Into the Fire

4 responses to “Unpredictable . . .”

1. 

   Brenda Jackson

   July 27, 2011

   This is a good question and has a lot of angles to it. I’ve never gotten bored with my writing. Frustrated because I’m time crunched and unable to cut loose (which is a separate subject) but never bored with my writing.
   Unpredictability is one of those things that is good or bad according to how you use it. I know I often hear people say after reading a book “Oh, I knew how it was goin to end by page so and so.” Personally, this doesn’t bother me if the journey to getting there is good.
   I have also seen fiction where people go out of their way to be “unpredictable” and the story just takes stupid turns and you’re thinking “What kind of nonsense is this?”
   And hey, the ultimate unpredictability–go ahead and kill off the heroine before she can snag Mr Right. That’ll get the publishers to buy you. NOT. 😎
   RE: Themes: I don’t consider following a certain theme in your stories to be equated with predictability. If a certain theme grabs a writer, it is usually one they are passionate about, and it gives them fodder for many different stories. It’s kind of like tennis–if you’re backhand is better than your forehand, you go with your backhand shot–unless it’s stratetic to change it up. And instinct will tell you when the time is right.
   In addition to the issues of storyline predictability there is the predictability of simple writing mechanics. As I’ve had a crit partner point out to me, this is an area where I can use some work–better variation of sentence structure, etc. To me, the ultimate best unpredictability comes when an author in that rare moment captures a phrase that is so unique (but not overdone) where you say, “hey, cool! I’ll remember that!” or it gives you a good laugh.
   But to me, 99% of writing is about predictability, in plot and mechanics.

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2. 

   Nicole

   July 27, 2011

   “Personally, this [predictability] doesn’t bother me if the journey to getting there is good.” Totally agree here. Hard not to be predictable in category fiction.
   “If a certain theme grabs a writer, it is usually one they are passionate about, and it gives them fodder for many different stories.” I know that’s the case for me, Brenda.
   Great response. Thank you for taking the time.

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3. 

   Brenda Anderson

   July 27, 2011

   I tend to like the unpredictable. Hopefully, that’s what I write … I’m not bored with my writing, but as Brenda J said, sometimes making the time for it is difficult.
   I love it when an author takes unexpected detours, as long as that detour is logical and not thrown in merely to add surprise. Too often suspense books are predictable, and to me that’s rarely good. I don’t want to guess who the bad guy is on page 10. I don’t want to see the same formula rehashed in a series.
   As for themes, I do enjoy seeing a theme threading its way through a novel. I definitely utilize themes in all my books.

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4. 

   Nicole

   July 27, 2011

   Great points, Bren. I think those of us who like suspense don’t want to figure it out pronto, but we sometimes make allowances for it if it’s very well-written (in our estimation). You take category genres, and it’s hard not to make them predictable. You read so many novels, Bren, I can’t imagine you not figuring everything out but quick. You’re insightful and there’s just not much left that can fool you.

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