send those brothers my way? (Love that show!) I need them to get rid of my Fear demon. Thanks! :)
Awesome, Melissa!!! Dang, I think the Doubt Monster and I are friends, too. =D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info! Very insightful.
ps: I can't believe you don't like a couple to fall madly in love because they find each other HOT. Totally kidding. It drives me nuts, too. LOL. So true and noteworthy.
This is great!! I really agree with the first one. There needs to be more depth than hotness. That isn't interesting in real life why would you want to read it. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my site. I'm loving yours, I'm following!!
No, you covered it well!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Just this morning I was reading a scene from a paranormal (my first). But even for a paranormal, the scene was pretty unrealistic. I kept asking myself why one character hadn't done something that made sense, and why another was doing something stupid.
ReplyDeleteSo, you already kicked me in the ass with one of those rules, had to do some quick "inventorying" on the rest of the rules. I'm safe! Wooot!
ReplyDeleteAwesome laws though, and if you see two sssssmokin' hot brothers around, send them this'a way, okey? Thank you!
"5. A plot twist is only a plot twist if it happens right in front of me. Meaning, that, once the twist is revealed, I should be able to look back at your story and see there was hints the whole time, they were just so subtle and well done that I didn't pick up on it. Blatant lying to create a plot twist isn't a good illusion, it's a cheap parlor trick and breaks the author/reader trust."
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with this!! You are spot on. Great critique. xo style, she wrote
I agree strongly with 1, 2, and 4. Great points! I'm not much of a reader, so I don't have too much to add. I don't like when some books have subplots they never tie up at the end, though.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I totally agree with the "hot guy/hot girl" thing that supposedly turns into everlasting, forever, past death and beyond kind of love. What is with that? There has to be more there . . . a sense of humor, personality, something.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hate plot twists that have no background, especially the kind where, "and then he woke up."
I am guilty of not having my world together while writing fantasy. Not sure I do otherwise either. :-)
I know how it's all supposed to work, but I am terrible at figuring out how to work it into the plot so it doesn't read like a encyclopedia explanation.
I so agree with all of these, especially number 1. Just because someone's hot, doesn't mean you fall in love with them. I need more than that!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My doubt monster agrees with you. We are both VERY sick of #1 and #2. Really distracting!
ReplyDeleteA-Men, sister!! Except for the Winchester bros part...you can have them kill the doubt monster for you if you'd like, but I'd prefer to use them for something far more fun. ;o)
ReplyDeleteMy doubt creeps in when an author feels the need to describe the non-important things in great detail. Unless there is a legitimate reason I need to know the pillow on the couch is made of crushed blue velvet with purple lace piping, you can leave it out. Otherwise, I'll get irritated that you made me pay attention to the damn pillow thinking it must be something important, when really you're just cramming all your imaginative details inside my head.
I have met your Doubt Monster! Sure makes me skeptical through the rest of the book when I see these things. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list... thx.
ReplyDeleteYes! These are all true, but especially #1. I love this version of a doubt monster. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat list! Especially this: "Blatant lying to create a plot twist isn't a good illusion, it's a cheap parlor trick and breaks the author/reader trust."
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree with everything! But especially, I agree with the part about the demon-slaying hot brothers. I mean, seriously, we've got a supernatural crisis happening here. ;)
ReplyDeleteThese are definitely doubt-raisers for me, too! Fortunately I haven't run across any of them recently - well, sometimes that plot twist thing wasn't done as well as it could have. I might add one other to this list: not setting up an MC's motivation enough (just had a massive fail on this one recently)
ReplyDelete