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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

THE 3 KINDS OF WRITERS


Coming Soon To Paperback ... 
in COLOR!

According to Stephen King ...
   there are two kinds of writers --

"Those who are bound for the more literary or “serious” side of the job 

and examine every possible subject in the light of this question: 

What would writing this sort of story mean to me? 

Those whose destiny (or ka, if you like) 

is to include the writing of popular novels are apt to ask a very different one: 

What would writing this sort of story mean to others? 

The “serious” novelist is looking for answers and keys to the self; 

the “popular” novelist is looking for an audience. 

Both kinds of writer are equally selfish."

But to me there is a 
third kind of writer --

The Writer Who Has Burned Out On A Series


 Charlaine Harris became this type towards the end of her TRUE BLOOD series, 

losing steam, enthusiasm, and track of what went on before in her earlier tales.

I fear Patricia Briggs has succumbed to this writer fatigue as well.

For 9 books, I have looked forward eagerly to the adventures

of a frail coyote-shifter in a Brothers Grimm world of Fae, Werewolves, and Vampires ...

Poor Mercy even found herself pitted against a Volcano God in the 9th book.

But always the plot was coherent, the characters authentic to their natures.

Now, with SILENCE FALLEN ... the fire and creativity have gone;


FLAW ONE -

As an author, you know you need to re-work your novel when you warn the reader 

the alternating chapters are not linear, chronological,  nor easily understood --

Which is what Patricia Briggs did at the start of this novel.

I know what Patricia Briggs is capable of as an author. That's what makes Silence Fallen so disappointing.


FLAW TWO -

Dual POV works only when it flows seamlessly in the tumbling events of the story.

Ms, Briggs did a fine job of this in my personal favorite, FROST BURNED.

But going back in time 2 days while leaving Mercy trapped, then going back for more victimization, 

and then going back to her husband a day prior just pulls the reader out of the story.


FLAW THREE -

Having Mercy dangling, hiding, or caged for 70% of the novel irritated me.  

I do not want to see a strong heroine victimized for two-thirds of the novel. 

I am not a 50 Shades of Grey sort of guy. 

In the prior books, Mercy often found herself seemingly helpless 

but used her wits, compassion, and courage to escape death traps.


FLAW FOUR -

It is a cheat when you have a minor character actually being a powerful core cast member of Mercy's World 

where those who know him by sight fail to recognize him.

No explanation is given for this so the plot twist just fizzles.


FLAW FIVE -

Shifting motivations of the villain ... 

whose terrible crimes go unpunished by characters known for their moral compass and need to avenge.

Oh, and the villain proves NOT to be the master puppeteer ...

but tricked into his very stupid (for a centuries old manipulator) actions 

by a previously unmentioned core character for reasons that make no sense in regards to his personality.

No explanation is given.  Lazy Writing.


FLAW SIX -

A powerful ally on the cusp of becoming a terrible threat to Mercy and those she loves

 is left alone in a castle of the most powerful vampire in Europe

who could tempt her into becoming an entity who could slay thousands.

It is an act of stupidity from Mercy and those who are smarter than that.  

It is a lazy sowing of another plot twist that will disappoint.


SAD -

 I am sure die-hard fans will drink the kool-aid but I see a great series winding down.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF 
STEPHEN KING'S
TWO KINDS OF WRITERS?

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED 
AS A TV SERIES OR BOOK SERIES 
JUST WITHERED BEFORE YOUR EYES?

15 comments:

  1. Yes!
    Seeing the supposed hero bound and ineffective is very frustrating. (The reason I hated the movie The Wolverine.) We're invested in this character and want to see the full extent of what he can do under pressure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree of course. :-) No tying of hands then beating the hero or heroine!

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  2. Absolutely. Harris broke my husband's reading streak, and his heart.
    The hero needs to do his stuff consistently through the book, with flaws thrown in, of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Flaws are important but victimization is not my cup of tea!! :-)

      For awhile Mercy became a Mary Sue, capable of anything. Now, poor Ms. Briggs has gone to the opposite extreme! Ouch.

      Delete
  3. That's what happens with big publishing houses and authors under contract. Their formula runs dry but they keep on writing. That's why I only sign one book at a time. No pressure on my authors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a seductive trap for both publisher and author I guess. Smart move on your part.

      Delete
  4. I am so sorry Roland. There is nothing worse than seeing a series fail. The rookie stackhouse series is a perfect example. I have the last book but I can't quite read it. Some of them were so bare bones and thin I only read the next one to let her redeem herself. Sigh. I hope your author makes a great comeback.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could only get interested in the first 2 of Sookie's adventures. Ms. Harris did a wonderful job with the SHAKESPEARE town murder mysteries. Her heroine had a riveting arc in the series. It would have made a great TV show.

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  5. How many times... It is a shame that so many publishers do push their authors to produce more when there is no spark. If only we lived in a slightly less impatient society, eh? And works could be produced in the timeline which best suited the story/author rather than the deadline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I agree, Crystal. Write while the fire is there. When it ebbs, stop the series. But like with Hollywood, publishers feel a known brand will still sell even if it becomes anemic. :-(

      Delete
  6. Dwindling: I saw it happen w. Ugly Betty (U.S./America Ferrara's). The main character ended so totally opposite of what she started as that you could not even recognise her particularly in her mannerisms, though also her appearance. Because of that the show lost its comic flavour and the title character her eccentricism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same with the show, HEROES. The first season was great and then the characters became unrecognizable and unentertaining. :-(

      Delete
  7. Dwindling: I saw it happen w. Ugly Betty (U.S./America Ferrara's). The main character ended so totally opposite of what she started as that you could not even recognise her particularly in her mannerisms, though also her appearance. Because of that the show lost its comic flavour and the title character her eccentricism.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Authors do lose steam especially in a long novel series. I call it running an idea into the ground. So perhaps these short running tv series are better because of the anticipation between the blocks of shows (e.g., The Vikings, Game of Thrones, Six, etc).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle felt that and tried to kill Sherlock Holmes to end the series but the public outcry drove him back to the series -- though none of the following stories ever reached the excellence of the prior. :-(

      STRANGER THINGS proved that an eight program series told a tighter, better story -- like you said. :-)

      Delete