I’m slowly learning it takes a lot more to impress me than it used to. I suppose that’s usually the case as you “grow” into something and gain knowledge or form an opinion you’re willing to defend or a belief system that’s provided a solid anchor.
This isn’t about people. It’s about writing, of course, the publishing industry, professionals within that industry, and how people walk out their faith both within and without said industry and the pages of their stories.
Sometimes the people (authors/writers) and the writing seem inseparable. And maybe they are—period. And maybe that’s why it takes more to impress me than it used to. I’m drawn to passionate people. It’s an easy assumption to slide right into favoring passionate literature.
Methodical, rule-following fiction makes me restless. The conundrum of wanting to hurry and finish the book conflicts with not wanting to finish it at all. The predictability and careful constructs of words bring disappointment and, yes, those pesky questions like, “Is this what most people want to read?” Look, I’m not criticizing those authors or their audience. I’m a champion of the mantra “Everyone deserves something to read”, and I don’t think anyone else should jab at them for their choices.
I think 2010 produced more forgettable novels for me than it did ones I want to champion. You know I discovered Vince Flynn’s books which I read with a fervor. Yesterday I bought American Assassin and have just a few pages left in my final CFBA review book for the year—which I’m pleasantly surprised to read—and I can jam into the prequel for all of the Mitch Rapp books. Yay! The Vince Flynn novels and a few others were the highlight of my reading year.
An obvious question is how can a novel not be predictable considering all the books I read? And it’s a valid question both for me and professionals, which rather easily provides pat excuses for all the rejections. However, it often isn’t the plot predictability that frustrates me but the characters and their reactions to the plot elements and how those situations and reactions are written. Vague sounding, isn’t it? But perhaps you understand what I mean.
Characters separate forgettable stories from unforgettable ones. Whether or not the story is supposedly plot-driven or character-driven, intricate characters make the difference. I have to be involved in the character’s life or lives to care about the book.
That brings up another point about the current publishing trends. The move away from epics and sagas in CBA, outside of some thrillers and speculative fiction, means that authors limit the involvement a reader spends in the lives of his characters. And, let’s face it, some authors are better at creating intimate knowledge of their characters in a medium-size or shorter novel than others are. I think that’s why nearly every other novel out there is written in first person nowadays.
Anyway, perhaps you enjoyed your reading experiences more than I this year. What were some of your favorites?
Lord, I’m desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
Leave a reply to Nicole Cancel reply