Category: Uncategorized

Writing Pitfalls: Pacing

Unlike with some things like dialogue or grammar, pacing in a novel is not that easy to fix.  Every author writes differently (obviously) so of course everyone is going to make different mistakes.  The only tried-and-true method for working out pacing issues is getting a good developmental editor, but I’ve decided to write some tips to help you avoid the most common pitfalls when it comes to pacing.

Pitfall #1: Not enough/too much background information.

One of the problems that I most commonly encounter, particularly in fantasy and science fiction is that the writer is trying so hard to have a fast-paced story that they leave out information that could help the reader actually understand the story.  In fantasy it’s important that you reveal information about your world and the rules therein to your reader or they’re really not going to care what’s happening.  The same goes for science fiction, which also has the added difficulty of explaining science to both newbies to the genre and hardcore fans.

As a writer it’s hard to separate what information you’re imparting to the reader from what information you have up in your head that seems obvious to you, the creator.  One of the best ways to figure out whether you have enough background is to get some beta readers.  If they’re left with more questions than answers by the end of the novel you’ve got some more writing to do.

Conversely, if a reader doesn’t need to learn about every family’s bloodlines, motivations, hair colour, eye colour, etc. then you’ve got some rewriting to do to take out that irrelevant information.  It’s important for the reader to be able to distinguish secondary characters from one another but if you as a writer really need to focus on making your main characters pop out.  This not only helps the reader follow your story but helps with the plot so you don’t get too bogged down in secondary character subplots. Continue reading →

Discussion: The Next Supernatural Creature Fad

I think we all remember the boring horror that was the vampire craze spawned by Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.  (I still can’t get over the fact that her vampires sparkled.)  For several months you could not find a YA book that didn’t feature vampires in some way or another as every author and their dog tried to cash in on the vampire craze.

Thank goodness it’s died down to a somewhat reasonable level of late.  There have been quite a few trends since then, what with zombies, werewolves and shapeshifters.  I’m not saying trends are bad but they’re a little boring when that’s all you see on the shelves at your local bookstore.

As for the next trend, I honestly don’t have a prediction.  I think shapeshifters are relatively popular right now but there’s not as big of a market for the supernatural as there was even a year ago.  Right now it’s still all dystopia, all the time in the YA market.

Anyway, what do you guys think will be the next supernatural fad in YA?  Shapeshifting werewolves, sparkling zombies or something equally ridiculous?  I can hold out hope that authors will try to move away from European myths and draw creatures from African and Asian cultures, but that’s really quite a pipe dream.

Discussion: Vampires

(I haven’t replied yet to last week’s discussion but I assure you I’ll be replying to all those wonderful comments later tonight after work.)

Vampires were huge a few years ago with the popularity of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.  Personally I scoff at sparkly vampires but that’s probably because I do love myself a good vampire.  Cold, calculating killing machines are my favourite but I love Anne Rice’s novels as well as some of the newer vampire works like Cameron’s Law.  So basically I do appreciate good vampires in fiction but I’m not a fanatic that says all vampires have to be like [x].  I know at a very basic level the origins of vampires in literature but I’m no expert on it.

So what do you think of vampires in general?  They were very overdone a few years ago with the Twilight craze but what do you think of their representation in fiction now?  Are they still overdone, especially in YA?  Do you like vampires in fiction or are you more inclined toward some other supernatural creature?  If so, do you have a favourite version of vampire?

Discussion: Violence in Literature

Yes, today I want to talk about violence in literature.  More specifically, my thoughts on it in YA literature.

I personally think teens are capable of handling much more than most people give them credit for.  Yes, violence in a story can be awful but as long as there’s justification for it in the narrative I don’t see what’s wrong with including it.  If it becomes gratuitous (i.e. there’s no real reason for it other than to gross the reader out) I think that’s a little too much for Young Adult literature.  It’s too much even for adult literature when it becomes gratuitous.

Basically, as long as the violence is ‘justified’ (makes sense in the context of the story and either conveys character or plot elements) I’m generally okay with it.  Sometimes I have to put a book down because it’s so disgusting, but in general I don’t think I’ve ever come across that in YA.

So what do you think of violence in literature?  Do you think the amount of violence in YA should have limits simply because of the target age group?  Or do you think it’s the parent’s job to monitor what their kids are reading?

Discussion: Separating the Creator From Their Work

This is definitely one of the more controversial topics I’ve discussed here on The Mad Reviewer but it’s also one that I don’t quite have a concrete stance on.

Basically, what happens if the creator of some of your favourite works (be they books, movies, comics, whatever) has opinions you disagree with strongly?  Personally I couldn’t care less about the political and/or religious views of most authors as long as their books don’t preach at me constantly.  As for authors in the past that have let sexist, racist and homophobic views seep into their work I always take it with a grain of salt because their views were generally consistent with the times.

At the same time, because of his vocal and financial support of anti gay groups I have hesitated in picking up any novels by Orson Scott Card.  I know he’s a giant in the science fiction genre and is by all reports an excellent writer but it feels wrong to me to support someone who is so hateful.  In my reviews I never let an author’s personal life colour my opinion of the book, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t pick up a book because I vehemently disagree with an author’s very public stance on an issue.

In general I’d have to say I don’t care about what stances an author takes in public or private.  That’s their business.  Yet sometimes when people espouse such hatred I don’t feel right lending support to an author by giving them a review and therefore publicity on my blog.  It’s a complicated subject to be sure.

What do you think of this topic?  Do you choose not to support creators whose views you disagree with?  Why or why not?  And if so, is it only in certain circumstances like when they actually financially support groups you disagree with?  Or do you not care about the views of your favourite artist/author/director because you separate them from their work?