Comments on: My weak spots http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:26:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chiya http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2877 Chiya Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:16:19 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2877 Recently I've taken a liking to characters like Snape from Harry Potter - the ones that have a back story but don't tell it easily. The stoic character who you see a little bit of emotion from, and in the end.....well if you haven't read HP and the Deathly Hallows I won't give it away for you. I also like how ambiguous and troubled he is. If I were a writer, I'd totally be jealous of JK Rowling - not so much because of the castle and success, but because of Snape (and the other characters). Recently I’ve taken a liking to characters like Snape from Harry Potter – the ones that have a back story but don’t tell it easily. The stoic character who you see a little bit of emotion from, and in the end…..well if you haven’t read HP and the Deathly Hallows I won’t give it away for you. I also like how ambiguous and troubled he is.

If I were a writer, I’d totally be jealous of JK Rowling – not so much because of the castle and success, but because of Snape (and the other characters).

]]> By: Ryan Viergutz http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2817 Ryan Viergutz Sun, 25 May 2008 20:54:28 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2817 Give me a character repenting for his dark past, a reserved femme fatale, backstabbings left and right, disturbing surreal imagery and global conspiracies, and I'm in even if the story doesn't really make sense. I'm picky, but disturbing surrealism can make many things entertaining. Give me a character repenting for his dark past, a reserved femme fatale, backstabbings left and right, disturbing surreal imagery and global conspiracies, and I’m in even if the story doesn’t really make sense.

I’m picky, but disturbing surrealism can make many things entertaining.

]]> By: bob charters http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2797 bob charters Wed, 21 May 2008 08:46:51 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2797 Often, a story of mine will have one character who's a bit too good to be true -- too much of a saint, or too much [something], but usually, he/she will die like a martyr, but in doing so, open some door or other that couldn't have opened otherwise. The rest of the characters have to make it the rest of the way with their imperfections, following the guiding light. Twins have appeared in a few of mine as well. However, I don't feel the need to do 'comedy of errors' or other mix-ups that often infest such stories, because I got that out of my system with my first one (never been published), a very tall story called TWINS. The "hidden and unexpected layer" bit -- I actually taught my Creative Writing students (high school) that a good element of a plot is the 'discovery' element, where Harry Potter realises who his parents were and who he himself is, where Frodo realises that the ring sitting in the desk drawer is actully the One Ring of power etc... I wouldn't call that a weak spot. I suppose, though, they could be 'weak spots' if they make our stories too predictable. Often, a story of mine will have one character who’s a bit too good to be true — too much of a saint, or too much [something], but usually, he/she will die like a martyr, but in doing so, open some door or other that couldn’t have opened otherwise. The rest of the characters have to make it the rest of the way with their imperfections, following the guiding light.

Twins have appeared in a few of mine as well. However, I don’t feel the need to do ‘comedy of errors’ or other mix-ups that often infest such stories, because I got that out of my system with my first one (never been published), a very tall story called TWINS.

The “hidden and unexpected layer” bit — I actually taught my Creative Writing students (high school) that a good element of a plot is the ‘discovery’ element, where Harry Potter realises who his parents were and who he himself is, where Frodo realises that the ring sitting in the desk drawer is actully the One Ring of power etc… I wouldn’t call that a weak spot.

I suppose, though, they could be ‘weak spots’ if they make our stories too predictable.

]]> By: Adam Heine http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2783 Adam Heine Mon, 19 May 2008 09:24:43 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2783 I love the highly trained, super-cool protag (sometimes with a dark history) who can do awesome things, but sometimes hates doing it. Jason Bourne in the Bourne Identity. Sam Vimes in Pratchett's Discworld novels. Riddick in Pitch Black. John Preston in Equilibrium. Also (possibly related to Villains Unite!) the powerful sub-villain who ultimately turns against the greater villain. Darth Vader. Zuko from Avatar. Zabuza from Naruto. I love the highly trained, super-cool protag (sometimes with a dark history) who can do awesome things, but sometimes hates doing it. Jason Bourne in the Bourne Identity. Sam Vimes in Pratchett’s Discworld novels. Riddick in Pitch Black. John Preston in Equilibrium.

Also (possibly related to Villains Unite!) the powerful sub-villain who ultimately turns against the greater villain. Darth Vader. Zuko from Avatar. Zabuza from Naruto.

]]> By: Megaera http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2757 Megaera Sat, 17 May 2008 03:30:21 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2757 Swift, smart repartee, a la Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Where the two people have a History, and down deep care about and respect each other, but damned if they're going to admit that to anyone, least of all each other. Even better if they've got to work together to make the plot come out right in the end. Oh, and if you're going to give me a series, I'm a sucker for the kind where people actually grow and change and age over the course of the books, and don't pull a Nancy Drew/Stephanie Plum where they forever exist in a single year of their lives. Swift, smart repartee, a la Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Where the two people have a History, and down deep care about and respect each other, but damned if they’re going to admit that to anyone, least of all each other.

Even better if they’ve got to work together to make the plot come out right in the end.

Oh, and if you’re going to give me a series, I’m a sucker for the kind where people actually grow and change and age over the course of the books, and don’t pull a Nancy Drew/Stephanie Plum where they forever exist in a single year of their lives.

]]> By: Soni http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2756 Soni Sat, 17 May 2008 02:10:04 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2756 I love those fringe-surfing, independent, under the radar, lone wolf, black market protags, myself, like the lead characters in Gibson's "Neuromancer" or Lawrence Block's "Burglar" series. Also, I fall hard for the masterfully practical and pragmatic McGyver-meets-John-Wayne type pitted against the world, a la Sterling's The Change series (Dies the Fire, et al). Finally, you can't go wrong with British mysteries and 'slody alien sci-fi. [Really, give me any apocalyptic or cyberpunk plot and I'm in.] I love those fringe-surfing, independent, under the radar, lone wolf, black market protags, myself, like the lead characters in Gibson’s “Neuromancer” or Lawrence Block’s “Burglar” series.

Also, I fall hard for the masterfully practical and pragmatic McGyver-meets-John-Wayne type pitted against the world, a la Sterling’s The Change series (Dies the Fire, et al).

Finally, you can’t go wrong with British mysteries and ‘slody alien sci-fi.

[Really, give me any apocalyptic or cyberpunk plot and I'm in.]

]]> By: Kate Elliott http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2752 Kate Elliott Fri, 16 May 2008 23:59:30 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2752 Friendships. Real, strong, meaningful friendships. With humor makes it even better. Also, the outcast child/teen who no one appreciates and/or who is kicked around. I can't always read these, depending on the text, but the emotional hook has a strong chance of grabbing me. Friendships. Real, strong, meaningful friendships. With humor makes it even better.

Also, the outcast child/teen who no one appreciates and/or who is kicked around. I can’t always read these, depending on the text, but the emotional hook has a strong chance of grabbing me.

]]> By: Cialti http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2751 Cialti Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:46 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2751 For me, it's school settings. Love it. Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall series, Harry Potter, etc. For me, it’s school settings. Love it. Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall series, Harry Potter, etc.

]]> By: Laura Reeve http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2750 Laura Reeve Fri, 16 May 2008 20:16:34 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2750 Villains unite -- make those enemies work together against a greater evil/problem! I can't get away from this in my own novels, and I'll groan when authors don't take advantage of this possibility in novels I'm reading. It's an automatic grabber for me and I'll keep reading to see how characters handle the challenge. Villains unite — make those enemies work together against a greater evil/problem! I can’t get away from this in my own novels, and I’ll groan when authors don’t take advantage of this possibility in novels I’m reading. It’s an automatic grabber for me and I’ll keep reading to see how characters handle the challenge.

]]> By: MD http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2747 MD Fri, 16 May 2008 16:22:38 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/05/16/my-weak-spots/#comment-2747 Stoic characters with troubled pasts that haunt them despite their best efforts to move past it). Or stoic characters caught in the inevitable wheel of destiny. Every. Time. And I'm totally with you on "Villains Unite." Stoic characters with troubled pasts that haunt them despite their best efforts to move past it). Or stoic characters caught in the inevitable wheel of destiny.

Every. Time.

And I’m totally with you on “Villains Unite.”

]]>