tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5185180266485296511..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: The Central QuestionDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-38760430159970802612014-12-18T06:58:51.498-07:002014-12-18T06:58:51.498-07:00I tried to categorize my own books with the genres...I tried to categorize my own books with the genres noted, and none of them fit well. This is a topic I will explore further before publishing my two revisions or completing the stories that have been waiting for my return. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77864637742638023042013-01-28T18:51:12.307-07:002013-01-28T18:51:12.307-07:00Diana, I mentioned genre crossing in a previous co...Diana, I mentioned genre crossing in a previous comment. However, I concur with Kathryn and Dani that this must be done with great care. One genre will no doubt dominate, but some elements of others -- if appropriate and if they fit the story without interrupting flow -- may be present. It would, indeed, be helpful to see each of the skeletons enlarged upon in the future.<br /><br />Great post, Diana.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74601204568529161742013-01-28T17:34:03.547-07:002013-01-28T17:34:03.547-07:00I agree, Kathryn. It's clear and to-the-point....I agree, Kathryn. It's clear and to-the-point... even better, easy to remember! You could expand on discussion for each of the skeletons in future posts, and show examples of some of the overlapping genres. Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76782828870511651572013-01-28T14:12:04.967-07:002013-01-28T14:12:04.967-07:00Diana, this is really good. And I'm hoping our...Diana, this is really good. And I'm hoping our readers can figure out that thrillers and science fiction aren't really the same. ;)<br /><br />Writers are often confused as to whether they are writing romance, say, or mainstream with romantic elements. The answer lies, by extrapolation, in your post. If the hero and heroine ending up together is THE main answer to the story question, you are writing a romance. If the resolution to the romance is a side benefit of answering another more urgent question, you are writing mainstream (or perhaps women's) fiction with romantic elements.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70749350589460562132013-01-28T13:15:47.941-07:002013-01-28T13:15:47.941-07:00Good questions to keep in mind as we're writin...Good questions to keep in mind as we're writing!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28048448766658729172013-01-28T09:45:48.801-07:002013-01-28T09:45:48.801-07:00A skeleton is just that: bare bones. You can apply...A skeleton is just that: bare bones. You can apply flesh, color, contour, clothing, and plop it in any location or time frame you like. There's a difference between multiple layers of conflict in a story (say mystery with a dash of romance) and a story that doesn't know what it wants to be. I refer to plots as skeletons and characters as mannequins because bending, twisting, and torturing them is where your originality as a writer comes in to play. But if I, as a reader, hate romance and you try to sell me a mystery that is more snogging than mystery solving, I'll be turned off. If I want a hot-blooded romance and there's never any snogging just a lot of serial killer chasing, I'll be equally turned off. Genre is a promise. That doesn't mean you can't fill a mystery pie crust with a romance filling, just tell the reader up front what you're selling so they aren't disgusted when they bite into the wrong thing. Disgusted consumers rarely give your product another chance!Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71603152531572378372013-01-28T09:33:14.825-07:002013-01-28T09:33:14.825-07:00Okay, I'm going to weigh in here ... I agree w...Okay, I'm going to weigh in here ... I agree with Diana's premise, because readers don't fall in love with plot points, they fall in love with characters ... the plot is just the vehicle those characters happen to be riding in at the time. <br />Clever metaphor, eh what? Now watch me torture it: Predictable plots don't necessarily kill a good read ... a ... ahem ... clunky car can still get you from A to B ... but if you don't care about the folks in the car ... the ride will be boring. That's not to say a sleek ride isn't fun ... but isn't nearly as interesting without a good travel companion. <br />I've done all the damage I can do here ... now I've got to lay down for while.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25736490448953042062013-01-28T09:30:31.403-07:002013-01-28T09:30:31.403-07:00Following formulas has never been my strong point,...Following formulas has never been my strong point, yet I think your skeleton point is valid. Having said that, I often find books that strictly follow genre rules less appealing than those that cross the lines. Life crosses genres. Happy (or satisfying) endings are great, but they're not always reality. Do I write happy endings? Let's say they're plausible, and they have an up side. I'm a realist, occasional optimist, and less occasional pessimist.<br /><br />This is a thought-provoking post, Diana. It's never a good idea to disappoint readers, at least if we want to sell our next book.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82967911194757055232013-01-28T08:15:54.581-07:002013-01-28T08:15:54.581-07:00Long ago, when people were dissing romance as &quo...Long ago, when people were dissing romance as "formulaic", the counter-argument that I heard and still prefer is "reader expectation. Skeleton is a new term, and perhaps a better one. Blending these skeletons (now there's an image!) might be confusing to readers, but if you write with skill and don't try to call your book something it isn't, they should accept it. When a reader plucks a book off the mystery shelf, there ARE expectations that the crime will be solved, and violating that trust can turn readers off.<br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.com/terrysplace" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><br /><br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-7677381577969148682013-01-28T04:29:45.133-07:002013-01-28T04:29:45.133-07:00Diane, yours is a particularly clean vivisection o...Diane, yours is a particularly clean vivisection of the popular, genres, their structure, and what self-identified readers of each genre expect. My first reaction was that it is too glib, but the more I thought about specific examples or putative counter-examples, the more I had to agree with the essential truth of your skeletons.<br /><br />In some ways, this is a depressing reality, particularly for those of us who dare to cross boundaries or flout conventions. It did confirm for me why I do not write to the Romance, SF or Fantasy templates, and why I think of my work as Thrillers first, with elements stolen from across the borders. A scan of your list confirms that the most flexible skeleton lies there: up or down ending, crime or no crime, detective or other, twists and turns welcome with the ending not necessarily known until the end. Only Literary Fiction offers as much.Larry Constantine (Lior Samson)http://www.amazon.com/author/liorsamson/noreply@blogger.com